JP2011112855A - Liquid crystal display device, electronic device and method for producing the apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a liquid crystal display device at the liquid crystal injection port of which a failure due to a temperature change can reliably be suppressed by a comparatively simple method, and to provide an electronic device and a method for producing the liquid crystal display device. <P>SOLUTION: The liquid crystal display device includes: a pair of opposed film substrates which are stuck to each other while interposing a sealing material between them; a liquid crystal sealed in the space partitioned by the film substrates and the sealing material; the liquid crystal injection port which is used for injecting the liquid crystal into the space between the film substrates and formed between the opposedly-facing surfaces of the sealing material; and a sealing adhesive for plugging the liquid crystal injection port. A surface-treated portion, where the wettability different from those of other portions is exhibited to the sealing material, is formed at a portion of the positioned place of the opposedly-facing surface of the sealing material, which is used for forming the liquid crystal injection port, on the surface of the film substrate. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display device having a structure in which liquid crystal is sealed between opposing film substrates, an electronic device, and a method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device having such a structure.

  FIG. 1 is a view showing an example of a conventional film liquid crystal display device, and FIG. 2 is an enlarged view showing a liquid crystal inlet of the film liquid crystal display device shown in FIG.

  A film liquid crystal display device (or film liquid crystal display panel) 1 has a structure in which a liquid crystal 141 is sealed between opposing film substrates (hereinafter simply referred to as “counter film substrate”) 2. An electrode pattern (not shown) is formed on the counter film substrate 2, and the counter film substrate 2 is bonded through a seal material 3 formed by applying, for example, an acrylic adhesive. The sealing material 3 is provided to seal the liquid crystal 141 in the space 4 between the opposing film substrates 2 at the same time as bonding and fixing the opposing film substrates 2. A liquid crystal injection port 5 for injecting the liquid crystal 141 into the space 4 is provided between the opposing film substrates 2. After the liquid crystal 141 is injected into the space 4 from the liquid crystal injection port 5, the liquid crystal 141 is sealed in the space 4 by closing the liquid crystal injection port 5 with the sealing adhesive 6. The display function of the film liquid crystal display device 1 can be used by connecting an electrode (not shown) provided at the end of the counter film substrate 2 to a circuit board (not shown).

  Since the film liquid crystal display device 1 uses a plastic film for the counter film substrate 2, unlike the liquid crystal display device using a glass substrate, the film liquid crystal display device 1 can perform display even when the film liquid crystal display device 1 is bent.

  However, since the thermal expansion of the film substrate 2 is relatively larger than that of the glass substrate, when the environmental temperature of the film liquid crystal display device 1 changes, the pressure change inside the film liquid crystal display device 1 becomes relatively large, and the liquid crystal injection. There is a possibility that the sealing adhesive 6 in the inlet 5 may be damaged, or a gap 7 may be formed between the sealing material 3 and the sealing adhesive 6. FIG. 2A shows a state of the liquid crystal inlet portion at room temperature, for example, and FIG. 2B shows the inside of the film liquid crystal display device 1 due to a change in the environmental temperature of the film liquid crystal display device 1 (that is, temperature rise). This shows a state in which the pressure change becomes relatively large and a gap 7 is generated between the sealing material 3 and the sealing adhesive 6. When the sealing adhesive 6 is damaged or the gap 7 between the sealing material 3 and the sealing adhesive 6 is generated, the liquid crystal 141 leaks to the outside of the film liquid crystal display device 1 or the film liquid crystal display device. 1 may enter the space 4 between the opposing film substrates 2 from the outside.

  Therefore, a drawing pattern of the sealing material 3 is formed so that the bonding area between the sealing material 3 and the sealing adhesive 6 is relatively large, and the sealing adhesive 6 is damaged or sealed. It is desirable to suppress problems at the liquid crystal injection port 5 such as the generation of a gap 7 between the adhesive 6. In order to increase the bonding area between the sealing material 3 and the sealing adhesive 6, the length of the sealing material 3 in contact with the sealing adhesive 6 is extended and applied, or a bent portion is provided. Has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). However, in order to further expand the bonding area between the sealing material 3 and the sealing adhesive 6, it is necessary to form the sealing material 3 with a complicated drawing pattern at the liquid crystal injection port 5.

