Abstract:
A liquid crystal display device bonding apparatus includes a chamber part for bonding substrates together, a plurality of moving elements within the chamber part, and at least one origin verifying system provided along moving paths of the moving elements.

Description:
[0001]    The present invention claims the benefit of the Korean Application Nos. P2002-15876, and P2002-15877, both filed in Korea on Mar. 23, 2002, which are hereby incorporated by reference.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display, and more particularly, to a liquid crystal display (LCD) bonding apparatus and method for fabrication of large-sized LCDs using a liquid crystal dropping method applied thereto.  
           [0004]    2. Background of the Related Art  
           [0005]    In general, as demands for various types of display devices increases, different flat display panels, such as liquid crystal display (LCD), plasma display panel (PDP), electro-luminescent display (ELD), and vacuum fluorescent display (VFD) devices are currently being developed for deployment as display device in various apparatus. Of these different flat display panel devices, the LCDs have been commonly used as portable display devices, and are replacing the cathode ray tube (CRT) because of their excellent picture quality, light weight, thin profile, and low power consumption. In addition, the mobile type LCDs, such as monitors for notebook computers, are presently being developed for televisions and monitors of computers.  
           [0006]    Despite various technical developments of the LCD devices, enhancement of picture quality are inconsistent with the features and advantages of the LCD. Accordingly, key development of the LCD device relies on implementation of high picture quality (i.e., high definition), high luminance, and large-sized screen while maintaining its light weight, thin profile, and low power consumption.  
           [0007]    The LCD device is commonly provided with a liquid crystal panel for displaying an image, and a driving part for providing a driving signal to the liquid crystal panel. The liquid crystal panel includes a TFT array substrate and a color filter substrate that are bonded together with a gap between the substrates, and a liquid crystal material layer injected within the gap.  
           [0008]    On the TFT array substrate, there are a plurality of gate lines arranged along a first direction at fixed intervals, a plurality of data lines arranged along a second direction at fixed intervals perpendicular to the gate lines, a plurality of pixel electrodes disposed in pixel regions defined at crossed points of the gate and data lines to form a matrix, a plurality of thin film transistors switchable in response to a signal applied to the gate lines for transmission of a signal transmitted along the data line to the pixel electrodes.  
           [0009]    On the color filter substrate, there is a black matrix layer for shielding light from portions of the color filter substrate excluding the pixel regions, a red (R), green (G), and blue (B) color filter layer for converting white light into colored light, and a common electrode for generating an applied electric field.  
           [0010]    The LCD device may be fabricated by a known liquid crystal injection method in which sealant is patterned on one of the TFT and color filter substrates with an injection hole formed thereon, bonding the substrates under a reduced pressure (i.e., a vacuum), and injecting the liquid crystal material through the injection hole in the sealant. Alternatively, LCD devices may be fabricated by a known liquid crystal dropping method, as disclosed in a Japanese laid-open patent publication Nos. H11-089612, and H11-172903. In the liquid crystal dropping method, a first substrate having the liquid crystal material dropped thereon and a second substrate are bonded together in a vacuum chamber. However, the LCD device fabricating method having the liquid crystal injection method applied thereto requires a substantial amount of processing time period for injection of the liquid crystal material. For example, since the liquid crystal material is injected through capillary action under a vacuum, the liquid crystal material injection is not favorable for fabrication of large-sized LCD devices and for mass production. In contrast, the liquid crystal fabricating method using the liquid crystal dropping method does not require injection processing, thereby reducing a total amount of processing time.  
           [0011]    [0011]FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of a liquid crystal display device bonding apparatus during loading according to the related art. In FIG. 1, the liquid crystal display device bonding apparatus includes a frame  10 , an upper stage  21 , a lower stage  22 , a sealant dispenser (not shown), a liquid crystal dispenser  30 , an upper chamber part  31 , a lower chamber part  32 , chamber moving system  40 , a capture system  61 - 64 , and a stage moving system  50 .  
