JP3330502B2 - Liquid crystal display device and method of manufacturing the same - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to, for example, an HDTV.
The present invention relates to a large-screen liquid crystal display device that can be used for a high-definition television such as a flat panel display for CAD, and a method for manufacturing the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a liquid crystal display (LCD), a TFT-LCD using a thin film transistor (TFT) as a switching element for turning on and off a picture element is frequently used at present.

However, a TFT-LCD is considered to be difficult to realize as a large display element exceeding 20 inches used in a future wall-mounted television or the like, and is suitable for a large screen in order to solve this. Plasma address LCD (P
ALC) has been developed.
17396).

As shown in FIG. 3, the plasma addressed LCD has a liquid crystal layer 33 sandwiched between a first substrate 31 and a second substrate 32.

The first substrate 31 has partition walls 35, groove-shaped plasma channels 36 formed between the partition walls 35 and filled with ionizing gas, and a thin glass plate 37 for closing the plasma channels 36. And an anode electrode 38 and a cathode electrode 39 provided in each plasma channel 36 for ionizing the ionizing gas in each plasma channel 36.

On the lower surface of the second substrate 32, band-shaped transparent electrodes 34 for transmitting video signals are arranged in parallel.

Each plasma channel 36 of the first substrate 31
And the transparent electrodes 34 of the second substrate 32 intersect each other, and each pixel is formed at each intersection.

In the plasma addressed LCD having such a configuration, each plasma channel 36 of the first substrate 31 is sequentially selected and scanned, and the selected plasma channel 36 is scanned.
A voltage is applied between the anode electrode 38 and the cathode electrode 39 to ionize the ionization gas in the selected plasma channel 36, and the selected plasma channel 36 is turned on.

While one plasma channel 36 is on, each video signal is applied to each transparent electrode 34 of the second substrate 32. These video signals are written and held in each pixel of the turned on plasma channel 36, and display is performed by these pixels.

In order to provide a plasma addressed LCD with a large screen at a low cost, it is necessary to manufacture the first substrate 31 at a low cost. That is, the first substrate 31
Each of the plasma channels 36 has an elongated groove shape and determines the pixel density. Therefore, it is necessary to form a large number of grooves in parallel with high precision, but it is very difficult to manufacture these grooves. However, this hinders a reduction in the cost of the first substrate 31, and solving this directly leads to a reduction in the cost of the plasma addressed LCD.

In order to facilitate the production of such a large number of grooves, there has been proposed a technique in which a glass paste is printed on a glass substrate to form each partition between the grooves (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. HEI 9-260572). See 4-2655931).

Further, each anode electrode and each cathode electrode in each groove are often formed by a printing method.

[0013]

However, each plasma channel of the first substrate has several hundred μm for stable discharge.
For example, in the case of photolithography, multiple coatings are required in order to produce each partition corresponding to this depth. Therefore, alignment for each printing, tact time (1 The time required for processing one substrate in one process was prolonged, and it was not possible to produce a high-precision product at low cost in a short time.

When each anode electrode and each cathode electrode in each groove are formed by printing, the resistance of these electrodes increases and the reliability of the printed material is low, so that these electrodes are made thin. However, these electrodes reduced the transmittance of the liquid crystal panel and prolonged the tact time.

Therefore, the present invention is to solve such a conventional problem, and it is possible to easily manufacture each plasma channel with high accuracy, and to make each electrode in each plasma channel low resistance. It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device which can be manufactured easily and easily.

To solve the above problems, the present invention provides
A first substrate provided with a plurality of groove-shaped plasma channels each having a depth of 100 μm, a second substrate provided with a plurality of band-shaped signal electrodes, and a liquid crystal layer; In a state where the signal electrodes intersect, the first substrate and the second substrate are arranged to face each other with the liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween,
In the method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device, in which each plasma channel of the first substrate is selectively discharged and a signal is applied to each signal electrode of the second substrate, an inorganic material or
Pre-heated polymer substrate to a temperature above the softening point
Has a plurality of ridges that are parallel to each other
By pressing it against the letterpress plate.
Forming a first substrate having a channel,
Before pressing the preheated first substrate against the relief printing plate,
Each of the plasmas is overlapped with each of the ridges of the plate.
Cathode and anode electrodes arranged in the channel
The two fine metal wires to be poles are respectively arranged and
By pressing the first substrate in the heat state against the relief plate,
At the same time as the formation of each plasma channel,
A cathode electrode and an anode electrode are formed in the tunnel .

Since the relief plate is simply pressed against the first substrate in this manner, grooves of each plasma channel of the first substrate can be easily formed.

[0018]

In this case, since the respective cathode electrodes and the respective anode electrodes can be provided simultaneously with the formation of the grooves of the respective plasma channels of the first substrate, the manufacturing process can be greatly simplified. At this time, if each cathode electrode and each anode electrode are partially buried in the inner surface of the groove of each plasma channel, these electrodes can be securely fixed.

Further, since a metal wire can be applied as each of the cathode electrode and each of the anode electrodes, the resistance and reliability of each of the cathode and anode electrodes can be reduced.

Further, each protruding portion of the relief plate may be provided with a respective elongated recess for disposing each cathode electrode and each anode electrode.

In this case, each cathode electrode and each anode electrode are positioned by the respective recesses of the relief plate,
Since it is pressed against the groove of each plasma channel of the substrate, the positioning accuracy of these electrodes can be improved.

[0023]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIGS. 1A to 1D show a first embodiment of a method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device according to the present invention. In this manufacturing method, first, as shown in FIG.
The letterpresses 2 are arranged to face each other, and they are preheated to a temperature equal to or higher than the softening point of the first substrate 1, and the first substrate 1 and the letterpress 2 are overlapped as shown in FIG. Pressurize,
The first substrate 1 is pressed.

The relief plate 2 has a plurality of parallel ridges 2a. When the ridges 2a are pressed against the first substrate 1, a plurality of grooves are formed in the first substrate 1. 1a
Is formed.

As the material of the first substrate 1, a transparent inorganic material such as glass or a polymer material such as transparent plastic can be applied. However, considering the durability of the first substrate 1 against plasma, the inorganic material is used. Is preferred.

As described above, if the first substrate 1 is formed by press working with the relief printing plate 2, the first substrate 1 can be easily manufactured. In addition, if the convex stripes 2a of the relief plate 2 are formed with high precision, each groove 1a of the first substrate 1 can be manufactured with high precision.

After each groove 1a is formed in the first substrate 1, the first substrate 1 is separated from the relief plate 2 as shown in FIG. (The temperature at which the first substrate 1 can be plastically deformed) or more, and the distortion of the first substrate 1 caused by the press working is removed.

Next, as shown in FIG. 1D, the first substrate 1
Each anode electrode 3 and each cathode electrode 4 are formed on the inner surface of each groove 1a by a known printing method.

Thereafter, a thin glass sheet is laminated on the first substrate 1, and an ionizing gas is sealed in each groove 1a to form each plasma channel.

The first substrate 1 provided with each plasma channel in this manner is the first substrate 1 of the plasma addressed LCD shown in FIG.
The first substrate 1 can be used instead of the substrate 31.
Of each plasma channel and each transparent electrode 3 of the second substrate 32
The first substrate 1 and the second substrate 32 are arranged to face each other with the liquid crystal layer 33 interposed in a state where the four intersect with each other, and each pixel is formed at the intersection of each plasma channel and each transparent electrode.

FIGS. 2A to 2C show a second embodiment of the method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device according to the present invention. In this manufacturing method, first, as shown in FIG.
The substrate 11 and the relief plate 12 are arranged to face each other, and the anode electrodes 13 and the cathode electrodes 1
4 are arranged, and these are set to 80
Preheat to 0 ° C.

Each of the convex stripes 12a of the relief plate 12 is formed with two stripe-shaped slight depressions 12b, and the anode electrode 13 and the cathode electrode 14 are arranged in these depressions 12b.

Anode electrode 13 and cathode electrode 14
May be made of any material as long as it is a thin metal wire, for example, a copper wire or an aluminum wire which is gold-plated.

Next, as shown in FIG.
And letterpress 12 are superimposed and pressurized while heating them,
The first substrate 11 is pressed.

Thus, a plurality of grooves 11a are formed in the first substrate 11. At this time, the respective anode electrodes 13 and the respective cathode electrodes 14 are positioned by the respective recesses 12b of the relief printing plate 12, and the first substrate 1 is not shifted.
1 is pressed against each of the grooves 11a, and is partially buried and fixed in these grooves 11a.

As described above, if the anode electrode 13 and the cathode electrode 14 are positioned and fixed in accordance with the pressing of the first substrate 11, the manufacturing process is simplified. Further, since each of the anode electrodes 13 and each of the cathode electrodes 14 are not formed by a printing method but are metal wires, they have low resistance and high reliability.

In this manner, each groove 11a is formed in the first substrate 11, and each anode electrode 13 and each cathode electrode 1 are formed.
After positioning and fixing the substrate 4, the first substrate 11 is separated from the relief plate 12 as shown in FIG.
The first substrate 1 generated by press working
Remove 1 distortion.

After that, the first substrate 11 has a thickness of 50 μm.
Then, a thin glass sheet having a thickness of m is bonded to each groove 11a, and an ionizing gas is sealed in each groove 11a to form each plasma channel.

As the ionizing gas, any gas having a discharging action can be used, and argon gas, helium gas, neon gas, or a mixed gas thereof can be used.

The first substrate 11 provided with the respective plasma channels can be used as a substitute for the first substrate 31 of the plasma addressed LCD shown in FIG. 3, similarly to the first substrate 1 of FIG.

Here, the respective alignment films (for example, manufactured by Nippon Synthetic Rubber Co., Ltd.) are provided on the surface of the thin glass of the first substrate 11 and the surface of the second substrate 32 on the side where the transparent electrodes 34 are provided.
JAL4552) is laminated, and a rubbing treatment with a nylon cloth is performed on these alignment films.

Next, spacers are dispersed on one of the first and second substrates 11 and 32. Subsequently, the first and second substrates 1 are arranged such that the orientation of the liquid crystal layer 33 to be formed later becomes the TN mode (twisted nematic mode).
The first and second alignment films adjust the respective alignment directions, and the first
In a state where each plasma channel of the substrate 11 and each transparent electrode 34 of the second substrate 32 intersect, the first substrate 11 and the second substrate 32 are arranged to face each other, and further, the first substrate 11 and the second substrate 32
Is closed with a photocurable sealing agent.

Thereafter, a liquid crystal material (for example, a ZLI-4729 chiral pitch of 50 μm manufactured by Merck) is injected between the first substrate 11 and the second substrate 32 to provide a liquid crystal layer 33.
After forming the liquid crystal display device in this way, heating and slow cooling are performed to complete the liquid crystal display device.

When an external circuit was connected to the liquid crystal display device and a video signal and a control signal were input to the liquid crystal display device, an image was displayed on the display screen.

[0046]

As described above, according to the method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device of the present invention, the grooves of each plasma channel of the first substrate are formed by pressing the relief plate against the first substrate. By forming the convex stripes of the relief plate with high precision, the grooves of each plasma channel can be easily produced with high precision.

Further, each cathode electrode and each anode electrode are sandwiched between each ridge of the relief and the first substrate, and
Since each cathode electrode and each anode electrode are pressed against the substrate and pressed into the groove of each plasma channel of the first substrate, each cathode electrode and each anode electrode can be securely fixed, and the manufacturing process is greatly reduced. Can be simplified. In addition, since a metal wire can be used as each of the cathode electrode and each of the anode electrodes, the resistance and the reliability of each of the cathode and anode electrodes can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of a method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device according to the present invention, in which (a) shows a step of arranging a first substrate and a relief plate, (b) shows a step of press working, (C)
Shows a step of removing distortion of the first substrate, and (d) shows a step of forming each anode electrode and each cathode electrode.

FIGS. 2A and 2B show a second embodiment of a method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device according to the present invention, wherein FIG. 2A shows a step of arranging a first substrate and a relief plate, FIG. (C)
Indicates a step of removing the distortion of the first substrate

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the structure of a plasma addressed LCD.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1,11,31 First substrate 1a, 11a Groove 2,12,32 Letterpress 2a, 12a Protrusions 3,13,38 Anode electrode 4,14,39 Cathode electrode 33 Liquid crystal layer 34 Transparent electrode 35 Partition wall 36 Plasma channel 37 Thin glass

────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (56) References JP-A-8-262417 (JP, A) JP-A-8-262445 (JP, A) JP-A-8-6027 (JP, A) JP-A-7-262 114016 (JP, A) JP-A-5-313152 (JP, A) JP-A-3-187592 (JP, A) JP-A-4-265934 (JP, A) JP-A 8-95500 (JP, A) (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G02F 1/1333

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] A first substrate provided with a plurality of groove-shaped plasma channels each having a depth of 100 μm, a second substrate provided with a plurality of band-shaped signal electrodes, and a liquid crystal layer; In a state where each plasma channel and each signal electrode cross each other, the first substrate and the second substrate are arranged to face each other with the liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween, and each plasma channel of the first substrate is selectively discharged, and In a method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device in which a signal is applied to each signal electrode of two substrates, a substrate made of an inorganic material or a polymer material is heated to a temperature above the softening point.
In parallel with each other, preheated to
By pressing against a letterpress having a ridge of
Forming a first substrate having each plasma channel
Encompasses, the first substrate of the preheat state before pressing the letterpress, before
Each of the plastic plates is overlapped with each of the ridges of the relief printing plate.
Cathode electrode and anode arranged in zuma channel
The two metal thin wires which are used as the
By pressing the preheated first substrate against the relief plate,
Simultaneously with the formation of each plasma channel,
A method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device, comprising forming a cathode electrode and an anode electrode in a matrix channel . 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the cathode electrode and the anode electrode are
The method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device according to claim 1 , wherein the liquid crystal display device is arranged in an elongated recess provided in each of the convex stripes of the relief printing plate. 3. A liquid crystal display device manufactured by the manufacturing method according to claim 1 .