JP2009116214A - Liquid crystal panel and its manufacturing method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a liquid crystal panel which has a non-rectangular shape such as a circular shape and an elliptical shape and wherein the formation of a liquid crystal injection port is simplified to tightly seal the injection port. <P>SOLUTION: A pair of substrates 2 and 6 are formed by applying a sealing material 10 so that the liquid crystal injection port 13 is formed at a curved part of a display area DA and being stuck to each other. In the liquid crystal panel 1 having the display area DA of the non-rectangular shape including the curved part in at least a part thereof and formed by cutting the pair of substrates 2 and 6 so that the peripheral part of at least the liquid crystal injection port 13 matches the shape of the display area DA, a part where the liquid crystal injection port 13 is formed and a part in the vicinity of the liquid crystal injection port 13 of the pair of stuck substrates 2 and 6 are formed in shapes of linear flat faces L<SB>T</SB>and R<SB>T</SB>and the liquid crystal injection port 13 is sealed by applying a capping material 14 on the flat faces L<SB>T</SB>and R<SB>T</SB>of the liquid crystal injection port 13 and the part in the vicinity of the liquid crystal injection port 13. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

The present invention relates to a liquid crystal panel having a non-rectangular display area and a non-rectangular panel outer shape so as to match the shape of the display area, and a method for manufacturing the same.

Since liquid crystal panels can be reduced in thickness, weight, and size, they are often used particularly for display devices such as small electronic devices such as mobile phones and other portable information terminals. Until now, this type of liquid crystal panel has been mainly in the form of a rectangular display screen. However, in recent years, this display screen, that is, the display area, for example, a circular, semicircular, fan-shaped or elliptical shape is used. The non-rectangular shape of the panel and the non-rectangular shape of the panel according to the shape of the display area have begun to appear according to market needs.

A liquid crystal panel is usually manufactured by using a pair of panel substrates, and after these substrates are bonded together, the bonded substrates are cut into a predetermined shape. However, in this dividing step, linear cutting can be performed relatively easily, but non-linear cutting, particularly curved cutting is difficult. Therefore, a method for manufacturing a liquid crystal panel that is cut into a curved shape and formed into a non-rectangular shape has been developed and disclosed in Patent Documents (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2 below).

9A and 9B are a plan view and a cross-sectional view illustrating the processing steps of the liquid crystal device manufacturing method disclosed in Patent Document 1 below.
The liquid crystal device 20 disclosed in the following Patent Document 1 includes a pair of panel substrates 2 as shown in FIG.
1 and 21 '. First, one panel substrate 21 is formed with an elliptical continuous groove 21a extending continuously on the surface thereof (see FIG. 9A). Next, the continuous groove 21
The resist layer 22 is covered in a portion other than the formation site of a, and the substrate material is decomposed and removed by etching (see FIG. 9B). Further, another panel substrate 21 ′ in which the same continuous groove 21 a ′ is formed by applying the sealing material 23 on the inner surface of the panel substrate 21 where the continuous groove 21 a is not formed.
Are superimposed and pasted together (see FIG. 9C). Thereafter, after the liquid crystal is injected from the liquid crystal injection port, the injection port is sealed with a sealing material. Finally, a light impact is applied to the peripheral portion of each of the panel substrates 21, 21 ′, and the continuous groove 21a. , 21a ′ is broken to complete a planar elliptical liquid crystal panel (see FIG. 9D).

Patent Document 2 below discloses a method for manufacturing a heart-shaped liquid crystal panel using two large mother substrates. In this liquid crystal panel manufacturing method, a plurality of panel areas are divided on the surface of one of the two mother boards, and a sealing material is applied in a heart shape to each panel area. Bonded to the mother board. Thereafter, the bonded substrate is divided into strip-shaped substrates, and a liquid crystal injection port for each panel is formed at one end of the divided substrate so that liquid crystal is injected from these injection ports. It has become.
JP 2000-75257 A (paragraphs [0016] to [0018], FIG. 1 and FIG. 2) JP 2002-277860 A (paragraphs [0030] to [0034], FIG. 1)

In the method of manufacturing the liquid crystal device disclosed in Patent Document 1, first, continuous grooves are formed on the outer surfaces of a pair of rectangular substrates, and these substrates are bonded together and then broken along the continuous grooves. Thus, an elliptical liquid crystal panel is formed. According to such a manufacturing method, it is estimated that the liquid crystal is injected in a state where the liquid crystal injection port extends to the end of the rectangular substrate. However, if the injection port is extended to the end of the substrate in this way, the portion from the end of the substrate to the continuous groove is cut after the liquid crystal is injected, so that the broken material in this portion is unnecessary and the material is wasted. There is a fear. Moreover, since the sealing of the injection port is performed after the substrate is ruptured, the sealing process may be complicated, and it is difficult to increase productivity.

On the other hand, in the method for manufacturing a liquid crystal panel disclosed in Patent Document 2, a sheet material is applied in a heart shape to a position closest to the end of the substrate, and an injection port is formed at the end of the substrate. Therefore, it is possible to eliminate waste of materials and increase productivity.

However, in this manufacturing method, since the injection port is provided in the curved portion, the sealing of the injection port applied with the sealing material after liquid crystal injection may become unstable, and after applying the sealing material,
It is difficult to cut the substrate into a curved line. That is, after the liquid crystal is injected from the inlet of each panel formed on the strip-shaped substrate, a sealing material is applied to each inlet, and then the substrate is cut into a heart shape for each panel. However, during this cutting,
When the sealing material is cut at the time of cutting, the sealing material at the inlet becomes unstable. In addition, a heart-shaped cutting including a sealing material is a troublesome process.

In general, when a non-rectangular panel is formed, it is difficult to obtain a panel having a desired shape if the panel is laid out including a straight portion and a curved portion and an injection port is provided in the straight portion. In particular, when manufacturing a large mother board by dividing it into strip-shaped boards, the layout of the panel is determined, so that the number of panels that can be simultaneously manufactured from the large mother board may be reduced depending on the shape. In addition, dividing the strip substrate into individual panels, individually injecting liquid crystals for each panel, and then sealing with a sealing material makes it easy to inject liquid crystal and make sealing firmly, On the other hand, productivity will be greatly reduced.

The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to simplify the formation of the liquid crystal injection port and to make the liquid crystal injection port tightly sealed, such as a circle and an ellipse. The object is to provide a non-rectangular liquid crystal panel.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a liquid crystal panel manufacturing method capable of efficiently and simultaneously producing a plurality of non-rectangular liquid crystal panels that can achieve the above object.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention of the liquid crystal panel according to the first aspect of the present application has a non-rectangular display region including a curved part at least in part, and the liquid crystal is provided in the curved part of the display region. In a liquid crystal panel formed by cutting a pair of substrates that are applied and bonded together so as to form an injection port so that at least the periphery of the liquid crystal injection port matches the shape of the display region,
The pair of substrates bonded together has a portion where the liquid crystal injection port is formed and the vicinity of the liquid crystal injection port, and the liquid crystal injection port is a straight line near the liquid crystal injection port and the liquid crystal injection port. It is characterized by being sealed by applying a sealing material to a flat end surface of the shape.

According to the invention of the liquid crystal panel according to the first aspect, the liquid crystal inlet formed in the curved portion of the display region is sealed with the sealing material applied to the flat surface formed in the liquid crystal inlet. Therefore, a stable sealing state can be maintained. In particular, when the pair of substrates is cut into a non-rectangular shape after the liquid crystal is injected, the non-rectangular cut is performed only on the surface other than the flat surface, which affects the applied sealing material. Can be cut without any problem, and a stable sealed state can be maintained.

Further, in the first aspect, the bonded substrate may be perpendicular to the liquid crystal injection port and the straight flat end surface near the liquid crystal injection port, or the straight flat end surface near the liquid crystal injection port. It is preferable that the angle between the two end portions is cut so as to be a predetermined obtuse angle and is cut according to the shape of the display area.

According to the above-described preferred embodiment of the present invention, when cutting near the flat surface on which the liquid crystal injection port is formed, it becomes easy to divide, so that cracking of the substrate can be reduced.

Further, in the first aspect, it is preferable that a radius is provided at an angle formed between the portion cut at the right angle or the obtuse angle and the portion cut into the shape of the display region.

According to the preferable aspect of the present invention described above, the hooking can be reduced by rounding the corner formed by the portion cut at the right angle or obtuse angle and the portion cut into the shape of the display area. Moreover, the crack of a board | substrate etc. can be reduced further.

