Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
         [0001]    This application relies for priorities upon Korean Patent Applications No. 2003-19597 filed on Mar. 28, 2003 and No. 2003-20598 filed on Apr. 1, 2003, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    The present invention relates to an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) apparatus and a method of manufacturing the same, and more particularly to an LCD apparatus having an improved display quality and a method of manufacturing the same.  
           [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art  
           [0005]    Today, touch screen technologies are widely applied to electronic instruments such as a PDA (Personal Digital Assistants) or a mobile communication device.  
           [0006]    In a touch screen LCD apparatus, a ripple phenomenon sometimes appears on the LCD panel when a user touches a surface of the LCD panel. This ripple phenomenon, which is highly undesirable, is caused by swelling of the liquid crystal when the user repeatedly touches a certain area on the surface of the LCD panel.  
           [0007]    In an attempt to prevent the ripple phenomenon, a column spacer has been formed inside the LCD panel to support the surface that is touched during use. However, since the column spacer is uniformly distributed inside the LCD panel, use of these spacers is often accompanied by loss of efficiency/quality in other aspects, such as image quality. This is because the occurrence and the extent of the LCD panel deformation varies depending on the location of the panel that is touched by the user even if the user touches the different locations at the same force.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    The present invention provides an LCD apparatus having an improved display quality, and a method suitable for manufacturing the above LCD apparatus.  
           [0009]    The invention includes a light emitting apparatus that includes 1) a first substrate having a first region that substantially transmits light and a second region that substantially intercepts light, 2) a second substrate attached to the first substrate so as to form a cell gap of a predetermined distance between the first and the second substrates, 3) a liquid crystal layer positioned in the cell gap, and 4) a spacer positioned between the first substrate and the second substrate in the second region so as to maintain the cell gap substantially without blocking light that is not intercepted by the second region. By forming the spacer near a the second region that substantially intercepts light, the spacer does not cause further loss of light or decrease of opening ratio. At the same time, by positioning the spacers between the first and the second substrates, thereby providing extra support to the light emitting apparatus when it is used as a touch screen device, the spacers will reduce the undesirable ripple effect.  
           [0010]    The invention also includes the method of making the above light emitting apparatus. The method includes 1) obtaining a first substrate having a first region that substantially transmits light and a second region that substantially intercepts light, 2) attaching a second substrate to the first substrate so as to form a cell gap of a predetermined distance between the first and the second substrates, 3) filing the cell gap with liquid crystal, and 4) forming a spacer between the first and the second substrates to maintain the cell gap substantially without blocking light that is not intercepted by the second region, wherein the spacer is located in the second region. Since the spacer is located in the second region, it provides support to the display panel without blocking significant amount of light. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]    The above and other advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a lower substrate of an LCD apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a transmissive type LCD apparatus having the lower substrate shown in FIG. 1;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a transmissive type LCD apparatus according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a lower substrate of an LCD apparatus according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a transmissive type LCD apparatus having the lower substrate shown in FIG. 4;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a transmissive type LCD apparatus according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a transflective type LCD apparatus according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a transflective type LCD apparatus according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing a reflective LCD apparatus according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a reflective type LCD apparatus according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0022]    [0022]FIGS. 12A to  12 F are views illustrating a method of manufacturing an LCD apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0023]    As used herein, a “first member” refers to a first substrate and any peripheral layers deposited on the first substrate, and a “second member” refers to a second substrate and any peripheral layers deposited thereon. Specifically, a “second member  1000 ” includes a second substrate  100 . A “spacer,” as used herein, is any structure or mechanism used to form or maintain a cell gap between the first and the second members, and is not limited to a particular material, shape, or size.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a member (second member) of an LCD apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a transmissive type LCD apparatus having the second member of FIG. 1  
         [0025]    Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a transmissive type LCD apparatus  2000  includes a second member  1000 , a first member  200  and a liquid crystal layer  400  interposed between the first and second members  1000  and  200 .  
         [0026]    The second member  1000  includes a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix configuration. In this exemplary embodiment, a pixel positioned at a position of M column by N row, where N is a natural number greater than 2 and N is a natural number greater than 1, will be described. The pixel includes a (M−1)-th gate line  145 , Mth gate line  131 , Nth data line  230   a,  a TFT  300  and a pixel electrode  420 .  
