Patent Application
20050046778
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel and a method for fabricating the same, and especially to an LCD panel having substrates thereof strongly combined together.
2. Description of Prior Art
An LCD panel generally comprises two glass substrates, a peripheral seal pattern, and a plurality of liquid crystal molecules retained between the substrates. The seal pattern is printed on one of the glass substrates, and is adhered to the other glass substrate. The substrates and the seal pattern cooperatively form a space therebetween, with the liquid crystal molecules being filled in the space.
There are generally two methods used for filling the liquid crystal molecules into the space. The first method is to fill the liquid crystal molecules through filling ports. This method comprises the following steps: firstly, printing a seal pattern on a first glass substrate, wherein the seal pattern is quadrate and has one or more gaps that function as filling ports; secondly, combining a second glass substrate with the first glass substrate and curing the seal pattern, wherein a space is enclosed by the seal pattern and the two glass substrates; thirdly, immersing the filling ports in a liquid crystal in a vacuum chamber; and finally, introducing gas into the vacuum chamber to make the liquid crystal molecules fill up the space.
The second method is the so-called one-drop-fill (ODF) method. This method comprises the following steps: firstly, printing a seal pattern on a first glass substrate, wherein the seal pattern is quadrate and continuous, and a space is enclosed by the seal pattern and the first glass substrate; secondly, putting liquid crystal molecules into the space drop by drop using a dispenser; and finally, combining a second glass substrate with the first glass substrate and curing the seal pattern.
When the glass substrates are combined in the ODF method, a distance separating the glass substrates must be highly precise. In practice, it is difficult to achieve the high level of precision desired.
Referring to
A method for producing said LCD panel comprises the following steps: firstly, forming the seal pattern 6 on the first substrate 2 to define the space for accommodating the liquid crystal layer; secondly, forming a dummy seal pattern 8 on the first substrate 2 completely enclosing the seal pattern 6, wherein a distance between the seal pattern 6 and the dummy seal pattern 8 is in the range from about 10 to 15 mm; thirdly, distributing spacers on the first substrate 2, the spacers having a predetermined size for supporting the first substrate 2 and the second substrate and forming a gap between the first substrate 2 and the second substrate; fourthly, aligning and combining together the first substrate 2 and the second substrate in a vacuum chamber; at finally, curing the seal pattern 6 and removing the dummy seal pattern 8.
Because the dummy seal pattern 8 is used during fabrication, a highly uniform gap between the first substrate 2 and second substrate can be obtained.
However, said LCD panel still has some drawbacks. Because the dummy seal pattern 8 is removed after the seal pattern 6 is cured, the two substrates are held together by the single seal pattern 6 only. In addition, because the seal pattern 6 is exposed to the external environment, it is liable to become weathered or contaminated. The seal pattern 6 may become deteriorated or damaged, thereby reducing the reliability and service lifetime of the LCD panel.
Thus, a new LCD panel and a method for fabricating the same that overcome the above-mentioned disadvantages are desired.
An object of the present invention is to provide a liquid crystal display panel having substrates thereof strongly combined together.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for fabricating the above-described liquid crystal display panel.
In order to achieve the first object set out above, a liquid crystal display panel in accordance with the present invention comprises a first substrate, a second substrate, a first seal member, a liquid crystal layer and a second seal member. The second substrate is spaced apart from the first substrate. The first seal member interconnects the first substrate and the second substrate, and defines a cell area therebetween. The liquid crystal layer is accommodated in the cell area. The second seal member encloses the first seal member, and is spaced a distance from the first seal member.
In order to achieve the second object set out above, a method for fabricating a liquid crystal display panel comprises: forming a first seal member on a first substrate, thereby defining a space for accommodating a liquid crystal layer; forming a second seal member on the first substrate or on a second substrate, the second seal member being configured to enclose the first seal member and being spaced a distance therefrom; filling a liquid crystal layer into the space; combining the first substrate and the second substrate together; and curing the first seal member and the second seal member.
The liquid crystal layer panel and the fabricating method of the present invention can enhance the combination of the first substrate and the second substrate by using the double seal members.
Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
Reference will now be made to the drawings to describe the present invention in detail.
