U.S. patent application number 13/727371 was filed with the patent office on 2013-05-16 for polarizer and method for manufacturing liquid crystal display device using the same.
This patent application is currently assigned to LG DISPLAY CO., LTD.. The applicant listed for this patent is LG Display Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Hong-Suk Kim.
Application Number | 20130120694 13/727371 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38789631 |
Filed Date | 2013-05-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130120694 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kim; Hong-Suk |
May 16, 2013 |
POLARIZER AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY
DEVICE USING THE SAME
Abstract
A polarizer of a liquid crystal display device and a method for
manufacturing a liquid crystal display device using the same is
disclosed. The polarizer includes a main body, a protection film on
the main body, and a cutting line formed on the protection film. A
method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device includes
providing a liquid crystal panel and a protection film having an
active region and a dummy region, the protection film including at
least a cutting line in the dummy region or a boundary area between
the active region and the dummy region; attaching the protection
film to a polarizer; attaching the polarizer to a liquid crystal
panel; and, removing the dummy region of the protection film along
the cutting line from the liquid crystal panel.
Inventors: |
Kim; Hong-Suk; (Seoul,
KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
LG Display Co., Ltd.; |
Seoul |
|
KR |
|
|
Assignee: |
LG DISPLAY CO., LTD.
Seoul
KR
|
Family ID: |
38789631 |
Appl. No.: |
13/727371 |
Filed: |
December 26, 2012 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
11810367 |
Jun 5, 2007 |
8358390 |
|
|
13727371 |
|
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
349/96 ;
359/483.01; 445/24 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G02F 1/133528 20130101;
G02F 2201/50 20130101; G02B 5/3033 20130101; G02B 5/3025
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
349/96 ;
359/483.01; 445/24 |
International
Class: |
G02F 1/1335 20060101
G02F001/1335; G02B 5/30 20060101 G02B005/30 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 5, 2006 |
KR |
050571/2006 |
Claims
1. A polarizer, comprising: a main body for polarizing incident
light; a protection film disposed directly on the main body, the
protection film being separable from the main body, the protection
film including an active region and a dummy region surrounding the
active region; at least one first cutting line on the protection
film, the first cutting line disposed on a boundary area between
the active region and the dummy region; and at least one second
cutting line being disposed only from the corner of the active
region to the corner of the dummy region through the dummy region,
such that no cutting lines extend through the active region.
2. The polarizer of claim 1, wherein the protection film includes
an active region and a dummy region, and the first cutting line is
formed on a boundary area between the active region and the dummy
region.
3. The polarizer of claim 1, further comprising at least one second
cutting line is on the dummy region.
4. The polarizer of claim 1, wherein the dummy region is divided
into a plurality of regions by the at least one second cutting
line.
5. The polarizer of claim 4, wherein the dummy region is divided
into two or four regions by the at least one second cutting
line.
6. The polarizer of claim 5, wherein the at least one second
cutting line is disposed along a diagonal line of the main body in
the dummy region.
7. The polarizer of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first
cutting line or the second cutting line includes a dotted line or a
chain line.
8. The polarizer of claim 1, wherein the main body includes a
Triacethyl Cellulose (TAC) layer, a Poly Vinyl Alcohol (PVA) layer,
and an Anti Glare Triacethyl Cellulose (AG TAC) layer.
9. A liquid crystal display device, comprising: a liquid crystal
panel; and a polarizer attached to at least one surface of the
liquid crystal panel, the polarizer comprising: a main body for
polarizing light incident and output from the liquid crystal panel;
a protection film disposed directly on the main body, the
protection film being separable from the main body, the protection
film including an active region and a dummy region surrounding the
active region; and a cutting line on the protection film such that
at least a part of the protection film is removable, the cutting
line disposed only on a boundary area between the active region and
the dummy region and through the dummy region from the corner of
the active region to the corner of the dummy region.
10. The liquid crystal display device of claim 9, wherein the
protection film includes an active region and a dummy region and
the cutting line is formed on a boundary area between the active
region and the dummy region.
11. The liquid crystal display device of claim 9, wherein the
cutting line includes a dotted line or a chain line.
12. The liquid crystal display device of claim 9, wherein the dummy
region of the protection film is removable along the cutting
line.
13. The liquid crystal display device of claim 9, wherein a top
case covers a periphery of the liquid crystal panel, and the top
case is disposed above the dummy region.
14. A method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device, the
method comprising: providing a liquid crystal panel and a
protection film having an active region and a dummy region, the
protection film including at least a cutting line in the dummy
region or a boundary area between the active region and the dummy
region; attaching the protection film to a polarizer; attaching the
polarizer to a liquid crystal panel; removing the dummy region of
the protection film; and removing the active region of the
protection film.
15. A method of fabricating a liquid crystal display device, the
method comprising: providing a liquid crystal panel having a
polarizer and a protection film thereon; and removing a portion of
the protection film .
16. The method of claim 15, wherein the removing the protection
film includes cutting the protection film.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 11/810,367, filed Jun. 05, 2007, which claims priority to
Korean Patent Application No. 050571/2006 filed in Korea on Jun.
05, 2006, both of which are hereby incorporated by reference in
their entireties.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present application relates to a polarizer and a method
for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device using the same
and, more particularly, to a polarizer attached to a protection
film having a cutting line.
BACKGROUND
[0003] With the rapid development in the field of information and
communication, the importance of a display device for displaying a
variety of information has recently been increased. A cathode ray
tube (CRT) cannot satisfy the recent trend of devices needing to be
light weight with minimal thickness. In response to such a trend,
flat displays such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), a PDP
(Plasma Display Panel), an ELD (Electro Luminescence Display), and
the like, have been developed, and much research and development
thereof have been actively performed.
[0004] In particular, the liquid crystal display (LCD) device is a
display device that has advantages, including being light in
weight, thin in thickness, and low in power consumption. With these
advantages, liquid crystal display devices are implemented in not
only a display device for a notebook computer but also a desktop
computer, a large-screen TV, and the like., and the demand for the
liquid crystal display devices continue to increase.
[0005] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a liquid
crystal display module (LCM). The liquid crystal display module 10
includes a liquid crystal panel 11, a backlight unit 15, a board
assembly unit 16 for driving the liquid crystal panel 11, and a top
case 20. A pair of polarizers 12a and 12b is mounted on both
surfaces of the liquid crystal panel 11, and the backlight unit 15
is disposed below the liquid crystal panel 11 for providing a
transmitted light.
[0006] An optical sheet 13 is disposed between the backlight unit
15 and the liquid crystal panel 11 so as to improve efficiency of
the transmitted light.
[0007] The top case 20 is provided above the liquid crystal panel
11, and a region thereof is assembled by being overlapped with an
edge of the liquid crystal panel 11.
[0008] Since the liquid crystal material does not have a
self-light-emitting characteristic, a luminescent lamp or light
source is required to produce an easily visible image. In order to
control the intensity of the transmitted light, the polarizers 12a
and 12b being crossed perpendicular to a light transmission axis
and attached to the both surfaces of the liquid crystal panel.
Accordingly, while passing through the liquid crystal panel 11, the
intensity of the transmitted light is controlled by a rotation
degree of the polarization axis, thereby resulting in intensities
ranging from black to white.
[0009] The polarizers 12a and 12b include a main body and
protection films on the main body (not shown). The protection films
for protecting the main body are on both surfaces of the polarizer.
One of the protection films removed in order to attach the
polarizer onto the liquid crystal panel later referred to as a
release film.
[0010] The release film is removed before the polarizer is attached
on to the liquid crystal panel 11. Then, the polarizers 12a and 12b
are attached on to the surfaces of the liquid crystal panel 11.
[0011] However, when the liquid crystal panel 11 attached onto the
polarizers 12a and 12b and the top case 20 are to be assembled into
the liquid crystal display module 10, some regions of the liquid
crystal panel 11 may be covered by the top case 20, thereby making
it impossible to remove the protection film after assembly into the
module 10. Accordingly, the front surface protection film is
removed when the liquid crystal panel 11, the top case 20, the
backlight unit 15, and other components, are assembled into the
liquid crystal display module 10, then a protection film is
reattached so as to protect the polarizer after the liquid crystal
display module 10 is completed.
[0012] FIG. 2 is a flowchart partially showing the process for
manufacturing the liquid crystal display module 10. The protection
film and the release film are attached on to both surfaces of the
main body before the liquid crystal display module is manufactured
(S101).
[0013] After the release film of the polarizer is removed, the
polarizer is then attached on to the liquid crystal panel
(S102).
[0014] After the front surface protection film is removed, the
liquid crystal panel, the top case, the backlight, and other
components, are assembled into the liquid crystal display module
(S103).
[0015] After the assembly of the liquid crystal display module is
completed, a separate protection film is reattached on to the front
surface of the liquid crystal display module so as to protect the
polarizer by, for example, using an adhesive tape, (S104). The
protection film is removed by a user (S105).
[0016] After the protection film is attached, the film is removed
and then another protection film is reattached. Accordingly, in
addition to the attachment process of the protection film,
additional processes such as the entire separation process and the
reattachment process, are required, thereby making the overall
manufacturing process more complicated and increasing required time
and cost.
SUMMARY
[0017] A protection film having a cutting line and a method for
removing the protection film is disclosed, in which the protection
film is disposed on a liquid crystal panel so as to enable a
partial removal thereof during the process.
[0018] The polarizer includes a main body, a protection film on the
main body, and at least one first cutting line on the protection
film.
