JP2007148454A - Manufacturing method for liquid crystal display device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a manufacturing method for a liquid crystal display device which has columnar spacers arranged on the entire surfaces of a pair of substrates to be stuck together to attain display uniformity of a panel by eliminating the need for a stage of removing the spacers and using a method in which columnar spacers on terminal electrodes can mechanically be removed at a time. <P>SOLUTION: On one substrate 20, no columnar spacer is formed in a terminal electrode pattern 27 formation region and columnar spacers 21 are formed in regions 210 and 280 except the terminal electrode pattern 27 formation region. On the other substrate 25, no columnar spacer is formed in the remaining region except a region 240 facing the terminal electrode pattern 27 formation region on the one substrate 20 and columnar spacers 24 are formed in a region 240 facing the terminal electrode pattern 27 formation region on the one substrate 20. The pair of substrates 20 and 25 are stuck together with a seal material, and the regions 240 and 280 facing terminal electrode patterns 27 and 28 on the substrates 20 and 25 are mechanically removed to manufacture the liquid crystal display device. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device used for displaying characters or images.

  A liquid crystal display device is manufactured by enclosing liquid crystals with a sealing material between opposing insulating substrates on which electrodes are formed, and aligning and aligning liquid crystal molecules in a predetermined direction using an alignment film formed on the electrodes. The liquid crystal display device thus obtained controls the alignment state of the liquid crystal by applying a signal voltage for driving the liquid crystal between the electrodes formed on the insulating substrate, and displays characters and images.

  As a spacer for a liquid crystal display device that controls the thickness of the liquid crystal layer of the liquid crystal display device, beads made of silica or plastic are used. When such beads are used, many use a wet or dry spraying system, and the beads are randomly arranged, and there is a concern about a decrease in contrast. Further, the beads have a particle size distribution that approximates a normal distribution, which is problematic in terms of uniformity. Further, such a bead-shaped spacer may move, and it is considered that the display quality of the panel is lowered.

  In order to solve such problems, columnar spacers have been developed and introduced as spacers for liquid crystal display devices. Since the columnar spacer can be arranged at an arbitrary position in the liquid crystal panel, the aperture ratio of the color pixel can be improved by using the columnar spacer, and the contrast can be improved. In addition, since the columnar spacer has high uniformity and is fixed on the substrate, it does not move like a bead, and the display quality of the liquid crystal panel does not deteriorate due to vibration or impact.

  Further, in order to realize the display uniformity of the liquid crystal panel, it is necessary to apply a uniform pressure to the substrates when the electrode substrates are bonded via the spacers. This is also important for improving the uniformity of each liquid crystal panel, particularly when chamfering a large number of liquid crystal panels from a mother substrate as in today. As a technique for this purpose, Patent Document 1 suggests that in the case of a columnar spacer, the spacer is disposed on the entire surface of the substrate to be bonded via a seal, including the terminal electrode portion. A terminal electrode here is a connection part of a liquid crystal panel that is electrically connected to the outside via a connector member.

  However, when the spacers are arranged on the entire surface of the substrate in order to improve the display uniformity in this way, if the spacers remain on the terminal electrodes, a TAB (Tape Automated Bonding) which is a connector member for connecting the liquid crystal panel and the circuit board. ) Is difficult to crimp and is likely to break. Further, in terms of the reliability of the liquid crystal display device, it is considered that a slight external stress such as vibration, shock, and temperature change easily causes poor electrical contact, and the operation becomes unstable. For this reason, it is necessary to completely remove the columnar spacers present in the terminal electrode portion.

  With respect to the removal of the columnar spacers, in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, dissolution removal by NaOH cleaning and removal by ultrasonic vibration are carried out, but complete removal in a short time is difficult with this method, and the columnar spacers remain. there's a possibility that. Also, when the liquid crystal panel is immersed in a solution such as NaOH, even if only the terminal electrode part is immersed in the solution, the terminal electrode part is usually only about 2 mm. In particular, the sealing material that bonds the substrates together may be affected by the solution. The seal material that has been infiltrated with the solution is considered to be affected by dissolution or a decrease in seal hardness, which is likely to affect the yield, reliability, and display quality of the liquid crystal panel.

