Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US6893311?dq=6,998,619
Timestamp: 2014-03-10 06:56:28
Document Index: 647029703

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 30', 'arts 311', 'art 621', 'art 622', 'arts 621', 'art 620', 'arts 311', 'arts 620', 'art 431', 'art 640', 'art 620', 'arts 311', 'art 640', 'arts 311', 'art 640', 'art 640']

Patent US6893311 - LCD bonding machine and method for fabricating LCD by using the same - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inAdvanced Patent SearchPatentsA bonding machine for fabrication of a large size LCD having an upper stage and a lower stage provided in a bonding chamber to face each other, for adsorbing the first and second substrates carried in the bonding chamber, and bonding the substrates together. The bonding machine having supporting means...http://www.google.com/patents/US6893311?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US6893311 - LCD bonding machine and method for fabricating LCD by using the sameAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS6893311 B2Publication typeGrantApplication numberUS 10/329,416Publication dateMay 17, 2005Filing dateDec 27, 2002Priority dateMar 25, 2002Fee statusPaidAlso published asCN1325982C, CN1447165A, US7426951, US20030181124, US20050092419Publication number10329416, 329416, US 6893311 B2, US 6893311B2, US-B2-6893311, US6893311 B2, US6893311B2InventorsSang Seok Lee, Sang Ho ParkOriginal AssigneeLg.Philips Lcd Co., Ltd.Export CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (98), Referenced by (2), Classifications (13), Legal Events (4) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetLCD bonding machine and method for fabricating LCD by using the sameUS 6893311 B2Abstract A bonding machine for fabrication of a large size LCD having an upper stage and a lower stage provided in a bonding chamber to face each other, for adsorbing the first and second substrates carried in the bonding chamber, and bonding the substrates together. The bonding machine having supporting means in the bonding chamber, lifting means, and process supplementing means fitted in the bonding chamber so as to be rotatable and movable up/down. The method including loading the first and second substrates on respective stages, driving the supporting means to support the second substrate loaded on the upper stage, and evacuating the bonding chamber, the upper stage adsorbing the second substrate and bonding the first and second substrates together, and lifting the bonded first and second substrates from the lower stage by using the lifting means, and unloading the first and second substrates.
1. A method for fabricating an LCD by using a bonding machine having an upper stage and a lower stage provided in a bonding chamber to face each other, for adsorbing the first and second substrates carried in the bonding chamber, and bonding the substrates together, supporting means in the bonding chamber for receiving the second substrate, lifting means for lifting the substrate when the first substrate is loaded on the lower stage, and the bonded first and second substrates are unloaded from the lower stage, and process supplementing means fitted in the bonding chamber so as to be rotatable and movable up/down, for one of holding the bonded substrates and supporting the substrate to be held at the upper stage, the method comprising:
loading the first and second substrates on respective stages; driving the supporting means to support the second substrate loaded on the upper stage, and evacuating the bonding chamber; adsorbing the second substrate using the upper stage and bonding the first and second substrates together; and lifting the bonded first and second substrates from the lower stage by using the lifting means, and unloading the first and second substrates. 2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein loading includes:
carrying the second substrate into the bonding chamber by using a carrying device, and adsorbing the second substrate to the upper stage, and carrying the first substrate into the bonding chamber by using the carrying device, supporting the first substrate on the lifting means, and adsorbing the first substrate to the lower stage. 3. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein supporting the first substrate on the lifting means includes:
supporting the first substrate on second lifting means at first and subsequently supporting the second substrate on first lifting means, the lifting means including first lifting means at the lower stage for supporting a central part of the substrate, and second lifting means at opposite edges of a top of the lower stage for supporting a periphery of the substrate. 4. A method as claimed in claim 2, further comprising supporting one side of the carrying device using a driving process supplementing means.