         [0027]    A gate pattern is formed on a second substrate  100 . The gate pattern includes the (M−1)-th gate line  145  extending in a first direction D 1 , the Mth gate line  131  extending in the first direction D 1  and a gate electrode  110  branching from the Mth gate line  131 . In this exemplary embodiment, the (M−1)-th gate line  145  is operated as a first auxiliary electrode  150  of an auxiliary capacitor Cst described below.  
         [0028]    The gate pattern includes a conductive material such as aluminum (Al), aluminum alloy, molybdenum (Mo), molybdenum-tungsten alloy (MoW), chromium (Cr), or tantalum (Ta). The gate pattern may consist of a single layer, a double layer or a triple layer. In an exemplary case where the gate pattern is provided with double or triple layers, one layer includes the chromium (Cr) or the aluminum (Al) and another layer includes the aluminum (Al) or the molybdenum (Mo).  
         [0029]    A gate insulating layer  170  is formed over the second substrate  100  comprising a silicon nitride (SiNx) on which the gate pattern is formed. A semiconductor layer  320  and an ohmic contact layer  330  are formed on the gate insulating layer  170  near the gate electrode  110 .  
         [0030]    A data pattern is formed on the gate insulating layer  170  on which the ohmic contact layer  330  is formed. The data pattern includes the Nth data line  230   a  extending in a second direction D 2  substantially perpendicular to the first direction D 1 , a source electrode  210  branching from the Nth data line  230   a  and a drain electrode  310  spaced apart from the source electrode  210  in a predetermined distance. The data pattern further includes a second auxiliary electrode  230   b  formed on the second substrate  100  and the gate insulating layer  170  and overlying the first auxiliary electrode  150 .  
         [0031]    Accordingly, the TFT  300  having the gate electrode  110 , gate insulating layer  170 , semiconductor layer  132 , ohmic contact layer  133 , source electrode  210  and drain electrode  310  is formed on the second substrate  100 . Also, the auxiliary capacitor Cst having the first and second auxiliary electrodes  150  and  230   b  is formed on the second substrate  100 .  
         [0032]    An organic layer  370  including a poly-benzocyclobutene and an acrylic resin is formed over the second substrate  100  on which the data pattern is formed. The organic layer  370  is patterned through a photolithography process, so that first and second contact holes  710  and  810  are formed at the organic layer  370 , exposing the drain electrode  310  and the second auxiliary electrode  230   b , respectively. The pixel electrode  420  is electrically connected to the drain electrode  310  through the first contact hole  710  and electrically connected to the second auxiliary electrode  230   b  through the second contact hole  810 .  
         [0033]    The pixel electrode  420  includes a transparent conductive material, such as indium tin oxide (hereinafter, referred to as ITO), so as to transmit light provided from a direction of the second member  1000 . The pixel electrode  420  is overlaps a part of the (M−1)-th gate line  145  but does not overlap the Nth data line  230   a  and the Mth gate line  131 , as illustrated in FIG. 1.  
         [0034]    The first member  200  includes a common electrode  240  positioned on the surface that is closest to the liquid crystal layer  400 . The common electrode  240  includes ITO. The common electrode  240  operates as a liquid crystal capacitor Clc with the liquid crystal layer  400  and pixel electrode  420 . The auxiliary capacitor Cst is electrically connected to the liquid crystal capacitor Clc by connecting the second auxiliary electrode  230   b  to the pixel electrode  420 .  
         [0035]    Due to a parasitic capacitance that appears between the gate and source electrodes  110  and  210  of the TFT  300 , in general, a voltage signal applied to the pixel electrode  420  may be distorted. The distorted voltage signal is herein referred to as “kickback voltage.” The kickback voltage sometimes causes a flicker in the transmissive type LCD apparatus  2000 .  
         [0036]    In this exemplary embodiment, since the transsmissive type LCD apparatus  2000  includes the auxiliary capacitor Cst electrically connected to the liquid crystal capacitor Clc, the transmissive type LCD apparatus  2000  may reduce the kickback voltage and increase a voltage holding ratio of the liquid crystal capacitor Clc, thereby improving a display quality thereof.  
