JP2001005005A - Liquid crystal display element and its manufacture - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To ensure a high quality display without damaging an alignment layer due to fine adjustment by shifting in the case of joining of transparent substrates. SOLUTION: When respective transparent substrates 110, 120 are superposed on each other, the respective substrates 110, 120 are placed opposite to each other via large diameter second intraseal spacers 144. In this state, one of the transparent substrate is finely shifted in the plane surface direction to obtain an exactly matched state between the respective substrates 110, 120. Then, on obtaining the exactly matched state between the respective substrates 110, 120, pressure is applied between the respective substrates 110, 120. By making the second intraseal spacers 144 to be elastically deformed, the respective substrates 110, 120 are arranged with a gap corresponding to first intraseal spacers 142 and intrapanel spacers 128. By solidifying a sealant 140 in this state, the respective substrates 110, 120 are fixed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display device in which a pair of transparent substrates are overlapped and bonded together with a sealing member interposed therebetween at the outer periphery, and a method of manufacturing the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A liquid crystal display device having a structure as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 is conventionally known. This liquid crystal display element
A liquid crystal layer 30 is formed between a pair of transparent substrates 10 and 20 which are vertically stacked. One transparent substrate 10
Is a face plate, and has a transparent electrode film 12 and an alignment film 14 provided on the inner surface. A seal member 40 for sealing the liquid crystal layer 30 is arranged on the outer peripheral portion of the transparent substrate 10, and a plurality of spacers 42 having a circular cross section having a circular cross section are embedded in the seal member 40.

The other transparent substrate 20 constitutes a rear plate, and has a thin film transistor (TFT) 22 as a driving element of a liquid crystal pixel and a transparent electrode film 24 on its inner surface.
, An alignment film 26 and an in-panel spacer 28 are provided. The in-panel spacer 28 is provided upright on the upper surface of the TFT 22 to keep the transparent substrates 10 and 20 constant and to improve the uniformity of the liquid crystal layer 30. In the liquid crystal display device having such a structure, the transparent substrates 10 and 20
The sealing material 40 is solidified by heating or the like with the spacers 28 and 42 held at predetermined intervals, and then the liquid crystal layer 3 between the transparent substrates 10 and 20 is solidified.
Inject liquid crystal into 0.

[0004]

By the way, at the time of joining the transparent substrates 10 and 20 as described above, the transparent substrates 10 and 20 are overlapped via the spacers 28 and 42, and then the transparent substrates 10 and 20 are overlapped. , 20 need to be slightly moved in the direction of the plate surface. However, when the transparent substrates are moved in the direction of the plate surface in a state where the transparent substrates 10 and 20 are overlapped via the spacers 28 and 42 in this manner, the tip of the in-panel spacer 28 is aligned with the transparent substrate 10. Since the alignment film 14 is in contact with the film 14, the alignment film 14
8 will be damaged by friction with the tip. FIG.
Is the orientation film 14 due to the tip of the in-panel spacer 28.
5 shows a state in which a damaged portion 14A is formed. Such damage to the alignment film 14 has a problem that the molecular alignment of the liquid crystal layer is adversely affected, and the image quality of the liquid crystal display element is significantly reduced.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a liquid crystal display element capable of ensuring a high-quality display without damaging an alignment film by fine movement adjustment during bonding of a transparent substrate, and a method of manufacturing the same. is there.

[0006]

According to the present invention, there is provided a first transparent substrate having an inner surface provided with a transparent electrode film and an alignment film, a liquid crystal pixel driving element and a transparent electrode film on the inner surface. A second transparent substrate provided with an alignment film and an in-panel spacer; a sealing material disposed along an outer peripheral portion of the transparent substrate; and a plurality of in-seal spacers embedded in the sealing material. In a liquid crystal display element configured by superposing and joining the transparent substrates via the sealing material and the spacers and injecting liquid crystal between the transparent substrates, the spacers in the seals are formed by the spacers in the panel. A first inner spacer having a corresponding height; and a second inner spacer having a height higher than the first inner spacer, wherein the second inner spacer is elastically deformed. Condition In, characterized in that the transparent substrate is arranged in the corresponding interval to the height of the first seal in the spacer and the panel in the spacer. Also, the present invention
A first transparent substrate provided with a transparent electrode film and an alignment film on the inner surface is provided, and a second transparent substrate provided with a driving element of a liquid crystal pixel, a transparent electrode film, an alignment film, and a spacer in the panel is provided on the inner surface,
A seal material is arranged along the outer peripheral portion of the transparent substrate, a plurality of spacers in the seal are buried inside the seal material, and the transparent substrates are overlapped and joined via the seal material and the spacers. When a liquid crystal display element is manufactured by injecting liquid crystal between the transparent substrates, the spacer in the seal includes a first spacer in the seal having a height corresponding to the spacer in the panel, and a spacer in the first seal. A second spacer within the seal having a height greater than the spacer, and in a state where the transparent substrates are superimposed via the second spacer within the seal, the opposing positions of the transparent substrates are set in the plate surface direction. Then, pressure is applied between the transparent substrates to elastically deform the second spacer inside the seal. Place at intervals corresponding to the Le in the spacer, by solidifying the sealing material in this state, is characterized in that so as to fix the respective transparent substrate.

