JP2001296511A - Liquid crystal substrate and liquid crystal display device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a liquid crystal substrate equipped with a means to simplify the production system. SOLUTION: On the liquid crystal substrate 1, a substrate memory region 2 is formed in the region except for the liquid crystal display panel region 20 where a pixel display medium or driving electrode medium is formed in each region. The liquid crystal display panel region 20 has a liquid crystal display region 30 which the substantially liquid crystal display is performed when the substrate is used as the liquid crystal display panel. A panel memory region 3 is formed in the liquid crystal display panel region 20 but outside of the liquid crystal display region 30.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a liquid crystal substrate constituting a liquid crystal display panel. Further, the present invention relates to a liquid crystal display device for applying a voltage to the liquid crystal display panel to perform liquid crystal display.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A liquid crystal display panel is formed by sandwiching a liquid crystal material between a liquid crystal substrate on which a picture element display medium is formed and a liquid crystal substrate on which a drive electrode medium is formed. Generally, in the manufacturing process, first, an electrode, a terminal, an optical film, and the like, which are picture element display media, are provided on a glass liquid crystal substrate. Similarly, the drive electrode medium is provided on the liquid crystal substrate.

Here, one of the liquid crystal display medium and the drive electrode medium is provided in plural on a liquid crystal substrate. The liquid crystal substrates each provided with the other medium are opposed to each other with a slight gap therebetween while keeping them parallel, and the liquid crystal substrates are bonded to each other. Then, a liquid crystal substrate provided with a plurality of media is divided at an appropriate place, and a liquid crystal material is sealed in each of the gaps to form a liquid crystal display panel.

The above-described manufacturing process is based on extremely complicated and highly accurate conditions, and a liquid crystal display panel manufactured under any one of the wrong conditions is a defective product. Further, even when the liquid crystal display panel is manufactured under the same conditions, a slight change in a chemical reaction or the like affects the quality of the obtained liquid crystal display panel product.

In order to manage a manufacturing process that requires complicated and high-precision conditions, a conventional liquid crystal substrate is printed with a unique substrate number, and a manufacturing apparatus for performing each manufacturing process is provided with a substrate. A reading device for reading the number was provided. The reading device reads a substrate number before and after the manufacturing device or in the manufacturing device for the liquid crystal substrate conveyed to each manufacturing device, and the read substrate number is included in the management computer together with the device number assigned to each manufacturing device. Was recorded and managed.

A panel number is printed in advance on each of the divided liquid crystal substrates at a position that does not affect the liquid crystal display, and is read and recorded in the management computer in the same manner as the substrate number.

[0007]

However, when the above-mentioned conventional liquid crystal substrate is used, all the manufacturing apparatuses are provided with a reading device, and each reading device is connected to a management computer. And the management computer centrally manages the information obtained in all the manufacturing processes,
The production system was complicated and enormous.

An object of the present invention is to provide a liquid crystal substrate provided with means for solving the above-mentioned problems. Another object of the present invention is to provide a liquid crystal display device having a liquid crystal display panel obtained from the liquid crystal substrate.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, a liquid crystal substrate according to the present invention comprises a liquid crystal display panel comprising a liquid crystal material sandwiched between a picture element display medium and a drive electrode medium. The elementary display medium and the drive electrode medium are respectively held. When manufacturing a liquid crystal display panel, one picture element display medium or one drive electrode medium is formed in each of a plurality of liquid crystal display panel areas provided on the surface. Later, the liquid crystal display panel is divided into regions. Here, a first storage means capable of freely reading and writing information is provided outside the liquid crystal display panel area.

[0010] The first storage means stores manufacturing conditions and manufacturing histories in all manufacturing steps of the liquid crystal display panel. That is, in each manufacturing process, a process corresponding to the manufacturing conditions is performed on the liquid crystal substrate using the manufacturing conditions. Further, the processing in the executed manufacturing process is stored as a manufacturing history.

In the liquid crystal display panel area, there is provided a liquid crystal display area in which liquid crystal display is actually performed when the liquid crystal display panel is formed, and in the liquid crystal display panel area and outside the liquid crystal display area. Is provided with a second storage means capable of freely reading and writing information. That is,
When the liquid crystal substrate is divided for each liquid crystal display panel area, the divided one is provided with a second storage means. And
As in the first storage unit, the second storage unit stores manufacturing conditions and a manufacturing history.

