JP3413164B2 - Method and apparatus for manufacturing color filter, method for manufacturing liquid crystal display, and method for manufacturing apparatus equipped with liquid crystal display - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for manufacturing a color filter manufactured by arranging a plurality of colored filter elements side by side on a light-transmissive substrate, a color filter and a liquid crystal display device. The present invention relates to a device including this liquid crystal display device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, pigment dispersion methods, electrodeposition methods, printing methods and the like have been tried as methods for producing color filters used in liquid crystal displays. Further, in recent years, in place of these methods, a method of manufacturing a color filter using an inkjet recording technique has been proposed.

[0003]

However, the pigment dispersion method, the electrodeposition method, the printing method and the like in the above-mentioned conventional examples require many manufacturing steps and inevitably increase the cost. Therefore, a manufacturing method using an inkjet recording technique, which requires less manufacturing steps than such a manufacturing method, is drawing attention. An apparatus for manufacturing a color filter by this ink jet method can be realized relatively easily if it uses a head having one ink ejection nozzle. However, a device with a single nozzle requires a considerable amount of time to color the filter, which is not practical.
Therefore, in order to reduce the time required for coloring, a configuration having a plurality of ink ejection nozzles has been considered, but if the manufacturing error between the plurality of ink ejection nozzles is large, the ink landing positions will vary, and However, it is difficult to manufacture a good color filter.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to achieve a high-accuracy coloring accuracy even when an inkjet head having a plurality of ejection nozzles is used. A filter manufacturing method and a manufacturing apparatus are provided.

[0005]

In order to solve the above problems and achieve the object, a method for manufacturing a color filter according to the present invention is an ink jet printer having a plurality of ink discharge nozzles.
Multiple inkjet heads and multiple inkjets
Do not scan the head relative to the transparent substrate
Ink is ejected from the ink ejection nozzle to
A plurality of filter elements colored with the ink on the plate.
To produce a color filter
A method for determining the plurality of inkjet heads
While relatively scanning with respect to the coloring member of
First ejection of the ink in a first pattern onto a color member
And the first discharge step.
A first detection step of detecting the landing position of the ink,
The ink landing position detected in the first detection step and
Compare with the first pattern, different ink jet
Two inks ejected from the ink ejection nozzles of the head
The distance between the landing positions of the marks is the direction orthogonal to the scanning direction.
To match the spacing of the filter elements in
The plurality of ins in a direction orthogonal to the scanning direction.
Position adjustment process for adjusting the relative position of the jet head
A second discharging step of discharging the ink in a second pattern onto the coloring member while scanning the inkjet head relative to a predetermined coloring member; and a second discharging step. a second detection step of detecting a landing position of the ink ejected, and the range shift amount is given an ideal landing position of the ink and the landing position of the ink detected by said second detection step So that the ejection timing of the ink from the inkjet head is adjusted , and the position adjusting step.
And a forming step of forming a plurality of filter elements by ejecting the ink from the plurality of inkjet heads onto the substrate at the relative position adjusted by the above and the ejection timing adjusted in the ejection timing adjusting step. Is characterized by.

Further, in the color filter manufacturing method according to the present invention, in the ejection timing adjusting step,
It is characterized in that the ejection timing of ink from the inkjet head is adjusted so that the deviation amount in the scanning direction falls within a predetermined range.

[0007]

In the color filter manufacturing method according to the present invention, in the second discharging step, the ink is discharged from only the ink discharging openings used for coloring among the plurality of ink discharging openings of the ink jet head. It has a feature.

Further, in the method for manufacturing a color filter according to the present invention, in the second ejection step, ink is ejected from all the ink ejection openings of the plurality of ink ejection openings of the ink jet head. There is.

[0010]

In the method of manufacturing a color filter according to the present invention, the plurality of inkjet heads are inkjet heads for ejecting red ink, inkjet heads for ejecting blue ink, and green ink. It is characterized in that it includes an inkjet head for

In the color filter manufacturing method according to the present invention, the ink jet head is a head for ejecting ink by utilizing thermal energy,
It is characterized in that it is provided with a thermal energy converter for generating thermal energy given to the ink.

The color filter manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention is an ink jet printer having a plurality of ink discharge nozzles.
Using multiple print heads,
While scanning the lid relative to the transparent substrate
The substrate is ejected by ejecting ink from the ink ejection nozzle.
A plurality of filter elements colored with the ink above
Device for producing a color filter by forming
The plurality of inkjet heads in a predetermined
While scanning relative to the coloring member, the plurality of
From the inkjet head of
Control to discharge ink in the first pattern.
By the ejection control means and the plurality of inkjet heads,
For detecting the landing position of the ejected ink
1 detection means and the first detection means
Compare the landing position of the ink and the first pattern
Ink ejection nozzles of different inkjet heads
The distance between the landing positions of the two inks ejected from
Of the filter element in the direction orthogonal to the scanning direction
A direction orthogonal to the scanning direction so as to match the interval
The relative positions of the plurality of inkjet heads in
And position adjusting means for adjusting, said while the ink jet head is relatively scanned with respect to a predetermined coloring member, a second for out-discharge <br/> the ink to the coloring member in a second pattern and ejection control means, and second detection means for detecting a landing position of the ink ejected by the second ejection control means, and the landing position of the ink detected by the second detecting means The ejection timing adjusting unit for adjusting the ejection timing of the ink from the inkjet head and the position adjusting unit so that the deviation amount from the ideal landing position of the ink is within a predetermined range.
It ejected at ejection timing adjusted by the ejection timing adjusting means and more adjusted relative position from said plurality of Inkuji <br/> Ettoheddo the ink on the substrate, forming means for forming a plurality of filter elements When,
It is characterized by having.

