Liquid crystal display, mask, and method for producing liquid crystal display
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorHiroki Nakano
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A liquid crystal display includes an alignment film having first alignment subdomains with a first alignment property and second alignment subdomains with a second alignment property different from the first one. In the alignment film, the first alignment subdomains and the second alignment subdomains are arranged in a matrix so that both of them are included in every line extending across the matrix.
Claims19
A liquid crystal display comprising an alignment film having first alignment subdomains with a first alignment property and second alignment subdomains with a second alignment property different from said first alignment property, wherein said first alignment subdomains and said second alignment subdomains are arranged in a matrix so that both of them are included in every line extending across the matrix.
A mask for forming an alignment film having first alignment subdomains with a first alignment property and second alignment subdomains with a second alignment property different from said first alignment property, wherein said first alignment subdomains and said second alignment subdomains are so arranged in a matrix that both of them are included in every line extending across the matrix, comprising:
- a plurality of apertures for forming first alignment domains consisting of the first alignment subdomains having the first property;
- and
- a shielding portion for shielding a portion where a second alignment domain consisting of the second alignment subdomains having the second property is to be formed,
- wherein each of said apertures has a shape corresponding to a predetermined combination of the first alignment subdomains, said shielding portion is physically continuous, and said apertures and said shielding portion are so formed that every line extending across the mask passes through at least one of said apertures and said shielding portion.
A method for producing a liquid crystal display having a pair of substrates facing each other and having aligenment films on their facing surfaces, comprising the steps of:
- preparing a first substrate and a second substrate each having, on one of its surfaces, a base film which later turns into an alignment film by alignment treatment;
- preparing a mask having a plurality of apertures for forming first alignment domains consisting of first alignment subdomains with a first property and a shielding portion for shielding a portion where a second alignment domain consisting of second alignment subdomains with a second property is to be formed,
- subjecting the base film of the first substrate to alignment treatment from a predetermined direction,
- placing the mask on the base film of the first substrate;
- subjecting the base film of the first substrate exposed through the apertures of the mask to alignment treatment from a direction perpendicular to the predetermined direction;
- subjecting the base film of the second substrate to alignment treatment from the predetermined direction;
- placing the mask upside down on the base film of the second substrate;
- and
- subjecting the base film of the second substrate to alignment treatment from the direction perpendicular to the predetermined direction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.