JP2008221697A - Screen plate for seal printing, seal printing method and liquid crystal panel manufactured by using them - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a screen plate capable of stabilizing a coating amount of a sealing agent without leaving a damage due to a mesh like sheet of a screen plate on a surface of material to be printed at seal printing. <P>SOLUTION: This substrate processor is composed of a mesh like sheet 2, a first emulsion layer 4 having a prescribed pattern opening part 3 so formed to cover a side surface of the mesh like sheet 2, and a second emulsion layer 5 which is lower in hardness than a first emulsion layer 4 so formed to cover an opposite side surface to the mesh like sheet 2 of the first emulsion layer 4 by being formed like covering a surface on an opposite side to the mesh like sheet 2 of the first emulsion layer 4. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

The present invention relates to a seal printing method for forming a seal pattern in manufacturing a liquid crystal panel and a screen plate to be used.

The panel assembling process in a general liquid crystal panel manufacturing process is mainly performed on a switching element substrate on which a switching element for driving a liquid crystal produced based on a glass substrate is mounted and a color filter substrate which is a role of a color filter. A process of applying an alignment film on the surface of various substrates and performing a rubbing process, a process of bonding with a gap through a seal pattern, a process of cutting to a predetermined panel size, and a process of injecting liquid crystal within the interval It is made up of.

In order to bond the substrates, a seal pattern is formed on the switching element substrate or the color filter substrate so as to surround the display portion of the panel. There are two general methods: a screen printing method in which a sealant is pushed out from an opening of a seal pattern formed on a screen plate, and a seal dispensing method in which a pattern is drawn by nozzle scanning. Among them, the screen printing method is widely adopted because it is excellent in productivity even when the number of panels per substrate is large.

In the seal pattern forming process using such a screen printing method, a screen plate is generally used in which a photosensitive emulsion layer is applied to a mesh sheet made of SUS and an opening of the seal pattern is formed by exposure. In addition to the role of forming a pattern, the emulsion layer has a role of dispersing the pressure caused by the unevenness of the mesh sheet during printing and a role of adhering to the printing material and stabilizing the application of the sealant.

However, in recent years, the demand for liquid crystal panels has been advanced to higher definition and narrower frames. If the emulsion layer is made flexible so as to stabilize the application of the sealant for narrowing the frame, the pressure of the squeegee cannot be dispersed, and the alignment film on the substrate surface is easily damaged by the unevenness of the mesh sheet. Particularly in a high-definition liquid crystal panel, the damage of the alignment film is easily visually recognized as display unevenness. Conversely, if the emulsion layer is thickened or hardened to disperse the squeegee pressure, the coating amount of the sealing agent becomes unstable. As a result, the width of the seal pattern varies, making it impossible to cope with a narrow frame. As described above, a screen plate made of an emulsion layer that has been conventionally used has not been able to sufficiently meet the demands for high definition and narrowing of the liquid crystal panel.

In order to solve the problems that occur in a screen plate using such a conventional emulsion layer, in Patent Document 1, as a screen plate composed of a plurality of materials, a metal thin film is patterned and bonded to a mesh sheet, Furthermore, a screen plate in which a silicone resin is laminated on the surface is disclosed.

JP 10-315649 A

In the screen plate of Patent Document 1 as described above, the coating thickness of the sealant becomes unstable due to the large variation in film thickness compared to the emulsion layer, and a shrinkable mesh sheet and a hard metal with little elongation. There are problems such as poor adhesion to the thin film and easy peeling.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a screen plate that enables stable production of a high-quality liquid crystal panel having a high-definition narrow frame.

In the screen plate of the present invention, a mesh sheet, a first emulsion layer formed so as to cover one side of the mesh sheet and having a predetermined pattern opening, and the mesh sheet of the first emulsion layer The second emulsion layer is formed so as to cover the surface opposite to the first emulsion layer and has a lower hardness than the first emulsion layer.

The present invention can stabilize the coating amount of the sealant without leaving any damage due to the mesh-like sheet of the screen plate on the surface of the printing material during seal printing.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
A screen plate according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. Here, FIG. 1A is a perspective view showing the entire screen plate, and FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view at a portion A shown in FIG. Note that the drawings are schematic and do not reflect the exact size of the components shown. Further, in the figure, the same components as those described in the previous drawings are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted. Hereinafter, the same applies to other drawings.

