US3862830A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of forming vitreous enclosures for liquid crystal cells
Assignee: RCA Corp
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Filing: 1973-07-18
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Granted: 1975-01-28
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Expires: 1993-07-18
Abstract
Abstract To provide spacer shims between two glass substrates of a liquid crystal cell, small bodies of a devitrifiable material, e.g., glass, are silk-screened onto one of the substrates and fired in place. To provide a mechanically strong and hermetic seal between the two substrates, a bead of a vitreous material, e.g., glass in silk screened along the edges of one of the substrates and heated to at least partially fuse it in place. The substrates are pressed together and heated to resoften the vitreous bead for sealing together the substrates.
Inventors
- 👤 Herman Abraham Stern
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 17:04
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/13; G02F1/133; G02F1/1333; G02F1/1345; G02F1/1339
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
134 words
A METHOD OF FABRICATING A LIQUID CRYSTAL CELL COMPRISING: BONDING A SPACER HAVING A SOFTENING POINT AT FIRST TEMPRATURE TO ONE OF TWO ENCLOSURE MEMBERS OF THE CELL TO BE FABRICATED, BONDING A BEAD OF A VITREOUS MATERIAL HAVING A SOFTENING POINT AT A TEMPERATURE LESS THAN THAT OF SAID FIRT TEMPERATURE TO ONE OF SAID TWO MEMBERS, THEREAFTER DISPOSING SAID TWO MEMBERS IN ENCLOSURE FORMING RELATIONSHIP WITH SAID SPACER AND SAID BEAD DISPOSED THEREBETWEEN, HEATING SAID DISPOSED PARTS TO SOFTEN SAID BEAD AT A TEMPERATURE LESS THAN SAID FIRST TEMPERATURE, WHILE SAID BEAD SOFT, PRESSING SAID MEMBERS TOGETHER TO COMPRESS SAID BEAD THEREBETWEEN UNTIL FURTHER COMPRESSION IS PREVENTED BY CONTACT OF SAID SPACER WITH THE OTHER OF SAID TWO MEMBERS, AND COOLING SAID BEAD TO PROVIDE A SEALED JOINT BETWEEN SAID TWO MEMBERS.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
134 words
A METHOD OF FABRICATING A LIQUID CRYSTAL CELL COMPRISING: BONDING A SPACER HAVING A SOFTENING POINT AT FIRST TEMPRATURE TO ONE OF TWO ENCLOSURE MEMBERS OF THE CELL TO BE FABRICATED, BONDING A BEAD OF A VITREOUS MATERIAL HAVING A SOFTENING POINT AT A TEMPERATURE LESS THAN THAT OF SAID FIRT TEMPERATURE TO ONE OF SAID TWO MEMBERS, THEREAFTER DISPOSING SAID TWO MEMBERS IN ENCLOSURE FORMING RELATIONSHIP WITH SAID SPACER AND SAID BEAD DISPOSED THEREBETWEEN, HEATING SAID DISPOSED PARTS TO SOFTEN SAID BEAD AT A TEMPERATURE LESS THAN SAID FIRST TEMPERATURE, WHILE SAID BEAD SOFT, PRESSING SAID MEMBERS TOGETHER TO COMPRESS SAID BEAD THEREBETWEEN UNTIL FURTHER COMPRESSION IS PREVENTED BY CONTACT OF SAID SPACER WITH THE OTHER OF SAID TWO MEMBERS, AND COOLING SAID BEAD TO PROVIDE A SEALED JOINT BETWEEN SAID TWO MEMBERS.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 in which said bead, as disposed on said one substrate, has a height greater than that of said spacer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 2 in which the mass of material in said bead is substantially greater than that in said spacer.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
120 words
A method of fabricating a liquid crystal cell comprising: disposing a spacer of a devitrifiable material on one of two enclosure members of the cell to be fabricated, thereafter devitrifying said spacer and bonding it to said one member, bonding a bead of a vitreous material to one of said two members, thereafter disposing said two members in enclosure forming relationship with said spacer and said bead disposed therebetween, heating said bead to soften it, while said bead is soft, pressing said members together to compress said bead between said members until the spacing therebetween is determined by the contacting of said spacer with both said members, and cooling said bead to provide an hermetic seal between said two members.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
120 words
A method of fabricating a liquid crystal cell comprising: disposing a spacer of a devitrifiable material on one of two enclosure members of the cell to be fabricated, thereafter devitrifying said spacer and bonding it to said one member, bonding a bead of a vitreous material to one of said two members, thereafter disposing said two members in enclosure forming relationship with said spacer and said bead disposed therebetween, heating said bead to soften it, while said bead is soft, pressing said members together to compress said bead between said members until the spacing therebetween is determined by the contacting of said spacer with both said members, and cooling said bead to provide an hermetic seal between said two members.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method of fabricating a device as in claim 4 wherein said bead, prior to said enclosure forming step, has a height greater than that of said spacer.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3798014A
Cited
US3778126A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-01-27 | 1978-07-29 | 1979-01-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-01-27 | 1982-07-29 | 1983-01-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-01-27 | 1986-07-29 | 1987-01-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |