Liquid crystal light modulating device, and a manufacturing method and a manufacturing apparatus thereof
First Claim
1. A method of manufacturing a liquid crystal light modulating device including a first substrate and a second substrate, at least one of which is flexible, a liquid crystal material filled between the first and second substrates, and a seal surrounding the liquid crystal material to prevent the liquid crystal material from leaking, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing the seal on at least one of the first and second substrates, the step (a) including the steps of;
(a1) providing the seal which is not hardened on at least one of the first and second substrates; and
(a2) incompletely hardening the seal after the step (a1);
(b) dispensing the liquid crystal material onto the first substrate; and
(c) placing, after the execution of the steps (a) and (b), the second substrate onto the first substrate and hardening the seal to join the first and second substrates together.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A liquid crystal display device which has a liquid crystal composition between a first substrate and a flexible second substrate. The liquid crystal composition is filled between the substrates by being dispensed on the first substrate and spread uniformly while the second substrate is being pressed against the first substrate by a roller, and the liquid crystal composition is sealed by sealing resin provided on the sides of the substrates. The gap between the substrates is maintained by spherical spacers and/or a resin structure.
72 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A method of manufacturing a liquid crystal light modulating device including a first substrate and a second substrate, at least one of which is flexible, a liquid crystal material filled between the first and second substrates, and a seal surrounding the liquid crystal material to prevent the liquid crystal material from leaking, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing the seal on at least one of the first and second substrates, the step (a) including the steps of;
(a1) providing the seal which is not hardened on at least one of the first and second substrates; and
(a2) incompletely hardening the seal after the step (a1);
(b) dispensing the liquid crystal material onto the first substrate; and
(c) placing, after the execution of the steps (a) and (b), the second substrate onto the first substrate and hardening the seal to join the first and second substrates together. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
(d) placing the first substrate on a support, wherein the step (b) is executed after the step (d).
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5. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step (b) comprises the steps of:
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(b1) placing the first substrate onto a support; and
(b2) dispensing the liquid crystal material onto the first substrate placed on said support.
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6. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of:
(d) providing, before the step (c), a resin structure on at least one of the first and second substrates to be located in a light modulating area.
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7. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step (c) comprises the steps of:
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(c1) pressing the first substrate against the second substrate;
(c2) heating the seal; and
(c3) cooling the seal after the step (c2).
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8. A method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the steps (c2) and (c3) are executed during the step (c1).
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9. A method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the seal is incompletely hardened by heat during the step (a2), and wherein a heating temperature during the step (a2) is lower than a heating temperature during the step (c2).
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10. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the seal is incompletely hardened by heat during the step (a2).
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11. A liquid crystal light modulating device comprising:
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a first substrate and a second substrate, at least one of which is flexible;
a liquid crystal material filled between the first and second substrates; and
a seal surrounding the liquid crystal material to prevent the liquid crystal material from leaking;
wherein the liquid crystal light modulating device is manufactured by executing the steps of;
(a) providing the seal on at least one of the first and second substrates, the step (a) including the steps of;
(a1) providing the seal which is not hardened on at least one of the first and second substrates; and
(a2) incompletely hardening the seal after the step (a1);
(b) dispensing the liquid crystal material onto the first substrate; and
(c) placing, after the execution of the steps (a) and (b), the second substrate onto the first substrate and hardening the seal to join the first and second substrates together. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
a resin structure located within a light modulating area of the first and second substrates, said resin structure having been provided on at least one of the first and second substrates before the step (c).
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13. A liquid crystal light modulating device as claimed in claim 12, wherein said resin structure bonds the first and second substrates together.
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14. A method of manufacturing a liquid crystal light modulating device including a first substrate and a second substrate, at least one of which is flexible, a liquid crystal material filled between the first and second substrates and a seal surrounding said liquid crystal material to prevent said liquid crystal material from leaking, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing the seal on the second substrate, (b) dispensing the liquid crystal material on the first substrate;
(c) providing a plurality of resin-coated spacers on at least one of the first and second substrates to be located in a light modulating area; and
(d) placing, after the execution of the steps (a) through (c), the second substrate onto the first substrate and hardening the seal to join the first and second substrates together. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
(b1) placing the first substrate onto a support; and
(b2) dispensing the liquid crystal material onto the first substrate placed on said support.
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16. A method as claimed in claim 14, wherein, in the step (d), said resin-coated spacers are provided on the second substrate.
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17. A method of manufacturing a liquid crystal light modulating device including a first substrate and a second substrate, at least one of which is flexible, a liquid crystal material filled between the first and second substrates and a seal surrounding said liquid crystal material to prevent said liquid crystal material from leaking, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) forming an alignment layer on at least one of the first and second substrates inside of an area to be surrounded by the seal;
(b) providing the seal on the second substrate;
(c) dispensing the liquid crystal material on the first substrate; and
(d) placing, after the execution of the steps (a) through (c), the second substrate on the first substrate and hardening the seal to join the first and second substrates together.
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18. A method of manufacturing a liquid crystal light modulating device including a first substrate and a second substrate, at least one of which is flexible, a liquid crystal material filled between the first and second substrates and a seal surrounding said liquid crystal material to prevent said liquid crystal material from leaking, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing the seal on at least one of the first and second substrates;
(b) providing a resin structure on at least one of the first and second substrates to be located in a light modulating area, said resin structure being made of a material identical to that of the seal;
(c) providing spacers on at least one of the first and second substrates;
(d) dispensing the liquid crystal material on at least one of the first and second substrates; and
(e) placing, after the execution of the steps (a) through (d), the second substrate on the first substrate and hardening the seal to join the first and second substrates together. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method of manufacturing a liquid crystal light modulating device including a first substrate and a second substrate, at least one of which is flexible, a liquid crystal material filled between the first and second substrates and a seal surrounding said liquid crystal material to prevent said liquid crystal material from leaking, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing the seal on the second substrate;
(b) providing a resin structure on the first substrate to be located in a light modulating area;
(c) dispensing the liquid crystal material onto at least one of the first and second substrates; and
(d) placing, after the execution of the steps (a) through (c), the second substrate onto the first substrate and hardening the seal to join the first and second substrates together. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
(e) providing, before the step (d), spacers on at least one of the first and second substrates.
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29. A method as claimed in claim 28, wherein said spacers are provided on the second substrate.
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30. A method as claimed in claim 23, wherein said liquid crystal material is dispensed on the first substrate in the step (c).
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31. A method of manufacturing a liquid crystal light modulating device including a first substrate and a second substrate, at least one of which is flexible, a liquid crystal material filled between the first and second substrates and a seal surrounding said liquid crystal material to prevent said liquid crystal material from leaking, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing the seal on at least one of the first and second substrates;
(b) providing a resin structure on the first substrate to be located in a light modulating area;
(c) providing spacers on the second substrate;
(d) dispensing the liquid crystal material onto at least one of the first and second substrates; and
(e) placing, after the execution of the steps (a) through (d), the second substrate onto the first substrate and hardening the seal to join the first and second substrates together. - View Dependent Claims (32)
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Specification