JPH0943612A - Liquid crystal display element and its production and liquid crystal display device formed by using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a liquid crystal display element having a uniform liquid crystal thickness and a process for producing the same. SOLUTION: One electrode substrate is formed by laminating an orientation control film 12 consisting of a photosensitive resin on a substrate 10 having transparent electrodes 11. Uncured parts 30 are selectively formed by a photomask 14 and UV rays 15 on the orientation control film 12. Next, spacer materials 13 are dispersed onto the orientation control film 12 contg. the uncured parts 30 and the uncured parts 30 are cured to fix only the dispersed spacer materials 13 on the uncured parts. The unfixed spacer materials 13 are then removed from above the orientation control film 12. The one electrode substrate from which the spacer materials 13 are removed is superposed via the remaining spacer materials 13 fixed thereto on another electrode substrates (22, 21, 20), by which the liquid crystal display element is produced.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display device,
In particular, the present invention relates to a liquid crystal display element suitable for OA equipment and information terminal equipment, a manufacturing method thereof, and a liquid crystal display device using the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional twisted nematic liquid crystal display element, a spacer material that regulates the liquid crystal thickness
As a fixing method, 1) a spacer material is dispersed only in a black matrix portion as disclosed in JP-A-4-136916.
Fixed structure, 2) Structure in which the spacer material is dispersed and fixed only in the region corresponding to the black matrix portion as in JP-A-4-60517, 3) JP-A-4-243230 As disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2003-242242, a liquid crystal display device having a structure in which a spacer material having an adhesive layer formed on the surface thereof is dispersed and fixed on an alignment film, a manufacturing method, and the like have been proposed.

[0003]

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention In the above-mentioned method of dispersing and fixing the spacer material, the spacer material is arranged under the orientation control film, or the spacer material is placed on the orientation control film via the adhesive layer. It is a method of arranging 1), the liquid crystal thickness cannot be specified only by the size of the spacer material, 2) the dispersion density of the spacer material cannot be specified accurately, 3) the spacer material is dispersed and fixed at the intended position. However, there were drawbacks such as 4) low utilization efficiency of the spacer material, and 5) easy contamination of the alignment control film surface during the photolithography process and dispersion / fixing of the spacer material.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a liquid crystal display device having a uniform liquid crystal thickness and a method for manufacturing the same, and to provide a liquid crystal display device capable of displaying a uniform image using the liquid crystal display device. It is in.

[0005]

The above object is to provide a pair of electrode substrates having an alignment control film for controlling the molecular alignment of liquid crystals on a plurality of transparent electrodes so as to define a gap between the two electrode substrates. In a liquid crystal display element having a spiral structure in which liquid crystals filled in a gap between the both electrode substrates are opposed to each other via a spacer material and are twisted between the alignment control films formed on the transparent electrodes, at least one of The alignment control film is made of a light or heat curing material, and the light or heat curing material is irradiated with light or heat, and the spacer material is directly fixed to the alignment control film with the light or heat curing material. To be achieved.

Alternatively, the spacer material is made of a material coated with a light or thermosetting material, the light or thermosetting material is irradiated with light or heat, and the spacer material is applied to the alignment control film. It can be achieved by directly fixing with a hardening material.

Further, in the method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device that achieves the above object, a liquid crystal display device is provided in which a pair of electrode substrates are opposed to each other through a spacer material and a specified gap is secured between the two electrode substrates filled with liquid crystal. In the manufacturing method, a light or heat curing material is used as a fixing material for fixing the spacer material, and the light or heat curing material is cured by irradiating light or heat only to a predetermined selected portion, and the selection is performed. The above-mentioned spacer material is fixed only at the predetermined locations thus formed to secure the specified gap.

Alternatively, a step of laminating a photosensitive resin thin film on a substrate provided with a transparent electrode to form one electrode substrate, and irradiating light or heat onto the photosensitive resin thin film to selectively form an uncured portion Forming step, dispersing spacer material on the photosensitive thin film including the uncured portion, irradiating light or heat to cure the uncured portion, and the spacer material dispersed on the uncured portion The step of fixing only one of them, the step of removing the spacer material that is not fixed from the photosensitive thin film, and the one of the electrode substrates from which the spacer material has been removed, the other of which is fixed through the remaining spacer material. A liquid crystal display element may be manufactured including a step of stacking on an electrode substrate.

[0009]

According to the present invention, a light or thermosetting material is used as a fixing material for fixing the spacer material, and light or heat is applied only to a predetermined selected portion, and the above-mentioned light or thermosetting material is applied. Since the spacer material is cured and the spacer material is adhered only to the selected predetermined places, the spacer material can be adhered uniformly at a predetermined dispersion position and dispersion density.

