Liquid crystal display device and manfacturing method therefor

• US 5,717,476 A
• Filed: 01/11/1996
• Issued: 02/10/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/1995
• Status: Expired

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Kanezawa, Tatsuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Sikes, William L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGO, HUYEN LE
• Application Number:
  US08/584,599
• Time in Patent Office: 761 Days
• Field of Search: 359/80, 359/81, 359/88, 349/60, 349/149-152
• US Class Current: 349/149
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133351 Manufacturing of individual cells out of a plurality of cells, e.g. by dicing
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1339 Gaskets; Spacers; Sealing of cells
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1345 Conductors connecting electrodes to cell terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13456 Cell terminals located on one side of the display only

Abstract

In a liquid crystal display device, support columns are formed on the outside of a seal area in an edge area of opposing substrates, thus reducing substrate deformation and preventing the occurrence of air bubbles inside the liquid crystal layer, undesirable coloring of the display area, and color irregularity. Support columns 9 formed using a conductive ink are provided on the outside of seal material 6 used for sealing liquid crystal layer 5 contained between top substrate 1 and bottom substrate 2. The support columns 9 prevent the warping of substrates 1 and 2 caused by the shrinkage of mold material 8 during hardening, reducing the changes in the liquid crystal layer thickness. Support columns 9 are print-formed simultaneously with the conductive connection area of the liquid crystal panel, and are hardened simultaneously with the seal material.

Claims

1. A liquid crystal display, comprising:

opposing first and second substrates defining a gap therebetween for sandwiching a liquid crystal medium, said first substrate including a plurality of external terminals formed an edge portion thereof, the gap having a predetermined length;

a molding member disposed on said edge portion of said first substrate and contacting a corresponding edge portion of said second substrate;

a sealing member interposing said first and second substrates for encapsulating said liquid crystal medium; and

a plurality of support members disposed external to said sealing member and proximate said molding member, each said support member substantially spanning the gap between said first and second substrate for maintaining the predetermined gap length in the presence of compressive force applied to said edge portions of said first and second substrates.

2. The liquid crystal display of claim 1, further comprising an external connection member electrically connected to said plurality of external terminals.

3. The liquid crystal display of claim 2, wherein said external connection member comprises a flexible substrate.

4. The liquid crystal display of claim 2, wherein said external connection member comprises a plurality of external pins.

5. The liquid crystal display of claim 1, wherein said support members comprise a phenol resin.

6. The liquid crystal display of claim 1, wherein

said sealing member comprises a first material having a first adhesion strength;

and

wherein each said support member comprise a second material having a second adhesion strength weaker than the first adhesion strength.

7. The liquid crystal display of claim 1, wherein

said sealing member comprises a first material having a first cure rate;

and

wherein each said support member comprises a second material having a second cure rate substantially equal to the first cure rate.

8. The liquid crystal display of claim 1, wherein said molding member applies the compressive force to said edge portions of said first and second substrates.

9. The liquid crystal display of claim 1, further comprising a conductive connector formed between the first and second substrates to provide an electrical pathway between electrodes formed on said first and second substrates.

10. The liquid crystal display of claim 9, wherein said conductive connector comprises a conductive paste, and wherein said plurality of support members essentially comprise the conductive paste.

11. The liquid crystal display of claim 9, wherein said conductive connector comprises a conductive paste including a conductive ink containing carbon.

12. A method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device encapsulating a liquid crystal medium between opposing first and second substrates, comprising the steps of:

forming a sealing member on the first substrate for surrounding the liquid crystal medium;

forming a plurality of support members on the first substrate proximate an edge portion thereof and external to the sealing member;

arranging the second substrate on the sealing member and the plurality of support members; and

forming a molding member between the first and second substrates proximate the plurality of support members.

13. The method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device of claim 12, further comprising the step of forming a conductive connector for providing an electrical connection among electrodes disposed on the first and second substrates.

14. The method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device of claim 12, wherein the sealing member and the support members exhibit substantially equal cure rates and are formed substantially simultaneously.

15. The method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device of claim 14, further comprising the step of forming a conductive connector for connecting electrodes formed on one of said first and second substrates with external terminals formed on the remaining one of said first and second substrates simultaneously with said plurality of support members forming step, wherein the plurality of support members and conductive connector together comprise a first conductive material.

