JP2003066468A - Method for manufacturing liquid crystal display element and manufacturing device used therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display element having high reliability in high yield by preventing the damage to a sealing pattern due to pressurized air in a liquid crystal cell, when two substrates are superposed on each other, pressurized and stuck to each other by using the sealing pattern consisting of adhesive resin in the manufacturing stage for the liquid crystal display element, and to provide a manufacturing device used therefor. SOLUTION: A substrate outer peripheral part sealing pattern 3 is formed at a peripheral part of a substrate 1a on the outer side of a sealing pattern 2 for a liquid crystal cell. In a stage for superposing two substrates in the manufacturing stage for the liquid crystal display element, a closed space is formed in the area including the area between the substrate 1a and a substrate 1b before a sealing material applied on the substrate 1a comes in contact with the substrate 1b opposed thereto, the pressure within the space is reduced, then the sealing material on the substrate 1a is brought into contact with the substrate 1b, the substrate outer peripheral part sealing pattern 3 is cured, the resultant product is conveyed to a press-contacting stage while the pressure reduced state within the closed space is maintained and the sealing pattern 2 for the cell is pressurized and heated to be cured.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display element and a manufacturing apparatus used for the method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A liquid crystal cell which constitutes a liquid crystal display device has a spherical bead (material: silica) as a spacer for securing a gap of the liquid crystal cell on one of two substrates which form a pair with electrodes. , Resin, etc.), and the two substrates are bonded to the other substrate, and a sealing material made of an adhesive resin for enclosing the liquid crystal injected between the two substrates is applied to the peripheral portion of the substrates. , Stack these two substrates,
It is manufactured by subjecting the sealing material to a curing treatment under pressure and then cutting an unnecessary portion of the substrate. After that, liquid crystal is injected into the liquid crystal cell and the liquid crystal injection port is sealed to form a liquid crystal display element.

9 to 11 are views for explaining a conventional manufacturing process of a liquid crystal display device, FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing a flow of substrate superposition and pressure bonding processes, and FIG. 10 is a seal before superposition. A sectional view (a) and a plan view (b) of the substrate on which the material is applied are shown in FIG. 11, and FIG. In the figure, 1 is a pair of substrates constituting a liquid crystal display element, 11 is a sealing material, and the two substrates 1 are opposed to each other and adhered, and a seal pattern for determining a liquid crystal injection region, 11a is The liquid crystal injection port is the opening of the seal pattern 11. Reference numeral 4 is a spacer for forming a predetermined gap after press-bonding the two substrates 1, and reference numerals 5 and 6 are a lower platen and an upper platen of the stacking device. Of the two substrates 1 forming a pair, the substrate on which the seal pattern 11 is formed is 1a, and the substrate on which the spacers 4 are dispersed is 1b.

Next, a description will be given of the substrate superposing and pressure bonding processes in the conventional liquid crystal display device manufacturing process with reference to FIGS. 9 to 11. First, as shown in FIG. 10, two substrates having electrode patterns are formed. The seal material is applied to one side of 1 to form the seal pattern 11 (C1 in FIG. 9), and the spacers 4 are scattered on the other side (C2 in FIG. 9). Next, the substrate 1a on which the seal pattern 11 is formed and the substrate 1b on which the spacers 4 are dispersed are mounted on the lower surface plate 5 and the upper surface plate 6 of the stacking device, respectively (C3 in FIG. 9, FIG. 11).
(A)). Next, after the lower surface plate 5 and the upper surface plate 6 of the stacking device on which the substrates 1a and 1b are mounted are brought into close proximity to each other for alignment (C4 in FIG. 9), the lower surface plate 5 of the stacking device is further placed. And a state in which a load is applied to the upper surface plate 6 to bring them closer to each other and the sealing material applied to the substrate 1a is in contact with the substrate 1b, that is, a state in which the substrate 1a and the substrate 1b are bonded by the uncured seal pattern It becomes (C of FIG. 9
5, FIG. 11 (b)).

Next, the lower surface plate 5 and the upper surface plate 6 of the stacking device are separated (FIG. 11 (c)), and the two aligned substrates 1 facing each other are carried out (C6 in FIG. 9). next,
The two aligned substrates 1 are conveyed to a pressure bonding apparatus, pressed so that the gap between the substrates 1a and 1b becomes a predetermined value, and the seal pattern 11 is cured (C7 in FIG. 9). . After that, the cutting process (C in FIG. 9)
8), liquid crystal injection and liquid crystal injection port sealing processing are performed to form a liquid crystal display element.

