Display device and method of manufacturing the same

Abstract

A display device includes a first substrate including a protrusion electrode pattern, a second substrate disposed opposite to the first substrate, and a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate. The protrusion electrode pattern is made of a conductive polymer material, and a state of the liquid crystal layer changes from an isotropic state to an anisotropic state when an electric field is applied.

1 . A display device, comprising:
 a first substrate comprising a protrusion electrode pattern;   a second substrate disposed opposite the first substrate; and   a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate,   wherein the protrusion electrode pattern comprises a conductive polymer material, and a state of the liquid crystal layer changes from an isotropic state to an anisotropic state when an electric field is applied.   
   
   
       2 . The display device of  claim 1 , wherein the conductive polymer material comprises:
 a conductive particle; and   an insulating polymer or a semiconducting polymer.   
   
   
       3 . The display device of  claim 1 , wherein the conductive polymer material comprises either a chemically processed insulating polymer or a chemically processed semiconducting polymer. 
   
   
       4 . The display device of  claim 1 , wherein the protrusion electrode pattern comprises a first protrusion electrode and a second protrusion electrode disposed apart from each other, and
 the first protrusion electrode and the second protrusion electrode have slit patterns that are alternately engaged with each other.   
   
   
       5 . The display device of  claim 4 , wherein the first substrate comprises:
 gate lines;   data lines;   a first thin film transistor (TFT) connected to the first protrusion electrode; and   a second TFT connected to the second protrusion electrode,   wherein the first TFT and the second TFT are connected to the same gate line and to different data lines.   
   
   
       6 . The display device of  claim 4 , wherein liquid crystal of the liquid crystal layer is moved by an electric field generated between the first protrusion electrode and the second protrusion electrode, and
 the electric field is a horizontal electric field substantially parallel to the first substrate and the second substrate.   
   
   
       7 . The display device of  claim 4 , wherein each of the first protrusion electrode and the second protrusion electrode has a width in the range of 1 μm to 10 μm, and
 the first protrusion electrode and the second protrusion electrode are disposed at a distance in the range of 1 μm to 10 μm from each other.   
   
   
       8 . The display device of  claim 1 , wherein the protrusion electrode pattern has a height in the range of 1 μm to 6 μm. 
   
   
       9 . A method of manufacturing a display device, comprising:
 forming a thin film transistor (TFT) on a substrate;   coating a conductive polymer layer on the substrate and the TFT; and   forming a protrusion electrode pattern that is connected to the TFT by imprinting the conductive polymer layer.   
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein a mold in which a depression pattern corresponding to the protrusion electrode pattern is formed is used to imprint the conductive polymer layer. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein forming the protrusion electrode pattern further comprises an etching process that removes a portion of the conductive polymer layer that is not part of the protrusion electrode pattern after imprinting. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising mixing a conductive particle with either an insulating polymer or a semiconducting polymer to form the conductive polymer layer. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the conductive polymer layer comprises either a chemically processed insulating polymer or a chemically processed semiconducting polymer. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the TFT comprises a first TFT and a second TFT,
 the protrusion electrode pattern comprises a first protrusion electrode connected to the first TFT and a second protrusion electrode connected to the second TFT and spaced apart from the first protrusion electrode, and   the first protrusion electrode and the second protrusion electrode having slit patterns that are alternately engaged with each other.   
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein each of the first protrusion electrode and the second protrusion electrode has a width in the range of 1 μm to 10 μm, and
 the first protrusion electrode and the second protrusion electrode are disposed at a distance in the range of 1 μm to 10 μm from each other.   
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the protrusion electrode pattern has a height in the range of 1 μm to 6 μm. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising forming a color filter between the substrate and the protrusion electrode pattern. 
   
   
       18 . The display device of  claim 2 , wherein the conductive particle comprises a metal powder particle, a carbon nanotube (CNT), or carbon nanofiber (CNF). 
   
   
       19 . The display device of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid crystal layer has a chiral pitch of 300 nm or less. 
   
   
       20 . The display device of  claim 19 , wherein the liquid crystal layer has a chiral pitch of 200 nm.