         [0037]    In order to uniformly maintain a cell gap between the first and the second members  200  and  1000 , the transmissive type LCD apparatus  2000  includes a column spacer  440   a  disposed between the first and second members  200  and  1000 . The column spacer  440   a  is formed by depositing an organic layer on the common electrode  240  of the first member  200  and patterning the organic layer.  
         [0038]    The column spacer  440   a  is formed on a non-effective display area. As used herein, an area on which the auxiliary capacitor Cst is formed is referred to as the “non-effective display area.” The reason this area is referred to as the “non-effective display area” is that light from a light source (not shown), such as a backlight assembly disposed under the second member  1000 , is intercepted by the first and second auxiliary electrodes  150  and  230   b.  The second auxiliary electrode  230   b  and a lower portion of the column spacer  440   a  is received in the second contact hole  810 , so that the column spacer  440   a  makes contact with the pixel electrode  420  disposed on the second auxiliary electrode  230   b.    
         [0039]    By forming the column spacer  440   a  on the non-effective display area, any reduction in the opening ratio of the transmissive type LCD apparatus  2000  due the presence of the column spacer  440   a  can be avoided. Also, the column spacer  440   a  prevents the first member  200  from being pushed down toward the second member  1000 , for example while being used as a touch screen panel.  
         [0040]    [0040]FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a transmissive type LCD apparatus according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 3, the same reference numerals denote the same elements in FIG. 2, and thus the detailed descriptions of the same elements will be omitted.  
         [0041]    Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, a transmissive type LCD apparatus  3000  includes a column spacer  440   a  disposed between a first member  200  and a second member  1000  so as to uniformly maintain a constant cell gap between the members. The column spacer  440   a  is formed by depositing an organic layer (not shown) on a common electrode  240  of the first member  200  and patterning the organic layer.  
         [0042]    The column spacer  440   a  is formed in the non-effective display area on which an auxiliary capacitor Cst makes contact with a pixel electrode  420  disposed on an organic layer  370 .  
         [0043]    As described above, any reduction in the opening ratio of the transmissive type LCD apparatus  2000  due the presence of the column spacer  440   a  can be avoided by forming the column spacer  440   a  in the non-effective display area. Also, the column spacer  440   a  prevents the first member  200  from being pushed down toward the second member  1000 , for example while being used as a touch screen panel.  
         [0044]    [0044]FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a second substrate of an LCD apparatus according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a transmissive type LCD apparatus having the second member shown in FIG. 4.  
         [0045]    Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, a transmissive type LCD apparatus  6000  includes an alternative second member  5000 , a first member  200  and a liquid crystal layer  400  interposed between first and second members  200  and  5000 .  
         [0046]    The alternative second member  5000  includes a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix configuration. Each of the pixels includes a gate line  130   a,  a data line  230 , an auxiliary electrode line  130   b,  a TFT  300  and a pixel electrode  420 .  
         [0047]    A gate pattern is formed on an second substrate  100 . The gate pattern includes the gate line  130   a,  the auxiliary electrode line  130   b,  and a gate electrode  110  of the TFT  330  branching from the gate line  130   a.  In this exemplary embodiment, the auxiliary electrode line  130   b  is operated as a first auxiliary electrode  140  of an auxiliary capacitor Cst described below. The auxiliary electrode line  130   b  is extended in a same direction as that of the gate line  130   a.    
         [0048]    A gate insulating layer  170  is formed over the second substrate  100  on which the gate pattern is formed. A semiconductor layer  320  and an ohmic contact layer  330  are successively formed on the gate insulating layer  170  corresponding to the gate electrode  110 .  
         [0049]    A data pattern is formed on the gate insulating layer  170  on which the semiconductor layer  320  and ohmic contact layer  330  are formed. The data pattern includes the data line  230   a,  a source electrode  210  branched from the data line  230   a,  and a drain electrode  310  spaced apart from the source electrode  210  in a predetermined distance. The drain electrode  315  is formed on the gate insulating layer  170 , and extends so as to overlap the auxiliary electrode line  130   b  and operate as a second auxiliary electrode  313  of the auxiliary capacitor Cst.  
         [0050]    Thus, the auxiliary capacitor Cst having the first auxiliary electrode  140  of the auxiliary electrode line  130   b  and the second auxiliary electrode  313  extending from the drain electrode  315  is completely formed on the second substrate  100 .  