[0006]

The conventional superposition and pressure bonding steps of the two substrates in the manufacturing process of the liquid crystal display element are configured as described above.
When the air in the seal pattern 11 is not sufficiently exhausted from the liquid crystal inlet 11a when the two substrates 1 that are stacked are pressurized, the pressure inside the liquid crystal cell surrounded by the seal pattern 11 increases and the seal pattern There are problems such as damage to No. 11 and air puncture in the liquid crystal cell causing seal puncture to penetrate through the seal pattern 11.

[0007] In order to solve such a problem, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-275656 discloses a method of pressing after the environment including the superposed substrates is depressurized during the pressure bonding step. During the crimping process, the two opposing substrates are stuck together by the uncured seal pattern, and the air passage inside the liquid crystal cell is only the liquid crystal inlet, so the exhaust inside the liquid crystal cell is not sufficient. Since the inside of the cell cannot be in the same reduced pressure state as the outside of the cell, it is not possible to suppress the rise in the pressure inside the liquid crystal cell at the time of pressing, and reliably prevent the occurrence of a seal pattern defect such as seal puncture. There was a problem that I could not do it.

With the recent increase in the size of substrates and the reduction in manufacturing cost, as shown in FIG. 12, multi-fabrication has been promoted in which a plurality of liquid crystal display elements are formed from two substrates forming a pair. In particular, the liquid crystal inlet 12a is the substrate 1a
In the liquid crystal cell located inside the liquid crystal cell, since the air inside the liquid crystal cell is not efficiently exhausted, the pressure inside the liquid crystal cell rises and the occurrence of defects in the seal pattern 12, such as seal puncture, becomes significant. There was such a problem.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and in the manufacturing process of a liquid crystal display element, two substrates are superposed and pressed to be bonded by a seal pattern made of an adhesive resin. In this case, there is provided a method for manufacturing a highly reliable liquid crystal display device with high yield by preventing damage to a seal pattern and seal puncture due to pressurized air in a liquid crystal cell, and a manufacturing apparatus used for the same. With the goal.

[0010]

According to the present invention, there is provided a method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device comprising a liquid crystal material sandwiched between two substrates facing each other, in which a liquid crystal material is injected into either one of the two substrates. A step of deciding a region and forming a cell seal pattern having an opening which is a liquid crystal material injection port;
A step of forming an annular substrate outer peripheral seal pattern outside the cell seal pattern along the outer periphery of the substrate on which the cell seal pattern is formed, and the cell seal pattern and the substrate outer peripheral seal pattern are formed. After the two substrates are opposed to each other, a step of depressurizing the space containing the two opposed substrates in a state where the cell seal pattern and the substrate outer peripheral seal pattern are not in contact with the other opposed substrate; And the step of aligning the two substrates, and the two opposing substrates under reduced pressure are bonded by curing the substrate outer peripheral seal pattern,
A step of making it possible to maintain a depressurized state between two opposing substrates, and a step of pressurizing the two opposing substrates while maintaining a depressurized state between the two opposing substrates and a cell seal pattern. And a step of adhering two opposing substrates with a cell seal pattern, and a step of cutting the two opposing substrates along the outside of the cured cell seal pattern. Is included.

Further, the cell seal pattern is made of a thermosetting adhesive resin, and the substrate outer peripheral seal pattern is made of a photocurable adhesive resin which is cured by UV light or visible light. .

Further, in a method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device in which a liquid crystal material is sandwiched between two substrates facing each other, an injection region of the liquid crystal material is determined and an injection region of the liquid crystal material is determined on one of the two substrates. The step of forming a cell seal pattern made of a photo-curing adhesive resin having an opening portion which is an entrance, and the two substrates having the cell seal pattern formed thereon are opposed to each other, and then the cell seal pattern is opposed to each other. The step of depressurizing the space containing the two opposing substrates without contacting the other substrate, the step of aligning the two opposing substrates, and the two opposing substrates in the reduced state A process of applying pressure and irradiating light to cure the cell seal pattern, and adhering two opposing substrates with the cell seal pattern, and curing the two opposing substrates. It is intended to include a step of cutting along the outside of the cell seal pattern. Further, a plurality of cell seal patterns are formed on the two opposing substrates.