Further, the liquid crystal display device of the present invention comprises: a liquid crystal display panel comprising a liquid crystal substrate having a second storage means;
The liquid crystal display panel includes a liquid crystal drive circuit electrically connected to the liquid crystal display panel and causing the liquid crystal display panel to perform liquid crystal display, and a control circuit for controlling the liquid crystal drive circuit. Here, the second storage means of the liquid crystal substrate stores information transmitted from the control circuit,
The stored information is transmitted to the liquid crystal drive circuit.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. FIG. 1 is a front view of the liquid crystal substrate of the present embodiment, and shows a liquid crystal display panel in the process of being manufactured. Reference numeral 1 denotes a glass liquid crystal substrate on which a plurality of one of a picture element display medium (not shown) and a drive electrode medium (not shown) is provided. The other medium is provided on another liquid crystal substrate (not shown) and is located immediately behind the liquid crystal substrate 1. The liquid crystal substrates are parallel to each other so that the picture element display medium and the drive electrode medium face each other. While keeping a slight gap.

In the figure, a portion surrounded by a dashed line A is a liquid crystal display panel region 20.
Inside, the picture element display medium and the drive display medium face each other while being held by the liquid crystal substrate. Thereafter, the liquid crystal substrate 1 is divided into liquid crystal display panel regions 20, and a liquid crystal material is sealed in each of the gaps to form a liquid crystal display panel.

Although four liquid crystal display panel regions 20 are formed on the liquid crystal substrate 1 in this embodiment, any number of liquid crystal display panel regions 20 may be used. Although the portion other than the liquid crystal display panel region 20 should be designed to be as small as possible in terms of manufacturing cost, it is determined by the size of the liquid crystal substrate 1, the size of the liquid crystal display panel, the restrictions of each manufacturing apparatus, and the like.

A portion surrounded by a dotted line B in each liquid crystal display panel region 20 is a liquid crystal display region 30, and when a liquid crystal display panel is formed, liquid crystal display is actually performed.

On the liquid crystal substrate 1, a substrate memory area 2 is provided in a portion other than the liquid crystal display panel area 20. A panel memory area 3 is provided in the liquid crystal display panel area 20 and outside the liquid crystal display area 30. The panel memory area 3 is arranged so as not to affect the display performance and quality of the liquid crystal display.

These memory areas 2 and 3 can freely read, write, and delete information.
For example, a nonvolatile semiconductor memory or a magnetic storage element,
A film that records in response to non-contact means such as external light,
It is composed of a film or the like that prints by directly contacting with a fine pen.

FIG. 2 shows a specific example of the memory areas 2 and 3. On the liquid crystal substrate 1, a magnetic film 4 is formed. This magnetic film 4 is used for a commercially available magnetic tape, hard disk or the like. Further, a coating film 5 is formed on the magnetic film 4 to protect the magnetic film 4 from mechanical contact during the manufacturing process, chemical solution, and the like.

The manufacturing apparatus provided in each manufacturing process includes a magnetic head 6 having a general configuration. The magnetic head 6 is fixed to an operating section (not shown), can approach the magnetic film 4 up to a predetermined distance, and can move horizontally while maintaining the distance.

The magnetic head 6 is connected via an I / O 7 to a CPU 8 of the manufacturing apparatus. Therefore, when the magnetic head 6 approaching the magnetic film 4 is moved at a constant speed in a certain direction, the information stored by the magnetic force is read and input to the CPU 8. Further, information is written on the magnetic film 4 under the control of the CPU 8.

A photoreactive film may be used instead of the magnetic film 4. This photoreactive film is used in commercially available CDs, MOs, and the like, and can read and write information with a spot laser beam.

FIG. 3 shows another example of the memory areas 2 and 3. On the liquid crystal substrate 1, a commercially available flash RO
A nonvolatile semiconductor 9 such as M is provided. This nonvolatile semiconductor 9 may be formed directly on the liquid crystal substrate 1 as in a general semiconductor manufacturing process, or a separately manufactured nonvolatile semiconductor chip may be mounted on the liquid crystal substrate 1. Further, a coating film 5 is formed on the nonvolatile semiconductor 9 as in FIG.

The manufacturing apparatus provided in each of the manufacturing steps is provided with an electrode probe head 10 used for a current test of a circuit board or the like. The electrode probe head 10 is fixed to an operating unit (not shown),
And separates from the electrode terminal 11 of FIG.

The electrode probe head 10 is connected via an I / O 7 to a CPU 8 of the manufacturing apparatus. When the electrode probe head 10 is brought into contact with a predetermined electrode terminal 11 among a plurality of electrode terminals, stored information is read. It is read and input to the CPU 8. In addition, when it comes into contact with another electrode terminal, information is written into the nonvolatile semiconductor 9 under the control of the CPU 8.

As still another example of the memory areas 2 and 3, a method using a bar code label may be used.

Manufacturing of a liquid crystal display panel using the above-described substrate memory area 2 and panel memory area 3 will be described. First, a substrate memory area 2 and a panel memory area 3 are formed on a liquid crystal substrate 1 as shown in FIG. Then, in these memory areas 2 and 3, manufacturing conditions (model setting values, etc.) according to the manufacturing apparatus provided in each manufacturing process are stored.

Next, electrodes, terminals, optical films and the like are provided on the liquid crystal substrate 1 as a picture element display medium or a drive electrode medium. In this manufacturing process, when the liquid crystal substrate 1 is transported to the manufacturing apparatus, for example, as shown in FIG.
The manufacturing conditions stored in the substrate memory area 2 are read by reading and writing means such as, and output to the CPU 8 of the manufacturing apparatus. The CPU 8 performs processing by controlling the manufacturing apparatus based on the manufacturing conditions.

After the processing is completed, the manufacturing history is written into the substrate memory area 2 by the reading and writing means. Thereafter, after the liquid crystal substrate provided with the picture element display medium and the liquid crystal substrate provided with the drive electrode medium are bonded together, the liquid crystal substrate 1
Is performed in the same manner as described above.

Before the liquid crystal substrate 1 is divided, information recorded in the substrate memory area 2 is stored in the panel memory area 3.
Copy to Thereafter, when the liquid crystal substrate 1 is divided for each liquid crystal display panel area 20, each of the divided liquid crystal panels 1 is provided with a panel memory area 3. Then, in the process until the divided liquid crystal substrate 1 becomes a liquid crystal display panel product, the manufacturing information is read out and the manufacturing history is written in the panel memory area 3 as in the substrate memory area 2.

Of course, the substrate memory area 2 is preferably provided on both the picture element display medium and the liquid crystal substrate of the drive electrode medium. The panel memory area 3 may be provided on any one of these liquid crystal substrates.

Furthermore, the substrate memory area 2 and the panel memory area 3 may store manufacturing conditions corresponding to all manufacturing steps as described above. On the other hand, the manufacturing conditions up to the step of dividing the liquid crystal substrate are determined in the substrate memory area 2
May be stored in the panel memory area 3.

As described above, the liquid crystal substrate of the present embodiment is provided with the substrate memory area 2 and the panel memory area 3 where information can be read and written freely, and these memory areas 2 and 3 are manufactured. Conditions and manufacturing history are recorded. Therefore, there is no need to provide a management computer for managing these. Even if the management computer is provided, the network system with the manufacturing apparatus may be simple.

For example, the manufacturing apparatus in each manufacturing process may read the manufacturing conditions from the memory areas 2 and 3 of each work and perform the processing in accordance with the manufacturing conditions. Therefore, it is possible to cope with a case where workpieces requiring different processes under different manufacturing conditions are continuously sent.

In the case where there is a factor of poor quality when a liquid crystal display panel product is produced, such as a defect or trouble during the processing of the manufacturing process, the information is recorded in the memory areas 2 and 3 as a manufacturing history. Keep it. Thereafter, defective products can be sorted out only by reading out the manufacturing history.

Next, an embodiment of the liquid crystal display device according to the present invention will be described. This liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal display panel including the liquid crystal substrate of the above embodiment. FIG.
Is a block diagram of this liquid crystal display device. 12 is a control circuit of the liquid crystal display device, and 13 is a TV tuner or a PC.
A video signal source such as a microprocessor for use in the apparatus, and 14 is a RAM. Reference numeral 15 denotes a liquid crystal drive circuit, which is connected to the terminals of the picture element display medium and the drive electrode medium of the liquid crystal display panel 16 and forms a circuit for applying a voltage between the liquid crystal substrates.

In this case, as shown in FIG. 1, when the liquid crystal substrate 1 is divided, the panel memory area 3 remains in each of the divided liquid crystal substrates 1.
Has a panel memory area 3 inevitably. The panel memory area 3 is electrically connected to the control circuit 12 and the liquid crystal drive circuit 15.

The video signal is supplied from the video signal source 13 to the control circuit 1.
2, the control circuit 12 once stores this in the panel memory area 3. Then, the video signal is output from the panel memory area 3 to the liquid crystal drive circuit 14 to drive the liquid crystal drive circuit 14 and cause the liquid crystal display panel 16 to display a liquid crystal. Here, when there is a difference between the operation speed of the control circuit 12 and the operation speed of the liquid crystal drive circuit 14, the panel memory area 3 acts as a buffer memory, and the speed of liquid crystal display can be increased.

Further, in this liquid crystal display device, fine adjustment for correcting variations in the characteristics of each electric circuit is required in order to stably perform accurate display on the liquid crystal display panel 16. This fine adjustment is performed by external control,
The final adjustment value is stored in the panel memory area 3. When the adjustment is performed again, the last final adjustment value stored in the panel memory area 3 is taken out, and a stable liquid crystal display can be easily obtained by using this.

As described above, in the liquid crystal display device of the present embodiment, the panel memory area 3 can be used as a buffer memory, and information at the time of circuit adjustment can be recorded.
Therefore, since it is not necessary to provide a memory for these, a configuration of the liquid crystal display device is simplified.

[0041]

As described above, in the liquid crystal substrate of the present invention, the first storage means and the second storage means can be provided on the liquid crystal substrate itself to have manufacturing conditions and manufacturing history. Therefore, there is no need for a management computer for managing the work processed by the manufacturing apparatus. Further, even if the management computer is provided, the network system with the manufacturing apparatus is simplified.

Further, even if the liquid crystal substrates are divided during the manufacturing process, the second storage means remains in each of them, and the liquid crystal display panel product using the same has the second storage means.
Therefore, in the liquid crystal display device provided with this liquid crystal display panel, if the second storage means is used as a buffer memory or the information at the time of circuit adjustment is stored, it is not necessary to newly provide a memory.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing an embodiment of a liquid crystal substrate according to the present invention, showing a state in which a liquid crystal display panel is being manufactured using the liquid crystal substrate.

FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view showing an example of a memory means of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view showing another example of the memory means.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of a liquid crystal display device according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 LCD substrate 2 Substrate memory area 3 Panel memory area

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G09F 9/00 352 G09F 9/00 352 5G435 G09G 3/20 631 G09G 3/20 631Z 3/36 3/36 F-term (reference) 2H088 FA06 MA16 MA20 2H090 JC13 JD15 2H093 NC09 NC11 NC50 NC90 ND53 ND60 5C006 AF06 AF13 BB11 BF01 EA03 EB01 EB05 FA41 5C080 AA10 BB05 DD22 DD30 GG12 JJ02 JJ06 KK16 GG02 GG16 A3710

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A liquid crystal display panel comprising a liquid crystal material sandwiched between a picture element display medium and a drive electrode medium, wherein the picture element display medium and the drive electrode medium are held, respectively. When manufacturing a liquid crystal display panel, in the liquid crystal substrate that is divided for each liquid crystal display panel region after each one of the picture element display medium or the drive electrode medium is formed in a plurality of liquid crystal display panel regions provided on the surface, A liquid crystal substrate, comprising: a first storage unit that can freely read and write information outside a region of the liquid crystal display panel. 2. The liquid crystal substrate according to claim 1, wherein said first storage means stores manufacturing conditions and manufacturing histories in all manufacturing steps of said liquid crystal display panel. 3. A liquid crystal display area, in which liquid crystal display is actually performed when the liquid crystal display panel is formed, is provided in the liquid crystal display panel area, and the liquid crystal display area is provided in the liquid crystal display panel area. The liquid crystal substrate according to claim 1, further comprising a second storage unit that can read and write information freely outside the area. 4. The liquid crystal substrate according to claim 1, wherein said second storage means stores manufacturing conditions and manufacturing histories in all manufacturing steps of said liquid crystal display panel. 5. A liquid crystal display panel comprising the liquid crystal substrate according to claim 3 or 4, a liquid crystal drive circuit electrically connected to the liquid crystal display panel and causing the liquid crystal display to be performed on the liquid crystal display panel, and the liquid crystal. A control circuit for controlling a driving circuit, wherein the second storage means of the liquid crystal substrate stores information transmitted from the control circuit and transmits the stored information to the liquid crystal driving circuit. Liquid crystal display device.