JP2011095384A - Method for manufacturing liquid crystal element - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for manufacturing a double-layer liquid crystal element having different liquid crystals injected to respective layers, which can efficiently inject two kinds of liquid crystals to respective layers in a strip state. <P>SOLUTION: A strip includes first and second guard seals 31 and 32 surrounding first and second liquid crystal injection ports 20 and 22 of first and second seals 17 and 18, on and under an intermediate substrate, and the first and second guard seals 31 and 32 have third and fourth liquid crystal injection ports 33 and 34 respectively. Since the third and fourth liquid crystal injection ports 33 and 34 are located in different positions, first and second liquid crystal materials are simultaneously injected to the first and second liquid crystal injection ports 20 and 22, and then regions occupied by the first and second guard seals 31 and 32 are removed, and the first and second liquid crystal injection ports 20 and 22 are sealed. Thereafter, the strip is divided into individual pieces to obtain liquid crystal elements. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a two-layer type liquid crystal element having liquid crystal layers made of different liquid crystal materials between three transparent substrates.

  In order to make a liquid crystal element multifunctional, a two-layer type liquid crystal element in which three substrates are stacked and two liquid crystal layers are provided between the substrates is known. If each liquid crystal layer is made of the same liquid crystal material, the liquid crystal layer can be formed by a method similar to that of the single-layer type liquid crystal element (for example, a vacuum injection method or the like). However, when each liquid crystal layer is made of a different liquid crystal material, a device is required. For example, FIGS. 2 and 3 of the following Patent Document 1 disclose a liquid crystal panel in which the inlet 5 of the first liquid crystal layer 4 is on the right side of the figure and the inlet 5 of the second liquid crystal layer 8 is on the left side of the figure. Has been. That is, the inlets 5 of the first and second liquid crystal layers 4 and 8 are provided at opposite positions with the display portion interposed therebetween. In this liquid crystal panel (liquid crystal element), the first liquid crystal layer 4 is formed in a space formed by the glass panels 1 and 2 and the seal 3 by a vacuum injection method. A second liquid crystal layer 8 is formed in the space formed by the seal 3 by vacuum injection.

  Patent Document 2 below discloses a three-layer liquid crystal element in which four substrates are stacked and liquid crystal layers made of different materials are provided between the substrates. For example, in the injection method of FIG. 5, the liquid crystal material injection region is sequentially formed with respect to three layers of empty cells (FIG. 3) in which the injection ports of the respective layers are provided in different portions (for example, different sides) of the cell peripheral portion. The liquid crystal material is placed in a container (for example, a container containing a liquid crystal material), and individual liquid crystal materials are vacuum-injected into empty cells in each layer. In the injection method of FIG. 11, the injection holes of each layer are provided at different portions on the same side, and the injection holes are arranged below the liquid crystal material injection region (for example, injection pipes arranged at the pitch of the injection holes) and simultaneously the liquid crystal material Injecting. A method is also described in which these two methods are developed and a large number of three-layer liquid crystal elements are stacked and injected simultaneously as shown in FIGS.

  Further, Patent Document 2 shows not only a method for injecting a single three-layer liquid crystal element but also a method for injecting a liquid crystal element in which a plurality of empty cells are connected. For example, FIGS. 19A to 19C include a plurality of regions surrounded by a seal, each empty cell region is connected by an injection port, and each layer is formed in a three-layer empty cell in which one injection port is opened to the outside. The liquid crystal layer is formed in each layer by injecting individual liquid crystal materials from the injection holes provided in different parts (different parts on the same side) of the cell periphery. is there.

  In the following Patent Document 3, in a two-layer type liquid crystal element in which a display cell A and a phase compensation cell B are stacked, the inlets 14 and 15 of each layer are provided in different parts on the same side, and a number of empty cells are also provided. In FIG. 2, FIG. 3 shows a method in which different liquid crystals are injected at the same time using a liquid crystal plate 31.

  5 and 6 of Patent Document 4 below include a plurality of two-layer type liquid crystal elements, and in the middle and lower large-sized substrate laminates, two different liquid crystal materials are obtained by two injection operations. A method of injecting into the upper display counter electrode forming portions 13a and 13b and the lower display counter electrode forming portions 14a and 14b of the two-layer liquid crystal element is shown.

Microfilm of actual application No. 54-026059 (No. 55-125617) (2 pages 12-19 lines, FIGS. 2 and 3) JP 2002-14362 (paragraphs (0059) to (0061), FIG. 3, paragraphs (0064) to (0067), FIG. 5, paragraphs (0077) to (0079), FIG. 11, paragraphs (0085) to (0085) FIG. 12, paragraphs (0089) to (0090), FIG. 14, paragraphs (0108) to (0111), FIG. 19) No. 63-128929 (Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 2-48924) microfilm (page 9, line 14 to page 11, line 20, FIG. 2, FIG. 3) Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. 1-51815 (3 pages, right column, 15 lines to 5 pages, left column, 4 lines, FIGS. 5 and 6)

    When manufacturing a one-layer type liquid crystal element, a plurality of mother substrates on which a large number of electrode patterns of one liquid crystal element are arranged are prepared, these are stacked, and the stacked mother substrate is cut to obtain one liquid crystal element. You may get In order to make efficient part of the process of obtaining individual liquid crystal elements from the superimposed mother substrate, areas where liquid crystal elements (hereinafter referred to as liquid crystal element portions) are arranged in a line when separated into individual pieces are arranged. (Hereinafter referred to as strips) is cut out from this mother substrate, and liquid crystal injection or injection port sealing is often performed in strip units. In the strip, the inlets of the liquid crystal element part are arranged on one side. This inlet is inserted into the liquid crystal reservoir, and the liquid crystal is formed in a space (hereinafter referred to as an empty cell) in which the liquid crystal layer of each liquid crystal element part is formed by vacuum injection. After the injection, the strip is pulled up from the liquid crystal reservoir and the injection port is sealed. Finally, the individual liquid crystal elements are separated from the strip. Note that injection and sealing can be made more efficient by overlapping a plurality of strips.

As described above, despite the fact that the manufacturing method through the strip state is known to be efficient, the above prior art applies the strip to the two-layer type liquid crystal element using different liquid crystal materials in each layer. No method is disclosed.
In addition, although the empty cell row | line | column which arranged the empty cell in 1 row is illustrated in the above-mentioned patent document 2, since each empty cell is connected with the injection port, the injection port of each empty cell is arranged in one side. There is no suggestion of how to inject strips. Patent Document 4 discloses a method of simultaneously injecting different liquid crystal materials for each layer into a plurality of empty cells in a state where a mother substrate is overlaid, but does not suggest an injection method for strips.

    The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems of the prior art, and in a method for manufacturing a two-layer type liquid crystal element in which different liquid crystals are injected into each layer, two types of liquid crystals are efficiently put into each layer in a strip state. It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for manufacturing a liquid crystal element that can be injected.