Further, in the liquid crystal display element manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention, the two substrates constituting the liquid crystal display element are separately held, and the two held substrates are aligned,
And, when the upper and lower stools that can move horizontally and vertically to superpose the two held substrates and the upper and lower stools are brought close to each other, at least the upper and lower stools A sealing member capable of sealing between each of the two held substrates, a vacuum exhaust port for reducing the pressure of the sealed space formed between at least two substrates by the sealing member, an upper platen and a lower plate. And a light irradiation section for irradiating the substrate held on the board with light.

[0014]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiment 1. Hereinafter, a method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display element and a manufacturing apparatus used therefor according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 to 3 are views for explaining a manufacturing process of a liquid crystal display element according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a flow chart showing a flow of substrate superposition and pressure bonding processes, and FIG. A sectional view (a) and a plan view (b) of the substrate to which the sealing material is applied are shown in FIG. 3, and FIG.

In the figure, 1 is a pair of substrates that form a liquid crystal display element, and 2 is a sealing material made of a thermosetting epoxy adhesive resin. In addition, a seal pattern (hereinafter, referred to as a cell seal pattern) 2a that determines a liquid crystal injection region to form a liquid crystal cell is a liquid crystal injection port, which is an opening portion of the cell seal pattern 2. Reference numeral 3 denotes a sealing material made of a photo-reactive adhesive resin such as a UV curing type, and is an annular (no opening portion) substrate outer peripheral portion applied to the outer peripheral portion of the substrate 1 (outside the cell seal pattern 2). Seal pattern, 4
Is a spacer for forming a predetermined gap after the two substrates 1 are overlapped and pressed. Of the two substrates 1 forming a pair, the substrate on which the cell seal pattern 2 is formed is 1a, and the substrate on which the spacers 4 are dispersed is 1b.

Reference numerals 5 and 6 are a lower surface plate and an upper surface plate 6 of the stacking apparatus, and 7 is a lower surface plate 5 and an upper surface plate 6 when the lower surface plate 5 and the upper surface plate 6 provided in the stacking apparatus are brought close to each other. A sealing member for sealing between the substrate 1a and the substrate 1b, which are respectively held by the above, in the present embodiment, the lower surface plate 5 provided on the outer peripheral portion of the upper surface plate 6 of the stacking device and placed in close proximity to the upper surface plate 6. It is a skirt-shaped member that surrounds the upper platen 6. Reference numeral 8 denotes a vacuum exhaust port for reducing the pressure in a closed space formed by the lower surface plate 5, the upper surface plate 6 and the sealing member 7, and 9 denotes a light irradiation unit provided in the stacking device.

Next, the substrate superposing and pressure bonding steps in the manufacturing process of the liquid crystal display device according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. First, as shown in FIG. One of the substrates 1 (substrate 1
A cell seal pattern 2 made of a thermosetting adhesive resin and having a liquid crystal injection port 2a is formed in a). Further, a substrate outer peripheral seal pattern 3 made of a photo-curable adhesive resin is formed along the outer peripheral portion of the substrate 1a (A1 in FIG. 1). The substrate outer peripheral seal pattern 3 has a closed shape with no opening. The other of the two substrates 1 (the substrate 1
Spacers 4 are sprinkled on b) (A2 in FIG. 1).

Next, the substrate 1a on which the cell seal pattern 2 and the substrate outer peripheral seal pattern 3 are formed and the substrate 1b on which the spacers 4 are scattered are placed on the lower platen 5 of the stacking apparatus.
And the upper surface plate 6 respectively (A3 in FIG. 1 and FIG.
(A)).