As shown in FIGS. 1 (a) and 1 (b), a screen plate 100 according to the first embodiment includes a mesh sheet 2 made of metal stretched in a frame 1 made of metal such as aluminum, and the like. The emulsion layer 4 which is a first emulsion layer made of a photosensitive resin formed so as to cover one side of the mesh sheet 2 and having a predetermined pattern opening 3 formed thereon is opposite to the mesh sheet 2 of the emulsion layer 4 The emulsion layer 5 is a second emulsion layer made of a photosensitive resin formed on the side surface. The emulsion layer 5 is a soft emulsion layer having a lower hardness than the emulsion layer 4, that is, a soft emulsion layer. Here, the low hardness means that the elastic modulus is low, that is, it is easily deformed with respect to the force applied per unit area.

Further, as can be seen from the cross-sectional view in the vicinity of the pattern opening 3a in FIG. 1B (the portion A in FIG. 1A), the end face of the pattern opening 3 provided in the emulsion layer 4 is the emulsion layer. 5 to form a pattern opening 3a. Therefore, the actual pattern opening width of the screen plate 100 according to the first embodiment is determined by the pattern opening 3a. The emulsion layer 4 is formed so as to be integrated with the mesh sheet 2. The mesh sheet 2 and the emulsion layer 4 referred to here are in a state in which the emulsion layer 4 penetrates at least into the mesh of the mesh sheet 2 and is integrated.

Then, the manufacturing method of the screen plate 100 in this Embodiment 1 is demonstrated using FIGS. A mesh sheet 2 having a predetermined tension applied to a frame 1 made of a metal such as aluminum (see a perspective view showing the whole of FIG. 2A) is bonded to one surface of the frame using an adhesive (see FIG. 2 (b) is a perspective view showing the whole). Subsequently, the emulsion layer 4 having a predetermined thickness is provided by repeatedly performing, for example, a step of applying a UV curable resin and performing a drying process on the surface of the mesh sheet 2 opposite to the surface to be bonded to the frame 1. (See the perspective view of FIG. 3A as a whole). By repeating the coating sequentially, the emulsion layer 4 enters the mesh of the mesh sheet 2 and is formed so that the mesh sheet 2 and the emulsion layer 4 are integrated (a perspective view showing the whole of FIG. 3B). reference).

Subsequent to the coating step, the emulsion layer 4 is cured by selective exposure using a light shielding mask 6 as shown in FIG. Thereafter, development processing is performed to remove the uncured portion, whereby a pattern opening 3 is formed in the emulsion layer 4 (see FIG. 4B). Further, as shown in FIG. 5A, the emulsion layer 5 having a predetermined thickness is provided by repeatedly coating the same UV curable resin as the emulsion layer 4 so as to cover the emulsion layer 4. Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 5B, the exposure amount is lowered below the conditions for curing the emulsion layer 4, and the emulsion layer 5 is cured by selective exposure using the light shielding mask 6a. Thereafter, pattern openings 3a are formed in the emulsion layer 5 by removing uncured portions by development processing (see FIG. 5C). In this way, a screen plate in which the emulsion layer 5 is softer than the emulsion layer 4 is produced.

Next, a seal printing method in which the screen plate 100 according to the first embodiment is used in a liquid crystal panel seal coating process will be described. As shown in FIG. 6, a processing substrate 8, which is a substrate to be printed, held on the stage 7 of the seal printing apparatus is disposed below the screen plate 100, and a seal made of a paste such as an organic resin is provided on the main surface of the processing substrate 8. Agent 9 is applied by printing. The sealant 9 is applied onto the processing substrate 8 through the pattern opening 3 a as the squeegee 10 scans the screen plate 100. Printing is performed with the mesh sheet 2 of the screen plate 100 as the upper surface, and the emulsion layer 5 is opposed to the surface which is the main surface of the processing substrate 8. Further, before the actual scanning of the squeegee 10, the screen plate 100 or the stage 7 is moved down or up, and the scanning of the squeegee 10 is started in a state where the surface of the screen plate 100 and the stage 7 are close to each other.

Subsequently, using the cross-sectional view in the vicinity of the pattern opening 3a showing the printing state of FIG. 7, the sealing agent 9 on the screen plate 100 has a predetermined pattern shape on the main surface of the processing substrate 8 through the pattern opening 3a. The manner of application will be described. FIG. 7A is a cross-sectional view in the vicinity of the pattern opening 3a while the squeegee 10 is scanning. As described above, in the scanning portion of the squeegee 10, the screen plate 100 is brought close to the processing substrate 8 side by the squeegee 10, and the squeegee 10 is scanned so that the emulsion layer 5 is in close contact with the surface of the processing substrate 8. As a result, the sealing agent 9 is filled into the pattern opening 3 a provided in the screen plate 100. Thereafter, as shown in the sectional view of the state after the squeegee 10 of FIG. 7B passes, the screen plate 100 is peeled in the direction indicated by the arrow, and the sealant 9 is transferred onto the processing substrate 8.

Next, the operation when the screen plate 100 and the seal printing method according to the first embodiment are used in a seal coating process for forming a seal pattern of a liquid crystal panel will be described. When printing is performed as described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, printing is performed between the mesh sheet 2 and the processing substrate 8 via the relatively hard emulsion layer 4. Therefore, the unevenness of the mesh-like sheet 2 when the screen plate is pressed against the surface of the processing substrate 8 by the squeegee 10, in particular, the pressure due to the intersection of the nets is dispersed and made uniform by the relatively hard emulsion layer 4. From the viewpoint of the effect of dispersing the pressure, it is desirable that the mesh sheet 2 and the emulsion layer 4 are integrally formed as shown in FIG. In addition, since the relatively hard emulsion layer 4 is less flexible and easily peels off from the mesh sheet 2, the mesh sheet 2 and the emulsion layer 4 are formed so as to be integrated from the viewpoint of improving the durability of the plate. It is desirable.

An alignment film is formed on the surface of the processing substrate 8 used for the liquid crystal panel (not shown), and fine lines are formed on the alignment film surface by rubbing treatment. In the liquid crystal panel, the alignment of the liquid crystal is controlled by the fine streaks on the surface of the alignment film. If the shape of the streaks changes even slightly, the alignment of the liquid crystals is disturbed and is visually recognized as display unevenness. In the first embodiment, since the pressure due to the intersection of the meshes of the mesh sheet 2 is dispersed, it is possible to form a seal pattern without damaging the alignment film surface, particularly the streaks due to the rubbing treatment. As a result, a liquid crystal panel having high display quality without display unevenness can be obtained.

In addition, since the emulsion layer 5 made of a relatively soft material is applied to the surface of the screen plate 100 in contact with the processing substrate 8, the surface of the processing substrate 8 becomes familiar with the unevenness of the surface and adheres without causing unnecessary gaps. In this state, the printing process is performed. For this reason, it is possible to perform printing with a stable coating amount without occurrence of blurring or the like of the sealant 9. Further, since the end face of the pattern opening 3 provided in the emulsion layer 4 is covered with the emulsion layer 5, the sealing agent 9 in the pattern opening 3 can be easily removed, and the processing substrate 8 near the pattern opening 3 can be removed. Adhesion with the surface is also improved, and the coating amount can be stabilized.

In the first embodiment described above, the mesh sheet 2, the emulsion layer 4 formed so as to cover one side of the mesh sheet 2, and the surface of the emulsion layer 4 opposite to the mesh sheet 2 are covered. By using the screen plate 100 composed of the soft emulsion layer 5 as compared with the coated emulsion layer 4 as described above as a method for producing a liquid crystal panel, a high-quality liquid crystal panel without display unevenness has a variation in seal pattern width. It is possible to obtain a useful screen plate that can be manufactured with a small and high yield.

In the first embodiment, as a method of making the emulsion layer 5 softer than the emulsion layer 4, a method of setting the exposure amount for the emulsion layer 4 relatively stronger than the exposure amount for the emulsion layer 5 was used. However, a heating bake for further curing the emulsion layer 4 may be appropriately added before coating the emulsion layer 5, or different resin materials may be selected for the emulsion layer 4 and the emulsion layer 5. . Here, since a UV curable resin is selected as the emulsion layer, it is a positive photosensitive resin, but a negative photosensitive resin may be used. In that case, the one corresponding to the negative type in which the light shielding portion and the transmission portion are reversed from the light shielding mask 6 described in the first embodiment is used.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
In the second embodiment, a modification in which the film thickness of the emulsion layer 5 is made thinner than the film thickness of the emulsion layer 4 from the first embodiment described above will be described.

