Would it be possible for an LCD manufacturer to restore a vintage LCD?

Kimmo

New member
I have a rather desirable old Casio from 1986, which has a poorly-sealed LCD... It has begun to let air in the edges. I can smoosh the bubbles around (which show up as black splodges) and try to push them out, but it seems like there isn't enough fluid left to keep them at bay.

It occurs to me that perhaps I can harvest a couple of tiny drops of fluid from old phone LCDs, but aside from the difficulty of getting the watch LCD to suck it up, there's the problem of sealing it in there... I can't think of any way which won't risk damaging the tiny contact strips along top and bottom of the display; properly masking them seems impossible.

But maybe a company which makes LCDs would have the means to top up and seal an old LCD...? Is this a crazy pipe pipe dream, or is it in the realm of possibility?
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CF Tech

Administrator
I doubt if it would be successful.

You would need to find the leak, submerge it in some Liquid Crystal fluid, then put that whole apparatus in a chamber. Then you would need to use a sequence of pressure and vacuum cycles to push the air out and draw the LC fluid in. Then remove it and apply a seal over the leak.

Well, at least that is how they are filled during manufacturing.

Bonus: There are many LC fluid types and it would be difficult to find out which is the correct one and perhaps more difficult to source it. Bonus: LC fluid is expensive.

Oh, and a custom fixture to hold the LCD upright with the unsealed edge touching the fluid.

So, while "possible", it ain't gonna be easy.

Your best bet would be to find an identical vintage Casio watch on eBay and use it for parts -- or perhaps to replace yours.

 
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