Next, the lower surface plate 5 and the upper surface plate 6 of the stacking apparatus on which the substrates 1a and 1b are mounted are brought close to each other to form a closed space by the lower surface plate 5, the upper surface plate 6 and the sealing member 7. After that, exhaust is performed from the vacuum exhaust port 8 to bring the sealed space into a depressurized state (A4 in FIG. 1). The degree of vacuum at this time is 500 Torr, which is about the same as the degree of vacuum of the conventional vacuum thermocompression bonding apparatus.
Hereafter, it is preferably 300 Torr or less. Next, after the vacuum degree of the space formed by the lower surface plate 5, the upper surface plate 6 and the sealing member 7 of the stacking device reaches a predetermined value, the lower surface plate 5 and the upper surface plate 6 are applied to the substrate 1a. The sealing material (the cell sealing pattern 2 and the substrate outer peripheral sealing pattern 3) does not come into contact with the substrate 1b (since the coating thickness of the sealing material is about 20 μm, the substrates 1a and 1
The substrate 1a and the substrate 1b are aligned (A in FIG. 1) by making them close to each other (the gap b is about 20 μm to 50 μm).
5).

Next, the lower surface plate 5 and the upper surface plate 6 of the stacking apparatus on which the aligned substrates 1a and 1b are mounted.
The substrate 1a and the substrate 1b by contacting the substrate outer peripheral seal pattern 3 on the substrate 1a with a load.
Then, the sealed space is formed by the substrate outer peripheral seal pattern 3 (A6 in FIG. 1). At this time, the gap between the substrate 1a and the substrate 1b is about 5 μm to 20 μm. Next, the light irradiation unit 9 irradiates the substrate outer peripheral seal pattern 3 with light to cure the substrate outer peripheral seal pattern 3 to bond the substrate 1a and the substrate 1b (A7 in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3).
(B)). At this time, the region surrounded by the substrate outer peripheral seal pattern 3 between the substrate 1a and the substrate 1b is kept in a reduced pressure state.

Next, the vacuum of the space formed by the lower platen 5, the upper platen 6 and the sealing member 7 of the stacking device is released to separate the lower platen 5 and the upper platen 6 (A8 in FIG. 1, FIG. Three
(C)) The substrates 1a and 1b that have been aligned and bonded by the substrate outer peripheral seal pattern 3 are carried out (A9 in FIG. 1). Next, the aligned substrate 1
a and the substrate 1b are conveyed to a pressure bonding device, and the substrate 1a and the substrate 1b are
The cell seal pattern 2 is subjected to a curing treatment by pressurizing and heating so that the gap becomes a predetermined value (5 μm to 10 μm) (A10 in FIG. 1). After that, the cutting process (Fig. 1
A11), the liquid crystal is injected and the liquid crystal inlet 2a is sealed to form a liquid crystal display element.

In the present embodiment, the sealing member 7 forms a closed space between the lower surface plate 5 and the upper surface plate 6 of the stacking device, but the lower surface plate 5 and the upper surface plate 6 are respectively held. Any structure may be used as long as the space between the substrate 1a and the substrate 1b can be hermetically closed and vacuum exhaust can be performed.

According to the present embodiment, when the two substrates 1 (substrate 1a and substrate 1b) constituting the liquid crystal display device are opposed to each other and overlapped, a sealing material (cell seal) is applied to the substrate 1a. Before the pattern 2 and the substrate outer peripheral seal pattern 3) contact the substrate 1b, the substrate 1a and the substrate 1b
To reduce the pressure of the space containing
The space between the substrates 1a and 1b can be efficiently depressurized. After that, the sealing material on the substrate 1a and the substrate 1b are brought into contact with each other, and the substrate outer peripheral portion seal pattern 3 formed on the outer peripheral portion of the substrate 1 is subjected to a curing treatment to perform the curing treatment. By bonding the substrate 1b with the substrate 1b, the region surrounded by the substrate outer peripheral seal pattern 3 between the substrate 1a and the substrate 1b is kept in a reduced pressure state, and in this state, the region is conveyed to the pressure bonding step and pressurized, The region surrounded by the substrate outer peripheral seal pattern 3 is in a depressurized state, and there is no pressure difference between the inside and the outside of the cell seal pattern 2, and it is possible to reliably prevent the occurrence of a seal pattern defect such as seal puncture.

Further, during the transfer from the superposition process to the pressure bonding process, since the substrate 1a and the substrate 1b are adhered to each other by the hardened substrate outer peripheral seal pattern 3, there is a misalignment between the substrate 1a and the substrate 1b. Occurrence can be prevented.

