KR20060067040A - Appartus and method for repairing liquid crystal display panel - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a repair apparatus and a method of a liquid crystal display panel which can improve the yield by darkening the bright point.

The present invention provides a liquid crystal display panel comprising a first substrate having a transparent organic film reacting with light and a second substrate bonded to the first substrate; And a laser irradiation apparatus for irradiating a laser on the transparent organic film corresponding to the foreign matter mixed in the liquid crystal display panel to darken the transparent organic film in a region corresponding to the region where the foreign material exists.

Description

Repairing apparatus and method of liquid crystal display panel {Appartus And Method for Repairing Liquid Crystal Display Panel}             

1 is a cross-sectional view showing a conventional liquid crystal display panel.

2 is a view for explaining the orientation misalignment caused by the foreign matter inserted in the process.

3 is a view showing a bright point appearing when the image is implemented by the foreign material.

4 is a view illustrating an apparatus for manufacturing a liquid crystal display panel according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

5 is a view for explaining the operation of the manufacturing apparatus shown in FIG.

6 is a flowchart illustrating a method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display panel according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

    <Explanation of symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

2, 102: upper substrate 4, 104: black matrix

6, 106: color filter 18,118: common electrode

32,132 Lower substrate 16,116 Pixel electrode                 

55,155 Foreign object 120 Transparent organic film

160: laser irradiation apparatus 170: liquid crystal display panel

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display panel, and more particularly, to a repair apparatus and a method of a liquid crystal display panel capable of darkening a bright point to improve image quality.

In general, a liquid crystal display (LCD) displays an image by adjusting the light transmittance of the liquid crystal according to a video signal. To this end, the liquid crystal display includes a liquid crystal display panel in which liquid crystal cells are arranged in a matrix, and a driving circuit for driving the liquid crystal display panel.

The liquid crystal display is roughly classified into a twisted nematic (TN) mode using a vertical electric field and an in plan switch (IPS) mode using a horizontal electric field according to the electric field driving the liquid crystal.

The TN mode is a mode in which a liquid crystal is driven by a vertical electric field between a pixel electrode and a common electrode disposed to face the upper substrate. The TN mode has a large aperture ratio and a narrow viewing angle. On the other hand, the IPS mode is a mode for driving the liquid crystal by a horizontal electric field between the pixel electrode and the common electrode disposed side by side on the lower substrate has a large viewing angle has a disadvantage of small aperture ratio.                         

1 is a cross-sectional view showing a conventional TN mode liquid crystal display panel.

The liquid crystal display panel illustrated in FIG. 1 includes an upper array substrate (or a black matrix 4, a color filter 6, a common electrode 18, and an upper alignment layer 8) sequentially formed on the upper substrate 2. A color filter array substrate), a TFT formed on the lower substrate 32, a lower array substrate composed of a pixel electrode 16 and a lower alignment layer 38, and an injection into an internal space between the upper array substrate and the lower array substrate. The liquid crystal 52 is provided.

Meanwhile, in the IPS mode liquid crystal display panel, the common electrode 18 is formed on the lower substrate 32 and the planarization layer (compensated) to compensate for the step difference of the color filter 6 on the color filter 6 on the upper substrate 2. Not shown) is formed.

In the upper array substrate, the black matrix 4 is formed on the upper substrate 2 in correspondence with the TFT region of the lower array substrate and the region of the gate lines and data lines not shown, and the color filter 6 is formed. Prepare a cell area to be used. The black matrix 4 prevents light leakage and absorbs external light to increase contrast. The color filter 6 is formed over the cell region separated by the black matrix 4 and the black matrix 4. The color filter 6 is formed for each of R, G, and B to implement R, G, and B colors. The common electrode 18 is supplied with a common voltage for controlling the movement of the liquid crystal. The spacer 13 serves to maintain a cell gap between the upper array substrate and the lower array substrate.

