Patent US5008049A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5008049A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method for sealing an electronic device containing a fluid material
Assignee: General Electric Co
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Filing: 1989-09-21
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Granted: 1991-04-16
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Expires: 2009-09-21
Abstract
Abstract A device containing a fluid material is sealed by sealant material placed essentially completely around the periphery of the device to join spaced apart first and second members of the device; and aperture is formed through the seal and the device interior is evacuated. Then fluid material is introduced into the device interior through the aperture and only a limited region of the device, confined substantially to the aperture is exposed to electromagnetic radiation from a laser or the like, to hermetically close the aperture when a photoreactive adhesive is injected into the aperture to cause the adhesive to solidify when contacted by the electromagnetic radiation. In an alternate embodiment, the aperture is filled with a plug of thermoplastic material, which is then selectively heat treated by a laser or the like to cause the plug to bind to the aperture boundary and hermetically enclose the fluid material.
Inventors
- 👤 James W. Rose
- 👤 Theresa A. Sitnik
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 02:40
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29C; B29C65/00; B29C65/48; B29C65/4805; B29C65/483; B29C65/4845; B29C65/02; B29C65/14; B29C65/1429; B29C65/1435; B29C65/1477; B29C65/1483; B29C65/52; B29C65/54; B29C65/542; B29C67/00; B29C67/004; G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/13; G02F1/133; G02F1/1333; G02F1/1341; B29C65/1403; B29C65/1406; B29C65/16; B29C65/1603; B29C65/1606; B29C65/1629; B29C65/1635; B29C65/1677; B29C65/1683
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
139 words
A method for sealing a fluid between spaced apart first and second members of a device, comprising the steps of: forming a seal of sealant material across a space between the first and second members and essentially completely around the periphery of the device; forming an aperture through the seal to provide access to an interior of the device; introducing the fluid into the device interior through the aperture; filling the aperture with a plug of thermoplastic material; selectively heat treating substantially only the plug to cause at least an exterior portion of the plug to soften and flow; and terminating the heat treatment after a duration sufficiently short to avoid contamination of said fluid, to cause the plug to resolidify and bind to a boundary of the aperture and complete the peripheral seal to completely enclose the fluid.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
139 words
A method for sealing a fluid between spaced apart first and second members of a device, comprising the steps of: forming a seal of sealant material across a space between the first and second members and essentially completely around the periphery of the device; forming an aperture through the seal to provide access to an interior of the device; introducing the fluid into the device interior through the aperture; filling the aperture with a plug of thermoplastic material; selectively heat treating substantially only the plug to cause at least an exterior portion of the plug to soften and flow; and terminating the heat treatment after a duration sufficiently short to avoid contamination of said fluid, to cause the plug to resolidify and bind to a boundary of the aperture and complete the peripheral seal to completely enclose the fluid.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of cutting off a corner of at least one of the first and second members of the device to provide the aperture and to facilitate introducing the fluid.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the sealant material is an injection-moldable thermoplastic resin.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the sealant material is an epoxy.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the device is a liquid crystal display device and the first and second members are respectively a substrate member and a cover member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the heat treating step comprises the step of focusing ultraviolet radiation on only the plug.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 6 wherein the focusing step comprises the step of directing the ultraviolet radiation through a lens to irradiate only the plug.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 6 wherein the ultraviolet radiation has a wavelength of about 351 nanometers.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said duration is about 0.5 seconds.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
122 words
A method for sealing a fluid between spaced apart first and second members of a device, comprising the steps of: forming a seal of sealant material across a space between the first and second members and essentially completely around the periphery of the device; forming an aperture through the seal to provide access to an interior of the device; introducing the fluid into the device interior through the aperture; irradiating substantially only the aperture of the device with electromagnetic radiation; injecting a photosensitive adhesive into the aperture so as to expose said adhesive to said radiation and cause said adhesive to solidify and close the aperture; and terminating said electromagnetic radiation after a duration sufficiently short to avoid contamination of said fluid.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
122 words
A method for sealing a fluid between spaced apart first and second members of a device, comprising the steps of: forming a seal of sealant material across a space between the first and second members and essentially completely around the periphery of the device; forming an aperture through the seal to provide access to an interior of the device; introducing the fluid into the device interior through the aperture; irradiating substantially only the aperture of the device with electromagnetic radiation; injecting a photosensitive adhesive into the aperture so as to expose said adhesive to said radiation and cause said adhesive to solidify and close the aperture; and terminating said electromagnetic radiation after a duration sufficiently short to avoid contamination of said fluid.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of cutting off a corner of at least one of the first and second members of the device to provide the aperture and to facilitate introducing the fluid.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the sealant material is an injection-moldable thermoplastic resin.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the sealant material is an epoxy.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the device is a liquid crystal display device and the first and second members are respectively a substrate member and a cover member.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the irradiating step comprises the step of focusing ultraviolet radiation on only the aperture.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 15 wherein the ultraviolet radiation has a wavelength of about 351 nanometers.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 15 wherein the focusing step comprises the step of directing the ultraviolet radiation through a lens to irradiate only the aperture area.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
139 words
A method for sealing a fluid between spaced apart first and second members of a device, comprising the steps of: forming a seal of sealant material across a space between the first and second members and essentially completely around the periphery of the device; forming an aperture through the seal to provide access to an interior of the device; introducing the fluid into the device interior through the aperture; selectively heat treating substantially only the aperture; filling the aperture with a plug of thermoplastic material to cause at least an exterior portion of the plug to soften and flow; and terminating the heat treatment after a duration sufficiently short to avoid contamination of said fluid, to cause the plug to resolidify and bind to a boundary of the aperture and complete the peripheral seal to completely enclose the fluid.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
139 words
A method for sealing a fluid between spaced apart first and second members of a device, comprising the steps of: forming a seal of sealant material across a space between the first and second members and essentially completely around the periphery of the device; forming an aperture through the seal to provide access to an interior of the device; introducing the fluid into the device interior through the aperture; selectively heat treating substantially only the aperture; filling the aperture with a plug of thermoplastic material to cause at least an exterior portion of the plug to soften and flow; and terminating the heat treatment after a duration sufficiently short to avoid contamination of said fluid, to cause the plug to resolidify and bind to a boundary of the aperture and complete the peripheral seal to completely enclose the fluid.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 18 further comprising the step of cutting off a corner of at least one of the first and second members of the device to provide the aperture and to facilitate introducing the fluid.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 18 wherein the device is a liquid crystal display device and the first and second members are respectively a substrate member and a cover member.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 18 wherein the heat treating step comprises the step of focusing ultraviolet radiation on only the aperture.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 21 wherein the focusing step comprises the step of directing the ultraviolet radiation through a lens to irradiate only the aperture.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 21 wherein the ultraviolet radiation has a wavelength of about 351 nanometers.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 23 wherein said duration is about 0.5 seconds.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-04-15 | 1994-10-15 | 1995-04-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-04-15 | 1998-10-15 | 1999-04-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-04-15 | 2002-10-15 | 2003-04-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |