JPH1073835A - Liquid crystal cell and its production - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the outflow distance of a coated oriented film material even if this material flows out of a region to be coated with the oriented film material at the time of forming an oriented film by applying the oriented film material by printing. SOLUTION: Dummy wiring patterns 6 consisting of ITO(indium tin oxide) are formed on the immediate inner side of a sealing material 3 on the rear surface of an upper glass substrate 1. The oriented film material consisting of a soln. mixture composed of polyimide and thinner is applied by printing on the inner side of the dummy wiring patterns 6 on the rear surface of the upper glass substrate 1. The coated oriented film material flows out to the outer side of the regions coated with the oriented film material and flows out onto the dummy wiring patterns 6. In such a case, the outflow distance of the oriented film material on the dummy wiring patterns 6 consisting of the ITO may be decreased to about >=40% as compared to the case of the glass substrate.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a liquid crystal cell and a method for manufacturing the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a liquid crystal cell, generally, two transparent substrates each having a transparent wiring pattern and an alignment film provided on opposing surfaces are bonded to each other with a sealing material interposed therebetween. It has a structure in which liquid crystal is sealed. In such a liquid crystal cell, for example, a transparent substrate is formed of glass, and a transparent wiring pattern is formed of ITO (i.
The alignment film is made of polyimide, and the sealing material is made of epoxy resin. In this case, since the adhesion between the alignment film made of polyimide and the sealing material made of epoxy resin is not so good, the alignment film is formed inside the predetermined surface of the glass substrate where the sealing material is attached (the surface to which the sealing material is attached). Is formed.

As a simple method of forming an alignment film, an alignment film material made of a mixed solution of polyimide and thinner is applied by printing to the inside of a predetermined surface of a glass substrate at a position where a sealant is attached, followed by a firing step. There is a method of forming an alignment film through a rubbing step. However, when the alignment film material application area is entirely inside the sealing material attachment position, the applied alignment film material is outside the alignment film material application area due to the wettability between the alignment film material and the glass substrate. It will flow out and enter the sealing material attachment surface.

Therefore, conventionally, two methods have been adopted. One is a method in which the alignment film material application area is reduced so that the applied alignment film material does not reach the sealing material attachment surface even if it flows out of the alignment film material application area. The other method is to increase the sealing material attachment surface, that is, the frame-like size of the sealing material, so that the applied alignment film material does not reach the sealing material attachment surface even if it flows out of the alignment film material application region. is there.

[0005]

However, in the former method of reducing the size of the alignment film material application region, there is a problem that the alignment film may be formed to be shifted from the display region due to printing accuracy. On the other hand, the latter method of enlarging the frame-shaped size of the sealing material attachment surface has a problem that the liquid crystal cell becomes large. The object of the present invention is to
An object of the present invention is to prevent the applied alignment film material from flowing to the seal material attachment surface without reducing the alignment film material application area or increasing the frame size of the seal material attachment surface.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a liquid crystal cell, wherein at least one of a pair of transparent substrates has a transparent electrode, a connection terminal, and a lead wire connecting the transparent electrode and the connection terminal on one main surface of each of the substrates. A wiring pattern is formed and an alignment film is laminated, and the pair of substrates is joined via a frame-shaped sealing material in an arrangement in which the electrode forming surfaces face each other, and a space surrounded by the pair of substrates and the sealing material In a liquid crystal cell having liquid crystal sealed therein, the alignment region of the alignment film is set inside the sealing material arrangement position of each substrate, and alignment is performed between the alignment setting region of the alignment film and the sealing material arrangement position. This is provided with a membrane material outflow suppression pattern. According to a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of manufacturing a liquid crystal cell, wherein at least one of the pair of transparent substrates is formed on one main surface thereof with a wiring pattern including a transparent electrode, a connection terminal, and a lead line connecting the transparent electrode and the connection terminal. An alignment film is laminated together, and the pair of substrates are joined via a frame-shaped sealing material in an arrangement in which the electrode forming surfaces face each other, and liquid crystal is sealed in a space surrounded by the pair of substrates and the sealing material. In the method for manufacturing a liquid crystal cell, the lamination region of the alignment film is set inside the sealing material arrangement position of each substrate, and the alignment film material flows between the lamination setting region of the alignment film and the sealing material arrangement position. After forming the suppression pattern, the material of the alignment film is applied to the lamination setting area by printing.