First, the configuration of the screen plate according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to the cross-sectional view of FIG. FIG. 8 corresponds to a cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the pattern opening 3 in FIG. In the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, the first emulsion layer is formed of a photosensitive resin formed so as to cover one side of the mesh sheet 2 and having a predetermined pattern opening 3 formed therein. The emulsion layer 4a is composed of an emulsion layer 5a which is a second emulsion layer made of a photosensitive resin formed on the surface of the emulsion layer 4a opposite to the mesh-like sheet 2. In particular, in the second embodiment, the emulsion layer 5a is formed so as to be thinner than the emulsion layer 4a. The emulsion layer 4a is light-shielding compared to the emulsion layer 5a. The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that it is formed of a high material and the emulsion layer 5a uses a negative photosensitive resin. Regarding the configuration other than this change, the emulsion layer 5a uses a soft emulsion layer as compared with the emulsion layer 4a, and the end face of the pattern opening 3 provided in the emulsion layer 4a is covered with the emulsion layer 5a. This is the same as in the first embodiment in that the emulsion layer 4b penetrates into the mesh of the mesh sheet 2 and the mesh sheet 2 and the emulsion layer 4b are integrated. Description is omitted.

Next, a method for manufacturing a screen plate in the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 9A corresponds to FIG. 5A, which is an explanatory diagram of the manufacturing method in the first embodiment. The manufacturing process up to this point is the same as that in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 of the first embodiment except that the emulsion layer 4 is changed to an emulsion layer 4a formed of a material having a higher light shielding property than the emulsion layer 5a. Therefore, detailed description is omitted. A negative photosensitive resin is repeatedly applied so as to cover the emulsion layer 4a formed in the same manner as in FIGS. 3 and 4, and as shown in FIG. 9A, it is thinner than the film thickness of the emulsion layer 4a. An emulsion layer 5a is formed as described above. For the negative photosensitive resin constituting the emulsion layer 5a, a material that becomes softer than the emulsion layer 4a when cured is selected.

Next, as shown in FIG. 9B, in the second embodiment, exposure is performed from the mesh-like sheet 2 side as opposed to the first embodiment. In that case, exposure is performed by irradiating the light as scattered light via a scattering plate DIF that scatters light without using a light shielding mask. In the second embodiment, since the emulsion layer 4a is formed of a material having a higher light-shielding property than the emulsion layer 5a, the portion of the emulsion layer 5a that is behind the emulsion layer 4a is shielded from light and almost exposed. Not. Accordingly, the emulsion layer 5a in the region below the pattern opening 3 formed in the emulsion layer 4a is intensively exposed. Further, since scattered light is used, the light scattering component is also hidden behind the emulsion layer 4a in the emulsion layer 5a formed near the end face of the pattern opening 3, and compared to the central part of the pattern opening 3. It is difficult to be exposed.

Finally, development processing of the emulsion layer 5a is performed. Since the emulsion layer 5a of Embodiment 2 uses a negative photosensitive resin, the exposed portion is removed. Therefore, the emulsion layer 5a in the pattern opening 3 that has been intensively exposed is mainly removed, and the pattern opening 3a is formed in the emulsion layer 5 as shown in FIG. The end face of the pattern opening 3 is also covered with the emulsion layer 5a remaining without being exposed.

Also in the second embodiment described above, as in the first embodiment, the mesh sheet 2, the emulsion layer 4 a formed so as to cover one side of the mesh sheet 2, and the mesh sheet 2 of the emulsion layer 4 a Since the screen plate is composed of a soft emulsion layer 5a as compared with the emulsion layer 4a coated and formed so as to cover the surface opposite to the surface, it can be used as a method for manufacturing the liquid crystal panel described in FIG. A high-quality liquid crystal panel with no unevenness can be manufactured with a high yield with little variation in the seal pattern width. Further, since the end face of the pattern opening 3 provided in the emulsion layer 4 a is covered with the emulsion layer 5, the sealing agent 9 in the pattern opening 3 a can be easily removed, and the processing substrate 8 near the pattern opening 3 can be removed. Since the adhesion with the surface is also improved, the effect of stabilizing the coating amount can be improved. Further, since the mesh sheet 2 and the emulsion layer 4a are integrally formed, the durability of the plate is good.

In the second embodiment, since a light shielding mask is not necessary, the position and width of the pattern opening 3a are determined in a self-aligning manner using the pattern opening 3 as a mask, and alignment is unnecessary. It is not necessary to use an expensive apparatus with an alignment function such as a stepper in the exposure apparatus to be used, and a simple apparatus such as a UV irradiation apparatus can be used. Further, since the pattern opening 3a is determined in a self-aligning manner, the opening width accuracy can be improved.

Subsequently, a modification of the screen plate in the second embodiment will be described with reference to the cross-sectional view of FIG. FIG. 10A corresponds to FIG. 9A, which is an explanatory diagram of the method for manufacturing the screen plate in the second embodiment. In this modification, as shown in FIG. 10A, the first emulsion layer is formed of a photosensitive resin formed so as to cover one surface of the mesh sheet 2 and having a predetermined pattern opening 3 formed therein. A negative photosensitive resin is coated very thinly on the emulsion layer 4b so as to cover the emulsion layer 4b, thereby forming an emulsion layer 5b. In addition, for the negative photosensitive resin constituting the emulsion layer 5b, a material that becomes softer than the emulsion layer 4b when cured as in the second embodiment is selected, and the coating film thickness is the case of printing. The minimum film thickness was set so as to be compatible with the unevenness of the surface of the processed substrate.

Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 10B, in this modified example, exposure is performed from the mesh-like sheet 2 side as in the second embodiment. In that case, exposure with normal parallel light is performed without using the light shielding mask used in the first embodiment and the scattering plate DIF used in the second embodiment. The exposure is performed under the condition that the exposure amount is very weak because it is sufficient that the very thin emulsion layer 5b formed in the pattern opening 3 can be exposed and removed.

Finally, by developing the emulsion layer 5a, a pattern opening 3a is formed in the emulsion layer 5b as shown in FIG. 10 (c). In this modified example, a material having a high light-shielding property is not used for the emulsion layer 4a. However, because of such a very weak exposure amount, the portion of the emulsion layer 5b that is in the shadow of the emulsion layer 4a is used. The emulsion layer 5b formed in the vicinity of the end face of the pattern opening 3 is hardly exposed. Therefore, the emulsion layer 5a in the pattern opening 3 is mainly removed, and the pattern opening 3a is formed in the emulsion layer 5 as shown in FIG. The end face of the pattern opening 3 is also covered with the remaining emulsion layer 5a. The same effects as those of the second embodiment can be obtained for the modification described above.

Further, in this modification, the exposure and development processing can be omitted by further reducing the coating thickness of the emulsion layer 5b so that it does not enter the mesh of the mesh sheet 2. In such a case, the emulsion layer 5b does not need to be a photosensitive resin and can be selected from various types of soft and printable materials. Also in this modification, the same effect as in the second embodiment can be obtained.

Embodiment 3 FIG.
In the first embodiment, the second embodiment, and the modifications described above, the end face of the pattern opening provided in the relatively hard emulsion layer is covered with the relatively soft emulsion layer. Embodiment 3 will be described in which both a hard emulsion layer and a relatively soft emulsion layer are exposed at the end face of the pattern opening.

First, the configuration of the screen plate according to the third embodiment will be described with reference to the cross-sectional view of FIG. FIG. 11 corresponds to a cross-sectional view in the vicinity of the pattern opening 3 in FIG. In the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 11, the first emulsion layer is formed of a photosensitive resin formed so as to cover one side of the mesh sheet 2 and having a predetermined pattern opening 3 formed therein. The emulsion layer 4c is composed of an emulsion layer 5c which is a second emulsion layer made of a photosensitive resin formed on the surface of the emulsion layer 4c opposite to the mesh-like sheet 2. Particularly in Embodiment 3, the end face of the pattern opening 3 formed in the emulsion layer 4c is not covered by the emulsion layer 5c, and the pattern opening 3a and the emulsion layer 4c formed in the emulsion layer 5c are configured. The pattern opening 3 formed in the above has a structure formed continuously.