JP 2006-267559 A JP 2008-241752 A

  In the conventional film liquid crystal display device, in order to further expand the bonding area between the sealing material and the sealing adhesive and suppress problems at the liquid crystal inlet with respect to temperature changes, the sealing material is complicated at the liquid crystal inlet. There is a problem that it is necessary to form with a drawing pattern, and it is difficult to reliably suppress defects at the liquid crystal injection port with respect to temperature changes by a simple method.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a liquid crystal display device, an electronic device, and a method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device that can reliably suppress problems at a liquid crystal injection port with respect to temperature changes by a relatively simple method.

  According to one aspect of the present invention, a pair of opposing film substrates bonded via a sealing material, a liquid crystal sealed in a space defined between the film substrates and the sealing material, and between the film substrates A liquid crystal injection port formed between the opposed sealing materials for injecting the liquid crystal into the formed space, and a sealing adhesive for closing the liquid crystal injection port, There is provided a liquid crystal display device in which a surface treatment region having different wettability with respect to the sealing material is formed in a part of a portion where the opposed sealing material forming the liquid crystal injection port is located.

  According to one aspect of the present invention, an electronic device including the liquid crystal display device as described above is provided.

  According to one aspect of the present invention, a pair of film substrates is bonded via a sealing material, and between the film substrates via a liquid crystal injection port formed between the opposing sealing materials between the film substrates. A liquid crystal display device manufacturing method in which liquid crystal is injected into a space partitioned by a sealing material, and the liquid crystal injection port is closed with a sealing adhesive, wherein the surface of the film substrate is the liquid crystal by the opposing sealing material. A surface treatment region having different wettability with respect to the sealing material is formed in a part of the portion where the inlet is formed, and the liquid crystal injection port portion is provided with the opposing seal at the time of bonding. There is provided a method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device in which the material forms a concavo-convex pattern whose width is repeatedly increased and decreased.

  According to the disclosed liquid crystal display device, electronic device, and manufacturing method of the liquid crystal display device, it is possible to reliably suppress problems at the liquid crystal injection port with respect to temperature changes by a relatively simple method.

It is a figure which shows an example of the conventional film liquid crystal display device. It is a figure which expands and shows the part of the liquid-crystal injection hole of the film liquid crystal display device shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the liquid crystal display device in one Example of this invention. It is a figure which expands and shows the part of the liquid-crystal injection hole of the liquid crystal display device shown in FIG. It is a flowchart explaining an example of the manufacturing method of a film liquid crystal display device. It is sectional drawing explaining the process of the manufacturing method shown in FIG. It is sectional drawing explaining the process of the manufacturing method shown in FIG. It is a top view which shows an example of the photomask used for the exposure process shown in FIG. It is a flowchart explaining the other example of the manufacturing method of a film liquid crystal display device. It is sectional drawing explaining the process of the manufacturing method shown in FIG. It is sectional drawing explaining the process of the manufacturing method shown in FIG. It is a top view which shows an example of the mask used for the surface modification process shown in FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the electronic device in one Example of this invention.

  The disclosed liquid crystal display device has a structure in which a film substrate facing each other is bonded through a sealing material, and the liquid crystal is sealed in a space defined between the film substrates and the sealing material, and the sealing material is formed. Of the surface of the substrate, at least a part of the liquid crystal injection port is formed so as to have a different wettability with respect to the sealing material than the other part, and the liquid crystal injection port is closed with a sealing adhesive.

  Embodiments of the disclosed liquid crystal display device, electronic device, and manufacturing method of the liquid crystal display device will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a liquid crystal display device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a liquid crystal inlet portion of the liquid crystal display device shown in FIG.

  The film liquid crystal display device (or film liquid crystal display panel) 11 has a structure in which a liquid crystal 141 is sealed between opposing film substrates (hereinafter simply referred to as “counter film substrate”) 12. An electrode pattern (not shown) and a pattern (or surface treatment region) 18 are formed on the surface of the film substrate 12, and the counter film substrate 12 is a seal formed by applying, for example, an acrylic adhesive They are pasted together via a material 13. The pattern 18 is partially formed on the film substrate 12 at a position where an opposing sealing material 13 that forms the liquid crystal injection port 15 described later is located, and the wettability is different from other portions on the film substrate 12. Have In this embodiment, the wettability of the pattern 18 is better than other portions on the film substrate 12. The pattern 18 may be a part of the electrode pattern.

  The sealing material 13 is provided to seal the liquid crystal 141 in the space 14 between the opposing film substrates 12 at the same time as bonding and fixing the opposing film substrates 12 together. A liquid crystal injection port 15 for injecting the liquid crystal 141 into the space 14 is provided between the counter film substrates 12. After injecting the liquid crystal 141 into the space 14 from the liquid crystal injection port 15, the liquid crystal 141 is sealed in the space 14 by closing the liquid crystal injection port 15 with the sealing adhesive 16. The display function of the film liquid crystal display device 11 can be used by connecting an electrode (not shown) provided at an end of the counter film substrate 12 to a circuit board (not shown). The materials of the sealing material 13 and the sealing adhesive 15 are not particularly limited.

  When the counter film substrate 12 is bonded, as shown by a broken line in FIG. 4A, the wet spread amount of the sealing material 13 is different from the other portions on the film substrate 12 in the portion of the pattern 18 having good wettability. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4B, the adhesion width of the sealing material 13 at the liquid crystal injection port 15 can be changed. That is, in the portion of the liquid crystal injection port 15, a narrow portion and a wide portion of the sealing material 13, that is, a concavo-convex pattern in which increase and decrease of the width are repeated. Accordingly, when the sealing adhesive 16 is inserted into the liquid crystal injection port 15, the bonding area between the sealing adhesive 16 and the sealing material 13 is increased as compared with the case where the sealing material 13 does not have the uneven pattern. . Further, since the anchor effect is obtained by forming the concave / convex pattern on the sealing material 13, the sealing adhesive 16 at the liquid crystal inlet 15 portion is compared with the case where the sealing material 13 does not have the concave / convex pattern. And the adhesive force between the sealing materials 13 is improved. For this reason, even if the pressure change inside the film liquid crystal display device 11 becomes relatively large, the sealing adhesive 16 in the liquid crystal injection port 15 is damaged or the sealant 13 is sealed between the sealing adhesive 16 and the sealing adhesive 16. Problems with the liquid crystal injection port 15, such as the generation of a gap, can be reliably suppressed.

  The pattern 18 expresses the uneven pattern by forming an appropriate amount (that is, an appropriate width) of the sealing material 13 in the liquid crystal injection port 15 when the counter film substrate 12 is bonded. If there is, the shape of the pattern 18 is not particularly limited, and any pattern may be used as long as it has different wettability from other portions on the film substrate 12. Therefore, the wettability of the pattern 18 is not limited to the case where it is better than other portions on the film substrate 12 as in this embodiment, and may be a case where the wettability is worse than other portions on the film substrate 12.

  The pattern 18 may be formed on the surface of the film substrate 12 as a part of the electrode pattern, for example, or may be formed by subjecting the surface of the film substrate 12 to surface modification treatment.

  Since the film liquid crystal display device 11 uses a flexible film such as a plastic film as the counter film substrate 12, the film liquid crystal display device 11 is different from a liquid crystal display device using a glass substrate that does not substantially have flexibility. Even if the liquid crystal display device 11 is bent, the display can be performed.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining an example of a method for manufacturing the film liquid crystal display device 11. 6 and 7 are cross-sectional views illustrating the steps of the manufacturing method shown in FIG. 5, and FIG. 8 is a plan view showing an example of a photomask used in the exposure process shown in FIG. 6 and 7 show a cross section taken along line A-A 'of the film liquid crystal display device 11 of FIG.

  Each step S1-S11 shown in FIG. 5 is demonstrated with FIGS. 6-8. In step S1, a resist 21 is applied to the film substrate 12 on which the transparent electrode 20 is formed as shown in FIG. 6A as shown in FIG. 6B. In step S2, a pattern for forming an electrode pattern including the pattern 18 is formed on the resist 21 by performing an ultraviolet (UV) exposure process using the photomask 31 shown in FIG. To expose.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the photomask 31 has a structure in which, for example, striped Cr mask portions 31-1 and 31-2 are formed on a glass substrate 311. The Cr mask portion 31-1 is for forming the electrode pattern 20A, and the mask portion 31-2 is for forming the pattern 18. In FIG. 8, a broken line 312 indicates the outer shape of the film substrate 12.

  In step S3, as shown in FIG. 6D, a developing solution 42 is supplied from the spray nozzle 41 to perform patterning by performing a developing process for developing the exposed resist 21. In step S4, as shown in FIG. 6E, an etching solution 44 is supplied from the spray nozzle 43, so that the transparent electrode 20 is simultaneously etched into the electrode patterns 20A and 18 using the pattern of the resist 21 as a mask. Process. Thereby, the electrode pattern 20A and the pattern 18 are simultaneously formed of the same material. In step S <b> 5, as shown in FIG. 6F, a stripping process is performed to strip the pattern of the resist 21 by supplying the stripping solution 46 from the spray nozzle 45.

  In step S6, as shown in FIG. 7A, a spacer forming process for forming spacers 47 on the exposed surface of the film substrate 12 between the electrode patterns 20A is performed. In step S7, as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 7B, a seal coating process for coating the sealing material 13 on the surface of the film substrate 12 is performed. In step S8, as shown in FIG. 7C, the film substrate 12 in FIG. 7B and the film substrate 12 formed by the same processing as in FIGS. 6A to 6F are sealed. Then, a bonding process is performed through 13.

  When the sealing material 13 is drawn on the film substrate 12 in which the striped pattern 18 is arranged in the vicinity of the liquid crystal injection port 15 and the film substrates 12 are bonded together, the film substrate on which the transparent electrode 20 is removed from the striped pattern 18. 4, since the wetting and spreading of the sealing material 13 is different, a concavo-convex pattern as shown in FIG. 4B is formed on the sealing material 13 near the liquid crystal injection port 15.

  In step S9, as shown in FIG. 7D, a seal curing process is performed to cure the sealing material 13 between the opposing film substrates 12 bonded together by ultraviolet (UV) irradiation. In step S10, as shown in FIG. 7E, a liquid crystal injection process for injecting the liquid crystal 141 into the space 14 from the liquid crystal injection port 15 of FIG. In step S11, a sealing process for sealing the liquid crystal 141 in the space 14 by closing the liquid crystal injection port 15 with the sealing adhesive 16 is performed, and the film liquid crystal display device 11 of FIG. 3 is formed. Then, the display function of the film liquid crystal display device 11 can be used by connecting the electrode provided in the edge part of the opposing film board | substrate 12 among electrode patterns 20A with a circuit board (not shown).

  Needless to say, the pattern 18 may be formed by a process different from that of the electrode pattern 20A.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining another example of the manufacturing method of the film liquid crystal display device 1. 9, the same steps as those in FIG. 5 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted. 10 and 11 are cross-sectional views for explaining the steps of the manufacturing method shown in FIG. 9, and FIG. 12 is a plan view showing an example of a mask used for the surface modification treatment shown in FIG. 10 and 11 show a cross section taken along line A-A 'of the film liquid crystal display device 11 of FIG. 3, and the same portions as those of FIGS. 6 and 7 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.