The present invention includes first to third substrates to be stacked, and the first and second liquid crystal layers made of different liquid crystal materials are provided between the first and second substrates and between the second and third substrates, respectively. In the method of manufacturing a two-layer type liquid crystal element that is sandwiched in order, the first to third substrates that become the first to third substrates when separated into two-layer elements having the first and second liquid crystal layers, respectively. A substrate preparing step for preparing a mother substrate, and a first seal for sealing the first liquid crystal layer are arranged in a plurality in a line with the first liquid crystal inlets for the first liquid crystal layer in the same direction. A first seal forming step for forming a seal row and a first guard seal surrounding the first liquid crystal inlet group and having a smaller number of third liquid crystal inlets than the first liquid crystal inlet; and a second liquid crystal layer The second seal for sealing makes the second liquid crystal inlet for the second liquid crystal layer in the same direction as the first liquid crystal inlet. A plurality of second seal rows arranged in a row and the fourth liquid crystal inlets surrounding the second liquid crystal inlet group do not overlap with the third liquid crystal inlets in a plane. A second seal forming step for forming a second guard seal disposed at a position, a substrate overlapping step for overlapping the first to third mother substrates in this order, and a first liquid crystal layer surrounded by the first seal A liquid crystal layer forming step of injecting a first liquid crystal material from a first liquid crystal injection port into a region to be, and injecting a second liquid crystal material from a second liquid crystal injection port into a region to be a second liquid crystal layer surrounded by a second seal; After the liquid crystal layer forming step, the sealing step of removing the first and second guard seals to expose the first and second liquid crystal inlets and sealing the first and second liquid crystal inlets And the first to third mother substrates are singulated and have first and second liquid crystal layers 2 And having mold a plurality obtain singulation step the liquid crystal device, a.

  In the present invention, in the injection, the first liquid crystal material passes through the third liquid crystal inlet of the first guard seal, and once spreads into the region surrounded by the first guard seal, and then passes through the first liquid crystal inlet and passes through the first liquid crystal inlet. A plurality of first liquid crystal layers are formed extending in a region surrounded by one seal. Similarly, the second liquid crystal material passes through the fourth liquid crystal inlet of the second guard seal and once spreads into the region surrounded by the second guard seal, and then passes through the second liquid crystal inlet and is surrounded by the second seal. A plurality of second liquid crystal layers are formed extending in the region. Since the third liquid crystal injection port and the fourth liquid crystal injection port do not overlap in a planar manner (a plane including the entire first or second seal), the fourth liquid crystal can be applied even if the first liquid crystal material is attached to the third liquid crystal injection port. Since the first liquid crystal material can be prevented from adhering to the inlet, the first liquid crystal material does not enter the second liquid crystal layer side. For the same reason, even if the second liquid crystal material is attached to the fourth liquid crystal inlet, the second liquid crystal material does not enter the first liquid crystal layer side. In addition, since the third and fourth liquid crystal injection ports are fewer than the first and second liquid crystal injection ports, the first and second liquid crystal materials are selectively attached to the third and fourth liquid crystal injection ports. The two liquid crystals can be easily and efficiently injected into each liquid crystal layer.

  Between the substrate superimposing step and the liquid crystal layer forming step, there may be further provided a stripping step in which first and second seals are arranged in a line and a region including the first and second guard seals is cut out.

  Further, it is preferable that the first liquid crystal material and the second liquid crystal material are injected simultaneously. By locally attaching the first liquid crystal material to the third liquid crystal inlet and the second liquid crystal material to the fourth liquid crystal inlet, the first and second liquid crystal materials can be injected at the same time, and the production efficiency is improved. improves.

  Moreover, it is preferable to provide a barrier for preventing mixing of the first and second liquid crystal materials in a portion located between the third liquid crystal inlet and the fourth liquid crystal inlet in the laminated first to third mother substrates. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the first liquid crystal material from reaching the fourth liquid crystal injection port along the side of the mother substrate (including the strip state) and being mixed with the second liquid crystal material (about the second liquid crystal material). The same can be said), and good yield and characteristics can be obtained.

  According to the present invention, a guard seal that collectively surrounds the liquid crystal injection ports for each cell is provided for each liquid crystal layer, and different liquid crystals are injected from the liquid crystal injection ports provided in the guard seal. The liquid crystal material can be injected efficiently without being mixed.

It is explanatory drawing of the liquid crystal element which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing of each liquid-crystal layer of the optical element shown in FIG. It is a flowchart of the manufacturing process of the optical element shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the manufacturing process which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the manufacturing process which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the manufacturing process which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the manufacturing process which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings 1 to 7. In the description of the drawings, the same or corresponding elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted.

  The liquid crystal element produced by the manufacturing method of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIGS. 1 and 2 are explanatory views of the liquid crystal element. FIG. 1A is a perspective view, FIG. 1B is a vertical sectional view, and FIGS. 2A and 2B are horizontal sectional views. FIG.

  A laminated structure of the substrate will be described with reference to FIG. The liquid crystal element 10 has a structure in which a second substrate 12 and a first substrate 11 are stacked on a third substrate 13. The second substrate 12 has an extending portion that extends outward from the first and third substrates 11 and 13. Electrodes for connection (not shown) with an external circuit (not shown) are formed on both surfaces of the extension part.

  The laminated structure will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. A transparent electrode 14 and an alignment film 15 are formed on the upper surface of the second substrate 12. Similarly, a transparent electrode 14 and an alignment film 15 are also formed on the lower surface of the first substrate 11 that is oppositely disposed. A first liquid crystal layer 16 is sandwiched between the first substrate 11 and the second substrate 12 via an alignment film 15, and a first seal 17 is present at the periphery. A transparent electrode 14 and an alignment film 15 are also formed on the lower surface of the second substrate 12 and the upper surface of the third substrate 13 disposed opposite to the second substrate 12. A second liquid crystal layer 19 is sandwiched between the second substrate 12 and the third substrate 13 with an alignment film 15 interposed therebetween, and a second seal 18 is present at the periphery.

  FIG. 2A is a horizontal cross-sectional view along the line AA in FIG. The first seal 17 has a first liquid crystal inlet 20, and the first liquid crystal inlet 20 is sealed with a sealing material 21. FIG. 2B is a horizontal cross-sectional view along the line BB in FIG. The second seal 18 also has a second liquid crystal inlet 22, and the second liquid crystal inlet 22 is sealed with a sealing material 21. The first seal 17 and the second seal 18 have the same shape and overlap in plan view. Accordingly, the sealing material 21 of the first liquid crystal inlet 20 and the second liquid crystal inlet 22 is made common.

    Hereinafter, the manufacturing process of the manufacturing method of this embodiment is demonstrated. First, the entire manufacturing process of the manufacturing method of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. Next, the machining state of the component in each manufacturing process will be described with reference to FIGS.

The manufacturing process shown in FIG. 3 is a substrate preparation process for a mother substrate indicated by three ellipses at the top, and the liquid crystal element 10 is formed by dividing the strips indicated by the ellipses at the end. Corresponding to the processes, there are a plurality of processes indicated by rectangles between them.
(Board preparation process)

The first mother substrate is prepared through processing including formation of the transparent electrode 14 included in the first substrate 11, printing of the alignment film 15 covering the transparent electrode 14, sintering of the alignment film 15, rubbing, and spacer dispersion. Similarly, the third mother substrate is also prepared through processes including formation of the transparent electrode 14 included in the third substrate 13, printing of the alignment film 15 covering the transparent electrode 14, sintering of the alignment film 15, rubbing, and washing and drying. Is done. This process does not include spacer spraying. The second mother substrate covers the transparent electrode 14 on the lower surface, the formation of the transparent electrode 14 on the upper and lower surface areas, the printing and sintering of the alignment film 15 covering the transparent electrode 14 on the upper surface, rubbing, cleaning and drying. The alignment film 15 is prepared through a process including printing and sintering. In this step, the rubbing process on the lower surface is not performed.
(Seal formation process)

The seal forming process includes a first seal forming process and a second seal forming process. In the first seal formation step, a plurality of first seals 17 for sealing the first liquid crystal layer 16 are printed on the upper surface of the second mother substrate. At the same time, a first guard seal that surrounds the first liquid crystal inlet 20 of the first seal 17 arranged on one side of the first seal row in which the first seals are arranged in a horizontal row together with the first seal row, an outer peripheral seal for cleaning, and the like Patterns necessary for manufacturing are also printed at the same time using a sealing material.
Similarly, in the second seal formation step, a second seal 18 or a second guard seal for sealing the second liquid crystal layer 19 is printed on the upper surface of the third mother substrate.
(Substrate overlay process)

