| In-line system and method for manufacturing liquid crystal display -> Monitor Keywords |
|
|
  In-line system and method for manufacturing liquid crystal displayUSPTO Application #: 20070056686Title: In-line system and method for manufacturing liquid crystal display Abstract: An in-line system for fabricating a liquid crystal display includes a sealer coating unit for coating a sealer onto a first substrate with a plurality of liquid crystal display cell regions a liquid crystal injection unit for dropping a liquid crystal onto the first substrate coated with the sealer, and an assembly unit for assembling the first substrate with the second substrate, A sealer hardening unit hardens the sealer interposed between the first and the second substrate to thereby assemble the first and the second substrate with each other. A substrate cutting unit cuts the first and the second substrates along cutting lines through illuminating a laser beam along the cutting lines such that the first and the second substrates are severed into the liquid crystal display cell regions. (end of abstract)
Agent: Frank Chau, Esq. F. Chau & Associates, LLP - East Meadow, NY, US Inventors: Dae-Ho Choo, Sang-Jun Lee, Yong-Joon Kwon USPTO Applicaton #: 20070056686 - Class: 156272800 (USPTO) The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070056686. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/762,436 filed on Jan. 22, 2004, which is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/108,045 filed on Mar. 27, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No, 6,710,843 and which claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 2001-34761 filed Jun. 19, 2001 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO), all of which are fully incorporated herein by reference. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] (a) Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention relates to an in-line system for a liquid crystal display, and a method of fabricating a liquid crystal display using the same. [0004] (b) Description of the Related Art [0005] Generally, the fabrication of a liquid crystal display involves processes of fabricating an array substrate where wiring line patterns and switching circuits (in the case of an active matrix type) are formed on a glass substrate, a liquid crystal display cell process where alignment treatment, spacer formation and injection of a liquid crystal between the array substrate and an opposing substrate are made, and a module process where attachment of driver ICs and mounting of a backlight are made. [0006] A plurality of liquid crystal display cell regions are simultaneously formed at a mother glass in the array substrate fabrication process. The plurality of liquid crystal display cell regions are severed from each other to form separate display units through cutting in the liquid crystal display cell process, [0007] In the liquid crystal display cell process, a vacuum injection or a drop injection may be made to fill the cells with liquid crystal. [0008] With the vacuum injection, an alignment film is coated onto the substrates to align the liquid crystal molecules, and then surface-treated. Spacers are formed at one of the substrates to maintain the cell gap in a constant manner, and a sealer with a liquid crystal inlet hole is printed around the substrates. The substrates are then aligned and assembled with each other through a hot press process with a thermal-hardening sealer. After grooves are formed at the substrates per a panel unit through scribing, the substrates are severed from each other through impact cutting. The respective panels are put into a vacuum vessel such that the liquid crystal inlet hole of the sealer is dipped into a liquid crystal. In this way, the liquid crystal is injected into the liquid crystal display cell. Finally, the liquid crystal inlet hole is sealed such that the injected liquid crystal is contained. [0009] With the drop injection, an alignment film is coated onto the substrates, and then surface-treated. Spacers are formed at one of the substrates. After a sealer is formed around one of the substrates in the shape of a closed curve, a liquid crystal is dropped onto the substrate. The two substrates are aligned, and assembled with each other by way of the sealer. Finally, the sealer is hardened. [0010] In the case of drop injection, as liquid crystal is contained within the liquid crystal display cell while being severed into unit cells through scribing, the characteristic of the liquid crystal can deteriorate from loss of alignment force of the alignment films and due to the impact to the substrates, and this can result in poor display characteristics. To prevent such a problem, the substrate severing may be completely made at the groove formation process based on scribing by penetrating the cutting blade through the substrates. In this case, the stress applied to the substrates at the cutting becomes increased Consequently, the possibility of deteriorating the display characteristic of the liquid crystal display cell is increased and production yield is decreased. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0011] It is an object of the present invention to provide a system and method of fabricating a liquid crystal display which prevents deterioration of the display characteristic at the severing of the substrates into unit cells, thereby enhancing production yield. [0012] An in-line system for fabricating a liquid crystal display is provided, the in-line system comprising a spacer dispersing unit for dispersing spacers onto at least one of first and second substrates with a plurality of liquid crystal display cell regions; a sealer coating unit for coating a sealer onto the first substrate; a liquid crystal injection unit for dropping liquid crystal onto the first substrate coated with the sealer; an assembly unit for assembling the first substrate with the second substrate; a sealer hardening unit for hardening the sealer interposed between the first and the second substrate to thereby join the first and the second substrate; and a substrate cutting unit for cutting the first and the second substrates along cutting lines through illuminating a laser beam along the cutting lines such that the first and the second substrates are severed into the liquid crystal display cell regions, [0013] Preferably, the substrate cutting unit comprises a laser for pre-heating the first and the second substrates along the cutting lines; a laser transporter for fixing or transporting the laser; and a cooling agent spraying unit for cooling the pre-heated first and second substrates along the cutting lines. The substrate cutting unit further comprises a substrate transporter for fixing, rotating or transporting the first and the second substrates. The cooling agent spraying unit is mounted on the laser transporter. [0014] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the spacer dispersing unit, the sealer coating unit, the liquid crystal injection unit, the assembly unit, the sealer hardening unit and the substrate cutting unit are designed to be in-line, The in-line system further comprising first and second preliminary alignment units for aligning the first and the second substrates with each other before the assembling, and a heat treatment unit for heat-treating the liquid crystal. [0015] A method is provided for fabricating a liquid crystal display, the method comprising the steps of dispersing spacers onto at least one of first and second substrates with a plurality of liquid crystal display cell regions; coating a sealer onto the first substrate; dropping a liquid crystal onto the first substrate; assembling the first and the second substrates to join with each other; hardening the sealer interposed between the first and the second substrates; and cutting the first and the second substrates along cutting lines using a laser such that the first and the second substrates are severed into a plurality of liquid crystal display cell regions. [0016] The step of cutting the first and the second substrates further comprises the steps of pre-heating the first and the second substrates along the cutting lines through illuminating a laser beam along the cutting lines; cooling the first and the second substrates along the cutting lines through spraying a cooling agent along the cutting lines to thereby form a crack; and propagating the crack along the cutting lines. [0017] According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention an in-line system for fabricating a liquid crystal display comprises means for dispersing spacers between first and second substrates; means for joining the first and second substrates to form a gap; means for injecting liquid crystal onto the gap; and means for cutting the first and the second substrates along cutting lines such that the first and the second substrates are severed into the liquid crystal display cell regions. [0018] The means for cutting comprises a laser for preheating the first and the second substrates along the cutting lines; a laser transporter for fixing or transporting the laser, and a cooling agent spraying unit for cooling the pre-heated first and second substrates along the cutting lines. [0019] The means for joining comprises a sealer coating unit and a sealer hardening unit the sealer coating unit for coating at least one of the first and second substrates with a sealer and the sealer hardening unit for hardening the sealer. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0020] A more complete appreciation of the invention, and many of the attendant advantages thereof, will be readily apparent as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like reference symbols indicate the same or the similar components, wherein: Continue reading... Full patent description for In-line system and method for manufacturing liquid crystal display Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this In-line system and method for manufacturing liquid crystal display patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like In-line system and method for manufacturing liquid crystal display or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Strap/inlay insertion method and apparatus Next Patent Application: Laser-transmissible resin composition and method for laser welding using it Industry Class: Adhesive bonding and miscellaneous chemical manufacture ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the In-line system and method for manufacturing liquid crystal display patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.51111 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Electronics: Semiconductor , Audio , Illumination , Connectors , Crypto , |
||