In the first aspect, it is preferable that the display region is formed in any one of a circular shape, a semicircular shape, an elliptical shape, and a semielliptical shape.

According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention described above, since the substrates bonded together with the liquid crystal inlet sealed firmly are cut along the shape of the display region, the circular, semicircular, elliptical, semielliptical A non-rectangular liquid crystal panel such as can be easily formed.

The invention of the method for producing a liquid crystal panel according to the second aspect of the present application is characterized by having the following steps (i) to (vi).
(I) A plurality of panel regions are partitioned on one mother substrate, and each panel region is provided with a non-rectangular display region including at least a curved portion, and the curved portion of the display region is provided. Applying a sealing material around the display area so that the liquid crystal injection port is
(Ii) a step of bonding the other mother substrate to the mother substrate so as to correspond to the panel region and curing the sealing material;
(Iii) cutting the portion where the liquid crystal injection port of the pair of bonded mother substrates is located in a straight line, and forming a liquid crystal injection port communicating with each display region on the cut flat surface;
(Iv) injecting liquid crystal into each display area from each liquid crystal injection port;
(V) applying and sealing a sealing material to each liquid crystal injection port into which the liquid crystal is injected;
(Vi) A pair of mother substrates bonded together so that at least the periphery of the liquid crystal injection port matches the shape of the display region, leaving the flat surface in the vicinity of the liquid crystal injection port to which the sealing material is applied A process of forming individual liquid crystal panels by cutting.

According to the method for manufacturing a liquid crystal panel according to the second aspect, a plurality of the liquid crystal panels can be efficiently produced simultaneously by a simple process. In particular, when the substrate is cut into a non-rectangular shape after injecting the liquid crystal, the flat surface provided with the liquid crystal injection port is already cut, and this cutting is performed from the side excluding the flat surface. It can cut | disconnect without affecting the made sealing material, and can maintain the stable sealing state.

Hereinafter, the best embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the embodiment described below exemplifies a liquid crystal panel and a manufacturing method thereof for embodying the technical idea of the present invention, and the present invention is intended to specify the liquid crystal panel and the manufacturing method thereof. And other embodiments within the scope of the claims are equally applicable.

In the description of the present specification, the term “substrate” mainly refers to a mother substrate and the mother substrate divided or divided, and the “panel” includes a process of forming a liquid crystal panel from the substrate. Also used as a device. “Severing” and “cutting” are used as synonyms.

1A is a schematic plan view of a TFT array substrate seen through a color filter substrate of the liquid crystal panel, and FIG. 1B is a partial cross-sectional view of the liquid crystal panel of FIG. 1A. FIG. 2 is a process diagram of a method for manufacturing a liquid crystal panel. FIG. 3 is a plan view of the mother substrate bonded in the process of FIG. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view for injecting liquid crystal into an empty panel cell and sealing the injection port in the process of FIG. FIG. 5 shows the injection port, FIG. 5A is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the injection port before the injection port is sealed, and FIG. 5B is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the state where the injection port is sealed with a sealing material. 6 shows an injection port of a liquid crystal panel according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention, FIG. 6A is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the injection port before the injection port is sealed, and FIG. 6B shows that the injection port is sealed with a sealing material. It is an expanded sectional view of the done state. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a substrate cutting step. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the liquid crystal injection port of the liquid crystal panel according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

First, the schematic configuration of the liquid crystal panel 1 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
The liquid crystal panel 1 is composed of an active matrix type liquid crystal panel, and a TFT array substrate (hereinafter referred to as AR) on the surface of which a display electrode and a switching element for driving the liquid crystal are formed.
2) and a color filter substrate (hereinafter referred to as a CF substrate) 6 in which a color filter layer and a common electrode are formed on the surface facing the AR substrate 2, and these substrates 2, 6
A space of a predetermined size is formed inside with a sealant 10 interposed therebetween, and the liquid crystal 12 is formed in this space.
Then, a liquid crystal injection port (hereinafter simply referred to as an injection port) 13 into which the liquid crystal 12 has been injected is sealed with a sealing material 14.