  In this example, the Cr mask portion 31-1 is formed on the photomask 31A used in step S2, but the mask portion 31-2 is not formed. Further, step S21 is provided between step S6 and step S7.

  In step S21, the surface of the film substrate 12 on which the electrode pattern 20A in the vicinity of the liquid crystal inlet 15 is not formed is irradiated with plasma from a surface modification device (in this example, a plasma processing device) 51 through the mask 52 shown in FIG. To do.

  The mask 52 is provided with an opening 52-1 for forming the pattern 18 as shown in FIG. For this reason, the portion of the pattern 18 on the film substrate 12 is subjected to surface modification treatment by the plasma irradiation, and the wettability of the pattern 18 is modified to be different from the other portions on the film substrate 12. Since the plasma is shielded in the portion of the mask 52 where the opening 52-1 is not provided, the surface modification process is performed on the portion on the film substrate 12 corresponding to the portion of the mask 52 other than the opening 52-1. Is not given. For example, the wettability of the pattern 18 is modified so as to be better than other portions on the film substrate 12. In FIG. 12, a broken line 522 indicates the outer shape of the film substrate 12.

  Also in this example, when the sealing material 13 is drawn on the film substrate 12 in which, for example, the striped pattern 18 is arranged in the vicinity of the liquid crystal injection port 15 in step S8 and the film substrates 12 are bonded together, Since the wetting and spreading of the sealing material 13 is different on the film substrate 12, an uneven pattern as shown in FIG. 4B is formed on the sealing material 13 near the liquid crystal inlet 15.

  FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The electronic device 61 shown in FIG. 13 is not particularly limited as long as it has the film liquid crystal display device 11, and may be a personal computer, a mobile phone, a television, a remote controller (remote controller), or the like.

  An electronic device 61 illustrated in FIG. 13 includes a lid (or cover) 62, a main body 63, and an input unit 64 such as a keyboard. The film liquid crystal display device 11 provided in the lid 62 has the structure of the above-described embodiment described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5 and can be manufactured by the manufacturing method described with reference to FIGS.

  Note that the electronic device may have a structure without a lid. In that case, the film liquid crystal display device is provided in a part of the electronic device such as a housing of the electronic device.

The following additional notes are further disclosed with respect to the embodiment including the above examples.
(Appendix 1)
A pair of opposing film substrates bonded together via a sealing material;
Liquid crystal sealed in a space defined between the film substrates and a sealing material;
A liquid crystal injection port formed between the opposed sealing materials for injecting the liquid crystal into the space formed between the film substrates;
A sealing adhesive for closing the liquid crystal injection port;
A liquid crystal display in which a surface treatment region having different wettability with respect to the sealing material is formed in a part of a portion of the surface of the film substrate where the opposing sealing material forming the liquid crystal injection port is located apparatus.
(Appendix 2)
Further comprising an electrode pattern formed on the surface of the film substrate,
The liquid crystal display device according to appendix 1, wherein the surface treatment region on the surface of the film substrate is formed of the same material as the pattern of the electrodes.
(Appendix 3)
The liquid crystal display device according to appendix 1, wherein the surface treatment region on the surface of the film substrate is subjected to a surface modification treatment not applied to the other portions.
(Appendix 4)
The liquid crystal display device according to any one of appendices 1 to 3, wherein the surface treatment region on the surface of the film substrate has better wettability with respect to the sealing material than the other portions.
(Appendix 5)
The liquid crystal display device according to any one of appendices 1 to 4, wherein the surface treatment region on the surface of the film substrate is formed in a striped pattern.
(Appendix 6)
The liquid crystal display device according to any one of appendices 1 to 5, wherein the film substrate is formed of a flexible film.
(Appendix 7)
The liquid crystal display device according to any one of appendices 1 to 6, wherein in the surface treatment region of the surface of the film substrate, the sealing material has a concavo-convex pattern in which increase and decrease in width are repeated.
(Appendix 8)
An electronic device comprising the liquid crystal display device according to any one of appendices 1 to 7.
(Appendix 9)
A pair of film substrates are bonded through a sealing material,
Injecting liquid crystal into the space defined between the film substrates and the sealing material via the liquid crystal injection port formed between the sealing materials facing each other between the film substrates,
A method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device in which the liquid crystal injection port is closed with a sealing adhesive,
On the surface of the film substrate, a surface treatment region having a wettability with respect to the sealing material different from other portions is formed in a part of the portion where the liquid crystal injection port is formed by the opposed sealing material, and the liquid crystal injection In the entrance portion, a method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device, wherein the opposing sealing material forms a concavo-convex pattern in which the width is repeatedly increased and decreased during the bonding.
(Appendix 10)
Before the bonding, an electrode pattern is formed on the surface of the film substrate,
The liquid crystal display device manufacturing method according to appendix 9, wherein the surface treatment region on the surface of the film substrate is formed simultaneously with the electrode pattern using the same material as the electrode pattern.
(Appendix 11)
The manufacturing method of the liquid crystal display device of Claim 9 which forms the said surface treatment area | region of the surface of the said film substrate by performing the surface modification process which is not given to said other part.
(Appendix 12)
The liquid crystal display device manufacturing method according to appendix 11, wherein the surface modification treatment is a plasma treatment in which plasma is applied to the surface treatment region on the surface of the film substrate through a mask.
(Appendix 13)
The method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device according to any one of appendices 9 to 12, wherein the surface treatment region on the surface of the film substrate has better wettability with respect to the sealing material than the other portions.
(Appendix 14)
14. The method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device according to any one of appendices 9 to 13, wherein the surface treatment region on the surface of the film substrate is formed in a striped pattern.
(Appendix 15)
15. The method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device according to any one of appendices 9 to 14, wherein a flexible film is used for the film substrate.

  As described above, the disclosed liquid crystal display device, electronic device, and manufacturing method of the liquid crystal display device have been described by way of examples. However, the present invention is not limited to the above examples, and various modifications and improvements may be made within the scope of the present invention. It goes without saying that is possible.

11 Liquid crystal display device 12 Film substrate 13 Sealing material 14 Space 15 Liquid crystal injection port 16 Sealing adhesive 18 Pattern 61 Electronic device 141 Liquid crystal

Claims (6)

A pair of opposing film substrates bonded together via a sealing material;
Liquid crystal sealed in a space defined between the film substrates and a sealing material;
A liquid crystal injection port formed between the opposed sealing materials for injecting the liquid crystal into the space formed between the film substrates;
A sealing adhesive for closing the liquid crystal injection port;
A liquid crystal display in which a surface treatment region having different wettability with respect to the sealing material is formed in a part of a portion of the surface of the film substrate where the opposing sealing material forming the liquid crystal injection port is located apparatus. Further comprising an electrode pattern formed on the surface of the film substrate,
The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein the surface treatment region on the surface of the film substrate is formed of the same material as the pattern of the electrodes.   The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein the surface treatment region on the surface of the film substrate is subjected to a surface modification treatment that is not performed on the other portion.   4. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein the surface treatment region on the surface of the film substrate has better wettability with respect to the sealing material than the other portions. 5.   An electronic device comprising the liquid crystal display device according to claim 1. A pair of film substrates are bonded through a sealing material,
Injecting liquid crystal into the space defined between the film substrates and the sealing material via the liquid crystal injection port formed between the sealing materials facing each other between the film substrates,
A method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device in which the liquid crystal injection port is closed with a sealing adhesive,
On the surface of the film substrate, a surface treatment region having a wettability with respect to the sealing material different from other portions is formed in a part of the portion where the liquid crystal injection port is formed by the opposed sealing material, and the liquid crystal injection In the entrance portion, a method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device, wherein the opposing sealing material forms a concavo-convex pattern in which the width is repeatedly increased and decreased during the bonding.