In one example, the alignment control film is composed of a light or thermosetting material, and the alignment control film is selectively irradiated with light or heat to align only the spacer material dispersed in the irradiated portion. It adheres directly to the control film. Another example is
The spacer material is coated with a light or thermosetting material, and only the spacer material existing at a predetermined position is selectively irradiated with light or heat, and only the irradiated spacer material is directly fixed to the adherend.

In other words, this is a method in which the alignment control film made of a photosensitive resin or the spacer material itself coated with the photosensitive resin itself has a role of fixing for dispersing and fixing the spacer material. Also, using a photo mask, etc.
This is a method in which the dispersion position and dispersion density of the spacer material are accurately defined because irradiation with light or heat that can be accurately defined for fixing is performed. By the above method, the spacer material can be uniformly dispersed and fixed, and the liquid crystal thickness can be regulated to a predetermined dimension.

Therefore, a uniform liquid crystal thickness can be easily obtained over the entire surface of the liquid crystal display element, and since there is no cause of display failure, a liquid crystal display device which can obtain a high-contrast and uniform image can be achieved.

[0013]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A liquid crystal display device suitable for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

In this embodiment, the display scale is 640 × 480 dots (pixel pitch: 0.30 mm × 0.30 mm, pixel size: 0.28 mm × 0.28 mm, screen diagonal size: 9.
A super twisted nematic (hereinafter referred to as STN) liquid crystal display element for a 4-inch VGA compatible notebook type personal computer (hereinafter referred to as notebook PC) will be mainly described. Without forming an adhesive and a similar layer on the surface of the spacer material according to the present invention,
A method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device that can obtain a uniform liquid crystal thickness will be described.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a manufacturing process of a liquid crystal display device of an embodiment according to the present invention.

As shown in the figure, (a) the transparent electrode 11 (ITO (In ₂ O
₃ -SnO ₂ ): Sheet resistance: Typ. 8Ω / □, thickness: 30
Substrate 10 (soda lime glass,
On the thickness: 0.7 mm, the orientation control film 12 (photosensitive polyimide resin,
Thickness: 0.1 μm) is laminated to form one electrode substrate. (B), (c) A 5 μm wide grid pattern (100 μm pitch × 300 μm) is formed on the orientation control film 12 in a portion corresponding to the gap (25 μm) between the electrodes or the light shielding portion (30 μm) by using a photomask 14 and ultraviolet rays 15. Pitch) uncured part 3
Form 0. (D) Spacer material 13 (manufactured by Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd .: polymer beads, particle diameter: 6 ± 0.2 μm) is sprayed on the orientation control film 12 on which the uncured portion 30 is formed.
(Spread.

(E) The uncured portion 30 of the alignment control film 12 is cured by using the ultraviolet rays 15 or a combination of the ultraviolet rays 15 and the heat rays 15a, and only the spacer material 13 dispersed on the uncured portions 30 is fixed. (f) The spacer material 13 that is not fixed is removed from the orientation control film 12. (G) The orientation control film 12 to which the spacer material 13 is fixed is rubbed by using a roll 19 equipped with a rubbing cloth of cellulose and nylon to perform orientation treatment. (H) The above-mentioned one electrode substrate and the transparent electrode 21 (IT
O (In ₂ O ₃ -SnO ₂ ) sheet resistance: Typ. 8Ω / □, thickness:
Alignment control film 22 (non-photosensitive polyimide resin, thickness: 0.1 μm) is formed on a substrate 20 (soda lime glass, thickness: 0.7 mm) on which 3000 Å) is formed, cured, and rubbed. The other electrode substrate thus formed is overlapped so that both alignment control films face each other. By overlapping, the uniform electrode substrate gap defined by the spacer material is formed between the orientation control films of the opposing electrode substrates. That is, a uniform liquid crystal thickness is ensured.

After that, the periphery of both electrode substrates facing each other is sealed with an epoxy adhesive, and then a liquid crystal material is injected and sealed in the above-mentioned electrode substrate gap by a pressure reducing method.
Then, a drive circuit such as a tape carrier package (hereinafter referred to as TCP) equipped with a liquid crystal driving LSI, a control circuit, and a power supply circuit are connected, and a cold cathode fluorescent tube (tube diameter: 3 mm, 1 lamp) Light body (material: acrylic resin,
A liquid crystal display device is manufactured by combining a backlight composed of a wedge shape), a prism sheet and the like, and modularizing the resin case and the metal frame.