Embodiment 2. 4 to 6 are views for explaining a manufacturing process of a liquid crystal display element according to a second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing a flow of substrate superposition and pressure bonding processes, and FIG. A sectional view (a) and a plan view (b) of the substrate to which the sealing material is applied are shown in FIG. 6, and FIGS. In the figure, numeral 10 is composed of a sealing material made of a photo-reactive adhesive resin such as a UV curing type. The two substrates 1 are opposed to each other and adhered to each other, and a seal pattern for forming a liquid crystal cell by determining a liquid crystal injection region ( Hereinafter, referred to as a cell seal pattern) 10a is a liquid crystal inlet, and the cell seal pattern 1
It is an opening portion of 0. The same parts as those in FIGS. 1 to 3 are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof is omitted.

Next, the substrate superposing and pressure bonding steps in the manufacturing process of the liquid crystal display element according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6. First, as shown in FIG. 5, an electrode pattern is formed. One of the substrates 1 (substrate 1
In a), a cell seal pattern 10 made of a photo-curing adhesive resin and having a liquid crystal injection port 10a is formed (B in FIG. 4).
1). Further, the spacers 4 are scattered on the other side (substrate 1b) of the two substrates 1 (B2 in FIG. 4).

Next, the substrate 1a on which the cell seal pattern 10 is formed and the substrate 1b on which the spacers 4 are scattered are mounted on the lower surface plate 5 and the upper surface plate 6 of the stacking device (B3 in FIG. 4, FIG. 4). 6 (a)).

Next, the lower surface plate 5 and the upper surface plate 6 of the stacking apparatus on which the substrates 1a and 1b are mounted are brought close to each other to form a closed space by the lower surface plate 5, the upper surface plate 6 and the sealing member 7. After that, the air is exhausted from the vacuum exhaust port 8 to bring the closed space into a depressurized state (B4 in FIG. 4). The degree of vacuum at this time is 500 Torr, which is about the same as the degree of vacuum of the conventional vacuum thermocompression bonding apparatus.
Hereafter, it is preferably 300 Torr or less. Next, after the vacuum degree of the space formed by the lower surface plate 5, the upper surface plate 6 and the sealing member 7 of the stacking device reaches a predetermined value, the lower surface plate 5 and the upper surface plate 6 are applied to the substrate 1a. The seal material (cell seal pattern 10) does not come into contact with the substrate 1b (since the coating thickness of the seal material is about 20 microns, the gap between the substrate 1a and the substrate 1b is 20 μm to 50 μm).
The substrate 1a and the substrate 1b are aligned with each other (B5 in FIG. 4).

Next, the lower surface plate 5 and the upper surface plate 6 of the stacking apparatus on which the aligned substrates 1a and 1b are mounted.
Are brought close to each other and pressure is applied so that the gap between the substrate 1a and the substrate 1b becomes a predetermined value (5 μm to 10 μm) (B in FIG. 4).
At the same time as 6), the light irradiating section 9 irradiates light to cure the cell seal pattern 2 (B7 in FIG. 4). Next, the vacuum of the space formed by the lower platen 5, the upper platen 6 and the sealing member 7 of the stacking device is released to separate the lower platen 5 and the upper platen 6 from each other (B8 in FIG. 4, FIG. )), And the substrates 1a and 1b bonded by the cell seal pattern 2 are unloaded (B9 in FIG. 4). Then, the cutting process (B1 in FIG. 4)
0), the liquid crystal is injected and the liquid crystal injection port 10a is sealed to form a liquid crystal display element.

According to the present embodiment, when a photo-curing adhesive resin is used as a sealant for forming a liquid crystal cell, a seal pattern is formed on the outer peripheral portion of the substrate separately from the cell seal pattern. Therefore, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained. It should be noted that the photo-curing adhesive resin, which is put into the pressure bonding step in a state where the viscosity is lower than that of the thermosetting adhesive resin, is particularly liable to be damaged by air in the liquid crystal cell such as seal puncture when pressure is applied. It is valid.

Embodiment 3. In the first and second embodiments, the case where one liquid crystal display element (liquid crystal cell) is formed from two substrates forming a pair has been described. However, as shown in FIGS. It can also be applied to the manufacturing process of liquid crystal display elements that form multiple liquid crystal cells from the substrate,
The same effect as that of the first or second embodiment can be obtained. In particular, it is effective in a liquid crystal cell in which the liquid crystal inlet is provided inside the substrate, and it is difficult to efficiently exhaust air inside the liquid crystal cell during the pressure bonding step.