According to the present invention, even if the applied alignment film material flows out of the alignment film material application region (lamination setting region), the outflow is suppressed by the alignment film material outflow suppression pattern. As a result, it is possible to prevent the applied alignment film material from flowing to the seal material attachment surface without reducing the alignment film material application area or increasing the frame size of the seal material attachment surface.

[0008]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a part of a liquid crystal cell according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a plan view of a lower glass substrate in which an alignment film is omitted. . This liquid crystal cell comprises an upper glass substrate 1 and a lower glass substrate 2
It has. The two glass substrates 1 and 2 are bonded to each other via a sealing material 3 made of epoxy resin interposed therebetween. At each predetermined location on the lower surface of the upper glass substrate 1, a common electrode 4 in the shape of a star and a connection terminal (not shown) connected to the common electrode 4 via a lead wire 5 are formed by ITO. . Upper glass substrate 1
Dummy wiring pattern made of ITO (alignment film material outflow suppression pattern) just under the sealing material 3
6 are formed. An alignment film (not shown) made of polyimide is formed on almost the entire lower surface of the upper glass substrate 1 and inside the sealing material 3.

At predetermined positions on the upper surface of the lower glass substrate 2, segment electrodes 11 arranged in a set of seven and connection terminals 13 connected to the respective segment electrodes 11 via lead wires 12 are arranged in sets of seven. It is formed by ITO. On the upper surface of the lower glass substrate 2 and immediately inside the sealing material 3, a dummy wiring pattern (alignment film material outflow suppressing pattern) 14 made of ITO is formed. In this case, the dummy wiring pattern 14 is formed in a dashed shape formed of a dotted pattern interposed between the leading lines 12 at a portion intersecting with the leading lines 12 so that the leading lines 12 do not short-circuit with each other. Is formed. Lower glass substrate 2
An alignment film (not shown) made of polyimide is formed on substantially the entire upper surface of the inside of the sealing material 3.

Here, experimental results regarding the outflow characteristics of the alignment film material will be described. First, as shown in FIG. 3A, a glass substrate 21 was prepared in which a plurality of linear ITO films 22 were formed at equal intervals on the upper surface. In this case, I
The thickness of the TO film 22 is about 200 to 250 ° and the width is 1.4.
mm and the arrangement pitch was about 1.8 mm. Also,
Two types of alignment film materials were prepared. As the first alignment film material, a polyimide concentration of 4.5% and a thinner concentration (N
Methylpyrrolitinone 76.4%, butyl cellosolve 1
9.1%). As the second alignment film material, a polyimide concentration of 6.0% and a thinner concentration (N-methylpyrrolitinone 84.0%, butyl cellosolve 10.0)
%).

Then, the first and second alignment film materials are applied in a thickness of about 1.3 μm to a region shown by oblique lines in FIG. 3A and left until the outflow stops. As indicated by oblique lines, the alignment film material whose initial position is indicated by a dashed line flows out onto the ITO film 22 in a small amount,
It largely flowed out on the glass substrate 21. Then, when each outflow distance was measured, in the case of the first alignment film material, I
The thickness was about 0.05 mm on the TO film 22 and about 0.17 mm on the glass substrate 21. In the case of the second alignment film material, the glass substrate 2
1 was about 0.45 mm. As is apparent from the experimental results, the outflow distance of the alignment film material on the ITO film 22 is about 40% as compared with the case of the glass substrate 21.
It is as follows.

In order to manufacture the liquid crystal cell shown in FIG. 1, first, for example, a wiring pattern including the common electrode 4, the lead wires 5 and the connection terminals and a dummy wiring pattern 6 are formed on the lower surface of the upper glass substrate 1 by ITO. Form at the same time. Therefore, the number of steps for providing the dummy wiring pattern 6 does not increase. Next, the upper glass substrate 1
The alignment film material is applied by printing on the lower surface of the substrate and inside the dummy wiring pattern 6. Then, even if the applied alignment film material flows out of the alignment film material application region, the outflow is suppressed by the dummy wiring pattern 6 made of ITO. That is, the dummy wiring pattern 6 made of ITO
The outflow distance of the alignment film material on the upper side is about 40% or less of that of the upper glass substrate 1. From the above, it is possible to prevent the applied alignment film material from flowing out to the seal material application surface without reducing the alignment film material application area or increasing the frame size of the seal material application surface. it can. As a result, the alignment film can be formed so as not to deviate from the display area, and the size of the liquid crystal cell can be prevented from increasing. As an example, when the width of the dummy wiring pattern 6 is about 0.6 mm, the alignment film material can be prevented from reaching the sealing material attachment surface.