In the color filter manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention, the ejection timing adjusting means sets the ejection timing of the ink from the ink jet head so that the deviation amount in the scanning direction is within a predetermined range. It is characterized by adjusting.

[0015]

In the color filter manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention, the second ejection control means ejects ink only from the ink ejection openings used for coloring among the plurality of ink ejection openings of the ink jet head. Is characterized by.

In the color filter manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention, the second ejection control means ejects ink from all of the plurality of ink ejection openings of the ink jet head. I am trying.

[0018]

Further, in the color filter manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention, the plurality of inkjet heads are inkjet heads for ejecting red ink, inkjet heads for ejecting blue ink, and green ink. It is characterized in that it includes an inkjet head for

In the color filter manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention, the ink jet head is a head for ejecting ink by utilizing thermal energy,
It is characterized in that it is provided with a thermal energy converter for generating thermal energy given to the ink.

Further, in the method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device according to the present invention, a liquid crystal display device using a color filter manufactured by ejecting ink from a plurality of ink ejection ports of an ink jet head toward a substrate is produced. A method, comprising the steps of manufacturing a color filter by the above manufacturing method, and enclosing a liquid crystal compound between the substrate facing the color filter and the manufactured color filter. .

Further, a method of manufacturing a device provided with a liquid crystal display device according to the present invention is a liquid crystal display using a color filter manufactured by ejecting ink from a plurality of ink ejection ports of an ink jet head toward a substrate. A method for manufacturing a device including a device, comprising the steps of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device by the above manufacturing method, and an image signal output means for outputting an image signal to the liquid crystal display device, the manufactured liquid crystal display device. And a step of equipping the apparatus.

Since the present invention is constructed as described above,
Even if the positions of the multiple ejection openings of the inkjet head vary, by adjusting the ejection timing of the coloring agent from each ejection opening, it is possible to eject the coloring agent to an accurate position on the substrate. An accurate color filter can be manufactured.

Further, even if the positions of the plurality of ejection ports of the ink jet head are varied, each ejection port can be brought to an accurate position by adjusting the posture of the ink jet head, and the colorant is applied to the substrate. It can be discharged to the exact position above.

[0025]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

First, FIG. 1 is a partially enlarged view of a color filter manufactured by the manufacturing method and manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention.

The color filter 10 is mounted on the front surface of a color liquid crystal display or the like used in a portable personal computer or the like.
As shown in (a) and (b), R (red), G (green), B
The filter elements 10a colored in (blue) are arranged two-dimensionally, for example, in a grid pattern. The filter element 10a shown in FIG.
Are arranged in a simple grid pattern, and the one shown in FIG. 1B is an example in which the filter elements 10a are arranged in a staggered grid pattern. Between each filter element 10a,
A light-shielding grid 10b is formed in order to clarify the boundaries between the respective filter elements 10a and to make the screen clear.

FIG. 2 shows the color filter 10 shown in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of FIG. 1, showing a state in which a light-shielding grid 10b is formed on a glass substrate 12 that constitutes the main body of the color filter 10, and a filter element 10a of each color is formed thereon.

In manufacturing the color filter 10, chromium is deposited on the glass substrate 12 by sputtering, and a grid pattern is formed by photolithography. This becomes the light-shielding grating 10b. next,
A liquid-absorbent layer 14 made of cellulose, acrylic resin, gelatin or the like is formed on the light-shielding grid 10b.
A droplet containing a colorant (dye) (hereinafter referred to as ink) is sprayed onto the filter element forming region of the layer to be dyed 14 by an inkjet recording head. As a result, the layer to be dyed 14 is colored to form the color filter element 10a. It is possible to use pigments other than dyes, and it is also possible to use ultraviolet curable inks. In addition, when the pigment or the ultraviolet curable ink is used, the dyed layer 14 may not be necessary.

Further, a protective layer is formed if necessary.
As the protective layer, a photocurable type, a thermosetting type or a photothermal combined type resin material, an inorganic film formed by vapor deposition, sputtering or the like can be used, and it has transparency when used as a color filter. ITO (Indium
Any material can be used as long as it can withstand the Tin Oxide) forming process, the alignment film forming process, and the like.

A color liquid crystal panel is generally formed by combining the color filter substrate 12 and the counter substrate 54 and enclosing the liquid crystal compound 52. Inside the one substrate 54 of the liquid crystal panel, a TFT (Thin Film Trans
istor) (not shown) and transparent pixel electrodes 53 are formed in a matrix. Further, inside the other substrate 12, a color filter 10 is installed so that RGB color materials are arranged at positions facing the pixel electrodes, and a transparent counter electrode (common electrode) 50 is formed on one surface of the color filter 10. To be done. The light-shielding grid 10b is usually formed on the color filter substrate 12 side (see FIG. 14), but is formed on the opposing TFT substrate side in a BM (black matrix) on-array type liquid crystal panel (see FIG. 15). Further, an alignment film 51 is formed in the plane of both substrates, and by rubbing the alignment film 51, liquid crystal molecules can be aligned in a certain direction. A polarizing plate 55 is adhered to the outside of each glass substrate, and the liquid crystal compound 52 is filled in the gap (about 2 to 5 μm) between these glass substrates. In addition, a combination of a fluorescent lamp (not shown) and a scattering plate (not shown) is generally used as the backlight, and the liquid crystal compound is displayed by functioning as an optical shutter that changes the transmittance of the backlight. I do.

An example in which such a liquid crystal panel is applied to an information processing apparatus will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration when the above liquid crystal panel is applied to an information processing apparatus having a function as a word processor, a personal computer, a facsimile apparatus, a copying apparatus.

In the figure, reference numeral 1801 denotes a control unit for controlling the entire apparatus, which includes a CPU such as a microprocessor and various I / Os.
It has a port and outputs control signals, data signals, etc. to each section, and controls by inputting control signals and data signals from each section. A display unit 1802 displays various menus, document information, image data read by the image reader 1807, and the like on this display screen. A transparent pressure-sensitive touch panel 1803 is provided on the display unit 1802. By pressing the surface of the touch panel 1803 with a finger or the like, items or coordinate positions can be input on the display unit 1802.

1804 is an FM (Frequency M)
The audio source section stores the music information created by a music editor or the like in the memory section 1810 or the external storage device 18
The data is stored as digital data in 12, and is read from the memory or the like to perform FM modulation. FM
The electric signal from the sound source unit 1804 is converted into an audible sound by the speaker unit 1805. The printer unit 1806 is used as an output terminal of a word processor, a personal computer, a facsimile machine, and a copying machine.

An image reader unit 1807 photoelectrically reads the original data and inputs the data. The image reader unit 1807 is provided in the original conveying path and reads various originals such as facsimile originals and copy originals.

Reference numeral 1808 denotes a facsimile (F) which transmits the original data read by the image reader unit 1807 by facsimile and receives and decodes the transmitted facsimile signal.
AX) transmitting / receiving unit, and has an interface function with the outside. Reference numeral 1809 denotes a telephone unit having various telephone functions such as a normal telephone function and an answering machine function.

Reference numeral 1810 denotes a ROM for storing a system program, a manager program, other application programs, etc., a character font, a dictionary, etc.
The memory unit includes an application program loaded from the external storage device 1812, document information, and a video RAM.

Reference numeral 1811 denotes a keyboard unit for inputting document information and various commands.

Reference numeral 1812 denotes an external storage device having a floppy (registered trademark) disk, a hard disk or the like as a storage medium. The external storage device 1812 stores document information, music or voice information, a user application program and the like.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of the information processing apparatus shown in FIG.

In the figure, reference numeral 1901 denotes a flat panel display using the above liquid crystal panel, which displays various menus, graphic information, document information and the like. By pressing the surface of the touch panel 1803 on the display 1901 with a finger or the like, coordinate input or item designation input can be performed. 1902 is a handset used when the device functions as a telephone. Keyboard 19
Reference numeral 03 is detachably connected to the main body via a cord, and various document functions and various data can be input. The keyboard 1903 has various function keys 1
904 and the like are provided. 1905 is the external storage device 1
812 is an insertion port of a floppy disk.

Reference numeral 1906 denotes a paper placing portion on which an original read by the image reader portion 1807 is placed, and the read original is discharged from the rear portion of the apparatus. When receiving a facsimile or the like, the image is printed by the inkjet printer 1907.

When the information processing apparatus functions as a personal computer or a word processor, various information input from the keyboard section 1811 is processed by the control section 1801 according to a predetermined program, and the printer section 1 is processed.
It is output to 806 as an image.

When functioning as a receiver of a facsimile apparatus, the facsimile information input from the FAX transmission / reception unit 1808 via the communication line is received and processed by the control unit 1801 according to a predetermined program, and the printer unit 1806.
Is output as a received image.

In the case of functioning as a copying machine, a document is read by the image reader unit 1807, and the read document data is transferred to the printer unit 18 via the control unit 1801.
It is output as a copied image in 06. In addition, when functioning as a receiver of a facsimile apparatus, the image reader unit 1
The document data read by 807 is the control unit 180.
After the transmission processing according to the predetermined program by 1,
It is transmitted to the communication line via the FAX transmission / reception unit 1808.

The information processing apparatus described above may be an integrated type in which an ink jet printer is built in the main body as shown in FIG. 7, and in this case, it becomes possible to enhance portability. In the figure, parts having the same functions as those in FIG. 6 are designated by the corresponding reference numerals.

Next, FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the structure of a color filter manufacturing apparatus according to an embodiment.

In FIG. 8, 201 is a host computer that controls the entire system, 202 is a control unit of the stage 209, 203 is a control unit of the inkjet head 208 that performs coloring, and 204 is an image that processes the image signal from the sensor 207. A processing unit, 205 is a control unit of the inkjet head 206 for performing restoration, 207 is a sensor that detects the presence or absence of ejection of the inkjet head 208, and 201.
Reference numeral a denotes a posture adjustment mechanism control unit that controls the postures of the inkjet head 208 for coloring and the inkjet head 206 for restoration, and 209 denotes a stage. Of the inkjet heads 206 and 208, the inkjet head 208 is a coloring head for coloring as described above, and 206 is a repair head for discharging and repairing a coloring agent when the coloring head 208 has a coloring error. is there. The coloring head 208, the sensor 207, and the restoration head 206 form a head unit 210.

FIG. 9 shows the coloring head 208 and the repair head 2.
It is the figure which represented typically the positional relationship of 06, the sensor 207, and the stage 209. In FIG. 9, reference numeral 12 denotes a glass substrate which is an object to be colored, and the dyed layer 14 as described above is previously formed on the surface thereof. The stage 209 is configured so that the glass substrate 12 can be moved in the X and Y directions and rotated in the θ direction in the figure. 215 is the ejected ink, which is Z in the figure.
It is ejected in the direction. Further, 202a is a posture adjusting mechanism capable of adjusting the posture of the coloring head 208 in the X, Y, Z, and θ directions in the figure, and 202b is the restoration head 20.
6 is an attitude adjusting mechanism capable of adjusting the attitude in the X, Y, Z, and θ directions in the drawing. Posture adjustment mechanism 202a, 20
2b constitutes the X, Y, Z and θ axes by combining moving mechanisms such as a linear movement stage and a rotary stage. Also,
The moving mechanism of each axis may be configured to be manually moved, or a driving source such as a motor may be attached and moved.