Next, a method for manufacturing a screen plate according to the third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 12A corresponds to FIG. 3B, which is an explanatory diagram of the method for manufacturing the screen plate in the first embodiment. In the present third embodiment, for example, a negative photosensitive resin is applied to the surface of the mesh sheet 2 opposite to the surface to be bonded to the frame 1 and a drying process is repeated to perform a predetermined thickness. The emulsion layer 4c is formed, and the emulsion layer 5c is formed by repeating the steps of successively applying a negative photosensitive resin of a different type from the emulsion layer 4c and performing a drying process. For the negative photosensitive resin used as the emulsion layer 5c, a material that is softer than the emulsion layer 4c when cured is selected. In addition, by repeating the sequential application, the emulsion layer 4c enters the mesh of the mesh sheet 2 so that the mesh sheet 2 and the emulsion layer 4c are integrated.

Next, as shown in FIG. 12B, in the third embodiment, the emulsion layer 5c and the emulsion layer 4c are exposed from the surface opposite to the mesh sheet 2. At that time, the emulsion layer 5c and the emulsion layer 4c are simultaneously exposed by selective exposure using the light shielding mask 6c.

Finally, by carrying out development processing, since the emulsion layer 5c and the emulsion layer 4c of Embodiment 3 use a negative photosensitive resin, the exposed portions of both the emulsion layer 5c and the emulsion layer 4c are Removed at the same time. As a result, as shown in FIG. 11, both the emulsion layer 5c and the emulsion layer 4c are exposed at the end face of the pattern opening, that is, the pattern opening 3a formed in the emulsion layer 5c and the pattern formed in the emulsion layer 4c. A structure in which the opening 3 is continuous at the end face is formed.

Also in the third embodiment described above, similarly to the first embodiment, the mesh sheet 2, the emulsion layer 4c formed so as to cover one side of the mesh sheet 2, and the mesh sheet 2 of the emulsion layer 4c are provided. By using the screen plate constituted by the soft emulsion layer 5a as compared with the emulsion layer 4c coated and formed so as to cover the surface opposite to the surface, the method for manufacturing the liquid crystal panel described in FIG. It is possible to obtain a useful screen plate capable of manufacturing a high-quality liquid crystal panel with a high yield with little variation in the seal pattern width. Furthermore, since the mesh sheet 2 and the emulsion layer 4c are formed so as to be integrated, the durability of the plate is also good.

In Embodiment 3, openings can be formed in the emulsion layer 5c and the emulsion layer 4c all at once, so that the exposure and development processes can be simplified at one time. The pattern opening 3 Since the alignment between the pattern opening 3a and the pattern opening 3a is not necessary, it is possible to simplify the manufacturing apparatus and the manufacturing process, such as the fact that a simple apparatus such as a UV irradiation apparatus using a mask can be used for the exposure apparatus. Is feasible.

Embodiment 4 FIG.
Next, the configuration of the liquid crystal panel according to the fourth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. Here, the TFT (T hin F ilm T ransistor ) mode liquid crystal panel will be described as an example. As shown in the figure, the liquid crystal panel 200 includes a switching element substrate 210, a color filter substrate 220, and a liquid crystal 230 filled between the switching element substrate 210 and the color filter substrate 220.

The switching element substrate 210 includes an alignment film 212 that aligns the liquid crystal 230 on one surface of the glass substrate 211, a pixel electrode 213 that is provided below the alignment film 212 and applies a voltage for driving the liquid crystal 230, and the pixel electrode 213. A switching element 214 such as a TFT for supplying a voltage, an insulating film 215 covering the switching element 214, a terminal 216 for receiving a signal supplied to the switching element 214 from the outside, and a signal input from the terminal 216 to the counter electrode A transfer electrode 217 and the like are included. In addition, a polarizing plate 231 is provided on the other surface of the glass substrate 211.

On the other hand, the above-described color filter substrate 220 is disposed under one of the alignment film 222 for aligning the liquid crystal 230 on one surface of the glass substrate 221 and the alignment film 222, and an electric field between the pixel electrode 213 on the switching element substrate 210. A common electrode 223 for driving the liquid crystal 230, a color filter 224 provided under the common electrode 223, a light shielding layer 225, and the like. In addition, a polarizing plate 232 is provided on the other surface of the glass substrate 221.

Further, the switching element substrate 210 and the color filter substrate 220 are bonded together via a seal 233. Further, the transfer electrode 217 and the common electrode 223 are electrically connected by a transfer material 234, and a signal input from the terminal 216 is transmitted to the common electrode 223. In addition, the control board 235 liquid crystal panel 200 for generating a drive signal, FPC for electrically connecting the control board 235 to the terminal 216 (F lexible P rinted C ircuit ) 236, without a backlight unit (shown as a light source ) Etc.

The liquid crystal panel 200 operates as follows. For example, when an electric signal is input from the control substrate 235, a driving voltage is applied to the pixel electrode 213 and the common electrode 223, and the molecular direction of the liquid crystal 230 is changed in accordance with the driving voltage. The light emitted from the backlight unit is transmitted or blocked outside through the switching element substrate 210, the liquid crystal 230, and the color filter substrate 220, whereby an image or the like is displayed on the liquid crystal panel 200.

The liquid crystal panel 200 is an example and may have other configurations. Operation mode of the liquid crystal panel 200, and TN (T wisted N ematic) mode, STN (S upper T wisted N ematic) mode may be a ferroelectric liquid crystal mode, etc., the driving method may be a simple matrix or an active matrix, etc. Alternatively, a liquid crystal panel using a horizontal electric field method in which the common electrode 223 provided on the color filter substrate 220 is installed on the switching element substrate 210 side and an electric field is applied to the liquid crystal 230 in the horizontal direction between the pixel electrode 213 and the liquid crystal panel. .

Next, a method for manufacturing the liquid crystal panel in the fourth embodiment will be described. Since a general method is used for manufacturing the switching element substrate 210 and the color filter substrate 220, a brief description will be given. The switching element substrate 210 has a switching element 214, a pixel electrode 213, a terminal 216, and a transfer electrode 217 formed on one surface of the glass substrate 211 by repeatedly using a pattern forming process such as film formation, patterning by photolithography, and etching. Manufactured by forming. Similarly, the color filter substrate 220 is manufactured by forming the color filter 224 and the common electrode 223 on one surface of the glass substrate 221.

Subsequently, a characteristic assembly process in the fourth embodiment will be described with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG. First, in the substrate cleaning process, the switching element substrate 210 on which the pixel electrode 213 is formed is cleaned (S1). Next, in the alignment film forming step, an alignment film 212 is formed on one surface of the switching element substrate 210 (S2). In this step, for example, an alignment film 212 made of an organic film is applied by a printing method, and is baked and dried by a hot plate or the like. Thereafter, in the rubbing step, the alignment film 212 is rubbed to align the alignment film 212 (S3). Similarly to S1 to S3, the color filter substrate 220 on which the common electrode 223 is formed is also cleaned, formed with the alignment film 222, and rubbed.

Subsequently, in the seal coating process for forming a seal pattern, the seal plate 233 is coated on one surface of the switching element substrate 210 or the color filter substrate 220 by using the screen plate and the seal printing method described in the first embodiment. Perform (S4). For the seal 233, for example, a thermosetting resin such as an epoxy adhesive or an ultraviolet curable resin is used. By using the screen plate and the seal printing apparatus described in the first embodiment, the pressure due to the intersection of the meshes in the mesh sheet of the screen plate is dispersed and uniformed, so that the surface of the alignment film 212 or the alignment film 222 is obtained. In addition, since the screen plate is adapted to the unevenness of the treated substrate, printing can be performed with a stable coating amount.

Next, in the transfer material application process, the transfer material 234 is applied to one surface of the switching element substrate 210 or the color filter substrate 220 (S5). In the spacer spraying step, spacers are sprayed on one surface of the switching element substrate 210 or the color filter substrate 220 (S6). This step is performed, for example, by dispersing the spacers by a wet method or a dry method.

Thereafter, in the bonding step, the switching element substrate 210 and the color filter substrate 220 are bonded together (S7). Subsequently, in the seal curing step, the seal 233 is completely cured with the switching element substrate 210 and the color filter substrate 220 bonded together (S8). This step is performed, for example, by applying heat according to the material of the seal 233 or by irradiating ultraviolet rays. Next, in the cell dividing step, the bonded substrates are disassembled into individual cells (S9). In the liquid crystal injection step, liquid crystal is injected from the liquid crystal injection port (S10). This step is performed, for example, by filling the liquid crystal 230 by vacuum injection from the liquid crystal injection port. Further, in the sealing step, the liquid crystal inlet is sealed (S11). This step is performed, for example, by sealing with a photocurable resin and irradiating with light.

About the process from bonding of the above S7-S13 to liquid crystal sealing, the liquid crystal injection method from the normal injection port was demonstrated as an example. However, as another liquid crystal injection method, the seal 233 has a pattern shape without an injection port, and the liquid crystal 230 is formed in a droplet state on the switching element substrate 210 or the color filter substrate 220. A method in which the seal 233 is cured after the switching element substrate 210 and the color filter substrate 220 are bonded so as to sandwich the substrate, a so-called drop injection method may be used.

Finally, in the polarizing plate attaching step, the polarizing plates 231 and 232 are attached to the cell (S12), and in the control substrate mounting step, the control substrate 235 is mounted (S13), thereby completing the liquid crystal panel 200.

In the liquid crystal panel according to Embodiment 4 described above, as described above, the mesh sheet, the emulsion layer coated and formed so as to cover one side of the mesh sheet, and the emulsion layer on the side opposite to the mesh sheet 2 are provided. Compared with the emulsion layer coated to cover the surface, a screen plate composed of a soft emulsion layer is used as a method for producing a liquid crystal panel, so that a high-quality liquid crystal panel without display unevenness has less variation in seal pattern width. It can be manufactured with a high yield. In the fourth embodiment, the liquid crystal display panel using the screen plate and the seal printing method of the first embodiment in the seal coating process has been described. However, the same effects as those of the fourth embodiment can be obtained even when the screen plates described in the second to third embodiments and their modifications are used in place of the screen plate of the first embodiment.

It is the perspective view and sectional drawing which showed the screen plate in Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a perspective view in the manufacturing process of the screen plate in Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is the perspective view and sectional drawing in the manufacturing process of the screen plate in Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is sectional drawing in the manufacturing process of the screen plate in Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is sectional drawing in the manufacturing process of the screen plate in Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a perspective view in the seal | sticker printing process using the screen plate in Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is sectional drawing explaining the printing state of the screen plate in Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is sectional drawing which showed the screen plate in Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is sectional drawing in the manufacturing process of the screen plate in Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is sectional drawing in the manufacturing process of the screen plate in Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is sectional drawing which showed the screen plate in Embodiment 3 of this invention. It is sectional drawing in the manufacturing process of the screen plate in Embodiment 3 of this invention. It is sectional drawing of the liquid crystal panel in Embodiment 4 of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the assembly process in the manufacturing method of the liquid crystal panel in Embodiment 4 of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

2 mesh sheet, 3 pattern opening, 4, 4a, 4b, 4c, 5, 5a, 5b, 5c emulsion layer, 8 treated substrate, 9 sealant, 10 squeegee, 100 screen version, 200 liquid crystal panel.

Claims (10)

A mesh sheet, a first emulsion layer formed so as to cover one side of the mesh sheet and having a predetermined pattern opening, and a surface of the first emulsion layer opposite to the mesh sheet A screen plate for seal printing, comprising a second emulsion layer having a lower hardness than the first emulsion layer. The screen plate for seal printing according to claim 1, wherein the first emulsion layer and the second emulsion layer are cured under different exposure conditions or heating conditions. 3. The screen plate for seal printing according to claim 1, wherein the first emulsion layer is formed so as to be integrated with the mesh screen plate. The screen plate for seal printing according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein an end face of the pattern opening is covered with a second emulsion layer. The screen plate for seal printing according to claim 4, wherein the first emulsion layer is made of a material having a higher light-shielding property than the second emulsion layer. A mesh sheet, a first emulsion layer formed so as to cover one side of the mesh sheet and having a predetermined pattern opening, and a surface of the first emulsion layer opposite to the mesh sheet A screen plate formed of a second emulsion layer having a lower hardness than the first emulsion layer is disposed so that the second emulsion layer faces the main surface of the substrate,
The sealant on the screen plate was provided on the screen plate by moving the sealant on the screen plate and scanning the squeegee so that the second emulsion layer was in close contact with the main surface of the substrate. A sticker printing method, wherein a sticker is printed by applying to a main surface of a substrate disposed under the screen plate through the pattern opening. 7. The seal printing method according to claim 6, wherein the first emulsion layer is formed so as to be integrated with the mesh screen plate. 8. The seal printing method according to claim 6, wherein an end face of the pattern opening is covered with a second emulsion layer. The liquid crystal panel manufactured using the screen plate in any one of Claims 1-5. A liquid crystal panel manufactured using the seal printing method according to claim 6.

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