JP2009080285A - Method for manufacturing liquid crystal optical - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the number of liquid crystal injection tools required for liquid crystal injection, and to conduct the liquid crystal injection within a short time period, without transfer, based on motion of a transfer mechanism, or the like, even if a small number of the liquid crystal injection tools is used. <P>SOLUTION: The method for manufacturing a liquid crystal optical device includes laminating a sealing material to hold a liquid crystal in a liquid crystal display region between a first substrate and a second substrate; forming a liquid crystal cell, in which the periphery of the liquid crystal display region is surrounded by the sealing material, except for a liquid crystal injection port; injecting the liquid crystal into the respective liquid crystal display regions, from the liquid crystal injection ports with respect to a cell group comprising a plurality of liquid crystal cells, aligned in the aligning direction of the liquid crystal cells; and subsequently cutting and dividing the cell group into single liquid crystal cells, wherein the liquid crystal is supplied to the liquid crystal injection port, by making the liquid crystal flow along a groove formed with two stoppers. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a liquid crystal optical element, and more particularly to an injection method for injecting liquid crystal into a liquid crystal cell.

  Conventional liquid crystal optical elements are manufactured by the following steps. First, a wiring layer, a pixel electrode, an active element, a color filter, an alignment film, and the like are appropriately formed in a predetermined pattern on the inner surfaces of the two substrates, and then on one of the two substrates. An uncured sealing material is applied so as to surround the liquid crystal display area. At this time, a part of the sealing material is opened to form a liquid crystal injection port for injecting liquid crystal.

  Next, the other substrate is pressure-bonded onto one substrate, the sealing material is cured with the substrate being held at a predetermined interval to form an empty liquid crystal cell, and at least one of the substrates is cut. The liquid crystal inlet formed in the sealing material is exposed to the outside. When this liquid crystal cell is housed in the chamber and the pressure is reduced to close the liquid crystal injection port with liquid crystal, and the pressure in the chamber is returned to normal pressure in this state, the liquid crystal that has blocked the liquid crystal injection port Is injected into the inside of the sealing material. After the liquid crystal injection is completed, the liquid crystal injection port is sealed.

  In the liquid crystal injection step, a method of injecting liquid crystal by immersing a large empty cell including a plurality of liquid crystal display areas in liquid crystal disposed in a chamber is conventionally known. However, in such a method, the liquid crystal adheres not only to the inside of the sealing material but also between the substrates outside the sealing material and to the entire outer surface of the substrate. It has been pointed out that many times the amount of liquid crystal is used, and that a large amount of expensive liquid crystal causes an increase in manufacturing cost.

  Therefore, instead of immersing the entire substrate in the liquid crystal, a method of reducing the useless amount of liquid crystal by immersing only the liquid crystal injection port in the liquid crystal of the liquid crystal dish has been proposed and widely used. In this method, when the injection port of the liquid crystal cell is immersed in the liquid crystal in the liquid crystal dish, the liquid crystal adheres to the cell end surface around the injection port, so that the loss of the liquid crystal increases. In addition, since the liquid crystal cells are immersed in the liquid crystal in the liquid crystal dish one after another, there is a drawback that fine dust on the surface of the liquid crystal cells is mixed into the liquid crystal.

  Therefore, a liquid crystal injection method for reducing the amount of liquid crystal used has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In this Patent Document 1, a plurality of liquid crystal display regions surrounded by a sealing material are arranged in a line to form a strip-shaped cell, and liquid crystal is placed outside each liquid crystal injection port on an extension provided on one substrate. The method of dripping is described, and further, it is described that the strip-shaped cell is inclined so that the liquid can be easily injected into the cell by its own weight.

FIG. 12 is a view showing a method of manufacturing the conventional liquid crystal optical element. As shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B, a plurality of liquid crystal cells 111 are arranged on a substrate 110, and the substrate 110 is inclinedly supported. The liquid crystal 40 is dropped with respect to the liquid crystal injection port 112 of each liquid crystal cell 111 by being inclined and supported by the table 120. The liquid crystal 40 is dropped into each liquid crystal injection port 112 by disposing a liquid crystal injector on each liquid crystal injection port 112.

JP-A-11-52398 (page 3-4, Fig. 1-3)

  In the above-described strip-shaped cell, a plurality of liquid crystal display regions are arranged in a line, and the liquid crystal is dropped on the substrate outside each liquid crystal injection port for injecting liquid crystal into the liquid crystal display region. The liquid crystal must be dropped individually for each liquid crystal inlet. Therefore, prepare a liquid crystal liquid injector for each liquid crystal inlet, or place the liquid crystal injector movably with respect to the dropping position of each liquid crystal inlet and move the liquid crystal injector It is necessary to drop the liquid crystal in order.

  In the method in which the liquid crystal injectors are arranged one-on-one with respect to each liquid crystal inlet, there is a problem that a plurality of liquid crystal injectors are required by the number of liquid crystal inlets. Further, the method of moving the liquid crystal injector with respect to the dropping position of each liquid crystal injection port has a problem that a moving mechanism for moving the liquid crystal injector is required. In any configuration, it is necessary to provide a plurality of liquid crystal injectors and liquid crystal injector moving mechanisms in the vacuum vessel, and there is a problem that the vacuum vessel is enlarged, and the vacuum vessel is enlarged. Also, a large exhaust mechanism for evacuating the vacuum chamber is required. Also, with such a configuration, the exhaust time for evacuating the inside of the container becomes longer, the manufacturing time of the liquid crystal optical element becomes longer, and the manufacturing time of the liquid crystal optical element becomes longer.

