JP2003057662A - Liquid crystal device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To fully cure sealing materials by ultraviolet rays by reducing the leakage of the ultraviolet rays to an alignment layer on a display region and by accurately irradiating the sealing materials with the ultraviolet rays. SOLUTION: An optical member 100 to transmit the ultraviolet rays to the sealing materials 41 is provided at a counter substrate 20. The counter substrate 20 has a counter substrate main body 105. Tapered faces 106 opposite and inclined to the sealing materials 41 are formed in the edge side part of the counter substrate main body 105. An adhesive 108 which has high ultraviolet ray transmittance and a refractive index different from that of the counter substrate main body 105 is filled in the tapered faces 106 to form an ultraviolet ray transmission part 109. The circumferential surface of the ultraviolet ray transmission part 109 is set to be an ultraviolet ray incident plane 101. The tapered faces 106 are configured to function as a reflective surface for reflecting the ultraviolet rays incident from an incident plane 101 and for transmitting them to the sealing materials 41.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a liquid crystal device equipped with a sealing material that is cured by irradiation with ultraviolet rays.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A liquid crystal device such as a liquid crystal light valve is constructed by enclosing a liquid crystal between two substrates such as a glass substrate and a quartz substrate. In a liquid crystal light valve, for example, a thin film transistor (hereinafter, referred to as T
(Referred to as FT) are arranged in a matrix, and a counter electrode is arranged on the other substrate to convert the optical characteristics of the liquid crystal layer sealed between both substrates into an image signal, thereby enabling image display.

The TFT substrate on which the TFTs are arranged and the counter substrate opposed to the TFT substrate are manufactured separately.
After both substrates are bonded with high precision in the panel assembly process, liquid crystal is sealed.

In the panel assembling process, first, an alignment film is formed on the facing surfaces of the TFT substrate and the counter substrate manufactured in each substrate process, that is, on the surfaces of the counter substrate and the liquid crystal layer of the TFT substrate in contact with each other. Then, a rubbing process is performed. Next, a sealing material serving as an adhesive is formed on the edge of one of the substrates. The TFT substrate and the counter substrate are attached to each other with a sealant, and pressure-bonded and cured while performing alignment. A notch is provided in a part of the sealing material, and the liquid crystal is sealed through this notch.

By the way, from the viewpoint of good productivity, gap quality, etc., an ultraviolet curable resin is widely adopted as a sealing material. When curing this type of sealant, ultraviolet light has the property of deteriorating the alignment film and the like, so it is placed on the optical path of a light source device, such as an ultraviolet lamp, which is arranged opposite to at least one of the counter substrate and the TFT substrate. Interposing a light-shielding mask having a slit along the sealing material,
It is common to irradiate the sealing material with ultraviolet light from the light source device through the slit.

Further, for example, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 8-29792, an optical lens is provided in a slit portion of a light shielding mask,
A technique is disclosed in which the sealing material is irradiated with the ultraviolet light condensed by the optical lens from directly above or outside the sealing material. According to such a technique, the optical lens minimizes the optical path width of the ultraviolet light passing through the sealing material and improves the light condensing power, thereby reducing the diffraction of the ultraviolet light by the slit and displaying the ultraviolet light. It is possible to reduce the leakage to the area and improve the utilization efficiency of ultraviolet light.

[0007]

However, the sealing material is formed in a slender shape along the display area of the liquid crystal device, and moreover, the light flux of the ultraviolet light which irradiates the sealing material through the slit is sealed. Since it is a long and narrow material, it is difficult to precisely irradiate the sealing material with the light flux of the ultraviolet light that passes through the slit, even if a slight deviation occurs in the position where the light-shielding mask is arranged with respect to the sealing material. May be.

Then, for example, when a part of the ultraviolet light which is not applied to the sealing material passes through the liquid crystal substrate and leaks to the alignment film in the display region, the alignment film in that part is deteriorated and the display performance is deteriorated. May cause

When a portion of the sealing material that is not sufficiently irradiated with ultraviolet light is generated, the curing of this portion becomes insufficient, and the uncured component of the sealing material is eluted into the liquid crystal to cause uniform alignment of liquid crystal molecules. May hinder. Such disorder of the alignment of the liquid crystal molecules causes uneven contrast, which causes a reduction in the yield of the liquid crystal device.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and reduces the leakage of ultraviolet light to the alignment film on the display area, and irradiates the sealing material with ultraviolet light with high accuracy to sufficiently expose the sealing material to ultraviolet light. An object is to provide a liquid crystal device that can be cured.

