JP2006208150A - System for visually inspecting liquid crystal substrate - Google Patents

System for visually inspecting liquid crystal substrate Download PDF

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JP2006208150A
JP2006208150A JP2005019716A JP2005019716A JP2006208150A JP 2006208150 A JP2006208150 A JP 2006208150A JP 2005019716 A JP2005019716 A JP 2005019716A JP 2005019716 A JP2005019716 A JP 2005019716A JP 2006208150 A JP2006208150 A JP 2006208150A
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liquid crystal
crystal substrate
illumination
light
color
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Kaoru Saito
馨 斎藤
Hidetoshi Kanazawa
英俊 金澤
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ADVANCED INFO KK
OPTO ONE KK
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OPTO ONE KK
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Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a system having a long life and excellent in environmental performance for visually inspecting liquid crystal substrates. <P>SOLUTION: In the system for visually inspecting liquid crystal substrates, visual inspection is performed after a film deposition process in the manufacture of liquid crystal substrates 5. Rod-like light emitting lamps 19 using LEDs as light sources for illumination are used. It is thereby possible to stably use the system for a long period of time without having to shortening the life of the light sources for illumination even by frequent ON/OFF switching operations. The colors of the light sources for illumination are changed by mixing colors. An illuminating device 1 for reflection and an illuminating device 2 for transmission are provided, and the rod-like light emitting lamps 19 are used for the illuminating device 1 for reflection and the illuminating device 2 for transmission. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

この発明は、液晶基板の製造における製膜工程後の目視検査を行う液晶基板目視検査装置に関し、特にLED照明を使用した液晶基板目視検査装置に関する。   The present invention relates to a liquid crystal substrate visual inspection apparatus that performs visual inspection after a film forming process in manufacturing a liquid crystal substrate, and more particularly to a liquid crystal substrate visual inspection apparatus that uses LED illumination.

液晶基板を製造する場合、ガラス基板製造工程、パターン成形工程、カラーフィルタ製造工程、セル組立工程、モジュール組立工程等の複数の工程を必要とする。このため、カラーフィルタ製造工程にて製造されたカラーフィルタにおいて、セル組立工程や最終的な製品の品質に悪影響を及ぼす種々の欠陥が発生するおそれがある。このため、従来から、液晶基板目視検査装置(例えば、特許文献1参照)を使用して、製造されたカラーフィルタの目視検査を行っていた。   When a liquid crystal substrate is manufactured, a plurality of processes such as a glass substrate manufacturing process, a pattern forming process, a color filter manufacturing process, a cell assembly process, and a module assembly process are required. For this reason, in the color filter manufactured in the color filter manufacturing process, various defects that adversely affect the cell assembly process and the final product quality may occur. For this reason, conventionally, the manufactured color filter was visually inspected using a liquid crystal substrate visual inspection apparatus (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

すなわち、検査装置としては、図4に示すような透過検査用照明51と、図5に示すような反射検査用照明52とを備える。そして、透過検査用照明51からの検査光を基板53の裏面54に照射して、その透過光を作業者Sが目視によって観察し、膜面55の汚れや膜のむら、パターンのずれ等の欠陥56を検査する。また、反射検査用照明52からの検査光を基板53の裏面54に照射して、この裏面54を作業者Sが目視によって観察して裏面54の欠陥56を検査する。この場合、透過検査用照明51としては複数本の蛍光管(蛍光灯)を使用し、反射検査用照明52としてはハロゲンランプ等を用いた投光機を使用している。
特開平7−270339号公報
That is, the inspection apparatus includes a transmission inspection illumination 51 as shown in FIG. 4 and a reflection inspection illumination 52 as shown in FIG. Then, the inspection light from the transmission inspection illumination 51 is irradiated onto the back surface 54 of the substrate 53, and the transmitted light is visually observed by the operator S. 56 is inspected. Further, the inspection light from the reflection inspection illumination 52 is irradiated onto the back surface 54 of the substrate 53, and the operator S visually observes the back surface 54 to inspect the defects 56 on the back surface 54. In this case, a plurality of fluorescent tubes (fluorescent lamps) are used as the transmission inspection illumination 51, and a projector using a halogen lamp or the like is used as the reflection inspection illumination 52.
JP 7-270339 A

ところで、近年、液晶基板の大型化に伴い、液晶製造装置が大型化し、製造に必要なクリーンルームも大きくなっている。また、デジタル放送高品質TV用途拡大による液晶大型化に伴い、光源として従来から使用している蛍光管も大きくなってきた。上記の検査装置を使用する場合、照明はスイッチの頻繁なON・OFF操作が行われる。しかしながら、ON・OFF操作が頻繁に行われた場合、光源として蛍光管を使用していれば、この蛍光管の寿命は2000時間程度となる。このため、使用できなくなって廃棄等すべきものとなる蛍光管が頻繁に発生し、これでは最近の環境対応工場には適合しない。ところで、カラーフィルタは、赤、緑、青のフィルタで構成されているので、それぞれの色に対してむらの見やすい照明の色がある。そこで従来の蛍光灯を用いた装置では、色のついたフィルタを複数種類用意して、各色に応じてフィルタ(色のついたフィルタ)を交換してむらの見やすい色としていた。このため、交換作業に手間がかかると共に、色を連続して変化させることができず、カラーフィルタの色に起因するむらの検出が困難であった。   By the way, in recent years, with an increase in the size of a liquid crystal substrate, a liquid crystal manufacturing apparatus has increased in size, and a clean room necessary for manufacturing has also increased. In addition, with the increase in liquid crystal size due to the expansion of digital broadcasting and high-quality TV applications, fluorescent tubes that have been used as light sources have also become larger. When the above inspection apparatus is used, lighting is frequently turned on and off. However, when the ON / OFF operation is frequently performed, if a fluorescent tube is used as a light source, the life of the fluorescent tube is about 2000 hours. For this reason, fluorescent tubes that can no longer be used and should be disposed of frequently occur, which is not compatible with recent environmentally friendly factories. By the way, since the color filter is composed of red, green and blue filters, there are illumination colors which are easy to see for each color. Therefore, in a conventional apparatus using a fluorescent lamp, a plurality of colored filters are prepared, and the filters (colored filters) are exchanged according to each color to make the color easy to see. For this reason, the replacement work takes time and the color cannot be continuously changed, and it is difficult to detect unevenness due to the color of the color filter.

この発明は、上記従来の欠点を解決するためになされたものであって、その目的は、寿命が長く、しかも環境性能にも優れた液晶基板目視検査装置を提供する。   The present invention has been made to solve the above-described conventional drawbacks, and an object of the present invention is to provide a liquid crystal substrate visual inspection apparatus having a long life and excellent environmental performance.

そこで請求項1の液晶基板目視検査装置は、液晶基板5の製造における製膜工程後の目視検査を行う液晶基板検査装置であって、照明用光源にLEDを使用したロッド形状の発光灯19を用いることを特徴としている。   Accordingly, the liquid crystal substrate visual inspection apparatus according to claim 1 is a liquid crystal substrate inspection apparatus that performs a visual inspection after the film forming process in the manufacture of the liquid crystal substrate 5, and includes a rod-shaped light-emitting lamp 19 that uses an LED as an illumination light source. It is characterized by use.

請求項2の液晶基板目視検査装置は、上記照明用光源の色を色混合によって変化させることを特徴としている。   The liquid crystal substrate visual inspection apparatus according to claim 2 is characterized in that the color of the illumination light source is changed by color mixing.

請求項3の液晶基板目視検査装置は、発光色が異なるLED基板20の発光灯19を複数個備え、この複数個の発光灯19の組み合わせによる上記照明用光源の色の変化を可能にしたことを特徴としている。   The liquid crystal substrate visual inspection apparatus according to claim 3 comprises a plurality of light-emitting lamps 19 of the LED board 20 having different emission colors, and the color of the illumination light source can be changed by a combination of the plurality of light-emitting lamps 19. It is characterized by.

請求項4の液晶基板目視検査装置は、発光色が同じLED基板20の発光灯19を複数種類備えると共に、発光灯19の種類毎にLED基板20の発光色を異ならせ、この複数種類の組み合わせによる上記照明用光源の色の変化を可能にしたことを特徴としている。   The liquid crystal substrate visual inspection apparatus according to claim 4 includes a plurality of kinds of light emitting lamps 19 of the LED board 20 having the same light emission color, and the light emission colors of the LED board 20 are different for each kind of the light emitting lamps 19. It is possible to change the color of the illumination light source.

請求項5の液晶基板目視検査装置は、反射用照明1と透過用照明2とを備え、上記ロッド形状の発光灯19をこれらの照明1、2に用いることを特徴としている。   The liquid crystal substrate visual inspection apparatus according to a fifth aspect includes a reflection illumination 1 and a transmission illumination 2, and uses the rod-shaped light-emitting lamp 19 for the illuminations 1 and 2.

請求項1の液晶基板目視検査装置によれば、照明用光源にLEDを使用した発光灯を用いたので、ON・OFFの頻繁なスイッチング操作によってもこの照明用光源の寿命を縮めず、長期にわたって安定して使用することができる。このため、使用できなくなって廃棄等すべきものとなる発光灯が長期にわたって生じず、環境性能に優れた装置となる。また、発光灯は、LED基板と、光軸調整光学系と、散乱管等にて構成することができ、故障等した際にその不良となった部品を交換することによって、再度使用でき、さらに、廃棄等する場合においても、故障等した際にその不良となった部品のみを廃棄すればよいので、一層環境性能に優れた検査装置となる。また、ロッド形状の発光灯を使用するので、蛍光管を使用していた既存の装置の照明に対してあまり改良せずにこの発光灯を簡単に装着することができる。このため、装置の簡略化及び組立性の容易化を図ることができる。   According to the liquid crystal substrate visual inspection apparatus of claim 1, since the light-emitting lamp using the LED as the illumination light source is used, the life of the illumination light source is not shortened even by frequent ON / OFF switching operations. It can be used stably. For this reason, a light-emitting lamp that cannot be used and should be discarded is not generated over a long period of time, and the apparatus has excellent environmental performance. Moreover, the light-emitting lamp can be composed of an LED substrate, an optical axis adjusting optical system, a scattering tube, etc., and can be used again by exchanging parts that have become defective when they break down. Even in the case of disposal, it is only necessary to discard only the parts that are defective in the event of a failure or the like, so that the inspection apparatus is further excellent in environmental performance. Further, since a rod-shaped light-emitting lamp is used, this light-emitting lamp can be easily mounted without much improvement with respect to the illumination of an existing apparatus that uses a fluorescent tube. For this reason, simplification of the device and ease of assembly can be achieved.

請求項2の液晶基板目視検査装置によれば、色合いを変えることができるので、高精度の検査を行うことができる。しかも、照明用光源にLEDを使用したので、赤、青、緑の輝度を変えることで、白色から種々の色に調色して、色を連続して変化させることが可能であって、カラーフィルタの色に起因するむらを検出できるようになり、観察性能の向上を図ることができ、工場管理上においても有効である。   According to the liquid crystal substrate visual inspection apparatus of the second aspect, since the hue can be changed, a high-precision inspection can be performed. Moreover, since LEDs are used as the light source for illumination, it is possible to change the color from white to various colors by changing the brightness of red, blue and green, and to change the color continuously. Unevenness due to the color of the filter can be detected, the observation performance can be improved, and this is effective in factory management.

請求項3又は請求項4の液晶基板目視検査装置によれば、色合いの変更を正確に行うことができ、カラーフィルタの色に起因するむらを一層高精度の検出できる。   According to the liquid crystal substrate visual inspection apparatus of claim 3 or claim 4, the hue can be changed accurately, and unevenness due to the color of the color filter can be detected with higher accuracy.

請求項5の液晶基板目視検査装置によれば、透過光による観察と反射光による観察を行うことができ、液晶基板に対して種々の検査を行うことができ、製品検査の信頼性が向上する。   According to the liquid crystal substrate visual inspection apparatus of claim 5, observation by transmitted light and observation by reflected light can be performed, various inspections can be performed on the liquid crystal substrate, and reliability of product inspection is improved. .

次に、この発明の液晶基板目視検査装置の具体的な実施の形態について、図面を参照しつつ詳細に説明する。図1は液晶基板目視検査装置の全体図であり、この液晶基板目視検査装置はLED照明を使用した検査装置であって、反射用照明1と透過用照明2とを備え、支持構造体3にて支持された液晶基板5(製膜工程後の基板)を作業者Sの目視によって観察するものである。   Next, specific embodiments of the liquid crystal substrate visual inspection apparatus of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an overall view of a liquid crystal substrate visual inspection apparatus. This liquid crystal substrate visual inspection apparatus is an inspection apparatus that uses LED illumination, and includes a reflection illumination 1 and a transmission illumination 2. The liquid crystal substrate 5 (the substrate after the film forming step) supported by the operator S is observed by the operator S visually.

すなわち、検査装置は、観察窓4が形成された検査室6を備え、この検査室6に反射用照明1と透過用照明2と支持構造体3等が配置される。そして、支持構造体3は、液晶基板5を支持する枠体7と、この枠体7を支持する基台8等を備える。また、基台8は検査室6の床面9に配置されたガイドレール10に沿って移動することができる。この場合、基台8は、ガイドレール10に沿って移動する基盤11と、この基盤11上を上記ガイドレール10を直交する方向に移動できる基部12と、この基部12から立設される支柱部13とを備える。なお、この実施の形態において、観察窓4が形成された壁を前面壁15と呼び、反観察窓側の壁を背壁16と呼ぶ。   That is, the inspection apparatus includes an inspection chamber 6 in which an observation window 4 is formed, and the reflection illumination 1, the transmission illumination 2, the support structure 3 and the like are arranged in the inspection chamber 6. The support structure 3 includes a frame body 7 that supports the liquid crystal substrate 5 and a base 8 that supports the frame body 7. The base 8 can move along a guide rail 10 disposed on the floor surface 9 of the examination room 6. In this case, the base 8 includes a base 11 that moves along the guide rail 10, a base 12 that can move on the base 11 in a direction orthogonal to the guide rail 10, and a support column that is erected from the base 12. 13. In this embodiment, the wall on which the observation window 4 is formed is called a front wall 15, and the wall on the side opposite to the observation window is called a back wall 16.

基盤11をガイドレール10に沿って移動させることによって、液晶基板5を支持している枠体7を前後動させることができ、支柱部13をガイドレール10と直交する方向に沿って移動させることによって、枠体7を左右方向に移動させることができる。さらに、支柱部13は上下方向に伸縮することができる。このため、液晶基板5を、前後左右に移動させることができると共に、上下動させることができる。   By moving the base 11 along the guide rail 10, the frame body 7 supporting the liquid crystal substrate 5 can be moved back and forth, and the column portion 13 is moved along the direction orthogonal to the guide rail 10. Thus, the frame body 7 can be moved in the left-right direction. Furthermore, the support | pillar part 13 can be expanded-contracted to an up-down direction. For this reason, the liquid crystal substrate 5 can be moved back and forth and left and right and can be moved up and down.