7 and 8 are a sectional view (a) and a plan view showing a substrate coated with a sealing material before the two substrates are superposed on each other during the manufacturing process of the liquid crystal display element according to the third embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 7B, FIG. 7 shows the case where the substrate outer peripheral seal pattern corresponding to the first embodiment is formed, and FIG. 8 shows the cell seal pattern corresponding to the second embodiment is made of a photo-curing adhesive resin. The case is shown. The reference numerals in the figure are the same as those in the first or second embodiment, and therefore the description thereof will be omitted. Also, since the substrate superposing and pressure bonding steps in the manufacturing process of the liquid crystal display element according to the present embodiment are the same as those in the first or second embodiment, description thereof will be omitted.

[0033]

As described above, according to the present invention, when the two substrates constituting the liquid crystal display device are opposed to each other and overlapped with each other, the sealing material, which is the adhesive resin applied to one substrate, is applied to the other substrate. By depressurizing the space containing the two substrates facing each other before contacting the other substrate, it is possible to efficiently depressurize between the two substrates facing each other, and then to form on the outer peripheral portion of the substrate. By performing a curing process on the formed substrate outer peripheral seal pattern and adhering the two substrates together, a pressure-bonding step is performed in a state where the region surrounded by the substrate outer peripheral seal patterns between the two substrates is kept in a reduced pressure state. Since it is transported to and pressurized, the inside of the area surrounded by the seal pattern on the outer periphery of the substrate does not have a pressure difference between the inside and the outside of the cell seal pattern for enclosing the liquid crystal in the liquid crystal cell. C The occurrence of defects in the pattern can be reliably prevented, it is possible to provide a highly reliable liquid crystal display device with a high yield.

Further, at the time of transportation from the superposing step to the pressure bonding step, the two opposing substrates are bonded by the cured peripheral seal pattern of the substrates, so that the occurrence of alignment deviation during the transportation is prevented. can do.

Further, the substrate outer peripheral seal pattern is made of a photo-curing adhesive resin which can be cured in the stacking apparatus, and the cell seal pattern is made of a highly reliable thermosetting adhesive resin. A highly reliable liquid crystal display device can be manufactured without increasing the number.

In the case where a photo-curing adhesive resin is used as a sealing material for forming a liquid crystal cell,
It is possible to prevent the occurrence of a defective seal pattern such as seal puncture during the pressure bonding step without forming a seal pattern on the outer peripheral portion of the substrate different from the seal pattern for the liquid crystal cell.

Further, in the case of forming a plurality of liquid crystal cells from two substrates which form a pair, conventionally, a liquid crystal inlet is provided inside the substrate so that the air in the liquid crystal cell can be efficiently exhausted during the pressure bonding step. Even in a liquid crystal cell in which defects such as seal punctures tend to occur frequently without being performed, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of seal pattern defects such as seal punctures during the pressure bonding step.

Further, in an apparatus for aligning and superposing two substrates used for manufacturing a liquid crystal display element, a sealing member having a simple structure between a lower surface plate and an upper surface plate on which the respective substrates of the apparatus are mounted. By using a structure in which at least two substrates facing each other can form a sealed space and the sealed space can be evacuated, the two substrates facing each other can be bonded to each other with an adhesive resin (uncured sealing material). Since the two substrates facing each other can be efficiently depressurized before they are bonded together via the pressure difference between the inside and outside of the seal pattern for enclosing the liquid crystal in the liquid crystal cell during the pressure bonding process. It is possible to reliably prevent the occurrence of a seal pattern defect such as a seal puncture, and it is possible to manufacture a highly reliable liquid crystal display element with a high yield.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing the flow of a step of superposing and pressure bonding two substrates in a manufacturing process of a liquid crystal display element according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

2A and 2B are a cross-sectional view and a plan view showing a substrate coated with a sealing material before superposition in the manufacturing process of the liquid crystal display element according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a step of superposing and pressure-bonding two substrates in the manufacturing process of the liquid crystal display element according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a flow of a step of superposing two substrates and a pressure bonding step in the manufacturing process of the liquid crystal display element according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

5A and 5B are a cross-sectional view and a plan view showing a substrate coated with a sealing material before superposition in a manufacturing process of a liquid crystal display element according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a step of superposing and pressure bonding two substrates in a manufacturing process of a liquid crystal display element according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

7A and 7B are a cross-sectional view and a plan view showing a substrate coated with a sealing material before superposition in a manufacturing process of a liquid crystal display element according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

8A and 8B are a cross-sectional view and a plan view showing another substrate to which a sealing material before being laminated is applied during the manufacturing process of the liquid crystal display element according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing a flow of a process of superposing two substrates and a pressure bonding process in a conventional manufacturing process of this type of liquid crystal display device.