[0011]

In a liquid crystal device according to the present invention, at least one of a pair of liquid crystal substrates fixed to each other via a sealing material is irradiated with ultraviolet light irradiated when the sealing material is cured. It is characterized by comprising an optical member for guiding the material.

According to this structure, the ultraviolet light emitted when the sealing material is cured is guided to the sealing material via the optical member provided on the liquid crystal substrate. By guiding the ultraviolet light to the sealing material through the optical member provided on the liquid crystal substrate, it is possible to reduce the leakage of the ultraviolet light to the alignment film on the display area, and to irradiate the sealing material with the ultraviolet light accurately. Thus, the sealing material can be sufficiently ultraviolet-cured.

The optical member has an incident surface for ultraviolet light provided on the peripheral surface of the liquid crystal substrate and a reflective surface for internally reflecting the ultraviolet light incident from the incident surface and guiding it to the sealing material. It is characterized by having.

With this structure, the ultraviolet light emitted when the sealing material is cured enters the optical member through the incident surface provided on the peripheral surface of the liquid crystal substrate, is reflected by the reflecting surface, and is sealed. Guided by wood. By forming the optical member with the reflective surface, the incident surface can be provided on the peripheral surface of the liquid crystal substrate, and the leakage of ultraviolet light to the alignment film on the display region can be reduced. In addition, by providing the incident surface on the peripheral surface of the liquid crystal substrate, the width of the irradiated light flux of ultraviolet light can be set wider than the width of the sealing material, and the sealing material can be accurately irradiated with ultraviolet light. The material can be sufficiently UV-cured.

The reflecting surface is characterized by being formed by combining optical materials having different refractive indexes.

With this structure, the reflecting surface can be easily obtained.

The optical member is characterized by including an optical lens that collects the incident ultraviolet light and guides it to the sealing material.

With such a configuration, the ultraviolet light incident on the optical member is condensed by the optical lens and guided to the sealing material. By configuring the optical member with an optical lens, it is not necessary to set the intensity of the ultraviolet light to be higher than necessary, and even if a part of the ultraviolet light is irradiated to the display area, the alignment film of the ultraviolet light Can be minimized. Therefore, the luminous flux of the ultraviolet light to be irradiated can be set wider than the width of the sealing material, and the sealing material can be sufficiently ultraviolet-cured by irradiating the sealing material with the ultraviolet light with high accuracy.

The optical lens is characterized by being formed by etching.

With this structure, the optical lens can be easily obtained.

The optical member is characterized by being made of a material having a higher ultraviolet transmittance than at least the display area on the liquid crystal substrate.

With this structure, the ultraviolet light incident on the optical member is transmitted through the optical member and guided to the sealing material. By configuring the optical member with a material that has a higher UV transmissivity than at least the display area on the liquid crystal substrate, leakage of UV light to the alignment film is minimized even if a part of the UV light is applied to the display area. You can keep it to the limit.
Therefore, the luminous flux of the ultraviolet light to be irradiated can be set wider than the width of the sealing material, and the ultraviolet light can be accurately irradiated to the sealing material.

[0023]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The drawings relate to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing a schematic configuration of a liquid crystal device and a manufacturing apparatus thereof in a step of curing a sealing material, FIG.
Is an equivalent circuit of various elements, wirings, and the like in a plurality of pixels forming the pixel region of the liquid crystal device. FIG. 3 is a plan view of an element substrate such as a TFT substrate as viewed from the counter substrate side together with the constituent elements formed thereon, and FIG. 4 is an assembly process for bonding the element substrate and the counter substrate to enclose liquid crystal. It is sectional drawing which cuts and shows the liquid crystal device after completion | finish in the position of the HH 'line of FIG. FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing the liquid crystal device in detail.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the panel assembly process. FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing a process of forming an optical member on the counter substrate, and FIG. 8 is a plan view showing a mother glass substrate of the counter substrate which has been subjected to the etching treatment.

