IP Library Granted Patent US 6,862,064
Granted Patent B2
US 6,862,064 · App. 10/763,307 · Granted Mar 1, 2005

Liquid crystal device, fabricating method, and fabricating apparatus thereof

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 6,862,064
App. No.
10/763,307
Granted
Mar 1, 2005
Kind
B2
Abstract

To provide a liquid crystal device having a uniform vertical alignment, a method for fabricating it easily, and its fabricating apparatus in fabricating an ECB-type vertically aligned liquid crystal device, a liquid crystal device includes liquid crystal molecules 12 each having a negative dielectric anisotropy and polyimide films for homogeneous alignment, wherein a method for fabricating a liquid crystal device including a process of vertically orienting liquid crystal molecules is constructed by exposing the liquid crystal molecules to light from either or both sides of substrates 14 of the liquid crystal device whose liquid crystal molecules each having a negative dielectric anisotropy are homogeneously oriented using polyimide films for homogeneous alignment. In addition, an aligner used for exposure is equipped with a filer so as to cut light having wavelengths of 400 nm or less and 600 nm or more, so that light having a wavelength of 400 to 600 nm can be utilized. In this liquid crystal device, the response time becomes faster when a voltage is applied between electrodes 16.

Claims (36)

1. A method for fabricating a liquid crystal device including the steps of:

forming desired electrodes on each one side of substrates;

forming alignment films for homogeneous alignment, formed on said electrodes and facing each other by a uniform space;

filling a liquid crystal material including liquid crystal molecules each having a negative dielectric anisotropy in a gap formed between the alignment films; and exposing the liquid crystal molecules filled between said substrates to light

wherein said step of exposing liquid crystal molecules to light is used for controlling liquid crystal molecules so that said liquid crystal molecules may be vertically oriented with respect to said substrates.

2. The method for fabricating a liquid crystal device according to claim 1 , wherein said step of exposing liquid crystal molecules to light is used for illuminating said liquid crystal material from either or both sides of said substrates.

3. The method for fabricating a liquid crystal device according to claim 1 , further including step of cutting light with wavelengths of 400 nm or less and/or 600 nm or more before said step of exposing liquid crystal molecules to light.

4. The method for fabricating a liquid crystal device according to claim 3 , wherein said light used for exposure includes a wavelength in a range from 400 nm 450 nm.

5. A method for fabricating a liquid crystal device including the steps of:

forming desired electrodes on each one side of substrates;

forming alignment films for homogeneous alignment, formed on said electrodes and facing each other by a uniform space;

filling a liquid crystal material including liquid crystal molecules each having a negative dielectric anisotropy in a gap formed between the alignment films; and exposing the liquid crystal molecules filled between said substrates to light by disposing masks in a prescribed region of either or both sides of each of the substrates

wherein said step of exposing liquid crystal molecules to light is used for controlling liquid crystal molecules so that said liquid crystal molecules may be vertically oriented with respect to said substrates.

6. The method for fabricating a liquid crystal device according to claim 5 , wherein said step of exposing liquid crystal molecules to light is used for illuminating said liquid crystal material from either or both sides of said substrates.

7. The method for fabricating a liquid crystal device according to claim 5 , further including a step of cutting light with wavelengths of 400 nm or less and/or 600 nm or more before said step of exposing liquid crystal molecules to light.

8. The method for fabricating a liquid crystal device according to claim 7 , wherein said light used for exposure includes a wavelength in a range from 400 nm to 450 nm.

9. The method for fabricating a liquid crystal device according to claim 5 , wherein said masks include half-tone masks.

10. A fabricating apparatus for a liquid crystal device comprising:

a pair of substrates,

electrodes formed on each one side of said substrates;

alignment films for homogeneous alignment, formed on said electrodes and facing each other by a uniform space; and

a liquid crystal material including liquid crystal molecules each having a negative dielectric anisotropy, said liquid crystal material filled in a gap formed between the alignment films,

wherein the fabricating apparatus includes exposing means for exposing said liquid crystal material to light from either or both sides of said substrate

wherein said step of exposing liquid crystal molecules to light is used for controlling liquid crystal molecules so that said liquid crystal molecules may be vertically oriented with respect to said substrates.

11. The fabricating apparatus for a liquid crystal device according to claim 10 , wherein said exposing means emits light having a wavelength in a range from about 400 nm to 450 nm.

12. The fabricating apparatus for a liquid crystal device according to claim 10 , wherein said exposing means is equipped with a filter for cutting wavelengths to 400 nm or less and/or 600 nm or more.

13. A fabricating apparatus for a liquid crystal device comprising:

a pair of substrates,

electrodes formed on each one side of said substrates;

alignment films for homogeneous alignment, formed on said electrodes and facing each other by a uniform space; and

a liquid crystal material including liquid crystal molecules each having a negative dielectric anisotropy, said liquid crystal material filled in a gap formed between the alignment films,

wherein the fabricating apparatus includes means for disposing masks in a prescribed region of either or both sides of said substrates and exposing means for exposing said liquid crystal material to light from either or both sides of the substrates

wherein said step of exposing liquid crystal molecules to light is used for controlling liquid crystal molecules so that said liquid crystal molecules may be vertically oriented with respect to said substrates.

14. The fabricating apparatus for a liquid crystal device according to claim 13 , wherein said exposing means emits light having a wavelength in a range from 400 to 450 nm.

15. The fabricating apparatus for a liquid crystal device according to claim 13 , wherein said exposing means is equipped with a filter for cutting wavelengths of 400 nm or less and/or 600 nm or more.

16. The fabricating apparatus for a liquid crystal device according to claim 13 , wherein said masks include half-tone masks.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 19, 2008
From: INFOVISION OPTOELECTRONICS HOLDINGS LIMITED
To: INFOVISION OPTOELECTRONICS HOLDINGS LIMITED; SHIN KOH DEN TECHNOLOGY LIMITED
Reel/Frame 020666/0256 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 30, 2006
From: NVTECH CO., LTD.
To: INFOVISION OPTOELECTRONICS HOLDINGS LIMITED
Reel/Frame 018442/0620 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 1, 2005
From: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
To: NV TECH CO., LTD
Reel/Frame 016800/0617 →