Patent ID: 7177004

Claim:
A method of manufacturing an electro-optical cell, in particular a liquid crystal cell, or an electrochemical photovoltaic cell including: at least a first transparent front substrate whose top surface forms the front face of the cell; at least a second back substrate which may or may not be transparent and whose bottom surface forms the back face of said cell; the substrates being joined by a sealing frame which defines a volume for retaining sensitive material whose physical properties, particularly optical, or electrical properties are capable of changing, the substrates including on their faces that are opposite each other at least one electrode, said electrodes being intended to be connected to an electrical power or control circuit; and the electrodes of the cell extending substantially as far as the edges of the cell to form connection means in order to set up the electrical connection between said cell and the power or control circuit, wherein said method includes the steps of: structuring the corresponding electrodes on each of the substrates; depositing a contact bump made of an electrically conductive material on each electrode, in the region where the electrodes will be flush with the edges of the cell, structuring at least one wall on one of the substrates, which defines, via its inner lateral face, the volume for retaining the sensitive material, said wall extending in a set back position with respect to the edges of the cell, so as to free the connection contacts, and thus with the electrodes passing through it; joining the second substrate to the first substrate; introducing a sealing material capable of flowing into the gap defined by said substrates and the external lateral face of the wall until at least a part of said gap is occupied by the sealing material; and solidifying the sealing material so that the latter forms the sealing frame of the cell thereby obtained.