In the lower array substrate, the TFTs overlap with the gate electrode 9 formed on the lower substrate 32 together with the gate line, and the semiconductor layers 14 and 42 overlapping the gate electrode 9 and the gate insulating film 44 therebetween. ) And source / drain electrodes 40 and 47 formed together with data lines (not shown) with semiconductor layers 14 and 42 interposed therebetween. This TFT supplies the pixel signal from the data line to the pixel electrode 16 in response to the scan signal from the gate line. The pixel electrode 16 is a transparent conductive material having a high light transmittance and is in contact with the drain electrode 47 of the TFT with the passivation layer 50 interposed therebetween. The upper and lower alignment layers 8 and 38 for liquid crystal alignment are formed by applying an alignment material such as polyimide and then performing a rubbing process.

If a defect occurs in each of the thin films of the upper array substrate and the lower array substrate of the conventional liquid crystal display panel, it is repaired by using a rework or a laser. However, in the case where foreign matter is deposited between the thin film of the upper array substrate and the thin film of the lower array substrate, repair by a rework, a laser, or the like is impossible.

FIG. 2 is a view for explaining an orientation defect caused by a foreign material inserted during a process, and FIG. 3 is a view showing bright spots when an image is formed by a foreign material.

In general, when moving to a separate chamber or to a third place in the chamber to form a predetermined thin film or to form another thin film and the thin film, for example, as shown in Figure 2 and the common electrode 18 The foreign material 55 or the like may be frequently deposited between the upper alignment layers 8. The alignment layer positioned to correspond to the foreign material 55 is not uniformly rubbed during the rubbing process by the foreign material 55, so that an uneven alignment area A is formed in the liquid crystal display panel.

In the liquid crystal display panel, light leakage is generated by the non-uniform alignment region A, and the light leakage interferes with the light transmittance of the liquid crystal, thereby causing bright spots to appear on the liquid crystal display panel as shown in FIG. 3. In general, when a high gray is implemented, a dark point is seen as a dark area by light leakage, and when a low gray is implemented, it is called a bright spot where the sun is bright by a light leak. Here, the human eye is relatively sensitive to bright spots rather than dark spots, thereby giving a stricter criterion for the bright spots than the dark spots when the panel is judged as unfavorable. Accordingly, a method for minimizing the defective rate of the panel due to bright spots is required.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a repair apparatus and method for a liquid crystal display panel which can improve the yield by darkening the bright point.

In order to achieve the above object, a repair apparatus for a liquid crystal display panel according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a liquid crystal display panel including a first substrate having a transparent organic film reacting with light and a second substrate bonded to the first substrate; ; And a laser irradiation apparatus for irradiating a laser on the transparent organic film corresponding to the foreign matter mixed in the liquid crystal display panel to darken the transparent organic film in a region corresponding to the region where the foreign material exists.

The transparent organic layer is a photoinitiator is added to any one of the organic material of the Novolac (Acryl) series and acrylic (Acryl) series.                     

A focus control unit may be disposed between the liquid crystal display panel and the laser irradiation apparatus to adjust an irradiation area and a focal length of the laser.

The focus controller includes at least one of a lens and a mirror.

The laser is generated using at least one of Nd YAG, excimer, CO, CO ₂ , He-Ne, HF, and a diode.

The Nd YAG laser has a wavelength of 330 ~ 340nm, 530 ~ 540nm and 1060 ~ 1070nm, the excimer laser is 190 ~ 200nm wavelength, the CO laser is 4900 ~ 5100nm wavelength, the CO ₂ laser is 100 ~ 110nm Wavelength, the He-Ne laser has a wavelength of 630 ~ 640nm, the HF laser has a wavelength of 2700 ~ 2900nm and the diode laser has a wavelength of 100 ~ 1000nm.

In the method of repairing a liquid crystal display panel according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the method of repairing a liquid crystal display panel comprising a first substrate having a transparent organic film reacting to light and a second substrate bonded to the first substrate, Detecting a position of a foreign substance mixed in the liquid crystal display panel; Irradiating a laser on the transparent organic film corresponding to the foreign material to darken the transparent organic film corresponding to a region in which the foreign material exists.

The transparent organic film is a photoinitiator is added to any one of the organic material of the Novolac (Acryl) series and acrylic (Acryl) series.

The method may further include adjusting an irradiation area and a focal length of the laser by using a focus adjuster positioned between the liquid crystal display panel and the laser irradiation device.