The substrate overlaying process includes a first substrate overlaying process, a second mother substrate bottom surface treatment process, and a second double substrate overlaying process. In the first substrate superimposing step, the first mother substrate is superposed on the second mother substrate having a seal pattern including a first seal and a first guard seal formed on the upper surface. In the second mother substrate lower surface treatment step, after the first mother substrate and the second mother substrate are overlaid, the ventilation port of the cleaning outer periphery seal is sealed with a sealing material, and used for glass cutting (also called break). After engraving the scribe pattern, the back surface is rubbed, washed and dried, and then spacers are dispersed. In the second substrate superimposing step, the above-described second mother substrate and the third mother substrate on which the seal pattern is formed are superimposed. Finally, the seal pattern including the first and second seals 17 and 18 is pressure fired. Before the pressure firing, the sealing material that has blocked the ventilation port of the cleaning outer peripheral seal is removed in order to prevent the seal from being broken due to gas expansion.
(Short strip process)

From the state where the mother substrates as the first to third substrates are overlapped and bonded (laminated), a rectangular region (strip) including first and second guard seals in which the first and second seals are arranged in a row. cut. The strip is a small mother substrate that is divided from the large mother substrate prepared in the substrate preparation step because a large number of liquid crystal element regions are formed.
(Liquid crystal layer forming process)

After the stripping process, the first liquid crystal material is injected from the third liquid crystal injection port of the first guard seal to form the first liquid crystal layer, and the fourth of the second guard seal is similarly formed to form the second liquid crystal layer. A second liquid crystal material is injected from the liquid crystal injection port.
(Sealing process)

In the sealing step, the first and second guard injection regions are removed from the strip to expose the first and second liquid crystal injection ports, and the first and second liquid crystal injection ports are sealed with a sealing material.
(Individualization process)

  Finally, a scribe line is inserted into the first to third mother substrates included in the strip with a glass cutter, and the strip is divided into pieces to obtain a plurality of two-layer liquid crystal elements having first and second liquid crystal layers.

Next, the state of the component in each manufacturing process of FIG. 3 will be described with reference to FIGS.
The seal pattern formed on the mother substrate will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a plan view of the mother substrate of the present embodiment. FIG. 4A is a seal pattern formed on the upper surface of the second mother substrate 41 that forms the second substrate 12, and FIG. These are seal patterns formed on the upper surface of the third mother substrate 42 that forms the third substrate 13. Note that the first mother substrate forming the first substrate 11 is not shown because it does not form a seal pattern.

As shown in FIG. 4A, a cleaning outer peripheral seal 36 having a vent 37 is provided on the outer peripheral portion of the upper surface of the second mother substrate 41. The first seals 17 are arranged in a matrix inside the cleaning outer periphery seal 36. Here, the horizontal direction (row direction) in the figure is the first seal row 39. Between the first seals 17 belonging to the first seal row 39, an infiltration preventing portion 35 for preventing the infiltration of the liquid crystal material is provided, and the first seal 17 has the first seal 17 on the lower side of the first seal row 39. Liquid crystal injection ports 20 are arranged. The first liquid crystal injection port 20 is surrounded by a first seal row 39 including an infiltration preventing portion 35 and a first guard seal 31 including a third liquid crystal injection port 33. In FIG. 4A, one third liquid crystal injection port 33 is provided for each first seal row, but a plurality of third liquid crystal injection ports 33 may be provided.

