US3990782A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Seal for liquid crystal display cell
Assignee: WALTER E HELLER WESTERN Inc
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Filing: 1974-09-09
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Granted: 1976-11-09
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Expires: 1994-09-09
Abstract
Abstract A liquid crystal display cell comprising a pair of oppositely disposed glass plates having transparent conductive electrodes formed on the facing surfaces thereof, said glass plates being joined by a seal material along the outer periphery thereof, with the seal material having a small opening formed therein for filling the interior volume of the cell with a liquid crystal material. A barrier is provided internally of the cell having one end joined to the seal material adjacent one side of the fill opening and having its other end extending beyond the fill opening parallel to at least one side of the display cell. The barrier extends between the glass plates, being sealed thereto, and opens into the internal volume of the cell to provide a channel communicating between the fill opening and said internal volume. After the cell is filled with liquid crystal material the channel is closed by a wax plug, such as a plug of high molecular weight hydrocarbon wax, and the fill opening is sealed by an epoxy or glass plug.
Inventors
- 👤 James N. Yamasaki
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 21:09
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/13; G02F1/133; G02F1/1333; G02F1/1341; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S359/00; Y10S359/90
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
145 words
In a liquid crystal display cell having a pair of glass plates in close adjacent spaced relationship being joined together along the outer periphery of the plates by a seal material having a small fill opening therein, the glass plates having transparent conductive electrodes formed on facing surfaces thereof, the cell being filled with a liquid crystal material, the improvement comprising: a. a barrier disposed internally of the cell in close adjacent spaced relationship to the seal material and connected to said seal material adjacent one side of the fill opening to form a capillary tube between the fill opening and the remainder of the internal portion of the cell, said barrier extending between the glass plates and being sealed to the plates; and, b. a wax plug disposed within a portion of said capillary tube between the liquid crystal material and the fill opening.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
145 words
In a liquid crystal display cell having a pair of glass plates in close adjacent spaced relationship being joined together along the outer periphery of the plates by a seal material having a small fill opening therein, the glass plates having transparent conductive electrodes formed on facing surfaces thereof, the cell being filled with a liquid crystal material, the improvement comprising: a. a barrier disposed internally of the cell in close adjacent spaced relationship to the seal material and connected to said seal material adjacent one side of the fill opening to form a capillary tube between the fill opening and the remainder of the internal portion of the cell, said barrier extending between the glass plates and being sealed to the plates; and, b. a wax plug disposed within a portion of said capillary tube between the liquid crystal material and the fill opening.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The improvement for a liquid crystal display cell claimed in claim 1 wherein: said wax is a high molecular weight hydrocarbon.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The improvement for a liquid crystal display cell claimed in claim 1 wherein: said wax has a melting point above 150° F.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The improvement for a liquid crystal display cell claimed in claim 1 and additionally comprising: a final seal disposed to seal the fill opening.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The improvement for a liquid crystal display cell claimed in claim 4 wherein: said final seal is an epoxy plug.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The improvement for a liquid crystal display cell claimed in claim 4 wherein: said final seal is a glass plug.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
52 words
The improvement for a liquid crystal display cell claimed in claim 1 wherein: said capillary tube is of sufficient length to trap and contain any contaminating substance which gains entry to the cell by means of surface tension during filling of the cell with the liquid crystal material through the fill opening.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
The improvement for a liquid crystal display cell claimed in claim 1 wherein: said barrier means is disposed continuously adjacent the seal material on more than one side of the liquid crystal display cell.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
169 words
An improved liquid crystal display cell comprising: a. a pair of glass plates in close adjacent spaced relationship, said plates having transparent conductive electrodes formed on facing surfaces thereof; b. a liquid crystal material disposed between said plates; c. a sealing material disposed along the outer periphery of the facing surfaces of said plates and being bonded to both plates to define an internal volume containing said liquid crystal material, said sealing material having a fill hole therein between the outside of the cell and said internal volume, said seal material being disposed additionally from a point on one side of said fill hole behind said fill hole and parallel to said seal material on the opposite side of said fill hole in close spaced relationship whereby a capillary tube is formed between said fill hole and said internal volume; d. a wax plug disposed in said capillary tube between said liquid crystal material and said fill hole; and, e. a final seal disposed to close said fill hole.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
169 words
An improved liquid crystal display cell comprising: a. a pair of glass plates in close adjacent spaced relationship, said plates having transparent conductive electrodes formed on facing surfaces thereof; b. a liquid crystal material disposed between said plates; c. a sealing material disposed along the outer periphery of the facing surfaces of said plates and being bonded to both plates to define an internal volume containing said liquid crystal material, said sealing material having a fill hole therein between the outside of the cell and said internal volume, said seal material being disposed additionally from a point on one side of said fill hole behind said fill hole and parallel to said seal material on the opposite side of said fill hole in close spaced relationship whereby a capillary tube is formed between said fill hole and said internal volume; d. a wax plug disposed in said capillary tube between said liquid crystal material and said fill hole; and, e. a final seal disposed to close said fill hole.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The improved liquid crystal display cell claimed in claim 9 wherein: said wax is a high molecular weight hydrocarbon having a melting point above 150° F.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
The improved liquid crystal display cell claimed in claim 9 wherein: said capillary tube is of sufficient length to trap and contain any contaminating substance entering the cell through said fill hole.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
The improved liquid crystal display cell claimed in claim 9 wherein: said capillary tube is disposed along more than one side of the periphery of said internal volume of the cell.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
161 words
The improved method of sealing a liquid crystal display cell having a pair of glass plates in closed adjacent spaced relationship being joined together along the outer periphery of the plates by a seal material having a small fill opening therein, the glass plates having transparent conductive electrodes formed on facing surfaces thereof, the cell having an internally formed capillary tube between the fill opening and the remainder of the internal portion of the cell, the cell being filled with a liquid crystal material, the improved method comprising the steps of: a. placing a small quantity of wax in contact with the fill opening; b. heating the wax to its melting temperature by applying localized heat whereby the melted wax will be drawn into the capillary tube by capillary action; c. removing the heat from the wax whereby the wax will solidify and form a plug within the capillary tube; and, d. placing a final seal material into the fill opening.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
161 words
The improved method of sealing a liquid crystal display cell having a pair of glass plates in closed adjacent spaced relationship being joined together along the outer periphery of the plates by a seal material having a small fill opening therein, the glass plates having transparent conductive electrodes formed on facing surfaces thereof, the cell having an internally formed capillary tube between the fill opening and the remainder of the internal portion of the cell, the cell being filled with a liquid crystal material, the improved method comprising the steps of: a. placing a small quantity of wax in contact with the fill opening; b. heating the wax to its melting temperature by applying localized heat whereby the melted wax will be drawn into the capillary tube by capillary action; c. removing the heat from the wax whereby the wax will solidify and form a plug within the capillary tube; and, d. placing a final seal material into the fill opening.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 13 wherein: the wax is a high molecular weight hydrocarbon.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 13 wherein: the wax has a melting point above 150° F.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 13 wherein: the final seal material is an epoxy material having a cure temperature below the melting temperature of the wax.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-11-09 | 1980-05-10 | 1980-11-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-11-09 | 1984-05-10 | 1984-11-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-11-09 | 1988-05-10 | 1988-11-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |