JP2000075257A - Production of liquid crystal device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize a novel method for producing a liquid crystal display device by which the post treatment of an end face of a substrate is mitigated and a liq. crystal panel provided with an optional flat shape is formed. SOLUTION: A continuous groove 11a is formed by decomposing and removing with etching a substrate material, which is coated with a resist layer 12a other part than a forming part of the continuous groove 11a. After then, the resist layer 12 is removed and the substrate is washed. Then a sealing material is applied on an internal surface of a panel substrate 11 and the other panel substrate is laminated with crimping in being laid over the other. The sealing material is cured in this state and a liq. crystal is injected under vacuum. After then, a liq. crystal panel structure is formed by sealing an injecting hole of the liq. crystal the sealing agent. Finally, by breaking the portion formed the continuous ditch 11a by inflicting a light impact to a surrounding part of the panel substrate 11, a liq. crystal panel like a planer ellipse shape is completed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a liquid crystal device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, liquid crystal devices have been used as display portions of various articles such as various display devices and electronic devices.
These liquid crystal devices generally form electrodes such as transparent electrodes on the inner surfaces of two panel substrates made of glass or the like,
It includes a liquid crystal panel formed by bonding two panel substrates via a sealing material and injecting various liquid crystals into a region (liquid crystal sealing region) inside the sealing material between the panel substrates. A driving circuit for supplying a predetermined potential to the electrodes is connected to the liquid crystal panel, and a desired content can be displayed by controlling the state of the liquid crystal for each pixel or segment of the liquid crystal panel by an electric field. It is configured.

In general, a liquid crystal panel integrally forms a plurality of liquid crystal panel structures with a large substrate, and then forms a linear scratch on the surface of the substrate, and gives an impact to the vicinity of the scratch on the substrate to remove the scratch. The substrates are separated into individual liquid crystal panels by performing a breaking process in which the substrates are broken linearly. In general, a liquid crystal panel has a rectangular liquid crystal display area, and therefore, a planar shape of the liquid crystal panel is formed by breaking along each side of the rectangle.

[0004]

However, the product forms and functions of the product groups required in the market in recent years have been diversified and complicated, and the liquid crystal devices constituting the display section of various products have been developed. There are many geometrical and functional requirements for display areas. Under such circumstances, the shape of the liquid crystal display portion of the liquid crystal device is not limited to the rectangular shape as described above, but may be a straight line such as a circle, a semicircle, a sector, an ellipse, and a ring. Demands have arisen for those having a planar shape other than those having a contour. However, in the above-described conventional method of manufacturing a liquid crystal device, a substrate is often broken by forming a linear scratch on the surface of the substrate and giving an impact to the substrate. It is extremely difficult to form a shape other than a rectangular shape. For example, even if you want to break the substrate along an arc or other curved line, the break process is a method of breaking the substrate by impact, so break along the curve and break straight. There is a problem that it is impossible to break or break itself. Therefore, it is difficult to respond to a demand for a shape other than a rectangular shape.

[0005] Further, since the substrate end surface of the liquid crystal panel is broken by breaking the glass substrate, it is necessary to carry out a process of rounding the substrate end surface by polishing, which leads to an increase in the productivity of the manufacturing process. It hinders improvement and cost reduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a method of manufacturing a liquid crystal device, which can form a liquid crystal panel having an arbitrary planar shape and post-process a substrate end face. It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel manufacturing method capable of reducing the production.

[0007]

Means for Solving the Problems A first means taken by the present invention to solve the above-mentioned problem is to selectively disassemble and remove a part of a substrate to at least one sheet having a desired planar shape. Forming a liquid crystal panel having the planar shape using the panel substrate. Since the panel substrate is formed by selectively disassembling and removing the substrate, the planar shape of the liquid crystal panel is not limited as in the related art, and the liquid crystal panel is provided with an appropriate planar shape according to an application site, an application apparatus, and the like. A liquid crystal panel can be configured. Also,
Since a panel substrate formed by disassembling and removing the substrate is used, the polishing of the end face of the substrate becomes unnecessary, and the manufacturing process can be simplified.

[0008] The second means is to selectively disassemble and remove a part of the substrate to form a continuous groove extending along a contour of a desired planar shape, and to apply an impact to the substrate to thereby form the continuous groove. A method for manufacturing a liquid crystal device, comprising forming at least one panel substrate having the planar shape by breaking along a groove, and using the panel substrate to form a liquid crystal panel having the planar shape. It is. Since a continuous groove is formed by selective disassembly and removal of the substrate, and the substrate is broken by the continuous groove to form a panel substrate, the planar shape of the liquid crystal panel is not limited as in the related art. A liquid crystal panel having an appropriate planar shape according to an application device or the like can be configured.
In addition, since the substrate is broken along the continuous groove formed by disassembling and removing the substrate, the polishing process of the end face of the substrate is simplified or unnecessary, and the manufacturing process can be simplified. In this case, the continuous groove can be formed on the outer surface of the substrate or on the inner surface, but forming the continuous groove on the outer surface makes the break operation easier,
Furthermore, since no fractured surface comes outside the end face of the panel substrate,
It is also possible to omit post-processing of the substrate end face.

Further, a third means is to form a liquid crystal panel structure by bonding two substrates together, and then selectively disassemble and remove a part of the substrates to provide a liquid crystal having a desired plane shape. A method for manufacturing a liquid crystal device, comprising forming a panel.

A fourth means is the liquid crystal panel structure according to the third means, wherein the liquid crystal panel structure has two substrates, a sealing material for bonding the two substrates, and a liquid crystal disposed between the two substrates. And a resist layer on the outer surface of a region of the substrate that is not selectively decomposed and removed, on the outer surface of the sealing material, and on the outer surface of the sealing material and on the inner surface of the region on the substrate. The substrate is formed and selectively decomposed and removed. Here, when the sealing material has resistance to decomposition and removal, it is not necessary to form a resist layer on the outer surface of the sealing material. The formation of the resist layer on the outer surface of the sealing material or the formation of the resist layer on the inner surface of the substrate is preferably performed before the substrates are bonded.

A fifth means is to form a liquid crystal panel structure by bonding two substrates together, and then selectively disassemble and remove a portion of the substrate to extend along a desired planar contour. A method of manufacturing a liquid crystal device, comprising: forming a continuous groove on a surface of a substrate; and applying a shock to the substrate to break the substrate along the continuous groove to form a liquid crystal panel having the planar shape.

In each of the above-mentioned means, it is preferable that the selective decomposition and removal of the substrate be performed by coating a portion not to be decomposed and removed with a resist layer and performing an etching process.

In each of the above means, it is preferable that the substrate is a glass substrate, and the substrate is selectively decomposed and removed by wet etching using a hydrofluoric acid-based etchant.

According to the above-mentioned manufacturing method, it is possible to form a liquid crystal panel having various planar shapes whose outer edges are curved. In addition, a liquid crystal panel having an opening can be formed. Further, in this case, it is also possible to form a liquid crystal panel having various planar shapes whose inner edges are curved. In these cases, the external terminals for driving the liquid crystal panel can be formed at the outer edge or inner edge of the planar shape.

[0015]

Next, an embodiment according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

<First Embodiment> FIG. 1 is a plan view (a) and a sectional view (b) of a panel substrate for illustrating a first embodiment of a method of manufacturing a liquid crystal device according to the present invention. In the present embodiment, before forming the liquid crystal panel, a continuous groove 11a extending continuously on the surface of the panel substrate 11 forming a part of the large substrate 10 is formed. The continuous groove 11a has a closed diagram-shaped planar pattern, and is formed by covering the portion other than the portion where the continuous groove 11a is formed with the resist layer 12 and decomposing and removing the substrate material by etching as shown in FIG. You. Although only one panel substrate 11 corresponding to one liquid crystal panel is shown in the drawing, an etching process may be performed for each panel substrate 11 as shown in the drawing, or a plurality of A panel equivalent region (corresponding to the panel substrate 11 in the figure) may be formed, and an etching process may be performed on a plurality of panel equivalent regions for each substrate 10. However, in the following description, a case where each process is performed for each panel substrate 11 will be described.