5. A method as claimed in claim 4, wherein supporting one side of the carrying device using the driving process supplementing means includes:
driving the driving part for moving the supporting parts to a location of the carrying device, and rotating the supporting parts so that the carrying device can be supported on the supporting part, the process supplementing means including a rotating shaft fitted so as to be rotatable and movable up/down, a supporting part formed as one unit with the rotating shaft at one end thereof for one of being brought into contact with a part of the substrate and the carrying device, and a driving part fitted to the other end of the rotating shaft. 6. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising venting the bonding chamber for applying a pressure to the bonded substrates after adsorbing the second substrate using the upper stage.
7. A method as claimed in claim 6, wherein venting includes:
holding the bonded substrates at the lower stage by using the process supplementing means, and venting the bonding chamber to an atmospheric state. 8. A method as claimed in claim 7, wherein holding the bonded substrates at the lower stage by using the process supplementing means includes:
driving the driving part to move the supporting part to a location of the bonded substrates, rotating the supporting part so that the carrying part is supported thereon, and moving the supporting part down for holding the bonded substrates at the lower stage, the process supplementing means including a rotating shaft fitted to be rotatable and movable up/down, a supporting part formed as one unit with the rotating shaft at one end thereof for being brought into contact with a part of the substrate or the carrying device, and a driving part fitted to the other end of the rotating shaft. 9. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising fixing the bonded substrates after adsorbing the second substrate using the upper stage.
10. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein loading the first and second substrates includes adsorbing the substrates by vacuum.
11. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising adsorbing the upper stage electro-statically, and moving the second substrate supported on the supporting means upward after driving the supporting means.
12. A method as claimed in claim 11, wherein adsorbing the upper stage electro-statically using the second substrate includes driving the process supplementing means for pressing the second substrate on the supporting means toward the upper stage.
13. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising loading the substrate to be bonded before lifting the bonded first and second substrates.
14. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising setting a sealant to fix the first and second substrates together after bonding the first and second substrates.
15. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising moving the upper stage upward to separate the upper stage from the bonded first and second substrates.
16. A method as claimed in claim 13, further comprising unloading the pressed substrates by driving the first and second lifting means for separating the bonded substrates.
The stage parts have an upper stage 21 and a lower stage 22, and the upper stage 21 is provided with an electro-static chuck 28 for adsorbing the substrate by electrostatic adsorption. The sealant outlet part and the liquid crystal dropping part 30 are fitted to a side of a location at which the frame is bonded, and the chamber part has an upper chamber unit 31 and a lower chamber unit 32, detachable from each other, wherein the upper chamber unit 31 has a vacuum valve 23, and a hose 24 for evacuation of the chamber part connected thereto, and a gas purge valve 70 and a gas tube 71 for placing the chamber part into an atmospheric state.
The upper stage 21 has one of the substrates (hereafter called as a �second substrate� 52) loaded thereon fixed thereto, and the lower stage 22 has the other one of the substrates (hereafter called as a �first substrate� 51) loaded thereon and fixed thereto.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a method for fabricating an LCD that substantially obviates one or more of the problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.
FIG. 8 illustrates a plan view showing an operation state of a carrying device and a process supplementary device in loading a second substrate according to a method for fabricating an LCD in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, schematically;
FIG. 15 illustrates a system showing a state of bonding according to a method for fabricating an LCD in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, schematically;
The upper stage 121 and the lower stage 122 are arranged in an upper space and a lower space of the vacuum chamber 110 oppositely, for vacuum, or electrostatic adsorption of respective substrates 510 and 520 carried into the vacuum chamber 110, and making selective movement to hold the substrates 510 and 520 at required working positions in the chamber 110, and bonding the substrates 510 and 520 together. The carrying device 300 controls the robot arms 310 and 320? having a plurality of finger parts 311 for carrying the substrate in/out of the vacuum chamber 110.
The upper stage 121 includes at least one or more electro-static chucks (ESC) 121 a at a bottom thereof for providing a plurality of electro-static forces to hold the substrate (hereafter called as a �second substrate�) 520, and a plurality of vacuum holes 121 b for receiving a vacuum adsorption force from a vacuum pump 123 to hold the second substrate 520.
Moreover, like the bottom of the upper stage 121, the lower stage 122 includes at least one or more electro-static chucks 122 a at a top thereof, and vacuum holes 122 b. In addition, first lifting means 420 fitted thereto to be movable in an upward/downward direction for loading/unloading a substrate (hereafter called as a �first substrate�) carried in for being loaded therein, and second lifting means 421 at edges thereof for prevention of drooping of a periphery of the first substrate 510 (see FIG. 6).
Surfaces of the supporting part in contact with the substrates 510 and 520 include a first contact part 621 and a second contact part 622, formed of a material which can prevent scratches when both come into contact, such as Teflon or PEEK�. However, the contact parts 621, and 622 are not necessarily formed additionally, but the surfaces of the supporting part 620 may be coated with Teflon or PEEK�.
In the state the finger parts 311 are supported on the supporting parts 620 of the process supplementing means 600, the first and second lifting means 420 and 421 in the groove 122 a and in the recess part 431 (not shown in FIG. 10) of the lower stage 122 are moved upward, to lift the first substrate 510 carried in by the carrying device 300. This state is shown in FIG. 10.
The supplementary supporting part 640 is formed to extend perpendicular to a length direction of the supporting part 620 for smooth supporting of the finger parts 311 as the length direction of the supplementary supporting part 640 is directed to a width direction of the finger parts 311 when the supplementary supporting part 640 is rotated to a required process position. Moreover, since the supplementary supporting part 640 makes no contact with the substrate, and a contact part of Teflon or PEEK� on the top thereof is not separately required.
Though varied with liquid crystal modes to be bonded, the vacuum of the bonding chamber 110 is in a range of about 1.0�10−3 Pa-1 Pa in an in plane switching (IPS) mode, and approximately in a range of about 1.1�10−3 Pa-102 Pa in a twisted nematic (TN) mode.
After the two substrates are bonded, either an ultraviolet (UV) beam is directed, or heat or a pressure is partly applied the sealant between the first and second substrates 510 and 520, for setting the sealant to fix the first and second substrates 510 and 520 (step 5S in FIG. 18). The fixing of the bonded first and second substrates is carried out for prevention of misalignment of the bonded two substrates, or maintaining a bonded state during progressing to the next process after bonding, or transporting the bonded substrates, because the large size (1000 mm�1200) of the substrate and bonding of the two substrates after dropping liquid crystal are likely to cause the misalignment of the substrates during progression of the next process, or transporting the bonded substrates. Of course, the fixing process may be omitted.
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ClassificationG02F1/1333, H01J9/261, G02F2001/133354European ClassificationH01J9/26B, G02F1/1333Legal EventsDateCodeEventDescriptionOct 2, 2012FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 8Oct 17, 2008ASAssignmentOwner name: LG DISPLAY CO., LTD., KOREA, REPUBLIC OFFree format text: CHANGE OF NAME;ASSIGNOR:LG.PHILIPS LCD CO., LTD.;REEL/FRAME:021754/0230Effective date: 20080304Owner name: LG DISPLAY CO., LTD.,KOREA, REPUBLIC OFFree format text: CHANGE OF NAME;ASSIGNOR:LG.PHILIPS LCD CO., LTD.;US-ASSIGNMENT DATABASE UPDATED:20100203;REEL/FRAME:21754/230Free format text: CHANGE OF NAME;ASSIGNOR:LG.PHILIPS LCD CO., LTD.;US-ASSIGNMENT DATABASE UPDATED:20100209;REEL/FRAME:21754/230Free format text: CHANGE OF NAME;ASSIGNOR:LG.PHILIPS LCD CO., LTD.;US-ASSIGNMENT DATABASE UPDATED:20100211;REEL/FRAME:21754/230Free format text: CHANGE OF NAME;ASSIGNOR:LG.PHILIPS LCD CO., LTD.;US-ASSIGNMENT DATABASE UPDATED:20100223;REEL/FRAME:21754/230Free format text: CHANGE OF NAME;ASSIGNOR:LG.PHILIPS LCD CO., 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