  In addition, the configuration for moving the liquid crystal injector requires a control device for positioning the rectangular cell, and the configuration is complicated. For example, dust generated from the moving mechanism provided in the vacuum vessel There is also a problem of becoming a pollution source.

  Accordingly, the present invention aims to solve the above-described problems and simplify liquid crystal injection, to reduce the number of liquid crystal injectors required for liquid crystal injection, and to reduce the number of liquid crystal injectors. An object of the present invention is to perform liquid crystal injection in a short time without moving by the operation of a moving mechanism or the like.

  Another object of the present invention is to reduce the size of a vacuum container used for liquid crystal injection and to shorten the time required for liquid crystal injection by simplifying the configuration required for liquid crystal injection.

  The manufacturing method of the liquid crystal optical element of the present invention has a special mechanism by utilizing the wettability of the liquid crystal to the substrate surface in order to simplify the liquid crystal injection by reducing the number of liquid crystal injectors for dropping the liquid crystal. In this case, the liquid crystal dropped on one portion of the substrate is guided to a plurality of liquid crystal injection ports.

  The method for producing a liquid crystal optical element of the present invention forms a liquid crystal cell that sandwiches liquid crystal via a sealing material formed surrounding a space region between the first substrate and the second substrate excluding the liquid crystal injection port, Manufacture of a liquid crystal optical element in which a plurality of liquid crystal cells are arranged in one direction, a liquid crystal is injected into each space region from a liquid crystal injection port, and then the cell group is cut and divided into a single liquid crystal cell. In the method, the liquid crystal is injected from the liquid crystal injection port in the cell group by the first stopper and the second stopper projecting from the first and second substrate end faces in the first and second substrates, and in the cell group. It is characterized by sandwiching the surface of one substrate and the surface of a second substrate and dropping liquid crystal into a groove formed by the first and second stoppers and the end surfaces of the first and second substrates. .

  This eliminates the need to dispose a liquid crystal injector for each liquid crystal injection port for a plurality of liquid crystal display regions arranged in the cell group. In addition, it is possible to supply liquid crystal to a plurality of liquid crystal inlets with a small number of liquid crystal injectors and to inject liquid crystals into the liquid crystal display region without performing an operation of moving the liquid crystal injectors with respect to each liquid crystal inlet. it can.

  Further, in the method for manufacturing a liquid crystal optical element of the present invention, one end in the arrangement direction of the liquid crystal cell is held at a higher position than the other end, the liquid crystal is dropped into the groove at the one end, and the one end toward the other end. Thus, the liquid crystal is supplied to each liquid crystal injection port in order by flowing the liquid crystal down.

  The method for producing a liquid crystal optical element of the present invention is characterized in that the step of dropping the liquid crystal into the groove is performed by vertically setting the cell group.

  Manufacturing in this manner eliminates the need for a special configuration for supplying liquid crystal to the liquid crystal inlet on the substrate surface. The liquid crystal flow control performed along the groove can be performed by gravity and wettability of the liquid crystal with respect to the substrate surface, and does not require a special driving mechanism, thus simplifying the configuration in the vacuum vessel. be able to. Further, according to the present method, the capacity of the vacuum vessel can be reduced, so that the time for evacuation can be shortened.

  In the method for manufacturing a liquid crystal optical element of the present invention, in the adjacent liquid crystal cells of the cell group, the seal material in the portion where both liquid crystal cells are adjacent is a common seal material formed integrally. It is characterized by.

  The method for producing a liquid crystal optical element of the present invention is characterized in that a cutting line is provided on a common sealing material, and the cell group is separated into a single liquid crystal cell by cutting along the cutting line. To do.

  Further, according to the method for manufacturing a liquid crystal optical element of the present invention, in the adjacent liquid crystal cells of the cell group, the liquid crystal cells are connected by connecting portions between adjacent portions on the extending portion side, and the connecting portions are adjacent liquid crystals. It is characterized in that liquid crystal is prevented from entering the cell gap.

  In the liquid crystal optical element manufacturing method of the present invention, the connecting portion is formed integrally with a sealing material surrounding a liquid crystal display area of each liquid crystal cell.

  In addition, the method for producing a liquid crystal optical element of the present invention is characterized in that the connecting portion is cut to separate the liquid crystal cell from the cell group.

  In the method of manufacturing a liquid crystal optical element according to the present invention, the cell group includes a third substrate disposed on the opposite side of the second substrate from the first substrate with a predetermined gap through another sealing material. And the second substrate end surface is formed so as to protrude from the first substrate end surface and the third substrate end surface of the third substrate, and the liquid crystal is supplied from the first stopper, the first substrate end surface, and the first substrate end surface. The first liquid crystal is dropped into the first groove formed by the two substrate end faces, and the second groove is formed by the second stopper, the third substrate end face, and the second substrate end face. It is characterized by being performed by dropping liquid crystal.

  In the method of manufacturing a liquid crystal optical element according to the present invention, the surface of the outermost substrate is sandwiched between the first and second stoppers in a state where two or more cell groups are stacked, and the first and second stoppers are used. Different liquid crystals are alternately dropped into a groove formed by the stopper and a groove formed by the second substrates in the adjacent cell group.

  As described above, the liquid crystal dropped in the respective grooves flows down along the grooves, and the liquid crystals are sequentially supplied to the respective liquid crystal inlets during the flow. And if a liquid crystal is dripped simultaneously to the groove | channel of each layer, a liquid crystal can be simultaneously injected into the liquid crystal cell which overlaps.

According to the method for manufacturing a liquid crystal optical element of the present invention, liquid crystal injection can be easily performed. In liquid crystal injection, liquid crystal is dropped on a part of a cell group in which a plurality of liquid crystal cells are arranged, and the supply of this liquid crystal to the liquid crystal injection port is guided through a groove formed by a stopper that sandwiches the cell group and the end face of the substrate. As a result, the number of liquid crystal injectors required for liquid crystal injection can be reduced. Further, even with a small number of liquid crystal injectors, liquid crystal injection can be performed in a short time without performing movement due to the operation of a moving mechanism or the like.

  Further, by simplifying the configuration required for liquid crystal injection, the vacuum container used for liquid crystal injection can be reduced in size, and the time required for liquid crystal injection can be shortened.

  The liquid crystal optical element obtained by the manufacturing method of the present invention is a liquid crystal cell in which an element substrate and a counter substrate are bonded via a sealing material and a liquid crystal display region is included by the sealing material. This liquid crystal cell is formed by cutting a cell group of a plurality of liquid crystal cells in which liquid crystal display regions are arranged in a line. Note that the cell group having the liquid crystal cell can be formed by cutting a plurality of liquid crystal cells formed in a plane.

  As described above, in the following description, the liquid crystal optical element will be mainly described by taking a liquid crystal optical element such as a liquid crystal display device constituted by two substrates and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the substrates as an example. The liquid crystal layer is not limited to a single layer but can be a plurality of layers, and the liquid crystal optical element is not limited to a display device, but as an optical element such as an optical switch or a wavefront control of laser light emitted from a laser light source. The present invention can also be applied to the optical element used.

First, the aspect of the manufacturing method of the liquid crystal optical element of this invention is demonstrated.
FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the outline of the method for producing a liquid crystal optical element of the present invention. FIG. 1A is a view showing the form of two first substrates and a second substrate, and FIG. 1B is a diagram showing a plurality of substrates formed by bonding the first substrate and the second substrate. It is drawing which shows the cell group which has a liquid crystal cell. FIG. 1C is a drawing showing a liquid crystal injection process, which is a characteristic part of the method for manufacturing a liquid crystal optical element of the present invention.

  First, as shown in FIG. 1A, the liquid crystal display area 21 of the liquid crystal cell is formed by being surrounded by a sealing material 22 and sandwiched between a first substrate 11 and a second substrate 12. A liquid crystal cell is formed by injecting liquid crystal into the region 21.

  In FIG. 1A, a plurality of sealing materials 22 are formed in a line on the surface of the second substrate 12, and a plurality of liquid crystal display regions 21 surrounded by the sealing materials 22 are arranged. In addition, since the liquid crystal display region 21 is configured to be sandwiched between the surface of the first substrate 11 and the surface of the second substrate 12, the plurality of sealing materials 22 are not limited to the surface of the second substrate 12, You may form in the 1st board | substrate 11 side.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 1B, in this cell group 10, a liquid crystal display region 21 is formed between the first substrate 11 and the second substrate 12, and a sealing material 22 for storing the liquid crystal is sandwiched therebetween. Provided. The liquid crystal is injected into the liquid crystal display region 21 surrounded by the sealing material 22 after the first substrate 11 and the second substrate 12 are bonded together. For this reason, the sealing material 22 does not surround the entire outer periphery of the liquid crystal display region 21, and a part where the sealing material 22 is not provided is formed as a liquid crystal injection port 23 for injecting liquid crystal. The liquid crystal injection port 23 is formed at a position exposed to the outside in the cell group 10.

In FIG. 1B, the liquid crystal injection port 23 extends along one substrate end surface 15 in the direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction of the liquid crystal cells 20 of the first substrate 11 and the second substrate 12 constituting the cell group 10. It is provided at the position where it is exposed. On the other hand, the second substrate 12 includes an extending portion 14 that extends in a direction orthogonal to the arrangement direction of the liquid crystal cells of the cell group 10 on the opposite side of the substrate end surface 15 of the first substrate 11. The extension 14 is formed by exposing an external connection terminal for supplying power to the liquid crystal of the liquid crystal cell.

  The cell group 10 is a portion corresponding to a column of the liquid crystal cells 20 of the cell group 10 from mother glass in which a large number of liquid crystal cells 20 in which two glass substrates are bonded with a sealing material 22 are arranged in a matrix. Can be manufactured by cutting out with the size of the second substrate 12 and then with the size of the first substrate 11.

  In the state shown in FIG. 1B, the first substrate 11 and the second substrate 12 are simply overlapped, and the liquid crystal display region 21 surrounded by the first substrate 11, the second substrate 12, and the sealing material 22. Since no liquid crystal is injected yet, each liquid crystal cell 20 is in an empty cell state.