The substrate 10 and the panel substrate 11 can be made of an inorganic material such as glass or an organic material such as a synthetic resin. Further, the material of the resist layer 12 and the etching method can be selected according to the material. For example, in the case of the substrate 10 or the panel substrate 11 using glass,
A continuous groove 11a is formed by forming a resist layer 12 made of an organic resin having hydrofluoric acid resistance and immersing the substrate 10 or the panel substrate 11 in an etching solution containing hydrofluoric acid as a main component.
To form The thickness of the substrate 10 and the panel substrate 11 is usually about 0.7 to 1.5 mm, and the depth of the continuous groove 11a is appropriately determined according to the thickness of the substrate.
It may be about 0.5 mm.

In this embodiment, after forming a continuous groove 11a extending in a plane elliptical shape as shown in FIG.
Remove 2 and wash. Next, as shown in FIG. 2A, a sealing material 13 made of a thermosetting resin or a photo-setting resin is filled in a liquid crystal using a dispenser or the like on the inner surface of the panel substrate 11 where the continuous grooves 11a are not formed. It is applied so as to surround the region, and another panel substrate 11 'is overlapped, pressed and bonded. A continuous groove 11'a is also formed in this panel substrate 11 'by the same method.
In this state, after the sealing material 13 is cured to form the outline of the liquid crystal panel, the liquid crystal 14 is injected in a vacuum. Thereafter, a liquid crystal panel structure is formed by closing the liquid crystal injection port with a sealing material. Finally, the panel substrates 11, 1
Light impact is applied to the peripheral portion of 1 'to form continuous grooves 11a and 11'.
By breaking the formation site of a, a liquid crystal panel having a flat elliptical shape is completed as shown in FIG.

For this liquid crystal panel, the break section at the end of the panel substrate is appropriately polished as necessary.
However, in this case, the fracture surface is only the inside portion of the end portion of the panel substrate, and the outside portion of the end portion of the panel substrate remains on the inner surface of the continuous groove formed by decomposition and removal such as etching. It is also possible to omit the polishing process of the substrate end surface which has been conventionally performed.

<Second Embodiment> Next, a second embodiment of the method for manufacturing a liquid crystal device according to the present invention will be described. This embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the panel substrates 11 and 11 ′ are bonded together via a sealing material 13, and the liquid crystal 14 is injected to substantially complete the liquid crystal panel structure, and then the continuous grooves 11 a and 11 ′ are formed. 'a.

In this embodiment, a resist layer 12 similar to that of the first embodiment is formed on a liquid crystal panel structure. The outer surfaces of the panel substrates 11 and 11 ′ are entirely covered with the resist layer 12 except for the portions where the continuous grooves 11 a and 11 ′ a are formed. All are covered with the resist layer 12.
In this state, the liquid crystal panel is immersed in the same etching solution as in the first embodiment, whereby the continuous grooves 11a and 11 'are formed.
a is formed. And then, the continuous grooves 11a, 11 '
a lightly impacting the outside of the continuous groove 11
The portions where a and 11'a are formed are broken to complete the liquid crystal panel as shown in FIG.

Also in this embodiment, the panel substrate 11
Instead of forming a liquid crystal panel in units, a large substrate 1
A plurality of panel-equivalent regions may be provided in 0 to form a plurality of liquid crystal panel structures at one time, and the continuous grooves 11a and 11'a respectively corresponding to the plurality of panel-equivalent regions may be formed at a time.

Third Embodiment Next, a third embodiment of the method for manufacturing a liquid crystal device according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. This embodiment is similar to the above-described second embodiment in that the liquid crystal panel structure is formed and then the panel shape is processed. However, the difference from the second embodiment is that the liquid crystal panel is formed only by decomposing and removing the substrate material. Are separated and molded. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG.
The resist layer 12 is formed on the outer surfaces of the panel substrates 11 and 11 ′ in the liquid crystal panel structure, on the outer surface of the sealing material 13 and on the inner surface of the panel substrates 11 and 11 ′ outside the sealing material 13.
Is coated. In this case, the resist layer 12 is not formed on unnecessary portions of the panel substrates 11 and 11 ', that is, on the inner surface and the outer surface of the portion to be removed as the panel substrate.

Here, after the liquid crystal panel structure is formed on the outer surfaces of the panel substrates 11 and 11 ', the resist layer 12 is formed.
May be formed on the outer surface of the sealing material 13 and the inner surfaces of the panel substrates 11 and 11 ′.
It is preferable to apply and form a resist layer 12 in advance before bonding with 1 ′. When a material having etching resistance (for example, tetrafluoroethylene for a hydrofluoric acid-based etchant) is used as a main component of the sealant, it is necessary to form a resist layer on the outer surface of the sealant. There is no.

Next, as shown in FIG. 4A, etching is performed in a state where the resist layer 12 is formed in the same manner as in the first embodiment. At this time, of the liquid crystal panel structure,
The etching is continued until the plane portion not covered with the resist layer 12 is substantially decomposed and removed. When the etching is completed in this manner, the liquid crystal panel is formed into a desired planar shape as shown in FIG. Here, when the above processing is performed in a large panel structure having a plurality of liquid crystal panel structures, each liquid crystal panel is molded and divided into individual liquid crystal panels.

In this embodiment, all unnecessary portions of the substrate are removed by decomposition such as etching.
Although a long processing time is required, a subsequent break operation is not required, and post-processing of the break end surface is not required at all, so that the manufacturing process can be simplified.

In each of the above embodiments, when a plurality of liquid crystal panel structures are formed at once by two large substrates, a step of breaking the substrate to provide a liquid crystal injection port in a state where empty cells are formed. In this step, a process consisting of formation of a continuous groove by decomposition and removal such as etching as described above and a subsequent break may be performed, or etching or the like as described above. Unnecessary portions may be decomposed and removed by decomposing and removing. Note that the above steps are unnecessary in a manufacturing method in which a plurality of small panel substrates are bonded to a large substrate for each liquid crystal panel structure. In addition, the liquid crystal panel may be formed by forming the substrate in an empty cell state by the above-described decomposition and removal step to separate the substrate into individual empty liquid crystal panels, and then injecting liquid crystal into the cells.

<Fourth Embodiment> Next, referring to FIG.
One structural example of the liquid crystal device manufactured according to each of the above embodiments will be described as a fourth embodiment. In this embodiment, panel substrates 21 and 21 'each having a planar shape formed as a partial circular shape are bonded together via a sealing material (not shown), and liquid crystal is injected between the two substrates. Panel substrate 2
1 ′ is formed one size larger than the panel substrate 21, and the panel substrate 2 protrudes from the outer edge of the panel substrate 21.
An external terminal 21'c is formed on the outer edge of 1 '. A large number of external terminals 2 are provided on the surface of the external terminal 21'c.
1′d are arranged. The external terminals 21'd are conductively connected to wiring boards (not shown), and these wiring boards are connected to a liquid crystal drive circuit (not shown).

In this embodiment, an article 2 such as a table clock
It is suitable for a case where a semicircular or partial circular liquid crystal display unit is provided on the protruding portion 20a protruding in a semicircular shape in the upper part of the zero. In this case, it is physically impossible to arrange in the protruding portion 20a with the conventional rectangular liquid crystal panel. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the planar shape of the liquid crystal panel can be appropriately formed according to the shape of the article.
A liquid crystal display of any shape can be adapted to an article of any shape.

In the above embodiment, a liquid crystal panel having a partially circular planar shape is formed, but a liquid crystal panel having a circular or elliptical shape may be formed as shown by a dotted line in the figure. Further, the external terminal portions may be formed not only at the ends of one panel substrate but also at the ends of both panel substrates.

<Fifth Embodiment> Finally, a structural example in which the liquid crystal panel of each of the above embodiments is applied to a circular or ring-shaped pendant display device will be described as a fifth embodiment. In this embodiment, as shown by a dashed line in the figure, the whole is a circular shape (a circle shown by an outer dashed line as an outer edge) or a ring shape (a circle shown by an outer dashed line is an outer edge, and an inner dashed line A liquid crystal panel in which ring-shaped panel substrates 31 and 31 ′ are bonded via a sealing material (not shown) is built in a display device 30 having a circle shown as an inner edge. In this case, the panel substrate 31 'includes an external terminal portion 31'c that protrudes inward from the inner edge of the panel substrate 31, and a large number of external terminals 31'd are provided on the surface of the external terminal portion 31'c. Are arranged in a ring.

