JPH10268245A - Curved surface display liquid crystal panel, device and method for manufacturing it and manufacture of liquid crystal display device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a manufacturing method of a curved surface display liquid crystal panel capable of obtaining wide feeling and developmental property in design without increasing volume and weight, and increasing a display area. SOLUTION: This manufacturing method is the method pressurizing a pair of transparent substrates 24 with flexibility holding ultraviolet rays curing seal material 28 between them and manufacturing the curved surface display liquid crystal panel. The manufacturing method of this curved surface display liquid crystal panel is provided with a process keeping a pair of transparent substrates 24 in a curved state by a curved state hold part 54 transmitting ultraviolet rays through and the process irradiating the ultraviolet rays for the seal material 28 and curing the seal material 28 in the state that a pair of transparent substrates 24 are kept in the curved state by this process.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a curved display liquid crystal panel, an apparatus and method for manufacturing a curved display liquid crystal panel, and a method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In various electronic devices such as telephones, portable telephones, pagers, and electronic organizers, liquid crystal display devices are widely used as display units for displaying visible information.

[0003] Such a liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal display panel and a drive circuit, and is provided with auxiliary equipment such as a backlight and a casing as necessary. When such a liquid crystal display device is used in an electronic device, a liquid crystal display panel serving as a display surface is incorporated in the electronic device almost in parallel with an outer surface of a housing of the electronic device to form a display unit. Is done.

In recent years, with respect to the display surface of such electronic devices, from the viewpoint of pursuit of a wide feeling and development of design,
2. Description of the Related Art A liquid crystal display panel in which a convex lens is incorporated above a display surface is used.

However, this structure requires a convex lens on the upper part of the liquid crystal display panel, which causes a problem that the volume and the weight are increased. In addition, although the display can be made large by the convex lens, the display area cannot be expected to increase due to the curvature of the display unit.

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to obtain a wide feeling and design development without increasing the volume and weight. Another object of the present invention is to provide a curved display liquid crystal panel capable of increasing a display area, a device and a method for manufacturing a curved display liquid crystal panel, and a method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for manufacturing a curved display liquid crystal panel, wherein a pair of flexible transparent substrates are pressure-bonded with an ultraviolet-curable sealing material interposed therebetween. A manufacturing apparatus for a liquid crystal panel, wherein a curved state holding unit that transmits ultraviolet rays irradiated toward the sealing material and holds the pair of transparent substrates in a curved state from both front and back surfaces, and toward the sealing material. And an ultraviolet light source for irradiating ultraviolet light.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the curved state holding portion is formed so as to transmit ultraviolet rays, the curved state holding portion can hold the pair of transparent substrates from both the front and back surfaces. The ultraviolet curable sealing material can be cured by irradiating ultraviolet rays from an ultraviolet light source toward the sealing material between the flexible transparent substrates. By curing the sealing material in this manner, the pair of transparent substrates are fixed in a curved state, and a curved display liquid crystal panel can be obtained.

The manufacturing apparatus for a curved display liquid crystal panel according to the present invention cures an ultraviolet-curable sealing material by irradiating ultraviolet rays that reach a deep portion instantaneously.
The sealing material can be cured in a shorter time than when the thermosetting sealing material is cured by heat. As a result, it is possible to reduce the time required for manufacturing the curved display liquid crystal panel.

As described above, since the curing of the sealing material can be performed in a short time, the number of manufacturing apparatuses of the curved display liquid crystal panel required to obtain a certain throughput is limited to the number of apparatuses using the thermosetting sealing material. In comparison with this, it is possible to reduce the cost, reduce the capital investment, and improve the utilization efficiency of the factory space. Further, since the number of required manufacturing devices is small, maintenance for suppressing variations between devices can be performed in a relatively short time, and variations in products due to device variations, that is, variations in a curved display liquid crystal panel are suppressed. This is relatively easy.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the apparatus for manufacturing a curved display liquid crystal panel according to the first aspect, the ultraviolet light source is at least two ultraviolet light sources for irradiating the sealing material from both sides. And

