Abstract:
The present invention relates to a colour purity improvement film (a color gamut enhancing film) that can improve the colour purity of a liquid crystal display device, and a liquid crystal display device having the same. According to the present invention, a liquid crystal display device that blocks unnecessary wavelengths other than RGB wavelengths so as to improve colour gamut and colour purity may be provided by introducing a combination of dyes that absorb a particular Wavelength band to the inside of an adhesion layer or a coating layer of a as liquid crystal display device.

Description:
FIELD 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a colour purity improvement film (color gamut enhancing film) for a liquid crystal display and a liquid crystal display comprising same. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    In the past, 40-inch (″) class TVs were mainstream products, but many consumers now buy 50″ class TVs and even 60″ class TVs. When the size competition was over, resolution competition began. Even a year ago, full high definition (HD) (FHD) class TVs belonged to an advanced model, but ultra HD (UHD) TVs now have been rapidly spread on the market. 
         [0003]    Recently, the display market has evolved from large-area, high-resolution competition to color competition. For this reason, competition for the production of a display with excellent color has recently emerged. 
         [0004]    A liquid crystal display (a liquid crystal display device) displays an image using optical properties of liquid crystals, wherein, since a liquid crystal panel displaying the image is a non-emissive device which is not self-luminous, the liquid crystal display has a structure including the liquid crystal panel as well as a back-light unit which is disposed on a rear surface of the liquid crystal panel to provide light to the liquid crystal panel. 
         [0005]    A liquid crystal display has advantages of a small thickness, a light weight, a small consuming power and a low driving voltage when compared to other displays. On the contrary, the liquid crystal display is one step behind the other displays in the sense of color. The color reproduction range of a cathode ray tube (CRT) which is now disappearing is up to NTSC 80%, and a product of a plasma display panel (PDP) up to the level of NTSC 90% has been released until recently. In addition, an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) which receives much attention as a next-generation display, may attain up to NTSC 100%. However, an LCD TV may attain the level of NTSC 72%. 
         [0006]    Accordingly, there is a need to develop an LCD with enhanced color gamut to solve such limitations of the LCD and to activate the depressed display market. 
       SUMMARY 
     Technical Problem 
       [0007]    Thus, an object of the present invention is to provide a film which may improve an enhancement of color gamut of the liquid crystal display by transmitting pure RGB wavelengths emitted from a light source as much as possible and blocking unnecessary wavelengths other than the RGB wavelengths, and a liquid crystal display comprising same. 
       Solution to Problem 
       [0008]    To achieve the above objects, the present invention provides a liquid crystal display comprising a backlight unit, and a liquid crystal panel, 
         [0009]    wherein the backlight unit, the liquid crystal panel, or both of the backlight unit and the liquid crystal panel comprise a coating layer or an adhesive layer in configurations thereof, wherein the coating layer or the adhesive layer is a color gamut enhancing film which comprises at least one type of a dye configured to absorb a specific wavelength band. 
         [0010]    In addition, the present invention provides a color gamut enhancing film for a liquid crystal display, comprising a pressure-sensitive adhesive and an adhesive layer including at least one type of a dye configured to absorb a specific wavelength band. 
         [0011]    In addition, the present invention also provides a color gamut enhancing film for a liquid crystal display, comprising a binder resin and a coating layer including at least one type of a dye configured to absorb a specific wavelength band. 
       Advantageous Effects of Invention 
       [0012]    According to the present invention, by using a color gamut enhancing film for a liquid crystal display, which is formed by introducing a combination of dyes configured to absorb a specific wavelength band into an adhesive layer or a coating layer of a liquid crystal display, a color gamut may be enhanced by transmitting pure RGB wavelengths emitted from a light source as much as possible and blocking unnecessary wavelengths other than the RGB wavelengths, and thus, a liquid crystal display may be manufactured in which the enhancement of the color gamut is improved. In addition, the color gamut enhancing film according to the present invention may maximize color gamut enhancing effect by freely moving the position thereof according to the characteristics of a display. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    The above-described and other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following explanation on the present invention with reference to attached drawings: 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  is a schematic view illustrating a structure of a general liquid crystal display. 
           [0015]      FIGS. 2A through 2D  are schematic views respectively illustrating structures of liquid crystal displays according to Examples 1-1, 1-2, 1-3 and 3-1. 
           [0016]      FIGS. 3A through 3D  respectively illustrate emission intensity change of liquid crystal displays according to Comparative Example 1 and Examples 1-1, 1-2 and 1-3. 
           [0017]      FIGS. 4A through 4C  respectively illustrate emission intensity change of liquid crystal displays according to Comparative Example 2 and Examples 2-1 and 2-2. 
           [0018]      FIGS. 5A through 5C  respectively illustrate emission intensity change of liquid crystal displays according to Comparative Example 1 and Examples 1-3 and 3-1. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0019]    A liquid crystal display of the present invention includes a backlight unit and a liquid crystal panel, wherein the backlight unit, the liquid crystal panel, or both of the backlight unit and the liquid crystal panel include a coating layer or an adhesive layer in configurations thereof, wherein the coating layer or the adhesive layer includes at least one type of a dye configured to absorb a specific wavelength band. 
         [0020]    According to the present invention, a color gamut of a liquid crystal display may be enhanced by controlling the light transmittance of the adhesive layer or the coating layer and by absorbing unnecessary wavelengths other than pure RGB wavelengths from a light source by disposing the combination of at least one dye configured to selectively absorb a specific wavelength band. 