[0019] The protection film has a region corresponding to the active
region of the liquid crystal panel and a dummy region outside of
the active region. The cutting line may be formed on the boundary
area between the active region and the dummy region.
[0020] A method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device
using the polarizer, includes providing a liquid crystal panel and
a protection film having a corresponding active region and dummy
region, the protection film including at least a cutting line in
the dummy region or a boundary region between the active region and
the dummy region; attaching the protection film to a polarizer;
attaching the polarizer to a liquid crystal panel; removing the
dummy region of the protection film. Removing the active region of
the protection film from the liquid crystal panel may then be
performed either during manufacturing or by a user.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing the related
art liquid crystal display module (LCM);
[0022] FIG. 2 is a flowchart partially showing the manufacturing
process of the liquid crystal display module;
[0023] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the liquid
crystal display module;
[0024] FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing the polarizer;
[0025] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the protection film;
[0026] FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the manufacturing process of
the liquid crystal display device;
[0027] FIGS. 7a and 7b are diagrams showing a first example in the
method for manufacturing the liquid crystal display device;
[0028] FIGS. 8a through 8c are diagrams showing a second example in
the method for manufacturing the liquid crystal display device;
and
[0029] FIGS. 9a through 9e are diagrams showing a third example in
the method for manufacturing the liquid crystal display device.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0030] Exemplary embodiments may be better understood with
reference to the drawings, but these examples are not intended to
be of a limiting nature. Like numbered elements in the same or
different drawings perform equivalent functions. When a specific
feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection
with an example, it will be understood that one skilled in the art
may effect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection
with other examples, whether or not explicitly stated herein.
[0031] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing a liquid
crystal display module. The liquid crystal display module 110
includes a liquid crystal panel 111, a backlight unit 115 disposed
below the liquid crystal panel 111 for supplying a light, a board
assembly unit 116 for driving the liquid crystal panel 111, a top
case 120 disposed above the liquid crystal panel 111 and arranged
at an edge portion of the liquid crystal panel 111 so as to retain
the liquid crystal panel 111, and an upper polarizer 112a and a
lower polarizer 112b on both surfaces of the liquid crystal panel
111 for polarizing the light transmitting the liquid crystal panel
111. An optical sheet 113 is provided to improve the efficiency of
light transmission between the lower polarizer 112b and the
backlight unit 115.
[0032] The liquid crystal panel 111 may include (details not shown)
a first substrate having a TFT array, a second substrate having
color filters, and a liquid crystal layer disposed between the
first substrate and the second substrate. The first substrate may
include a plurality of gate lines arranged in one direction at a
certain distance from each other, a plurality of data lines
arranged in a direction perpendicular to each of the gate lines at
a certain distance from each other, a plurality of pixel electrodes
formed in a matrix shape in each pixel region where each of the
gate lines and the data lines cross each other, and a plurality of
thin film transistors for transferring signals of the data wires to
each of the pixel electrodes by being switched due to signals of
the gate wires.
[0033] The second substrate may include a black matrix for
shielding light outside of the pixel region, color filters of red
R, green G, and blue B for expressing various colors, and a common
electrode.
[0034] FIG. 4 is a sectional diagram showing the polarizer 112. The
polarizer 112 may include a main body 130, and protection films 140
and 150 on the surfaces of the main body 130 so as to protect the
main body 130. The main body 130 may include a Triacethyl Cellulose
(TAC) layer 131, a Poly Vinyl Alcohol (PVA) layer 133, an Anti
Glare Triacethyl Cellulose (AG TAC) layer 135, and the like. The
main body 130 may additionally be laminated with film sheets
performing other functions when needed.
[0035] The protection film 140 includes an active region 142 and a
dummy region 144 outside of the active region 142, FIG. 5 is a
diagram showing the protection film 140, which is on the main body
130.
[0036] In the liquid crystal panel, the term "active region"
indicates a region where an image is formed to be displayed. The
term "dummy region" indicates a region where an image is not
displayed, corresponding to a periphery of the active region.
[0037] The dummy region 144 may be hidden by the top case that is
disposed above of the liquid crystal panel when a liquid crystal
display module is assembled. A first cutting line 143 is formed on
a boundary area between the active region 142 and the dummy region
144. The first cutting line 143 includes a dotted line, a chain
line, or the like.
[0038] The first cutting line 143 may have another shape as long as
it can be separated at a later time. It should be also understood
that the shape of the first cutting line or its size may be changed
according to the size of the liquid crystal panel and its shape,
thickness of a protection film, and the like.
[0039] As shown, the protection film is currently not separated
along the cutting line 143, but some regions of the protection film
may be removed (or separated) along the first cutting line 143 at a
later time. (e.g., after some part of the protection film is cut
along the first cutting line, a part of the protection film may be
separated and removed.) That is, the cutting line 143 is formed to
allow later separation of a part of the protection film from the
polarizer, such as to separate the region hidden, or example, by
the top case, when the liquid crystal display module is
assembled.
[0040] In the liquid crystal panel attached on to the protection
film 140 having the first cutting line 143, however, there is no
need to remove the entire protection film 140 for an assembly of
the top case. The protection film of the dummy region 144 along the
cutting line 143 only needs to be removed when the module is
assembled.
[0041] In this case, the protection film is also present in the
active region 144, thereby protecting the active region 144. The
first cutting line 143 of the protection film may be on the
boundary area between the dummy region 144 and the active region
142 so as to maximize the protection of the active region 144.
[0042] Since the dummy region may be, for example, the region
hidden by the top case, the main body of the dummy region can still
be protected by the top case even after the protection film is
removed.
[0043] The polarizer may further include at least one second
cutting line 143' on the dummy region 144. The dummy region may be
divided into a plurality of surfaces by the second cutting line
143'. When the dummy region 144 is divided into a plurality of
surfaces, the protection film can be separated easily, thereby
facilitating removal of the protection film.
[0044] The dummy region 144 may be divided into 2 or 4 surfaces by
the second cutting line 143', and may also be divided into 3 or
more surfaces, as needed. When the dummy region 144 is divided into
a plurality of surfaces, the cutting line 143 may be formed along
the diagonal line of the main body in the dummy region 144 of the
protection film. The surface of the dummy region 144 may be formed
along the edge of the protection film, facilitating separation.
[0045] A method for manufacturing the liquid crystal display device
using the polarizer is shown in FIG. 6. A liquid crystal panel is
provided having a protection film having an active region and a
dummy region. The protection film includes at least a cutting line
in the dummy region or a boundary area between the active region
and the dummy region. The protection film is attached on to a
polarizer (S201).
[0046] The polarizer having the protection film may be attached to
a liquid crystal panel. (S202).
[0047] The dummy region of the protection film is removed
(hereinafter, referred to as "a first removing") along the cutting
line, and the liquid crystal panel then assembled with the top
case, and other components, thereby forming the liquid crystal
display device (S203).
[0048] A user or a buyer can remove (hereinafter, referred to as "a
second removing") the protection film of the active region, to
thereby use the liquid crystal display device (S204). It may not be
necessary to perform the "second removing" in order to use the
liquid crystal device.
[0049] The cutting line is formed so as to remove the some part of
the protection film, leaving the protection film in the active
region. However, without being limited to the active region, if
there is a region where protection is needed, the separation region
of the protection film may be formed in another region except the
region for the protection.
[0050] FIGS. 7a and 7b show the first example of the first removing
in the method for manufacturing the liquid crystal display device.
The protection film is divided into an active region 242 and a
dummy region 244a, and a cutting line 243 is formed on a boundary
area between the active region 242 and the dummy region 244a. As
shown in FIG. 7b, if the first removing, which removes the dummy
region 244a along the cutting line 243 except the active region
242, is performed, a state 244a', in which the active region 242
has the protection film but the dummy region does not have the
protection film results. FIGS. 8a through 8c show the second
example of the first removing in the method for manufacturing the
liquid crystal display device. The second example shows that the
dummy region is divided into two surfaces 344a and 344b, and the
cutting line 343 is further formed along the diagonal line of the
main body in the dummy region 344. The protection film is divided
into one active region 342 and two dummy regions 344a and 344b by
the cutting line 343 (FIG. 8a).
[0051] When a plurality of dummy regions is formed, the dummy
region 344 may be separated along the cutting line 343. Referring
to FIGS. 8b and 8c, if the dummy region 344 is to be respectively
separated, each of the dummy regions is shown as the regions 344a'
and 344b' without having the protection film.
[0052] FIGS. 9a through 9e show the third example that divides the
dummy region into 4 regions. The third example may the same as the
first and the second examples in the separation method and
sequence. The order sequence of removing each dummy region is not
restricted. The dummy regions may be separated in a different
order, as needed, or may be separated together.
[0053] While the methods disclosed herein may have been described
and shown with reference to particular steps performed in a
particular order, it will be understood that these steps may be
combined, sub-divided, or reordered to from an equivalent method
without departing from the teachings of the present invention.
Accordingly, unless specifically indicated herein, the order and
grouping of steps is not a limitation of the present invention.
[0054] The present invention may be embodied in several forms
without departing from the essential characteristics thereof. For
instance, the protection film of the present invention is mainly
described to be formed on the upper polarizer of the liquid crystal
panel, however, may also be formed on the lower polarizer
thereof.
[0055] Therefore, the features herein should be construed broadly
within its scope as defined in the appended claims, and therefore
all changes and modifications that fall within the metes and bounds
of the claims, or equivalence of such metes and bounds are
therefore intended to be embraced by the appended claims.
* * * * *