Liquid crystal display and method for manufacturing the same

Abstract

The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display and a method for manufacturing the same. The liquid crystal display includes: a first substrate and a second substrate; a liquid crystal layer positioned between the first substrate and the second substrate; a spacer formed on the second substrate; and an opposite portion of the first substrate, the opposite portion positioned to correspond to the spacer, the opposite portion has an opposite region including an opposite surface facing the first surface, and a groove generally forming an outer boundary of the opposite region, and an area of the opposite region is larger than an area of the first surface.

1 . A liquid crystal display comprising:
 a first substrate and a second substrate;   a liquid crystal layer positioned between the first substrate and the second substrate;   a spacer formed on the second substrate; and   an opposite portion of the first substrate, the opposite portion positioned to correspond to the spacer,   wherein the spacer has a first surface facing the first substrate,   wherein the opposite portion has an opposite region including an opposite surface facing the first surface, and a groove generally forming an outer boundary of the opposite region, and   wherein an area of the opposite region is larger than the area of the first surface.   
     
     
         2 . The liquid crystal display of  claim 1 , wherein:
 a width of the groove is smaller than a width of the first surface.   
     
     
         3 . The liquid crystal display of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the spacer is formed in a non-display area.   
     
     
         4 . The liquid crystal display of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the groove is formed to surround the opposite region.   
     
     
         5 . The liquid crystal display of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the opposite region is shaped as one of a circle, an ellipse, and a polygon.   
     
     
         6 . The liquid crystal display of  claim 5 , wherein:
 the first surface is shaped as one of a circle, an ellipse, and a polygon.   
     
     
         7 . The liquid crystal display of  claim 6 , wherein:
 the diameter or the width of the opposite region is from about 5 to about 40 um.   
     
     
         8 . The liquid crystal display of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the depth of the groove is from about 0.01 to about 3 um.   
     
     
         9 . The liquid crystal display of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the groove includes a first groove and a second groove, the first and second grooves having differing depths.   
     
     
         10 . The liquid crystal display of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the first groove is positioned closer to the opposite region than the second groove and   the depth of the second groove is larger than the depth of the first groove.   
     
     
         11 . The liquid crystal display of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the difference between the depth of the first groove and the depth of the second groove is from about 0.01 to about 3 um.   
     
     
         12 . The liquid crystal display of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first substrate is a thin film transistor substrate and the second substrate is a color filter substrate.   
     
     
         13 . The liquid crystal display of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a gate line and a data line disposed on the first substrate;   a thin film transistor connected to the gate line and the data line; and   a passivation layer formed on the thin film transistor,   wherein the groove is formed in the passivation layer.   
     
     
         14 . The liquid crystal display of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a color filter formed on the second substrate,   wherein the spacer is formed on the color filter.   
     
     
         15 . The liquid crystal display of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the spacer at least partially overlaps the thin film transistor.   
     
     
         16 . The liquid crystal display of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the spacer at least partially overlaps at least one of the data line and the gate line.   
     
     
         17 . The liquid crystal display of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a metal layer formed on the first substrate, and an insulating layer at least partially covering the metal layer,   wherein the groove is formed on the metal layer, and   a step is formed over the groove on the insulating layer.   
     
     
         18 . The liquid crystal display of  claim 17 , wherein:
 the metal layer is a gate conductor or a data conductor.   
     
     
         19 . The liquid crystal display of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the spacer is a main spacer formed to contact the first substrate, or a sub-spacer disposed at a predetermined distance from the first substrate.   
     
     
         20 . A method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display, comprising;
 forming a spacer on a second substrate;   forming an opposite portion on a first substrate, the opposite portion positioned to correspond to the spacer; and   inserting a liquid crystal layer between the first substrate and the second substrate,   wherein the spacer has a first surface facing the first substrate,   wherein the opposite portion has an opposite region having an opposite surface being in contact with the first surface,   wherein the forming of an opposite portion includes forming a groove generally along an outer boundary of the opposite region, and   wherein an area of the opposite region is larger than an area of the first surface.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein:
 a width of the groove is smaller than a width of the first surface.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein:
 the groove is formed to surround the opposite region.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the forming of the opposite portion further includes:
 forming a gate line and a data line on the first substrate;   forming a thin film transistor connected to the gate line and the data line;   forming a passivation layer on the thin film transistor; and   forming the opposite portion on the passivation layer.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the forming of the spacer further includes:
 forming a light blocking member and a color filter on the second substrate; and   forming the spacer on the light blocking member and the color filter.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein:
 the spacer is formed to at least partially overlap the thin film transistor.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein:
 the spacer is formed to at least partially overlap at least one of the gate line and the data line.   
     
     
         27 . A liquid crystal display comprising:
 a first insulation substrate;   a gate line formed on the first insulation substrate;   a data line formed on the first insulation substrate and intersecting the gate line;   a thin film transistor electrically connected to the gate line and the data line;   a passivation layer at least partially covering the gate line, the data line, and the thin film transistor, the passivation layer having a contact hole exposing a portion of the thin film transistor, and a groove pattern formed therein, the groove pattern having a depth less than or equal to a depth of the contact hole;   a pixel electrode electrically connected to the portion of the thin film transistor which is exposed by the contact hole;   a second insulation substrate facing the first insulation substrate;   a spacer formed on the second insulation substrate and maintaining a distance between the first insulation substrate and the second insulation substrate; and   a liquid crystal layer positioned between the first insulation substrate and the second insulation substrate,   wherein the spacer is positioned within the groove pattern.   
     
     
         28 . The liquid crystal display of  claim 27 , wherein:
 the groove pattern at least partially surrounds the thin film transistor.   
     
     
         29 . The liquid crystal display of  claim 27 , wherein:
 the groove pattern is formed on at least one of the gate line and the data line.   
     
     
         30 . The liquid crystal display of  claim 27 , wherein:
 the spacer contacts the first insulation substrate.   
     
     
         31 . A liquid crystal display comprising:
 a first insulation substrate;   a metal layer formed on the first insulation substrate and having a groove;   an insulating layer at least partially covering the metal layer;   a second insulation substrate facing the first insulation substrate;   a spacer formed on the second insulation substrate and maintaining a distance between the first insulation substrate and the second insulation substrate; and   a liquid crystal layer positioned between the first insulation substrate and the second insulation substrate,   wherein the spacer at least partially overlaps the metal layer and is positioned adjacent to the groove, and   wherein a step is formed over the groove on the insulating layer.   
     
     
         32 . The liquid crystal display of  claim 31 , wherein:
 the metal layer is a gate conductor or a data conductor.