10A and 10B are a cross-sectional view and a plan view showing a substrate coated with a sealing material before superposition in a conventional manufacturing process of a liquid crystal display element.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a superposing and pressure bonding step of two substrates in a conventional manufacturing process of a liquid crystal display element.

12A and 12B are a cross-sectional view and a plan view showing a substrate coated with a sealing material before superposition in the manufacturing process of another conventional liquid crystal display element.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Two substrates, 1a, 1b substrates, 2 cell seal patterns, 2a liquid crystal injection port, 3 substrate outer peripheral seal patterns, 4 spacers, 5 lower surface plate, 6 upper surface plate, 7
Sealing member, 8 vacuum exhaust port, 9 light irradiation part, 10 cell seal pattern, 10a liquid crystal injection port.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device, comprising a liquid crystal material sandwiched between two facing substrates, wherein an injection region of the liquid crystal material is determined on one of the two substrates and the liquid crystal A step of forming a cell seal pattern having an opening portion that is a material injection port, and an annular substrate outer peripheral portion outside the cell seal pattern along the outer peripheral portion of the substrate on which the cell seal pattern is formed. A step of forming a seal pattern, and after facing the two substrates on which the cell seal pattern and the substrate outer peripheral seal pattern are formed,
A step of reducing the pressure of the space containing the two opposing substrates in a state where the cell seal pattern and the substrate outer peripheral seal pattern do not contact the other opposing substrate; and Aligning step and bonding the two opposing substrates under reduced pressure to each other by curing the substrate outer peripheral seal pattern so that the reduced pressure between the two opposing substrates can be maintained In a state in which the step and the reduced pressure state between the two opposing substrates are maintained, the two opposing substrates are pressurized and the cell seal pattern is subjected to a curing treatment, and the cell seal pattern is applied. Step of adhering the two opposing substrates, and cutting the two opposing substrates along the outside of the cell seal pattern that has been subjected to the curing treatment A method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device, comprising: 2. The cell seal pattern is made of a thermosetting adhesive resin, and the substrate outer peripheral seal pattern is made of a photocurable adhesive resin which is cured by UV light or visible light. The method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display element according to claim 1, wherein 3. A method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device, comprising a liquid crystal material sandwiched between two substrates facing each other, wherein an injection region of the liquid crystal material is determined on one of the two substrates and the liquid crystal is formed. The step of forming a cell seal pattern made of a photo-curing adhesive resin having an opening portion that is a material injection port, and the two substrates on which the cell seal pattern is formed are opposed to each other, and then the cell A step of bringing the space containing the two opposing substrates into a depressurized state in a state in which the sealing pattern for use does not come into contact with the other opposing substrate; a step of aligning the two opposing substrates; The two opposing substrates are pressed and irradiated with light to cure the cell sealing pattern, and the cell sealing pattern is used to contact the two opposing substrates. Process and method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display element characterized by two substrates for the opposing and a step of cutting along the outside of the seal pattern cell for the curing process has been performed to. 4. The method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of cell seal patterns are formed on the two opposing substrates. . 5. A horizontal and a vertical position for holding the two substrates constituting the liquid crystal display device separately and aligning the two held substrates and superposing the two held substrates. When the movable upper surface plate and lower surface plate and the upper surface plate and the lower surface plate are brought close to each other, at least the two substrates respectively held by the upper surface plate and the lower surface plate can be hermetically sealed. A sealing member, a vacuum exhaust port for reducing the pressure of a sealed space formed between at least the two substrates by the sealing member, and the substrate held on the upper surface plate and the lower surface plate. An apparatus for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device, comprising: a light irradiation unit that irradiates light.