         [0051]    The alternative second member  5000  includes an organic layer  370  through which a contact hole  800  is formed so as to expose the second auxiliary electrode  313 . A pixel electrode  410  is formed on the second auxiliary electrode  313  exposed through the contact hole  800  and the organic layer  370 . The pixel electrode  410  is electrically connected to the second auxiliary electrode  313  through the contact hole  800  and also electrically connected to the drain electrode  315  since the second auxiliary electrode  313  is an extension of the drain electrode  315 .  
         [0052]    The first member  200  includes a common electrode  240  positioned on the surface that is closest to the liquid crystal layer  400 . The common electrode  240  operates as a liquid crystal capacitor Clc with the liquid crystal layer  400  and pixel electrode  420 . The auxiliary capacitor Cst is electrically connected to the liquid crystal capacitor Clc by connecting the second auxiliary electrode  313  to the pixel electrode  420 .  
         [0053]    In this exemplary embodiment, since the transsmissive type LCD apparatus  6000  includes the auxiliary capacitor Cst electrically connected to the liquid crystal capacitor Clc, the transmissive type LCD apparatus  6000  reduces the kickback voltage and increases a voltage holding ratio of the liquid crystal capacitor Clc, thereby improving the display quality.  
         [0054]    In order to uniformly maintain a cell gap between the first and second members  200  and  5000 , the transmissive type LCD apparatus  6000  includes a column spacer  430   a  disposed between the first and second members  200  and  5000 . The column spacer  430   a  is formed on a non-effective display area on which the second auxiliary electrode  313  is received in the contact hole  800 , so that the column spacer  430   a  makes contact with the pixel electrode  420  disposed on the second auxiliary electrode  313 .  
         [0055]    That is, the light provided from a light source (not shown), such as a backlight assembly disposed under the alternative second member  5000 , is intercepted by the first and second auxiliary electrodes  140  and  313 . Thus, an area on which the auxiliary capacitor Cst is formed is a non-effective display area.  
         [0056]    As described above, any reduction in the opening ratio of the transmissive type LCD apparatus  6000  due to the presence of the column spacer  430   a  can be avoided by forming the column spacer  430   a  in the non-effective display area. Also, the column spacer  430   a  prevents the first member  200  from being pushed down toward the alternative second member  5000 .  
         [0057]    [0057]FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a transmissive type LCD apparatus according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 6, the same reference numerals denote the same elements in FIG. 5, and thus the detailed descriptions of the same elements will be omitted.  
         [0058]    Referring to FIG. 6, a transmissive type LCD apparatus  7000  includes a first member  200 , a alternative second member  5000 , a liquid crystal layer  400  interposed between the first and second members  200  and  5000  and a column spacer  430   b  disposed between the first and second members  200  and  5000  so as to uniformly maintain a cell gap therebetween.  
         [0059]    The alternative second member  5000  includes a gate electrode  110 , a first auxiliary electrode  140 , a gate insulating layer  170 , a semiconductor layer  320 , an ohmic contact layer  330 , a source electrode  210 , a drain electrode  310  operated as a second auxiliary electrode  313 , an organic layer  370  through which a contact hole  800  is formed so as to expose the second auxiliary electrode  313 , and a pixel electrode  410  formed on the second auxiliary electrode  313  exposed through the contact hole  800  and the organic layer  370 .  
         [0060]    The pixel electrode  410  is electrically connected to the second auxiliary electrode  313  through the contact hole  800  and also electrically connected to the drain electrode  315  since the second auxiliary electrode  313  extends from the drain electrode  315 .  
         [0061]    The column spacer  430   b  is formed by depositing an organic layer (not shown) on a common electrode  240  formed on the first member  200  and patterning the organic layer.  
         [0062]    The column spacer  430   b  is formed in a non-effective display area where an auxiliary capacitor Cst makes contact with the pixel electrode  410  disposed on the organic layer  370 . Particularly, the column spacer  430   b  makes contact with the pixel electrode  410  at an upper portion of the contact hole  800  formed on the organic layer  370 . The space in the contact hole  800  that is dosed by the column spacer  430   b  usually contains liquid crystals or air.  
         [0063]    As described above, any reduction in the opening ratio of the transmissive type LCD apparatus  7000  due to the presence of the column spacer  430   b  is avoided by forming the column spacer  430   b  in the non-effective display area. Also, the column spacer  430   b  prevents the first member  200  from being pushed down toward the alternative second member  5000 , for example when the transmissive type LCD apparatus  7000  is used as a touch screen device.  
         [0064]    [0064]FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a transflective type LCD apparatus according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0065]    Referring to FIG. 7, a transflective type LCD apparatus  8000  includes a alternative second member  5000 , a first member  200  and a liquid crystal layer  400  interposed between the lower and upper substrates  5000  and  200 .  
         [0066]    The alternative second member  5000  includes a plurality of pixels arranged on an second substrate  100  in a matrix configuration. Each of the pixels includes a TFT  300 , a transmissive electrode  411 , a reflective electrode  412 , a first auxiliary electrode  140 , a second auxiliary electrode  313  and an organic layer  371 .  
         [0067]    The TFT  300  having a gate electrode  110 , a source electrode  210  and a drain electrode  315  is formed on the second substrate  100 . Also, an auxiliary capacitor Cst having the first auxiliary electrode  140 , a gate insulating layer  170  and the second auxiliary electrode  313  is formed while the TFT  300  is formed.  
         [0068]    The organic layer  371  is formed over the second substrate  100  on which the TFT  300  and auxiliary capacitor Cst are formed. The organic layer  371  has a contact hole  800  so as to expose the second auxiliary electrode  313 . Also, the organic layer  371  has an upper surface formed with concave and convex portions, thereby improving a reflectance of the reflective electrode  412  formed on the organic layer  371 .  
         [0069]    The transmissive and reflective electrodes  411  and  412  are successively formed on the organic layer  371 . The transmissive and reflective electrodes  411  and  412  are electrically connected to the second auxiliary electrode  313  through the contact hole  800 . Also, the transmissive and reflective electrodes  411  and  412  may be electrically connected to the drain electrode  315  because the second auxiliary electrode  313  is an extension of the drain electrode  315 .  
         [0070]    The first member  200  includes a black matrix layer  500  and a common electrode  240 . In the LCD device  10000 , the common electrode  240  is positioned on the surface of the first member  200  that is closest to the liquid crystal layer  400 . The liquid layer  400  is interposed between the common electrode  240  and the reflective or transmissive electrodes  412  and  411 . A first liquid crystal capacitor Clct is provided between the common electrode  240  and the transmissive electrode  411  and a second liquid crystal capacitor Clcr is provided between the common electrode  240  and the reflective electrode  412 .  
         [0071]    A column spacer  430   a  is disposed between the first and second members  200  and  5000 . A lower portion of the column spacer  430   a  is received in the contact hole  800 , so that the column spacer  430   a  makes contact with the reflective electrode  412  disposed on the second auxiliary electrode  313 .  
         [0072]    As described above, any reduction in the opening ratio of the transmissive type LCD apparatus  8000  due to the formation of the column spacer  430   a  is avoided by forming the column spacer  430   a  in the non-effective display area where the auxiliary capacitor Cst is formed. Also, the column spacer  430   a  prevents the first member  200  from being pushed down toward the alternative second member  5000  when the transmissive type LCD apparatus  8000  is used as a touch screen device.  
         [0073]    In addition, the black matrix  500  formed on first member  200  is disposed on the non-effective display area corresponding to the column spacer  430   a.  The black matrix prevents the column spacer  430   a  from being projected onto a screen of the transflective type LCD apparatus  8000 , thereby improving the display quality of the transflective type LCD apparatus  8000 .  
         [0074]    [0074]FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a transflective type LCD apparatus according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 8, the same reference numerals denote the same elements in FIG. 7, and thus the detailed descriptions of the same elements will be omitted.  
         [0075]    Referring to FIG. 8, a transflective type LCD apparatus  9000  includes a first member  200 , a alternative second member  5000 , a liquid crystal layer  400  interposed between the first and second members  200  and  5000 , and a column spacer  430   b  disposed between the first and second members  200  and  5000  so as to uniformly maintain a cell gap between the substrates.  
         [0076]    The alternative second member  5000  includes a gate electrode  110 , a first auxiliary electrode  140 , a gate insulating layer  170 , a semiconductor layer  320 , an ohmic contact layer  330 , a source electrode  210 , a drain electrode  310  operating as a second auxiliary electrode  313 , an organic layer  370  through which a contact hole  800  is formed so as to expose the second auxiliary electrode  313 , and a pixel electrode  410  formed on the second auxiliary electrode  313  exposed through the contact hole  800  and the organic layer  371 . The pixel electrode  410  includes a transmissive electrode  411  and a reflective electrode  412  formed on the transmissive electrode  411 .  
         [0077]    The pixel electrode  410  is electrically connected to the second auxiliary electrode  313  through the contact hole  800  and also electrically connected to the drain electrode  315  because the second auxiliary electrode  313  is an extension of the drain electrode  315 .  
         [0078]    The column spacer  430   b  is formed by depositing an organic layer (not shown) on a common electrode  240  formed on the first member  200  and patterning the organic layer.  
         [0079]    The column spacer  430   b  is formed on a non-effective display area where an auxiliary capacitor Cst contacts the pixel electrode  410  disposed on the organic layer  370 . Particularly, the column spacer  430   b  makes contact with the reflective electrode  412  at an upper portion of the contact hole  800  formed on the organic layer  371 .  
         [0080]    As described above, any reduction in the opening ratio of the transflective type LCD apparatus  9000  due to the presence of the column spacer  430   b  is avoided by forming the column spacer  430   b  in the non-effective area.  
         [0081]    The first member  200  includes a black matrix layer  500  disposed on the non-effective display area near the column spacer  430   b.  Due to the presence of the black matrix layer  500 , the column spacer  430   b  is not projected onto a screen of the transflective type LCD apparatus  9000 , thereby improving the display quality of the transflective type LCD apparatus  9000 .  
         [0082]    Also, the transflective type LCD apparatus  9000  may prevent the first member  200  from being pushed down toward the alternative second member  5000  because the column spacer  430   b  is formed on the pixel electrode  410 .  
         [0083]    [0083]FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing a reflective LCD apparatus according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0084]    Referring to FIG. 9, a reflective type LCD apparatus  10000  includes a alternative second member  5000 , a first member  200  and a liquid crystal layer  400  interposed between the lower and upper substrates  5000  and  200 .  
         [0085]    The alternative second member  5000  includes a plurality of pixels arranged on an second substrate  100  in a matrix configuration. Each of the pixels includes a TFT  300 , a reflective electrode  416 , a first auxiliary electrode  140 , a second auxiliary electrode  313  and an organic layer  371 .  
         [0086]    The TFT  300  having a gate electrode  110 , a source electrode  210  and a drain electrode  315  are formed on the second substrate  100 . Also, an auxiliary capacitor Cst having the first auxiliary electrode  140 , a gate insulating layer  170  and the second auxiliary electrode  313  are formed, e.g. when the TFT  300  is formed.  
         [0087]    The organic layer  371  is formed over the second substrate  100  on which the TFT  300  and auxiliary capacitor Cst are formed. The organic layer  371  has a contact hole  800  so as to expose the second auxiliary electrode  313 . Also, the organic layer  371  has an upper surface formed with concave and convex portions, thereby improving a reflectance of the reflective electrode  416  formed on the organic layer  371 .  
         [0088]    The reflective electrode  416  is formed on the organic layer  371  and electrically connected to the second auxiliary electrode  313  through the contact hole  800 . Also, the reflective electrode  416  may be electrically connected to the drain electrode  315  because the second auxiliary electrode  313  is an extension of the drain electrode  315 .  
         [0089]    The first member  200  includes a black matrix layer  500  and a common electrode  240 . A column spacer  430   a  is disposed between the first and second members  200  and  5000 . A lower portion of the column spacer  430   a  is received in the contact hole  800 , so that the column spacer  430   a  makes contact with the reflective electrode  416  disposed on the second auxiliary electrode  313 .  
         [0090]    Thus, the reflective type LCD apparatus  10000  may prevent an opening ratio from being lowered due to the column spacer  430   a.  Also, the reflective type LCD apparatus  10000  may prevent the first member  200  from being pushed down toward the alternative second member  5000  because the column spacer  430   a  is formed on the reflective electrode  416 .  
         [0091]    In addition, the black matrix  500  formed on the first member  200  is positioned to overlie the column spacer  430   a.  Thus, the column spacer  430   a  is not projected onto a screen of the reflective type LCD apparatus  10000 , thereby improving a display quality of the reflective type LCD apparatus  10000 .  
         [0092]    [0092]FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a reflective type LCD apparatus according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 10, the same reference numerals denote the same elements in FIG. 9, and thus the detailed descriptions of the same elements will be omitted.  
         [0093]    Referring to FIG. 10, a reflective type LCD apparatus  11000  includes a first member  200 , a alternative second member  5000 , a liquid crystal layer  400  interposed between the first and second members  200  and  5000  and a column spacer  430   b  disposed between the first and second members  200  and  5000  so as to uniformly maintain a cell gap therebetween.  
         [0094]    The alternative second member  5000  includes a gate electrode  110 , a first auxiliary electrode  140 , a gate insulating layer  170 , a semiconductor layer  320 , an ohmic contact layer  330 , a source electrode  210 , a drain electrode  310  operated as a second auxiliary electrode  313 , an organic layer  371  through which a contact hole  800  is formed so as to expose the second auxiliary electrode  313  and a pixel electrode  416  formed on the second auxiliary electrode  313  exposed through the contact hole  800  and the organic layer  370 .  
         [0095]    The pixel electrode  416  is electrically connected to the second auxiliary electrode  313  through the contact hole  800  and also electrically connected to the drain electrode  315  because the second auxiliary electrode  313  is an extension of the drain electrode  315 .  
         [0096]    The column spacer  430   b  is formed by depositing an organic layer (not shown) on a common electrode  240  formed on the first member  200  and patterning the organic layer.  
         [0097]    The column spacer  430   b  is formed on a non-effective display area where an auxiliary capacitor Cst having the first and second auxiliary electrodes  140  and  313  makes contact with the pixel electrode  416  disposed on the organic layer  371 .  
         [0098]    As described above, the column spacer  430   b  is formed on the non-effective display area to prevent any reduction of the opening ratio in the reflective type LCD apparatus  11000 .  
         [0099]    The first member  200  includes a black matrix layer  500  disposed on the non-effective display area overlying the column spacer  430   b.  The black matrix layer  500  prevents the column spacer  430   b  from being projected onto a screen of the reflective type LCD apparatus  11000 , thereby improving a display quality of the reflective type LCD apparatus  11000 .  
         [0100]    Also, the reflective type LCD apparatus  11000  may prevent the first member  200  from being pushed down toward the alternative second member  5000  because the column spacer  430   b  is formed on the pixel electrode  416 .  
         [0101]    [0101]FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing an LCD apparatus having a plurality of column spacers according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0102]    Referring to FIG. 11, an LCD apparatus  600  includes a first member  200 , a second member  1000  combined with the first member  200 , a sealant  700  disposed between the upper and lower substrate  200  and  1000  to hold the first and second members  200  and  1000  together, and a plurality of column spacer  430  disposed between the first and second members  200  and  1000  to uniformly maintain a cell gap between the substrates.  
         [0103]    The LCD apparatus  600  is divided into a display area DA where a plurality of pixels are formed and a peripheral area PA surrounding the display area DA.  
         [0104]    The sealant  700  is formed between the first and second members  200  and  1000  in the peripheral area PA. The column spacers  430  are disposed between the first and second members  200  and  1000  in the display area DA. A plurality of layers other than the spacers, such as an insulating layer, an electrode layer or the like, are formed in the display area DA. The column spacers  430  are also formed on the layers. Since the plurality of layers are formed in the display area but not in the peripheral area, each of the column spacers  430  has a length smaller than a length of the sealant  700 .  
         [0105]    As shown in FIG. 11, the distance between the column spacers  430  is not constant. In the example shown, the distance between two immediately neighboring spacers  430  decreases as the center of the second member  1000  is approached. Thus, generally, the spacers  430  are positioned doser together farther away from the peripheral area PA. The reason for this arrangement is that the column spacers  430  disposed in an area of the display area DA near the peripheral area PA receive “help” from the sealant  700  in absorbing an impact applied to an outer portion of the display area DA. When the contribution from the sealant  700  is taken into account, fewer column spacers  430  are needed to absorb the same strength of force. Thus, the column spacers  430  near the peripheral area PA can be sparsely arranged. In contrast, the column spacers  430  near the center portion of the display area DA do not receive much “help” from the sealant  700 , and have to absorb the impact by themselves. Thus, more column spacers  430  are needed to absorb the same strength of force near the center portion of the substrate, calling for a denser arrangement of the spacers  430 .  
         [0106]    [0106]FIGS. 12A to  12 F illustrate a method of manufacturing an LCD apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0107]    Referring to FIG. 12A, a metal layer, such as aluminum or aluminum alloy, is deposited on an second substrate  100  and patterned through a first mask process to form a first auxiliary electrode  140 . The first auxiliary electrode  140  is formed separately from a gate line or a data line described below.  
         [0108]    Referring to FIG. 12B, a metal layer containing chromium (Cr), molybdenum (Mo), tantalum (Ta) or antimony (Sb) is deposited on the second substrate  100  and patterned through a second mask process to form a gate electrode  110  and a gate line (not shown).  
         [0109]    Referring to FIG. 12C, a gate insulating layer  170  containing an inorganic material is formed over the second substrate  100  on which the gate electrode  110  and first auxiliary electrode  140  are formed. Then, an intrinsic semiconductor, such as amorphous silicon, and an extrinsic semiconductor doped with impurities are successively deposited on the gate insulating layer  170 . The extrinsic and intrinsic semiconductors are sequentially patterned through a third mask process to form an ohmic contact layer  330  and a semiconductor layer  320 .  
         [0110]    Referring to FIG. 12D, a metal layer containing chromium is formed over the second substrate  100  and patterned through a fourth mask process to form a source electrode  210 , a drain electrode  315 , a second auxiliary electrode  313  and a data line (not shown).  
         [0111]    The source electrode  210  is overlapped with an end of the gate electrode  110  and the drain electrode  315  is overlapped with another end of the gate electrode  110 , thereby forming a TFT  3000  on the second substrate  100 .  
         [0112]    The second auxiliary electrode  313  is an extension of the drain electrode  315  so as to be overlapped with the first auxiliary electrode  140 . The first auxiliary electrode  140 , second auxiliary electrode  313  and gate insulating layer formed between the first and second auxiliary electrodes  140  and  313  are operated as an auxiliary capacitor Cst.  
         [0113]    Referring to FIG. 12E, an organic layer  370  containing an organic insulating material, such as poly-benzocyclobutene, is formed over the second substrate  100  on which the TFT  300  and auxiliary capacitor Cst are formed. The organic layer  370  is patterned through a fifth mask process to form a contact hole  800 , which partially exposes the second auxiliary electrode  313 .  
         [0114]    Referring to FIG. 12F, an ITO is deposited on the organic layer  370  and patterned through a sixth mask process to form a pixel electrode  410 . The pixel electrode  410  is electrically connected to the second auxiliary electrode  313  through the contact hole  800 .  
         [0115]    As shown in FIG. 5, a column spacer  430   a  is formed overlying the auxiliary capacitor Cst. That is, a lower portion of the column spacer  430   a  is received in the contact hole  800  so that the column spacer  430   a  makes contact with the pixel electrode  410  disposed on the second auxiliary electrode  313 .  
         [0116]    The column spacer  430   b  may make contact with the pixel electrode  410  at an upper portion of the contact hole  800  so as to be supported by the pixel electrode  410  as shown in FIG. 6.  
         [0117]    As described above, when the column spacers  430   a  and  430   b  are formed on a non-effective display area on which the auxiliary capacitor Cst is formed, the LCD apparatus shown in FIGS. 12A to  12 F may prevent an opening ratio from being lowered due to the column spacers  430   a  and  430   b.    
         [0118]    Also, the LCD apparatus shown in FIG. 12A to  12 F may prevent the first member  200  (see FIGS.  5  or  6 ) from being pushed down or bending toward the lower substrate  100  because the column spacers  430   a  and  430   b  are formed on the pixel electrode  410 .  
         [0119]    Although the exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been described, it is understood that the present invention should not be limited to these exemplary embodiments but various changes and modifications can be made by one ordinary skilled in the art within the spirit and scope of the present invention as hereinafter claimed.

Technology Category: g