Referring to
The first seal pattern 111 and the second seal pattern 113 are provided between the first and second substrates 11, 13 to seal the first and the second substrates 11, 13 together. Each of the first and second seal patterns 111, 113 is a continuous body, with the second seal pattern 113 enclosing the first seal pattern 111. A uniform distance D between the first seal pattern 111 and the second seal pattern 113 is in the range from about 10 mm to about 50 mm. The first seal pattern 111 and the second seal pattern 113 are made of a same material, such as an ultraviolet cured sealing material or a thermosetting sealing material. Furthermore, spacers 17 are integrated in the first seal pattern 111 and the second seal pattern 113, to enhance the hardness thereof. The spacers 17 are columnar glass fibers. A proportion of the spacers 17 to the seal patterns 111, 113 is in the range from about 0.5 wt % to about 2 wt %.
In assembly, the first substrate 11 and the second substrate 13 are combined together by the first and the second seal patterns 111, 113. The first seal pattern 111, the first substrate 11 and the second substrate 13 cooperatively define a cell area (not labeled) therebetween, in which the liquid crystal layer 15 is accommodated. In addition, a plurality of spacers 19 is distributed in the liquid crystal layer 15. The hardness of the seal patterns 111, 113 helps ensure that a uniform gap d is maintained between the first substrate 11 and the second substrate 13.
As described above, the LCD panel 10 of present invention has the first substrate 11 and the second substrate 13 securely combined together by use of the dual seal patterns 111, 113. In addition, because each of the seal patterns 111, 113 is a continuous body, the space between the first seal pattern 111 and the second seal pattern 113 can be a vacuum. The vacuum can strengthen the combination of the first substrate 11 with the second substrate 13.
Furthermore, because the seal patterns 111, 113 are made of the same material, the gap d between the first substrate 11 and the second substrate 13 is uniform. Moreover, the second seal pattern 113 protects the first seal pattern 111 and the liquid crystal layer 15 from weathering and external contaminants. That is, the double layered seal pattern configuration reduces the risk of deterioration of the liquid crystal layer 15, and improves the reliability and working lifetime of the LCD panel 10.
In alternative embodiments, a width W1 of the first seal pattern 111 and a width W2 of the second seal pattern 113 can be increased in order to achieve an even stronger combination of the first and second substrates 11, 13. The first seal pattern 111 and the second seal pattern 113 can be made of a material having both ultraviolet curing characteristics and thermosetting characteristics. The glass spacers 17 can instead be replaced by spherical silicate spacers, which can provide even more uniform spacing between the first and second substrates 11, 13.
Referring to
In step 501, the first seal pattern 111 is printed on the inner surface 115 of the first substrate 11 to define the cell area for accommodating the liquid crystal layer 15. Alternatively, the first seal pattern 111 can be formed on the inner surface 115 by way of a deposition process. Spacers 17 are incorporated in the first seal pattern 111, to enhance the hardness thereof. The spacers 17 are columnar glass fibers, and a proportion of the spacers 17 to the first seal pattern 111 is in the range from about 0.5 wt % to about 2 wt %.
In step 503, the second seal pattern 113 having the same material as the first seal pattern 111 is printed on the inner surface 115 of the first substrate 11 or on the second substrate 13. The second seal pattern 113 is configured to enclose the first seal pattern 111. The distance D between the first seal pattern 111 and the second seal pattern 113 is between about 10 mm and about 50 mm.
In step 505, the liquid crystal layer 15 is filled into the cell area by the one-drop-fill method, and the spacers 19 are distributed in the liquid crystal layer 15. Alternatively, before step 501, a photo resist layer can be deposited on the inner surface 115 of the first substrate 11 or on the second substrate 13. The photo resist layer is then exposed and developed to form the spacers 19.
In step 507, the first substrate 11 and the second substrate 13 are combined together under vacuum. This ensures that the gap d between the first substrate 11 and the second substrate 13 is uniform.
In step 509, the first seal pattern 111 and the second seal pattern 113 are cured by ultraviolet radiation. The cured seal patterns 111, 113 firmly adhere the first substrate 11 and the second substrate 13 together. Alternatively, if the first seal pattern 111 and the second seal pattern 113 are made of a thermosetting sealing material, then the seal patterns 111, 113 are cured by heating.
It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 92123947 | Aug 2003 | TW | national |