According to the second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for manufacturing a curved display liquid crystal panel which irradiates ultraviolet rays from both front and back directions to a sealing material between a pair of transparent substrates held on both front and back sides by a curved state holding section. can get. Therefore, compared to a device that irradiates ultraviolet rays from only one direction of the front or back, it is possible to surely cure the entire sealing material, and it is possible to reliably secure sufficient bonding strength between the pair of transparent substrates by the sealing material. . Further, as compared with the case where the sealing material is cured by irradiating ultraviolet rays from only one direction of the front or back, the time for curing is shortened, so that the processing efficiency can be improved.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of manufacturing a curved display liquid crystal panel, wherein a pair of flexible transparent substrates are pressure-bonded with an ultraviolet-curable sealing material interposed therebetween to manufacture the curved display liquid crystal panel. A method of holding the pair of transparent substrates from both front and back sides in a curved state by a curved state holding unit that transmits ultraviolet light, and in the state where the pair of transparent substrates are held in a curved state by the step, Irradiating the sealing material with ultraviolet rays to cure the sealing material.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, a pair of flexible transparent substrates facing each other with an ultraviolet-curable sealing material interposed therebetween are bent into a curved state by a curved state holding portion that transmits ultraviolet light. By irradiating the sealing material with ultraviolet rays while holding the pair of transparent substrates, the sealing material is cured in a state where the pair of transparent substrates are curved. Due to the curing of the sealing material, the pair of transparent substrates are fixed in a curved state even after being taken out of the curved state holding portion, thereby forming a curved display liquid crystal panel. Therefore, when incorporated into an electronic device, it is possible to obtain a feeling of wideness and development in design without using a convex lens, and since the display surface is a curved surface, compared to a flat display type liquid crystal display panel. A curved display liquid crystal panel having a large display area can be obtained.

In addition, since ultraviolet light from the ultraviolet light source is irradiated to the sealing material between the transparent substrates via the curved state holding portion formed so as to transmit the ultraviolet light, the curved state holding portion has a pair. The ultraviolet-curable sealing material can be cured while holding the transparent substrate. By curing the sealing material in this manner, a curved display liquid crystal panel in which a pair of transparent substrates are fixed in a curved state can be obtained.

Further, according to the present invention, the ultraviolet-curable sealing material is hardened by irradiating the ultraviolet-curing sealing material with an ultraviolet ray that reaches a deep portion instantaneously. Compared to curing
The sealing material can be cured in a short time. As a result, the time required for manufacturing the curved display liquid crystal panel can be reduced.

Further, since the curing of the sealing material can be performed in a short time as described above, the number of manufacturing apparatuses for the curved display liquid crystal panel required to obtain a constant throughput is limited to the number of apparatuses using a thermosetting sealing material. As compared with the above, it is possible to reduce the amount of capital investment and to improve the efficiency of use of the factory space. Further, since the number of required manufacturing devices is small, maintenance for suppressing variations between devices can be performed in a relatively short time, and variations in products due to device variations, that is, variations in a curved display liquid crystal panel are suppressed. This is relatively easy.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the method of manufacturing a curved display liquid crystal panel according to the third aspect, in the step of curing the sealant, the sealant is irradiated with ultraviolet rays from at least both front and back directions. And curing the sealing material.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, a curved seal is provided by irradiating ultraviolet rays from both front and back directions to the sealing material between the pair of flexible transparent substrates held from both front and back sides by the curved state holding portion. A liquid crystal panel is manufactured. Therefore, compared with the case where the ultraviolet rays are radiated from only one direction of the front or back, the entire sealing material can be surely cured, and a sufficient bonding strength between the pair of transparent substrates by the sealing material can be reliably ensured. . Further, compared with a case where the sealing material is cured by irradiating ultraviolet rays only from one direction of the front or back, the time for curing is shortened and the processing efficiency can be improved.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of manufacturing a curved display liquid crystal panel having a pair of flexible transparent substrates facing each other with an ultraviolet-curable sealing material interposed therebetween. A step of holding a pair of sheet-shaped transparent substrates, which have a size corresponding to a plurality of substrates, and which are pressure-bonded with a sealing material therebetween, in a curved state from both front and back surfaces by a curved state holding unit that transmits ultraviolet light. And curing the sealing material by irradiating ultraviolet rays to the sealing material in a state where the pair of sheet-shaped transparent substrates are held in a curved state by the process, and wherein the sealing material is cured. Cutting a pair of sheet-shaped transparent substrates into individual substrate sizes.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, a pair of sheet-like transparent substrates each having a size corresponding to a plurality of substrates are held in a curved state by the curved state holding section from both front and back sides. By irradiating the sealing material disposed between the pair of sheet-shaped transparent substrates with ultraviolet light, the sealing material is cured to form a pair of curved sheet-shaped transparent substrates, and then cut into individual substrate sizes. By doing so, a curved display liquid crystal panel is manufactured. Therefore, compared to a case where each of a pair of individual substrates is bent,
The curved display liquid crystal panel can be manufactured by performing the bending efficiently.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device, comprising: a curved display liquid crystal panel manufactured by pressing a pair of flexible substrates with a sealing material interposed therebetween; A method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device comprising: a driving circuit for driving a panel; wherein the curved display liquid crystal panel comprises a pair of flexible transparent substrates that are bent into a curved state by a curved state holding unit that transmits ultraviolet light. A step of holding the pair of transparent substrates in a curved state by the step, and irradiating the sealing material with ultraviolet rays to cure the sealing material while holding the pair of transparent substrates in a curved state. It is characterized by.

