JP2000147241A - Manufacture of color filter and liquid crystal element and ink jet head using color filter manufactured by the manufacturing method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce uneven coloring in a manufacturing method for an ink jet type color filter. SOLUTION: In color scanning for a scanning area 4a by using an ink jet head 2 having plural nozzles 13a to 13h prepared in each color, every three ink drops are applied to a part 11 to be colored in the 1st scanning and the head 2 is shifted by one nozzle in the 2nd scanning to apply every three drops to the part 11 to be colored. Similarly the head 2 is further shifted by one nozzle to execute the 3rd scanning. In a scanning area 4b also, scanning is executed three times, and the colored part of an overlapped area 5a is colored by the color scanning of the scanning area 4a and that of the scanning area 4b.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a color filter for forming a colored portion by applying ink by an ink jet method, a liquid crystal element using the color filter according to the method, and an ink jet head.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, the development of personal computers,
In particular, with the development of portable personal computers, the demand for liquid crystal displays, especially color liquid crystal displays, tends to increase. However, cost reduction is required for further widespread use, and in particular, there is an increasing demand for cost reduction of color filters having a high specific gravity in terms of cost.

Conventionally, various methods have been tried to satisfy the above-mentioned requirements while satisfying the required characteristics of the color filter, but no method has yet been established which satisfies all the required characteristics. Hereinafter, each method will be described.

[0004] The first method most frequently used is a dyeing method. In the dyeing method, first, a layer of a water-soluble polymer material, which is a material for dyeing, is formed on a glass substrate, and this is patterned into a desired shape by a photolithography process, and the obtained pattern is immersed in a dyeing bath. To obtain a colored pattern. By repeating this three times, R
(Red), G (green), and B (blue) color filter layers are formed.

[0005] A second method is a pigment dispersion method, which has recently been replaced by a dyeing method. In this method, first, a photosensitive resin layer in which a pigment is dispersed is formed on a substrate, and a monochromatic pattern is obtained by patterning the photosensitive resin layer. This process is further repeated three times to form R, G, and B color filter layers.

A third method is an electrodeposition method. In this method, a transparent electrode is first patterned on a substrate, and a pigment,
The first color is electrodeposited by dipping in an electrodeposition coating solution containing a resin, an electrolytic solution or the like. This process is repeated three times to form R, G, and B color filter layers, and finally baked.

As a fourth method, a pigment is dispersed in a thermosetting resin, and printing is repeated three times so that R, G,
After separately applying B, the resin is thermally cured to form a colored layer. In any method, a protective layer is generally formed on the colored layer.

What is common to the above-mentioned conventional manufacturing methods is that
The same process needs to be repeated three times in order to color the three colors of R, G, and B, which increases the cost. Also,
There is a problem that the yield decreases as the number of processes increases.
Further, in the electrodeposition method, since the pattern shape that can be formed is limited, it is difficult to apply the current technology to an active matrix type using a TFT (thin film transistor), that is, a so-called TFT type. Further, the printing method is not suitable for forming a fine pitch pattern because of poor resolution.

In order to compensate for the drawbacks of the above-mentioned conventional manufacturing methods, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 59-75205 and 63-23-23 disclose a method of manufacturing a color filter using an ink jet method.
Proposals have been made in JP-A-5901, JP-A-1-217302, JP-A-4-123005 and the like. These are different from the above-mentioned conventional method, in which inks of each color of R, G, B are applied to a predetermined position on a transparent substrate from an inkjet head, and the ink is dried on the substrate to form a colored portion. It is. According to this method, R, G, B
Can be formed at a time, and the amount of ink used is not wasted, so that significant effects such as productivity improvement and cost reduction can be obtained.

As a method of manufacturing a color filter using the ink jet method, the present applicant divides a colored region into a plurality of scanning regions, and moves the ink jet head to separate each scanning region in order to color a wide colored region. A method of sequentially coloring is described in JP-A-9-138306.
In this method, color unevenness is likely to occur near the boundary of the scanning area. For this reason, it was necessary to strictly control the coloring conditions so that color unevenness did not occur.

The present applicant also has a method in which a plurality of coloring scans are performed in the same scanning area, and each colored portion is formed with ink ejected from a plurality of nozzles by shifting the position of an ink jet head in each coloring scan. Proposed.
A specific coloring process of the proposal will be described with reference to FIGS. Normally, color filters are R, G,
The three colored portions of B are sequentially arranged. For convenience, a state in which the colored portions of the same color are arranged will be described.