  Next, when the liquid crystal is injected into each liquid crystal display region 21 provided in the cell group 10, the cell group 10 including the first substrate 11 and the second substrate 12 as shown in FIG. It is clamped with the stopper 31. At this time, it is important that the two stoppers 30 and 31 are sandwiched between the first and second substrates 11 and 12 in a state of protruding from the substrate end surfaces. As a result, a groove 35 is formed by the stoppers 30 and 31 and the first and second substrates 11 and 12, and the liquid crystal 40 is dropped into an inner region of the groove 35, whereby the liquid crystal display region is formed from the liquid crystal injection port 23. The liquid crystal 40 is injected into the inside 21. At this time, the cell group 10 is sandwiched between the stoppers in a vertically standing state.

  Further, in FIG. 1C, only one liquid crystal cell 20 is shown in an enlarged manner, but the liquid crystal injection port 23 extends in a direction orthogonal to the arrangement direction of the liquid crystal cells 20 and reaches the substrate end face 15 to form a cell group. It is assumed that a plurality of liquid crystal cells 20 are formed along the arrangement direction of ten liquid crystal cells 20.

  Next, the liquid crystal injection process in the liquid crystal cell manufacturing method will be described in more detail. FIG. 2 shows a state of a process before injecting liquid crystal into each liquid crystal cell of the cell group in the method for manufacturing a liquid crystal optical element of the present invention.

  First, as shown in FIG. 2, when liquid crystal is injected into the liquid crystal display region 21 in each liquid crystal cell 20 of the cell group 10, a cell is formed by a stopper 30 and a stopper 31 protruding from the substrate end surface of the cell group 10. The outer substrate surface of the group 10 is sandwiched, and the groove portion 35 is formed by the stopper 30, the substrate end surface 15 of the cell group 10, and the stopper 31.

  Next, liquid crystal injection performed following FIG. 2 will be described. FIG. 3A shows a state in which the cell group is sandwiched between two stoppers, and FIG. 3B shows a state in which the cell group is tilted and fixed by the two stoppers. FIG. 3 (c) is a drawing showing a state in which liquid crystal is dropped into the groove and the liquid crystal flows down along the substrate end surface. FIG. 3 (d) shows the relationship between the cell group and the liquid crystal at that time. FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 3A, the cell group 10 is held by the stoppers 30 and 31 by a receiving block 53 fixed to the jig 50 and a pressing plate 52 that operates by turning the thumbscrew 51. . By doing so, the above-described groove portion 35 can be formed by the stoppers 30 and 31 and the substrate end face 15 of the cell group 10.

  The jig 50 on which the cell group 10, the stoppers 30 and 31, the receiving block 53, and the pressing plate 52 are placed is formed with an inclination as shown in FIG. The substrate end face 15 is inclined by placing the outer substrate surface of the cell group 10 on the inclined surface with the stoppers 30 and 31.

  Thereafter, the cell group 10 sandwiched between the stoppers 30 and 31 is placed in a vacuum container (not shown), and the inside of the container is decompressed.

  Next, as shown in FIGS. 3C and 3D, the groove portion 35 is formed at one end of the cell group 10 held at a high position and sandwiched between the stoppers 30 and 31. Then, the liquid crystal 40 is dropped using a dispenser.

  Then, the liquid crystal 40 dropped on the groove 35 at one end of the cell group 10 held at the high position flows down toward the low position side as shown by the arrow in FIG. The liquid crystal cell 20 is supplied to each liquid crystal inlet 23.

  Next, a process of injecting liquid crystal into the liquid crystal display area in the cell group, which is performed subsequent to FIG. 3, will be described. FIG. 4A is a diagram showing a state in which the liquid crystal flows down to the cell group without the stopper, and FIG. 4B is a diagram showing a state in which the liquid crystal enters each liquid crystal display area. This figure (c) is the figure which showed the state where each liquid crystal display area was filled with the liquid crystal, this figure (d) shows the state which cut | disconnected the cell group and divided | segmented into each liquid crystal cell. FIG. As shown above, liquid crystal should have been injected into the groove at one end of the cell group held at a high position in a tilted state, but here, for convenience of explanation, the cell group is Shown horizontally.

  The liquid crystal 40 dripped at the high position P1 shown in FIG. 4A flows down toward the low position P2. In FIG. 4A, a stopper is not shown, and the liquid crystal 40 moves on the substrate end face 15 of the cell group 10, and the liquid crystal is formed on the surface of the liquid crystal inlet 23 provided exposed on the substrate end face 15. 40 is supplied.

  Here, since there is a stopper (not shown), the liquid crystal 40 flows down toward the low position P <b> 2 along the substrate end surface 15 of the cell group 10. Note that the liquid crystal display region 21 surrounded by the sealing material 22 is already in a vacuum state at this time, so that there is no pressure difference inside and outside. Therefore, in this state, the liquid crystal 40 is not injected into the liquid crystal cell 20 from each liquid crystal injection port 23.

  And after the liquid crystal 40 is supplied to the surface of each liquid crystal inlet 23, the inside of a vacuum vessel is returned to atmospheric pressure. The liquid crystal display region 21 surrounded by the sealing material 22 and closed by the liquid crystal 40 to which each liquid crystal injection port 23 is supplied is connected to the outside of the liquid crystal display region 21 by returning the pressure in the vacuum vessel to atmospheric pressure. A pressure difference is generated between the two and a negative pressure state is established.