枠体7は、液晶基板5の外周を包囲状として保持する第1部と、この第1部を基台8に対して水平状態としたり鉛直状態としたりする第2部とを備える。すなわち、第2部はその水平状の中心線廻りに回転でき、第1部は第2部に対してこの第1部の中心線廻りに回転できる。このため、図1に示すように、枠体7が水平状に配置された状態から、仮想線Aに示すように水平面に対して所定角度で傾斜する状態としたり、仮想線Bで示すように鉛直状態としたりすることができ、また、液晶基板5をその膜面が上方に向くようにしたり、その膜面が下方に向くようにしたりすることができる。   The frame body 7 includes a first part that holds the outer periphery of the liquid crystal substrate 5 in a surrounding shape, and a second part that makes the first part horizontal or vertical with respect to the base 8. That is, the second part can rotate about its horizontal centerline, and the first part can rotate about the centerline of this first part relative to the second part. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 1, the frame 7 is in a state of being inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the horizontal plane as shown by the imaginary line A, as shown by the imaginary line B, as shown by the imaginary line A. The liquid crystal substrate 5 can have its film surface facing upward, or its film surface can face downward.

反射用照明1は検査室6の天井17側に配置され、透過用照明2は反観察窓側に配置されている。反射用照明1と透過用照明2とは、それぞれ図2に示すようないわゆる面照明(面光源)が使用される。すなわち、各照明1、2は、照明用光源にLED(発光ダイオード)を使用したロッド形状の発光灯19を用いるものであって、ケーシング18と、このケーシング18内に収納されるロッド形状の複数の発光灯19・・とを備える。   The reflection illumination 1 is arranged on the ceiling 17 side of the examination room 6, and the transmission illumination 2 is arranged on the counter-observation window side. As the reflection illumination 1 and the transmission illumination 2, so-called surface illumination (surface light source) as shown in FIG. 2 is used. That is, each of the illuminations 1 and 2 uses a rod-shaped light-emitting lamp 19 that uses an LED (light-emitting diode) as an illumination light source, and includes a casing 18 and a plurality of rod-shaped lamps housed in the casing 18. Are provided.

発光灯19は、図3に示すように、LED基板20と、光軸調整光学系21と、これらを収納して拡散光学系を構成する外管(散乱管)22とを備える。外管22は例えば透明樹脂管やガラス管からなる。また、外管22の端面には口金部23、23が設けられ、この口金部23、23が、ケーシング18に設けられたソケット部に差し込まれる。すなわち、LED基板20に電流が供給されると、LED基板20が発光して後述するように検査光を照射することになる。この場合、発光灯19の外観形状は通常の蛍光管を同様であって、ケーシング18として、蛍光管を使用した際に使用したケーシングをあまり改良することなく用いることができる。そして、発光灯19は、LED基板20と、光軸調整光学系21と、外管(散乱管)22とを分離することができる。なお、LED基板20のLED材料としては、波長の異なる種々のものを使用することができる。材料を相違させることによって、発光灯19から照射される検査光の色を変更することができる。また、LED材料を相違させることによって、反射用照明1用と透過用照明2用とに使用することができる。さらに、各照明1、2において、照明用光源の色を色混合によって変化させることができる。この場合、複数の波長の異なるLED(発光色が異なるLED)を有する基板20の発光灯19を複数個用意して構成してもいいし、又は同じ波長のLED(発光色が同じLED)を有する基板20の発光灯19を複数種類(種類毎に発光色が相違する)用意して組み合わせても構成することができる。この際の各発光灯19の数は、照射する検査光等に応じて任意に設定することができる。   As shown in FIG. 3, the light-emitting lamp 19 includes an LED substrate 20, an optical axis adjustment optical system 21, and an outer tube (scattering tube) 22 that houses these and constitutes a diffusion optical system. The outer tube 22 is made of, for example, a transparent resin tube or a glass tube. In addition, base portions 23, 23 are provided on the end surface of the outer tube 22, and the base portions 23, 23 are inserted into socket portions provided in the casing 18. That is, when a current is supplied to the LED substrate 20, the LED substrate 20 emits light and irradiates inspection light as will be described later. In this case, the external shape of the light-emitting lamp 19 is the same as that of a normal fluorescent tube, and the casing used when the fluorescent tube is used can be used as the casing 18 without much improvement. The light-emitting lamp 19 can separate the LED substrate 20, the optical axis adjusting optical system 21, and the outer tube (scattering tube) 22. In addition, as LED material of the LED board 20, various things from which a wavelength differs can be used. By making the materials different, the color of the inspection light emitted from the light-emitting lamp 19 can be changed. Moreover, it can be used for the illumination for reflection 1 and the illumination for transmission 2 by making LED material different. Furthermore, in each illumination 1, 2, the color of the illumination light source can be changed by color mixing. In this case, a plurality of light-emitting lamps 19 on the substrate 20 having a plurality of LEDs having different wavelengths (LEDs having different emission colors) may be prepared, or LEDs having the same wavelength (LEDs having the same emission color) may be prepared. A plurality of types of light-emitting lamps 19 of the substrate 20 having the same (prepared light emission colors differ) may be prepared and combined. The number of each light-emitting lamp 19 in this case can be arbitrarily set according to the inspection light etc. to irradiate.

