Black matrix structures for displays devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10670905-B2
Application number	US-201715430344-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 10, 2017
Priority date	Feb 10, 2017
Publication date	Jun 2, 2020
Grant date	Jun 2, 2020

Abstract

Described are examples of display devices including a display panel comprised of a transparent layer, a color filter layer adjacent to the transparent layer, wherein the color filter layer comprises a matrix of colored light filters, and a black matrix layer comprising a base portion disposed on the transparent layer between two of the different colored light filters and an extension portion that extends into the color filter layer between the two colored light filters to block a light path that may otherwise traverse both of the two colored light filters. The base portion and the extension portion differ in a height dimension that is substantially perpendicular to the transparent layer.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A display device, comprising:
a transparent layer;
a color filter layer adjacent to the transparent layer, wherein the color filter layer comprises a matrix of colored light filters, wherein one or more of the colored light filters may be of a different color;
liquid crystal disposed on the color filter layer to define a liquid crystal layer; and
a black matrix layer comprising a plurality of columnar members each having a base portion and an extension portion extending therefrom, each base portion disposed on the transparent layer between two different colored light filters in the matrix of colored light filters and each extension portion extending into the color filter layer between the two different colored light filters in the matrix of colored light filters, wherein the base portion and the extension portion differ in a height dimension that is substantially perpendicular to the transparent layer, wherein the extension portion of the plurality of columnar members defines a channel, wherein the channel extends through the extension portion of each of multiple columnar members of the plurality of columnar members, and wherein the channel is defined at least in part by the base portion, and
wherein the channel is configured to allow the liquid crystal to flow through the channel.

2. The display device of claim 1 , wherein the base portion has a first width and the extension portion has a second width, wherein the first width is different from the second width.

3. The display device of claim 1 , wherein the extension portion extends at least halfway through the color filter layer.

4. The display device of claim 1 , wherein the extension portion is aligned on the base portion respective to a center of a width of the base portion.

5. The display device of claim 1 , wherein the transparent layer defines a first transparent layer, and wherein the liquid crystal layer is disposed between the color filter layer and a transparent thin film transistor (TFT) layer.

6. The display device of claim 5 , further comprising a backlight configured to generate light through a second transparent layer toward the first transparent layer.

7. The display device of claim 6 , wherein the backlight is a light emitting diode (LED) lamp or an organic LED (OLED) lamp.

8. The display device of claim 1 , wherein the extension portion is at an off-center positon relative to a width of the base portion.

9. The display device of claim 1 , further comprising a second black matrix layer disposed over the extension portion and over at least a portion of the matrix of colored light filters.

10. The display device of claim 1 , wherein the extension portion extends beyond the color filter layer.

11. A method for constructing a display device, comprising:
disposing a black matrix layer on a transparent layer, wherein the black matrix layer comprises an insulating material for blocking light;
modifying the black matrix layer to include a plurality of columnar members each having at least a base portion having a first width and an extension portion, extending therefrom and having a second width, wherein the first width is different from the second width, wherein the extension portion of the plurality of columnar members defines a channel, wherein the channel extends through the extension portion of each of multiple columnar members of the plurality of columnar members, wherein the channel is configured to allow liquid crystal to flow through the channel, and wherein the channel is defined at least in part by the base portion;
disposing two different colored light filters of a matrix of colored light filters to define a color filter layer on the transparent layer and between the plurality of columnar members of the black matrix layer; and
disposing the liquid crystal on the matrix of colored light filters to define a liquid crystal layer.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein modifying the black matrix layer comprises applying a photolithographic process to the black matrix layer using a halftone mask layer and a metallic mask layer to form the extension portion and the base portion from the black matrix layer.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein modifying the black matrix layer comprises disposing the extension portion on top of the base portion.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein modifying the black matrix layer comprises etching the black matrix layer to generate the extension portion and the base portion.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein disposing the two different colored light filters to define the color filter layer comprises disposing materials to form the matrix of colored light filters on top of the base portion and adjacent to the extension portion, wherein the matrix of colored light filters extend between at least two portions of the black matrix layer disposed over the transparent layer.

16. The method of claim 11 , wherein the extension portion extends at least halfway through the color filter layer to block an angular light path between adjacent colored light filters.

17. A computing device, comprising:
at least one processor and a memory;
a display panel, comprising:
a transparent layer;
a color filter layer adjacent to the transparent layer, wherein the color filter layer comprises a matrix of colored light filters, wherein one or more of the colored light filters may be of a different color;
liquid crystal disposed on the color filter layer to define a liquid crystal layer; and
a black matrix layer comprising a plurality of columnar members each having a base portion and an extension portion extending therefrom, each base portion disposed on the transparent layer between two different colored light filters in the matrix of colored light filters and each extension portion extending into the color filter layer between the two different colored light filters in the matrix of colored light filters, wherein the base portion and the extension portion differ in a height dimension that is substantially perpendicular to the transparent layer, wherein the extension portion of the plurality of columnar members defines a channel, wherein the channel extends through the extension portion of each of multiple columnar members of the plurality of columnar members, wherein the channel is configured to allow the liquid crystal to flow through the channel, and wherein the channel is defined at least in part by the base portion;
a thin film transistor (TFT) layer configured for controlling the liquid crystal associated with the matrix of colored light filters; and

a display controller coupled to the at least one processor and configured to provide one or more images to the display panel.

18. The computing device of claim 17 , wherein the base portion has a first width and the extension portion has a second width, wherein the first width is different from the second width.

19. The computing device of claim 17 , wherein the extension portion extends at least halfway through the color filter layer.

20. The computing device of claim 17 , wherein the extension portion is aligned on the base portion respective to a center of a width of the base portion.

Assignees

• Microsoft Technology Licensing Llc
• Microsoft Techonology Licensing Llc

Inventors

• Choi Minhyuk
• Lee Gangok
• Gandhi Jignesh V
• Leon Camilo
• Cady Andrew N
• Dighde Rajesh

Classifications

• G02F1/133512 Primary

  Light shielding layers, e.g. black matrix (G02F1/136209 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G02F1/133516

  Methods for their manufacture, e.g. printing, electro-deposition or photolithography · CPC title

• G02F1/1368

  in which the switching element is a three-electrode device {(G02F1/136277 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• G02F1/133603

  with LEDs · CPC title

• G02F1/133514

  Colour filters · CPC title