First, as shown in FIG. 14, a colored area on the substrate 1 on which a color filter is to be formed is divided into a plurality of scanning areas 90a to 90f corresponding to the length of the ink jet head 2. FIG. 15 shows scanning areas 90a to 90c each composed of six colored portions 11 with eight nozzles 13a to 1c.
An example of coloring with the inkjet head 2 having 3 h will be described. First, the ink jet head 2 is arranged so that the nozzles 13a to 13f correspond to the respective colored portions 11 in the scanning area 90a located at the left end of the paper, and the ink jet head is stopped in a state where the ink ejection from the nozzles 13g and 13h is stopped. The ink droplets are intermittently ejected from the nozzles 13a to 13f to the colored portion 11 while scanning the colored portion 11 in the longitudinal direction (FIG. 15A).

Next, the ink jet head 2 is displaced by one nozzle, and a second scan is performed in a state where the ink ejection from the nozzles 13a and 13h is stopped.
From 13 g to 13 g, ink droplets are intermittently ejected to the colored portion 11 (FIG. 15B).

Further, the ink jet head 2 is displaced by one nozzle, and a third scan is performed in a state where the ink ejection from the nozzles 13a and 13b is stopped.
From c to 13h, ink droplets are ejected intermittently to the colored portion 11 (FIG. 15C).

With the above three scans, the coloring scan of the scanning area 90a is completed. Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 16, similar to the coloring scan of the scanning region 90a, the scanning is performed a plurality of times while shifting the nozzles to be used one by one in the scanning region 90b, thereby performing the coloring scanning.

As described above, by applying ink droplets discharged from a plurality of nozzles to each colored portion, uneven coloring due to uneven discharge between nozzles is reduced.

[0017]

However, when the method shown in FIGS. 14 to 16 is used, although the coloring unevenness in the same scanning area is reduced, the stripes are not formed near the boundary between adjacent scanning areas. Color unevenness is easily observed.

In the coloring method shown in FIGS. 14 to 16, one of the causes of the occurrence of color unevenness near the boundary between adjacent scanning regions is that the coloring portion near the boundary (boundary portion) is different from the coloring portion at the center of the scanning region as follows. It is conceivable that they differ in point.

(1) There is a large time shift in which colored portions in different regions are colored at the boundary portion.

(2) Since the positions of the nozzles to which ink is applied are far apart in the ink jet head (nozzles at both ends) at the colored portion at the boundary, the ink droplets to be ejected are larger than the nozzles adjacent to each other. The difference between the quantity and the physical quantity such as the landing position is likely to be large.

An object of the present invention is to provide a method of manufacturing a color filter capable of manufacturing a high-quality color filter without color unevenness in a simple process by an ink-jet method, and a liquid crystal using the color filter manufactured by the manufacturing method. An object is to provide an element and an ink jet head.

[0022]

According to a method of manufacturing a color filter of the present invention, a color region on a substrate is divided into a plurality of scanning regions, and each scanning region is sequentially colored by an ink jet method to manufacture a color filter. Wherein the scanning areas have portions overlapping each other.

Further, the liquid crystal element of the present invention comprises a color filter substrate manufactured by the above manufacturing method, an opposing substrate provided to face the color filter substrate, and a liquid crystal sealed between the two substrates. It is characterized by having.

Further, the ink jet head of the present invention is
For manufacturing color filters with multiple nozzles,
The difference between the ink ejection amounts of the nozzles located at both ends is 20% or less.

[0025]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS There are roughly two types of color filter manufacturing methods using an ink jet system. First, a method of applying ink to a resin composition layer having an ink absorbing property and coloring the resin composition layer to form a colored portion, and second, applying ink to an opening region surrounded by a partition member. Then, the ink itself is cured to form a colored portion. In each method, the mechanism by which the difference due to the nozzle position causes color unevenness is estimated as follows.

(First Method) (a) Since the scanning area which has been colored and scanned earlier has a longer time to the next step (ink drying step or resin composition layer curing step) than the next scanning area. The distribution of the coloring material is different, which affects visual observation.

(B) The ink component permeates over the boundary from the colored portion of the previously scanned scanning region to the colored portion of the adjacent scanning region over time, and the colored portion is colored. As a result, the colorant distribution in the colored portion differs from the colored portion in the scanning region previously colored and scanned, which affects visual observation.