First, the structure of the liquid crystal panel will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the liquid crystal panel is configured by enclosing a liquid crystal 50 between an element substrate 10 such as a TFT substrate and a counter substrate 20. Pixel electrodes that form pixels are arranged in a matrix on the element substrate 10. FIG. 2 shows an element substrate 10 that constitutes a pixel.
The equivalent circuit of the above element is shown.

As shown in FIG. 2, in the pixel area,
The plurality of scanning lines 3a and the plurality of data lines 6a are arranged so as to intersect with each other, and the pixel electrodes are arranged in a matrix in a region partitioned by the scanning lines 3a and the data lines 6a. A TFT 30 is provided corresponding to each intersection of the scanning line 3a and the data line 6a, and the pixel electrode 9 is provided on the TFT 30.
a is connected.

The TFT 30 is turned on by the ON signal of the scanning line 3a, whereby the image signal supplied to the data line 6a is supplied to the pixel electrode 9a. This pixel electrode 9
A voltage between a and the counter electrode 21 provided on the counter substrate 20 is applied to the liquid crystal 50. Further, a storage capacitor 70 is provided in parallel with the pixel electrode 9a, and the storage capacitor 70 enables the voltage of the pixel electrode 9a to be retained for a time that is, for example, three digits longer than the time when the source voltage is applied. The storage capacitor 70 improves the voltage holding characteristic and enables image display with a high contrast ratio.

FIG. 5 is a schematic sectional view of a liquid crystal panel focusing on one pixel.

The element substrate 10 made of glass, quartz or the like has an LD
A TFT 30 having a D structure is provided. TFT30
Is provided with a scanning line 3a forming a gate electrode via an insulating film 2 in a semiconductor layer in which a channel region 1a, a source region 1d and a drain region 1e are formed. A data line 6a is laminated on the TFT 30 via the first interlayer insulating film 4,
The data line 6a is electrically connected to the source region 1d through the contact hole 5. A pixel electrode 9a is stacked on the data line 6a via a second interlayer insulating film 7, and the pixel electrode 9a is electrically connected to the drain region 1e via a contact hole 8.

By supplying an ON signal to the scanning line 3a (gate electrode), the channel region 1a becomes conductive,
The source region 1d and the drain region 1e are connected to each other, and the image signal supplied to the data line 6a is applied to the pixel electrode 9a.

A storage capacitor electrode 1f extending from the drain region 1e is formed in the semiconductor layer. The storage capacitance electrode 1f is connected to the capacitance line 3b via the insulating film 2 which is a dielectric film.
Are arranged so as to face each other, and thereby a storage capacitor 70 is formed. An alignment film 16 made of a polyimide-based polymer resin is laminated on the pixel electrode 9a, and is rubbed in a predetermined direction.

On the other hand, the counter substrate 20 is provided with the first light-shielding film 23 in a region opposed to the data line 6a, the scanning line 3a and the TFT 30 forming region of the TFT array substrate, that is, in the non-display region of each pixel. . Due to the first light-shielding film 23, incident light from the counter substrate 20 side allows the channel region 1a, the source region 1d and the drain region 1e of the TFT 30 to be incident.
Is prevented from entering. A counter electrode (common electrode) 21 is formed on the first light-shielding film 23 over the entire surface of the substrate 20. An alignment film 22 made of a polyimide-based polymer resin is laminated on the counter electrode 21 and rubbed in a predetermined direction.

Liquid crystal 50 is sealed between the element substrate 10 and the counter substrate 20. As a result, the TFT3
0 writes the image signal supplied from the data line 6a to the pixel electrode 9a at a predetermined timing. Depending on the written potential difference between the pixel electrode 9a and the counter electrode 21, the orientation or order of the molecular assembly of the liquid crystal 50 is changed to modulate light and enable gradation display.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the counter substrate 20
A second light-shielding film 42 is provided as a frame for partitioning the display area. The second light shielding film 42 is, for example, the first light shielding film 2
It is made of the same or different light-shielding material as 3.

A sealing material 41 for enclosing the liquid crystal is formed between the element substrate 10 and the counter substrate 20 in a region outside the second light-shielding film 42. The sealing material 41 is arranged so as to substantially match the contour shape of the counter substrate 20, and fixes the element substrate 10 and the counter substrate 20 to each other. The sealing material 41 is missing in a part of one side of the element substrate 10, and a liquid crystal injection port 78 for injecting the liquid crystal 50 is formed in a gap between the element substrate 10 and the counter substrate 20 which are bonded to each other. It
After the liquid crystal is injected through the liquid crystal injection port 78, the liquid crystal injection port 7
8 is sealed with a sealing material 79.

A data line driving circuit 61 and a mounting terminal 62 are provided along one side of the element substrate 10 in a region outside the sealing material 41 of the element substrate 10, and along two sides adjacent to the one side. , A scanning line drive circuit 63 is provided. A plurality of wirings 64 for connecting the scanning line drive circuits 63 provided on both sides of the screen display area are provided on the remaining side of the element substrate 10. The element substrate 1 is provided at least at one corner of the counter substrate 20.
A conductive material 65 is provided to electrically connect 0 and the counter substrate 20.

Next, the panel assembling process will be described with reference to FIG. The element substrate 10 (TFT substrate) and the counter substrate 20 are manufactured separately. In the next steps S2 and S7, a polyimide (PI) film to be the alignment films 16 and 22 is formed on the TFT substrate and the counter substrate prepared in steps S1 and S6, respectively. Next, in steps S3 and S8, the alignment film 16 on the surface of the element substrate 10 and the counter substrate 20.
A rubbing treatment is applied to the alignment film 22 on the surface.

Next, in steps S4 and S9, a cleaning process is performed. This cleaning step is for removing dust generated by the rubbing process.

When the cleaning process is completed, the seal material 41 and the conductive material 65 (see FIG. 3) are formed in step S5. Next, in step S10, the element substrate 10 and the counter substrate 20 are bonded to each other, and in step S11, they are pressure-bonded while performing alignment, and the sealing material 41 is cured by a method described later. Finally, in step S12, liquid crystal is sealed from a notch provided in a part of the sealing material 41,
The liquid crystal is sealed by closing the notch.

As shown in FIG. 1, the sealing material 41 is cured in step S11 by irradiating the sealing material 41 with ultraviolet light. In the present embodiment, the ultraviolet irradiation device 80 for irradiating the sealing material 41 with the ultraviolet light is arranged so as to face each of the four side surfaces of the counter substrate 20.

The ultraviolet irradiation device 80 is the ultraviolet light source device 8
1 and a light shielding mask 82.
The ultraviolet light source device 81 has an ultraviolet lamp 83, and irradiates the opposite substrate 20 side with the ultraviolet light emitted from the ultraviolet lamp 83. The light-shielding mask 82 is interposed between the ultraviolet light source device 80 and the counter substrate 20, and includes a substrate 84 made of quartz or the like and a light-shielding plate 85. The light shielding plate 85 is provided with a slit 86 at a position facing an incident surface 101 of an optical member 100 (described later) provided on the counter substrate 20, and ultraviolet light from the ultraviolet light source device 80 is optically transmitted through the slit 86. The incident surface 101 of the member 100 is irradiated.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, an optical member 100 for guiding the ultraviolet light to the sealing material 41 is provided at a position outside the display area at least at the edge portion of the counter substrate 20.
It is provided along the sealing material 41.

Here, prior to describing the configuration of the optical member 100, an example of a detailed configuration in the vicinity of the sealing material 41 of the liquid crystal panel in a step before curing the sealing material 41 will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the element substrate 10 has a third light-shielding film 88 for defining a display region.
2 is provided to face the inside of the third light-shielding film 88.
The TFT 30 shown in is formed. The third light-shielding film 88 has first and second interlayer insulating films 4 and 7 that form the TFT 30.
Are laminated, and the alignment film 16 is further formed on the second interlayer insulating film 7.
Are stacked. On the other hand, in the counter substrate 20, the second
The counter electrode 21 is laminated on the light shielding film 42, and the alignment film 22 is further laminated on the counter electrode 21. The sealing material 41 is provided between the second interlayer insulating film 7 and the counter electrode 21 at a position spaced apart from the second and third light shielding films 42 and 88 by a predetermined distance, and the inner wall surface of the sealing material 41 is Alignment film 1
The edges of 6, 22 are exposed.

The counter substrate 20 has a counter substrate body 105 made of quartz or the like having a relatively low ultraviolet transmittance. The sealing material 41 is provided on the edge of the counter substrate body 105.
A tapered surface 106 that is inclined and faces the sealing material 41 is formed corresponding to the position where the is formed.

A cover glass 108 is attached to the counter substrate body 105 on the surface (inner surface) facing the element substrate 10 with an adhesive 107.

As the adhesive 107, a material having a high ultraviolet transmittance and a refractive index different from that of the counter substrate body 105 is used. The adhesive 107 is applied to the counter substrate body 10
5, when the cover glass 108 is attached, the cover glass 108 is filled along the tapered surface 106 at the edge portion of the counter substrate main body 105, and thus the ultraviolet transmitting portion 109 is filled in the filled portion.
To form. The peripheral surface of the ultraviolet light transmitting portion 109 is formed flush with the peripheral surface of the counter substrate body 105, and the ultraviolet light incident surface 1
Function as 01. Further, the tapered surface 106 of the counter substrate body 105 functions as a reflection surface of ultraviolet light, reflects the ultraviolet light incident from the incident surface 101, and seals the material 4.
It leads to 1. In this case, as shown,
The taper angle of the tapered surface 106 is set to an acute angle, whereby the vertical width of the incident surface 101 is set to be wider than the width of the sealing material 41.

Here, the counter substrate 20 having the optical member 100 as described above is manufactured, for example, through the steps of FIG. That is, for the mother glass substrate of the counter substrate body 105 prepared in step S21, the tapered surface 1 is processed in steps S22 to S25.
The formation of 06 is performed. The tapered surface 106 is formed by sequentially repeating the etching process on the mother glass substrate from four directions. That is, first,
In step S22, a photoresist is applied to the mother glass substrate. Next, in step S23, the photoresist is exposed through a mask having a shape corresponding to the tapered surface 106 in one direction, and the non-exposed portion is peeled off. Then, in step S24, the portion of the mother glass substrate from which the photoresist has been peeled off is etched. This etching is performed anisotropically, for example, by dry etching. By blowing an etching gas onto the mother glass substrate from a predetermined inclination direction, a tapered surface 106 in one direction is formed on the mother glass substrate. To be done. Then, in step S25, the photoresist is stripped. Such steps S22 to S25
By repeatedly performing the above process in four directions, a tapered surface 106 in four directions along the edge is formed on each counter substrate body 105 on the mother glass substrate, as shown in FIG. When the etching processing in the four directions on the mother glass substrate is completed, the adhesive 107 is formed in step S26.
Is applied, and the cover glass 108 is attached in step S27. Then, in step S28, the mother glass substrate is scribe-broken to obtain the counter substrate 20 shown in FIG. 1 (step S29). The counter substrate 20
In the subsequent steps,
After stacking the counter electrodes 21 and the like, the panel assembly process is started.

Next, the operation of the optical member 100 in the step of curing the sealing material 41 in the above step S11 will be described.

As shown in FIG. 1, the element substrate 10 and the counter substrate 20 are bonded to each other with a seal member 41 interposed therebetween.
In the state where the alignment of 0 and 20 is performed, the ultraviolet irradiation device 80 is arranged to face the liquid crystal panel so as to face the four side walls of the counter substrate 20. At that time, in the light-shielding mask 82, the slit 86 has the entrance surface 10 of the optical member 100.
It is arranged so as to be exactly opposite to 1.

After that, when ultraviolet light is emitted from the ultraviolet lamp 83, a part of the emitted ultraviolet light is slit 8.
6, and then enters the ultraviolet ray transmitting portion 109 from the incident surface 101. Then, from the incident surface 101 to the ultraviolet ray transmitting portion 10
The ultraviolet light incident on 9 is a tapered surface (reflection surface) 10
It is reflected by 6 and guided to the seal material 41. This allows
The sealing material 41 is UV-cured.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the optical member 100 along the seal material 41 is provided on the counter substrate 20, and the ultraviolet light is guided to the seal material 41 through the optical member 100, so that the display area is increased. It is possible to reduce the leakage of the ultraviolet light to the alignment film, and to irradiate the sealing material 41 with the ultraviolet light with high accuracy to sufficiently cure the sealing material with the ultraviolet light.

Specifically, the optical member 100 is the counter substrate 2
Since the ultraviolet light incident from the peripheral surface of 0 is reflected by the taper surface (reflection surface) 106 and guided to the sealing material 41, compared with the case where the ultraviolet light is irradiated facing the outer surface of the counter substrate 20. The leakage of ultraviolet light to the alignment film in the display area can be dramatically reduced.

Therefore, the width of the light flux of the ultraviolet light passing through the slit 86 can be set relatively wide with respect to the sealing material 41, the irradiation accuracy of the ultraviolet light to the incident surface 101 can be improved, and the sealing material 41 can be improved. It is possible to improve the irradiation accuracy of the ultraviolet light to the laser.

In this case, in particular, the incident surface 101 of the optical member 100 is set to be wider than the width of the seal member 41 by setting the reflection surface (tapered surface 106) constituting the optical member 100 to an acute angle. Slit 8 for 101
Even if a slight deviation occurs at the position of 6, the ultraviolet light can be surely made incident on the ultraviolet transmitting portion 109, and the sealing material 41 can be irradiated with the ultraviolet light with high accuracy.

Further, the adhesive 107 (the ultraviolet ray transmitting portion 10
By using a material having a high ultraviolet transmittance for 9), it is possible to reduce the loss of ultraviolet light when passing through the counter substrate 20 (optical member 100), and to perform ultraviolet curing of the sealing material 41 in a short time. You can

Further, the tapered surface 1 is formed on the counter substrate body 105.
The reflecting surface can be easily obtained with a simple configuration in which 06 is provided and a material (adhesive 108) having a refractive index different from that of the counter substrate body 105 is filled.

In the above-described embodiment, the optical member 1 is formed by forming the tapered surface 106, which is inclined and opposed to the sealing material 41, at the edge of the counter substrate body 105.
However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, instead of the tapered surface 106, a concave or convex curved surface that is inclined and faces the sealing material 41 may be used. You may form.

FIG. 9 relates to a second embodiment of the present invention,
It is explanatory drawing which shows schematic structure of the liquid crystal device and its manufacturing apparatus in the process of hardening a sealing material. The present embodiment is different from the above-described first embodiment in that the optical member 120 is configured by using the optical lens 122 that collects ultraviolet light and guides it to the sealing material 41. In this case, the incident surface 121 of the ultraviolet light is set along the edge of the counter substrate 20. Therefore, in the curing step of the sealing material 41, the single ultraviolet irradiation device 80 having the slit 86 having a shape along the incident surface 121 is arranged opposite to the counter substrate 20. The same components as those in the first embodiment described above are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

The counter substrate 20 has a counter substrate body 115 made of quartz or the like. Counter substrate body 11
5 is at least a position outside the display area,
A convex optical lens 122 is formed on the surface (inner surface) side facing the element substrate 10. The optical lens 122 corresponds to the position where the sealing material 41 is formed, and
It is formed along the edge of 15 and is formed by etching, for example. In this case, the optical lens 122 is formed outside the second light shielding film 42 with a predetermined gap.

On the outer surface of the counter substrate main body 115, a portion facing the optical lens 122 is set as an incident surface 121 for the ultraviolet light. In this case, the entrance surface 1
The width of 21 is set wider than the width of the sealing material 41.

A cover glass 108 is attached to the inner surface of the counter substrate body 115 with an adhesive 123. The adhesive 123 has a higher ultraviolet transmittance than the counter substrate body 115 and is made of a material having a refractive index different from that of the counter substrate body 115.

Then, the optical member 120 has the incident surface 121.
The ultraviolet light incident from the optical system is condensed by the optical lens 122 and guided to the sealing material 41. That is, due to the difference in the refractive index between the counter substrate main body 115 and the adhesive 123, the ultraviolet light incident from the incident surface 121 is refracted by the optical lens 122 in the direction of condensing on the sealing material 41 side.

Reference numeral 124 in the drawing denotes an optical lens set in the display area corresponding to each pixel.

Next, the operation of the optical member 120 in the curing step of the sealing material 41 will be described.

As shown in FIG. 9, the element substrate 10 and the counter substrate 20 are bonded to each other with the seal material 41 interposed therebetween.
In the state in which the alignment of 0 and 20 is performed, the ultraviolet irradiation device 80 is arranged to face the outer surface of the counter substrate 20 in the liquid crystal panel. At that time, the light shielding mask 8
2, the slit 86 has the incident surface 121 of the optical member 120.
Are arranged so as to face each other exactly.

After that, when ultraviolet light is emitted from the ultraviolet lamp 83, a part of the emitted ultraviolet light passes through the slit 86 and enters the counter substrate main body 115 through the incident surface 121. Then, from the incident surface 121 to the counter substrate body 1
The ultraviolet light entering 15 is refracted by the optical lens 122 when entering the adhesive 123, and the sealing material 4
Guided to 1. As a result, the sealing material 41 is UV-cured.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the optical member 120 along the sealing material 41 is provided on the counter substrate 20, and the ultraviolet light is guided to the sealing material 41 through the optical member 120, thereby displaying on the display area. It is possible to reduce the leakage of the ultraviolet light to the alignment film, and to irradiate the sealing material 41 with the ultraviolet light with high accuracy to sufficiently cure the sealing material with the ultraviolet light.

Specifically, the optical member 120 includes the incident surface 1
Since the ultraviolet light incident from 21 is condensed and guided to the sealing material 41, it is not necessary to set the intensity of the ultraviolet light irradiated by the ultraviolet irradiation device 80 to be higher than necessary, and Even when the area is irradiated to the display area, damage to the alignment films 16 and 22 by the ultraviolet light can be minimized.

Further, since the optical member 120 is configured to collect the ultraviolet light incident from the incident surface 121 and guide it to the sealing material 41, the incident surface 121 can be set wider than the width of the sealing material 41. .

Further, since the optical member 120 collects the ultraviolet light incident from the incident surface 121 and guides it to the sealing material 41, the irradiation efficiency of the ultraviolet light to the sealing material 41 can be improved, The ultraviolet curing of the sealing material 41 can be performed in a short time. In addition, the counter substrate body 115
The optical lens 122 can be easily obtained by a simple process of simply etching.

In this embodiment, an example in which the optical lens 122 is provided on the inner surface side of the counter substrate 20 has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this.
For example, an optical lens may be provided on the outer surface side of the counter substrate 20, or may be provided on both the outer surface side and the inner surface side of the counter substrate 20. The optical lens is not limited to the convex shape, and may be, for example, a concave shape.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory view showing a schematic structure of a liquid crystal device and a manufacturing apparatus therefor in a step of curing a sealing material according to the second embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment is different from the above-described first embodiment in that the ultraviolet light is directly guided to the sealing material 41 via the optical member 130 made of a material having a higher ultraviolet transmittance than the counter substrate body 116. . In this case, the optical member 130 is the opposite substrate body 11
6, the entire outer surface of the optical member 130 is set as an incident surface 131 for ultraviolet light. Therefore, in the curing step of the sealing material 41, the counter substrate 20
, A single ultraviolet irradiation device 80 having a slit 86 having a shape along the incident surface 131 is arranged to face. The same components as those in the first embodiment described above are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 10, the counter substrate 20 is a counter substrate body 1 made of quartz or the like having a relatively low ultraviolet transmittance.
It is configured to have 16. In this case, the counter substrate body 116 is formed at least corresponding to the display area. In the present embodiment, the peripheral surface of the counter substrate body 116 is set at a position separated by a predetermined distance outside the second light shielding film 42.

On the peripheral surface of the counter substrate main body 116, an optical member 130 made of a slender substrate made of a material having a high ultraviolet transmittance is attached. The optical member 130 is provided corresponding to the position where the sealing material 41 is formed,
The outer surface and the inner surface thereof are set flush with the counter substrate body 116. Further, the width of the incident surface 131 of the optical member 130 is set wider than the width of the sealing material 41.

Next, the operation of the optical member 130 in the curing step of the sealing material 41 will be described.

As shown in FIG. 10, in a state in which the element substrate 10 and the counter substrate 20 are bonded to each other via the sealing material 41 and the both substrates 10 and 20 are aligned. An ultraviolet irradiation device 80 is arranged to face the outer surface of the counter substrate 20 in the liquid crystal panel. At that time, in the light shielding mask 82, the slit 86 has the slits 86,
It is arranged so as to face exactly 1.