  As described above, in the liquid crystal display device, when the columnar spacers are arranged on the entire surface of the substrate in order to achieve a uniform display, the terminals are cut out from the mother substrate in order to make electrical connection with the outside. There exists a subject that the removal process of the columnar spacer which exists on an electrode is needed. Further, in the method of removing the columnar spacer, there is a problem that complete removal is difficult, and the display quality and reliability of the liquid crystal panel are impaired.

JP 11-64859 A

  The object of the present invention is to eliminate the columnar spacer removal step, which is the above problem, and to achieve column display uniformity by using a method that can mechanically remove the columnar spacers on the terminal electrodes at once. It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device in which spacers are arranged on the entire surface of a pair of substrates to be bonded.

The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device in which a pair of insulating substrates are bonded to each other via a spacer that keeps a distance between substrates and a sealing material that encloses liquid crystal, and terminal electrodes extending to the outside are formed on both substrates. There,
In one of the substrates, the columnar spacer is not formed in the terminal electrode formation region where the terminal electrode of one substrate is formed, and the remaining region excluding the terminal electrode formation region of one substrate and the terminal of the other substrate Forming a columnar spacer in a region including a region facing a terminal electrode formation region in which an electrode is formed;
Of the other substrate, a columnar spacer is not formed in the remaining region excluding the region facing the terminal electrode formation region of one substrate and including the terminal electrode formation region of the other substrate. Columnar spacers are formed in a region facing the terminal electrode formation region,
A method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device, comprising: bonding a pair of substrates on which columnar spacers are formed with a sealant.

  In the present invention, after a pair of substrates are bonded together with a sealant, a region of one substrate facing a terminal electrode formation region of the other substrate and a terminal electrode formation of one substrate of the other substrate A region opposite to the region is mechanically removed.

Further, the invention is characterized in that the liquid crystal display device is a simple matrix drive type liquid crystal display device.
In the invention, it is preferable that the insulating substrate is a plastic substrate.

  According to the present invention, columnar spacers are not formed in the terminal electrode formation region of one substrate of one substrate, and the remaining region excluding the terminal electrode formation region of one substrate and the terminal of the other substrate Columnar spacers are formed in a region including the region facing the electrode formation region, and the remaining substrate is a region other than the region facing the terminal electrode formation region of one substrate, and the terminal electrode is formed on the other substrate. Since the columnar spacer is not formed in the region including the region, and the columnar spacer is formed in the region facing the terminal electrode formation region of one substrate, and the pair of substrates are bonded together by the sealing material, the layer thickness becomes uniform. A liquid crystal display device in which display uniformity is achieved can be obtained.

  According to the invention, after the pair of substrates are bonded together with the sealing material, the region of the one substrate that faces the terminal electrode formation region of the other substrate, and the terminal of the one substrate of the other substrate Since the region facing the electrode forming region is mechanically removed, the columnar spacer formed in the region facing the terminal electrode forming region of the other substrate in one substrate, and one of the other substrates The columnar spacers formed in the region facing the terminal electrode formation region of the substrate can be mechanically removed simultaneously. As a result, the columnar spacer removing step is not required, and the time can be shortened by reducing the number of steps.

  In addition, according to the present invention, since non-uniformity does not occur due to pressure during pressing, display defects in a liquid crystal display device of a simple matrix drive system such as an STN (Super Twisted Nematic) system that is sensitive to pitch fluctuation between substrates can be prevented. Can do.

  In addition, according to the present invention, since non-uniformity does not occur due to pressure during pressing, display defects in a liquid crystal display device made of a plastic substrate having low substrate rigidity can be prevented.

  DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments for carrying out a liquid crystal display device and a manufacturing method thereof according to the invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a front view showing a liquid crystal display device 1, a side view seen from the right, and a side view seen from below. The liquid crystal display device 1 is a one-side terminal electrode type liquid crystal display in which an insulating substrate 10 on which no terminal electrode pattern is formed and an insulating substrate 15 on which a terminal electrode pattern 17 extending to the outside is bonded. Device. That is, the signal terminal electrode and the scanning terminal electrode are formed on only one substrate 15 so as to extend to the outside.

  2 is a front view and a side view showing the insulating substrates 10 and 15 constituting the liquid crystal display device 1 shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a front view and a side view showing the insulating substrates 10 and 15 on which the columnar spacers 11 before bonding are arranged. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a manufacturing process of the liquid crystal display device 1.