  Similarly, as shown in FIG. 4B, the second seals 18 are arranged in a matrix on the upper surface of the third mother substrate 42. Here, the horizontal direction (row direction) in the figure is the second seal row 40. Between the second seals 18 belonging to the second seal row 40, an infiltration preventing portion 38 for preventing infiltration of the liquid crystal material is provided, and the second seal 18 is provided on the lower side of the second seal row 40. Liquid crystal injection ports 22 are arranged. The second liquid crystal injection port 22 is surrounded by the second seal row 40 including the infiltration preventing portion 38 and the second guard seal 32 including the fourth liquid crystal injection port 34. As in the third liquid crystal injection port 33, one fourth liquid crystal injection port 34 is provided for each second seal row in FIG. 4B, but a plurality of fourth liquid crystal injection ports 34 may be provided.

  In the figure, the first and second seals 17 and 18 are arranged in 5 rows and 8 columns. However, for example, in the case of a liquid crystal element to be loaded in an optical pickup device, the outer shape of the liquid crystal element is several mm square. Dozens of first and second seals 17 and 18 are arranged in each row and each column of the matrix.

  In FIG. 5, the external appearance of the strip from the strip shortening process to the sealing process will be described. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the strip of the present embodiment, where (a) corresponds to the strip shortening step, (b) corresponds to the liquid crystal layer forming step, and (c) and (d) correspond to the sealing step.

  In the strip forming process, the first and third mother substrates are stacked to include the first and second seal rows 39 and 40 and the first and second guard seals 31 and 32 shown in FIG. A rectangular area (strip) is cut out. As shown in FIG. 5A, the strip is a first strip substrate that forms the first substrate 11 with a second strip substrate 52 (second mother substrate included in the strip) sandwiched between the second strips 12. 51 (first mother substrate included in the strip) and a third strip substrate 53 (third mother substrate included in the strip) forming the third substrate 13 are laminated.

  In the liquid crystal layer forming step, first, as shown in FIG. 5B, a barrier 54 for preventing mixing of the first liquid crystal material and the second liquid crystal material is provided at the center of the sides on the first and second guard seals 31 and 32 side. Form. The function of the barrier 54 will be described later in detail with reference to FIG. A third liquid crystal injection port 33 of the first guard seal 31 shown in FIG. 4 is located on the right side of the side where the barrier 54 is formed and in the gap between the first strip substrate 51 and the second strip substrate 52. Similarly, on the left side of this side and in the gap between the second strip substrate 52 and the third strip substrate 53, there is a fourth liquid crystal injection port 34 of the second guard seal 32. In the drawing, a part of the first strip substrate 51 and the third strip substrate 53 has already been cut out, and an extended portion of the second strip substrate used for connection to an external circuit appears.

  In the sealing step, first, as shown in FIG. 5C, the strip substrate is formed so that the first and second liquid crystal inlets 20 and 22 of the first and second seals 17 and 18 shown in FIG. Part 55 is cut off. At this time, the first and second guard seals 31 and 32 are also removed at the same time. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 5D, the first and second liquid crystal inlets 20 and 22 of the first and second seals 17 and 18 are sealed with a sealing material 21.

  In FIG. 6, the process from the stripping process to the sealing process will be described in more detail. 6A and 6B are explanatory views showing the processing relating to the strip of the present embodiment, in which FIG. 6A is a strip shortening process, FIGS. 6B and 6C are liquid crystal layer forming processes, and FIGS. e) has shown the strip of the sealing process. For the sake of explanation, the number of first and second seals 17 and 18 included in the first and second seal rows 39 and 40 is three. 6A to 6E, the left corresponds to the first liquid crystal layer 16 side, and the right corresponds to the second liquid crystal layer 19 side.

In the initial state of the strip, as shown in FIG. 6A, the first liquid crystal inlet 20 of the first seal 17 arranged on the lower side of the first seal row 39 is connected to the first seal row 39 and the first seal row 39. A first guard seal 31 having three liquid crystal injection ports 33 is enclosed. Here, in the first seal row 39, there is an infiltration preventing portion 35 for preventing infiltration of the liquid crystal material between the first seals 17. There is an infiltration preventing portion 38 for preventing infiltration of the liquid crystal material between the second seals 18 belonging to the second seal row 40 on the second liquid crystal layer 19 side, and the second liquid crystal layer 19 is arranged on the lower side of the second seal row 40. The second liquid crystal injection port 22 of the second seal 18 is surrounded by the second seal row 40 including the infiltration preventing portion 38 and the second guard seal 32 including the fourth liquid crystal injection port 34.