A sixth aspect of the present invention defines a method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device including a liquid crystal display panel manufactured by the method of manufacturing a curved display liquid crystal panel according to the third aspect. Therefore, a method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device having the same function and effect as the above-described function and effect of the third aspect of the invention is provided.

A curved display liquid crystal panel according to a seventh aspect of the present invention is a curved display liquid crystal panel having a pair of flexible transparent substrates facing each other with an ultraviolet-curable sealing material interposed therebetween. The curved state is maintained by the sealing material cured by the method.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, when incorporated in an electronic device, it is possible to obtain a wide feeling and design development without using a convex lens, and the display surface becomes a curved surface. Therefore, a curved display liquid crystal panel having a larger display area than a flat display liquid crystal display panel can be obtained.

Further, according to the present invention, the curved display liquid crystal panel is obtained by curing the ultraviolet-curable sealing material and maintaining the curved state. Therefore, the sealing material may be cured by irradiating ultraviolet rays that reach the deep portion instantaneously, and a curved display liquid crystal panel that can be manufactured in a short time as compared with a case where the thermosetting sealing material is cured by heat. .

As described above, since the sealing material can be cured in a short time, the number of manufacturing apparatuses for the curved display liquid crystal panel required to obtain a certain throughput is limited to the number of the curved display liquid crystal panels using the thermosetting sealing material. As compared with the case of manufacturing, it is possible to reduce the amount, to reduce the capital investment, and to improve the utilization efficiency of the factory space. Further, since the number of required manufacturing devices is small, maintenance for suppressing variations between devices can be performed in a relatively short time, and variations in products due to device variations, that is, variations in a curved display liquid crystal panel are suppressed. This is relatively easy.

[0028]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below more specifically with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a curved display liquid crystal panel 1 according to this embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along a direction having no curvature of zero. The curved display liquid crystal panel 10 according to the present embodiment includes a liquid crystal cell (hereinafter, referred to as a cell) and polarizing plates 50 attached to upper and lower outer surfaces thereof.
And a simple matrix type curved surface display liquid crystal panel including the following.

The liquid crystal cell is composed of two opposing transparent substrates 24 and a sealing material 28 disposed over the entire edge of the opposing surfaces of the two transparent substrates 24 to hermetically seal the transparent substrates.
A transparent electrode 32 formed on each of the opposing surfaces of the two transparent substrates 24, an alignment film 36 formed covering the transparent electrodes 32, and a substrate disposed in a gap between the two transparent substrates 24. It is formed to include a spacer 40 for keeping the distance therebetween, and a liquid crystal 44 sealed in a space defined by the two transparent substrates 24 and the sealing material 28.