  In the manufacturing process on the insulating substrate 10 side, as shown in FIG. 2A, for example, an ITO electrode made of indium tin oxide (ITO) is formed on the insulating substrate 10 such as a glass substrate by a photolithography method. Then, patterning is performed to form a wiring pattern 12. At this time, no terminal electrode pattern is formed. On the insulating substrate 10 on which the wiring pattern 12 is formed, for example, a photosensitive resin constituting a spacer material is applied by a spinner method, exposed to ultraviolet rays through a photomask, and then the unexposed portion of the photosensitive resin is developed. As shown in FIG. 3A, columnar spacers 11 are formed in columnar spacer formation regions 110 and 170 on the entire surface of the insulating substrate 10 by immersion development removal with a liquid.

  In the manufacturing process on the insulating substrate 15 side, as in the insulating substrate 10 side, as shown in FIG. 2B, an ITO electrode, for example, is patterned on the insulating substrate 15 such as a glass substrate by a photolithography method, and wiring is performed. A pattern 16 and a terminal electrode pattern 17 are formed. The terminal electrode pattern 17 is formed on both sides of the insulating substrate 15 and serves as a signal terminal electrode and a scanning terminal electrode of the liquid crystal display device 1. Here, columnar spacers are not disposed on the insulating substrate 15.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 4A, after forming the alignment film 13 on the insulating substrate 10 in the state of FIG. 3A and the insulating substrate 15 in the state of FIG. A rubbing process is performed, a sealing material 19 made of, for example, an epoxy resin is printed on the insulating substrate 10 by screen printing, and the insulating substrate 10 and the insulating substrate 15 are bonded together. An enlarged view of the vicinity of the sealing material 19 at this time is shown in FIG. In this embodiment, the sealing material 19 is formed on the insulating substrate 10, but may be formed on the insulating substrate 15 and bonded together.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 4B, the sealing material 19 is cured by a hot press method or the like. At this time, the columnar spacers 11 are arranged on the entire surface of the insulating substrate 10 including the region facing the region of the terminal electrode pattern 17 extending to the outside and on which the terminal electrode pattern is not formed. Since it is uniformly applied to the entire surface of the substrate, the layer thickness is uniform, and a liquid crystal display device in which display uniformity is achieved can be obtained.

  Thereafter, for example, when the insulating substrates 10 and 15 are glass substrates, a cut is made with a glass cutter, and cutting is performed as shown in FIG. At this time, the columnar spacers 11 in the region of the terminal electrode pattern 17 are fixed on the insulating substrate 10 facing the insulating substrate 15 on which the terminal electrode pattern 17 is formed. Since it does not exist, it can be removed mechanically. That is, the columnar spacer 11 on the terminal electrode can be mechanically removed by dividing the insulating substrate 10 in the region 170 facing the terminal electrode pattern 17. This eliminates the need for the columnar spacer removal step, thereby reducing the number of steps and shortening the time. In addition, by removing the columnar spacers mechanically, it is possible to prevent a TAB, which is a connector for electrically connecting the outside and the liquid crystal panel, in the liquid crystal module manufacturing process, and to improve electrical reliability. Can be made.

Liquid crystal is injected into each panel obtained by dividing, and the liquid crystal display device 1 is obtained.
The terminal electrode pattern 17 formed on the insulating substrate 15 and the wiring pattern 12 formed on the insulating substrate 10 can be made conductive by causing the sealing material 19 to contain a conductive material such as gold pearl. Although not shown in FIG. 2A, pattern wiring is formed on the insulating substrate 10 so that each signal wiring of the wiring pattern 12 is connected to the terminal electrode pattern 17.

  In this embodiment, a liquid crystal display device is manufactured by taking multiple panels from a mother substrate as shown in FIG. That is, the columnar spacers are arranged only on one mother substrate having no terminal electrode, and the two mother substrates are bonded together, and then divided along the dividing lines aa ′ and bb ′ as shown in FIG. At this time, the columnar spacers in the terminal electrode formation region are simultaneously removed.

  In addition, in the case where a liquid crystal display device is manufactured by multi-paneling with two or more panels from one mother substrate, it is particularly effective that the columnar spacers are arranged on the entire surface of the substrate as described above. .

  This is also particularly effective when the liquid crystal display device is of a simple matrix drive system such as STN system. Since the liquid crystal display device of the simple matrix driving method is sensitive to the pitch variation between the substrates, display defects are particularly likely to occur when the layer thickness is uneven due to the pressure during pressing. In this embodiment, columnar spacers are arranged on the entire surface of the substrate during pressing, and nonuniformity does not occur due to the pressure during pressing, so that display defects can be prevented.

  For the same reason, this is also effective when the insulating substrate 10 or the like is a plastic substrate. The plastic substrate is particularly low in rigidity, so if the layer thickness is uneven due to the pressure during pressing, the deformation is particularly large and the display tends to be defective, but in this embodiment the unevenness due to the pressure during pressing is likely to occur. Display defects can be prevented without causing them.

  Note that the maximum temperature in the heat history such as the temperature at the time of hot pressing of the sealing material and the baking temperature during the manufacturing process of the liquid crystal display device 1 is 230 ° C. when the insulating substrate 10 or the like is a glass substrate, and in the case of a plastic substrate Is 150 ° C.

  FIG. 7 is a front view showing a liquid crystal display device 2 according to an embodiment of the present invention, a side view seen from the right, and a side view seen from below. This is a double-sided terminal electrode type liquid crystal display device in which the insulating substrate 20 on which the terminal electrode pattern 27 is formed and the insulating substrate 25 on which the terminal electrode pattern 28 is formed are bonded together. In this embodiment, a scanning terminal electrode is formed on one substrate 20 and a signal terminal electrode is formed on the other substrate 25 so as to extend to the outside.

  FIG. 8 is a front view and a side view showing the insulating substrates 20 and 25 constituting the liquid crystal display device 2 shown in FIG. FIG. 9 is a front view and a side view showing the insulating substrate 20 on which the columnar spacers 21 before bonding and the insulating substrate 25 on which the columnar spacers 24 are formed. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a manufacturing process of the liquid crystal display device 2.

  Insulating substrates 20 and 25 on which wiring patterns and terminal electrode patterns are formed are obtained in the same manner as in the liquid crystal display device 1 described above. However, the wiring pattern 22 and the terminal electrode pattern 27 are formed on the insulating substrate 20 as shown in FIG. 8A, and the wiring pattern 26 and the terminal electrode pattern 28 are formed on the insulating substrate 25 as shown in FIG. Form. The wiring pattern 22 becomes a scanning electrode of the liquid crystal display device 2, and the wiring pattern 26 becomes a signal electrode.

  Next, columnar spacers are formed in the same manner as the liquid crystal display device 1. However, columnar spacers 21 are formed in columnar spacer formation regions 210 and 280 on the insulating substrate 20 as shown in FIG. 9A, and columnar spacer formation regions 240 on the insulating substrate 25 as shown in FIG. 9B. Columnar spacers 24 are formed on the substrate. That is, a columnar spacer is not formed on the terminal electrode pattern 27 of the insulating substrate 20, and the columnar spacer 24 is formed in the region 240 of the insulating substrate 25 facing the terminal electrode pattern 27. The columnar spacers 21 are formed in the region 280 of the insulating substrate 20 facing the terminal electrode pattern 28 without forming the columnar spacers.

  The following manufacturing process is exactly the same as that of the liquid crystal display device 1. As shown in FIG. 10A, the alignment film 23 is formed, and the insulating substrate 20 and the insulating substrate 25 are bonded to each other through the sealing material 29. Press as shown in 10 (b). At this time, since the columnar spacers are disposed on the entire surface of the substrate as in the liquid crystal display device 1, the layer thickness does not become nonuniform. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. At this time, the columnar spacer 24 on the terminal electrode pattern 27 and the columnar spacer on the terminal electrode pattern 28 (not shown) can be mechanically removed. Liquid crystal is injected into each panel obtained by the division to obtain the liquid crystal display device 2.

(Example)
Example 1
A one-side terminal electrode type liquid crystal display device shown in FIG. 1 is manufactured.