16. A liquid crystal display, comprising:

opposing first and second substrates defining a gap therebetween for internally sandwiching a liquid crystal layer, each said first and second substrates having a perimeter edge portion, the gap having a predetermined length;

a molding member disposed on and between said edge portions of said first substrate and second substrates for protecting said edge portions;

a sealing member interposing said first and second substrates for encapsulating said liquid crystal medium; and

a plurality of support members disposed external to said sealing member and proximate said molding member, each said support member substantially spanning the gap between said first and second substrate for maintaining the predetermined gap length in the presence of compressive force applied to said edge portions of said first and second substrates by said molding member.

17. The liquid crystal display of claim 16, further comprising:

a plurality of external terminals formed at said edge portion of said first substrate; and

an external connection member electrically connected to said external terminals for applying an electrical field to said liquid crystal layer.

18. The liquid crystal display of claim 17, wherein said external connection member comprises a flexible substrate.

19. The liquid crystal display of claim 17, wherein said external connection member comprises a plurality of external pins.

20. The liquid crystal display of claim 17, wherein said molding member fastens connection components electrically connected to external connection member.

21. The liquid crystal display of claim 16, wherein said plurality of support members comprise a phenol resin.

22. The liquid crystal display of claim 16, wherein

said sealing member comprises a first material having a first adhesion strength;

and

wherein each said support member comprise a second material having a second adhesion strength weaker than the first adhesion strength.

23. The liquid crystal display of claim 16, wherein

said sealing member comprises a first material having a first cure rate;

and

wherein each said support member comprises a second material having a second cure rate substantially equal to the first cure rate.

24. The liquid crystal display of claim 16, further comprising a conductive connector formed between the first and second substrates to provide an electrical pathway between electrodes formed on said first and second substrates.

25. The liquid crystal display of claim 24, wherein said conductive connector comprises a conductive paste, and wherein said plurality of support members essentially comprise the conductive paste.

26. The liquid crystal display of claim 24, wherein said conductive connector comprises a conductive paste including a conductive ink containing carbon.

27. A liquid crystal display, comprising:

opposing first and second substrates defining a gap therebetween for internally sandwiching a liquid crystal layer, each said first and second substrates having a perimeter edge portion, the gap having a predetermined length;

a molding member disposed on and between said edge portions of said first substrate and second substrates;

a sealing member interposing said first and second substrates for encapsulating said liquid crystal medium;

a plurality of support members disposed external to said sealing member and proximate molding member, each said support member substantially spanning the gap between said first and second substrate for maintaining the predetermined gap length in the presence of compressive force applied to said edge portions of said first and second substrates; and

a conductive connector formed between said first and second substrate electrically connecting electrodes formed on respective interior surfaces of said first and second substrates.

28. The liquid crystal display of claim 27, wherein said conductive connector and said plurality of support members all essentially comprise a conductive paste.

29. The liquid crystal display of claim 28, further comprising a plurality external terminals formed on an edge portion of said first substrate.

30. The liquid crystal display of claim 29, further comprising an external connection member electrically connected to said plurality of external terminals.

31. The liquid crystal display of claim 30, wherein said external connection member comprises a flexible substrate.

32. The liquid crystal display of claim 30, wherein said external connection member comprises a plurality of external pins.

33. A liquid crystal display, comprising:

opposing first and second substrates defining a gap therebetween for sandwiching a liquid crystal medium, said first substrate including a plurality of external terminals formed an edge portion thereof, the gap having a predetermined length;

a sealing member interposing said first and second substrates encapsulating said liquid crystal medium;

a molding member disposed on said edge portion of said first substrate externally from said sealing member and over said terminals, said molding member contacting a corresponding edge portion of said second substrate; and

a plurality of support members dispersed within said molding member external to said sealing member.

34. The liquid crystal display of claim 33, wherein said support members are disposed sporadically within said molding member.

35. The liquid crystal display of claim 33, wherein said support members are uniformly dispersed within said molding member.

36. A liquid crystal display, comprising:

a first substrate including a substantially planar face and a peripheral edge, said edge comprising a plurality of external terminals extending therefrom;

a liquid crystal medium disposed on said planar face of said first substrate;

a sealing member disposed on said planar face of said first substrate circumscribing said liquid crystal medium;

a second substrate disposed on said sealing member substantially parallel to and separated a predetermined gap length from said planar face of said first substrate to encapsulate said liquid crystal medium;

a molding member disposed on said edge of said first substrate external to said sealing member and proximate said terminals, said molding member extending into contact with said second substrate; and

a plurality of support members dispersed within said molding member between said first and second substrates and spanning the predetermined gap length.