  As a result, as shown in FIG. 4B, a differential pressure is generated between the liquid crystal display region 21 and the outside air, and the liquid crystal 40 supplied to each liquid crystal inlet 23 flows from the liquid crystal inlet 23. It is injected into each liquid crystal cell 20.

  Then, when the interior of the container is returned to atmospheric pressure and a predetermined time has elapsed, as shown in FIG. 4C, each liquid crystal display region 21 is filled with liquid crystals 40a to 40e. Since the liquid crystals 40a to 40e supplied to the liquid crystal injection port 23 are performed using the fact that the pressure in the liquid crystal cell is lower than the external pressure, the liquid crystal cell 20 is in a direction orthogonal to the alignment direction of the liquid crystal cell 20. Even in a flat state, it can be injected into the liquid crystal cell 20.

  Finally, the cell group 10 is cut into single liquid crystal cells 20 as shown in FIG. 4D by means such as scribing or dicing. The target liquid crystal cell 20 is completed through the above steps.

  In the above description, the example in which the liquid crystal 40 flows down along the groove portion formed by standing the cell group 10 vertically is shown. However, the cell group 10 does not necessarily have to stand vertically, and the groove portion is tilted in the groove portion. The liquid crystal 40 may flow down along.

  Moreover, the location where the liquid crystal 40 is dropped on the cell group 10 described above is not necessarily limited to one for each cell, and is inclined with respect to the vicinity of the high position P1 in FIG. 4 as necessary. The liquid crystal 40 may be dropped at two central positions of the cell group 10, and the liquid crystal dropped at each position may be injected through each liquid crystal injection port.

  Next, another manufacturing method for preventing liquid crystal from entering the gap between adjacent liquid crystal cells will be described. In this manufacturing method, when the liquid crystal flows down along the groove formed by the two stoppers and the substrate end face of the cell group, the liquid crystal cell is manufactured by the steps shown in FIGS. This is a method for preventing liquid crystal from being injected not only into the liquid crystal cell but also into this gap. 5 and 6 are diagrams for explaining the first embodiment, and FIGS. 7 and 8 are diagrams for explaining the second embodiment.

First, a 1st form is demonstrated using FIG. 5, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, the first form is a form in which adjacent liquid crystal cells 20 are connected by a connecting part 24, and the liquid crystal supplied to the groove part is connected to the adjacent liquid crystal cell by this connecting part 24. Prevent entry into the gaps. As a result, the amount of liquid crystal used in the injection process into the liquid crystal display region 21 can be reduced as much as possible.

  Each liquid crystal cell 20 formed in this way can be separated into individual liquid crystal cells 20 by cutting a group of cells formed in a line along a cutting line 60 passing over the connecting portion 24. .

  The connecting portion 24 may be formed integrally or separately from the same material as the sealing material 22, or may be formed from the same material different from the sealing material 22. 24 are preferably formed integrally and simultaneously.

  Next, the manufacturing method of the first embodiment will be described. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining steps from liquid crystal injection to separation of each liquid crystal cell in the first embodiment. Note that. This figure (a) shows the state where the liquid crystal flows down after dropping the liquid crystal on the substrate end face of the cell group, this figure (b) (c) shows the state where liquid crystal is injected, this figure (d) Shows a state where each liquid crystal cell is separated.

  In the state of FIG. 6A, the liquid crystal 40 dropped on the high position P1 flows down toward the low position P2. In FIG. 6A, a stopper is not shown, and the liquid crystal 40 moves along the substrate end surface 15 of the cell group 10 and is exposed to the surface of the liquid crystal inlet 23 provided exposed on the substrate end surface 15. The liquid crystal 40 is supplied.

  Note that when the liquid crystal 40 is supplied to the surface of the liquid crystal injection port 23, the connecting portion 24 prevents the liquid crystal 40 from entering a gap formed between the liquid crystal cells 20.

  After the liquid crystal 40 is supplied to the liquid crystal injection port 23, the pressure inside the vacuum vessel is returned to the atmospheric pressure, so that a differential pressure is generated between the liquid crystal display region 21 and the outside air as shown in FIG. 6B. Thus, the liquid crystals 40a to 40e supplied to the liquid crystal injection port 23 are injected from the liquid crystal injection port 23 into the liquid crystal cell.

  When the interior of the container is returned to atmospheric pressure and a predetermined time has elapsed, the liquid crystal display region 21 is filled with liquid crystals 40a to 40e as shown in FIG. Here, since the liquid crystals 40a to 40e do not enter between the liquid crystal cells 20, the liquid crystal 40 is abundant on the substrate end face 15 of the cell group 10, and the liquid crystal 40 injected into the liquid crystal cell is insufficient. Therefore, liquid crystal injection defects that occur can be reduced.

  Finally, as shown in FIG. 6D, the connecting portion 24 is cut simultaneously with the substrate of the cell group 10 by means such as scribing or dicing the cell group 10 along the cutting line 60 (see FIG. 5). The target liquid crystal cell 20 is completed through the above steps.