反射用照明1は検査室6の天井17に固定され、透過用照明2は基台25に支持されている。この基台25は、上記基台8と同様、ガイドレール10に沿って移動する基盤26と、この基盤26上を上記ガイドレール10を直交する方向に移動できる基部27と、この基部27から立設される支柱部28とを備える。また、支柱部13は上下方向に伸縮することができる。このため、透過用照明2を前後左右に移動させることができると共に、上下動させることができる。   The reflection illumination 1 is fixed to the ceiling 17 of the examination room 6, and the transmission illumination 2 is supported by the base 25. Similar to the base 8, the base 25 includes a base 26 that moves along the guide rail 10, a base 27 that can move on the base 26 in a direction orthogonal to the guide rail 10, and a base 27 that stands up from the base 27. And a support column 28 provided. Moreover, the support | pillar part 13 can be expanded-contracted to an up-down direction. For this reason, the transmission illumination 2 can be moved back and forth and left and right, and can be moved up and down.

次に、上記のように構成された液晶基板目視検査装置を使用した目視による液晶基板5の検査方法を説明する。まず、反射用照明1を使用した液晶基板5の検査を説明する。この場合、液晶基板5の膜面側が上方を向くように、支持構造体3に支持させ、この状態で、図1の仮想線Aのように、液晶基板5を水平面に対して所定角度で傾斜させた状態とする。このため、反射用照明1からの検査光にて液晶基板5の膜面が照明され、この液晶基板5の膜面を観察窓4を介して作業者Sが観察することができる。この際、支持構造体3を移動させることによって、液晶基板5を前後左右及び上下に移動させることができ、これによって、膜面全体に対する反射検査(膜面に発生した汚れや傷等の検査)を行うことができる。   Next, a method for visually inspecting the liquid crystal substrate 5 using the liquid crystal substrate visual inspection apparatus configured as described above will be described. First, the inspection of the liquid crystal substrate 5 using the reflection illumination 1 will be described. In this case, the liquid crystal substrate 5 is supported by the support structure 3 so that the film surface side faces upward, and in this state, the liquid crystal substrate 5 is inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the horizontal plane as indicated by an imaginary line A in FIG. Let the state be For this reason, the film surface of the liquid crystal substrate 5 is illuminated by the inspection light from the reflection illumination 1, and the operator S can observe the film surface of the liquid crystal substrate 5 through the observation window 4. At this time, the liquid crystal substrate 5 can be moved back and forth, right and left and up and down by moving the support structure 3, and thereby, reflection inspection (inspection of dirt and scratches generated on the film surface) on the entire film surface. It can be performed.

また、液晶基板5の膜面側が下方を向くように配置すれば、液晶基板5の裏面の観察が可能である。そして、この場合も、液晶基板5を前後左右及び上下に移動させることができる。このため、裏面全体に対する反射検査(裏面に発生した汚れや傷等の検査)を行うことができる。   Further, if the liquid crystal substrate 5 is disposed so that the film surface side faces downward, the back surface of the liquid crystal substrate 5 can be observed. In this case, the liquid crystal substrate 5 can be moved back and forth, right and left, and up and down. For this reason, it is possible to perform a reflection inspection (inspection of dirt, scratches, etc. generated on the back surface) on the entire back surface.

次に透過用照明2を使用した液晶基板5の検査を説明する。この際、図1の仮想線Cのように、支持構造体3を観察窓4側に前進させると共に、液晶基板5を鉛直状に配置する。また、液晶基板5の裏面が反観察窓側に向くように配置する。この状態で透過用照明2から検査光が照射されれば、この透過用照明2からの検査光が液晶基板5の裏面側から入光して、この液晶基板5を透過することになり、作業者Sは観察窓4を介して、透過光を観察することができる。この際、液晶基板5の膜面に汚れやごみ等が付着している欠陥があれば、この欠陥によって透過光が弱められ、この欠陥を把握することができる。すなわち、透過検査(裏面から光を入射させた透過光検査)を行うことができる。   Next, the inspection of the liquid crystal substrate 5 using the transmission illumination 2 will be described. At this time, as indicated by a virtual line C in FIG. 1, the support structure 3 is advanced to the observation window 4 side, and the liquid crystal substrate 5 is arranged vertically. Moreover, it arrange | positions so that the back surface of the liquid crystal substrate 5 may face the anti-observation window side. If the inspection light is irradiated from the transmission illumination 2 in this state, the inspection light from the transmission illumination 2 enters from the back side of the liquid crystal substrate 5 and is transmitted through the liquid crystal substrate 5. The person S can observe the transmitted light through the observation window 4. At this time, if there is a defect with dirt or dust adhering to the film surface of the liquid crystal substrate 5, the transmitted light is weakened by this defect, and this defect can be grasped. That is, a transmission inspection (a transmitted light inspection in which light is incident from the back surface) can be performed.