The focus controller includes at least one of a lens and a mirror.

The laser is generated using at least one of Nd YAG, excimer, CO, CO ₂ , He-Ne, HF, and a diode.

The Nd YAG laser has a wavelength of 330 ~ 340nm, 530 ~ 540nm and 1060 ~ 1070nm, the excimer laser is 190 ~ 200nm wavelength, the CO laser is 4900 ~ 5100nm wavelength, the CO ₂ laser is 100 ~ 110nm Wavelength, the He-Ne laser has a wavelength of 630 ~ 640nm, the HF laser has a wavelength of 2700 ~ 2900nm and the diode laser has a wavelength of 100 ~ 1000nm.

Other objects and features of the present invention in addition to the above object will be apparent from the description of the embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6.

4 is a diagram illustrating a repair apparatus for a liquid crystal display panel according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4, when the foreign material 155 is mixed in the liquid crystal display panel 170, the apparatus for manufacturing a liquid crystal display panel may react to light for darkening a region corresponding to the mixed foreign material 155. A laser irradiation apparatus 160 including a transparent organic film 120 and irradiating a laser to the transparent organic film 120 to darken the transparent organic film 120 in a region corresponding to a region in which the foreign material 155 is mixed. ).

The liquid crystal display panel 170 includes a transparent organic layer 120, a black matrix 104, a color filter 106, a common electrode 118, a pattern spacer 113, and an upper alignment layer that are sequentially formed on the upper substrate 102. An upper array substrate (or color filter array substrate) composed of 108, a TFT formed on the lower substrate 132, a lower array substrate composed of a pixel electrode 116 and a lower alignment layer 138, and an upper array The liquid crystal 152 is injected into the internal space between the substrate and the lower array substrate.

In the upper array substrate, the transparent organic layer 120 is formed by coating the entire surface on the upper substrate 102 to cover the upper substrate 102. The black matrix 104 is formed on the upper substrate 102 in correspondence with the TFT region of the lower plate and the gate line and data line regions (not shown), and provides a cell region in which the color filter 106 is to be formed. The black matrix 104 is formed of polyimide mixed with carbon-based pigments to prevent light leakage and to absorb external light to increase contrast. The color filter 106 is formed over the cell region separated by the black matrix 4 and the black matrix 4. The color filter 106 is formed for each of R, G, and B to implement R, G, and B colors. The common electrode 118 is supplied with a common voltage for controlling the movement of the liquid crystal. The pattern spacer 113 serves to maintain a cell gap between the upper array substrate and the lower array substrate.

In the transparent organic layer 120 of the present invention, a photoinitiator is added to any one of a novolac-based and acryl-based organic material to enable darkening by a laser.                     

In the lower array substrate, the TFTs overlap the gate electrodes 109 formed on the lower substrate 102 together with the gate lines, and the semiconductor layers 114 and 147 overlapping the gate electrodes 109 and the gate insulating layer 144 therebetween. ) And source / drain electrodes 140 and 142 formed together with data lines (not shown) with semiconductor layers 114 and 147 interposed therebetween. The TFT supplies a pixel signal from the data line to the pixel electrode 116 in response to a scan signal from the gate line.

The pixel electrode 116 is a transparent conductive material having a high light transmittance and contacts the drain electrode 142 of the TFT with the passivation layer 150 therebetween. The upper and lower alignment layers 108 and 138 for liquid crystal alignment are formed by applying an alignment material such as polyimide and then performing a rubbing process. Meanwhile, in the IPS mode liquid crystal display panel, the common electrode 118 is formed on the lower substrate 132 and the planarization layer (compensated) to compensate for the step difference of the color filter 106 on the color filter 106 on the upper substrate 102. Not shown) is formed.

When the upper array substrate and the lower array substrate are bonded together, the laser irradiation apparatus 160 detects a foreign substance 155 mixed therein, the laser irradiation apparatus 160 applies a laser to the transparent organic layer 120 in a region corresponding to the region where the foreign substance 155 is mixed. Investigate. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 5, when the foreign material 155 is mixed between the common electrode 118 and the upper alignment layer 108, the laser beam from the laser irradiation apparatus 160 may form a foreign material on the upper substrate 102. 155 is irradiated to the transparent organic film 120 in a region corresponding to the mixed region.

Here, the laser irradiation apparatus 160 may further include a focus adjusting unit 162, and the laser is irradiated by the focus adjusting unit 162 positioned between the laser irradiation device 160 and the liquid crystal display panel 170. The area can be precisely adjusted.

At this time, the laser of the laser irradiation device 160 is irradiated to the transparent organic film 120 with a strong energy of about 0.1 ~ 2J / ㎠ and the transparent organic film 120 to which the photoinitiator is added is changed in response to light It becomes opaque, whereby the region into which the foreign material 155 is mixed is darkened.

In this way, by darkening the bright point due to the misalignment, the defective rate of the panel is minimized, and the yield is always maintained.

Here, the laser irradiation device 160 is an Nd YAGNd YAG laser (yttrium aluminum garnet) (a laser oscillated using a neo- nium solid and refers to a laser using YAG crystals as an amplification medium), an excimer laser (an atom in an excited state) And excimers made by atoms in the ground state are lasers that use excited molecules to emit light and return to dissociated state.) And diode lasers (light generated during carrier movement or energy level transfer between N-type semiconductor and P-type semiconductor junction). Refers to a laser that oscillates using.

At this time, the Nd YAG laser has a wavelength of 330 ~ 340nm, 530 ~ 540nm and 1060 ~ 1070nm, excimer laser 190 ~ 200nm wavelength and diode laser 100 ~ 1000nm wavelength.

In addition, a laser generated using CO, CO ₂ , He-Ne, or HF may be used. At this time, CO laser has a wavelength of 4900 ~ 5100nm, CO ₂ laser has a wavelength of 100 ~ 110nm, He-Ne laser has a wavelength of 630 ~ 640nm, HF laser has a wavelength of 2700 ~ 2900nm.

As described above, when the foreign material 155 is mixed in the liquid crystal display panel 170, the repair apparatus of the liquid crystal display panel according to the embodiment of the present invention may be applied to the transparent organic film 120 in a region corresponding to the mixed foreign material 155. The light emitted from the backlight is externalized by darkening the area where the foreign material 155 is mixed in the liquid crystal display panel 170 by using the laser irradiation device 160 which irradiates a laser to darken the area where the foreign material 155 is mixed. It can not pass through to reduce the occurrence of bright spots. Accordingly, the yield is improved, such as the failure rate of the liquid crystal display panel is minimized.

6 is a flowchart illustrating a repair method of a liquid crystal display panel according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 6, the transparent organic layer 120, the black matrix 104, the color filter 106, the common electrode 118, the pattern spacer 113, and the upper alignment layer 108 are sequentially formed on the upper substrate 102. An upper array substrate (or a color filter array substrate) on which is formed is formed. (S2)

In addition, a thin film transistor, a pixel electrode 116 connected to the thin film transistor, and a lower alignment layer are formed on the lower substrate 132 at the intersection of the gate line and the data line 40, the gate line and the data line by a separate process. A lower array substrate (thin film transistor array substrate) on which 138 is formed is formed. (S4) Meanwhile, in the case of the liquid crystal display panel of the IPS mode, the common electrode 118 is formed on the lower substrate 132 and the upper substrate ( The planarization layer is formed on the color filter 106 of the 102.

Thereafter, the upper substrate and the lower substrate are bonded together with the liquid crystal interposed therebetween, thereby forming a liquid crystal display panel (S6).

Subsequently, when a foreign material 155 or the like is inserted between the thin film and the thin film of the upper substrate 102, for example, between the common electrode 118 and the upper alignment layer 108, the laser irradiation apparatus 160 illustrated in FIG. 4. A region where the foreign material 155 is mixed by irradiating a transparent organic film 120 in a region corresponding to the foreign material 155 to opaque the transparent organic film 155 in a region corresponding to the foreign material 155 using Is darkened (S8).

In this case, in order to enable darkening of the transparent organic layer 120 by a laser, a photoinitiator is added to any one of a novolac-based and acryl-based organic material.