           [0012]    The lower stage  22 , sealant dispenser (not shown), and liquid crystal dispenser  30  are disposed along a side of the frame, and the upper and lower chamber parts  31  and  32  are separated. Accordingly, once a lower substrate  51  has been placed onto the lower stage  22  and the liquid crystal material and sealant are deposited onto the lower substrate  51 , the lower chamber part  32  is moved beneath the upper chamber part  31  via the stage moving system  40  prior to bonding.  
           [0013]    [0013]FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the liquid crystal display device bonding apparatus of FIG. 1 during bonding according to the related art. In FIG. 2, the lower chamber part  32  is positioned beneath the upper chamber part  31 , and the upper and lower chamber parts  31  and  32  are connected together. The capture system includes the rotating shaft  61 , the rotating actuator  63 , the elevating actuator  64 , and the supporting plate  62  for supporting a corner of the substrate. The capture system supports an upper substrate  52  to be temporarily held to the upper stage  21  at opposite diagonal positions thereof.  
           [0014]    A method for fabricating an LCD device by using the substrate apparatus according to the related art will be explained in more detail during a fabrication process.  
           [0015]    The upper substrate  52  is held at the upper stage  21 , and the lower substrate  51  is held at the lower stage  22 . Accordingly, the lower chamber part  32  having the lower stage  22  is moved to a location for processing a sealant coating and liquid crystal dropping by the chamber moving system  40  as shown in FIG. 1. Then, upon finishing the sealant coating and liquid crystal dropping onto the lower substrate  51  by the sealant dispenser (not shown) and liquid crystal dispenser  30 , the lower chamber part  32  is moved beneath the upper chamber part  31  by the chamber moving system  40 , as shown in FIG. 2. Next, assembly of the upper and lower chamber parts  31  and  32  is performed by the chamber moving system  40  to enclose a space where the upper and lower stages  21  and  22  are located. Then, the supporting plate  62  is brought to two corners of the upper substrate  52  held at the upper stage  31  as the elevating actuator  64  and the rotating actuator  63  of the capture system move.  
           [0016]    [0016]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a substrate supporting system of a liquid crystal display device bonding apparatus according to the related art. In FIG. 3, a suction force generated by a vacuum system (not shown) that holds the upper substrate  52  is released, thereby dropping the upper substrate  52  onto the supporting plates  62  of the capture system. In addition, the vacuum system (not shown) is used for reducing a pressure within the assembled upper and lower chamber parts  31  and  32 . When the assembled upper and lower chamber parts  31  and  32  have achieved a desired vacuum, an electrostatic force is applied to the upper stage  31 , thereby affixing the upper substrate  52  to the upper stage  21 . Then, the rotating actuator  63  and the elevating actuator  64  of the capture system are driven, thereby moving the supporting plates  62  and the rotating shaft  61  out of the way.  
           [0017]    During the period of the desired vacuum, the upper stage  21  is moved downward by the stage moving means  50  to press and bond the upper substrate  52  held at the upper stage  21  to the lower substrate  51  held at the lower stage  22 , thereby completing fabrication of the LCD device.  
           [0018]    During the fabrication process, as detailed above, many of the moving elements in the chamber part require substantial moving accuracy (i.e., the stages and the substrate supporting system) and also require substantial accurate position setting. The position setting of the moving elements is generally made during initial equipment installation, or after a predetermined operational time period. Accordingly, repeated manual position setting of the moving elements results in poor accuracy and requires significantly long periods of time. Moreover, the position setting of the moving elements cannot anticipate sudden occurrences of unexpected situations, such as power loss. For example, the controller of the bonding apparatus may only remember positions of respective moving elements as original positions at the moment power is restored, thereby resulting in inaccurate positioning of the moving elements.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0019]    Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a liquid crystal display (LCD) bonding apparatus and a method of using the bonding apparatus that substantially obviates one or more of the problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.  
           [0020]    An object of the present invention is to provide an LCD device bonding apparatus and method in which automatic position setting may be performed when an unexpected sudden situation occurs, or when position setting is required.  