In other words, in the above method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display element, an alignment control film made of a photosensitive resin is formed on a transparent electrode of a glass substrate having a plurality of transparent electrodes formed on one surface to a predetermined thickness. A step of forming a film on the alignment control film, a step of selectively forming an uncured portion for dispersing and fixing the spacer material on the alignment control film, and a step of dispersing the spacer material on the alignment control film on which the uncured portion is formed. A step of curing the uncured portion of the alignment control film made of a photosensitive resin in which the spacer material is dispersed to fix the spacer material, a step of removing the unfixed spacer material on the alignment control film, and a spacer The step of performing the alignment treatment on the alignment control film in which the material is dispersed and adhered, and the alignment treatment is performed after the alignment control film made of the photosensitive or non-photosensitive resin is formed on the multiple transparent electrodes on one surface. Of the other electrode substrate The step of facing the electrode surface and overlapping them so that each electrode uniquely corresponds, and adhering so as to form a predetermined gap (liquid crystal thickness) between both electrode substrates, and the gap between both electrode substrates And the step of injecting and sealing liquid crystal.

Briefly, the liquid crystal display device according to the present invention has a structure in which at least one of a pair of electrode substrates having an alignment control film formed on a plurality of transparent electrodes is bonded to the alignment control film of one of the electrode substrates. After dispersing and fixing the spacer material without interposing a material layer and similar layers, confront the electrode surface of the other electrode substrate and bond the periphery of both electrode substrates with a sealing material to seal the liquid crystal. A predetermined gap (predetermined liquid crystal thickness) for forming is formed. That is, the problem is solved by a novel method of dispersing and fixing the spacer material.

In the above embodiment, the non-photosensitive polyimide resin is used as the orientation control film 22 on the other electrode substrate, but the same effect can be obtained by using the photosensitive polyimide resin.

In the above process, 1) unnecessary spacer material can be collected and reused, 2) patterning,
Since there are no steps such as dyeing and printing, the surface of the alignment control film is not contaminated. 3) Since the spacer is fixed on the alignment control film without forming an adhesive or the like on the surface of the spacer control material, the missing part of the spacer material There is an advantage that the display path does not become defective, and the production cost can be reduced, that is, the cost of the liquid crystal display device can be reduced.

Next, the formation of the uncured portion of the alignment control film for fixing the spacer material, which is the point of the present invention, will be described with reference to FIG.
It will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

FIG. 2 is a view showing an example of an uncured portion formed on the orientation control film. The case where an uncured portion having a lattice (or linear) pattern is formed on the orientation control film is shown. As shown in the figure, the uncured portion 30 of the orientation control film is
If it is formed in a portion corresponding to the light-shielding film 31 arranged between the red filters 32, 33, 34 and with a size (width and length) equal to or smaller than the light-shielding film 31 (narrow width). It was found that the spacer material was evenly dispersed. As a result, a liquid crystal display device having a uniform liquid crystal thickness was obtained, and uniform display and contrast were improved. The filter is made of, for example, a pigment dispersion type or a dye type, and the light-shielding film is made of, for example, a pigment dispersion type or chrome.

Furthermore, by forming the width or length of the uncured portion 30 of the orientation control film to be equal to or smaller than the particle diameter of the spacer material 13 having a predetermined uniform dimension,
Since the number of the spacer materials 13 that are hardened and fixed to the uncured portion 30 is regulated (for example, only one is definitely fixed), the above-mentioned electrode substrate gap is constantly maintained, and a liquid crystal having a uniform liquid crystal thickness is secured. A display device was obtained. As a result, a liquid crystal display device achieving uniform display and high contrast over the entire display surface was obtained.

Also, when the uncured portions 30 are arranged in a striped pattern only in the vertical or horizontal direction, almost the same liquid crystal thickness uniformity as that in the lattice arrangement is obtained. Further, a method for easily obtaining a desired spacer material dispersion density without aggregation of the spacer material will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the uncured portion formed on the orientation control film.

As shown in the figure, the size (area) of the uncured portion 30 of the alignment control film in which the spacer material is dispersed and adhered is set to an area necessary and sufficient for one spacer material to adhere, for example, the spacer material The area is less than or equal to the projected area, and the uncured portion 30 is formed in a dot shape only in the portion corresponding to the light-shielding film region. By this, the dispersion density of the spacer material (in other words, the number of spacer materials fixedly regulated in the uncured portion)
Further, the control can be performed with high accuracy.

By forming the uncured portion 30 for dispersing and fixing the spacer material in a dot shape only on the light-shielding film 31, a liquid crystal having a uniform liquid crystal thickness which is not affected by light leakage from the spacer material. A high contrast and uniform image quality liquid crystal display device using the display element and the liquid crystal display element has been achieved.

Furthermore, effective dispersion of spacer material
As the fixing method, an embodiment according to the present invention in which the uncured portion 30 is formed in the same direction as the alignment treatment direction such as rubbing and the spacer material is dispersed and fixed in the same direction as the alignment treatment direction will be described.