         [0021]    A structure of a general liquid crystal display is illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0022]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a liquid crystal panel  10  may include an upper polarizing plate  101 , a first adhesive layer  102 , a liquid crystal cell  103 , a second adhesive layer  104 , and a lower polarizing plate  105  in a sequentially stacked form, and a backlight unit  20  may sequentially include a dual brightness enhancement film (DBEF) or an upper diffusion plate  201 , a horizontal prism sheet  202 , a vertical prism sheet  203 , a lower diffusion plate  204 , a light guide plate  205 , and a reflective plate  206 . However, the liquid crystal display of the present invention is not limited thereto, and various modifications may be possible according to the need. 
         [0023]    When the basic principle of a liquid crystal display is examined, while light emitted from a light source is guided in a direction of a liquid crystal panel through a light guide plate and then passes through a light diffusion plate, the light is diffused in a horizontal/vertical directions with respect to the surface thereof, thereby rapidly decreasing light luminance. Since outgoing of the light from the light diffusion plate in a direction other than a front light exit surface is prevented by passing the light through a prism sheet and light directivity is improved to narrow a viewing angle, brightness in a direction of the front light exit surface of backlight is increased. In this case, since a separate sheet, such as a dual brightness enhancement film, is used in a backlight unit, the increase in the brightness may be maximized by light recycling. 
         [0024]    According to the present invention, the backlight unit, the liquid crystal panel, or both of the backlight unit and the liquid crystal panel include a coating layer or an adhesive layer including at least one type of a dye configured to absorb a specific wavelength band in configurations thereof. 
         [0025]    For example, the liquid crystal panel may include at least one dye configured to absorb a specific wavelength band in the first adhesive layer, the second adhesive layer, or both thereof, which are configuration layers of the liquid crystal panel. The backlight unit may have a coating layer on at least one position of one side or both sides of the dual brightness enhancement film or the upper diffusion plate, one side or both sides of the horizontal prism sheet, one side or both sides of the vertical prism sheet, one side or both sides of the lower diffusion plate, and one side of the reflective plate (i.e., light guide plate facing side), wherein the coating layer includes at least one type of a dye configured to absorb a specific wavelength band. 
         [0026]    The dye-containing adhesive layer and coating layer are referred to as a color gamut enhancing film, and according to the position of the color gamut enhancing film, particularly, the position of the coating layer, the emission color purity and the brightness loss of a liquid crystal display may change, and thus, the position thereof may be appropriately controlled according to the need. 
         [0027]    The dye used in the present invention may be a combination of at least one type of a dye having a main absorption (blocking) wavelength band of 380 to 420 nm, 480 to 510 nm, or 560 to 610 nm. 
         [0028]    The dye blocking a wavelength band of 380 nm to 420 nm may include a hydroxy benzotriazole (HB)-based dye, a tris-resorcinol-triazine chromophore (TRTC)-based dye, and a hydroxylphenyl-benzotriazole chromophore (HBC)-based dye; the dye blocking a wavelength band of 480 nm to 510 nm may include a pyrrole methine (PM)-based dye, a rhodamine (RH)-based dye, and a boron dipyrromethene (BODIBY)-based dye; and the dye blocking a wavelength band of 560 nm to 610 nm may include a tetraaza porphyrin (TAP)-based dye, a rhodamine-based dye, a squarine (SQ)-based dye, and a cyanine (CY)-based dye. 
         [0029]    Preferably, a combination of at least two dyes selected from the group consisting of a hydroxy benzotriazole-based dye, a pyrrole methine-based dye, a rhodamine-based dye, a cyanine-based dye, and a tetraaza porphyrin-based dye may be used, and more preferably, a combination of a hydroxy benzotriazole-based dye, a cyanine-based dye, and a tetraaza porphyrin-based dye may be used. 
         [0030]    Accordingly, the present invention provides a color gamut enhancing film for a liquid crystal display, wherein the film is composed of a pressure-sensitive adhesive and an adhesive layer including at least one type of a dye configured to absorb a specific wavelength band. 
         [0031]    In addition, the present invention provides a color gamut enhancing film for a liquid crystal display, wherein the film is composed of a binder resin and a coating layer including at least one type of a dye configured to absorb a specific wavelength band. 
         [0032]    The dye may be included in an amount of 0.01 wt % to 10 wt %, and specifically, in an amount of 0.05 w t% to 7 wt % based on a total weight of the coating layer or the adhesive layer. 
         [0033]    Examples of the pressure-sensitive adhesive used in the adhesive layer (first adhesive layer and second adhesive layer) may include at least one adhesive selected from the group consisting of an acryl-based adhesive, a urethane-based adhesive, an epoxy-based adhesive, and a silicone-based adhesive. Specifically, the pressure-sensitive adhesive may be an acryl-based adhesive. For example, the adhesive layer may be formed by being wet coated on the one side or both sides of the upper polarizing plate and the lower polarizing plate, and the thickness of the adhesive layer may be in a range of 2 μm to 100 μm, 5 μm to 100 μm, and preferably, 15 μm to 25 μm. 
         [0034]    Examples of the binder resin used in the coating layer may include at least one resin selected from the group consisting of a polyester-based binder resin, an acryl-based binder resin, a polyurethane-based binder resin, a melamine-based binder resin, a polyvinyl alcohol-based binder resin, and an oxazoline-based binder resin. Specifically, the binder resin may be an acryl-based binder resin. For example, the coating layer may be formed by being wet coated on one side or both sides of the dual brightness enhancement film or the upper diffusion plate, one side or both sides of the horizontal prism sheet, one side or both sides of the vertical prism sheet, one side or both sides of the lower diffusion plate, and one side of the reflective plate (i.e., light guide plate facing side) and the thickness of the coating layer may be in a range of 1 μm to 100 μm, 2 μm to 100 μm, and preferably, 2 μm to 10 μm. 