  On the insulating substrate 10 side, as shown in FIG. 2A, an ITO electrode was patterned on a 0.4 mm thick insulating substrate 10 made of glass by a photolithography method to form a wiring pattern 12. On this, as shown in FIG. 3A, a photosensitive resin (JNPC-80 manufactured by JSR Co., Ltd.) is applied by a spinner method, exposed to ultraviolet rays through a photomask, and then unexposed portions. The photosensitive resin was immersed and removed with a developing solution (CD-902 manufactured by JSR Co., Ltd.), and columnar spacers 11 were formed on the columnar spacer formation regions 110 and 170 on the entire surface of the insulating substrate 10.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2 (b), the opposing insulating substrate 15 side is made of an ITO electrode on the insulating substrate 15 made of glass having a thickness of 0.4 mm as shown in FIG. Then, the wiring pattern 16 and the terminal electrode pattern 17 were formed.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 4A, an alignment film 13 (AL1l509 manufactured by JSR: trade name) is formed on the insulating substrate 10 in the state of FIG. 3A and the insulating substrate 15 in the state of FIG. 3B. After being formed by a printing method, a rubbing process was performed, a sealing material 19 made of an epoxy resin was printed on the insulating substrate 10 by screen printing, and the insulating substrate 10 and the insulating substrate 15 were bonded to each other.

  As shown in FIG. 4B, after the sealing material 19 was hardened by a hot press method, a cut was made with a glass cutter, and cutting was performed as shown in FIG. Liquid crystal was injected into each panel obtained by dividing to produce a liquid crystal display device.

(Comparative Example 1)
In the first embodiment, instead of forming the columnar spacers 11 in the columnar spacer forming regions 110 and 117 on the entire surface of the insulating substrate 10 where the terminal electrode patterns 17 are not formed, the columnar spacer forming regions 310 inside the seal portion in the panel are used. Columnar spacers 31 were disposed only on the insulating substrate 30 to obtain an insulating substrate 30 shown in FIG.

  Next, in the same manner as in Example 1, an insulating substrate 35 having a terminal electrode pattern 37 shown in FIG. 11B was obtained.

  In the same manner as in Example 1, as shown in FIG. 12A, an alignment film 33 is formed on the obtained insulating substrate 30 and insulating substrate 35, and a rubbing process is performed, followed by bonding with a sealing material 39. After hot pressing as shown in FIG. 12 (b), it was divided as shown in FIG. 12 (c). Liquid crystal was injected into each panel obtained by dividing to produce a liquid crystal display device.

(Comparative Example 2)
In the first embodiment, instead of forming the columnar spacers 11 in the columnar spacer forming regions 110 and 117 on the entire surface of the insulating substrate 10 where the terminal electrode patterns 17 are not formed, the columnar spacers 11 are formed on the entire surface of the insulating substrate 35 having the terminal electrode patterns 37. A spacer 44 was formed. That is, first, as shown in FIG. 13A, an insulating substrate 30 on which no columnar spacer is formed is manufactured.

  Next, in the same manner as in Example 1, after the terminal electrode pattern 37 is formed, the columnar spacer 44 is formed in the columnar spacer formation region 440 on the entire surface of the insulating substrate 35, and the insulating substrate 35 shown in FIG. Got.

  In the same manner as in Example 1, as shown in FIG. 14A, an alignment film 33 is formed on the obtained insulating substrate 30 and the insulating substrate 35, and a rubbing process is performed, followed by bonding with a sealing material 39. After hot pressing as shown in FIG. 14 (b), it was divided as shown in FIG. 14 (c). Next, as shown in FIG. 14 (d), the portion of the terminal electrode pattern 37 of each panel obtained by dividing is immersed in a 3% NaOH solution at 50 ° C., and the columnar spacer 44 in the portion of the terminal electrode pattern 37 is obtained. Was removed. Liquid crystal was injected into each obtained panel to produce a liquid crystal display device.

(Example 2)
In Example 1, a liquid crystal display device was produced in the same manner as in Example 1 except that an epoxy substrate was used instead of the insulating substrate made of glass.

(Comparative Example 3)
In Comparative Example 1, a liquid crystal display device was produced in the same manner as in Comparative Example 1, except that an epoxy substrate was used instead of the insulating substrate made of glass.

(Comparative Example 4)
In Comparative Example 2, a liquid crystal display device was produced in the same manner as in Comparative Example 2 except that an epoxy substrate was used instead of the insulating substrate made of glass.

(Example 3)
A double-sided terminal electrode type liquid crystal display device shown in FIG. 7 is manufactured.