(C) The difference in the landing position of the ink droplet affects the colorant distribution in the colored portion, and affects the visual observation.

(Second Method) (d) The difference in the amount of applied ink results in a difference in the thickness of the colored portion, which results in a density difference, which affects visual observation.

(E) Differences in the landing positions of the ink droplets cause unevenness in the thickness of the colored portions, resulting in differences in density and affecting visual observation.

Therefore, the present inventors set the scanning area in FIG.
It was found that color unevenness at the boundary portion was reduced by providing a portion to be colored to which ink was applied from nozzles at both ends in a partially overlapping manner instead of being completely divided as shown in FIG. The invention has been achieved. Hereinafter, the present invention will be described specifically.

In the method of manufacturing a color filter according to the present invention, a predetermined portion to be colored is colored by applying a plurality of ink droplets by an ink jet method. At this time, the droplet is applied while shifting the landing position along the longitudinal direction of the portion to be colored. In addition, an ink jet head having a plurality of nozzles for each color is used, and ink is ejected from different nozzles to one colored portion, so that color unevenness between different colored portions due to uneven ejection amount of the nozzles. To prevent Hereinafter, a specific method will be described. The color filter is usually R, G, B or W (white)
However, in the following description, a state in which colored portions of the same color are arranged will be described as an example.

FIG. 1 shows a colored region in the manufacturing method of the present invention. In the figure, 1 is a substrate, 2 is an inkjet head, and the head is provided with six nozzles 3.
Since the color filter of FIG. 1 has a wide colored area, the colored area is divided into a plurality of scanning areas 4a to 4d. Each of the scanning areas 4a to 4d is overlapped between adjacent scanning areas, and 5a to 5c are overlapping areas. 5d is an imaginary overlapping area with an imaginary scanning area adjacent to the scanning area 4d on the right side of the drawing sheet. Since a required amount of ink is not applied, the area is set outside the display area, or Is set, and the nozzle corresponding to the area is controlled so that the ink is not applied. In the scanning area 4a, an imaginary overlapping area located on the left side of the drawing is substantially not provided.

Next, a specific ink application process will be described with reference to FIGS. In the figure, 11 is a portion to be colored, 2 is an ink jet head and eight nozzles 1
3a to 13h. Here, the width of each scanning area is equivalent to 10 parts to be colored (the scanning area 4a at the left end of the drawing).
, Since there is no left overlap region, the number is reduced by two to eight). In this configuration, three scanning scans are performed for each scanning area, and ink is applied from three different nozzles to each coloring target portion.

First, regarding the scanning area 4a, the nozzle 13
g and 13h are stopped, and the inkjet head 2 is scanned along the longitudinal direction of the portion to be colored 11 to obtain the droplet 2.
The ink droplets are applied intermittently from the nozzles 13a to 13f to the corresponding portions to be colored (FIG. 2A).

Subsequently, the ink-jet head 2 is scanned at a position where the ink-jet head 2 is shifted by one nozzle in the longitudinal direction of the head, and ink droplets are applied again from every nozzle every two nozzles to the ink dots previously applied. Is applied to the portion to be colored which is shifted by one dot from the position (FIG. 2B). Similarly, the ink jet head 2 is similarly scanned while further shifting the head 2 by one nozzle in the longitudinal direction of the head (FIG. 2).
(C)).

Next, coloring scanning of the scanning area 4b is performed.
As shown in FIG. 3A, the inkjet head 2 is moved so that the leftmost nozzle 13h corresponds to the leftmost colored portion of the overlapping area 5a, and every two nozzles in one scan, as in the process of FIG. The inkjet head 2 is shifted by one nozzle for each scan, and the area is colored by scanning three times.

In the above embodiment, the ink jet head is shifted by one nozzle in the longitudinal direction of the ink jet head for each scan.
The width of the overlapping area may be increased. In addition, in each scan, ink droplets are intermittently applied one by one at intervals of two droplets. For example, two ink droplets may be continuously applied at intervals of four droplets. The number of droplets to be formed may be set as appropriate. The number of nozzles of the inkjet head may be set as appropriate. Further, the number of scans of each scan area can be set as appropriate.

4 and 5 show another example of the color filter manufacturing method of the present invention.

In FIG. 4, the ink jet head 2 has
It has nozzles 13a to 13j. Here, the width of each scanning area is 14 coloring portions (the scanning area 4a at the left end of the drawing does not have an overlapping area on the left side, so it is reduced by 4 to 10 scanning areas). In this configuration, five scanning scans are performed for each scanning area, and ink is applied from five different nozzles to each coloring target portion.

First, regarding the scanning area 4a, the nozzle 13
g and 13j are stopped, and the inkjet head 2 is scanned along the longitudinal direction of the portion to be colored 11 and the droplets 4 are ejected.
The ink droplets are intermittently applied from the nozzles 13a to 13f to the corresponding portions to be colored with an interval between the individual portions (FIG. 4A).

Subsequently, the ink jet head 2 is scanned at a position shifted by one nozzle, and ink droplets are applied again to every four nozzles to the portion to be colored which is shifted by one nozzle from every other nozzle (FIG. 4B). ). Similarly, the inkjet head 2 is scanned while being further shifted by one nozzle (FIG. 4C). This operation is repeated twice more (FIGS. 4D and 4E).

Next, coloring scanning of the scanning area 4b is performed.
The ink jet head 2 is moved so that the left end nozzle 13j corresponds to the colored portion at the left end of the overlapping area 5a, and in the same manner as in the process of FIG. The ink jet head 2 is shifted by one nozzle, and the area is colored by scanning five times. (FIGS. 5A to 5E)

As described above, all the scanning areas are colored.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show still another example of the color filter manufacturing method of the present invention.

In FIG. 6, the ink jet head 2
It has nozzles 13a to 13j. Here, the width of each scanning area is 14 coloring portions (the scanning area 4a at the left end of the drawing does not have an overlapping area on the left side, so it is reduced by 4 to 10 scanning areas). In this configuration, five scanning scans are performed for each scanning area, and ink is applied from five different nozzles to each coloring target portion.

First, regarding the scanning area 4a, the nozzle 13
g to 13j are stopped, the inkjet head 2 is scanned along the longitudinal direction of the portion to be colored 11, and the droplets 4 are ejected.
The ink droplets are applied intermittently from the nozzles 13a to 13f to the corresponding portions to be colored (FIG. 6A).

Subsequently, the ink jet head 2 is scanned at a position shifted by three nozzles, and ink droplets are applied again to every four nozzles to the colored portion shifted by one nozzle from every other nozzle (FIG. 6B). ). Similarly, the ink jet head 2 is scanned again by returning two nozzles (FIG. 6C). Further, the inkjet head 2 is scanned by being shifted by three nozzles (FIG. 6D). Finally, the ink jet head 2 is scanned by returning two nozzles (FIG. 6E).

Next, coloring scanning of the scanning area 4b is performed.
The ink-jet head 2 is moved so that the left-end nozzle 13j corresponds to the left-end portion to be colored in the overlapping area 5a, and ink droplets are ejected every four in one scan as in the process of FIG. Then, the inkjet head 2 is shifted, and the area is colored by scanning five times.

As described above, all the scanning areas are colored.

As described above, by applying ink from different nozzles to one colored portion, it is possible to reduce uneven coloring due to a difference in the discharge amount between the nozzles. At the same time, by providing an overlapping area between adjacent scanning areas and applying ink from nozzles at both ends of the inkjet head to a portion to be colored in the overlapping area, as described above,
The difference between the distant nozzles is offset, and color unevenness at the boundary between adjacent scanning areas can be prevented.

Further, in the method shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, the ink discharge from the nozzles deviating from the scanning area is stopped. However, in the manufacturing method of the present invention, ink is discharged from all the nozzles. Since it is possible, the width of a region that can be colored substantially by one scan is increased, and the time required for coloring can be reduced.

Further, in the method shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, the frequency of use is greatly different between the nozzles at both ends of the ink jet head for intermittently stopping the ink ejection and the other nozzles. However, in the present invention, since there is almost no difference in the frequency of use between the nozzles used, the change over time is equal and is hardly affected by the change.

In the above description, the manufacturing method of the present invention has been described by exemplifying a configuration in which colored portions of the same color are continuous. However, usually, the color filters are R, G, B or W
Are sequentially arranged in stripes or dots. Therefore, in the actual coloring step, it is necessary to configure and scan the inkjet head and its nozzle corresponding to a predetermined coloring pattern. In the above description, the inkjet head is scanned, but the inkjet head may be fixed and the transparent substrate may be scanned with respect to the inkjet head.
In the present invention, this form is also included.