In the liquid crystal display device and the method of manufacturing the same according to the present invention, the positions of the transparent substrates facing each other are adjusted in the direction of the plate surface in a state where the transparent substrates are overlapped via the second spacer in the seal. Thereafter, a pressure is applied between the transparent substrates to elastically deform the second spacer in the seal, thereby disposing the transparent substrates at intervals corresponding to the first spacer in the seal and the spacer in the panel. By solidifying the sealing material in this state, each transparent substrate is fixed. Therefore, at the stage of adjusting the opposing position of the transparent substrate toward the plate surface, the tip of the in-panel spacer is separated from the alignment film of the second transparent substrate, and the movement of the transparent substrate may damage the alignment film. Is gone. For this reason, a high-quality display can be secured without damaging the alignment film due to the fine movement adjustment during the bonding of the transparent substrate.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of a liquid crystal display device and a method of manufacturing the same according to the present invention will be described. FIG.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of the liquid crystal display device according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a step of bonding the transparent substrates of the liquid crystal display element shown in FIG.
Shows a state in which the transparent substrates are separated, and FIG. 2B shows a state in which the transparent substrates are overlapped.

In this liquid crystal display device, a liquid crystal layer 130 is formed between a pair of transparent substrates 110 and 120 which are vertically overlapped. One transparent substrate 110 constitutes a face plate, and has a transparent electrode film 1 on its inner surface.
12 and an alignment film 114 are provided. Further, a sealing material 140 for sealing the liquid crystal layer 130 is arranged on the outer peripheral portion of the transparent substrate 110. This sealing material 140
For example, it is composed of an adhesive or the like that is solidified by heating. Also, a plurality of stick-like or spherical spacers 142 and 144 having a circular cross section inside the seal member 140 are provided.
Is buried.

The first in-seal spacer 142 has a diameter corresponding to the height of the in-panel spacer 128 described later, and the second in-seal spacer 144 has a larger diameter than the first in-seal spacer 142. It has.
Each of the spacers 142 and 144 in the seal are made of, for example, a synthetic resin.
44 is elastically deformable by a constant pressure. The other transparent substrate 120 constitutes a rear plate, and has a thin film transistor (TFT) 122 serving as a driving element of a liquid crystal pixel, a transparent electrode film 124, an alignment film 126, and an in-panel spacer 128 provided on an inner surface thereof. I have. The in-panel spacer 128 is provided upright on the upper surface of the TFT 122 to keep the transparent substrates 110 and 120 constant and to improve the uniformity of the liquid crystal layer 130.

In the liquid crystal display device having such a structure, first, when the transparent substrates 110 and 120 are overlapped with each other,
As shown in FIG. 2B, the transparent substrates 110 and 120 are arranged to face each other via a large-diameter second spacer 144 in the seal. In this state, the tip portion 128A of the in-panel spacer 128 is not in contact with the alignment film 114 of the transparent substrate 110. Therefore, in this state, each transparent substrate 11
In order to obtain a correct alignment between 0 and 120, one of the transparent substrates is slightly moved in the plate surface direction. When a correct alignment between the transparent substrates 110 and 120 is obtained, pressure is applied between the transparent substrates 110 and 120 and the second
Of the transparent substrates 110 and 120 by elastically deforming the spacer 144 inside the seal so as to have an elliptical cross section.
Are arranged at intervals corresponding to the first spacer 142 in the seal and the spacer 128 in the panel. By solidifying the sealing material 140 in this state, each of the transparent substrates 110, 12
0 is fixed.

In the above operation, the second seal spacer 144 is deformed so that the transparent substrates 110 and 12 are deformed.
When the spacers 0 are arranged at intervals corresponding to the first spacers 142 in the seal and the spacers 128 in the panel, the transparent substrates 110 and 120 are moved by the spacers 128 and 142 with respect to the pressure for deforming the second spacer 144 in the seals. Since it is necessary to hold the gap properly, it is necessary to freely deform the second spacer 144 and to prevent the first spacer 142 from being deformed.
Therefore, the first in-seal spacer 142 and the second in-seal spacer 144 are formed of different materials, and the hardness of the first in-seal spacer 142 is reduced by the second in-seal spacer 1.
By making the height higher than 44, the state shown in FIG. 1 may be easily and reliably obtained.