After that, when the ultraviolet light is emitted from the ultraviolet lamp 83, a part of the emitted ultraviolet light passes through the slit 86 and enters the optical member 130 through the incident surface 131. Then, the ultraviolet light incident on the optical member 130 from the incident surface 131 is guided to the sealing material 41 as it is. As a result, the sealing material 41 is UV-cured.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the optical member 130 along the seal material 41 is provided on the counter substrate 20, and the ultraviolet light is guided to the seal material 41 through the optical member 130, whereby the display area It is possible to reduce the leakage of ultraviolet light to the alignment film, and at the same time, to seal the ultraviolet light with the sealing material 4.
The seal material can be sufficiently ultraviolet-cured by irradiating 1 with high accuracy.

Specifically, the counter substrate body 116 is made of a material having a low ultraviolet transmittance, and the optical member 130 is used.
Even if some of the ultraviolet light is incident on the display area,
It is possible to minimize the damage to the alignment films 16 and 22 due to the ultraviolet light.

Further, since the optical member 130 is provided outside the second light-shielding film 42 with a predetermined distance, even if a part of the ultraviolet light is displaced from the incident surface 131 toward the display area side, This ultraviolet light can be blocked by the second light blocking film 42.

Therefore, the width of the light flux of the ultraviolet light passing through the slit 86 can be set relatively wide with respect to the sealing material 41, the irradiation accuracy of the ultraviolet light to the incident surface 131 can be improved, and the sealing material 41 can be improved. It is possible to improve the irradiation accuracy of the ultraviolet light to the laser.

Further, the optical member 130 can be easily obtained by a simple structure in which the elongated substrate having a high ultraviolet transmittance is bonded to the counter substrate body 116.

In each of the above-described embodiments, an example in which the optical member is provided on the counter substrate side has been described.
The present invention is not limited to this, and for example, an optical member may be provided on the element substrate side, or an optical member may be provided on both the element substrate and the counter substrate.

[0083]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the leakage of the ultraviolet light to the alignment film on the display area, and to irradiate the sealing material with the ultraviolet light with high accuracy. It can be sufficiently UV-cured.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of a liquid crystal device and a manufacturing apparatus thereof in a step of curing a sealing material according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an equivalent circuit of various elements, wirings, etc. in a plurality of pixels forming a pixel region of a liquid crystal device.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of an element substrate such as a TFT substrate together with the constituent elements formed thereon, as viewed from the counter substrate side.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the liquid crystal device after the assembly process in which an element substrate and a counter substrate are bonded to each other and liquid crystal is sealed, taken along line HH ′ in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a liquid crystal device in detail.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a panel assembly process.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing steps of forming an optical member on a counter substrate.

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing a mother glass substrate which is a counter substrate subjected to etching processing.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of a liquid crystal device and a manufacturing apparatus thereof in a step of curing a sealing material according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of a liquid crystal device and a manufacturing apparatus thereof in a step of curing a sealing material according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 ... Element substrate (liquid crystal substrate) 16 ... Alignment film 20 ... Counter substrate (liquid crystal substrate) 22 ... Alignment film 41 ... Sealing material 100 ... Optical member 101 ... Incident surface 106 ... Tapered surface (reflection surface) 120 ... Optical member 121 ... Incident surface 122 ... Optical lens 130 ... Optical member 131 ... Incident surface

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. At least one of a pair of liquid crystal substrates fixed to each other via a sealing material is provided with an optical member that guides the ultraviolet light irradiated during curing of the sealing material to the sealing material. Liquid crystal device. 2. The optical member includes an incident surface of ultraviolet light provided on the peripheral surface of the liquid crystal substrate, and a reflective surface that internally reflects the ultraviolet light incident from the incident surface and guides it to the sealing material. The liquid crystal device according to claim 1, further comprising: 3. The liquid crystal device according to claim 2, wherein the reflecting surface is formed by combining optical materials having different refractive indexes. 4. The liquid crystal device according to claim 1, wherein the optical member comprises an optical lens that collects incident ultraviolet light and guides it to the sealing material. 5. The liquid crystal device according to claim 4, wherein the optical lens is formed by etching. 6. The liquid crystal device according to claim 1, wherein the optical member is made of a material having a higher ultraviolet transmittance than at least a display region on the liquid crystal substrate.