  Next, the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

  In a 2nd form, as shown in FIG. 7, in the sealing material 22, the adjacent part is formed with the common sealing material 22A. With this common sealing material, the sealing material 22 and the sealing material 22A are formed. As in the first embodiment, the liquid crystal can be prevented from entering the gap portion, and the liquid crystal required in the injection process can be prevented. Reduce the amount.

  Each liquid crystal cell 20 is separated by cutting a liquid crystal cell portion formed in a line in a cell group. In the 2nd form mentioned above, it cut | disconnects and forms along the cutting line 60 which passes on the common sealing material 22A.

  Next, a specific manufacturing method of the second embodiment will be described. FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining a process from liquid crystal injection to separation of each liquid crystal cell in the second embodiment. 8A shows a state in which the liquid crystal flows down after dropping the liquid crystal on the substrate end face of the cell group, and FIGS. 8B and 8C show a state in which liquid crystal is injected. FIG. Shows a state where each liquid crystal cell is separated.

  In the state of FIG. 8A, the liquid crystal 40 dropped on the high position P1 flows down toward the low position P2. In FIG. 8A, a stopper is not shown, and the liquid crystal 40 moves along the substrate end face 15 of the cell group 10 and is exposed to the surface of the liquid crystal inlet 23 provided exposed on the substrate end face 15. The liquid crystal 40 is supplied.

  In addition, when the liquid crystal 40 is supplied to the surface of the liquid crystal inlet 23, the common sealing material 22A prevents the liquid crystal 40 from entering the gap formed between the liquid crystal cells 20.

  Further, in the state of FIG. 8A, the width of the common sealing material 22A is set to a width obtained by combining the sealing materials 22 or a width obtained by adding a width cut by cutting to this width. The width of the sealing material 22 of each liquid crystal cell 20 after cutting can be matched with the width of other portions.

  Then, after the liquid crystal 40 is supplied to the surface of the liquid crystal inlet 23, the inside of the vacuum vessel is returned to the atmospheric pressure, so that as shown in FIG. The liquid crystal 40 that has been supplied to the liquid crystal injection port 23 due to the differential pressure is injected into the liquid crystal cell 20 from the liquid crystal injection port 23.

When the inside of the container is returned to the atmospheric pressure and a predetermined time elapses, the liquid crystal display region 21 is filled with the liquid crystals 40a to 40e as shown in FIG. At this time, since the liquid crystal 40 does not enter between the liquid crystal cells 20, the liquid crystal 40 is abundant on the substrate end face 15 of the cell group 10, and the liquid crystal 40 injected into the liquid crystal cell is insufficient. It is possible to reduce defective liquid crystal injection.

  Finally, the cell group 10 is cut along the cutting line 60 (see FIG. 7) by means of scribing or dicing, as shown in FIG. To do. The target liquid crystal cell 20 is completed through the above steps.

  In the description of Examples 1 and 2, an example in which the manufacturing method of the present invention is applied to a liquid crystal optical element having a configuration in which two substrates are stacked is shown. However, in the manufacturing method in this example, three or more substrates are used. The example applied to the liquid crystal optical element of the laminated structure is shown. In the manufacturing method of this embodiment, a manufacturing method of a liquid crystal optical element in which different liquid crystals are injected into each liquid crystal layer of a liquid crystal optical element in which two liquid crystal layers are sandwiched between three stacked substrates. Applicable. In the following description, it should be noted that the shape of the sealing material of each liquid crystal cell provided in the cell group can be applied to any of the forms shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 5, and FIG.

  First, the outline of the manufacturing method of the liquid crystal optical element of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 9A is a view showing the form of three substrates, and FIG. 9B shows a state in which a plurality of two-layer liquid crystal cells are arranged in a row in the cell group. c) shows a liquid crystal injection step, which is a characteristic part of the method of manufacturing a liquid crystal optical element of the present invention. FIG. 10A shows a state in which the cell group shown in FIG. 9B is held between two stoppers, and FIG. 10B shows that the cell group at this time is placed on the jig with an inclination. The state is shown. FIG. 10C shows a step of injecting different liquid crystals into the two groove portions of the cell group, and FIG. 10D is a drawing showing a state in which the injected liquid crystals flow down along the substrate end face.

  In FIG. 9A, the first to third substrates 11 to 13 are stacked, and a sealing material 22 is provided between the substrates, thereby forming a multilayer liquid crystal cell (here, two layers of liquid crystal cells).

  In this embodiment, seals are formed on both surfaces of the substrate 12. However, since a seal material may be provided between the substrates, the seal material 22 is formed on the first substrate 11 and the third substrate 13 side. Also good.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 9B, here, the end surface of the second substrate 12 is provided with a protrusion 16 on the liquid crystal inlet 23 side of the end surfaces of the first substrate 11 and the third substrate 13. And stack. The liquid crystal injection ports 23 are disposed so as to be exposed from the substrate end surface 15a and the substrate end surface 15b, respectively, and are formed in at least the number of cells along the alignment direction of the liquid crystal cells of the cell group 10.

  Further, the state shown in FIG. 9B is merely a superposition of the first to third substrates 11 to 13, and the liquid crystal display surrounded by the first to third substrates 11 to 13 and the sealing material 22. Since the liquid crystal is not yet injected into the region 21, each liquid crystal cell 20 is in an empty cell state.

