JP2001272306A - Inspection method for color filter - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an easy-to-automate inspection method for a color filter, capable of readily detecting even a foreign object which penetrated a concave part. SOLUTION: A light is irradiated from a light source 1 which irradiates an ultraviolet light to a color filter 3, and fluorescence or phosphorescence caused by a foreign object and contamination is detected by a line sensor 2.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for inspecting a color filter mainly used for a color liquid crystal display used for a color television, a personal computer, and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Heretofore, a color filter mainly used for a flat panel display such as a liquid crystal display has been inspected using a light source in a visible light region, either visually by an inspector or by an automatic inspection machine. .

[0003]

However, in the inspection using visible light, when inspecting foreign matter such as dust,
An optical system and a light receiving element for sufficiently detecting the size of a foreign substance having a standard value, or a skilled inspector and an inspection environment are required. In addition, it is difficult to detect the presence or absence of contamination with an automatic inspection machine. Particularly in recent years, requirements for dust, foreign matter, and contamination have become strict, and inspection costs have been steadily increasing, which has been a factor that puts down the manufacturing cost of color filters.

[0004] In addition, in the inspection using visible light, in order to detect a foreign substance, a projection, or the like, illumination from an extremely low angle and arrangement of a detector are required, and the work is complicated. Also,
In particular, in a color filter having a large unevenness on the surface, such as a color filter by a pigment dispersion method, it is difficult to detect a foreign substance that has entered the recess.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems and to provide a color filter inspection method which can easily detect a minute foreign matter and contamination entering a concave portion, and which can be easily automated and is inexpensive.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, a color filter having at least a plurality of colored portions on a transparent substrate is irradiated with light from a light source which emits ultraviolet light, and the color filter is provided with a fluorescent material or a fluorescent material which emits foreign matter or contamination. This is a color filter inspection method characterized by detecting phosphorescence.

According to the present invention, the light source is a black light used for particle inspection, the fluorescence or phosphorescence is automatically detected using a line sensor or an area sensor as a light receiving element, and in particular, the line sensor or the area sensor is used. And comparing the amount of fluorescence or phosphorescence automatically detected by the above method with a predetermined value to make a pass / fail judgment.

[0008]

FIG. 1 schematically shows an embodiment of an inspection method according to the present invention. In the figure, 1 is a light source that emits ultraviolet light, 2 is a line sensor camera, 3 is a color filter to be inspected, and has a plurality of colored portions 5 on a transparent substrate 4.

In the present embodiment, the color filter 1 to be inspected is moved while irradiating ultraviolet light from the light source 1 and imaging is performed by the line sensor camera 2, and foreign matter and contamination are automatically detected.

As shown in FIG. 1, as a color filter to be inspected according to the present invention, as long as it has a plurality of colored portions 5 on a transparent substrate 4, a manufacturing method and other components are particularly required. Not limited. For example, a color filter manufactured by any manufacturing method such as a pigment dispersion method, a dyeing method, a printing method, an electrodeposition method, and an ink jet method is preferably applied. Further, the color filter usually includes a protective layer on the colored portion 5, and in some cases, there is a configuration including an ITO film serving as an electrode when a liquid crystal display is configured, and a configuration including a black matrix. Even in such a case, the present invention is preferably applied.

The light source used in the present invention includes:
A light source mainly emitting ultraviolet light can be preferably used. For example, a black light used for particle inspection can be preferably used.

In the present invention, the detection can be automated using a line sensor or an area sensor as a light receiving element in addition to the visual inspection by an inspector.

In the present invention, since a light source that emits ultraviolet light is used, even if there is a minute foreign substance or contamination in the concave portion, it emits fluorescent light or phosphorescent light, so that it is easy to detect. By using a sensor or an area sensor, the detection operation can be automated. In the present invention, when an area sensor is used, it is not necessary to set a high resolution so that the minimum size of a necessary defect such as a foreign substance or contamination can be detected, and a rough resolution area sensor and an imaging system are used. However, sufficient detection sensitivity can be realized.

When the inspection is automated by using a line sensor or an area sensor, a predetermined value is obtained by measuring in advance the fluorescence or phosphorescence generated by a known foreign substance or contamination, and the detected value is detected by a color filter to be inspected. A pass / fail judgment may be made by comparing the amount of fluorescence or phosphorescence with the specified value.

In the present invention, since the fluorescence or phosphorescence emitted from foreign substances or contamination is detected, the colored portion of the color filter does not affect as noise as compared with the conventional inspection method using visible light, so that the detection power is increased. . In particular, the effect is remarkable regarding contamination.

In the inspection method of the present invention, since ultraviolet light is used, the inspection step is preferably performed in a dark place. When the inspector visually performs the inspection, it is desirable to take protective measures such as wearing protective glasses that cut off ultraviolet rays in order to protect the inspector's eyes. Even in this case, the fluorescence and the phosphorescence emitted from the defect of the color filter include visible light, so that detection is sufficiently possible.

[0017]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Unlike the conventional inspection method, it is not necessary to perform the inspection while adjusting the reflection angle from a low angle, and it is not necessary to handle an extra color filter, so that the inspection operation can be greatly simplified. In addition, minute foreign matter or contamination that has entered the recess can be easily detected because it is detected by fluorescence or phosphorescence, and the reliability of the inspection is high. Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to perform color fill inspection with high reproducibility, high efficiency, and high accuracy, and to provide a highly reliable color filter at a lower cost.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a state of an embodiment of an inspection method of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 light source 2 line sensor camera 3 color filter 4 transparent substrate 5 colored part

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A color filter having at least a plurality of colored portions on a transparent substrate is irradiated with light from a light source that emits ultraviolet light to detect foreign matter or fluorescent or phosphorescent light generated by contamination on the color filter. Color filter inspection method. 2. The color filter inspection method according to claim 1, wherein the light source is a black light used for particle inspection. 3. The color filter inspection method according to claim 1, wherein the fluorescence or phosphorescence is automatically detected using a line sensor or an area sensor as a light receiving element. 4. The color filter inspection method according to claim 3, wherein a pass / fail judgment is made by comparing the amount of fluorescence or phosphorescence automatically detected by the line sensor or the area sensor with a predetermined value.