Method and system for fabricating an electrooptical device

Details Method and system for fabricating an electrooptical device Method and system for fabricating an electrooptical device

1999-07-21

2001-11-20

Ton, Toan (Department: 2871)

Liquid crystal cells, elements and systems

Nominal manufacturing methods or post manufacturing...

C349S106000, C349S138000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06320640

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of fabricating liquid-crystal electrooptical devices using flexible film substrates and also to a system for fabricating such liquid-crystal electrooptical devices using flexible film substrates.
2. Description of the Related Art
A liquid-crystal electrooptical device is known as a thin, small-sized, lightweight display device. The liquid-crystal electrooptical device comprises a pair of substrates spaced several micrometers from each other and a liquid crystal material held between the substrates. The substrates are required to transmit visible light and so glass substrates are generally used as the substrates. The glass substrates have the required optical characteristics. In addition, they are inexpensive.
The liquid-crystal electrooptical device must meet the following technical requirements: (1) It is small in size and lightweight; and (2) the cost of fabricating the liquid-crystal electrooptical device is reduced and its productivity is improved.
Of these requirements, the requirement (1) is that the liquid-crystal electrooptical device is made thinner and lighter in weight. A known configuration which satisfies these requirements uses resinous substrates (generally known also as plastic substrates) transmitting light.
Where resinous substrates are employed, reductions in size and weight can be accomplished. Since the substrates themselves have flexibility, a physical stress can be applied to them, or they can be used in a curved state. These kinds of usage can further extend the application of the liquid-crystal electro-optical device.
However, where resinous substrates are used, a reduction in fabrication cost and an improvement in the productivity are not accomplished.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide techniques for fabricating liquid-crystal electrooptical devices, using flexible substrates, at low cost and with high productivity.
A system for fabricating liquid crystal cells according to the present invention comprises a first roll on which a first flexible substrate has been wound, a second roll on which a second flexible substrate has been wound, means for forming a liquid crystal material layer on the surface of the first substrate, and means for bonding together the first and second substrates
206
,
201
.
A specific example of the structure of the above-describe ed system is shown in
FIG. 1
, where a first flexible substrate
206
has been wound on a first roll
119
. A second flexible substrate
201
has been wound on a second roll
101
. A dripping device
135
acts to drip a liquid crystal material onto the surface of the first substrate
206
. A set of rolls,
137
and
138
, is the means for bonding together the first and second substrates
206
,
201
.
The flexible substrates can be made from PET (polyethylene terephthalate), PEN (polyethylene naphthalate), PES (poly-ethylene sulfite), polyimide, or PAR (polyarylate).
A method of fabricating liquid crystal cells according to the present invention consists of preparing a first flexible substrate wound on a first roll, preparing a second flexible substrate wound on a second roll, and squeezing a liquid crystal material between the first and second substrates to form an elongated liquid crystal cell.
Another method of fabricating liquid crystal cells according to the present invention consists of winding a flexible substrate on a roll, printing an orientation film on the substrate, orienting molecules of the orientation film, spraying spacers on the orientation film, and printing a sealing material. These manufacturing steps are effected successively.
A specific example of the above-described method is illustrated in FIG.
1
. An orientation film
209
is formed on the flexible substrate
206
by rolls
127
and
128
, the substrate
206
being wound on the roll
119
. Spacers
211
are sprayed. A sealing material (not shown) is printed.
Other objects and features of the invention will appear in the course of the description thereof, which follows.


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