Substrate coupling method

• US 6,361,389 B1
• Filed: 09/30/1999
• Issued: 03/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Hogue, Robert Benton, Panuska, Brian R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramsey, Kenneth J.
• Application Number:
  US09/410,888
• Time in Patent Office: 908 Days
• Field of Search: 349/187, 349/189, 445/24
• US Class Current: 445/24
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10302 Edge sealing
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10917 between two pre-positioned glass layers
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133354 Arrangements for aligning or assembling substrates
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1339 Gaskets; Spacers; Sealing of cells

Abstract

The present invention is a method for optically cohering substrates together. Two clean substrates are bonded together, and then positioned at approximately a 10-70 degree angle (or range therebetween) parallel to each other and in close proximity to each other. An optically clear, refractive index means for optically cohering is then de-gassed to remove any gas within the means for optically cohering. Then, a pressurized means for injecting is filled with the means for optically cohering. The means for injecting then introduces the means for optically cohering within the two substrates from a peripheral edge, thereby allowing the means for optically cohering to permeate throughout the volume between the two substrates. The means for optically cohering is allowed to cure, thereby adhering the substrates together.

Claims

1. A method of adhering substrates together, the steps comprising:

introducing a primary substrate having a first surface and at least one outer peripheral edge;

applying a bonding element to the first surface in proximity to the outer peripheral edge;

introducing a secondary substrate having a second surface;

placing the secondary substrate adjacent the primary substrate and seating the secondary substrate upon the bonding element in a first surface to second surface relationship to thereby form a bonded substrate, the bonded substrate having a cell bounded by the substrate'"'"'s peripheries and the first surface and the second surface;

introducing at least one injector;

inserting the injector into and through the bonding element at a first opening comprising a bottom of the bonded substrate, the injector in fluid-flow communication with the cell;

thereby forming at least one injection port;

inserting a means for exhausting into and through the bonding element at a second opening of the bonded substrate, the means for exhausting in communication with the cell;

providing a means for optically cohering and introducing the means for optically cohering to the injector;

injecting the means for optically cohering in to the cell and ejecting any gas within the cell through the means for exhausting; and

filling the cell with the means for optically cohering.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the primary substrate is a liquid crystal display (LCD) substrate.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the bonding element comprises double sided tape.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the bonding element comprises a silicone adhesive seal.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein the secondary substrate is selected from the group consisting of a glass substrate, an anti-reflective substrate and an ITO substrate.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising the step of providing a retainer and placing the bonded substrate in to the retainer and holding the bonded substrate in the retainer at a predefined angle from a horizontal plane.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the predetermined angle ranges from 10 degrees to 70 degrees.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the predetermined angle is approximately 10 to 35 degrees.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the predetermined angle is approximately 15 to 25 degrees.

10. The method of claim 9 the predetermined angle is approximately 20 degrees.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the injector is a pressurized means in fluid communication with a syringe in fluid communication with a catheter.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the second opening is opposite the first opening of the bonded substrate.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the first opening of the bonded substrate is bottom corner of the bonded substrate.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the means for exhausting is a catheter having a needle.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein the means for optically cohering is a dielectric, optically clear gel having an index of refraction approximately matching that of the primary substrate and the secondary substrate.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the step of filling the cell further comprises the step of cuing the means for optically cohering thereby forming a coupled substrate.

17. A substrate bonded and coupled in accordance with the method of claim 16.

18. A method of coupling substrates together, the steps comprising:

introducing a liquid crystal display (LCD) substrate having an inner surface and an outer edge;

placing a bonding element to the inner surface adjacent to the outer edge;

forming a cell by providing a protective substrate having a secondary inner surface and placing the protective substrate in alignment with the LCD substrate and seating the protective substrate to the bonding element in a LCD first surface to a secondary inner surface relationship to thereby form a bonded substrate, the cell bounded by the bonded substrate'"'"'s peripheries, the LCD first surface and the secondary inner surface;

introducing at least one injector and at least one means for gas ejection, the injector being disposed into and through the bonding element at a bottom first corner of the bonded substrate, the means for gas ejection being disposed into and through the bonding element at a location opposite of the bottom first corner; and

introducing a pressurized means for optically cohering to the fluid injector and injecting the means for optically cohering in to the cell while ejecting any gas within the cell through the means for ejection.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the bonding element comprises double sided tape.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising the step of placing the bonded substrate in a retainer, the retainer being movable from between 10 degrees to 70 degrees from a horizontal plane.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the retainer is angularly movable from approximately 15 to 25 degrees.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein the injector is a pressurized means in fluid communication with a syringe in fluid communication with a catheter having a needle, and wherein the means for gas ejection is a catheter having a needle.

23. The method of claim 18 wherein the bonding element comprises a silicone adhesive seal.

24. The method of claim 18 wherein the means for optically cohering is a dielectric, optically clear dielectric gel having a matching index of refraction.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the means for optically cohering comprises a member selected from the group consisting of an optical silicone based gel, an optical epoxy adhesive and an optical silicone based adhesive.

26. A substrate bonded and coupled in accordance with the method of claim 25.

27. A method of adhering an LCD substrate to a protective, the steps comprising introducing a liquid crystal display (LCD) substrate and a protective substrate, the LCD substrate having a bonding surface and an outer peripheral edge;

applying a bonding means to the bonding surface in proximity to the outer peripheral edge;

joining the protective substrate to the LCD substrate by the bonding element to thereby form a bonded substrate, a cell being defined within the bonded substrate;

providing an injector into and through a bottom corner of the bonding means;

providing a means for exhausting into and through the bonding means, the injector, the cell and the means for exhausting all in fluid-flow communication with each other;

introducing a pressurized, de-gassed means for optically cohering to the injector and injecting the means for optically cohering in to the bonded substrate'"'"'s cell while ejecting any fluid through the means for exhausting; and

filling the cell with the means for optically cohering.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein the bonding element comprises a silicone adhesive seal.

29. The method of claim 27 wherein the bonding element comprises double sided tape.

30. The method of claim 28 further comprising the step of placing the bonded substrate into a retainer, wherein the step of placing the bonded substrate into retainer further comprises the step of allowing the retainer to retain the bonded substrate at an angle between 10 to 70 degrees from a horizontal plane.

31. The method of claim 30 wherein the angle is approximately 10 to 35 degrees.

32. The method of claim 31 wherein the angle is approximately 20 degrees.

33. The method of claim 31 wherein the means for optically cohering is a dielectric, optically clear dielectric gel having a matching index of refraction.

34. The method of claim 33 wherein the means for optically cohering comprises a member selected from the group consisting of an optical silicone based gel, an optical epoxy adhesive and an optical silicone based adhesive.

35. A substrate bonded and coupled in accordance with the method of claim 34.

36. A method of coupling substrates together, the steps comprising:

introducing a first substrate;

introducing a second substrate;

placing the first substrate adjacent to the second substrate;

forming a seal between the first substrate and the third substrate so that a cell is formed between the first substrate and the second substrate; and

injecting an optical laminate into the cell from a bottom portion of the cell thereby coupling the first substrate to the second substrate.

37. The method of claim 36 wherein the first substrate is a liquid crystal display (LCD) substrate, and wherein the second substrate is a protective substrate.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the LCD substrate comprises a polarizing film attached to a surface of the LCD substrate.