  On the insulating substrate 20 side, as shown in FIG. 8A, an ITO electrode is patterned by photolithography on an insulating substrate 20 made of glass having a thickness of 0.4 mm, and a wiring pattern 22 and a terminal electrode pattern 27 are formed. Formed. As shown in FIG. 9 (a), a photosensitive resin (JNPC-80 manufactured by JSR Co., Ltd.) is applied by a spinner method, exposed to ultraviolet rays through a photomask, and then exposed to an unexposed portion of the photosensitive resin. The columnar spacers 21 were formed in the columnar spacer forming regions 210 and 280 on the insulating substrate 20 by immersion development and removal with a developer (CD-902 manufactured by JSR, trade name).

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 8 (b), the opposing insulating substrate 25 side is formed by using a photolithography method with an ITO electrode on the insulating substrate 25 made of glass and having a thickness of 0.4 mm as shown in FIG. Then, the wiring pattern 26 and the terminal electrode pattern 28 were formed. Then, as shown in FIG. 9B, a photosensitive resin is applied, exposed to ultraviolet rays through a photomask, the photosensitive resin in an unexposed portion is immersed and removed with a developer, and columnar spacers are removed. 24 was formed in the columnar spacer formation region 240 on the insulating substrate 25.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 10A, the alignment film 23 (AL1l509 manufactured by JSR: trade name) is formed on the insulating substrate 20 in the state of FIG. 9A and the insulating substrate 25 in the state of FIG. 9B. After being formed by a printing method, a rubbing process was performed, a sealing material 29 made of an epoxy resin was printed on the insulating substrate 20 by screen printing, and the insulating substrate 20 and the insulating substrate 25 were bonded together.

  As shown in FIG. 10B, after the sealing material 29 was cured by a hot press method, a cut was made with a glass cutter, and the cut was performed as shown in FIG. Liquid crystal was injected into each panel obtained by dividing to produce a liquid crystal display device.

(Comparative Example 5)
In Example 3, instead of forming the columnar spacers 21 in the columnar spacer formation regions 210 and 280 on the insulating substrate 20, the columnar spacers 51 are disposed only in the columnar spacer formation regions 510 in the panel, and FIG. The insulating substrate 50 having the terminal electrode pattern 57 shown in FIG.

  Next, in Example 3, except that the columnar spacer 24 was not formed on the insulating substrate 25, the insulating substrate 55 having the terminal electrode pattern 58 shown in FIG. .

  In the same manner as in Example 3, as shown in FIG. 16A, an alignment film 53 is formed on the obtained insulating substrate 50 and the insulating substrate 55, and a rubbing process is performed, followed by bonding with a sealing material 59. After hot pressing as shown in FIG. 16 (b), it was divided as shown in FIG. 16 (c). Liquid crystal was injected into each panel obtained by dividing to produce a liquid crystal display device.

Example 4
In Example 3, a liquid crystal display device was produced in the same manner as in Example 3 except that an epoxy substrate was used instead of the insulating substrate made of glass.

(Comparative Example 6)
In Comparative Example 5, a liquid crystal display device was produced in the same manner as Comparative Example 5 except that an epoxy substrate was used instead of the insulating substrate made of glass.

(Cell thickness fluctuation measurement evaluation)
About the liquid crystal display device produced in Examples 1-4 and Comparative Examples 1-6, cell thickness variation (sigma) value when 10-point cell thickness measurement was carried out from the panel end surface was calculated | required, and cell thickness fluctuation | variation measurement evaluation was performed. At this time, as shown in FIG. 17A for the one-side terminal electrode type Examples 1 and 2 and Comparative Examples 1 to 4, the double-sided terminal electrode type Examples 3 and 4 and Comparative Examples 5 and 6 As shown in 17 (b), the measurement was performed on the four sides of the upper side, the lower side, the left side, and the right side in the direction of each arrow. In addition, it can be said that it is so flat that a (sigma) value is small.

  Table 1 shows the measurement results of Examples 1 and 3 and Comparative Examples 1, 2 and 5 using a glass substrate, and Table 2 shows the measurement results of Examples 2 and 4 and Comparative Examples 3, 4 and 6 using a plastic substrate. Shown in

  From Table 1, in the case of the glass substrate, since the columnar spacer existed also in the part of the terminal electrode pattern at the time of bonding of a board | substrate in the liquid crystal display device of an Example, it became a favorable result. Also, from Table 2, good results were obtained with the liquid crystal display device of the example also in the case of the plastic substrate.

(TAB pressure bonding test)
For the liquid crystal display devices produced in Examples 1 to 4 and Comparative Examples 1 to 6, a TAB was crimped to the panel, a circuit was incorporated, lighting evaluation was performed, and it was confirmed whether there was a display defect due to disconnection or the like. If there was no defective part, it was set as NG.

  Table 3 shows the measurement results of Examples 1 and 3 and Comparative Examples 1, 2 and 5 using a glass substrate, and Table 4 shows the measurement results of Examples 2 and 4 and Comparative Examples 3, 4 and 6 using a plastic substrate. Shown in

  From Tables 3 and 4, in the liquid crystal display devices of Comparative Examples 2 and 4, removal of the columnar spacers by NaOH was not complete, and disconnection due to insufficient TAB crimping occurred.

(High temperature energization evaluation)
About the liquid crystal display devices manufactured in Examples 1 to 4 and Comparative Examples 1 to 6, a circuit is incorporated in the panel, put into an oven at 60 ° C. in an ON lighting state, taken out after 200 hours, and display such as display unevenness from the beginning The reliability was evaluated by confirming whether there were bubbles due to quality changes and seal passes.

  Table 5 shows the measurement results of Examples 1 and 3 and Comparative Examples 1, 2 and 5 using a glass substrate, and Table 6 shows the measurement results of Examples 2 and 4 and Comparative Examples 3, 4 and 6 using a plastic substrate. Shown in

  From Table 5 and Table 6, in the liquid crystal display device of the example, neither display unevenness nor a seal pass occurred. In Comparative Examples 1, 3, 5, and 6, the cell thickness gradually increased from the vicinity of the seal portion where the flatness was low. Further, in Comparative Examples 2 and 4, it was considered that the seal portion was slightly narrowed during the NaOH treatment, and as a result, a seal pass was generated, and the display quality was accordingly lowered.

  From the above results, in the liquid crystal display device of the example, the effect on the display quality is seen, the display uniformity is achieved, and there is no problem in terms of electrical reliability from the TAB pressure bonding test and the high temperature current evaluation. Proven.

The following embodiments are possible for the present invention.
(1) A liquid crystal display device in which a pair of insulating substrates are bonded to each other through a spacer that keeps a distance between substrates and a sealing material that encloses liquid crystal, and a terminal electrode extending to the outside is formed only on one substrate, A liquid crystal display device, wherein a columnar spacer is fixed only to the other substrate on which no terminal electrode is formed.

  Since the columnar spacer is fixed only to the other substrate on which the terminal electrode is not formed, the counter substrate in the region facing the terminal electrode formation region when the substrate is divided can be mechanically removed together with the columnar spacer.

  (2) A method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device in which a pair of insulating substrates are bonded to each other via a spacer that keeps the distance between the substrates and a sealing material that encloses liquid crystal, and a terminal electrode that extends to the outside is formed only on one substrate. A liquid crystal display device comprising a region opposite to a terminal electrode formation region of one substrate, a columnar spacer being fixed to the entire surface of the other substrate on which the terminal electrode is not formed, and a pair of substrates bonded together with a sealant Production method.

  On the other hand, including the region facing the terminal electrode formation region of the substrate, the columnar spacer is fixed to the entire surface of the other substrate on which the terminal electrode is not formed, and the pair of substrates are bonded together with a sealing material, resulting in uniform layer thickness and display uniformity A liquid crystal display device that achieves the above can be obtained.

  (3) A method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device in which a pair of insulating substrates are bonded to each other via a spacer that keeps the distance between the substrates and a sealing material that encloses liquid crystal, and terminal electrodes extending to the outside are formed on both substrates. Then, when fixing the columnar spacers to the entire surface of the substrate, the columnar spacers are fixed to the region of the counterpart substrate facing the terminal electrode formation region, and the pair of substrates are bonded together with a sealing material. .

  When fixing the columnar spacers to the entire surface of the substrate, the columnar spacers are fixed to the area of the mating substrate facing the terminal electrode formation region, and the pair of substrates are bonded together with a sealing material, so that the layer thickness is uniform and the display uniformity is improved. The achieved liquid crystal display device can be obtained.

  (4) In the method of manufacturing the liquid crystal display device, after bonding a pair of substrates with a sealing material, the opposite substrate in the region facing the terminal electrode formation region is mechanically removed together with the columnar spacers. A method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device.