  In the liquid crystal layer forming step, first, as shown in FIG. Here, the ends of the first and third strip substrates 51 and 53 are drawn with dotted lines in order to show the extended portion of the second strip substrate corresponding to FIG. Next, as shown in FIG. 6C, the first liquid crystal material 61 is injected from the third liquid crystal injection port 33 of the first guard seal 31. Similarly, the second liquid crystal material 62 is injected from the fourth liquid crystal injection port 34 of the second guard seal 32.

  In the sealing step, first, the area occupied by the first and second guard seals 31 and 32 is removed. For this reason, as shown in FIG.6 (d), the 2nd strip board | substrate 52 becomes short vertically. At this time, the first and second liquid crystal inlets 20 and 22 are exposed in a state where the first and second liquid crystal materials 61 and 62 are filled between the strip substrates 51 to 53. Finally, as shown in FIG. 6E, the first and second liquid crystal injection holes 20 and 22 are sealed with a sealing material 21.

  A liquid crystal material supply method at the time of injection in the liquid crystal layer forming step will be described with reference to FIG. 7A and 7B are explanatory views showing the relationship between the strips of this embodiment and the liquid crystal reservoir. FIG. 7A is a perspective view, and FIG. 7B is a cross section taken along the line CC in FIG. 7A. FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the liquid crystal reservoir 71 is arranged on the right side of the drawing so that the first liquid crystal material 61 held on the upper portion of the liquid crystal reservoir 71 is in contact with the strip third liquid crystal inlet 33 (not shown). Has been placed. The liquid crystal holding area of the liquid crystal reservoir 71 is elongated in order to reduce the amount of liquid crystal used (sometimes called a pin). The first liquid crystal material 61 held in the holding region rises due to surface tension and adheres to the fourth liquid crystal injection port 34. Similarly, the liquid crystal reservoir 72 is arranged on the left side of the drawing so that the second liquid crystal material 62 held on the liquid crystal reservoir 72 is in contact with the strip fourth liquid crystal injection port 34 (not shown). Even if the first liquid crystal material 61 adhering to the third liquid crystal injection port 33 is transmitted to the fourth liquid crystal injection port side along the lower side of the drawing, it is blocked by the barrier 54 shown in FIG. It does not mix with liquid crystal materials.

  According to the method for manufacturing a liquid crystal element according to the embodiment of the present invention as described above, when forming the first and second liquid crystal layers 16 and 19, different strip inlets (third and fourth liquid crystal inlets) are formed. 33, 34) different liquid crystal materials (first and second liquid crystal materials 61, 62) can be injected at the same time, and different liquid crystal materials can be prevented from being mixed at the barrier 54, so that two layers with high production efficiency and quality can be obtained. Type liquid crystal element can be manufactured.