FIG. 4 is a view showing another embodiment of the uncured portion formed on the orientation control film. FIG.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the relationship between the dispersion direction of the spacer material and the moving direction of the rubbing roller in this example. As shown in the figure,
By arranging the uncured portion 30 of the orientation control film in the same direction as the moving direction 35 of the roll 19 on which the rubbing cloth is mounted, and fixing the spacer material 13 to that portion, the vicinity of the spacer material 13 by the orientation treatment such as rubbing Another effect of not causing the liquid crystal alignment defect in the above was obtained.

In this embodiment, the spacer material is fixedly arranged only in the area other than the pixel portion, and the dispersion density thereof is set in the range of 5000 to 25000 pieces / cm ² . Then, in order to obtain a more uniform liquid crystal thickness in the plane of the liquid crystal display element, the dispersion density of the spacer material is set to 10,000 to 2
It turned out that it is desirable to set it in the range of 0000 / cm ² . However, the preferable dispersion density of the spacer material differs depending on the elastic modulus of the spacer material, the size of the liquid crystal display element, the thickness of the glass substrate, the element configuration, etc., and is not limited to the above numerical values.

Next, an example in which the present invention is applied to an STN color liquid crystal display device will be described.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing a color liquid crystal display device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

A color liquid crystal display device and a backlight unit are shown in the drawing. And it is the figure which crossed the part of the liquid crystal display element. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the backlight unit of the color liquid crystal display device of FIG. The cross-sectional structure of the whole color liquid crystal display device is shown.

In the figure, a liquid crystal display device 50 includes an upper substrate 20 and a lower substrate 10 (soda lime glass, thickness: 0.7 mm), a liquid crystal 45 (manufactured by Merck: nematic mixed liquid crystal Δnd: 800 to 900 nm). ), Retardation plates 42, 4
3 (manufactured by Nitto Denko: uniaxially stretched polycarbonate film,
(Δnd: 350 to 400 nm), the upper and lower polarizing plates 40 and 4
1 (manufactured by Nitto Denko: G1220DU, transmittance: 40%).

The transparent electrode 21 (IT
O (In ₂ O ₃ —SnO ₂ ): Sputtering method, sheet resistance Typ. 8
Ω / □, thickness: 2000Å), insulating film 44 (SiO ₂ : film thickness by sputtering method 0.1 μm), alignment control film 22 (photosensitive polyimide resin, thickness: 0.1 μm), spacer material 13 (Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd .: polymer beads, particle diameter: 6.0 ± 0.2 μm) were formed.

On the other hand, the light shielding film 31 is formed on the lower substrate 10.
(Pigment dispersion type, film thickness: 0.7 to 1.5 μm) Three-color filters 32, 33, 34 (Pigment dispersion type, film thickness: 1.0 to 1.8)
μm) Flattening film 46 (epoxy resin, film thickness: 1.0-
2.0 μm), transparent electrode 11 (ITO (In ₂ O ₃ —SnO ₂ ): sputtering method, sheet resistance: Typ.8Ω / □, thickness: 3000
Å) Alignment control film 12 (non-photosensitive polyimide resin, thickness:
0.5-0.1 μm) was formed. Although not shown in the figure, under the transparent electrodes 11 and 21, a base film (SiO ₂ film, film thickness:
1000 Å) formed.

Further, as shown in the figure, the spacer material 13 for stacking the upper and lower electrode substrates to form a desired liquid crystal thickness, which is a feature of the present invention, is the light-shielding film 31 or the interelectrode gap 3.
It was dispersed and fixed to the orientation control film corresponding to 1a (non-opening portion).

Further, the color liquid crystal display device 50 having the above-mentioned structure.
The cold cathode fluorescent tube 53 and the light guide 5 are provided on one electrode substrate side.
4 (material: acrylic, thickness: 2 mm), diffusion sheet 55
(Material polyester, thickness: 0.125 mm), prism sheet 56, reflection sheets 57, 58 (material: polyester, thickness: 0.125 mm), reflection film 59 (material:
A backlight composed of polyester (with a silver thin film), thickness: 0.125 mm, and an adhesive tape 60 was arranged. Also,
The color liquid crystal display element 50 includes a TCP 51 and a power supply circuit in which a liquid crystal driving LSI for driving the liquid crystal 45 is mounted.
A printed board 52 on which a drive control circuit and the like are mounted is connected. Although not shown in FIG. 7, the color liquid crystal display device 50, the backlight, and the like were built in a housing such as a resin case and a metal frame to form a color liquid crystal display device.

Another embodiment suitable for carrying out the present invention will be described.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a manufacturing process of a liquid crystal display device of another embodiment according to the present invention. As shown in the figure,
(a) A plurality of transparent electrodes 11 formed on a glass substrate 10
Alignment control film 12 made of non-photosensitive polyimide resin on top
Is applied and cured to a thickness of 1000Å by spin coating or printing to form one electrode substrate. (b) A spacer material 13 whose surface is covered with a semi-cured photosensitive polyimide resin or non-photosensitive polyimide resin is dispersed on the electrode substrate. (c) The semi-cured resin formed on the surface of the dispersed spacer material 13 is irradiated with the photomask 14 by using the photomask 14 to regulate light to a predetermined position (for example, aiming at the interelectrode gap 31a). The spacer material 13 is fixed to the orientation control film material 12 only in the portion. In addition,
It is also possible to use ultraviolet rays 15 or heat rays 15a or a combination of light and heat. (d) The unnecessary spacer material 13 that is not fixed is removed. (e) The orientation control film 12 on which the spacer material 13 is dispersed and fixed is oriented by the roll 19 on which a rubbing cloth of cellulose or nylon is mounted. (f) The one electrode substrate is placed so as to face the other electrode substrate having the plurality of transparent electrodes 21 and the orientation control film 22 formed on the glass substrate 20.

Thereafter, the periphery of both electrode substrates is sealed with an adhesive made of epoxy resin, a nematic mixed liquid crystal is filled in a gap between the electrodes by a decompression method, and a liquid crystal injection port is filled with a photosensitive epoxy sealant. Seal. Then, a polarizing plate or a polarizing plate with a retardation plate is attached on both sides, a drive circuit and a control circuit are connected to form a liquid crystal display element, and the liquid crystal display element, the backlight, etc. are formed into a casing such as a resin case and a metal frame. This is a process of manufacturing the liquid crystal display device by mounting it inside the body.

Also in this embodiment, the spacer material is fixedly arranged only in the area other than the pixel portion, and the dispersion density thereof is set to the range of 5000 to 25000 pieces / cm ² . Further, in order to obtain a more uniform liquid crystal thickness in the display element plane, the dispersion density of the spacer material is set to 10,000 to
It is desirable to set in the range of 20,000 pieces / cm ² . However, the preferable dispersion density of the spacer member varies depending on the elastic modulus of the spacer material, the size of the liquid crystal display element, the thickness of the glass substrate, the element configuration, etc., and is not limited to the above numerical values.

Further, even if the spacer material is dispersed only in one of the electrode substrates or in both electrode substrates, a liquid crystal display element having a uniform liquid crystal thickness can be obtained.
However, when the spacer material is dispersed only in one of the electrode substrates, the dispersion density must be twice that in both electrode substrates.

Further, in this embodiment, as the orientation control film,
A photosensitive polyimide resin was used for one electrode substrate on which the spacer material is dispersed and fixed, and a non-photosensitive polyimide resin was used for the other electrode substrate, but a photosensitive polyimide resin was used for both electrode substrates. It has been confirmed that the same effect can be obtained even in the case of doing.

As described above, since the spacer material can be easily dispersed and fixed on the alignment control film at a dispersion density such that a desired liquid crystal thickness can be obtained, a liquid crystal display device having a uniform liquid crystal thickness can be obtained. To be Accordingly, an alignment control film having a uniform alignment control force can be formed, and a liquid crystal display element and a liquid crystal display device that can obtain a clear image without display defects can be achieved.

Further, by dispersing and fixing the spacer material in the same direction as the alignment treatment direction such as rubbing, it is possible to perform the rubbing treatment without disturbing the molecular alignment of the liquid crystal around the spacer material, thereby obtaining a more uniform image quality. The liquid crystal display element and the liquid crystal display device can be achieved.

The semi-cured (non-greasy) fixing material formed on the surface of the spacer material, which is the point of this embodiment, is light or heat-curable as long as it is of a type that is once softened and then cured. Any type of curing by the combined use of light and heat may be used. It is more effective to select the fixing material in consideration of the heat resistance of the alignment control film as well as the heat resistance of the spacer material (inorganic material such as silica beads, organic material such as polymer beads). The light or thermosetting material as the fixing material in this embodiment is described only for the polyimide resin, but the polyamide resin, the polyimideamide resin, the epoxy resin, the acrylic resin, the polyurethane resin, the polyester resin. It has been found that the same effect can be obtained with a polyether resin or the like.

As described above, according to the fixing method of the present invention, the spacer material is directly fixed on the alignment control film without interposing a general adhesive layer or a similar layer (without using the adhesive). Therefore, it is possible to avoid the conventional contamination of the surface of the alignment control film with the adhesive.