Next, the overall steps of the method for manufacturing a color filter of the present invention will be described. As described above, the production method of the present invention includes a first method in which an ink is applied to a resin composition layer having an ink absorbency to color the resin composition layer to form a colored portion, and a partition portion. There is a second method in which ink is applied to an enclosed region and the ink itself is cured to form a colored portion. Hereinafter, preferred examples of each method will be described.

(First Method) As a first method, more specifically, a resin composition layer whose ink absorbency increases or decreases by light irradiation or light irradiation and heat treatment is formed on a transparent substrate. A predetermined region of the resin composition layer is subjected to light irradiation or light irradiation and heat treatment to form a colored portion having a high ink absorbency, and a non-colored portion having a lower ink absorbency than the colored portion; It is preferable to apply ink to the colored portion by an ink jet method to color the colored portion to form a colored portion, and to cure the entire resin composition layer by light irradiation or heat treatment. An example will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 10 is a process chart in the case where a resin composition whose ink absorptivity decreases (or disappears) by light irradiation or light irradiation and heat treatment is used. Hereinafter, each step will be described. 10A to 10F are schematic sectional views respectively corresponding to the following steps (a) to (f).

Step (a) A black matrix 62 is formed on a substrate 61. Although a glass substrate is generally used as the substrate 61, the substrate is not limited to a glass substrate as long as it has necessary characteristics such as transparency and mechanical strength as a color filter.

There is no particular problem even if the black matrix is formed on the resin layer after forming the resin composition layer 63 described later or after coloring the resin composition layer 63. In addition, as a forming method, a method of forming a metal thin film by sputtering or vapor deposition and patterning by a photolithography process is general, but is not limited thereto.

Step (b) On the substrate 61, a resin composition which is cured by light irradiation or light irradiation and heat treatment to reduce the ink absorbability of the light-irradiated portion is applied, and if necessary, pre-baked. A composition layer 63 is formed.

As the base resin of such a resin composition, an acrylic resin, an epoxy resin, an amide resin, or the like is used, but is not particularly limited thereto. In these resins, a photoinitiator (crosslinking agent) can be used to promote a crosslinking reaction by light or a combination of light and heat. As a photoinitiator, a dichromate, a bis azide compound, a radical initiator, a cationic initiator,
An anionic initiator or the like can be used. Further, these photoinitiators can be used as a mixture or in combination with another sensitizer. Furthermore, a photoacid generator such as an onium salt can be used in combination with a crosslinking agent. Note that heat treatment may be performed after light irradiation in order to further promote the crosslinking reaction.

The resin composition layer 63 can be formed by a coating method such as spin coating, roll coating, bar coating, spray coating, or dip coating.
There is no particular limitation.

Step (c) Using a photomask 64, pattern exposure is performed on the resin composition layer in a region shielded from light by the black matrix 62, whereby the resin composition layer is cured to reduce ink absorbency, and the non-colored portion 65 is formed. Form. The area that has not been exposed has high ink absorbency and becomes the colored portion 66. Adjacent colored part 66
Since the non-colored portion 65 having a low ink absorbability is interposed therebetween,
The non-colored portion 65 prevents color mixing between adjacent colored portions. As the photomask 64 used here, a photomask having an opening for curing the light shielding portion by the black matrix 62 is used.
Considering that it is necessary to apply a large amount of ink in order to prevent color omission at a portion in contact with 2, it is preferable to use a mask having an opening smaller than the light blocking width of the black matrix.

Step (d) The inkjet head 67 applies R,
G and B inks 68 are applied according to a predetermined coloring pattern. At this time, as described above, an ink-jet head having a plurality of nozzles for each color is used, and ink is applied from a plurality of different nozzles to color each colored portion 66.

As the ink used for coloring, both dye-based and pigment-based inks can be used.
Although both solid inks can be used, when using an aqueous ink, it is preferable to form the resin composition layer 63 with a resin composition having high water absorption. Further, the ink is not limited to a liquid at room temperature, and is an ink that solidifies at room temperature or lower, and softens at room temperature or is a liquid.
Alternatively, in a normal ink jet system, the ink itself is 30
Since the viscosity of the ink is controlled within a stable range by controlling the temperature within the range of 70 ° C. to 70 ° C., a liquid in which the ink is in a liquid state when the ink is ejected is suitably used.

Further, as the ink jet system, a bubble jet type using an electrothermal converter or a piezo jet type using a piezoelectric element can be used as an energy generating element, and the coloring area and the coloring pattern can be set arbitrarily. can do.

In the present invention, in the step, the difference in the ink ejection amount of the nozzle for applying the ink to the portion to be colored in the overlapping area described above is reduced to ± 20% or less to further reduce the uneven coloring. Can be. The operation will be described with reference to FIGS. In order to clarify the operation of this configuration, a case where a non-colored portion is not formed will be described with reference to FIGS.

As shown in FIG. 8A, the ink droplet 4
1 can be given while shifting the landing position in the longitudinal direction of the portion to be colored. The applied ink gradually spreads, soaks into the resin composition layer, and forms a uniformly colored portion 42 as shown in FIG. 8B.

Since the ink droplets are continuously applied to any of the portions to be colored in areas other than the overlapping area, the droplets are quickly connected and spread uniformly as shown in FIG. 8B. To color the portion to be colored. However, in the overlapping area, it takes extra time from when the ink is applied in the coloring scan of the scanning area preceding the scanning to when the ink is applied in the coloring scanning of the next scanning area. Therefore, FIG.
→ As shown in (d), the ink applied in the coloring scan of the preceding scanning area spreads and drying precedes. here,
If the ink droplet amount applied in the coloring scan of the next scanning area is equal to the ink droplet amount in the preceding coloring scan,
As shown in FIG. 8 (b), it can be spread evenly, but if it is too small (FIG. 8 (e)), it cannot spread sufficiently (FIG. 8 (f)). If
Non-uniformity occurs between the scanning area other than the overlapping area and the overlapping area, and the scanning area is recognized as gentle unevenness. Also, conversely, when the amount of droplets in the next coloring scan is too large, FIG.
As shown in (a) → (b), non-uniformity occurs between the scanning area other than the overlapping area and the overlapping area, and the unevenness is recognized as gentle unevenness.

In the case of FIG. 8 (e), white spots occur in the ink droplet portion applied later, or the density becomes low, and color unevenness easily occurs in the colored portion. FIG.
In the case of (a), the density becomes high in the ink droplet portion applied later, and color unevenness easily occurs in the colored portion.

The present inventors have found that unevenness due to the difference in the amount of ink droplets in the overlapping area can be substantially suppressed by setting the difference in the amount of ink droplets to ± 20% or less. That is, the effect can be obtained by setting the difference in the ejection amount of the ink from the nozzle that applies the ink to the overlapping area to 20% or less. That is, by using an ink jet head in which the difference in the amount of ink discharged from the nozzles at both ends is 20% or less, uneven coloring can be further reduced.

Step (e) After the ink is dried as required, the entire surface of the substrate is irradiated with light to cure the colored portion 69. Heat treatment may be performed instead of light irradiation.

Step (f) If necessary, a protective layer 70 is formed. As the protective layer 70, a resin layer of a photo-curing type, a thermo-setting type or a combination of light and heat, an inorganic film formed by vapor deposition, sputtering, or the like can be used, and has a transparency as a color filter. Any material can be used as long as it can withstand the subsequent ITO forming process, alignment film forming process, and the like.

In addition, as the resin composition, the ink absorptivity increases (or develops) by light irradiation or light irradiation and heat treatment.
When a resin composition to be used is used, specifically, such a resin composition is preferably a system utilizing a reaction by chemical amplification, and the base resin is, for example, a hydroxy group of a cellulose derivative such as hydroxypropyl cellulose or hydroxyethyl cellulose. Esterified or blocked with acetyl group (eg, cellulose acetate compound); Higher alcohols such as polyvinyl alcohol and their derivatives are esterified with hydroxyl group or blocked with acetyl group (Examples: polyvinyl acetate compounds and the like); Novolak resins such as cresol novolak, and those in which hydroxyl groups of polyparahydroxystyrene and derivatives thereof are blocked with, for example, a trimethylsilyl group are used, but the present invention is not limited thereto. Not something.

In the present invention, in order to cause a substantial difference in ink absorbency due to exposure, the conversion ratio of a functional group that can be converted to a hydrophilic group into a hydrophilic group is generally 30% or more. Is preferred. As a method for quantifying the hydrophilic group in this case, spectrum analysis such as IR and NMR is effective.