AR substrate 2, as shown in Figure 1A, the upper side _{2 T} which inlet 13 is formed, the upper side 2
_A linear lower side 2 _B provided at a position facing _T , and a left and right side 2 _L that curves in an arc shape from the upper side 2 _T to its middle part and is linear from this middle part to the lower side 2 _B
2 _R, and is formed of a transparent substrate made of glass or the like formed in a semi-oval shape in plan view. The surface of the AR substrate 2 is divided into a display area DA (in a region indicated by a broken line) and a peripheral area PA surrounding the display area DA. Further, in the display area DA of the AR substrate 2, a plurality of gate lines (not shown) and source lines are wired in a matrix via a gate insulating film, and the gate lines and the source lines intersect. In the vicinity of the place to
Switching element (not shown) for driving liquid crystal (for example, thin film transistor (TFT))
Is formed. Further, as shown in FIG. 1B, the AR substrate 2 is provided with a protective insulating film, a pixel electrode, an alignment film 4, an electrode terminal 5, and the like. In FIG. 1B, a gate line, a source line, a pixel electrode, various insulating films, and the like are collectively shown as the first structure 3.

The AR substrate 2 is coated with a sealing material 10 in a strip shape having a predetermined width around the display area DA.
The annular seal member 10, in the substrate arrangement shown in FIG. 1A, the direction from the upper side 2 _T on the lower side 2 _B, which is applied to the upper side 2 _T substantially the same portion again is folded further in the lower side 2 _B, predetermined gap 10 _G is spaced between the thus start and end points of the applied sealing material 10. The gap 10 _G is a portion where the inlet 13 is formed when bonded together and CF substrate 6. Further, in the peripheral area PA, a plurality of connection terminals t connected to the external control device in the vicinity of the lower side 2 _B shown in FIG. 1A is provided. These connection terminals t are connected to the gate lines and source lines in the display area DA by lead lines (not shown), and these lead lines are arranged in the peripheral area PA. .

On the other hand, the CF substrate 6 has substantially the same shape as the AR substrate 2 described above. Specifically, the upper edge 6 _T which inlet 13 is formed, this intermediate with curved and straight bottom edge 6 _B provided at a position opposed to the upper edge 6 _T, arcuately toward the middle portion from the upper side 6 _T It has left and right sides 6 _L and 6 _R that are linear from the part to the lower side 6 _B , has a semi-oval shape in plan view, and is formed of a transparent substrate made of glass or the like. Similar to the AR substrate 2, the surface of the CF substrate 6 is divided into a display area DA and a peripheral area PA surrounding the display area DA.
In the display area DA, light shielding layers are arranged in a matrix corresponding to the pixels of the AR substrate 2,
A color filter layer composed of a plurality of colors, for example, R (red), G (green), and B (blue), is disposed in a region surrounded by the light shielding layer. The CF substrate 6 is provided with a common electrode, an alignment film 8 and the like. In FIG. 1B, the light shielding layer, the color filter layer, the common electrode, and the like are collectively shown as the second structure 7.

The AR substrate 2 and the CF substrate 6 having this configuration are arranged on the inner side surrounded by the sealing material 10 with a spacer 11.
Are spread and bonded together, and the substrates 2 and 6 are bonded together by curing the sealing material 10. In this bonding, the electrode terminal 5 of the AR substrate 2 and the common electrode of the CF substrate 6 are electrically connected via the contact material 9.

In the arrangement shown in FIG. 1A, the bonded substrates 2 and 6 are partially cut off at the top, and this cutting is performed by cutting in a straight line, and the upper sides 2 _T and 6 _T are flat in the joined state. It is formed to be a surface. The injection port 13 is formed in the upper sides 2 _T and 6 _T formed on the flat surface in this way. The injection port 13 is sealed with a sealing material 14 after the liquid crystal 12 is injected. Further, the substrate 2 and 6 are bonded together, for example, lower _{6 B} of the CF substrate 6 is cut along the _X 2 -X ₂ wire shown in FIGS. 3B and 4B, provided the lower side _{2 B} of AR substrate 2 The connecting terminal t is exposed. A flexible cable (not shown) is connected to the exposed connection terminal t, and a signal for driving the liquid crystal is supplied from a driving driver (not shown) via this cable.

The liquid crystal panel 1 is produced by cutting a large mother substrate. In the cutting process for processing the bonded substrates 2 and 6 into a semi-oval shape, the inlet 13 is sealed with a sealing material 14. Then, the two substrates 2 and 6 are joined. According to this configuration, the upper sides 2 _T and 6 _T in the joined state are flat surfaces, and the injection port 13 is formed on the flat surface. Therefore, the container 15 in which the liquid crystal 12 is stored on the flat surface. The liquid crystal 12 can be reliably brought into contact with the liquid crystal 12, and the liquid crystal 12 can be reliably injected from the injection port 13 (see FIG. 4B). In particular, when a large mother substrate is divided into strip-shaped substrates and liquid crystals are simultaneously injected into individual panels formed on the strip-shaped substrate, injection can be performed efficiently and reliably. Furthermore, the sealing material 14
Is applied and fixed to the upper sides 2 _T and 6 _{T formed} of a flat surface in the inlet 13 and in the vicinity of the inlet 13, so that the sealing material 14 is not cut when cutting into a semi-oval shape, The sealed state is stably maintained.

In the liquid crystal panel 1, when an electric signal is input from a driving driver (not shown), a driving voltage is applied to the pixel electrode and the common electrode, and liquid crystal molecules are aligned by the driving voltage. And
The light emitted from the light source previously disposed behind the AR substrate 2 is transmitted or blocked outside through the AR substrate 2, the liquid crystal 12 and the CF substrate 6, thereby displaying a predetermined image on the liquid crystal panel 1. .

Next, a manufacturing method of the liquid crystal panel 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. The substrate shown in FIG. 3 is a relatively large mother substrate for the AR substrate 2 (hereinafter referred to as a TFT mother substrate).
And a mother substrate for the CF substrate 6 (hereinafter referred to as “CF mother substrate”). Hereinafter, a method of manufacturing a plurality of liquid crystal panels 1 from individual TFT mother substrates and CF mother substrates will be described with reference to FIG.

First, a large TFT mother substrate is prepared (step s1). As shown in FIG. 3A, the TFT mother substrate is divided into regions (hereinafter referred to as panel cells C _{1 to} C ₈ ) so that eight liquid crystal panels 1 are formed on the surface when completed. Panel cell C
Each display area DA on ₁ -C ₈ provided, the gate lines and the source lines in the display area DA, T
FT etc. are formed. These wirings are patterned using a known photolithography method or the like (step s2). A protective insulating film and an alignment film 4 are sequentially formed thereon (
Steps s3 and s4). Thereafter, the seal material 1 except for the gap 10 _G around the outer periphery of the display area DA.
0 is applied in an elliptical shape (step s5). Gap 10 _G is a inlet 13 when bonding the mother boards. The sealing material 10 is applied using an apparatus employing a dispenser method or a screen printing method in which the sealing material 10 is ejected from a nozzle by a gas pressure controlled to a predetermined value to draw a seal pattern. The The sealing material 10 is made of a thermosetting resin such as an epoxy-based adhesive or an ultraviolet curable resin.

On the other hand, in step s6, a CF mother substrate having the same size as the TFT mother substrate is prepared. The CF mother substrate is divided into eight panel cells C _{1 to} C ₈ corresponding to the individual divisions of the TFT mother substrate, and the AR substrate 2 is divided into the divided panel cells C _{1 to} C _8.
The light shielding layers are arranged in a matrix corresponding to the sections, and a plurality of color filter layers are arranged inside the light shielding layers (steps s6 to s9). The CF substrate 6 is provided with a common electrode, an alignment film 8 and the like in addition to the color filter layer.

After these mother substrates are bonded to each other so as to face each other, the sealing material 10 is cured (step s10). This bonding is performed by applying heat or irradiating ultraviolet rays in accordance with the sealing material 10 to be used.

The bonded mother substrate P ₁ is cut along a line X ₁ -X ₁ shown in FIG. 3A and divided into strip-shaped substrates P ₁ and P ₂ . Of the _two strip-shaped substrates P ₁ and P ₂ , four panel cells C _{1 to} C ₄ are laid out on _one strip-shaped substrate P ₂ . Further, by cutting along the X ₁ -X ₁ line, the upper sides 2 _T and 6 _{T of the} panel cells C _{1 to} C ₄ become flat surfaces L _T ,
In addition to R _T , the injection port 13 is formed in each of the upper side 2 _T and 6 _T portions (step s11). FIG. 3B shows one of the strip-shaped substrates P ₁ and P ₂ divided into two strip-shaped substrates P ₂ .

Further, by cutting along the X ₁ -X ₁ line, the strip-shaped substrate P ₂ is formed with four empty panel cells C _{1 to} C ₄ each having an inlet 13 provided at one end surface thereof. Is done. These inlets 13 are formed by gaps 10 _G formed so as to be surrounded by the end portions 10 ₁ , 10 ₂ of the sealing material 10 and both the substrates 2, 6. The flat surfaces L _T and R _T are sufficiently large to cover the flat surfaces L _T and R _T when the sealing material 14 is applied to the injection port 13 described later. It is formed in a large size.

Then, as shown in FIG. 4A, the strip-shaped substrate P _2, the liquid crystal 12 is carried into the pooled plurality of casting container 15 is housed implanter in H, each empty panel cell C ₁ -C _The liquid crystal 12 is injected from the _four injection ports 13 (step s12). The liquid crystal 12 is injected by the same method as in the prior art. That is, the strip-shaped substrate P _2, each inlet 13 is carried into the supported implanter H in the support member so as to downwardly (not shown). In the infusion H, infusion containers 15 on the floor is disposed, a strip-shaped substrate P ₂ which is supported by the support member to directly above is moved. The infusion device H with a vacuum pump (not shown) is actuated is evacuated, strip-shaped substrate P ₂ which is supported by the support member is lowered to just above the casting container 15. When the strip-shaped substrate P ₂ is lowered, each substrate side provided with the inlet 13 of the strip-shaped substrate P ₂ is placed on the frame portion of the injection container 15, and each inlet 13 is connected to the liquid crystal 12. Touched. Thereafter, the inside of the injection device H is returned to atmospheric pressure. When the infusion H is returned to the atmospheric pressure, the internal space of the strip-shaped substrate P ₂ is the liquid crystal 12 for vacuum is drawn to the display area DA by the capillary phenomenon, the filling is made.

Next, as shown in FIG. 4B and FIG. 5B, after the liquid crystal 12 is injected into each of the panel cells C _{1 to} C ₄ of the strip-like substrate P ₂ , each injection port 13 is sealed with a sealing material 14 (step) s13).
Thereafter, only the CF substrate 6 is cut along the line X ₂ -X ₂ shown in FIG. 4B to expose the connection terminals t provided on the AR substrate 2 to the outside, and individual panel cells are formed from the strip-shaped substrate P _2. C ₁ ~
C ₄ is cut along the dotted lines shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 (step s14). In the present embodiment, the shape of each of the panel cells C _{1 to} C ₄ is the same as the shape of the display area DA in the vicinity where the injection port 13 is provided, and the peripheral area PA is widened on the opposite side. In order to ensure, the display area DA has a shape different from that of the display area DA, specifically, a rectangular shape. However, the shape of each of the panel cells C _{1 to} C ₄ is not limited to such a semi-oval shape, and the upper sides 2 _T and 6 _T and the upper sides 2 _T and 6 _T side left and right sides 2 _L , 6 _L and 2 _R , _{6 R} is as long the same as the shape of the display area DA, for example, the same shape as the shape of the display area DA, i.e. elliptical shape and the right and left sides ₂ L, _{6 L} and ₂ R, _{6 R} is lower from the middle portion The shape is reduced to 2 _B and 6 _B in a tapered shape, or the upper sides 2 _T and 6 _T and the left and right sides 2 _L , 6 _L and 2 _R and 6 _R are formed in the same elliptical shape as the shape of the display area DA. It is possible to appropriately change the shape of the lower sides 2 _T and 6 _T extending from the display area to have a rectangular shape.

According to this configuration, the upper sides 2 _T and 6 _T in a state where the injection port 13 is joined are flat surfaces L _T and R _T.
And are precut is performed such that, the flat surface L _T, since the inlet 13 of the liquid crystal 12 to R _T are formed, a flat surface L _T, the R _T to the liquid crystal 12 in the liquid crystal casting container 15 The liquid crystal 12 can be easily and reliably injected from the injection port 13 (see FIG. 4B). In addition, since the sealing material 14 is bonded by the flat surfaces L _T and R _T in the injection port 13 and in the vicinity of the injection port 13, stable sealing is possible. Further, since the sealing member 14 in the inlet 13 and the flat surfaces _L T of the inlet 13 near, they are bonded by _{R T,} the flat surface _L T when cutting each panel cell _C 1 -C _4, R _{Since T} and the sealing material 14 are not cut, the sealed state is stably maintained.

Next, a liquid crystal panel according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
The liquid crystal panel according to the second embodiment is different from the liquid crystal panel according to the first embodiment only in the shape of the vicinity of the inlet, and the other configurations are the same. Only the different configurations will be described in detail below.

As shown in FIG. 6A, the liquid crystal panel of Example 2 has an inlet 13A provided with a shoulder. The inlet 13A is a flat surface L _T having a predetermined size _is formed in a R _T, further, the flat surface L _T, drooping sides L, which is suspended a predetermined length from both ends of the R _T downward ₁ and R ₁ are formed, and a portion processed into an elliptical shape in accordance with the shape of the display area DA is positioned at the lower ends of the hanging sides L ₁ and R ₁ . As shown in FIG. 6C, it is preferable that the corners S ₁ and S ₂ where the lower ends of the drooping sides L ₁ and R ₁ are connected to the display area DA are provided with a radius of a predetermined angle. The shoulder is formed. By forming the shoulder portion, the bonded substrates can be easily cut. Further, by attaching a radius to the shoulder portion, this portion is not caught by any member and the substrate is not cracked.

The inlet 13A is formed in the same process as the inlet 13 of the liquid crystal panel 1. That is, the top part of the panel cell divided from the mother substrate is cut and cut linearly to form the injection port 13A on the flat surfaces L _T and R _T of the upper sides 2 _T and 6 _T (see FIG. 6A). Then, after the liquid crystal 12 is injected into the display area DA from the injection port 13A, the injection port 13A becomes the sealing material 1.
4 (see FIG. 6B). Since the sealing material 14 is bonded by the flat surfaces L _T and R _T in the injection port 13 and in the vicinity of the injection port 13, the sealing state is stably maintained.

By the way, the process of dividing each panel cell will be described with reference to FIG. 7. When the panel cell is divided, the panel cell is divided along the cutting line R. However, in this cutting process, cutting position cracking and chipping enough substrate 2,6 adjacent to X ₁ -X ₁ line above is likely to occur. That is, among the ii line, the roro line, and the haha line that are tangents at each position of the cutting line R shown in FIG. When the part where the line is drawn is more likely to be broken or chipped, and when the part where the hello line is drawn is divided than when the part where the line is drawn is broken. Is more likely to crack or chip. In other words, the larger the angle formed between each tangent and the X ₁ -X ₁ line, the easier it is to crack or chip.

Therefore, looking at the liquid crystal panel 1 of Example 1, the most _X 1 angle between the tangent and the _X 1 -X ₁ line location adjacent to -X ₁ line of the cutting line R, i.e. the right and left sides ₂ L, _{6 L} And 2 _R , 6 _R and upper side 2
_{Since the} angle θ ₁ formed by _T and 6 _T is substantially the same as the angle formed by the ha line and the X ₁ -X ₁ line shown in FIG. 7A, cracks and chips are relatively likely to occur. However, since the liquid crystal panel of Example 2 is provided with the drooping sides L ₁ and R ₁ that are suspended downward from both ends of the upper sides 2 _T and 6 _{T by} a predetermined length, the drooping sides L ₁ and R ₁ are provided with the drooping sides L ₁ and R ₁ . The angle θ ₂ formed by the cutting line R cut along the upper side 2 _T and 6 _T
(= 90 °) is smaller than the angle θ _{1 of the} first embodiment. Therefore, in the liquid crystal panel of the second embodiment, cracks and chips are less likely to occur than in the liquid crystal panel 1 of the first embodiment.

A liquid crystal panel according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
The liquid crystal panel according to the third embodiment is different from the liquid crystal panel 1 according to the first embodiment only in the shape near the 13B inlet, and the other configurations are the same. Is omitted, and only different configurations will be described in detail below.