By the way, in the present invention, by considering the deviation of the particle diameter of the spacer material to be used, the elastic coefficient, etc., the shape and pitch of the individual spacer materials to be dispersed and fixed on the orientation control film can be determined. There is an advantage that the liquid crystal thickness in the element plane can be controlled with higher accuracy.

Next, another embodiment for dispersing and fixing a spacer material having a semi-cured fixing material on the surface will be described.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a manufacturing process of a liquid crystal display device of another embodiment according to the present invention. As shown in the figure,
(a) An alignment control film 12 is formed on a substrate 10 having a plurality of transparent electrodes 11 formed thereon by a spin coating method or a printing method, and (b) a spacer material 13 having a semi-cured fixing material on the surface is provided between the electrodes. On the orientation control film 12 corresponding to the non-opening part, which is the gap between the two, is dispersed / arranged by using the spacer dispersion device 17 which pushes out and disperses the spacer material 13 by the pulsed air pressure 18, and (c) the photomask 14 is arranged. Use UV 15
Alternatively, the heat ray 15a is irradiated to fix the spacer material 13 at a predetermined position, (d) the unnecessary spacer material 13 that is not fixed is removed, and (e) the alignment control film 12 in which the spacer material 13 is dispersed and fixed is rubbed. Orientation treatment with roll 19 (f)
The substrate 20 having the alignment control film 22 formed on the plurality of transparent electrodes 21 is opposed to each other.

After that, the periphery of the electrode substrate is sealed with an adhesive, liquid crystal is injected into the gap between both electrode substrates by a decompression method, sealed with a photosensitive adhesive, and a polarizing plate or a polarizing plate with a retardation plate is attached. The process of connecting the drive circuit and the control circuit, and incorporating the liquid crystal display element and the backlight into the housing to manufacture a liquid crystal display device. This spacer material dispersion method has the same advantages as described above, and an embodiment suitable for a polymer dispersion type liquid crystal display device (hereinafter referred to as PDLC) in which no liquid crystal is injected will be described.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a manufacturing process of a liquid crystal display device according to another embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, (a) and (b) a spacer material 13 having a semi-cured fixing material on the surface thereof is applied on the substrate 10 on which a plurality of transparent electrodes 11 are formed by pulsed air pressure 18 Are dispersed and arranged by using the spacer dispersing device 17 for pushing out. (c) A polymer dispersion type liquid crystal 70 in which a liquid crystal is dispersed in a polyvinyl alcohol base material is formed by a spin coating method or a printing method. (d) The substrates 20 on which the plurality of transparent electrodes 21 are formed face each other and are pressed, and the periphery of the substrates is sealed with an adhesive. (e) Using the photomask 14, the ultraviolet rays 15
Alternatively, the heating wire 15a is applied to the spacer material 13 to fix it to the transparent electrodes 11 and 21.

After that, the drive circuit and the control circuit are connected,
This is a process of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device by incorporating a liquid crystal display element and a backlight in a housing.

Also in this embodiment having no alignment control film, the spacer material is uniformly dispersed in the transparent electrode corresponding to the non-opening portion (black and white or monochrome display element) or the light-shielding film (Blacksslip, black matrix). Since it can be fixed, it is clear that it is effective in improving display quality such as contrast as in the above-mentioned embodiment. In particular, the advantage of this embodiment is that a uniform liquid crystal thickness equivalent to that can be obtained by a simple manufacturing process without sealing the liquid crystal in a negative pressure state as in a general liquid crystal display element. is there.

In the present embodiment, the simple matrix type S
Although the TN liquid crystal display device has been described, the present invention is not limited to this.
The present invention is applicable to all liquid crystal display devices such as FT liquid crystal display devices, ferroelectric liquid crystal display devices, and polymer dispersion type liquid crystal display devices. In particular, in an active matrix type TFT liquid crystal display device having a structure with a large step, individual spacer materials are dispersed / fixed only in a portion other than the pixel portion and in a portion having the same height so as to have a desired dispersion density. Therefore, a display element having a uniform liquid crystal thickness can be easily obtained, and it is effective to achieve a display device having a uniform image without display defects.

Further, in a liquid crystal display device having metal wiring or the like, by irradiating light from the glass substrate side, it is not possible to fix the spacer material to the alignment control film portion on the metal wiring without using a photomask. It is possible to form a hardened portion, which is effective for cost reduction. Whether the spacer material is fixed to the opening or the non-opening can be determined by selecting either a positive type or a negative type photosensitive material.

An embodiment of an active matrix type TFT liquid crystal display device will be described. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a manufacturing process of a liquid crystal display device of still another embodiment according to the present invention. The TFT structure shown in the figure is a general one used in a 9-10 inch size VGA compatible liquid crystal display device. One electrode substrate is a glass substrate 10.
A gate electrode 80, a storage capacitor electrode 81, an insulating film 44,
The amorphous silicon channel layer 82, the drain electrode 83, the source electrode 84, and the transparent electrode 11 in the pixel portion are formed. After forming the orientation control film 12 on this electrode substrate, an uncured portion is formed on the orientation control film 12 on the gate electrode 80 having the highest height by using a photomask, and the spacer material 13 is formed on that portion. Disperse and stick. Then, it is combined with the other electrode substrate on which the color filter is formed via an adhesive.

As shown in the drawing, by dispersing and fixing the individual spacer materials 13 only on the alignment control film 12 on the gate electrode 80, a liquid crystal display device having a uniform liquid crystal thickness could be achieved. Further, by fixing the individual spacer materials 13 on the metal wiring, it is possible to achieve a liquid crystal display device that can obtain a high-contrast, uniform image without leaking light from the spacer materials 13. However, the uncured portion 30 formed on the orientation control film 12
The shape, size, pitch, etc. were the same as those of the STN liquid crystal display device described above.

In addition, the gate electrode 80 and the storage capacitor electrode 8
In order to disperse and fix the spacer material 13 in the non-opening portion on the gate electrode 1, the gate electrode 80, the drain electrode 83, the source electrode 8
4 and the storage capacitor electrode 81 can also serve as a photomask, and light can be irradiated from the glass substrate 10 side. This method requires no photomask
There is an advantage that the spacer material 13 can be surely dispersed and fixed to the non-opening portion.

The spacer material 1 is formed on the alignment control film 12 corresponding to the gate electrode 80 on both electrode substrates facing each other.
As described above, the same effect can be obtained by dispersing / fixing No. 3.

Further, in a reflection type liquid crystal display device in which a polarizing film, a reflective film, etc. are built in the liquid crystal display element, since they are easily damaged by heat, the alignment control film is cured by light or a combination of light and heat. In addition, the present invention in which the spacer material can be fixed is a particularly effective method.

The present invention is a method that can accurately disperse and fix the spacer material in the existing manufacturing equipment and is effective for cost reduction. Further, although only the color liquid crystal display device has been specifically described in the present embodiment, a uniform liquid crystal thickness and a desired spacer material dispersion density can be easily obtained in a similar manufacturing process even for a black and white liquid crystal display device. With respect to the black and white liquid crystal display device, it is possible to obtain the effect of improving display quality such as contrast.

As described above, the liquid crystal display device of the present invention has a high contrast and can achieve uniform image display, and can be used for a notebook PC, a notebook type word processor (notebook WP), a television receiver and a personal computer.
This is effective as a display mounted on a digital assistant (PDA) or the like. In particular, the effect is remarkable for a large-screen display for which uniform image display is difficult to obtain.

The point of the present invention is to provide a novel method in which individual spacer materials are directly dispersed / fixed to a portion in contact with the liquid crystal surface (on the alignment control film) at an arbitrary position and dispersion density without interposing an adhesive or the like. However, the present invention is not limited to forming a gap in a liquid crystal display element.

[0068]

According to the spacer material dispersion / fixing method of the present invention, each spacer material can be uniformly dispersed / fixed only on the orientation control film corresponding to the non-opening portion without interposing an adhesive or the like. Therefore, 1) the liquid crystal thickness can be defined only by the size of the spacer material, 2) the dispersion density of the spacer material can be accurately defined, 3) individual spacer materials can be fixed in arbitrary positions and shapes, and 4) patterning process Further, since an adhesive or the like is unnecessary, the alignment control film is not contaminated, and a liquid crystal display device having a uniform liquid crystal thickness and a liquid crystal display device capable of obtaining a high-quality image without display defects can be achieved.

Furthermore, 5) the desired dispersion density can be achieved with a small amount of spacer material (easy to collect and reuse).
6) Since the alignment control film can be cured and the spacer material can be fixed in a short time by light irradiation or the like, it is also effective for cost reduction.

Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to achieve a liquid crystal display device suitable for a display mounted on a popular (low-priced) notebook PC, notebook WP, television receiver, PDA and the like which is excellent in portability. In particular, the effect is remarkable in a large screen display in which it is difficult to obtain a uniform image.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a manufacturing process of a liquid crystal display device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of an uncured portion formed on an orientation control film.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing another example of an uncured portion formed on the orientation control film.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing another example of an uncured portion formed on the orientation control film.

5 is a diagram showing a relationship between a dispersion direction of a spacer material and a moving direction of a rubbing roller in the embodiment of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a color liquid crystal display device of one embodiment according to the present invention.