The photoinitiator is preferably an onium salt such as triphenylsulfonium hexafluoroantimonate, a halogenated organic compound such as trichloromethyltriazine, or naphthoquinonediazide or a derivative thereof, but is not limited thereto. Not
As a result, any material may be used as long as it has a composition in which the ink absorbability of the light-irradiated portion increases by light irradiation or light irradiation and heat treatment.

When such a resin composition is used, it is necessary to use a black matrix formed on a transparent substrate as a mask and expose the area other than the area shielded by the black matrix by exposing from the back surface. Can also.

(Second Method) FIG. 12 is a process chart of the second method, in which the same members as those in FIG. 12A to 12D are schematic cross-sectional views corresponding to the following steps (a) to (d).

Step (a) First, a partition member is formed on the substrate 61. The partition member is a member for avoiding color mixture with adjacent different colors of ink when applying ink described later, and in the present embodiment, the black matrix 82 is also used as a light shielding layer. As the black matrix 82, a black pigment-containing resist is preferably used, and is patterned by a general photolithography method. The black matrix 82 is preferably provided with ink repellency in order to prevent adjacent different inks from being mixed with each other when ink to be described later is applied. In the present invention, the thickness of the black matrix 82 is preferably 0.5 μm or more in consideration of the partition wall function and the light shielding function. The opening of the black matrix 82 is the portion to be colored according to the present invention.

Step (b) Ink 83 of each color of R, G and B is applied from the ink jet head 67 according to a predetermined coloring pattern so as to fill the opening of the black matrix 82. At this time, as described above, an ink jet head having a plurality of nozzles for each color is used, and ink is applied to the openings from a plurality of different nozzles.

The ink used in the present invention comprises a resin composition which is cured by applying energy and usually contains a coloring material. A general dye or pigment can be used as the coloring material. For example, as the dye, an anthraquinone dye, an azo dye, a triphenylmethane dye, a polymethine dye, or the like can be used.

As the resin used for the ink, a resin that is cured by applying energy such as heat treatment or light irradiation is used. Specifically, a combination of a known resin and a crosslinking agent can be used as the thermosetting resin. For example, acrylic resin, melamine resin, hydroxyl or carboxyl group-containing polymer and melamine, hydroxyl or carboxyl group-containing polymer and polyfunctional epoxy compound, hydroxyl or carboxyl group-containing polymer and cellulose reaction type compound, epoxy resin and resol type resin, epoxy Examples include resins and amines, epoxy resins and carboxylic acids or acid anhydrides, and epoxy compounds. As the photocurable resin, a known resin, for example, a commercially available negative resist is preferably used.

Various solvents may be added to the ink. In particular, a mixed solvent of water and a water-soluble organic solvent is preferably used from the viewpoint of dischargeability in an inkjet method.

Further, in addition to the above-mentioned components, a surfactant, an antifoaming agent, a preservative, and the like can be added in order to give desired properties if necessary. Can be added.

Further, among the above-mentioned light or thermosetting resins, a solvent other than water or a water-soluble organic solvent may be used as long as it can be stably ejected even if it is not soluble in water or a water-soluble organic solvent. I do not care. In particular, when a monomer that polymerizes by light is used, a solventless type in which a dye is dissolved in the monomer may be used.

Step (c) Ink 83 applied to the opening of black matrix 82
Is cured by heat treatment or light irradiation, or both, to form a colored portion 84.

Step (d) If necessary, a protective layer 70 is formed.

Next, a liquid crystal device constituted by using the color filter of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 11 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an embodiment of an active matrix type liquid crystal device incorporating the color filters formed in the process of FIG. 12, and FIG. 13 is a process of FIG. In FIG. 11, 72 is a common electrode, 73
Is an alignment film, 75 is a substrate, 76 is a pixel electrode, 77 is an alignment film, and 78 is a liquid crystal compound, and the same members as those in FIGS. 10 and 12 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

A liquid crystal element for color display is generally formed by combining a color filter substrate (61) and a TFT substrate (75) facing the color filter substrate, and sealing a liquid crystal compound 78 between the two substrates. . A TFT (not shown) and a transparent pixel electrode 7 are provided inside one substrate of the liquid crystal element.
6 are formed in a matrix. Further, inside the other substrate 61, R and R are provided at positions facing the pixel electrodes 76.
A color filter layer is provided so that the colored portions 69 and 84 of G and B are arranged, and a transparent common electrode 72 is formed on one surface thereof. The black matrices 62 and 82 are usually formed on the color filter side, but may be formed on the TFT substrate side in a BM-on-array type liquid crystal element. Further, alignment films 73 and 7 are provided in the planes of both substrates.
7 are formed, and by subjecting them to a rubbing treatment, liquid crystal molecules can be arranged in a certain direction.