この場合も、支持構造体3を移動させることによって、液晶基板5を前後左右及び上下に移動させることができると共に、基台25を移動させることによって、透過用照明2を前後左右及び上下に移動させることができる。このため、透過用照明2による検査(観察)を液晶基板5の全体に対して行うことができる。なお、透過検査において、液晶基板5の裏面が観察窓4側に向くように配置して検査することも可能である。   Also in this case, the liquid crystal substrate 5 can be moved back and forth, right and left and up and down by moving the support structure 3, and the transmission illumination 2 can be moved back and forth, right and left and up and down by moving the base 25. Can be made. For this reason, the inspection (observation) using the transmission illumination 2 can be performed on the entire liquid crystal substrate 5. In the transmission inspection, the liquid crystal substrate 5 can be inspected by being arranged so that the back surface of the liquid crystal substrate 5 faces the observation window 4 side.

このように、膜面に対する反射検査にて、膜面に発生した突起不良、汚れ、傷等を検査することができ、裏面に対する反射検査にて、裏面に発生した汚れ、傷、ガラス欠け等を検査することができ、透過検査にて、ムラ(着色材の塗布ムラ等)、白抜け(着色層の欠落等)、汚れ、傷等を検査することができる。   In this way, it is possible to inspect for protrusion defects, dirt, scratches, etc. generated on the film surface by reflection inspection on the film surface, and for dirt, scratches, glass chips, etc. generated on the back surface by reflection inspection on the back surface. It is possible to inspect, and in the transmission inspection, it is possible to inspect for unevenness (coloring material application unevenness, etc.), white spots (colored layer loss, etc.), dirt, scratches, and the like.

ところで、上記実施の形態においては、透過用照明2に移動の操作は、観察窓4の近傍に設けられる照明操作バー30にて行えるようになっている。すなわち、基台25には移動手段が設けられ、操作バー30を操作することによって移動手段が作動して基台25は移動することになる。なお、移動手段としては、ネジ部材と、このネジ部材に螺合するナット部材と、ネジ部材又はナット部材を回転させる駆動機構等から構成できる。   By the way, in the said embodiment, operation of movement to the transmissive illumination 2 can be performed with the illumination operation bar 30 provided in the vicinity of the observation window 4. That is, the base 25 is provided with a moving means, and the operating means 30 is operated by operating the operation bar 30 to move the base 25. In addition, as a moving means, it can comprise from a screw member, the nut member screwed together in this screw member, the drive mechanism etc. which rotate a screw member or a nut member.

また、支持構造体3を使用して液晶基板5を上下前後左右に移動させる場合、予めその動きを制御手段(図示省略)に登録しておき、この登録した動きに基づいて基板5を移動させつつ観察するようにしても、基板操作バーを設け、この操作バーを作業者Sが操作することによって、液晶基板5を移動させつつ観察するようようにしてもよい。上記のように、液晶基板5を自動的に移動させる場合には、照明1、2のON・OFFもこの移動に追従させて自動的に行わせるようにしてもよい。   When the liquid crystal substrate 5 is moved up, down, front, back, left and right using the support structure 3, the movement is registered in advance in the control means (not shown), and the substrate 5 is moved based on the registered movement. Alternatively, the substrate operation bar may be provided, and the operator S may operate the operation bar so that the liquid crystal substrate 5 is moved for observation. As described above, when the liquid crystal substrate 5 is automatically moved, ON / OFF of the illuminations 1 and 2 may be automatically performed following the movement.

上記液晶基板目視検査装置では、照明用光源にLEDを使用したロッド形状の発光灯19を用いたので、ON・OFFの頻繁なスイッチング操作によってもこの照明用光源の寿命を縮めず、長期にわたって安定して使用することができる。具体的には、LED(発光ダイオード)を使用した発光灯19を用いれば、1個の発光灯19は長期(例えば6年程度)の寿命を持つことになって、照明としての寿命を大幅に延ばすことができる。これによって、使用できなくなって廃棄等すべきものとなる発光灯19が長期にわたって生じず、環境性能に優れた検査装置となる。これに対して、蛍光管(蛍光灯)を使用した場合、その寿命により、各照明において、年間50〜100本程度の蛍光管を必要とする。このため、使用できなくなって廃棄等すべきものとなる蛍光管が頻繁に発生して、環境性能に劣る検査装置となっていた。   In the liquid crystal substrate visual inspection apparatus, since the rod-shaped light-emitting lamp 19 using an LED as the illumination light source is used, the life of the illumination light source is not shortened even by frequent ON / OFF switching operations, and stable for a long time. Can be used. Specifically, if a light-emitting lamp 19 using LEDs (light-emitting diodes) is used, one light-emitting lamp 19 has a long life (for example, about 6 years), which greatly increases the life as lighting. Can be extended. As a result, the light-emitting lamp 19 that cannot be used and should be discarded is not generated over a long period of time, and the inspection apparatus is excellent in environmental performance. On the other hand, when a fluorescent tube (fluorescent lamp) is used, about 50 to 100 fluorescent tubes per year are required for each illumination due to its lifetime. For this reason, fluorescent tubes that can no longer be used and are to be disposed of frequently occur, resulting in an inspection apparatus with poor environmental performance.

