JP2003029226A - Method for correcting luminescent spot defect - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for correcting a luminescent spot defect by which the luminescent spot defect can satisfactorily be corrected. SOLUTION: The method for correcting the luminescent spot defect of a liquid crystal panel provided with a color filter CF on the image display side of a liquid crystal panel main body having alignment layers OF1 and OF2 sandwiching a liquid crystal layer LC comprises a first stage for detecting the position of the luminescent spot defect and a second stage for irradiating the color filter CF with a Laser beam LB by which a hole can be bored in the color filter CF from the image display side toward the detected luminescent spot defect and making the laser beam arrive at the alignment layers OF1 and OF2.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a bright spot defect correction method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A liquid crystal display is a user interface provided in electronic information equipment such as a personal computer. Recent liquid crystal displays are large in size and have a high number of pixels per unit area. Therefore, several pixels may be defective per liquid crystal display.

Such defective pixels appear as white bright spots on the screen during black display. Conventionally, a method of correcting a defect of a liquid crystal display device has been devised so that the white bright spot is not displayed.

The liquid crystal display is completed by mounting a backlight on the back side of the liquid crystal panel and a color filter and a polarizing plate (film) on the front side. Also,
In a completed liquid crystal display, the liquid crystal panel has switching elements such as TFTs (thin film transistors) on the back surface side.

Conventionally known defect correcting methods for liquid crystal displays are described in the following documents (1) to (12).

(1) Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 60-243635 (1) discloses that a defective pixel is irradiated with laser light from the surface side of a liquid crystal panel to disturb the alignment state of the liquid crystal and thereby display color of the pixel. Is disclosed as an intermediate color of each color when the backlight is on and off. In such a method, after the defect is corrected, the color filter is attached to the front side of the display.

(2) Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 63-240521 discloses a defective pixel after the liquid crystal is removed by irradiating a defective pixel with a laser beam from the back surface side of the liquid crystal panel to generate bubbles in the liquid crystal. , A method for correcting a defective pixel by further irradiating a specific portion of a liquid crystal switching transistor with a laser and cutting the laser.

(3) Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 01-187532 According to document (3), the polarizing film positioned on the outermost surface of the display is damaged by irradiating the defective pixel with laser light from the surface side of the liquid crystal panel. Thus, a method of repairing a defective pixel is disclosed. Light that has sequentially passed through the liquid crystal and the color filter and reaches the polarizing film is scattered at the scratched portion, and an intermediate color is displayed in this pixel.

(4) Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 03-21928 discloses a method of correcting a defective pixel in which the defective pixel is irradiated with laser light from the surface side of the liquid crystal panel to burn the color filter to blacken it. Disclosure.

(5) Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 03-209422 discloses a defective pixel in which a defective pixel that cuts a specific portion of a liquid crystal switching element is corrected by irradiating the defective pixel with laser light from the back surface side of the liquid crystal panel. A method and a method of moving the display are disclosed.

(6) Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 04-301615 discloses a defective pixel by irradiating the defective pixel with laser light from the surface side of the liquid crystal panel to scratch the polarizing film and the glass substrate. Discloses a method of correcting the. Light that has sequentially passed through the liquid crystal and the color filter and reaches the glass substrate is diffused at the scratched portion, and an intermediate color is displayed in this pixel.

(7) Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 06-82801 (7) discloses that the wiring is inspected by tracing the wiring of the switching element being manufactured with a probe, and if the wiring is defective, the wiring is inspected. It discloses a method of irradiating a wiring with laser light to cut the wiring, and then assembling the liquid crystal display.

(8) Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 08-146370 (8) discloses that the defective pixel is repaired by irradiating the defective pixel with laser light from the back side of the liquid crystal panel through a mask to vertically align the liquid crystal. The method of doing is disclosed.

(9) Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 08-201813 (9) discloses that defective pixels are irradiated with laser light of a specific scanning speed and diameter from the back surface side of the liquid crystal panel.
It discloses a method of damaging the alignment film or the polarizing film on the back surface side, thereby lowering the alignment of the liquid crystal, and correcting the defective pixel.