           [0021]    Another object of the present invention is to provide an LCD device bonding apparatus and method that can make precise original settings of moving elements for improving movement precision.  
           [0022]    Another object of the present invention is to provide an LCD device bonding apparatus and method that can detect movement errors of the moving elements in advance.  
           [0023]    Another object of the present invention is to provide an LCD device bonding apparatus and method in which movement correction of moving elements is automatically made by a precise mechanical structure.  
           [0024]    Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.  
           [0025]    To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described, a liquid crystal display device bonding apparatus includes a chamber part for bonding substrates together, a plurality of moving elements within the chamber part, and at least one origin verifying system provided along moving paths of the moving elements.  
           [0026]    In another aspect, a method for setting an origin in an liquid crystal display device bonding apparatus includes moving a moving element toward an origin verifying system, reading a position of the moving element at a preset location, and resetting the preset location as an origin of the moving element when the moving element reaches the preset location.  
           [0027]    In another aspect, a liquid crystal display device bonding apparatus includes a chamber part for bonding substrates together, at least one moving element within the chamber part, and at least one moving amount verifying system attached between at least one end along a moving path of the moving element.  
           [0028]    In another aspect, a method for correcting a moving amount in a liquid crystal display device bonding apparatus includes moving a moving element from a first set point to a second set point, reading a moving distance of the moving element from the first set point to the second set point, comparing the read moving distance and a preset moving distance of the moving element for detecting an error between the read moving distance and the present moving distance, and correcting the moving distance of the moving element based upon the detected error.  
           [0029]    In another aspect, a liquid crystal display device bonding apparatus includes a chamber part for bonding substrates together, at least one moving element within the chamber part, and at least one moving amount verifying system attached between at least one end along a moving path of the moving element.  
           [0030]    In another aspect, a method for correcting a moving amount in a liquid crystal display device bonding apparatus includes moving a moving element from a first set point to a second set point, reading a moving distance of the moving element from the first set point to the second set point, comparing the read moving distance and a preset moving distance of the moving element for detecting an error between the read moving distance and the present moving distance, and correcting the moving distance of the moving element based upon the detected error.  
           [0031]    It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0032]    The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings:  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of a liquid crystal display device bonding apparatus during loading according to the related art;  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the liquid crystal display device bonding apparatus of FIG. 1 during bonding according to the related art;  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a substrate supporting system of a liquid crystal display device bonding apparatus according to the related art;  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 4 is an exemplary structure for setting origins of moving elements in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0037]    [0037]FIGS. 5A to  5 C illustrate exemplary origin verifying systems for setting origins in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0038]    [0038]FIGS. 6A to  6 B are exemplary origin setting states of an upper stage in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 7 is another exemplary origin setting state of a substrate supporting system in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0040]    [0040]FIG. 8 is an exemplary origin setting state of a loading support system in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0041]    [0041]FIG. 9 is an exemplary structure for correction of movement of moving elements in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0042]    [0042]FIGS. 10A to  10 C are exemplary fitting states of a movement verifying system employed for movement correction of moving elements in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0043]    [0043]FIG. 11 is an exemplary moving distance setting state of an upper stage in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0044]    [0044]FIG. 12 is an exemplary moving distance setting state of a substrate supporting system in accordance with the present invention; and  
         [0045]    [0045]FIG. 13 is an exemplary moving distance setting state of a loading support system in accordance with the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0046]    Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.  
         [0047]    [0047]FIG. 4 is an exemplary structure for setting origins of moving elements in accordance with the present invention. In FIG. 4, the exemplary structure may include a contact part  200  for contacting a moving element  100 , and a contact confirming system fitted to the moving element  100  for sensing contact to the contact part  200 . The contact part  200  may be a stop block, and the contact confirming system may include a load cell  310  attached to a driving system  110  for the moving element  100 , and a contact projection  320  attached to the moving element  100 .  
         [0048]    [0048]FIGS. 5A to  5 C illustrate exemplary origin verifying systems for setting origins in accordance with the present invention. In FIG. 5A, an origin verifying system may include a dial gauge  210  for visual sensing of contact with the moving element  100 . In FIG. 5B, an origin verifying system may include a position confirming sensor  220  for sensing and displaying a position of the moving element  100 . In FIG. 5C, an origin verifying system may include a limit switch  230  for sensing a position of the moving element  100 . Alternatively, the origin verifying system may be attached and include a number of gauges and/or sensors attached along every moving path of the moving elements. Moreover, the origin verifying system may be provided at overlapping regions of moving paths of the moving elements, or to moving paths of the moving elements as required.  
         [0049]    [0049]FIGS. 6A to  6 B are exemplary origin setting states of an upper stage in accordance with the present invention. In FIG. 6A, different moving elements  100  (in FIGS. 4 and 5A- 5 C) may include an upper stage  121  and a lower stage  122  for loading and bonding upper and lower substrates  510  and  520  together, a substrate supporting system (not shown) for affixing the upper substrate  510  to the upper stage  121  during a vacuum affixing process, and a loading supporting system (not shown) for supporting the loading of the lower substrate  520  onto the lower stage  122 . In addition, there may also be an alignment system (not shown) for aligning the upper substrate  510  onto the upper stage  121  and for aligning the lower substrate  520  onto the lower stage  122 . Moreover, a clamping system may be provided for loading or affixing the upper and lower substrates  510  and  520  onto the upper and lower stages  121  and  122 , respectively. Furthermore, additional process supporting systems may be provided for supporting various fabrication processes for bonding the upper and lower substrates  510  and  520  together.  
         [0050]    Exemplary structures and methods for setting origins of the upper stage  121 , the substrate supporting system (not shown), and the loading supporting system (not shown) will now be explained.  
         [0051]    1. Structure and Method for Setting an Origin of the Upper Stage:  
         [0052]    In FIG. 6A, a first contact part  201  may be located between a space substantially starting from a top surface of the lower stage  122  to a top surface of an inside of the chamber part  400 , which is along a moving path of the upper stage  121 , or at a part adjacent to the moving path of the upper stage  121 . The first contact part  201  may project from a top surface of an inside of the chamber part  400 , and from an end of the moving path of the lower stage  121  toward the upper stage  121 . A first load cell  311  of the contact confirming part may be attached to a driving system  121   a  for moving the upper stage  121  along upward and downward directions. A first contact projection  321  of the contact confirming part may project from a side surface of the upper stage  121 , such that the first contact projection  321  may be brought into contact with the first contact part  201  when the upper stage  121  moves to an uppermost position.  
         [0053]    In FIG. 6B, the top surface of the upper stage  121  may serve as a contact projection when the first contact part  201  projects from an inside surface of the chamber part  400  toward the upper stage  121  along a moving path of the upper stage  121 . Accordingly, no separate contact projection may be required. Alternatively, the first contact part  201  may be attached along a moving path of an elevating shaft  121   b  of the upper stage  121 . Accordingly, the contact projection that contacts the first contact part  201  may be attached to a separate part that moves along with the upper stage  121 . Thus, the first contact part may be attached to either, or both of the inside and outside of the chamber part  400 .  
         [0054]    An exemplary origin setting process of the upper stage  121  may include moving the upper stage  121  along the upward direction to contact the first contact part  201  of the origin verifying system. Accordingly, the driving system  121   a  moves the upper stage  121  along the upward direction until the first load cell  311  that is attached to the driving system  121   a  senses a load imparted by the upper stage  121 . For example, when the first contact projection  321  contacts the first contact part  201 , a tensile load is produced and measured by the first load cell  311 . Thus, the first load cell  311  produces a signal indicating that the first contact projection  321  has contacted the first contact part  201 .  
         [0055]    As a result, movement of the upper stage  121  is stopped and a primary location of the upper stage  121  is determined. Then, by setting the primary location of the upper stage  121  to be the origin of the upper stage  121  by the controller, the origin setting of the upper stage  121  may be completed. Accordingly, moving distances of the upper stage  121  for process steps may also be reset and stored in the controller with reference to the origin setting. The foregoing steps may be carried out once, or for a preset number of times, or for a plurality of times until an origin error is within a tolerable range.  
         [0056]    In FIG. 5A, during the above-detailed series of steps, if the dial gauge  210  is to read the position of the upper stage  121  at a preset point, a location of the upper stage  121  at a time that the indicator of the dial gauge  210  changes may be reset as the origin of the upper stage  121 .  
         [0057]    In FIG. 5B, during the above-detailed series of steps, if the position confirming sensor  220  is to read the position of the upper stage  121  to a preset point, the origin of the upper stage  121  is reset with reference to the signal sensed at the sensor  220  fitted to the present point.  
         [0058]    In FIG. 5C, during the above-detailed series of steps, if the limit switch  230  is to read a position of the upper stage  121  to a preset point, a location of the upper stage  121  at a time a signal is produced from the limit switch  230  is reset as the origin of the upper stage  121 .  
         [0059]    2. Structure and Method for Setting an Origin of the Substrate Supporting Means:  
         [0060]    [0060]FIG. 7 is another exemplary origin setting state of a substrate supporting system in accordance with the present invention. In FIG. 7, a second contact part  202  of an origin verifying system of a substrate supporting system  130  may be attached between a bottom portion of an upper substrate  510  held at an upper stage  121  and a bottom portion of an inside of a chamber part  400 , and along a moving path of a supporting part  131  of the supporting system  130 . Alternatively, the second contact part  202  may be attached to a part adjacent to a moving path of the supporting part  131 . The second contact part  202  may project from the bottom portion of the inside surface of the chamber part  400  at an end of the moving path of the supporting part  131  of the substrate supporting system  130 .  
         [0061]    A second contact projection  322  of the contact confirming part may project around a circumference of an elevating shaft  132  of the substrate supporting system  130 , wherein the substrate supporting system  130  contacts the second contact part  202  when the substrate supporting system  130  is fully moved downward. Alternatively, the second contact projection  322  may be attached to the inside and outside of the chamber part  400 , when the second contact part  202  may be attached to the inside or outside of the chamber part  400 . Accordingly, a second load cell  312  of the contact confirming part of the origin verifying system may be attached to the driving system  133  that operates to move the substrate supporting system  130  along the upward and downward directions.  
         [0062]    An origin setting method of the foregoing substrate supporting system may be the same as the series of steps carried out for origin setting of the upper stage, as explained before.  
         [0063]    3. Structure and Method for Setting an Origin of the Loading Supporting Means:  
         [0064]    [0064]FIG. 8 is an exemplary origin setting state of a loading support system in accordance with the present invention. In FIG. 8, a contact part of an origin verifying system may be attached to a part substantially between an inside surface of a recess  122   a  in a lower stage  122 . Alternatively, a contact part may be attached to a moving path of the supporting system  141  of the loading supporting system  140 , or to a side of the lower stage  122  adjacent to the moving path of the loading supporting system  140 . In particular, considering that the loading supporting system  140  may move along upward and downward directions within an inside of the lower stage  122 , a system in which a bottom surface of the recess  122   a  of the lower stage  122  where the loading supporting system  140  is accommodated thereto may serve as the contact part. For example, though the bottom surface of the supporting system  141  of the loading supporting system  140  may serve as a contact projection of the contact confirming part of the origin verifying system, a third contact projection  323  may be attached to a bottom of the supporting part of the loading supporting system  140 .  
         [0065]    A third load cell  313  of the contact confirming part of the origin verifying system may be attached to a driving system  143  that moves along upward and downward directions of the loading supporting system  140 . In addition, although not shown, a contact projection may be attached to a part of an elevating shaft  142  of the loading supporting system  140  outside of the chamber part  400 , and the contact part may be attached in a vicinity of the contact projection for contacting the contact projection. For example, when the loading supporting system  140  is fully moved along the downward direction, contact of the bottom surface of the supporting part  141  of the loading supporting system  140  with the bottom of the recess  122   a  of the lower stage  122  is made, and the position of the supporting part may be reset as the origin.  
         [0066]    An origin setting method of the foregoing loading supporting system may be identical with a series of steps carried out for setting the origin of the upper stage. Thus, the origin verifying system of the present invention facilitates simple origin setting of the different moving elements.  
         [0067]    [0067]FIG. 9 is an exemplary structure for correction of movement of moving elements in accordance with the present invention. In FIG. 9, the exemplary structure may include one pair of contact parts  700  in contact with one of moving elements  100 , and a contact confirming part attached to the one of the moving elements  100  for sensing contact with the contact part  700 . The one pair of contact parts  700  may include one pair of stop blocks. The contact confirming part may include a load cell  810  attached to a driving system  110  for driving each of the moving elements  100 , and a contact projection  820  attached to each of the moving elements  100 . After moving each of the moving elements  100  from one point to another point, a moving amount verifying system may determine a difference between a moving distance actually performed during the movement, and a preset moving distance. Then, the moving amount verifying system may correct the moving distance by an amount equal to a movement difference during a subsequent movement.  
         [0068]    [0068]FIGS. 10A to  10 C are exemplary fitting states of a movement verifying system employed for movement correction of moving elements in accordance with the present invention. In FIG. 10A, the moving amount verifying system may include dial gauges  710  attached to two ends of a moving path of each of moving elements  100  for contacting the contact projection  820  attached to each of the moving elements  100 , thereby reading a moving amount of the moving element  100 .  
         [0069]    In FIG. 10B, the moving amount verifying system may include position confirming sensors  720  attached to two ends of a moving path of each of the moving elements  100  for reading a moving amount of the moving element  100 .  
         [0070]    In FIG. 10C, the moving amount verifying system may include limit switches  730  attached to two ends of a moving path of each of the moving elements  100  for reading a moving amount of the moving element  100 .  
         [0071]    In addition, the moving amount verifying system according to the present invention may include a number of gauges, sensors and/or switches attached to each of the two ends of moving path in correspondence to a number of the moving elements. Alternatively, a number of gauges, sensors and/or switches may be attached to the moving paths of the moving elements  100  that require precise operation.  
         [0072]    The moving elements  100  described above may include upper and lower stages, a substrate supporting system, and a loading supporting system. In addition, an alignment system for aligning the substrates, and a clamping system for loading and/or holding the substrates may be provided with the present invention. Moreover, other process supporting systems for supporting various fabrication processes for bonding the substrates may be provided.  
         [0073]    Structure and method for correcting a moving amount of an upper stage, substrate supporting system, and/or the loading supporting system  140  will now be explained.  
         [0074]    4. Structure and Method for Correcting a Moving Amount of the Upper Stage:  
         [0075]    [0075]FIG. 11 is an exemplary moving distance setting state of an upper stage in accordance with the present invention. In FIG. 11, one pair of fourth contact parts  701  and  702  of a moving amount verifying system may be located between a top surface of a lower stage  122  and a top surface of an inside of a chamber part  400  along a moving path of an upper stage  121 . The fourth contact parts  701  and  702  may project from an inside surface of the chamber part  400  at both ends of a moving path of the upper stage  121  along a direction toward the upper stage  121 . A fourth load cell  810  of the contact confirming part in the moving amount verifying system may be attached to a driving system  121   a  that moves the upper stage  121  along upward and downward directions.  
         [0076]    A fourth contact projection  820  of the contact confirming part may project from a side of the upper stage  121 . Accordingly, the fourth contact projection  820  contacts the fourth contact parts  701  and  702  when the upper stage  121  fully moves along the upward or downward direction. Although not shown, an elevating shaft for moving the upper stage  121  along the upward and downward directions may have the pair of fourth contact parts  701  and  702  attached along a moving path of a separate part having a movement similar to the movement of the upper stage  121 . In addition, the fourth contact projection  820  contacting the fourth contact parts  701  and  702  may be attached to a part that follows the movement of the upper stage  121 , wherein the contact part may be attached to the inside or outside of the chamber part  400 .  
         [0077]    Steps of an exemplary process for correcting a moving amount of the upper stage by using the foregoing system will now be explained.  
         [0078]    Initially, when correcting a moving amount of the upper stage  121  is required, the controller enables the driving system  121   a  to move the upper stage  121  along the upward direction to one of the upper contact part (i.e., fourth contact parts)  701  of the moving amount verifying system.  
         [0079]    During the process, if the fourth contact projection  820  at the side of the upper stage  121  contacts the upper contact part  701  on top of an inside of the chamber part  400 , a tensile load is sensed by the fourth load cell  810  at the driving system  121   a . Accordingly, the controller stops movement of the upper stage  121  and memorizes the present location of the upper stage  121 . Then, the controller enables the driving system  121   a  into operation to move the upper stage  121  along the downward direction toward the lower contact part (i.e., fourth contact part)  702 , when the controller numerically counts a location change of the upper stage  121  starting from an initially memorized location.  
         [0080]    During the process, if the fourth contact projection  820  at the side of the upper stage  121  contacts the lower contact part  702  at a lower part of the inside of the chamber part  400 , a compressive load is sensed by the fourth load cell  811  at the driving system  121   a , whereby the controller stops movement of the upper stage  121 .  
         [0081]    Next, the controller determines a first distance counted to a first location when movement of the upper stage  121  is stopped, and compares the first distance to a second distance that was ordered to move the upper stage to the first location. Then, the controller reads a difference between the first and second distances. For example, the controller compares an ordered moving distance of the upper stage  121  and an actual moving distance of the upper stage  121  to determine a difference between the ordered and actual moving distances. If a difference between the ordered moving distance and the actual moving distance is within a preset error range, no correction of the moving amount of the upper stage is made. If the difference between the ordered moving distance and the actual moving distance exceeds the preset error range, the moving amount of the upper stage  121  is reset with reference to information on the actual moving distance of the upper stage  121 .  
         [0082]    By making real time moving amount correction confirmation of the upper stage  121  available, reliability of the moving amount correction may be improved. In addition, in the foregoing process for correcting the moving distance, the foregoing series of steps may be carried out once, or for a preset number of times, or for a plurality of times until the moving distance is within a tolerable error limit.  
         [0083]    In FIG. 10A, during the foregoing series of steps, if one pair of the dial gauges  710  are to read a position of the upper stage  121  to the preset point, an actual moving distance of the upper stage  121  from a first point where a first one of the dial gauges is located to a second point a second one of the dial gauges is located may be determined with reference to a numerical change of the dial gauges  710  attached to the respective preset points. Then, a moving amount of the upper stage  121  may be corrected by comparing the determined actual distance to a preset moving distance.  
         [0084]    In FIG. 10B, during the foregoing series of steps, if one pair of the position confirming sensors  720  are to read a position of the upper stage  121  to the preset point, an actual moving distance of the upper stage  121  from a first point of a first one of the sensors is located to a second point of a second one the of the sensors is located is determined with reference to a sensing signal of the sensors  720  fitted to the respective preset points. Then, a moving amount of the upper stage  121  may be corrected by comparing the determined actual distance to a preset moving distance.  
         [0085]    In FIG. 10C, during the foregoing series of steps, if one pair of the limit switches  730  are to read a position of the upper stage  121  to the preset point, an actual moving distance of the upper stage  121  from a first point of a first one of the limit switches is located to a second point of a second one of the limit switches is located may be determined with reference to a signal production of the limit switches  730  fitted to the respective preset points. Then, a moving amount of the upper stage  121  may be corrected by comparing the determined actual distance to a preset moving distance.  
         [0086]    5. Structure and Method for Correcting a Moving Amount of the Substrate Supporting Means:  
         [0087]    [0087]FIG. 12 is an exemplary moving distance setting state of a substrate supporting system in accordance with the present invention. In FIG. 12, since a moving path of a substrate supporting system may be within a chamber  400 , one pair of fifth contact parts  703  and  704  may be attached to a moving path of an elevating shaft  132  of a substrate supporting system  130  outside of the chamber part  400 . Accordingly, the one pair of fifth contact parts  703  and  704  may be prevented from interfering other moving elements. For example, fifth contact projections  822  of the substrate supporting system  130  may be attached to circumferences of the elevating shaft  132  outside of the chamber part  400  so that when the supporting parts  131  of the substrate supporting system  130  are fully moved along an upward or downward direction, the fifth contact projections  822  contact one of the fifth contact parts  703  and  704 .  
         [0088]    The fifth contact parts  703  and  704  and the fifth contact projection  822  may be respectively attached between a height to a bottom of the substrate  510  held at the upper stage  121  and a height of a location of a bottom of the inside of the chamber part  400  along the moving path of the supporting part  131  of the substrate supporting system  130 . Accordingly, the fifth contact parts  703  and  704  and the fifth contact projection  822  may be attached to locations that prevent the fifth contact parts  703  and  704  and the fifth contact projection  822  from interfering with other moving elements. In addition, a fifth load cell  812  of the contact confirming part of the moving amount verifying system may be attached to the driving system  133  to move the substrate supporting system  130  along the upward and downward directions.  
         [0089]    An exemplary method for correcting a moving amount of the foregoing substrate supporting system may be performed identical to the series of steps carried out for correction of the moving amount of the upper stage.  
         [0090]    6. Structure and Method for Correcting a Moving Amount of the Loading Supporting Means:  
         [0091]    [0091]FIG. 13 is an exemplary moving distance setting state of a loading support system in accordance with the present invention. In FIG. 13, since a moving path of a loading supporting system  140  is on an upper side of a lower stage  122  inside of a chamber part  400 , one pair of contact parts may be attached along a moving path of an elevating shaft  142  of the loading supporting system  140  on an outside of the chamber part  400 . Accordingly, the contact parts may not interfere with loading of upper and lower substrates  510  and  520 . In addition, the one pair of contact parts of the moving amount verifying system may not be attached such that a bottom portion of an outside of the chamber part  400  and a bottom of the recess  122   a  of the lower stage may serve as the one pair of contact parts. Accordingly, the bottom of the supporting part  141  of the loading supporting system  140  may contact the bottom of the recess  122   a  of the lower stage  122  to facilitate reading of a required location when the loading supporting system is fully moved along a downward direction.  
         [0092]    In addition, a sixth contact projection  823  may be attached to the elevating shaft  142  of the loading supporting system  140  for contacting the bottom of the outside of the chamber part  400  when the loading supporting system  140  is fully moved along the upward direction for reading a required location. Accordingly, the contact parts and the contact projection may respectively be attached between a height of an inside of the recess  122   a  in the lower stage  122  and a height at which a carrying device is introduced, which is a moving path of the supporting part  141 . Alternatively, the contact parts and the contact projection may respectively be fitted at a side of the lower stage  122 , which is a part adjacent to a moving path of the loading supporting system  140 . Accordingly, the sixth contact projection  823  may be attached to a location at which interference from the different moving elements are avoided. Moreover, a sixth load cell  813  of the contact confirming part of the moving amount verifying system may be attached to the driving system  143  to move the loading supporting system along the upward and downward directions.  
         [0093]    An exemplary method for correcting a moving amount by using the foregoing loading supporting system may be performed identical to a series of steps carried out for correction of a moving amount of the upper stage.  
         [0094]    The present invention has the following advantages. First, the automatic reset of origins of the different moving elements in the bonding apparatus according to the present invention in an event of unforeseen accident, such as a power outage, allows the controller to continue processing. Second, the origin setting of the different moving elements carried out automatically will provide reliability on the origin setting and the movement of the different moving elements. Third, the detection of operative error of the different moving elements in advance and correction thereof permits stable working processes. Fourth, the automatic origin setting and moving correction of the different moving elements reduces a loss of working time.  
         [0095]    It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the LCD device bonding apparatus of the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.