By the way, in the case of the lower glass substrate 2, the dummy wiring pattern 14 is provided in the form of an island between the wiring lines 12 at the portion where the dummy wiring pattern 14 intersects with the wiring lines 12, so that the dummy wiring pattern 14 and the dummy wiring patterns 14 Routing line 1
2 will be formed. However, this gap can be made as small as possible provided that no short circuit occurs. The alignment film material has a certain degree of viscosity. From the above, it is possible to prevent the applied alignment film material from protruding through the gap between the dummy wiring pattern 14 and the leading lines 12 on both sides thereof, and there is no problem.

In the above-described embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the case where the lead-out lines 5 and the dummy wiring patterns 6 are separately formed on the lower surface of the upper glass substrate 1 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. is not. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the dummy wiring pattern 6 is divided at a predetermined position, and the predetermined
You may make it use as. In the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the dummy wiring patterns 14 provided between the leading lines 12 are
Although the description has been given of the case where both are separated from each other, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, a dummy wiring pattern 14 provided between the leading lines 12 may be connected to one of the leading lines 12 on both sides thereof.

[0015]

As described above, according to the present invention, the outflow of the alignment film material from the application setting region is suppressed by the alignment film material outflow suppression pattern, so that the alignment film does not shift from the display region. The liquid crystal cell can be formed without increasing the size.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a part of a liquid crystal cell according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a lower glass substrate in which an alignment film is omitted.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are plan views for explaining experimental results relating to outflow characteristics of an alignment film material.

FIG. 4 is a plan view similar to FIG. 1 in another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a plan view similar to FIG. 2 in still another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Upper glass substrate 2 Lower glass substrate 3 Sealing material 4 Common electrode 5 Lead wire 6 Dummy wiring pattern 11 Segment electrode 12 Lead wire 13 Connection terminal 14 Dummy wiring pattern

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A wiring pattern comprising a transparent electrode, a connection terminal and a lead wire connecting the transparent electrode and a connection terminal are formed on one main surface of each of a pair of substrates at least one of which is transparent, and an alignment film is laminated. In a liquid crystal cell in which substrates are joined with a frame-shaped sealing material in a position where the electrode forming surfaces are opposed to each other, and a liquid crystal is sealed in a space surrounded by the pair of substrates and the sealing material, the stacking of the alignment film is performed. A liquid crystal cell, wherein an area is set inside the seal material arrangement position of each substrate, and an alignment film material outflow suppression pattern is provided between the alignment film stack setting area and the seal material arrangement position. 2. The liquid crystal cell according to claim 1, wherein the alignment film material outflow suppressing pattern is a dummy wiring pattern formed of the same material as the wiring pattern. 3. The liquid crystal cell according to claim 2, wherein said substrate is made of glass, said alignment film is made of polyimide, and said wiring pattern and said dummy wiring pattern are made of I.
A liquid crystal cell comprising TO. 4. A wiring pattern comprising a transparent electrode, a connection terminal and a lead line connecting the transparent electrode and the connection terminal is formed on one main surface of each of a pair of substrates at least one of which is transparent, and an alignment film is laminated. In a method for manufacturing a liquid crystal cell, a substrate is bonded via a frame-shaped sealing material in an arrangement in which an electrode forming surface faces each other, and a liquid crystal is sealed in a space surrounded by a pair of substrates and the sealing material. After setting the lamination region of the film inside the sealing material arrangement position of each substrate and forming an alignment film material outflow suppression pattern between the lamination setting region of the alignment film and the sealing material arrangement position, the alignment film A method for manufacturing a liquid crystal cell, wherein the material described in (1) is applied to the lamination setting area by printing. 5. The method of manufacturing a liquid crystal cell according to claim 4, wherein the wiring pattern and the alignment film material outflow suppressing pattern are made of the same material and are formed in the same step.