As described above, in the present embodiment, at the stage of adjusting the opposing positions of the transparent substrates 110 and 120 in the plate surface direction, the front end portion 128A of the in-panel spacer 128 is aligned with the orientation of the second transparent substrate 110. Since it is separated from the film 114, the alignment film 114 is not damaged by the movement of the transparent substrates 110 and 120. Therefore, the transparent substrates 110, 1
A high-quality display can be ensured without damaging the alignment film 114 by the fine movement adjustment at the time of bonding of 20.

[0014]

As described above, according to the liquid crystal display device of the present invention, the opposing position of each transparent substrate is set in the direction of the plate surface in a state where the pair of transparent substrates are overlapped via the second spacer in the seal. After the adjustment, the transparent substrates are arranged at intervals corresponding to the first spacers in the seal and the spacers in the panel by applying pressure between the transparent substrates to elastically deform the second spacer in the seal. In this state, the transparent substrate can be fixed. According to the method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display element of the present invention, after adjusting the facing position of each transparent substrate in the direction of the plate surface in a state where the pair of transparent substrates are overlapped via the second spacer in the seal, Apply pressure between each transparent substrate,
By elastically deforming the second seal inner spacer,
The transparent substrates were arranged at intervals corresponding to the first spacer in the seal and the spacer in the panel, and the transparent substrate was fixed by solidifying the sealant in this state. Therefore, according to the liquid crystal display element of the present invention and the method of manufacturing the same, at the stage of adjusting the opposing position of the transparent substrate toward the plate surface, the tip of the in-panel spacer is separated from the alignment film of the second transparent substrate. Since the alignment film is not damaged by the movement of the transparent substrate, there is an effect that a high-quality display can be secured without damaging the alignment film by fine movement adjustment at the time of bonding the transparent substrate. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a structure of a liquid crystal display device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are cross-sectional views illustrating a process of bonding the transparent substrates of the liquid crystal display device shown in FIG. 1, wherein FIG. 2A shows a state in which the transparent substrates are separated, and FIG. Show.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a structure of a conventional liquid crystal display element, in which a transparent substrate is separated.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a structure of a conventional liquid crystal display element, in which a transparent substrate is superimposed.

[Explanation of symbols]

110, 120: transparent substrate, 112, 124: transparent electrode film, 114, 126 ... alignment film, 122: TF
T, 128: spacer in panel, 130: liquid crystal layer,
140 ... seal material, 142 ... first spacer in seal, 144 ... second spacer in seal.

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A first transparent substrate having an inner surface provided with a transparent electrode film and an alignment film, and a second transparent substrate having a liquid crystal pixel driving element, a transparent electrode film, an alignment film, and an in-panel spacer provided on an inner surface. A sealing material is disposed along an outer peripheral portion of the transparent substrate, a plurality of spacers in the seal are buried inside the sealing material, and each of the transparent substrates is interposed via the sealing material and each spacer. And a liquid crystal display element configured by injecting liquid crystal between the transparent substrates, wherein the spacer in the seal has a first spacer in the seal having a height corresponding to the spacer in the panel; The first
A second seal inner spacer having a height greater than that of the seal inner spacer, wherein the second seal inner spacer is elastically deformed,
A liquid crystal display device, wherein each transparent substrate is arranged at an interval corresponding to the height of the first spacer in the seal and the spacer in the panel. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first spacer in the seal is connected to the second spacer.
2. The liquid crystal display element according to claim 1, wherein the liquid crystal display element is formed of a material having a higher hardness than the spacer in the seal. 3. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein each of the first spacer and the second spacer has a substantially circular cross section. 4. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein said driving element is a thin film transistor. 5. A second substrate having a first transparent substrate provided with a transparent electrode film and an alignment film on an inner surface thereof, and a drive element of a liquid crystal pixel, a transparent electrode film, an alignment film, and a spacer in a panel provided on an inner surface. A transparent substrate is provided, a sealing material is arranged along an outer peripheral portion of the transparent substrate, a plurality of spacers in the seal are buried inside the sealing material, and the respective transparent substrates are interposed through the sealing material and the spacers. When a liquid crystal display element is manufactured by injecting liquid crystal between the transparent substrates and superimposing and joining, the spacer in the seal includes a first spacer in the seal having a height corresponding to the spacer in the panel; First
And a second spacer in the seal having a height greater than that of the spacer in the seal, wherein the respective transparent substrates are overlapped via the second spacer in the seal, and the opposing positions of the transparent substrates are plated. Adjusting in the plane direction, and then applying pressure between the transparent substrates to elastically deform the second seal inner spacer, thereby allowing each transparent substrate to correspond to the first seal inner spacer and the panel inner spacer. Wherein the transparent substrates are fixed by solidifying a sealing material in this state. 6. The seal material and the spacer in the seal,
The method according to claim 5, wherein the liquid crystal display element is provided on an outer peripheral portion of the first transparent substrate. 7. The method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display element according to claim 5, wherein the first spacer and the second spacer have substantially circular cross sections. 8. The method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device according to claim 5, wherein the in-panel spacer is provided upright in a column shape on an upper surface of the driving device.