Liquid crystal material filling method and liquid crystal material filling apparatus

Abstract

A method of injecting liquid crystal material, which is capable of efficiently injecting a liquid crystal material having a high viscosity at room temperature, such as smectic-phase liquid crystal material while maintaining a high throughput, a seal pattern that can be preferably used for the method, and an apparatus for injecting liquid crystal material.

1 - 9 . (canceled) 
   
   
       10 . A method of injecting a liquid crystal material, comprising:
 disposing a liquid crystal material on one substrate (S 1 ) for constituting a pair of substrates; and   disposing another substrate (S 2 ) for constituting the pair of substrate above the substrate (S 1 ), and   attaching the pair of substrates S 1  and S 2  with each other;   wherein, at the time of the attachment of the pair of substrates S 1  and S 2  together, a closed space B is formed by reservoir means so that the space B is communicated with a space A for liquid crystal display defined by the pair of substrates S 1  and S 2 ;   the liquid crystal material is disposed on the substrate S 1  so that the mass of the liquid crystal material provides a volume not larger than the total volume of the spaces (A+B) at the time of the injection of the liquid crystal material;   the spaces A and B are defined by a patterned seal member disposed on the pair of substrates S 1  and/or S 2 ; and   in the seal pattern, a seal portion corresponding to the space A and a seal portion corresponding to the space B comprise seal members having the same curing mechanism.   
   
   
       11 . A method of injecting a liquid crystal material according to  claim 10 , wherein a seal portion corresponding to the space A and a seal portion corresponding to the space B comprise a UV-curable seal member. 
   
   
       12 . A method of injecting a liquid crystal material according to  claim 10 , wherein a seal portion corresponding to the space A and a seal portion corresponding to the space B comprise a thermosetting seal member. 
   
   
       13 . A method of injecting a liquid crystal material according to  claim 11 , wherein after the pair of substrates S 1  and S 2  are attached to each other, a seal portion corresponding to the space A is selectively cured in the seal pattern by using a photo-mask and after the liquid crystal material has exhibited a phase suitable for display, a seal portion corresponding to the space B is cured. 
   
   
       14 . A method of injecting a liquid crystal material according to  claim 11 , wherein a seal portion corresponding to the space A is partially cured at first, and the pair of substrates S 1  and S 2  are attached to each other and, after the liquid crystal material has exhibited a phase suitable for display, a seal portion corresponding to the space B is cured. 
   
   
       15 . A method of injecting a liquid crystal material according to  claim 11 , wherein a liquid crystal material showing a smectic phase at room temperature is used as the liquid crystal material, a seal portion corresponding to the space A is partially cured at first, and the pair of substrates S 1  and S 2  are attached to each other and, after the liquid crystal material has exhibited a cholesteric phase or a smectic phase, a seal portion corresponding to the space B is cured. 
   
   
       16 . A method of injecting a liquid crystal material according to  claim 12 , wherein thermosetting seal members constituting the seal portion corresponding to the space A and the seal portion corresponding to the space B have different cure-starting temperatures. 
   
   
       17 . A method of injecting a liquid crystal material according to  claim 12 , wherein thermosetting seal members constituting the seal portion corresponding to the space A and the seal portion corresponding to the space B have different curing times. 
   
   
       18 . A patterned seal member, which is patterned in accordance with a pattern to be disposed on a liquid crystal display substrate and which, when another substrate is attached to each other so as to constitute a pair of substrates, exhibits a function for maintaining a gap between the pair of substrates, wherein, when the pair of substrates are attached to each other, the seal member defines a space A for liquid crystal display between the pair of substrates and a space B to be communicated with the space A. 
   
   
       19 . A patterned seal member according to  claim 18 , wherein the pattern includes a seal portion that provides the space A and at least one seal portion that provides an hole and/or a projecting portion corresponding to the space B. 
   
   
       20 . A patterned seal member according to  claim 18 , which is disposed on a substrate for liquid crystal display. 
   
   
       21 . A patterned seal member according to  claim 18 , wherein a seal portion corresponding to the space A and a seal portion corresponding to the space B comprise resins of different kinds. 
   
   
       22 . A patterned seal member according to  claim 18 , wherein a seal portion corresponding to the space A and a seal portion corresponding to the space B comprise seal members having different curing mechanisms. 
   
   
       23 . A patterned seal member according to  claim 22 , wherein a seal portion corresponding to the space A comprises a UV-curable seal member and a seal portion corresponding to the space B comprises a thermosetting seal member. 
   
   
       24 . A patterned seal member according to  claim 18 , wherein a seal portion corresponding to the space A and a seal portion corresponding to the space B comprise seal members having different curing temperatures. 
   
   
       25 . A patterned seal member according to  claim 18 , wherein a seal portion corresponding to the space A, a seal portion corresponding to the hole and a seal portion corresponding to the space B comprise seal members having curing rates different from one another. 
   
   
       26 . A patterned seal member according to  claim 21 , wherein a seal portion corresponding to the space A comprises a UV-curable seal member and a seal portion corresponding to the space B comprises a cure-retarding UV-curable seal member and/or a thermosetting seal member. 
   
   
       27 . An apparatus for injecting a liquid crystal material, comprising:
 a chamber for providing a reduced pressure state therein;   a pair of surface plates disposed in the chamber, respectively for being in contact with a pair of the substrates for liquid crystal display;   liquid crystal material-supplying means for disposing a liquid crystal material in a space between the pair of substrates for liquid crystal display; and   temperature control means for controlling the temperature of the pair of surface plates;   wherein at least portion of the pair of surface plates being in contact with the substrates comprise a heat sink material.   
   
   
       28 . An apparatus for injecting a liquid crystal material according to  claim 27 , wherein the heat sink material is a silicone rubber. 
   
   
       29 . An apparatus for injecting a liquid crystal material according to  claim 27 , wherein the heat sink material contains a liquid heat medium therein. 
   
   
       30 . An apparatus for injecting a liquid crystal material according to  claim 27 , wherein the heat sink material contains means for circulating a liquid heat medium therein. 
   
   
       31 . An apparatus for injecting a liquid crystal material according to  claim 30 , wherein the liquid heat medium is at least a kind of highly heat resistant liquid selected from the group consisting of: ethylene glycol and synthetic engine oil.