This embodiment is suitable for a case where a ring-shaped liquid crystal display is formed inside a circular or ring-shaped article. In this case, the external terminal portion is formed inside the ring-shaped liquid crystal panel. However, the external terminal portion may be formed outside the ring shape, or may be formed both inside and outside. Of course 2
The external terminal portions may be formed on one of the panel substrates, or the external terminal portions may be formed on both of them. In this embodiment, the external terminal portion is provided only inside the ring shape, so that the liquid crystal panel can be built in without trouble when a space for wiring connection is not provided outside the ring-shaped liquid crystal display portion in the article. It has the effect of being able to do so.

[0033]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the panel substrate is formed by selectively disassembling and removing the substrate, the planar shape of the liquid crystal panel is not limited as in the prior art. A liquid crystal panel having an appropriate planar shape according to an application site, an application device, and the like can be configured. In addition, since a panel substrate formed by disassembling and removing the substrate is used, the polishing of the substrate end surface can be simplified or eliminated, and the manufacturing process can be simplified.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view (a) and a cross-sectional view (b) after a process step of processing a panel substrate for describing a first embodiment of a method for manufacturing a liquid crystal device according to the present invention.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are process explanatory diagrams showing a break process of the liquid crystal panel for explaining the first embodiment; FIGS.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are process explanatory views for explaining a second embodiment according to the present invention. FIGS.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are process explanatory diagrams for explaining a third embodiment according to the present invention. FIGS.

FIG. 5 is a schematic structural explanatory view of a liquid crystal display unit showing a structure of a fourth embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic structural explanatory view of a liquid crystal display unit showing a structure of a fifth embodiment according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Substrate 11, 11 'Panel substrate 11a, 11'a Continuous groove 12 Resist layer 13 Sealing material 14 Liquid crystal 20, 30 Article 20a Projecting part 21, 21', 31, 31 'Panel substrate 21'c, 31'c External terminal Part 21'd, 31'd external terminal

Claims (7)

[Claims] At least one panel substrate having a desired planar shape is formed by selectively disassembling and removing a part of the substrate, and a liquid crystal panel having the planar shape is formed using the panel substrate. A method for manufacturing a liquid crystal device, comprising: 2. A continuous groove extending along a contour of a desired planar shape is formed by selectively disassembling and removing a part of a substrate, and the substrate is broken along the continuous groove by applying an impact to the substrate. Forming at least one panel substrate having the planar shape using the panel substrate, and using the panel substrate to form a liquid crystal panel having the planar shape. 3. A method of forming a liquid crystal panel having a desired planar shape by bonding two substrates together to form a liquid crystal panel structure and then selectively disassembling and removing a part of the substrate. Characteristic manufacturing method of a liquid crystal device. 4. The liquid crystal panel structure according to claim 3, wherein the liquid crystal panel structure includes two substrates, a sealing material for bonding the two substrates, and a liquid crystal disposed between the two substrates. Forming a resist layer on the outer surface of a region of the substrate that is not selectively decomposed and removed, on the outer surface of the sealing material, and on the outer surface of the sealing material and on the inner surface of the region of the substrate. A method for manufacturing a liquid crystal device, wherein a substrate is selectively decomposed and removed. 5. A liquid crystal panel structure is formed by laminating two substrates, and a continuous groove extending along a contour of a desired plane shape is formed by selectively disassembling and removing a part of the substrate. A method of manufacturing a liquid crystal device, comprising: forming a liquid crystal panel having a planar shape on a surface thereof and breaking the substrate along the continuous groove by applying an impact to the substrate. 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the selective decomposition and removal of the substrate is performed by covering a portion not to be decomposed and removed with a resist layer and performing an etching process. A method for manufacturing a liquid crystal device, comprising: 7. Any one of claims 1 to 5
In the above item, the substrate is a glass substrate, and the substrate is selectively decomposed and removed by wet etching using a hydrofluoric acid-based etchant.