  Since the opposite substrate in the region facing the terminal electrode formation region is mechanically removed together with the columnar spacers, it can be mechanically removed simultaneously with the division in the substrate dividing step, thereby eliminating the need for the columnar spacer removing step. The time can be shortened by reducing the number of steps.

It is the front view which shows the liquid crystal display device 1, the side view seen from the right, and the side view seen from the bottom. It is the front view and side view which show the insulating substrates 10 and 15 which comprise the liquid crystal display device 1 shown in FIG. It is the front view and side view which show the insulating substrates 10 and 15 which have arrange | positioned the columnar spacer 11 before bonding. 5 is a diagram showing a manufacturing process of the liquid crystal display device 1. FIG. It is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the sealing material 19 when the insulating substrate 10 and the insulating substrate 15 are bonded together. It is a figure which shows a mode that a panel is cut out from a mother board | substrate. It is the front view which shows the liquid crystal display device 2 which is one Embodiment of this invention, the side view seen from the right, and the side view seen from the bottom. It is the front view and side view which show the insulating substrates 20 and 25 which comprise the liquid crystal display device 2 shown in FIG. It is the front view and side view which show the insulating substrates 20 and 25 which formed the columnar spacer 21 before bonding. 6 is a diagram showing a manufacturing process of the liquid crystal display device 2. FIG. It is the front view and side view which show the insulating substrates 30 and 35 before bonding of the liquid crystal display device of the comparative example 1. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a manufacturing process of the liquid crystal display device of Comparative Example 1. FIG. It is the front view and side view which show the insulating substrates 30 and 35 before bonding of the liquid crystal display device of the comparative example 2. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a manufacturing process of a liquid crystal display device of Comparative Example 2. FIG. It is the front view and side view which show the insulating substrates 50 and 55 before bonding of the liquid crystal display device of the comparative example 5. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a manufacturing process of a liquid crystal display device of Comparative Example 5. FIG. It is a figure which shows the measurement direction in cell thickness fluctuation | variation measurement evaluation.

Explanation of symbols

1 Liquid crystal display (single terminal electrode type)
2 Liquid crystal display (both sides terminal electrode type)
10, 15 Insulating substrate (One-sided terminal electrode method)
11 Columnar spacer (insulating substrate 10 side)
12 Wiring pattern (insulating substrate 10 side)
13 Alignment film 16 Wiring pattern (insulating substrate 15 side)
17 Terminal electrode pattern (insulating substrate 15 side)
19 Sealing material 20, 25 Insulating substrate (both terminal electrode type)
21 Columnar spacer (insulating substrate 20 side)
22 Wiring pattern (insulating substrate 20 side)
23 Alignment film 24 Columnar spacer (insulating substrate 25 side)
26 Wiring pattern (insulating substrate 25 side)
27 Terminal electrode pattern (insulating substrate 20 side)
28 Terminal electrode pattern (insulating substrate 25 side)
29 Sealant 110, 170, 210, 240, 280 Columnar spacer formation region

Claims (4)

A method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device in which a pair of insulating substrates are bonded together via a spacer that keeps the substrate interval and a sealing material that encloses liquid crystal, and terminal electrodes extending to the outside are formed on both substrates,
In one of the substrates, the columnar spacer is not formed in the terminal electrode formation region where the terminal electrode of one substrate is formed, and the remaining region excluding the terminal electrode formation region of one substrate and the terminal of the other substrate Forming a columnar spacer in a region including a region facing a terminal electrode formation region in which an electrode is formed;
Of the other substrate, a columnar spacer is not formed in the remaining region excluding the region facing the terminal electrode formation region of one substrate and including the terminal electrode formation region of the other substrate. Columnar spacers are formed in a region facing the terminal electrode formation region,
A method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device, comprising: bonding a pair of substrates on which columnar spacers are formed with a sealing material.   After bonding a pair of substrates together with a sealing material, a region of one substrate that faces the terminal electrode formation region of the other substrate, and a region of the other substrate that faces the terminal electrode formation region of one substrate The method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein the liquid crystal display device is mechanically removed.   3. The method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein the liquid crystal display device is a simple matrix drive type liquid crystal display device.   The method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein the insulating substrate is a plastic substrate.

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