The liquid crystal panel of Example 3 is provided with cutting lines R ₂ and L ₂ that are formed on flat surfaces L _T and R _T having a predetermined area and have a predetermined obtuse angle in a direction away from both ends of the flat surface. , Display area DA
It is cut along the shape. The cutting lines R ₂ and L ₂ are along the tangent line at a position where there is a curved portion cut along the shape of the display area DA as shown in the figure. Thus, the cutting line R
By cutting the panel _{2, L 2,} and the cutting line _R 2, _{L 2} and the angle theta ₃ with _X 1 -X ₁ line of the liquid crystal panel 1 shown in Example 1 the angle theta ₁ is less than the angle can do. Therefore, an angle (an angle as close to the vertical as possible) entering the flat surfaces L _T and R _T when cutting along the cutting lines R ₂ and L ₂ can be secured, and thus parallel to the flat surfaces L _T and R _T. Compared to the case of entering the substrate, the bonded substrate can be easily cut. The inlet 13B is formed in the same process as the inlet 13 of the liquid crystal panel 1.

1 shows a liquid crystal panel according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, FIG. 1A is a plan view of the liquid crystal panel, and FIG. 1B is a partial sectional view of the liquid crystal panel of FIG. 1A. FIG. 2 is a process diagram of a method for manufacturing a liquid crystal panel. FIG. 3 is a plan view of the mother substrate bonded in the process of FIG. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of injecting liquid crystal into an empty panel cell and sealing the injection port in the step of FIG. FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the inlet of FIG. FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the liquid crystal injection port of the liquid crystal panel according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a plan view for explaining a substrate cutting step. FIG. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the liquid crystal injection port of the liquid crystal panel according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. 9A and 9B are a plan view and a cross-sectional view for explaining processing steps of a conventional method for manufacturing a liquid crystal device.

Explanation of symbols

1: Liquid crystal panel 2: TFT array (AR) substrate 2 _T : Top side 6: Color filter (
CF) substrate 6 _T : top side 10: sealing material 11: spacer 12: liquid crystal 13, 13
A, 13B: (Liquid crystal) inlet 14: Sealing material DA: Display area PA: Peripheral area P ₁ :
Mother substrate P _2: strip substrate L _{T, R T:} flat surface

Claims (5)

A pair of substrates having a non-rectangular display region including a curved portion at least in part, and applying and sealing a sealing material so that a liquid crystal injection port is formed in the curved portion of the display region, In a liquid crystal panel that is cut at least around the liquid crystal inlet so as to match the shape of the display area,
In the pair of bonded substrates, the portion where the liquid crystal injection port is formed and the vicinity of the liquid crystal injection port are linear.
The liquid crystal injection port is sealed by applying a sealing material to the liquid crystal injection port and a linear flat end face in the vicinity of the liquid crystal injection port. The bonded substrate has a predetermined angle between the liquid crystal inlet and the linear flat end face near the liquid crystal inlet, or between both ends of the linear flat end face near the liquid crystal inlet. The liquid crystal panel according to claim 1, wherein the liquid crystal panel is cut to have an obtuse angle and is cut in accordance with a shape of the display area. In the angle formed between the right-angled or obtuse-angle cut part and the part cut into the shape of the display area,
The liquid crystal panel according to claim 2, wherein a rounded portion is provided. The liquid crystal panel according to claim 1, wherein the display area is formed in any one of a circle, a semicircle, an ellipse, and a semielliptical shape. A method for producing a liquid crystal panel, comprising the following steps (i) to (vi):
(I) A plurality of panel regions are partitioned on one mother substrate, and each panel region is provided with a non-rectangular display region including at least a curved portion, and the curved portion of the display region is provided. Applying a sealing material around the display area so that the liquid crystal injection port is
(Ii) a step of bonding the other mother substrate to the one mother substrate so as to correspond to the panel region and curing the sealing material;
(Iii) cutting the portion where the liquid crystal injection port of the pair of bonded mother substrates is located in a straight line, and forming a liquid crystal injection port communicating with each display region on the cut flat surface;
(Iv) injecting liquid crystal into each display area from each liquid crystal injection port;
(V) applying and sealing a sealing material to each liquid crystal injection port into which the liquid crystal is injected;
(Vi) A pair of mother substrates bonded together so that at least the periphery of the liquid crystal injection port matches the shape of the display region, leaving the flat surface in the vicinity of the liquid crystal injection port to which the sealing material is applied A process of forming individual liquid crystal panels by cutting.

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