The transparent substrate 24 is formed of a polymer film such as polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, polyethersulfone, and polycarbonate, and has flexibility.

The sealing material 28 is made of an ultraviolet curing resin, for example, an acrylate resin, a methacrylate resin, a modified urethane acrylate resin, a modified epoxy acrylate resin, or the like.

Next, the curved display liquid crystal panel 10 of the present embodiment
Will be described. The curved display liquid crystal panel 10 of the present embodiment includes a transparent electrode forming, printing, assembling, bending processing,
It is manufactured through the steps of injecting liquid crystal and attaching a polarizing plate.

In the transparent electrode forming step, first, a transparent conductive layer, for example, an ITO (indium tin oxide) layer is formed on the surfaces of the pair of transparent substrates 24 by sputtering. In this step, the transparent substrate 24 of the present embodiment is in a roll state having a size corresponding to a plurality of transparent substrates.

Next, by applying photolithography, ie, applying a resist solution, exposing a predetermined pattern, developing, etching, and then removing the resist solution, the transparent electrode 32 having a predetermined pattern is formed. In the case of the embodiment, an ITO electrode is formed on the transparent substrate 24.

Then, the roll-shaped polymer film is cut, and a pair of sheet-shaped transparent substrates 24 of about A4 size are cut.
After that, the printing process starts.

In the printing step, the alignment film 3 is formed on each transparent substrate 24.
6 are printed, spacers 40 for keeping the cell thickness constant are dispersed and arranged on one transparent substrate 24, and baked.
Then, rubbing is performed by rubbing the alignment film 36 with a cloth or the like, so that the alignment film 36 has an orientation.

In the assembly process, first, the transparent substrate 24 on one side
Is printed around the seal material. Then, a double-sided conductive material 30 is printed on a predetermined portion of the transparent substrate 24 on one side.

The assembling step includes a curved state holding step of holding a pair of flexible transparent substrates opposed to each other with a sealing material therebetween in a curved state, and a sealing material curing step of curing the sealing material.

In a subsequent step, one of the transparent substrates 24 is removed so that a part of the transparent substrate 24 is removed to expose a part of the transparent electrode 32 so that the terminal portion 26 can be formed.
A cut is made in the vicinity of the place where the double-sided conductive material 26 of No. 4 is printed.

Here, a curved display liquid crystal panel manufacturing apparatus 52 used in the assembling process of this embodiment will be described.

The curved display liquid crystal panel manufacturing apparatus 52 includes:
As shown in FIG. 2, a pair of transparent substrates 24 are pressed against each other with an ultraviolet-curable sealing material 28 interposed therebetween to form a curved display liquid crystal panel 1.
0, and includes a curved state holding unit 54 and ultraviolet light sources 62 disposed on the front side and the back side of the curved state holding unit 54.

The curved state holding section 54 includes a pair of transparent substrates 2.
A pair of mating dies 56 and 58 for sandwiching the front and back sides 4 and 24 and bending them into a predetermined shape, and a pair of mating dies 56 and 5
And a pressing mechanism 60 (for example, a bolt and a nut) that exerts a pressure on the pair of transparent substrates 24 via the first and second transparent substrates 8.

The curved state holding portion 54 is formed by forming the pair of mating dies 56 and 58 with a material having good ultraviolet transmittance, such as glass, quartz, and heat resistant plastic having ultraviolet transmittance. It is formed so as to transmit the ultraviolet light irradiated toward the sealing material 28.

As described above, at least one ultraviolet light source 62 is disposed on each of the front side and the back side of the curved state holding section 54, and a pair of mating dies 56 and 58 of the curved state holding section 54.
Through a pair of transparent substrates 2 sandwiched between them.
Ultraviolet rays can be applied to the sealing material 28 that joins 4 and 24.

In the curved state holding step, the pair of sheet-shaped transparent substrates 24 are bent using the curved surface liquid crystal panel manufacturing apparatus 52 as shown in FIG.
Are arranged between the pair of mating dies 56 and 58. And
By pressing the pair of mating dies 56 and 58 so as to approach each other by the pressing mechanism 60, the pair of sheet-like transparent substrates 24 and 24 are pressed against each other and the state is maintained.

In this manner, a pair of sheet-shaped transparent substrates 24, 24, which are a pair of substrates having a size corresponding to the plurality of substrates 24, which are press-bonded with the sealing material 28 interposed therebetween, are separated from each other by a pair of transparent substrates that transmit ultraviolet rays. Are brought into close contact with the opposing surfaces of the mating dies 56 and 58 to be maintained in a curved state.

In the sealing material curing step, in this state, ultraviolet rays are sufficiently radiated to the sealing material 28 from ultraviolet light sources 62, 62 disposed on the front and back of the curved state holding portion 54. Since the sealing material 28 is made of an ultraviolet-curable resin material as described above, the entire region is hardened by this ultraviolet irradiation. This ultraviolet irradiation is performed, for example, for about one minute, depending on conditions. Thereafter, the pair of sheet-shaped transparent substrates 24, 24 is taken out from the curved state holding unit 54. The sheet-shaped pair of substrates 24, 24
Even after being taken out of the curved state holding portion 54, the sealing material 28
Is kept in a curved state because it is hardened.

As described above, the sheet-shaped unfilled liquid crystal cells, that is, empty cells 16 having a size corresponding to the plurality of curved display liquid crystal panels 10 and having a predetermined shape are completed.

Then, the sheet-shaped transparent substrate 24 having the size of the plurality of transparent substrates 24 is cut into a strip shape in which a plurality of cells are arranged in a line. By this cutting, the liquid crystal inlet of each cell is opened, and the inlet is arranged on one side of the strip.

In the subsequent step of injecting the liquid crystal 44, a plurality of empty cells arranged in a strip shape in the above step are placed at positions separated from the liquid crystal in a container having a liquid crystal storage at a lower part, The inside of the container is evacuated. After that, the inside of the container is returned to the atmospheric pressure with the filling port in the liquid crystal storage. Then, the liquid crystal is filled in the cell by the pressure difference and the capillary phenomenon. Then, after sealing the inlet, a plurality of cells arranged in a strip shape are washed.

Thereafter, the pair of strip-shaped transparent substrates 24 having the cured sealing material are cut into unit cells, that is, the size of each transparent substrate 24. Then, a part of the one transparent substrate 24 is removed from the above-mentioned cut, and the transparent electrode 32 is removed.
After exposing a part of the terminal portion 26 to expose a part of the substrate, the process proceeds to a polarizing plate attaching step.

In the polarizing plate sticking step, a polarizing plate 50 is stuck to the transparent substrate 24 of each cell.

Through the above-described steps, the curved display liquid crystal panel 10 of this embodiment is changed to the transmission type curved display liquid crystal panel 1.
Completed as 0.

FIG. 1 shows a transmissive liquid crystal display panel 10 without a reflective plate. However, when the reflective liquid crystal display panel is formed as a reflective curved display liquid crystal panel, a reflective plate is further provided on the outer surface of one polarizing plate 50. Is added.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which the liquid crystal display device 150 is formed by connecting the curved display liquid crystal panel 10 of the present embodiment manufactured as described above to the circuit board 80 via the wiring board 70. FIG. A drive circuit and the like for driving the curved display liquid crystal panel 10 are incorporated in the circuit board 80. The wiring board 70 has a belt shape, is formed by integrally covering a wiring pattern with a polymer film such as a polyester film, and has flexibility. Therefore,
It can be easily connected to the terminals arranged on the curved edge of the curved display liquid crystal panel 10 and the flat terminals of the circuit board 80 by means of thermal fusion or the like via a bonding agent that becomes an anisotropic conductive film. it can.

The liquid crystal display device 15 of this embodiment shown in FIG.
4 shows a state in which the circuit board 80 is bent at the portion of the wiring board 70 and the circuit board 80 is arranged on the back surface of the curved display liquid crystal panel 10, and FIG.
FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view, and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view passing through the liquid crystal display device 150, which is incorporated in an electronic device such as a mobile phone 130 as schematically shown. 4 and 5, components other than the liquid crystal display device 150 are considerably omitted. Actually, the mobile phone 150 is provided with a display information output source, a display information processing circuit,
It is configured to include various circuits such as a clock generation circuit and a power supply circuit for supplying power to those circuits.

In the above description, the portable telephone 130 is used as an electronic device in which the liquid crystal display device 150 of this embodiment is incorporated.
However, the liquid crystal display device 150 of this embodiment includes a clock,
Pager, mobile phone, electronic organizer, calculator, POS terminal, I
Electronic devices such as C cards and mini-disc players can be similarly incorporated.

According to the manufacturing apparatus 52 of the curved display liquid crystal panel of the present embodiment described above, as shown in FIG. 2, since the curved state holding portion 54 is formed so as to transmit ultraviolet rays, it holds the curved state. In a state where the portion 54 holds the pair of transparent substrates 24, the ultraviolet curable sealing material 28 can be cured by irradiating ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet light source 62 toward the sealing material 28 between the transparent substrates 24. By curing the sealing material 28 in this manner, the curved display liquid crystal panel 10 in which the pair of transparent substrates 24 are fixed in a curved state can be obtained.

The curved display liquid crystal panel manufacturing apparatus 52 of the present embodiment cures the ultraviolet-curable sealing material 28 by irradiating ultraviolet rays that reach the deep portion instantaneously. The sealing material 28 can be cured in a short time as compared with the case of curing by
As a result, the time required for manufacturing the curved display liquid crystal panel 10 can be reduced.

As described above, since the sealing material 28 can be cured in a short time, the number of the curved display liquid crystal panel manufacturing apparatuses 52 required to obtain a certain throughput is smaller than that of the apparatus using the thermosetting sealing material. In addition, it is possible to reduce the capital investment and to improve the efficiency of use of the factory space. Further, since the number of required curved display liquid crystal panel manufacturing apparatuses 52 is small, maintenance for suppressing variations between apparatuses can be performed in a relatively short time, and a product resulting from the variations in apparatuses, that is, a product having a curved display liquid crystal panel. It is relatively easy to suppress panel variations.

Further, since the curved surface display liquid crystal panel manufacturing apparatus 52 of this embodiment has the ultraviolet light sources 62 and 62 arranged on the front side and the back side of the curved state holding section 54, the apparatus is held by the curved state holding section 54. The sealing member 28 between the pair of transparent substrates 24, 24 can be irradiated with ultraviolet rays from both front and back directions. Therefore, compared with a device that irradiates ultraviolet rays from only one direction of the front or back, the entire sealing material 28 can be more reliably cured, and the sufficient bonding strength of the pair of transparent substrates 24, 24 by the sealing material 28 can be ensured. Can be secured. Further, compared with a case where the sealing material is cured by irradiating ultraviolet rays only from one direction of the front or back, the time for curing is shortened and the processing efficiency can be improved.

According to the method of manufacturing the curved display liquid crystal panel of the present embodiment, the ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet sources 62, 62 are transmitted through the curved state holding portion 54 formed so as to transmit the ultraviolet rays. Since the irradiation is performed toward the seal member 28 between the transparent substrates 24, the ultraviolet curable seal member 28 can be cured while the curved state holding portion 54 holds the pair of transparent substrates 24, 24. it can. By curing the sealing material 28 in this manner, the pair of flexible transparent substrates 24, 24 are fixed in a curved state, and the curved display liquid crystal panel 10 can be obtained.

Further, according to the method of manufacturing a curved display liquid crystal panel of the present embodiment, it is possible to obtain a feeling of wideness and development in design without using a convex lens when incorporated in an electronic device. Since the display surface is a curved surface, a curved display liquid crystal panel 10 having a larger display area than a flat display type liquid crystal display panel can be obtained.

Further, according to the method of manufacturing the curved display liquid crystal panel of this embodiment, the ultraviolet curable sealing material 28 is irradiated with ultraviolet rays that reach the deep portion instantaneously, thereby curing the sealing material 28. As compared with the case where the thermosetting sealing material is cured by heat, the sealing material 28 can be cured in a shorter time, and as a result, the time required for manufacturing the curved display liquid crystal panel 10 can be reduced.

As described above, according to the method for manufacturing a curved display liquid crystal panel of the present embodiment, the curing of the sealing material 28 can be performed in a short time, and therefore the curved display liquid crystal panel manufacturing apparatus 52 required to obtain a constant throughput. The number of devices can be reduced as compared with a device using a thermosetting sealing material, which can reduce capital investment and improve the efficiency of use of a factory space. Further, since the number of required curved surface display liquid crystal panel manufacturing devices 52 is small, maintenance for suppressing variations between devices can be performed in a relatively short time, and a product resulting from the device variations, that is, a curved surface It is relatively easy to suppress variations in the display liquid crystal panel 10.

Further, according to the method of manufacturing the curved display liquid crystal panel of this embodiment, the sealing material 28 between the pair of transparent substrates 24, 24 held by the curved holding portion 54 is irradiated with ultraviolet rays from both front and back directions. Thus, the curved display liquid crystal panel 10 is manufactured. Therefore, compared with the case where the ultraviolet rays are radiated from only one direction of the front or the back, the entire sealing material 28 can be more reliably cured, and a sufficient bonding strength of the pair of transparent substrates 24, 24 by the sealing material can be reliably ensured. can do. Further, compared with the case where the sealing material 28 is cured by irradiating ultraviolet rays only from one direction of the front or back, the time for curing is shortened and the processing efficiency can be improved.

Further, the curved display liquid crystal panel 10 of the present embodiment
According to the manufacturing method, a pair of sheet-like transparent substrates 24 each having a size corresponding to the plurality of transparent substrates 24 are held in a curved state by the curved state holding unit 54, and in this state, a pair of sheet-like transparent substrates By irradiating ultraviolet rays to the sealing material 28 disposed between the substrates 24, 24, the sealing material 28
Is cured to form a pair of curved sheet-like transparent substrates 2
4, 24, and then the individual curved display liquid crystal panels 10
Then, the curved display liquid crystal panel 10 is manufactured. Therefore, the curved display liquid crystal panel 10 can be manufactured by performing the bending processing more efficiently than in the case where each of the pair of individual transparent substrates 24 and 24 is subjected to the bending processing.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications may be made within the scope of the present invention or the equivalent scope of the claims. Is possible.

For example, in the above embodiment, a pair of flexible transparent substrates are bent in the state of a sheet-like transparent substrate corresponding to the size of a plurality of curved display liquid crystal panels, and the sealing material is cured. Although an example in which a curved display liquid crystal panel is formed is shown, a pair of sheet-shaped transparent substrates is formed into a strip shape in which a plurality of curved display liquid crystal panels are arranged in a line, or a size of each curved display liquid crystal panel. After cutting in advance, the curved surface display liquid crystal panel may be formed by curving and curing the sealing material.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, an example is shown in which the ultraviolet light source is disposed on the front side and the back side of the curved state holding unit. However, if the sealing material can be sufficiently cured in a short time, the ultraviolet light source is used. It may be arranged on one of the front side and the back side of the curved state holding unit.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, an example in which a simple matrix drive liquid crystal display panel is used as a liquid crystal display panel has been described. However, a static drive liquid crystal display panel may be used, or a liquid crystal display panel is constituted. If a switching element can be formed on a flexible transparent substrate, an active matrix liquid crystal display panel using a three-terminal switching element represented by a TFT or a two-terminal switching element represented by an MIM may be used. Further, in terms of electro-optical characteristics, various types of liquid crystal display panels such as a TN type, a STN type and the like, as well as a guest host type, a polymer dispersion type phase transition type and a ferroelectric type can be used.

Further, in the above embodiment, the liquid crystal display device is constituted by the curved display liquid crystal panel and the circuit board on which the drive circuit and the like are mounted. However, the drive circuit is formed on the transparent substrate constituting the curved display liquid crystal panel. Etc. are also installed,
The liquid crystal display device is constituted by the curved display liquid crystal panel itself. Alternatively, a liquid crystal display panel having such a curved display liquid crystal panel with a driving circuit fixed to a frame made of metal or the like can be used as a liquid crystal display device incorporated in an electronic device. Further, in the case of a backlight type, a liquid crystal display device can be configured by incorporating a curved display liquid crystal panel, a light guide, and the like in a frame.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a curved display liquid crystal panel according to an embodiment, taken along a direction in which there is no curvature.

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a state in which a pair of transparent substrates are loaded in the curved display liquid crystal panel manufacturing apparatus of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which the curved display liquid crystal panel of the embodiment is configured as a liquid crystal display device.

FIG. 4 is a schematic exploded perspective view of a mobile phone using the liquid crystal display device of the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a schematic sectional view of a mobile phone using the liquid crystal display device of the first embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Curved display liquid crystal panel 24 Transparent substrate 28 Sealing material 52 Curved display liquid crystal panel manufacturing apparatus 54 Curved state holding | maintenance part 56,58 Matching type 62 Ultraviolet light source 150 Liquid crystal display

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. An apparatus for manufacturing a curved display liquid crystal panel, wherein a pair of flexible transparent substrates is pressed against each other with an ultraviolet-curable sealing material interposed therebetween, wherein the ultraviolet light applied to the sealing material is transmitted therethrough. An apparatus for manufacturing a curved display liquid crystal panel, comprising: a curved state holding unit that holds the pair of transparent substrates from both front and back sides in a curved state; and an ultraviolet light source that emits ultraviolet light toward the sealing material. . 2. The apparatus for manufacturing a curved display liquid crystal panel according to claim 1, wherein the ultraviolet light source is at least two ultraviolet light sources that irradiate the sealing material from both front and back directions. 3. A method for manufacturing a curved display liquid crystal panel by pressing a pair of flexible transparent substrates with an ultraviolet-curable sealing material interposed therebetween, wherein said pair of transparent substrates are bent by a curved state holding portion that transmits ultraviolet light. Holding the transparent substrate in a curved state from both the front and back surfaces, and curing the seal material by irradiating the seal material with ultraviolet light in a state in which the pair of transparent substrates are held in the curved state by the step. And a method of manufacturing a curved display liquid crystal panel. 4. The curved surface display liquid crystal panel according to claim 3, wherein, in the step of curing the sealing material, the sealing material is cured by irradiating the sealing material with ultraviolet rays from at least both sides. Manufacturing method. 5. A method for producing a curved display liquid crystal panel having a pair of flexible transparent substrates facing each other with an ultraviolet-curable sealing material interposed therebetween, wherein the plurality of substrates are press-bonded with the sealing material interposed therebetween. Holding a pair of sheet-shaped transparent substrates having a size corresponding to the front and back surfaces in a curved state by a curved state holding unit that transmits ultraviolet light; Irradiating ultraviolet rays to the sealing material to cure the sealing material while holding the pair of sheet-shaped transparent substrates in which the sealing material has been cured, to a size of each substrate. A method of manufacturing a curved display liquid crystal panel, comprising: a cutting step. 6. A liquid crystal display device comprising: a curved display liquid crystal panel manufactured by pressing a pair of flexible substrates with a sealing material interposed therebetween; and a drive circuit for driving the curved display liquid crystal panel. The curved surface display liquid crystal panel, a step of holding a pair of flexible transparent substrates in a curved state from both front and back surfaces by a curved state holding portion that transmits ultraviolet light, and the pair of transparent substrates by the step A step of irradiating the sealing material with ultraviolet rays in a state in which the sealing material is held in a curved state to cure the sealing material. 7. A curved display liquid crystal panel having a pair of flexible transparent substrates opposed to each other with an ultraviolet-curable sealing material interposed therebetween, wherein a curved state is maintained by the sealing material cured by irradiation with ultraviolet light. A curved display liquid crystal panel characterized by the above-mentioned.