Liquid crystal display device and method of manufacturing the same

Abstract

An LCD device and a method of manufacturing the same are disclosed, in which a sealant concentrated upon the end of a dispensing device is formed in a dummy region on a substrate, so that a liquid crystal layer is not contaminated when both substrates are attached to each other and a cell cutting process can easily be performed. The method of manufacturing an LCD device includes preparing a lower substrate and an upper substrate, forming an auxiliary UV sealant in a dummy region on one of the lower and upper substrate and forming a main UV sealant, applying a liquid crystal on one of the lower and upper substrates, attaching the lower and upper substrates, and irradiating UV light onto the attached substrates.

What is claimed is: 
     
      
       1. A method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display (LCD) device comprising: 
       
         preparing a lower substrate and an upper substrate; 
         forming an auxiliary sealant and subsequently forming a main sealant on one of the lower and upper substrates, wherein the auxiliary sealant is formed in a dummy region and connects to the main sealant, and wherein the auxiliary sealant and the main sealant are contiguous; 
         applying a liquid crystal on one of the lower and upper substrates; 
         attaching the lower and upper substrates; and 
         curing at least the main sealant. 
       
      
     
     
      
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the main sealant and the auxiliary sealant are at least partially curable by irradiating UV light and curing the main sealant includes irradiating UV light. 
      
     
     
       3. The method of claim  2  31, wherein curing the main sealant includes irradiating UV light, and the sealant is formed using oligomers each having both ends coupled to an acrylic group. 
     
     
       4. The method of claim  2  31, wherein curing the main sealant includes irradiating UV light, and the sealant is formed using monomers each having both ends coupled to an acrylic group. 
     
     
      
       5. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the sealant is formed using oligomers each having one end coupled to an acrylic group and the other end coupled to an epoxy group. 
      
     
     
      
       6. The method of  claim 5 , further comprising heating the sealant after irradiating the UV light. 
      
     
     
       7. The method of claim  2  31, wherein curing the main sealant includes irradiating UV light, and the sealant is formed using monomers each having one end coupled to an acrylic group and the other end coupled to an epoxy group. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7 , further comprising heating the sealant after irradiating the UV light. 
     
     
      
       9. The method of  claim 2 , further comprising heating the sealant after irradiating the UV light. 
      
     
     
       10. The method of claim  2  31, wherein curing the main sealant includes irradiating UV light, and a region where the sealant is not formed is covered with a mask during the irradiating with UV light. 
     
     
      
       11. The method of  claim 2 , wherein a region where the main UV sealant is not formed is covered with a mask during the irradiating with UV light. 
      
     
     
       12. The method of claim  2  31, wherein curing the main sealant includes irradiating UV light, and the UV light is irradiated at a tilt angle with respect to the attached substrates. 
     
     
       13. The method of claim  2  31, wherein curing the main sealant includes irradiating UV light, the method further comprising:
 providing a mask over a region where the main sealant is not formed before irradiating UV light such that the auxiliary sealant is not exposed to the UV light; and 
 cutting the attached substrates. 
 
     
     
       14. The method of claim  1  31, further comprising forming column spacers on the upper substrate. 
     
     
       15. The method of claim  1  31, wherein the main and auxiliary sealants are formed on the upper substrate and the liquid crystal is applied to the lower substrate. 
     
     
      
       16. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising cutting the attached substrates. 
      
     
     
      
       17. The method of  claim 16 , wherein the attached substrates are cut across a portion of the auxiliary sealant. 
      
     
     
       18. The method of claim  1  31, wherein the applying the liquid crystal includes dropping the liquid crystal onto the one of the upper and lower substrates. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 18 , wherein the liquid crystal is applied in a predetermined pattern onto the one of the upper and lower substrates. 
     
     
      
       20. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary sealant contacts the main sealant. 
      
     
     
      
       21. A method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display (LCD) device comprising: 
       
         preparing a lower substrate and an upper substrate; 
         forming an auxiliary UV sealant and a main UV sealant on one of the lower and upper substrates, wherein the auxiliary UV sealant is formed in a dummy region and extends outside from the main UV sealant, wherein the auxiliary UV sealant contacts the main UV sealant; 
         applying a liquid crystal on one of the lower and upper substrates; 
         attaching the lower and upper substrates; and 
         irradiating UV light on the attached substrates. 
       
      
     
     
       22. The method of claim  21  23, wherein the UV light is irradiated at a tilt angle with respect to the attached substrates. 
     
     
       23. A method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display (LCD) device comprising:
 preparing a lower substrate and an upper substrate;   forming an auxiliary UV sealant and a main UV sealant on one of the lower and upper substrates, wherein:
 the main UV sealant has no injection hole; 
 the auxiliary UV sealant is formed in a dummy region and extends outside from the main UV sealant; 
 the auxiliary UV sealant includes a sealant blob at a sealant deposition starting point; and 
 the auxiliary UV sealant contacts the main UV sealant; 
   applying a liquid crystal on one of the lower and upper substrates;   attaching the lower and upper substrates; and   irradiating UV light on the attached substrates.   
     
     
       24. The method of claim 23, wherein the sealant blob is deposited completely outside of an area enclosed by the main UV sealant. 
     
     
       25. The method of claim 23, wherein the auxiliary UV sealant contacts the main UV sealant at a substantially 90-degree angle. 
     
     
       26. The method of claim 23, wherein the auxiliary UV sealant forms a substantially straight line between the sealant blob and the main UV sealant. 
     
     
       27. The method of claim 23, wherein the auxiliary UV sealant forms a curve between the sealant blob and the main UV sealant. 
     
     
       28. The method of claim 23, further comprising cutting the attached substrates across a portion of the auxiliary UV sealant between the sealant blob and the main UV sealant. 
     
     
       29. The method of claim 23, wherein the main UV sealant defines a completely enclosed active region on one of the lower and upper substrates. 
     
     
       30. The method of claim 23, wherein the auxiliary UV sealant is not connected to an injection hole. 
     
     
       31. A method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display (LCD) device comprising:
 preparing a lower substrate and an upper substrate;   forming an auxiliary sealant that is at least partially curable by ultraviolet light and subsequently forming a main sealant that is at least partially curable by ultraviolet light on one of the lower and upper substrates, wherein:
 the main sealant has no injection hole; 
 the auxiliary sealant is formed in a dummy region and connects to the main sealant; 
 the auxiliary sealant includes a sealant blob at a sealant deposition starting point; and 
 the auxiliary sealant and the main sealant are contiguous; 
   applying a liquid crystal on one of the lower and upper substrates;   attaching the lower and upper substrates; and   curing at least the main sealant.   
     
     
       32. The method of claim 31, wherein the sealant blob is deposited completely outside of an area enclosed by the main sealant. 
     
     
       33. The method of claim 31, wherein the auxiliary sealant connects to the main sealant at a substantially 90-degree angle. 
     
     
       34. The method of claim 31, wherein the auxiliary sealant forms a substantially straight line between the sealant blob and the main sealant. 
     
     
       35. The method of claim 31, wherein the auxiliary sealant forms a curve between the sealant blob and the main sealant. 
     
     
       36. The method of claim 31, further comprising cutting the attached substrates across a portion of the auxiliary sealant between the sealant blob and the main sealant. 
     
     
       37. The method of claim 31, wherein the main sealant defines a completely enclosed active region on one of the lower and upper substrates. 
     
     
       38. The method of claim 31, wherein the auxiliary sealant is not connected to an injection hole.