  In the present invention, in order to inject liquid crystal into the liquid crystal cell 20 which is each liquid crystal display region 21 provided in the cell group 10, a perspective view of FIG. 9C and a cross-sectional view of FIG. As described above, the cell group 10 is sandwiched between the stopper 30 and the stopper 31. Since the method of holding the cell group 10 with the two stoppers 30 and 31 is the same as that described with reference to FIG. 3, detailed description thereof is omitted here.

  If formed in this way, the groove portion 36 can be formed by the stopper 30, the substrate end surface 15 a and the protruding portion 16, and the groove portion 37 can be further formed by the protruding portion 16, the substrate end surface 15 b and the stopper 31. In addition, as shown in FIG. 10B, the cell group 10 can be placed on the jig 50 at an angle.

  Then, as shown in FIGS. 9 (c), 10 (c) and 10 (d), the liquid crystals 41 and 42 are simultaneously supplied dropwise to the grooves 15a and 15b at one end of the cell group 10 using a dispenser. Similarly to the above, the liquid crystal cell 20 can be formed by injecting the liquid crystal 40 into the liquid crystal cell 20. In FIG. 9C, for convenience of explanation, the dimensional ratios of the substrate and the sealing material 22 are different from actual ones.

  9C shows only one liquid crystal cell in an enlarged manner, but as shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, the liquid crystal inlet 23 is orthogonal to the arrangement direction of the liquid crystal cells 20. It extends in the direction to reach the end face of the substrate, and is formed in at least the number of cells along the arrangement direction of the liquid crystal cells 20 of the cell group 10.

  As shown in FIGS. 10C and 10D, the liquid crystals 41 and 42 supplied to the high position of the inclined cell group 10 are shifted from the high position to the low position as shown by the arrows in FIG. It flows down toward the side and is supplied to each liquid crystal inlet 23 of the liquid crystal cell 20 arranged in the cell group 10. Here, since the protrusion 16 is provided on the second substrate 12, the two types of liquid crystals 41 and 42 are not mixed.

  Thereafter, after the liquid crystals 41 and 42 are supplied to the liquid crystal injection port 23, the inside of the vacuum vessel is returned to the atmospheric pressure, and the liquid crystals 41 and 42 are injected into the liquid crystal display region 21, as in the above-described embodiment. Individual liquid crystal cells 20 can be obtained by cutting them individually.

  Next, a method of manufacturing a liquid crystal cell having different liquid crystal layers by superimposing two cell groups of three substrates and injecting different liquid crystals at the same time as in the second embodiment will be described. . FIG. 11 is a drawing for explaining the manufacturing method of the present embodiment. FIG. 11A shows a state in which a cell group is fixed to a jig when liquid crystal is injected, and FIG. ) Shows the state of the cell group placed at an angle at that time. FIG. 11C is a diagram showing a state in which the liquid crystal is dropped into the groove portion of the cell group set in FIGS. 11A and 11B and the liquid crystal flows down along the substrate end face. In the following description, it should be noted that the shape of the sealing material of each liquid crystal cell provided in the cell group can be applied to any of the forms shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 5, and FIG.

  First, cell groups 10a and 10b shown in FIG. 11A in which three stacked substrates are fixed via a sealing material are prepared, and the two cell groups 10a and 10b are stacked and arranged. Then, the stacked two cell groups 10a and 10b are sandwiched between the stoppers 30 and 31 in the same manner as described above.

  At this time, each of the cell group 10a and the cell group 10b composed of the first substrate, the second substrate, and the third substrate is such that the first substrate or the third substrates are back to back. Laminate and place. Then, as shown in FIG. 10B, the cell groups 10 a and 10 b are placed on the surface of the jig 50 with an inclination.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 11C, the cell groups 10a and 10b sandwiched between the stoppers 30 and 31 are placed in the grooves 36, 37, and 38 in a vacuum container (not shown). The liquid crystals 41 and 42 are dropped using a liquid crystal (not shown).

The dropping of the liquid crystals 41 and 42 is performed at the high positions of the cell groups 10a and 10b having an inclination shown in FIG. As a result, as indicated by arrows in the figure, the liquid crystals 41 and 42 flow down toward the low position side and are supplied to the respective liquid crystal injection ports 23 of the liquid crystal cells 20 arranged in the cell groups 10a and 10b. Here, since the protruding portions 16a and 16b are provided in the cell groups 10a and 10b, the two types of liquid crystals 41 and 42 supplied from the dispenser do not mix.

  In addition, each cell group 10a and cell group 10b composed of the first substrate, the second substrate, and the third substrate are stacked so that the first substrate or the third substrate are back to back. Therefore, different liquid crystals 41 and 42 dropped into the grooves 36 to 38 can be simultaneously injected into the cell group 10a and the cell group 10b.

  Thereafter, as in the above-described embodiment, after the liquid crystal is supplied to the liquid crystal injection port 23, the inside of the vacuum vessel is returned to atmospheric pressure, the liquid crystal is injected into the liquid crystal display region 21, and then individually cut. The target liquid crystal cell can be obtained.

  In the present embodiment, the description has been made using the two cell groups 10a and 10b. However, the number of cell groups is not limited to two, and the number of cell groups may be increased. In such a liquid crystal cell in which liquid crystals having different properties are arranged in a plurality of liquid crystal layers, when performing complicated optical correction, each liquid crystal layer to be laminated needs to have a function in which optical correction is separated into functions. Especially useful.