A polarizing plate (not shown) is bonded to the outside of each of the substrates 61 and 75, and a combination of a fluorescent lamp (not shown) and a scattering plate (not shown) is generally used as a backlight, and the liquid crystal compound is backed up. Display is performed by functioning as an optical shutter that changes the transmittance of the write light.

In the liquid crystal device of the present invention, it is only necessary to use the color filter of the present invention. For the other components, the technology of the conventional liquid crystal device such as the material and manufacturing method can be applied. It is possible.

[0092]

As described above, according to the present invention,
When the display area is divided into a plurality of scan areas and colored, color unevenness in the scan area is prevented, and color unevenness between adjacent scan areas is also prevented. In addition, a high-quality color filter can be provided with a reduced yield in a simple process with good yield, and a liquid crystal element having excellent color display characteristics can be provided at low cost using the color filter.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a colored region according to a manufacturing method of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a process diagram of a coloring step of coloring one scanning region in the manufacturing method of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a process diagram of a coloring step of attaching / detaching another scanning area in the manufacturing method of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a view showing another example of a coloring step in the production method of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a view showing another example of the coloring step in the production method of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a view showing still another example of the coloring step in the production method of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a view showing still another example of the coloring step in the production method of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a process of coloring a portion to be colored with a plurality of ink droplets.

FIG. 9 is a schematic view illustrating another example of a step of coloring a portion to be colored with a plurality of ink droplets.

FIG. 10 is a process chart of an example of the production method of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a schematic sectional view of an example of the liquid crystal element of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a process chart of another example of the production method of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a schematic sectional view of another example of the liquid crystal element of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a colored region in the manufacturing method proposed by the present applicant previously.

FIG. 15 is a process chart of a coloring step in the manufacturing method proposed by the present applicant previously.

FIG. 16 is a process diagram of a coloring step in the manufacturing method proposed by the present applicant previously.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 substrate 2 inkjet head 3 nozzle 4a-4d scanning region 5a-5d overlapping region 11 colored region 13a-13h nozzle 41 ink droplet 42 coloring portion 61 substrate 62 black matrix 63 resin composition layer 64 photomask 65 uncolored portion 66 Colored part 67 Inkjet head 68 Ink 69 Colored part 70 Protective layer 72 Common electrode 73 Alignment film 75 Substrate 76 Pixel electrode 77 Alignment film 78 Liquid crystal compound 82 Black matrix 83 Ink 84 Colored part 90a to 90f Scanning area

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Takuhiro Ogushi 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Hiromitsu Yamaguchi 3-30-2 Shimomaruko 3-chome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Incorporated

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A method of manufacturing a color filter, wherein a colored region on a substrate is divided into a plurality of scanning regions, and each scanning region is sequentially colored by an ink jet method to manufacture a color filter. A method for manufacturing a color filter, comprising: 2. The method for manufacturing a color filter according to claim 1, wherein coloring of the scanning region is performed by coloring a portion to be colored in the scanning region. 3. The method for manufacturing a color filter according to claim 2, wherein the coloring of one of the portions to be colored is performed using different nozzles of an inkjet head. 4. The method for manufacturing a color filter according to claim 3, wherein different nozzles are used by shifting the inkjet head in a longitudinal direction of the inkjet head. 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein an ink receiving layer is provided on the substrate, and the ink receiving layer is colored. 6. The method for producing a color filter according to claim 5, wherein a difference is caused in the ink absorbency of the ink receiving layer, and a portion having a relatively high ink absorbency is colored. 7. The method according to claim 1, wherein a partition member is provided on the substrate, and an opening surrounded by the partition member is colored. 8. The method for producing a color filter according to claim 1, wherein coloring is performed using an ink jet head in which a difference between ink ejection amounts of nozzles located at both ends is 20% or less. 9. An ink-jet head having a plurality of nozzles used for manufacturing a color filter, wherein a difference between ink discharge amounts of nozzles located at both ends is 20% or less. 10. A color filter substrate manufactured by the manufacturing method according to claim 1, a counter substrate provided to face the color filter substrate, and a liquid crystal sealed between the two substrates. Characteristic liquid crystal element.