(10) Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 09-90304 discloses that a defective pixel is irradiated with laser light to remove the liquid crystal by bubbles generated in the liquid crystal, and then the laser light is continuously irradiated. By doing so, a method is disclosed in which the substance formed on the inner surface of the liquid crystal filling space is scattered and adhered on the alignment to correct the defective pixel.

(11) Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-101969 Document (11) discloses a method of essentially suppressing the occurrence of defects by devising a method of rubbing an alignment film in contact with a liquid crystal. .

(12) Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 11-264961 discloses a document (12) in which a liquid crystal panel is moved by irradiating a laser beam while observing a defective pixel and correcting the defective pixel before assembling the liquid crystal display. Disclosed is a device that allows for.

That is, conventionally, a method of evaluating a defect state of a liquid crystal panel before completion of a liquid crystal display, that is, in a state where a backlight is not attached, and correcting the defect from the back surface side (references (2, 5, 8) , 9)) and a method of correcting from the surface side (references (1, 3, 4, 6, 10)). Further, conventionally, a method of preventing occurrence of defects before assembling a liquid crystal panel (References (7, 11)) and an observation optical system when irradiating laser light before assembling a liquid crystal panel are also known. .

[0019]

However, in the above-mentioned method, there is room for improvement in correction of the bright spot defect in the liquid crystal display. The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a bright spot defect repairing method capable of sufficiently repairing a bright spot defect.

[0020]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a bright spot defect correcting method according to the present invention comprises providing a color filter on an image display side of a liquid crystal panel body having an alignment film sandwiching a liquid crystal layer. In a method of correcting a bright spot defect in a liquid crystal panel, the method includes: a first step of detecting the position of the bright spot defect; and the detected bright spot defect has energy for opening a hole in the color filter from the image display side. A second step of irradiating the color filter with laser light and allowing the laser light to reach the alignment film.

By making holes in the color filter with laser light, the color filter material is attached onto the alignment film under the color filter. The color filter material is
Since the photoresist contains a dye or a pigment, the alignment of the liquid crystal layer by the alignment film can be lowered by the adhesion of the color filter material. As described in Reference 4, when the energy of the laser light required to blacken the color filter is X, the energy is larger than X in the present invention.

It is set so that the light transmittance of the liquid crystal layer is lowered when the orientation is lowered. Therefore,
The brightness of the bright spot defect at the time of displaying black is reduced due to the deterioration of the orientation, and the defective portion becomes inconspicuous. Also,
Since holes are formed in the color filter during white display, part of the light slightly passes through the defective portion, and the defective portion becomes inconspicuous.

The alignment film is a film for controlling the alignment of the liquid crystal layer, and usually, an organic film for alignment control coated on a glass substrate is subjected to a physical treatment called rubbing. Formed by.

Further, when the color filter is irradiated with a laser beam having a diameter larger than that of the laser beam irradiated in the second step, bubbles are formed in the liquid crystal layer by the laser beam, and Adhesion of the color filter material can be promoted by the laser light irradiated in the two steps.

[0025]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION A method for repairing a bright spot defect (repair method) according to an embodiment will be described below.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the liquid crystal display LCD, FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the liquid crystal display LCD shown in FIG. 1, taken along the line II--II, and FIG. 3 is a partially cutaway view of the liquid crystal display LCD. It is a perspective view of a display LCD.

The liquid crystal display LCD has a backlight BL attached to the back side of the liquid crystal panel LCP. The backlight BL is attached to the liquid crystal panel LCP by fixing each outer peripheral portion in the metal frame MFM. The light emitted from the backlight BL is the lower polarizing plate PP.
1, lower glass substrate GS1, transparent electrode TE1, lower alignment film OF1, liquid crystal layer LC, upper alignment film OF2, transparent electrode T
E2, a color filter CF in which red (R), green (G), and blue (B) colored resins are embedded in a light-shielding frame BM such as a black matrix or a black stripe, an upper glass substrate GS1, an upper polarizing plate PP2, The antireflection film (dielectric multilayer film) DFM and the protective film PFM are sequentially transmitted. Since the protective film PFM covers the uneven surface of the lower antireflection film DFM, the displayed image is made clear.

The alignment films OF1 and OF2 are the liquid crystal layer L.
It is a film that controls the orientation of C, and in this example, the glass substrate G
It is formed by subjecting an organic film for controlling orientation, which is coated on S1 and GS2, to a physical treatment called rubbing. Further, in order to suppress the leakage of the liquid crystal layer LC in the width direction, the TFT side substrate (PP1, GS1, OF1) and the color filter side substrate (PFM, DFM, PP2, GS).
2, CF, TE, OF2), the frame FM is interposed.

The light from the backlight BL has a specific polarization component selected by the lower polarizing plate PP1 and the liquid crystal layer LC.
When the polarization direction is rotated by 90 degrees, the rotated polarization component passes through the color filter CF and is incident on the upper polarizing plate PP2. If the polarization azimuth of the upper polarization plate PP2 is rotated 90 degrees with respect to the polarization azimuth of the lower polarization plate PP1, at this time, the light of the backlight BL is emitted to the display side, and the transmitted color of the color filter CF is displayed. To be done.

If the liquid crystal layer LC does not change the polarization direction, the light of the backlight BL does not escape to the display side, and the transmitted color of the color filter CF is not displayed. That is, black is observed at this time. More specifically, when there is no liquid crystal layer LC, when the liquid crystal layer LC does not have orientation due to the absence of an alignment film or the low degree of orientation imparting, or when molecules are applied to the liquid crystal layer LC in the vertical direction. If it is lined up with, it means that it is displayed in black.

The polarizing plates PP1 and PP2 and the liquid crystal layer LC
In principle, there are many relations of polarization directions. Also, a display method of a type that does not use a polarizing plate has been proposed.

Here, it is assumed that the light transmittance of the liquid crystal layer LC is set to be lowered when the orientation of the liquid crystal layer LC is consequently lowered.

FIG. 4 shows the color filter CF shown in FIG.
The area within one pixel of one colored resin (G) in
It is a perspective view extracted and shown with the switching element provided in the FT side substrate. The switching element is a thin film transistor (TFT) S, and a transparent electrode TE2 for applying an electric field is electrically connected to the thin film transistor S.
When the voltage applied between the transparent electrode TE1 and the transparent electrode TE2 is controlled, the electric field in the liquid crystal layer LC changes, and the polarization azimuth that transmits the electric field can be controlled. That is,
By controlling the thin film transistor S, the transmittance of the white light L from the backlight BL shown in FIG. 2 can be controlled.

The bright spot defect correcting method according to the present embodiment is a bright spot defect in a liquid crystal panel in which a color filter CF is provided on the image display side of a liquid crystal panel body having alignment films OF1 and OF2 sandwiching a liquid crystal layer LC. In the correction method, the color filter CF is irradiated with a first step of detecting the position of the bright spot defect, and the detected bright spot defect is irradiated from the image display side with laser light LB having energy for opening holes in the color filter CF. Then, this laser light is applied to the alignment films OF1 and OF.
The second step of reaching 2 is provided.

The position of the bright spot defect is detected by displaying black on the liquid crystal panel LCP and observing it with a CCD (video) camera, and the laser light LB is emitted from the laser light source so as to coincide with the detected position. Irradiate. This position is given as a region having a finite area.
When the laser light LB is applied, the laser light LB is applied to a designated point in this area. This area corresponds to the size of the transparent electrode TE1.

The laser beam LB is used as a protective film PFM.
Is passing through. That is, since the protective film PFM is attached, an image with less blurring can be obtained at the time of laser light LC irradiation, and an accurate defect position can be detected.

In FIG. 4, the position of the center of gravity of the above area and
The laser beam LB is applied to a position at a predetermined distance from the center of gravity. Further, the position of the end of this region may be detected, the distance from the end may be designated, and the laser beam LB may be emitted. The laser light LB of this example is a parallel light or a color filter C.
The focus is on the deeper side than F.

The first laser beam LB (pulse) has a large diameter (a cross-sectional area perpendicular to the optical axis is large), and this irradiation makes a hole in the color filter CF and causes bubbles in the liquid crystal layer LC. generate. Part of the material of the color filter CF adheres to the alignment film OF1.

FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view of the liquid crystal panel LCP at the time of this laser light irradiation. A hole is opened in the colored resin R of the color filter CF, the transparent electrode TE2, the alignment films OF2, OF1, and the transparent electrode TE1, and an adhered substance is deposited around the hole,
In addition, bubbles BB are generated in the liquid crystal layer LC. The size of the bubble depends on the energy density of the laser light LB. The energy density is given by energy / cross-sectional area. The energy density of the laser light LB is set so that the bubble BB has a size including a plurality of pixels.

The laser light LB from the second time onward has a relatively smaller diameter (smaller cross-sectional area perpendicular to the optical axis) than the above, and is irradiated before the bubble BB disappears. By this irradiation, at least a part of the material of the color filter CF adheres to the alignment film.

That is, in the method of this embodiment,
Since the color filter is irradiated with the laser light LB having a diameter larger than that of the laser light LB irradiated in the second step (or later), bubbles are generated in the liquid crystal layer LC by the laser light LB. It can be formed, and the adhesion of the color filter material and other constituents can be promoted by the laser beam LB irradiated in the second step (or later).

The color filter material comprises a photoresist containing a dye or pigment. The attachment of the color filter material can reduce the orientation of the liquid crystal layer LC by the orientation film OF1. The energy of the laser light is larger than the energy of the laser light required to blacken the color filter CF.

In this example, the laser light LB is
It penetrates through the alignment film OF1, and the color filter material is attached to the peripheral portion of the through hole. In other words, the area of the region that contributes to the reduction in the orientation of the liquid crystal layer LC is larger than the diameter of the hole formed in the color filter CF.

When the orientation of the liquid crystal layer LC is lowered, the light transmittance of the liquid crystal layer LC is lowered. Therefore, the brightness of the bright spot defect at the time of black display decreases due to the reduction of the orientation, and the defective portion becomes inconspicuous. Also,
In the case of white display, in principle, even if light does not pass through the defective part due to the polarization orientation, when the slight component passes through the defective part, holes are formed in the color filter. The amount of attenuation by the filter CF becomes small, and the defective portion becomes inconspicuous.

In particular, the decrease in orientation brings about a decrease in the amount of transmitted light during black display, but the diameter of the holes formed in the color filter CF contributes to an increase in brightness during white display. When the area of the region that contributes to the lowering of the orientation of the liquid crystal layer LC is larger than the diameter of the hole formed in the color filter CF, the brightness of the black display decreases and the brightness of the white display increases. It can be controlled partially independently.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a defect repairing device for repairing the above-mentioned brightness defect. A liquid crystal display LCD is arranged on the XYZ stage STG. The illumination light emitted from the epi-illumination IL is reflected by the half mirror HM1, passes through the half mirror HM2, is condensed by the imaging lens (objective lens) OBJ, and illuminates the image display side of the liquid crystal display LCD. The half mirrors HM1 and HM
Each of the two can be a dichroic mirror.

The reflected light of the above-mentioned illumination light by the liquid crystal display LCD or the light L from the backlight BL is reflected by the lens OB.
J, the mirrors HM2 and HM2, and the imaging lens LNS are sequentially passed, and the light is incident on the image pickup device (charge coupled device) CCD.
Therefore, the image immediately below the objective lens OBJ of the liquid crystal display LCD is picked up by the image pickup device CCD, and this video signal is input to the control unit CONT and displayed on the display DSP. The control device CONT detects the position of the defective portion based on the input video signal.

That is, first, black display is performed by the liquid crystal display LCD, and the surface of the liquid crystal display LCD observed by the image pickup device CCD is scanned while driving the XYZ stage STG. When a bright spot is observed during scanning, that is, when the luminance signal included in the video signal exceeds a predetermined value, the area is identified as the position of the defective portion. After detecting the position, the XYZ stage STG is driven to position the defective portion immediately below the imaging lens OBJ, and the laser beam LB is irradiated as described above.

Laser light L emitted from the laser light source LS
The light intensity of B is adjusted by an attenuator AT and then passes through a shutter ST to have a reflectance of 50%.
Is reflected by the half mirror HM3 exceeding the above, passes through a desired mask installed in the mask exchanger MC, is reflected by the mirror HM2, is condensed by the imaging lens OBJ, and is irradiated to the detected defective portion. As the laser light source LS, an Nd: YAG laser oscillator, XeCl
An excimer laser oscillator or the like can be used.

[0050] The control unit CONT other XYZ stage STG, the laser source LS, the dimmer AT, shutter ST, mask exchanger MC, the epi-illumination IL, respectively, the control signal S _M, S _L, S _A , S _S , S _C , S _I. Laser light L transmitted through the half mirror HM3
The light amount of B is detected by the photodetector PD, and the control device C
The ONT controls the energy of the laser beam LB with which the liquid crystal display LCD is irradiated, based on the detected value.

That is, if the dimmer AT is controlled, the energy level of the laser beam LB can be changed, and if the mask exchanger MC is controlled, the cross-sectional shape and diameter of the laser beam LB can be changed. By controlling the opening / closing of the shutter ST, the irradiation time of the laser light LB can be controlled. In addition, a light shielding plate is also stored as a mask in the mask exchanger MC. In addition, this mask is a lens OBJ
Can be switched according to the magnification of.

The objective lens OBJ is made up of a plurality of objective lens groups having different magnifications, each fixed to an electrically driven revolver RV (see FIG. 7). Controller CON
T can change the magnification of the objective lens OBJ by rotating the revolver RV. Laser light LB
A high-magnification lens of 25 times is used for irradiation and observation, and a low-magnification lens of 7.6 times is used for observation. That is, when the laser beam LB is irradiated, the magnification is increased as compared with the observation. In the above, the laser light irradiation optical system and the observation optical system form a coaxial optical system.

FIG. 7 is a front view of the defect repairing apparatus shown in FIG. 6, and FIG. 8 is a side view. The display DSP and the control device CONT shown in FIG. 6 are omitted.

The XYZ stage STG includes an XY-direction driving stage fixed on the Z-direction driving stage, and the XYZ driving stage.
It comprises a mounting table 1 fixed on a directional drive stage. The mounting table 1 is arranged horizontally. The XY direction drive stage is
The mounting table 1 is composed of a ball screw and an AC servomotor extending in two orthogonal directions, and moves the mounting table 1 forward, backward, leftward and rightward. The Z-direction drive stage moves the XY-direction drive stage in the vertical direction.

The laser optical system OP1 from the laser light source LS to the mask changer MC is attached to the upper part of the revolver RV.

XYZ stage STG, image pickup device CCD,
The main parts of the device such as the laser optical system OP1 are housed in a shaping box BOX fixed on a vibration isolation table.
X has an opening OPN on the front side. When the XY driving stage is driven, and further the mounting table 1 is moved via the slide rail SLD which performs relative one-dimensional horizontal movement between the stage and the mounting table 1, the liquid crystal display LCD is opened from the opening OPN. Exposed. In this case, the operator is the liquid crystal display LC
D can be installed easily.

Below the mounting table 1, a drive signal relay unit CIR for relaying a signal for driving the liquid crystal display LCD is provided. The operator fixes the liquid crystal display LCD on the mounting table 1 and connects the wiring extending from the liquid crystal display LCD to the relay unit CIR. Relay unit CI
Since R is arranged below the mounting table 1, the connection wiring distance between these is shortened and the delay of the drive signal is suppressed. When the liquid crystal display LCD is large, it is preferable that the number of relay units is plural, and since the relay unit CIR is taken out of the shaping box BOX by the slide rail SLD, the work efficiency is improved.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing the defect repairing process performed in the above apparatus.

First, the ID number of the product is set to the control device CONT.
(S100). That is, the liquid crystal display LCD
And the ID number of the panel are input to the control device CONT. This input may be performed via the keyboard, or may be performed using a barcode reader when the barcode is attached to the liquid crystal display LCD.

Next, the liquid crystal display LCD is attached to the defect correcting device (S102). The mounting table 1 is pulled out from the opening OPN, and the liquid crystal display LCD is set thereon. Further, the liquid crystal display LCD and the relay unit CIR are electrically connected.

Subsequently, the control unit CONT performs alignment adjustment in the horizontal plane of the liquid crystal display LCD (S).
104). That is, the position of the liquid crystal display LCD is moved in the horizontal plane so that the pixel rows of the liquid crystal display LCD coincide with the X or Y direction. Liquid crystal panel LCP
Since the alignment mark AM of is located inside the metal frame MFM, the control unit CONT detects the position of the end portion in the image captured by the image sensor CCD and corrects the movement amount based on this position. You can

After that, the coordinates of the portion having the defective pixel (bright spot defect) are input to the control unit CONT (S10).
6). In the above description, the controller CONT carries out defect correction after scanning the surface of the liquid crystal display LCD, but here it is assumed that the defect position inspection itself has already been carried out in another step. . In such a case, when the control device CONT is connected to the host computer via a LAN cable, the control device CON
T can receive the coordinates of the defect position corresponding to the ID number from the host computer.

Next, the defect position is searched (S10).
8). That is, first, the control device CONT drives the XY direction drive stage based on the coordinate information so that the defect is located immediately below the imaging lens OBJ. continue,
The backlight BL is turned on to illuminate the liquid crystal panel LCP from the back side, and the image of the liquid crystal panel LCP is captured by the image sensor CCD.
To shoot by. The liquid crystal display LCD is operated in the all black state via the relay unit CIR. At this time, since the defect emits light, the control device CONT minutely drives the XY-direction drive stage based on the image information taken so that the defect is located on the optical axis of the imaging lens (objective lens) OBJ.

At the time of searching for this defect position, the position of its center of gravity is given as the defect position. Objective lens OBJ
The actual field of view is set to about 1.4 mm. Such a method is also effective when horizontally moving a large panel, for example, a 22-inch panel, and a moving stroke of 500 mm,
Even if the positioning accuracy is about 30 μm, the luminance defect position can be accurately detected.

Next, bubbles are generated in the liquid crystal layer LC (S110). In this case, the control unit CONT first
The mask changer MC is driven to move the first mask on the optical path, and then the laser light source LS is driven. One laser light pulse is emitted from the laser light source LS, passes through the first mask, and is irradiated onto the defect. The pulse can also be generated by intermittently opening and closing the shutter ST. By this irradiation, holes are formed in the color filter CF, and bubbles BB are generated in the liquid crystal layer LC. At this time, the bubble BB can be confirmed by the image pickup device CCD.

Next, the mask is replaced and the laser light output is changed (S112). In this case, the control device CONT
The mask changer MC is driven to move the second mask on the optical path. The output of the laser light LB is adjusted by the dimmer AT.

Then, the laser light source LS is driven to make a hole in the color filter CF (S114). In this case, first, one laser light pulse is emitted from the laser light source LS, passes through the second mask, and is irradiated onto another point in the defect. By this irradiation, holes are formed in the color filter CF, and the color filter material, the ITO material, the alignment film material, and the like are scattered and adhere to the alignment film OF1. While the liquid crystal display LCD is moved in the horizontal plane by driving the XY direction drive stage, the pulse of the laser light LB is emitted at the repetition frequency f, and the irradiation position of the laser light LB is changed one after another.

The diameter of the laser light LB when using the second mask is smaller than the diameter of the laser light LB when using the first mask. The laser light LB from the second time onward has smaller energy than that from the first time. This is because in the state where the liquid crystal layer LC is removed by the bubbles, the material can be sufficiently adhered even if the energy is small. Note that the attached deposit remains attached even after the bubble BB disappears.

Finally, the repaired defect is inspected (S1).
16). In this case, while observing the image displayed on the display DSP, the correction state of the brightness defect is inspected, and the input result is input to the control device CONT and stored in the control device CONT. When the control device CONT is connected to the host computer via a LAN cable,
Notify the host computer that the modification is complete. In addition,
A brightness threshold value may be set, and when all the brightness in the image are equal to or less than the threshold value, the control device CONT may automatically determine the correction end of the brightness defect.

FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing the inspection / correction process of the entire liquid crystal display LCD.

First, the liquid crystal panel LCP is inspected for defects (inspection I: S1).

If the inspection result is good, the process proceeds to the next step, but if a defect is found, the defect portion is irradiated with laser light to correct the defect (S).
2). This correction process is the same as the above method except that the irradiation direction of the laser light is opposite. After this correction step, it is inspected again whether or not the correction is surely performed (inspection II: S3).

Liquid crystal panel L showing good result of inspection I
The backlight BL is attached to the CP or the liquid crystal panel LCP that has been surely corrected, and assembled as a module (S4).

Again, the assembled module, that is, the liquid crystal display LCD is inspected (inspection III: S).
5).

If the inspection result is good, the inspection process ends, but if a defect is found, the defect portion is irradiated with laser light to correct the defect (S6). ), And then an inspection (inspection IV: S
7).

These tests (I, II, III,
Method IV) is the same as step 116 above,
Further, the process of correcting the brightness defect performed in step S6 is as described above.

In the inspection I, in addition to the above,
It is also possible to perform disconnection inspection, unevenness / stain inspection, non-uniformity inspection of spacers provided in the liquid crystal, and inspection of polarizing plate.
In addition, bright spot defects are caused by defective TFT array, defective color filter, inclusion of foreign matter, etc., disconnection is caused by defective TFT array, incorporation of foreign matter, etc.
Caused by defective alignment printing, defective rubbing, or foreign matter
The non-uniformity of the spacers is caused by the dispersion of the spacers or the inclusion of foreign matter.

Next, the cross-sectional shape of the bubble-forming laser light LB that is irradiated for the first time and the cross-sectional shape of the fine adjustment laser light LB that is irradiated for the second time and thereafter will be described.

FIG. 11 shows the shape of the laser beam LB irradiated for the first time on the transparent electrode TE1, and FIG. 12 shows the second shape.
The shape on the transparent electrode TE1 of the laser beam LB irradiated after the first time is shown. These shapes are the same as the shape of the cross section (section perpendicular to the optical axis) of the laser beam LB, and the shape of the through holes formed in the color filter CF or the alignment films OF1 and OF2.

11 (a), 11 (b) and 11
As shown in (c), FIG. 11 (d), and FIG. 11 (e), the cross-sectional shape of the laser beam LB irradiated for the first time is circular or square. maximum diameter is set to 8μm or 24 [mu] m, the energy density of the laser beam LB is 15 J / cm ² to 50 J / cm ^2.

12 (a), 12 (b) and 12
As shown in (c) and FIG. 12 (d), the cross-sectional shape of the plurality of laser beams LB irradiated after the second time is circular or square, and the diameter is the case in the circle and the maximum diameter is the case in the square. 2μ
m to be set to 4 [mu] m, the energy density of the laser beam LB is 25 J / cm ² to 65 J / cm ^2. The width of the region irradiated with the laser beam LB is 2 μm to the transparent electrode TE1.
And the length is from 2 μm to the length of the transparent electrode TE1. These correspond to the X and Y directions, respectively. Although a plurality of spots of the laser beam LB are formed as a whole, these spots are aligned in a matrix. The number of lines is one or more. The laser light L shown in FIG.
The large-diameter spot of B is shown in FIG. 11 (c).

Further, in the above, the laser light for bubble generation is irradiated only once, but it may be irradiated twice or more.

[0083]

According to the brightness defect repairing method of the present invention, bright spot defects can be repaired sufficiently.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a liquid crystal display.

2 is a vertical sectional view of the liquid crystal display shown in FIG. 1, taken along line II-II.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the liquid crystal display LCD showing the liquid crystal display LCD partially broken away.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a region in one pixel of one colored resin (G) in the color filter CF shown in FIG. 2 together with a switching element provided on a TFT substrate.

FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view of the liquid crystal panel LCP at the time of laser light irradiation.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a defect repairing device that repairs a brightness defect.

FIG. 7 is a front view of the defect repairing device shown in FIG.

8 is a side view of the defect repairing device shown in FIG.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a defect repairing process performed in the defect repairing apparatus.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an inspection / correction process of the entire liquid crystal display LCD.

FIG. 11 is a plan view of the relevant portion showing the shape of the laser beam LB irradiated for the first time on the transparent electrode TE1.

FIG. 12 is a plan view of the relevant portion showing the shape on the transparent electrode TE1 of the laser beam LB irradiated after the second time.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Mounting table, AT ... Attenuator, BB ... Bubbles, BL ... Backlight, BM ... Shading frame, BOX ... Shaping box, CCD ... Imaging device, CF ... Color filter, CIR ... Drive signal relay unit, CONT ... Control Equipment, DSP ... Display, TE1
... transparent electrode, FM ... frame, GS1, GS2 ... glass substrate, HM1, HM2 ... half mirror, HM3 ... half mirror, IL ... epi-illumination, L ... white light, LB ... laser light,
LC ... Liquid crystal layer, LCD ... Liquid crystal display, LCP ... Liquid crystal panel, LNS ... Imaging lens, LS ... Laser light source, MC ... Mask exchanger, MFM ... Metal frame, OBJ ... Imaging lens, O
F1, OF2 ... Alignment film, OP1 ... Laser optical system, OPN
… Aperture, PD… Photo detector, PFM… Protective film, PP
1, PP2 ... Polarizing plate, RV ... Revolver, S ... Thin film transistor, SLD ... Slide rail, ST ... Shutter,
STG ... Stage, TE2 ... Transparent electrode.

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Haruhiko Sugimoto             1 Hamamatsuho, 1126 Nomachi, Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture             Tonics Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Norio Kurita             1 Hamamatsuho, 1126 Nomachi, Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture             Tonics Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Koji Kuno             1 Hamamatsuho, 1126 Nomachi, Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture             Tonics Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 2H048 BA43 BB14 BB44                 2H088 FA10 FA13 FA15 FA16 FA24                       FA30 HA03 HA12 MA01 MA16                       MA18                 5C094 AA07 AA42 BA43 CA19 CA24                       EA04 EA07 EB02 ED03 ED15                 5G435 AA03 AA17 BB12 FF13 GG12                       KK05 KK10

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A method of correcting a bright spot defect in a liquid crystal panel comprising a liquid crystal panel main body having an alignment film sandwiching a liquid crystal layer and having a color filter on the image display side, the first step of detecting the position of the bright spot defect. And a second step of irradiating the color filter with laser light having energy for opening holes in the color filter from the image display side to the detected bright spot defect, and allowing the laser light to reach the alignment film. A method for correcting a bright spot defect, comprising: 2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of irradiating the color filter with a laser beam having a diameter larger than that of the laser beam emitted in the second step before the second step. How to fix bright spot defects.