また、上記液晶基板目視検査装置では、ロッド形状の発光灯19を使用するので、蛍光管を使用していた既存の装置の照明に対してあまり改良することなくこの発光灯19を簡単に装着することができる。このため、装置の簡略化及び組立性の容易化を図ることができる。さらに、透過光による観察と反射光による観察を行うことができるので、液晶基板5に対して種々の検査を行うことができ、製品検査の信頼性が向上する。また、発光灯19は、LED基板20と、光軸調整光学系21と、外管(散乱管)22とを分離することができるので、故障等した際にその不良となった部品を交換することによって、再度使用でき、また、廃棄等する場合においても、その不良となった部品のみを廃棄等すればよいので、一層環境性能に優れた検査装置となる。さらに、各照明1、2において、照明用光源にLEDを使用したので、色合い変更を簡単に行うことができ、工場管理上においても有効である。しかも、色合いを変えることによって、反射用照明1や透過用照明2からの検査光の色を種々変更することができ、特にLEDを使用したので、赤、青、緑の輝度を変えることで、白色から種々の色に調色して、色を連続して変化させることが可能であって、カラーフィルタの色に起因するむらを検出できるようになり、観察性能の向上を図ることができ、高精度の検査を行うことができる。   Moreover, since the rod-shaped light-emitting lamp 19 is used in the liquid crystal substrate visual inspection apparatus, the light-emitting lamp 19 is easily mounted without much improvement with respect to the illumination of the existing apparatus that uses the fluorescent tube. be able to. For this reason, simplification of the device and ease of assembly can be achieved. Furthermore, since observation with transmitted light and observation with reflected light can be performed, various inspections can be performed on the liquid crystal substrate 5 and the reliability of product inspection is improved. Moreover, since the light-emitting lamp 19 can isolate | separate the LED board 20, the optical-axis adjustment optical system 21, and the outer tube | pipe (scattering tube) 22, it replaces | exchanges the part which became the failure at the time of failure etc. Therefore, even when discarding or the like, only the defective part needs to be discarded, so that the inspection apparatus is further excellent in environmental performance. Furthermore, in each illumination 1, 2, since LED was used for the light source for illumination, a hue change can be performed easily and it is effective also in factory management. Moreover, by changing the hue, the color of the inspection light from the reflection illumination 1 and the transmission illumination 2 can be variously changed. Especially, since LEDs are used, by changing the brightness of red, blue, and green, It is possible to change the color continuously from white to various colors, and to detect unevenness due to the color of the color filter, and to improve the observation performance, High-precision inspection can be performed.

以上にこの発明の具体的な実施の形態について説明したが、この発明は上記形態に限定されるものではなく、この発明の範囲内で種々変更して実施することができる。例えば、各照明1、2に使用される発光灯19の数、配設ピッチ等は任意に変更することができる。また、欠陥を検出した場合に、液晶基板5上での欠陥位置を登録できるようにすることも可能である。このように、登録できれば、汚れ等の除去作業を正確に行うことができる。さらに、目視検査で発見した欠陥を顕微鏡等の観察手段にて拡大表示するようにしてもよい。このように拡大表示することによって、欠陥の位置や欠陥の種類を正確に確認することができる利点がある。また、上記実施の形態では、反射用照明1及び透過用照明2の各光源にLEDを使用したロッド形状の発光灯19を用いたが、どちらか一方のみを他の光源を使用したものを用いるものであってもよい。さらに、液晶基板5を支持する支持構造体3としては、反射用照明1及び透過用照明2からの検査光が液晶基板5へ照射(入光)される際に支障をきたさず、また液晶基板5の位置及び姿勢が作業者Sによって観察可能なように変更できるものであればよい。   Although specific embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the present invention. For example, the number of light-emitting lamps 19 used for each of the lights 1 and 2 and the arrangement pitch can be arbitrarily changed. In addition, when a defect is detected, the defect position on the liquid crystal substrate 5 can be registered. Thus, if it can register, the removal operation | work of dirt etc. can be performed correctly. Furthermore, the defect found by visual inspection may be enlarged and displayed by an observation means such as a microscope. By enlarging and displaying in this way, there is an advantage that the position of the defect and the type of the defect can be confirmed accurately. Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the rod-shaped light-emitting lamp 19 which uses LED for each light source of the reflection illumination 1 and the transmission illumination 2 was used, what used the other light source for only one of them is used. It may be a thing. Furthermore, the support structure 3 that supports the liquid crystal substrate 5 does not cause any trouble when the inspection light from the reflection illumination 1 and the transmission illumination 2 is irradiated (incident) on the liquid crystal substrate 5. 5 may be changed so that the position and orientation of 5 can be observed by the operator S.

この発明の液晶基板目視検査装置の実施形態を示す全体簡略図である。1 is an overall simplified view showing an embodiment of a liquid crystal substrate visual inspection apparatus of the present invention. 上記液晶基板目視検査装置の照明を示し、(a)は側面図であり、(b)は正面図である。The illumination of the said liquid crystal substrate visual inspection apparatus is shown, (a) is a side view, (b) is a front view. 上記液晶基板目視検査装置の発光灯の拡大斜視図である。It is an expansion perspective view of the light-emitting lamp of the said liquid crystal substrate visual inspection apparatus. 透過用照明を使用した観察状態図である。It is an observation state figure using the illumination for transmission. 反射用照明を使用した観察状態図である。It is an observation state figure which uses the illumination for reflection.

符号の説明Explanation of symbols

1・・反射用照明、2・・透過用照明、5・・液晶基板、19・・発光灯、20・・LED基板   1 .... Reflection illumination, 2 .... Transmission illumination, 5 .... Liquid crystal substrate, 19 .... Luminescent lamp, 20 .... LED substrate

Claims (5)

液晶基板(5)の製造における製膜工程後の目視検査を行う液晶基板検査装置であって、照明用光源にLEDを使用したロッド形状の発光灯(19)を用いることを特徴とする液晶基板検査装置。   A liquid crystal substrate inspection apparatus for performing a visual inspection after a film forming process in the production of a liquid crystal substrate (5), wherein a rod-shaped light emitting lamp (19) using LEDs is used as an illumination light source. Inspection device. 上記照明用光源の色を色混合によって変化させることを特徴とする請求項1の液晶基板検査装置。   2. The liquid crystal substrate inspection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the color of the illumination light source is changed by color mixing. 発光色が異なるLED基板(20)の発光灯(19)を複数個備え、この複数の発光灯(19)の組み合わせによる上記照明用光源の色の変化を可能にしたことを特徴とする請求項2の液晶基板検査装置。   A plurality of light-emitting lamps (19) of LED substrates (20) having different emission colors are provided, and the color of the illumination light source can be changed by a combination of the plurality of light-emitting lamps (19). 2. Liquid crystal substrate inspection apparatus. 発光色が同じLED基板(20)の発光灯(19)を複数種類備えると共に、発光灯(19)の種類毎にLED基板(20)の発光色を異ならせ、この複数種類の組み合わせによる上記照明用光源の色の変化を可能にしたことを特徴とする請求項2の液晶基板検査装置。   A plurality of kinds of light emitting lamps (19) of the LED board (20) having the same emission color are provided, and the light emission color of the LED board (20) is made different for each kind of the light emitting lamp (19), and the illumination by the combination of the plurality of kinds is provided. 3. The liquid crystal substrate inspection apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the color of the light source for use is changeable. 反射用照明(1)と透過用照明(2)とを備え、上記ロッド形状の発光灯(19)をこれらの照明に用いることを特徴とする請求項1〜請求項4のいずれかの液晶基板検査装置。
The liquid crystal substrate according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said liquid crystal substrate is provided with reflection illumination (1) and transmission illumination (2), and said rod-shaped light-emitting lamp (19) is used for these illuminations. Inspection device.
JP2005019716A 2005-01-27 2005-01-27 System for visually inspecting liquid crystal substrate Pending JP2006208150A (en)

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Cited By (4)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
KR100783618B1 (en) 2006-10-31 2007-12-07 (주)오엘케이 Apparatus for inspecting flat display panel
JP2009042010A (en) * 2007-08-08 2009-02-26 Daifuku Co Ltd Plate member inspection equipment
JP2010256113A (en) * 2009-04-23 2010-11-11 Toppan Printing Co Ltd Method and device for visually inspecting color filter
JP2020180936A (en) * 2019-04-26 2020-11-05 トヨタ紡織株式会社 Inspection device

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JPS6230386A (en) * 1985-07-31 1987-02-09 Stanley Electric Co Ltd Multicolor display led lamp
JPH0712742A (en) * 1993-06-25 1995-01-17 Toshiba Corp Color filter fault detecting device
JPH07270339A (en) * 1994-03-31 1995-10-20 Dainippon Printing Co Ltd Apparatus for inspection of color filter
JPH10332600A (en) * 1997-06-03 1998-12-18 Dainippon Printing Co Ltd Inspecting base for large substrate
JPH11326120A (en) * 1998-05-19 1999-11-26 Sharp Corp Lighting jig for inspecting reflective liquid crystal display panel and inspecting device
JP2001351402A (en) * 2000-06-06 2001-12-21 Hiroshi Noji Fluorescent lamp type led lighting device
JP2002267620A (en) * 2001-03-09 2002-09-18 Hitachi Kokusai Electric Inc Apparatus for visually examining plate-shaped object
JP2003132708A (en) * 2001-10-25 2003-05-09 Tanabe Take Shoten:Kk Led illumination device
JP2003294578A (en) * 2002-03-29 2003-10-15 Dainippon Screen Mfg Co Ltd Color filter inspection device
JP2004226212A (en) * 2003-01-22 2004-08-12 Nippon Sheet Glass Co Ltd Method and device for detecting pinhole defect and contamination defect on transparent object

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* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
KR100783618B1 (en) 2006-10-31 2007-12-07 (주)오엘케이 Apparatus for inspecting flat display panel
JP2009042010A (en) * 2007-08-08 2009-02-26 Daifuku Co Ltd Plate member inspection equipment
JP2010256113A (en) * 2009-04-23 2010-11-11 Toppan Printing Co Ltd Method and device for visually inspecting color filter
JP2020180936A (en) * 2019-04-26 2020-11-05 トヨタ紡織株式会社 Inspection device
JP7143810B2 (en) 2019-04-26 2022-09-29 トヨタ紡織株式会社 inspection equipment

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