Accordingly, the failure rate of the panel is minimized by darkening the bright point due to the misalignment, so that the yield is always maintained.

As such, the method of irradiating a laser to the transparent organic film 120 to darken the bright spots in an opaque area in which the foreign material 155 is mixed is not only an IPS mode liquid crystal display panel and a TN mode liquid crystal display panel, but also ECB ( It can be easily applied to the liquid crystal display panel of the Electrical Controlled Birefringence (VA), and also Vertical Alignment (VA) mode.

As described above, the repairing apparatus and method of the liquid crystal display panel according to the embodiment of the present invention forms a transparent organic film on the upper plate when a bright point is generated by a foreign material inserted between the thin film and the thin film during the manufacturing process of the liquid crystal display panel. The transparent organic film in a region corresponding to the foreign material is irradiated with a laser to opaquely process the transparent organic film to darken the region in which the foreign material is mixed. Accordingly, the failure rate of the panel is minimized by darkening the bright point due to the misalignment, so that the yield is always maintained.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the technical spirit of the present invention. Therefore, the technical scope of the present invention should not be limited to the contents described in the detailed description of the specification but should be defined by the claims.

Claims (12)

A liquid crystal display panel comprising a first substrate having a transparent organic film reacting with light and a second substrate bonded to the first substrate; And a laser irradiation device for irradiating a laser onto the transparent organic film corresponding to the foreign matter mixed in the liquid crystal display panel to darken the transparent organic film in a region corresponding to the region where the foreign material exists. Repair device on the panel. The method of claim 1, The transparent organic film is a repair apparatus for a liquid crystal display panel, characterized in that a photoinitiator is added to any one of a novolac-based and acrylic-based organic material. The method of claim 1, And a focus adjusting unit positioned between the liquid crystal display panel and the laser irradiation device to adjust an irradiation area and a focal length of the laser. The method of claim 3, wherein The focus adjustment unit repair apparatus of a liquid crystal display panel, characterized in that at least one of a lens and a mirror. The method of claim 1, And the laser is generated using at least one of Nd YAG, excimer, CO, CO ₂ , He-Ne, HF, and a diode. The method of claim 5, wherein The Nd YAG laser has wavelengths of 330 to 340 nm, 530 to 540 nm, and 1060 to 1070 nm, the excimer laser is 190 to 200 nm, the CO laser is 4900 to 5100 nm, and the CO ₂ laser is 100 to 110 nm. Wavelength, wherein the He-Ne laser has a wavelength of 630 to 640 nm, the HF laser has a wavelength of 2700 to 2900 nm, and the diode laser has a wavelength of 100 to 1000 nm. A method for repairing a liquid crystal display panel comprising a first substrate having a transparent organic film reacting with light and a second substrate bonded to the first substrate, Detecting a position of a foreign material mixed in the liquid crystal display panel; And irradiating a laser to the transparent organic film corresponding to the foreign material to darken the transparent organic film corresponding to a region in which the foreign material exists. The method of claim 7, wherein The transparent organic film is a repair method of a liquid crystal display panel, characterized in that the photoinitiator is added to any one of the organic material of the Novolac (Acryl) series and acrylic (Acryl) series. The method of claim 7, wherein And adjusting the irradiated area and the focal length of the laser by using a focus adjuster positioned between the liquid crystal display panel and the laser irradiation apparatus. The method of claim 9, The focus adjusting unit includes at least one of a lens and a mirror. The method of claim 7, wherein And the laser is generated using at least one of Nd YAG, excimer, CO, CO ₂ , He-Ne, HF, and a diode. The method of claim 11, The Nd YAG laser has wavelengths of 330 to 340 nm, 530 to 540 nm, and 1060 to 1070 nm, the excimer laser is 190 to 200 nm, the CO laser is 4900 to 5100 nm, and the CO ₂ laser is 100 to 110 nm. Wavelength, wherein the He-Ne laser has a wavelength of 630 to 640 nm, the HF laser has a wavelength of 2700 to 2900 nm, and the diode laser has a wavelength of 100 to 1000 nm.

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