It is a figure for demonstrating the outline of the manufacturing method of the liquid crystal optical element of this invention. Example 1 It is a figure for demonstrating the state before liquid crystal injection | pouring in the manufacturing method of the liquid crystal optical element of this invention. Example 1 It is a figure for demonstrating the process of inject | pouring a liquid crystal in the manufacturing method of the liquid crystal optical element of this invention. Example 1 It is a figure for demonstrating a series of processes of liquid crystal injection | pouring in the manufacturing method of the liquid crystal optical element of this invention. Example 1 It is a figure for demonstrating the 1st form in the manufacturing method of the liquid crystal optical element of this invention. (Example 2) It is a figure for demonstrating the process of the 1st form in the manufacturing method of the liquid crystal optical element of this invention. (Example 2) It is a figure for demonstrating the 2nd form in the manufacturing method of the liquid crystal optical element of this invention. (Example 2) It is a figure for demonstrating the process of the 2nd form in the manufacturing method of the liquid crystal optical element of this invention. (Example 2) It is a figure for demonstrating the manufacturing method of the liquid crystal optical element of this invention. (Example 3) It is sectional drawing for demonstrating the manufacturing method of the liquid crystal optical element of this invention. (Example 3) It is sectional drawing for demonstrating the manufacturing method of the liquid crystal optical element of this invention. (Example 4) It is a figure for demonstrating the manufacturing method of the conventional liquid crystal optical element.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10, 10a, 10b Cell group 11 1st board | substrate 12 2nd board | substrate 13 3rd board | substrate 14 Extension part 15, 15a, 15b Substrate end surface 16 Protrusion part 20 Liquid crystal cell 21 Liquid crystal display area 22, 22A Sealing material 23 Liquid crystal inlet 24 Connecting portion 30, 31 Stopper 35-38 Groove portion 40-42, 40a-40e Liquid crystal 50 Jig 51 Thumb screw 52 Holding plate 53 Receiving block 60 Cutting line

Claims (10)

Forming a liquid crystal cell sandwiching the liquid crystal through a sealing material formed surrounding the space region excluding the liquid crystal injection port between the first substrate and the second substrate;
For a cell group in which a plurality of liquid crystal cells are arranged in one direction, the liquid crystal is injected into each space region from the liquid crystal injection port, and then the cell group is cut and divided into single liquid crystal cells. In the method of manufacturing a liquid crystal optical element,
The liquid crystal is injected from the liquid crystal injection port in the cell group by the first stopper and the second stopper protruding from the first and second substrate end surfaces of the first and second substrates, and the cell group. And sandwiching the surface of the first substrate and the surface of the second substrate, and dropping the liquid crystal into a groove formed by the first and second stoppers and the end surfaces of the first and second substrates. A method for manufacturing a liquid crystal optical element. One end of the liquid crystal cell in the arrangement direction is held at a higher position than the other end, the liquid crystal is dropped into the groove at the one end, and the liquid crystal flows down from the one end toward the other end, The method for manufacturing a liquid crystal optical element according to claim 1, wherein the liquid crystal is sequentially supplied to a liquid crystal injection port. The method of manufacturing a liquid crystal optical element according to claim 2, wherein the step of dropping the liquid crystal into the groove is performed by vertically standing the cell group. In the adjacent liquid crystal cell which the said cell group has, the sealing material of the part which both liquid crystal cells adjoin is a common sealing material formed integrally, The any one of Claim 1 to 3 characterized by the above-mentioned. The manufacturing method of the liquid crystal optical element of description. The liquid crystal optical element according to claim 4, wherein a cutting line is provided on the common sealing material, and the cell group is separated into a single liquid crystal cell by cutting along the cutting line. Production method. In the liquid crystal cells adjacent to each other in the cell group, the liquid crystal cells are connected by connecting portions between the adjacent portions on the extending portion side, and the connecting portions prevent liquid crystal from entering the gaps between the adjacent liquid crystal cells. The method for producing a liquid crystal optical element according to claim 1, wherein the liquid crystal optical element is a liquid crystal optical element. The method of manufacturing a liquid crystal optical element according to claim 6, wherein the connecting portion is formed integrally with a sealing material surrounding a liquid crystal display region of each liquid crystal cell. The method for producing a liquid crystal optical element according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the cell group is separated into a single liquid crystal cell by cutting the connecting portion. The cell group includes a third substrate disposed on the opposite side of the second substrate from the first substrate with a predetermined gap through another sealing material, and the end surface of the second substrate is The first substrate end surface and the third substrate end surface of the third substrate are formed so as to protrude,
The liquid crystal is supplied by dropping the first liquid crystal into a first groove formed by the first stopper, the first substrate end face, and the second substrate end face, and then supplying the second stopper and the second stopper. The liquid crystal optical element according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the second liquid crystal is dropped into a second groove formed by an end face of three substrates and the end face of the second substrate. Manufacturing method. In a state where two or more cell groups are stacked, the outermost substrate surface is sandwiched between the first and second stoppers,
The groove formed by the first and second stoppers and the second in the adjacent cell group
The liquid crystal optical element manufacturing method according to claim 9, wherein different liquid crystals are dropped alternately in a groove formed by the substrates.

Images