  The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the first liquid crystal material and the second liquid crystal material are injected at the same time. However, after the fourth liquid crystal injection port 34 is sealed, the entire side with the third liquid crystal injection port 33 is used as a liquid crystal reservoir. After inserting and injecting the first liquid crystal material, the fourth liquid crystal injection port 34 may be opened to seal the third liquid crystal injection port 33, and then the second liquid crystal material 62 may be injected in the same manner. This method is inefficient in terms of the amount of liquid crystal used and tact compared to the above-described embodiment, but is convenient because a jig for manufacturing a single-layer liquid crystal element such as a liquid crystal reservoir can be used. Further, FIG. 7 shows the injection into one strip, but as described in the background art, the production efficiency is further improved by injecting a plurality of strips. A first (or second) seal may be formed on the lower surface of the first (or second) mother substrate. Further, when the number of seal rows is one from the beginning, the strip shortening process is unnecessary.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Liquid crystal element, 11 ... 1st board | substrate, 12 ... 2nd board | substrate, 13 ... 3rd board | substrate, 14 ... Transparent electrode, 15 ... Alignment film, 16 ... 1st liquid crystal layer, 17 ... 1st seal | sticker, 18 ... 2nd Seal, 19 ... second liquid crystal layer, 20 ... first liquid crystal inlet, 21 ... sealing material, 22 ... second liquid crystal inlet, 31 ... first guard seal, 32 ... second guard seal, 33 ... third liquid crystal note Inlet, 34 ... fourth liquid crystal injection port, 35, 38 ... infiltration preventing part, 36 ... outer peripheral seal for cleaning, 37 ... vent, 39 ... first seal row, 40 ... second seal row, 41 ... second mother substrate 42 ... 3rd mother board | substrate, 51 ... 1st strip board | substrate, 52 ... 2nd strip board | substrate, 53 ... 3rd strip board | substrate, 54 ... Barrier, 55 ... A part of strip board | substrate, 61 ... 1st liquid crystal material, 62 ... Second liquid crystal material, 71, 72 ... Liquid crystal reservoir.

Claims (4)

2 having first to third substrates to be stacked, and sandwiching first and second liquid crystal layers made of different liquid crystal materials in this order between the first and second substrates and between the second and third substrates. In the manufacturing method of the layer type liquid crystal element,
A substrate preparing step of preparing first to third mother substrates that are the first to third substrates when separated into two-layered elements having the first and second liquid crystal layers;
A first seal row in which a plurality of first seals for sealing the first liquid crystal layer are arranged in a row with the first liquid crystal inlets for the first liquid crystal layer in the same direction, and the first liquid crystal A first seal forming step for forming a first guard seal surrounding the inlet group and having a smaller number of third liquid crystal inlets than the first liquid crystal inlets;
A second seal for sealing the second liquid crystal layer is formed by arranging a plurality of second liquid crystal inlets for the second liquid crystal layer in a line in the same direction as the first liquid crystal inlet. A second guard that surrounds the second liquid crystal injection port group and has a fourth liquid crystal injection port that is smaller in number than the second liquid crystal injection port and is not overlapped with the third liquid crystal injection port in a plane. A second seal forming step for forming a seal;
A substrate overlaying step of overlaying the first to third mother substrates in this order;
A first liquid crystal material is injected from the third liquid crystal injection port into a region that is surrounded by the first seal and becomes the first liquid crystal layer, and the fourth liquid crystal is injected into a region that is surrounded by the second seal and becomes the second liquid crystal layer. A liquid crystal layer forming step of injecting the second liquid crystal material from the liquid crystal injection port;
After the liquid crystal layer forming step, partial regions of the first and second guard seals are removed to expose the first and second liquid crystal inlets, and the first and second liquid crystal inlets are sealed. Sealing process;
Separating the first to third mother substrates into individual pieces and obtaining a plurality of two-layer type liquid crystal elements having the first and second liquid crystal layers;
A method for producing a liquid crystal element, comprising:   The method further comprises a step of shortening the first and second seals arranged in a line and cutting out a region including the first and second guard seals between the substrate superimposing step and the liquid crystal layer forming step. The method for producing a liquid crystal element according to claim 1.   3. The method of manufacturing a liquid crystal element according to claim 1, wherein in the liquid crystal layer forming step, the first liquid crystal material and the second liquid crystal material are injected simultaneously.   A barrier for preventing mixing of the first and second liquid crystal materials is provided in a portion located between the third liquid crystal inlet and the fourth liquid crystal inlet in the laminated first to third mother substrates. The manufacturing method of the liquid crystal element as described in any one of Claims 1-3.

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