Here, the coloring head 208, the sensor 207,
The relative movement relationship between the repair head 206 and the substrate 12 is in the X and Y directions in the figure, and the coloring head 208, the sensor 207, and the repair head 206 are stationary, and the stage 209.
May move in the X and Y directions, but conversely, the stage 20
9 is stationary, the coloring head 208, the sensor 20
7. The repair head 206 may move in the X and Y directions.
The coloring head 208 and the repair head 206 have a plurality of ink ejection ports arranged in a straight line.

Next, FIG. 10 shows the coloring head 20 described above.
8 is a view showing the structure of a monochrome ink jet head IJH forming the repair head 206 and the repair head 206. Coloring head 20
8 and the restoration head 206 are the monochrome inkjet heads IJH, for example, R (red), G (green), B (blue).
One for each of the three colors, that is, one inkjet head IJH for one coloring head 2
08 or repair head 206 is configured.

In FIG. 10, the ink jet head I
The JH is roughly composed of a heater board 104 which is a substrate on which a plurality of heaters 102 for heating ink are formed, and a top plate 106 which is placed on the heater board 104. The top plate 106 has a plurality of discharge ports 10.
8 is formed, and behind the discharge port 108, a tunnel-shaped liquid path 110 communicating with the discharge port 108 is formed. Each liquid passage 110 is isolated from an adjacent liquid passage by a partition wall 112. Each of the liquid passages 110 is commonly connected to one ink liquid chamber 114 at the rear of the liquid passage 110, and the ink is supplied to the ink liquid chamber 114 through the ink supply port 116. It is supplied to each liquid passage 110.

The heater board 104 and the top plate 106 are
The heaters 102 are aligned so that they come to the positions corresponding to the respective liquid paths 110, and the state is assembled as shown in FIG. Although only two heaters 102 are shown in FIG. 10, one heater 102 is arranged corresponding to each liquid passage 110. Then, when a predetermined driving pulse is supplied to the heater 102 in the assembled state as shown in FIG. 10, the ink on the heater 102 boils to form bubbles, and the ink expands by the volume expansion of the bubbles.
It is pushed out from 08 and discharged. Therefore, the heater 10
It is possible to adjust the size of the bubble by controlling the drive pulse applied to No. 2, for example, controlling the magnitude of electric power, and it is possible to freely control the volume of ink ejected from the ejection port.

FIG. 11 shows a coloring or repair head,
FIG. 11A is a diagram showing a positional relationship of light-transmitting portions (filter elements) formed on the glass substrate 12 to be colored, and FIG. 11A shows a space between ejection ports of ink used for coloring, FIG. 3B shows the case where the intervals of the light transmissive portions formed on the glass substrate 12 are equal, and FIG. 3B shows the intervals between the ejection ports of the ink used for coloring and the light transmissivity formed on the glass substrate 12. The case where the distance between the parts is different is shown. In FIG. 11A, 208 is a coloring head, 21
Reference numeral 7 is an ink ejection port, 10a is a filter element (light-transmissive portion) formed on the glass substrate 12, and 219 is the ink ejected from the ink ejection port 217. In this case, the pitch L of the ink ejection ports 217
And the pitch W1 of the filter element 10a is equal, the positional relationship between the glass substrate 12 and the coloring head 208 in the rotation direction has an inclination of zero degrees as shown in the figure. on the other hand,
As shown in FIG. 11B, when the pitch L of the ink ejection ports 217 and the pitch W2 of the filter element 10a are different, the relative positional relationship between the coloring head 208 and the glass substrate 12 is W2 / L = cos θ. It suffices to adjust by tilting to the angle θ, and coloring is possible regardless of the pitch of the filter elements 10a formed on the glass substrate 12.

Next, the coloring method when the positional relationship between the coloring head and the glass substrate is set to a predetermined angle will be described.

In FIG. 12A, reference numeral 227 indicates a relative movement direction between the coloring head 208 and the glass substrate 12, which is moved at a speed S. Coloring head 2
The positional relationship between 08 and the glass substrate 12 is set to an angle θ. At this time, the distance between the plurality of ink ejection ports used for coloring in the horizontal direction in the drawing is H1. The interval between the adjacent filter elements 10a formed in the relative movement direction 227 is H2. The ejection timing of each ink ejection port in this case is shown in FIG. The first ink ejection port starts ejection at timing t1, the second ink ejection port starts ejection at timing t2, and the third ink ejection port starts ejection at timing t3. . The relationship between t1, t2, and t3 is that the relative movement speed S and the horizontal interval H1 of the ink ejection ports are
Will be decided at. That is, (t2-t1) = H1 / S (t3-t2) = H1 / S. Further, the ejection timing t to the filter element 10a adjacent in the relative movement direction by the same ink ejection port is determined by t = H2 / S. In this way, the filter element 10a
Even when the pitch is arbitrary, the color filter can be manufactured by controlling the ink ejection timing without using a coloring head having a specific ink ejection port interval. In FIG. 12, one coloring head has been described as an example, but it is obvious that this can be realized even when a plurality of coloring heads are used.

Next, the case where a plurality of coloring heads are used will be described. In FIG. 13, a plurality of coloring heads are
An example in the case of (red), G (green), and B (blue) colored heads is shown.

In FIG. 13A, a coloring head 208 has a plurality of ink jet heads IJH for ejecting R, G and B inks. 21
Reference numeral 7 denotes an ink ejection port, in which R, G, and B inks are repeatedly colored in a direction perpendicular to the relative movement direction 227, and adjacent to each other in the relative movement direction 227.
The ink of the same color is colored in a. Two
Reference numeral 27 indicates a relative movement direction between the coloring head 208 and the glass substrate 12, which is moved at a speed S. The positional relationship between the coloring head 208 and the glass substrate 12 is set to an angle θ. At this time, the distances between the ink ejection ports of the plurality of coloring heads 208 used for coloring are Wrg and Wgb in the horizontal direction in the drawing. Reference numeral 207 denotes a sensor disposed behind the plurality of inkjet heads IJH, which is composed of, for example, an image sensor such as a line sensor. The ejection timing of each ink ejection port in this case is shown in FIG.
It shows in (b). The first ink ejection port of the coloring head that ejects R ink starts ejection at the timing RT1, the second ink ejection port starts ejection at the timing RT2, and the third ink ejection port starts Time RT
The ejection is started at the timing of 3. The first ink ejection port of the coloring head that ejects G ink starts ejection at the timing GT1, the second ink ejection port starts ejection at the timing GT2, and the third ink ejection port starts The ejection is started at the timing of time GT3.

The first ink ejection port of the coloring head for ejecting B ink starts ejection at the timing of time BT1, the second ink ejection port starts ejection at the timing of time BT2, and the third ink ejection port. The discharge port is at time BT3
The discharge is started at the timing. RT1, GT1, B
The relationship of T1 is determined by the relative movement speed S and the horizontal intervals Wrg, Wgb of the ink ejection ports of the R, G, B color heads. That is, (GT1-RT1) = Wrg / S (BT1-GT1) = Wgb / S. In addition, the ejection timing of the same ink ejection port to the adjacent filter element 10a in the relative movement direction is the same as that described with reference to FIG. The ejection timing of each ink ejection port in the same inkjet head is also the same as that described with reference to FIG. Here, as an example of the plurality of ink jet heads, an example of colored heads of three colors of R, G, and B has been described, but the present invention is not limited to these three colors. In addition, a plurality of coloring heads may be composed of the same color ink.

Next, an adjusting method for matching the distance between the ink ejection openings of the plurality of coloring heads and the distance between the light transmitting portions will be described.

FIG. 14 shows an example of a pattern for ejecting a colorant on a trial basis during adjustment, and is an example of a pattern when a plurality of inkjet heads are composed of R, G, B inkjet heads. . 233 is a dot ejected by the R inkjet head and is landed on the glass substrate 12, 234 is a dot ejected by the G inkjet head and is landed on the glass substrate 12, 2
Reference numeral 35 denotes dots ejected by the B inkjet head and landed on the glass substrate 12, and the rows in the vertical direction in the drawing are dots of the same color colored by the ink ejection ports in the same inkjet head. Pr is the dot spacing of the colored R ink, Pg is the dot spacing of the colored G ink, Pb is the dot spacing of the colored B ink, and Prg is the dot spacing of the R ink and the G ink. The dot spacing, Pgb is the G ink dot and B
Of the ink dots of Pr, Pg, P
b, Prg, Pgb are measured, and the filter element 10
The inkjet head is adjusted so that it becomes equal to the distance a.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing the structure of an image processing unit for measuring the landing positions of dots by using the pattern as shown in FIG. 14, and FIG. 16 is a flow chart of the adjustment.

In FIG. 15, reference numeral 236 is a CPU for controlling the image processing section, which is connected to the host CPU.
Reference numeral 207 denotes a sensor including an image sensor, such as a line sensor, which can input the landed dots as image data.
7 is A / D for the image data taken by the sensor 207.
An image input unit 238 that performs conversion or correction of sensitivity unevenness of the line sensor, unevenness of an illumination system (not shown), and the like. A non-ejection detecting unit 238 that detects whether or not the inkjet head ejects the image. An image storage unit that stores the image data from the unit 237, a cutout processing unit 240 that separates and determines the landed dots, and a center of gravity calculation processing unit 241 that calculates the center of gravity position of the individually separated and determined dots.
Image input unit 237, ejection failure detection unit 238, image storage unit 2
39, cutout processing unit 240, center of gravity calculation processing unit 241
Are the system bus 242 and the local bus 243, respectively.
Connected by. In addition, the non-ejection detecting unit 238
Is a coloring head control unit 203 and a restoration head control unit 205.
It is connected to the. Here, the sensor 207 is shown in FIG.
As shown in (a), it is arranged immediately after the coloring head 208 to read the landed dots at the same time as the ejection of the adjustment pattern shown in FIG. 14, but even if it is arranged at another position. good. When it is arranged in another position,
After ejecting the adjustment pattern shown in, the stage 209 may be moved again at a constant speed to read the colored pattern.

Next, the adjusting operation will be specifically described with reference to FIG. FIG. 16 is a flowchart describing the operation of detecting the landing position and adjusting the inkjet head from that position. In step S1, the adjustment pattern as shown in FIG. 14 is ejected, and in step S2, it is read by the sensor 207 arranged immediately after the coloring head 208. In step S3, the read image data is stored in the image storage unit 239 while the dots landed by the cutout processing unit 240 are individually determined. For the dots individually separated and determined in step S3, the gravity center position of each dot is calculated by the gravity center calculation processing unit 41 in step S4. From the barycentric position of each dot obtained in step S4, in step S5, the R pitch Pr, the G pitch Pg, and the B pitch Pb in FIG. 146 are obtained. Also, step S
6, Prg, which is the interval between the R ink dot and the G ink dot in FIG. 14, and the G ink dot and the B ink dot.
Pgb, which is the interval between the dots of the above ink, is calculated. Next, in step S7, the R pitch Pr, the G pitch Pg, and the B pitch Pb obtained in step S5 are R of the filter element 10a formed on the glass substrate 12 to be colored, It is determined whether or not the interval between G and B is equal. If they are not equal, the θ movement mechanism of the coloring head 208 shown in FIG. 9 is adjusted in step S10, and then the operations of steps S1 to S7 are performed again. If they are equal, in step S8, Prg which is the interval between the R ink dot and the G ink dot, which is obtained in step S6, and the G ink dot and B dot.
It is determined whether Pgb, which is the distance between the ink dots, is equal to the distance between R and G, or the distance between G and B of the filter element 10a. If not equal, step S9
After adjusting the Y moving mechanism of the coloring head 208 shown in FIG. 9, the operations from step S1 to step S7 are performed again. If they are equal to each other, the adjustment operation is finished at this point and the coloring is possible.

Next, a method of controlling the ejection timing of each ink ejection port when the landing position of the ink ejected from a plurality of ink ejection ports in the same ink jet head varies will be described.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a variation in the landed dot positions, which occurs when the ejection ports of the ink jet head are varied. 247 is a landed dot, and 248 is a direct approximation of a plurality of landed dots. The arrow in the figure indicates the direction of coloring. If this position is set as an ideal landing position with reference to the approximate straight line 248, the first dot in FIG. 17 is landed correctly, but the second dot is landed forward from the ideal landing position in the coloring direction. However, the third dot has landed behind the ideal landing position in the coloring direction. When such an inkjet head is used, the ink is not properly stored in the filter element 10a that forms the filter, resulting in a defective color filter.

FIG. 18 (a) is a diagram showing the relationship between the positions of the ink jet head IJH and the filter element 10a when the positions of the ejection ports of the ink jet head vary, and FIG. 18 (b) shows FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the ejection timing of each ink ejection port in the case of (a).

In FIG. 18A, reference numeral 227 indicates the relative movement direction of the glass substrate 12 and the ink jet head IJH at the time of coloring.

In FIG. 18B, t1 is shown in FIG.
18A, the ejection timing of the first ink ejection port, t2 is the original ejection timing of the second ink ejection port in FIG. 18A, and t3 is the original ejection timing of the third ink ejection port in FIG. 18A. Is the discharge timing.
Now, if the positions of the ejection ports of the inkjet head vary as shown in FIG. 18A, the original ejection timing t
With 1, t2 and t3, accurate coloring cannot be performed inside the filter element 10a. Therefore, the ejection timing of each ink ejection port is shifted back and forth according to the landing position. Since the first ink ejection port in FIG. 18A is on the reference position, the ejection timing t1 may be the same.
Since the second ink ejection port in FIG. 18A is located before the reference position, the ejection timing is delayed by Δt2 from t2. The third ink ejection port in FIG. 18A is
Since it is after the reference position, the ejection timing is t3.
Faster by Δt3. In this way, if the ejection timing is controlled according to the landing position of each ink ejection port, accurate coloring inside the filter element 10a becomes possible.

FIG. 20 shows an example of a coloring pattern used when checking the landing position from each ink ejection port of the coloring head. As shown in FIG. 20A, of the plurality of ink ejection openings in the coloring head, only the ink ejection openings used for coloring may be ejected to color the pattern in one vertical column.
As shown in FIG. 20B, all of the plurality of ink ejection ports in the coloring head may be ejected, and coloring may be performed at regular intervals while shifting in the coloring direction. Using these patterns, the operation of obtaining the landing position of dots and determining the ejection timing is performed.
This will be specifically described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 19 is a flow chart describing the operation of detecting the landing position and controlling the ejection timing.
In step S21, the adjustment pattern as shown in FIGS. 20A and 20B is ejected, and in step S22, it is read by the sensor 207 arranged immediately after the coloring head. In step S23, the read image data is stored in the image storage unit 239 while the dots landed by the cutout processing unit 240 are individually determined. For the dots individually separated and determined in step S3, the center of gravity calculation processing unit 241 calculates the center of gravity of each dot in step S24. From the barycentric position of each dot obtained in step S24, step S
5, in the case of the pattern as shown in FIG. 20 (a), linear approximation is performed using all dots, and in the case of the pattern as shown in FIG. 20 (b), linear approximation is performed for each column in the vertical direction. . When the approximate straight line is obtained, how much the barycentric position of each dot deviates from the approximate straight line is calculated in step S6, and in step S7 it is determined whether the deviation amount of each dot falls within a predetermined range. I do. If it is not within the predetermined range, it is necessary to adjust the ejection timing, and in step S9, the ejection timing adjustment value is calculated from the deviation amount of each dot. This calculated value is the host CP
After setting in the coloring head control unit 203 via U201 and correcting the coloring timing of each ink ejection port in step S10, the operations of steps S1 to S7 are repeated. When the deviation of each dot is within the predetermined range in step S7, it is determined that it is not necessary to adjust the ejection timing at this stage, and the series of operations is ended.

It goes without saying that adjusting the ejection timing from the ink landing position as described above is also applicable to the case where a plurality of ink jet heads are used. Even in the case of a plurality of inkjet heads, FIG.
The pattern shown in (a) and (b) of FIG.
The operation shown in 9 may be performed.

As described above, according to the above-described embodiment, even when the landing positions of the ink ejected from the plurality of ink jet ejection ports are varied, it is possible to form the color filter with high accuracy and to use it. It is possible to suppress variations in accuracy that occur each time the inkjet head is replaced, stabilize the quality, and manufacture a higher quality color filter.

The present invention can be applied to a modified or modified version of the above embodiment without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

The present invention is provided with a means (for example, an electrothermal converter or a laser beam) for generating thermal energy as energy used for ejecting ink, especially in the ink jet recording system, and the thermal energy The printing apparatus of the type that causes a change in the state of ink has been described. According to such a method, the recording density is increased,
High definition can be achieved.

Regarding its typical structure and principle, see, for example, US Pat. Nos. 4,723,129 and 4740.
What is done using the basic principles disclosed in 796 is preferred. This method can be applied to both the so-called on-demand type and continuous type, but especially in the case of the on-demand type, liquid (ink)
By applying at least one drive signal to the electrothermal transducer arranged corresponding to the sheet or liquid path in which the liquid crystal is held, which corresponds to the recorded information and gives a rapid temperature rise exceeding the film boiling. Since heat energy is generated in the electrothermal converter to cause film boiling on the heat acting surface of the recording head, air bubbles in the liquid (ink) corresponding to this drive signal in a one-to-one correspondence can be formed. It is valid. The liquid (ink) is ejected through the ejection openings by the growth and contraction of the bubbles to form at least one droplet. It is more preferable to make this drive signal in a pulse shape, because bubbles can be grown and contracted immediately and appropriately, and thus a liquid (ink) with excellent responsiveness can be achieved.

As the pulse-shaped drive signal, those described in US Pat. Nos. 4,463,359 and 4,345,262 are suitable. If the conditions described in US Pat. No. 4,313,124 of the invention relating to the rate of temperature rise on the heat acting surface are adopted, more excellent recording can be performed.

As the constitution of the recording head, in addition to the combination constitution of the discharge port, the liquid passage, and the electrothermal converter (the linear liquid passage or the right-angled liquid passage) as disclosed in the above-mentioned specifications, The present invention also includes configurations using US Pat. No. 4,558,333 and US Pat. No. 4,459,600, which disclose configurations in which the heat-acting surface is arranged in a bending region. In addition, for multiple electrothermal converters,
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 59-123670, which discloses a structure in which a common slot is used as a discharge portion of an electrothermal converter, and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 59-63, which discloses a structure in which an opening for absorbing a pressure wave of thermal energy is associated with the discharge portion A configuration based on Japanese Patent No. 138461 may be used.

Further, a full line type recording head having a length corresponding to the width of the maximum recording medium which can be recorded by the recording apparatus is a combination of a plurality of recording heads as disclosed in the above specification. Either of the structure satisfying the requirement or the structure as one recording head integrally formed may be used.

In addition, by being mounted on the apparatus main body, it can be electrically connected to the apparatus main body and can be supplied with ink from the apparatus main body by a replaceable chip type recording head or the recording head itself. Alternatively, a cartridge type recording head provided with an ink tank may be used.

Further, it is preferable to add recovery means for the recording head, preliminary auxiliary means, etc., which are provided as a configuration of the recording apparatus of the present invention, because the effect of the present invention can be further stabilized. . Specific examples thereof include capping means, cleaning means, pressurizing or suctioning means for the recording head, preheating means using an electrothermal converter or another heating element or a combination thereof, and recording. It is also effective to perform a stable recording by performing a preliminary discharge mode in which another discharge is performed.

In the embodiments of the present invention described above, the ink is described as a liquid, but an ink that solidifies at room temperature or lower, or one that softens or liquefies at room temperature may be used, or In the inkjet method, it is common to control the temperature of the ink itself within a range of 30 ° C to 70 ° C to control the temperature of the ink so that the viscosity of the ink is within a stable ejection range. It is sufficient that the ink is liquid.

In addition, in order to positively prevent the temperature rise due to thermal energy from being used as the energy for changing the state of the ink from the solid state to the liquid state,
Alternatively, in order to prevent the ink from evaporating, an ink that solidifies in a standing state and liquefies by heating may be used. In any case, by applying heat energy, such as ink that is liquefied by applying heat energy according to the recording signal and liquid ink is ejected, or that begins to solidify when it reaches the recording medium. The present invention can be applied to the case where an ink having a property of being liquefied for the first time is used. In such a case, the ink is retained as a liquid or solid in the recesses or through holes of the porous sheet as described in JP-A-54-56847 or JP-A-60-71260. It may be configured to face the electrothermal converter. In the present invention, the most effective one for each of the above-mentioned inks is to execute the above-mentioned film boiling method.

[0085]

As described above, according to the present invention, even when the positions of a plurality of ejection ports of an ink jet head are varied, coloring is performed by adjusting the ejection timing of the colorant from each ejection port. The agent can be discharged to a precise position on the substrate, and a highly accurate color filter can be manufactured.

Further, even if the positions of the plurality of ejection ports of the ink jet head are varied, each ejection port can be brought to an accurate position by adjusting the posture of the ink jet head, and the colorant is applied to the substrate. It can be discharged to the exact position above.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially enlarged view of a color filter manufactured by a manufacturing method and a manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of the color filter shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a side sectional view showing a structure of a color liquid crystal panel.

FIG. 4 is a side sectional view showing a structure of a color liquid crystal panel.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an information processing device in which a liquid crystal panel is used.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an information processing device in which a liquid crystal panel is used.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an information processing device in which a liquid crystal panel is used.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a color filter manufacturing apparatus according to an embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram schematically showing a positional relationship between a coloring head, a repair head, a sensor, and a stage.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a structure of an inkjet head IJH for spraying ink on a layer to be dyed.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a positional relationship between a coloring head and a repairing head and a light-transmissive portion formed on a glass substrate which is an object to be colored.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a coloring method when the coloring head is tilted at a predetermined angle.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a coloring method when a plurality of coloring heads are tilted at a predetermined angle.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of a pattern colored when adjustment is performed.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing an example of an image processing unit for measuring the landing positions of dots.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating an adjustment operation.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing how dots that have landed vary.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing the relationship between the coloring head and the light transmissive portion when the positions of the ejection ports of the coloring head vary.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing the operation of detecting the landing position and controlling the ejection timing.

FIG. 20 is an example of a coloring pattern used when checking the landing position from each ink ejection port of the coloring head.

[Explanation of symbols]

201 Host computer 202 Stage control unit 203 Coloring head controller 204 image processing unit 205 Repair head control unit 206 repair head 207 sensor 208 coloring head 209 stage

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (58) Fields surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G02B 5/20 101 B41J 2/01 G02F 1/1335 505

Claims (14)

(57) [Claims] 1. An ink having a plurality of ink ejection nozzles
Using a plurality of jet heads,
Do not scan the head relative to the transparent substrate.
The ink is ejected from the ink ejection nozzle,
A plurality of filter filters colored with the ink on the substrate.
Element to produce a color filter.
A plurality of inkjet heads as predetermined coloring members.
While relatively scanning with respect to the
A first ejection step of ejecting ink in a first pattern, and deposition of the ink ejected in the first ejection step.
A first detection step of detecting a bullet position, and a landing position of the ink detected in the first detection step
And the first pattern to compare different ink jets.
Two inks ejected from the ink ejection nozzles of the
The distance between the landing positions of the links is orthogonal to the scanning direction.
Orientation to match the spacing of the filter elements
, The plurality of the plurality of elements in the direction orthogonal to the scanning direction.
Position adjuster that adjusts the relative position of the inkjet head
Degree and, while relatively scanning the ink jet head relative to a predetermined coloring member, a second discharge step of discharging the ink to the coloring member in a second pattern, the second discharge step a second detection step of detecting a landing position of the ink ejected in, the range shift amount is given an ideal landing position of the ink and the landing position of the ink detected by said second detection step as will be, the more the discharge timing adjustment step and the ejection timing is adjusted by the relative position adjusted by the position adjusting step the ejection timing adjusting step of adjusting the ejection timing of ink from the ink jet head
Forming a plurality of filter elements by ejecting the ink from the inkjet head onto the substrate, and manufacturing a color filter. 2. The ejection timing adjusting step adjusts the ejection timing of ink from the inkjet head so that the deviation amount in the scanning direction is within a predetermined range. A method for manufacturing the described color filter. The method according to claim 3, wherein said second discharge step, among the plurality of ink discharge ports of the ink jet head, according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that ink is ejected from only ink discharge ports to be used for coloring Color filter manufacturing method. 4. The ink is ejected from all the ink ejection ports of the plurality of ink ejection ports of the inkjet head in the second ejection step.
1. The method for producing a color filter according to 1 or 2 . 5. The plurality of inkjet heads include an inkjet head for ejecting a red ink, an inkjet head for ejecting a blue ink, and an inkjet head for ejecting a green ink. The method for manufacturing a color filter according to claim 1, wherein 6. The ink jet head is a head for ejecting ink by utilizing heat energy, and is provided with a heat energy converter for generating heat energy applied to the ink. 6. The method for manufacturing a color filter according to any one of 1 to 5 . 7. Ink having a plurality of ink ejection nozzles
Using a plurality of jet heads,
Do not scan the head relative to the transparent substrate.
The ink is ejected from the ink ejection nozzle,
A plurality of filter filters colored with the ink on the substrate.
Element to produce a color filter.
A plurality of inkjet heads as predetermined coloring members.
While scanning relative to each other, the plurality of ink jets
From the print head to the coloring member with the first ink.
First discharge control means for controlling to discharge in a turn
And the ink ejected by the plurality of inkjet heads
First detection means for detecting a landing position of the ink, the landing of the ink detected by the first detection means
Compare the position and the first pattern to obtain different inks.
Two ejected from the ink ejection nozzle of the jet head
The distance between the ink landing positions of the
Match the filter element spacing in the
As described above, the plurality of elements in the direction orthogonal to the scanning direction.
The position for adjusting the relative position of the inkjet heads
And location adjustment means, while relatively scanning the ink jet head relative to a predetermined coloring member, a second discharge control means for discharging the ink to the coloring member in a second pattern, the second Second detection means for detecting the landing position of the ink ejected by the ejection control means, and the deviation between the ink landing position detected by the second detection means and the ideal landing position of the ink The ejection timing adjusting means for adjusting the ejection timing of the ink from the inkjet head, the relative position adjusted by the position adjusting means, and the ejection timing adjusting means are adjusted so that the amount falls within a predetermined range. It said ink from said plurality of ink jet heads discharge timing ejected onto the substrate, to form a plurality of filter elements Manufacturing apparatus of a color filter, characterized by comprising: a forming means, the for. Wherein said ejection timing adjusting means to claim 7, wherein the displacement amount in the direction of the scan to adjust the ejection timing of ink from the ink jet head so as to be within a predetermined range The manufacturing apparatus of the described color filter. Wherein said second discharge control means, wherein among the plurality of ink discharge ports of the ink jet head, according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that ink is ejected from only ink discharge ports to be used for coloring Color filter manufacturing equipment. 10. The color according to claim 7, wherein the second ejection control unit ejects ink from all the ink ejection ports of the plurality of ink ejection ports of the inkjet head. Filter manufacturing equipment. 11. The plurality of inkjet heads,
An inkjet head for ejecting red ink,
Inkjet head for ejecting blue ink,
11. The color filter manufacturing apparatus according to claim 7 , further comprising an inkjet head for ejecting green ink. 12. The ink jet head is a head for ejecting ink by utilizing heat energy, and is provided with a heat energy converter for generating heat energy given to the ink. 7 to 1
1. An apparatus for manufacturing a color filter according to any one of 1 . 13. A method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device using a color filter manufactured by ejecting ink from a plurality of ink ejection ports of an ink jet head toward a substrate, wherein the method is one of claims 1 to 6 . A method of manufacturing a color filter according to the manufacturing method described above, and a step of encapsulating a liquid crystal compound between a substrate facing the color filter and the manufactured color filter. Production method. 14. A method of manufacturing a device having a liquid crystal display device using a plurality of ink discharge ports of an ink jet head a color filter manufactured by discharging ink toward the substrate, claim 13 A step of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device by the manufacturing method described in 1), and a step of providing the manufactured liquid crystal display device with an image signal output means for outputting an image signal to the liquid crystal display device. A method for manufacturing a device including a liquid crystal display device.