7 is a cross-sectional view of a backlight unit of the color liquid crystal display device of FIG.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a manufacturing process of a liquid crystal display device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a manufacturing process of a liquid crystal display device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a manufacturing process of a liquid crystal display device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a manufacturing process of a liquid crystal display device according to still another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

10, 20 ... Substrate 11, 21, ... Transparent electrode, 12, 22
... Alignment control film, 13 ... Spacer material, 14 ... Photomask, 15 ... Ultraviolet ray, 15a ... Heat ray, 17 ... Spacer dispersion device, 18 ... Air pressure, 19 ... Roll, 30 ... Unhardened part,
31 ... Shading film, 31a ... Electrode gap, 32 ... Blue filter, 33 ... Green filter, 34 ... Red filter, 35 ...
Moving direction, 40, 41 ... Polarizing plate, 42, 43 ... Phase difference plate, 44 ... Insulating film, 45 ... Liquid crystal, 46 ... Smoothing film, 50
... color liquid crystal display element, 51 ... TPC (tape carrier package), 52 ... printed board, 53 ... cold cathode fluorescent tube 54 ... light guide, 55 ... diffusion sheet, 56 ... prism sheet, 57, 58 ... reflection sheet, 59 ... Reflective film,
60 ... Adhesive tape, 70 ... Polymer dispersed liquid crystal, 80 ... Gate electrode, 81 ... Storage capacitor electrode, 82 ... Amorphous.
Silicon channel layer, 83 ... Drain electrode, 84 ... Source electrode

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A pair of electrode substrates, each having an alignment control film for controlling the molecular alignment of liquid crystals on a plurality of transparent electrodes, face each other through a spacer material for defining a gap between the two electrode substrates, In a liquid crystal display element having a helical structure in which a liquid crystal filled in a gap between both electrode substrates is twisted between the alignment control films formed on the transparent electrodes, at least one of the alignment control films is light or heat. Consisting of a curing material, irradiating the light or heat curing material with light or heat,
A liquid crystal display element, wherein the spacer material is directly fixed to the alignment control film by the light or thermosetting material. 2. A pair of electrode substrates, each having an alignment control film for controlling the molecular alignment of liquid crystals on a plurality of transparent electrodes, face each other via a spacer material for defining a gap between the two electrode substrates, In a liquid crystal display device having a spiral structure in which liquid crystal filled in a gap between both electrode substrates is twisted between the alignment control films formed on the transparent electrodes, the spacer material is coated with light or a thermosetting material. And irradiating the light or thermosetting material with light or heat,
A liquid crystal display element, wherein the spacer material is directly fixed to the alignment control film by the light or thermosetting material. 3. A method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device, comprising a pair of electrode substrates facing each other with a spacer material interposed therebetween, to secure a specified gap between the two electrode substrates filled with liquid crystal. Using a light or thermosetting material as a fixing material, the light or thermosetting material is cured by irradiating light or heat only to a predetermined selected portion, and the spacer material is fixed only to the selected predetermined portion, A method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device, characterized in that the specified gap is secured. 4. A step of laminating a photosensitive resin thin film on a substrate provided with a transparent electrode to form one electrode substrate, and irradiating light or heat onto the photosensitive resin thin film to selectively form an uncured portion. Forming step, dispersing spacer material on the photosensitive thin film including the uncured portion, irradiating light or heat to cure the uncured portion, and the spacer material dispersed on the uncured portion The step of fixing only one of them, the step of removing the spacer material that is not fixed from the photosensitive thin film, and the one of the electrode substrates from which the spacer material has been removed, the other of which is fixed through the remaining spacer material. A method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display element, which comprises manufacturing the liquid crystal display element including a step of overlapping the electrode substrate. 5. The method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device according to claim 4, wherein the uncured portion is formed so as to be in the same direction as an alignment treatment direction such as rubbing of at least one of the electrode substrates. . 6. The method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device according to claim 4, wherein the uncured portion is formed on the photosensitive resin thin film in a linear shape, a grid shape, or a dot shape. 7. The uncured portion according to claim 4, wherein the uncured portion is formed on the photosensitive resin thin film in a non-opening portion or a portion corresponding to a light shielding film such as a black stripe or a black matrix. Method for manufacturing liquid crystal display device. 8. The liquid crystal display element according to claim 7, wherein the uncured portion is formed to have a size equal to or less than a size of the non-opening portion or a light-shielding film such as a black stripe or a black matrix. Production method. 9. A liquid crystal display device having a uniform liquid crystal thickness according to claim 1 or 2, or a method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the liquid crystal thickness is uniform. A liquid crystal display device using the manufactured liquid crystal display element.