         [0035]    The adhesive layer and the coating layer may further include an ultraviolet screening agent for screening UV light according to the need. The ultraviolet screening agent absorbs (blocks) light having a wavelength of 420 nm or less, and, for example, a hydroxy benzotriazole (HB)-based dye, a tris-resorcinol-triazine chromophore (TRTC)-based dye, or a hydroxylphenyl-benzotriazole chromophore (HBC)-based dye may be used alone or in a mixture of two or more thereof. The adhesive layer and the coating layer may include the ultraviolet screening agent in an amount of 0.01 wt % to 10 wt % or 0.05 wt % to 7 wt % based on the total weight of the coating layer or the adhesive layer. 
         [0036]    Light transmittance of the color gamut enhancing film according to the present invention may be adjusted according to a brightness range of the liquid crystal display, but, specifically, the color gamut enhancing film may have a visible light transmittance of 90% to 30%, and preferably, 90% to 50%. 
         [0037]    Component layers of each of the backlight unit and the liquid crystal panel constituting the liquid crystal display of the present invention may have a material, a thickness, and a shape, which are commonly accepted in the art, and may be variously modified if necessary. 
         [0038]    Thus, the liquid crystal display including the color gamut enhancing film of the present invention may provide enhanced color gamut and brightness by blocking unnecessary wavelengths other than the RGB wavelengths while transmitting the pure RGB wavelengths emitted from a light source as much as possible, and may maximize a color gamut enhancing effect depending on display characteristics by freely moving the position of the color gamut enhancing film. 
       EXAMPLE 
       [0039]    Hereinafter, the present invention is explained in more detail by examples. The following examples are intended to further illustrate the present invention without limiting its scope. 
       Example 1-1 
       [0040]    30 wt % of 1811L manufactured by Soken, as a pressure-sensitive adhesive, and 70 wt % of methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) were mixed to prepare an adhesive solution, and a dye, SK-d593 manufactured by SK Chemicals was then added thereto in an amount of 0.01 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the adhesive solution to prepare an adhesive layer composition. 
         [0041]    One surface of a polarizing film was coated with the adhesive layer composition by using a gap coater and dried and cured to form a 25 μm thick adhesive layer (color gamut enhancing film). The polarizing film having the adhesive layer formed thereon was used as an upper polarizing plate and was introduced into a commercially available liquid crystal display (using upper diffusion plate in a backlight unit) so that the adhesive layer was positioned between the upper polarizing plate and a liquid crystal cell to manufacture a liquid crystal display of the present invention (see  FIG. 2A ). 
       Example 1-2 
       [0042]    A liquid crystal display of the present invention was manufactured by conducting the same procedure described in Example 1-1 except for using a polarizing film having an adhesive layer formed thereon as a lower polarizing plate and introducing thereof into a commercially available liquid crystal display so that the adhesive layer was positioned between the lower polarizing plate and a liquid crystal cell (see  FIG. 2B ). 
       Example 1-3 
       [0043]    25 wt % of GS1000 manufactured by Soken, as an acryl binder resin, and 75 wt % of methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) were mixed to prepare a solution, and a dye, SK-d593 manufactured by SK Chemicals was then added thereto in an amount of 0.05 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the solution to prepare a coating layer composition. 
         [0044]    One surface of a diffusion film was coated with the coating layer composition using a mayer bar and dried and cured to form a 5 μm thick coating layer (color gamut enhancing film). The diffusion film having the coating layer formed thereon was used as an upper diffusion plate and was introduced into a commercially available liquid crystal display so that the coating layer was positioned to face a horizontal prism sheet to manufacture a liquid crystal display of the present invention (see  FIG. 2C ). 
       Comparative Example 1 
       [0045]    A liquid crystal display having the same structure as that of Example 1-1 (commercially available liquid crystal display without changing the structure thereof) was manufactured except that a dye was not used during forming an adhesive layer. 
       Example 2-1 
       [0046]    A liquid crystal display of the present invention was manufactured by conducting the same procedure described in Example 1-1 except for using a dual brightness enhancement film (DBEF) instead of the upper diffusion plate in the backlight unit. 
       Example 2-2 
       [0047]    A liquid crystal display of the present invention was manufactured by conducting the same procedure described in Example 1-2 except for using a dual brightness enhancement film (DBEF) instead of the upper diffusion plate in the backlight unit. 
       Comparative Example 2 
       [0048]    A liquid crystal display having the same structure as that of Example 2-1 (commercially available liquid crystal display without changing the structure thereof) was manufactured except that a dye was not used during forming an adhesive layer. 
       Example 3-1 
       [0049]    A liquid crystal display of the present invention was manufactured by conducting the same procedure described in Example 1-3 except for using a diffusion film having a coating layer formed thereon as a lower diffusion plate, and introducing thereof so that the coating layer was positioned so as to face a light guide plate (see  FIG. 2D ). 
       Experimental Example 
       [0050]    Characteristics and changes in spectrum were measured for the liquid crystal displays manufactured in the examples and comparative examples by using a radiometer (CS-2000, Minolta Co., Ltd.) and the results thereof are presented in Tables 1 to 3. 
         [0051]    In addition, the change of the emission intensity of the liquid crystal displays of Comparative Example 1, and Examples 1-1, 1-2 and 1-3 are illustrated in  FIGS. 3A to 3D , respectively, the change of the emission intensity of the liquid crystal displays of Comparative Example 2, and Examples 2-1 and 2-2 are illustrated in  FIGS. 4A to 4C , and the change of the emission intensity of the liquid crystal displays of Comparative Example 1, and Examples 1-3 and 3-1 are illustrated in  FIGS. 5A to 5C . A color gamut indicates a color reproduction area. 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
               
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 Comparative 
                 Example  
                 Example  
                 Example  
               
               
                   
                   
                 Example 1 
                 1-1 
                 1-2 
                 1-3 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 Full W 
                 Lv 
                 317.6 
                 278.6 
                 287.4 
                 269.8 
               
               
                   
                 x 
                 0.3136 
                 0.2994 
                 0.2971 
                 0.2923 
               
               
                   
                 y 
                 0.3352 
                 0.3256 
                 0.3233 
                 0.3173 
               
               
                 Full R 
                 Lv 
                 64.74 
                 52.78 
                 53.32 
                 49.38 
               
               
                   
                 x 
                 0.6415 
                 0.6475 
                 0.6471 
                 0.6481 
               
               
                   
                 y 
                 0.3381 
                 0.3289 
                 0.3279 
                 0.3265 
               
               
                 Full G 
                 Lv 
                 228.9 
                 206.1 
                 210.2 
                 197.6 
               
               
                   
                 x 
                 0.3111 
                 0.2971 
                 0.2954 
                 0.2922 
               
               
                   
                 y 
                 0.6249 
                 0.6333 
                 0.6337 
                 0.6345 
               
               
                 Full B 
                 Lv 
                 24.98 
                 23.62 
                 24.39 
                 23.67 
               
               
                   
                 x 
                 0.1557 
                 0.1549 
                 0.1547 
                 0.1543 
               
               
                   
                 y 
                 0.0637 
                 0.0619 
                 0.0616 
                 0.0607 
               
               
                 Color  
                 Color 
                 0.115 
                 0.122 
                 0.122 
                 0.123 
               
               
                 gamut 
                 gamut 
                   
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Against 
                 102.6% 
                 108.7% 
                 109.0% 
                 110.1% 
               
               
                   
                 ATSC 
                   
                   
                   
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 Color gamut  
                 — 
                  5.9% 
                  6.2% 
                  7.3% 
               
               
                 improvement 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 2 
               
               
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 Comparative 
                 Example  
                 Example  
               
               
                   
                   
                 Example 2 
                 2-1 
                 2-2 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 Full W 
                 Lv 
                 605.6 
                 531.2 
                 536.9 
               
               
                   
                 x 
                 0.3128 
                 0.2987 
                 0.2956 
               
               
                   
                 y 
                 0.3389 
                 0.3303 
                 0.3268 
               
               
                 Full R 
                 Lv 
                 121 
                 96.52 
                 97.2 
               
               
                   
                 x 
                 0.6417 
                 0.6474 
                 0.6474 
               
               
                   
                 y 
                 0.3382 
                 0.329 
                 0.3277 
               
               
                 Full G 
                 Lv 
                 439.1 
                 389.4 
                 396 
               
               
                   
                 x 
                 0.3095 
                 0.2956 
                 0.2931 
               
               
                   
                 y 
                 0.6269 
                 0.6353 
                 0.6356 
               
               
                 Full B 
                 Lv 
                 47.49 
                 43.97 
                 45.71 
               
               
                   
                 x 
                 0.1556 
                 0.1548 
                 0.1544 
               
               
                   
                 y 
                 0.0648 
                 0.063 
                 0.0627 
               
               
                 Color gamut 
                 Color gamut 
                 0.116 
                 0.122 
                 0.123 
               
               
                   
                 Against ATSC 
                 103.2% 
                 109.1% 
                 109.6% 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Color gamut improvement 
                 — 
                  5.8% 
                  6.3% 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 3 
               
               
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 Comparative 
                 Example  
                 Example  
               
               
                   
                   
                 Example 1 
                 1-3 
                 3-1 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 Full W 
                 Lv 
                 317.6 
                 269.8 
                 138.7 
               
               
                   
                 x 
                 0.3136 
                 0.2923 
                 0.2438 
               
               
                   
                 y 
                 0.3352 
                 0.3173 
                 0.2361 
               
               
                 Full R 
                 Lv 
                 64.74 
                 49.38 
                 24.22 
               
               
                   
                 x 
                 0.6415 
                 0.6481 
                 0.6537 
               
               
                   
                 y 
                 0.3381 
                 0.3265 
                 0.3022 
               
               
                 Full G 
                 Lv 
                 228.9 
                 197.6 
                 97.18 
               
               
                   
                 x 
                 0.3111 
                 0.2922 
                 0.2433 
               
               
                   
                 y 
                 0.6249 
                 0.6345 
                 0.6539 
               
               
                 Full B 
                 Lv 
                 24.98 
                 23.67 
                 17.84 
               
               
                   
                 x 
                 0.1557 
                 0.1543 
                 0.1519 
               
               
                   
                 y 
                 0.0637 
                 0.0607 
                 0.05 
               
               
                 Color gamut 
                 Color gamut 
                 0.115 
                 0.123 
                 0.140 
               
               
                   
                 Against ATSC 
                 102.6% 
                 110.1% 
                 124.9% 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Color gamut improvement 
                 — 
                  7.3% 
                  21.7% 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0052]    As illustrated in Tables 1 to 3 and  FIGS. 3A to 3D, 4A to 4C and 5A to 5C , it may be understood that the liquid crystal displays of the examples including the color gamut enhancing film provided an improved color gamut and color purity in comparison to the comparative examples. 
       EXPLANATION OF MARK 
       [0053]      10 : Liquid crystal panel 
         [0054]      101 : Upper polarizing plate 
         [0055]      102 : First adhesive layer 
         [0056]      103 : Liquid crystal cell 
         [0057]      104 : Second adhesive layer 
         [0058]      105 : Lower polarizing plate 
         [0059]      20 : Backlight unit 
         [0060]      201 : Dual brightness enhancement film (DBEF) or an upper diffusion plate 
         [0061]      202 : Horizontal prism sheet 
         [0062]      203 : Vertical prism sheet 
         [0063]      204 : Lower diffusion plate 
         [0064]      205 : Light guide plate 
         [0065]      206 : Reflective plate