US5850276A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of making LCD device having alignment mark made of same material and formed at same time as microlenses
Assignee: Sony Corp
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Filing: 1997-10-14
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Granted: 1998-12-15
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Expires: 2017-10-14
Abstract
Abstract To provide a liquid crystal display device and manufacturing method thereof for preventing a drop in the pixel slot opening and focus rates due to poor alignment precision of the drive substrate and microlens which face each other, and for improving the focus rate and production efficiency. A lens group comprised of a plurality of microlenses is integrated into the opposing substrate. A second alignment mark is formed at the desired position within the display area on the opposing substrate. This second alignment mark is formed along grooves between numerous protrusions having a semi-circular shaped cross section so the outer contours of the face form a cross shape of a specific width. These protrusions are made of the same material (for instance transparent plastic) and shape (semi-circular cross section) as those of the microlens at the display area, forming a lens shape. The second alignment mark is made together and simultaneously with the forming of the microlens in such a way that there is no deviation between the second alignment mark and the microlens opposite it.
Inventors
- 👤 Tetsuro Ochi
- 👤 Shizuo Nishihara
- 👤 Hiroaki Ichikawa
- 👤 Satofumi Koike
- 👤 Yasunori Sato
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 14:02
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/13; G02F1/133; G02F1/1333; G02F1/1335; G02F1/133526; G02F1/133354
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
117 words
A manufacturing process for the liquid crystal display device comprising the steps of: forming a first alignment mark on a first substrate which has a pixel section containing numerous pixels; forming a microlens array made from a plurality of focusing lenses corresponding to the pixels on the first substrate and at the same time forming a second alignment mark on a second substrate using a same transparent material as that of the focusing lenses; and moving the first substrate and the second substrate to overlap-align on each other by using the first alignment mark and second alignment mark as a reference, to make the first substrate and the second substrate face each other across a specified gap.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
117 words
A manufacturing process for the liquid crystal display device comprising the steps of: forming a first alignment mark on a first substrate which has a pixel section containing numerous pixels; forming a microlens array made from a plurality of focusing lenses corresponding to the pixels on the first substrate and at the same time forming a second alignment mark on a second substrate using a same transparent material as that of the focusing lenses; and moving the first substrate and the second substrate to overlap-align on each other by using the first alignment mark and second alignment mark as a reference, to make the first substrate and the second substrate face each other across a specified gap.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
A manufacturing method for a liquid crystal display device of claim 1 wherein said First and/or Second alignment mark and focusing lenses are formed in an identical process.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
A manufacturing method for a liquid crystal display device of claim 2 wherein said process is the forming of one or a plurality of protrusions in the area corresponding to said pixel section, and in an area corresponding to the first alignment mark.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
A manufacturing method for a liquid crystal display device of claim 2 wherein said second alignment mark has a flat contour formed along the grooves between the adjoining protrusions or along edges of protrusions on surface of said second substrate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
A manufacturing method for a liquid crystal display device of claim 3 wherein said first alignment mark has a cross shaped contour, and the flat cross shaped contour of said second alignment mark has sections of specific widths along said grooves.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
62 words
A manufacturing method for a liquid crystal display device of claim 4 wherein the flat shape of said first alignment mark has a cross shaped contour, the flat shaped second alignment mark is formed along the edges of a plurality of protrusions, and formed in a quadrangle to correspond to an area including a center and vicinity of the first alignment mark.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
A manufacturing method for a liquid crystal display device of claim 5 wherein the flat shape of said second alignment mark has oblique lines whose extension lines are directed towards a center of the four corners of cross shape.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
A manufacturing method for a liquid crystal display device of claim 6 wherein the flat shape of said second alignment mark has oblique lines whose extension lines are directed towards a center of four corners of the cross shape.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
64 words
A manufacturing method for a liquid crystal display device of claim 4 wherein the flat shape of said first alignment mark has a cross shape at each section and the second alignment mark is formed in a cross shape made up of lines at each section by means of grooves between four protrusions placed at adjacent and mutually symmetrical positions at that flat shape.
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) | 2001-12-14 | 2002-06-15 | 2002-12-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-12-14 | 2006-06-15 | 2006-12-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-12-14 | 2010-06-15 | 2010-12-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |