KR101231418B1 - Ink discharge control system, and color filter manufacturing method - Google Patents

Abstract

It is to provide an ink discharge amount control system and a method for producing a color filter that can improve optical characteristics, such as reducing occurrence of uneven color of a color filter. In the present invention, an N-C table in which a plurality of stages (for example, four stages) focuses on chromaticity information for each voltage value common to each nozzle in one print head, and the chromaticity information and the nozzle number can correspond to each other. This is used. From the information of the N-C table, a voltage value of an optimal individual discharge amount is calculated, and ink is discharged from each nozzle 45 at the voltage value. Thereby, the color filter which has a uniform chromaticity can be manufactured with a some pixel with respect to one color, and generation | occurrence | production of a stain can be reduced.

Description

Ink discharge amount control system and manufacturing method of color filter {INK DISCHARGE CONTROL SYSTEM, AND COLOR FILTER MANUFACTURING METHOD}

TECHNICAL FIELD This invention relates to the discharge amount control system of an ink, and a manufacturing method of a color filter, when discharging color ink to the target area of the color filter used for a liquid crystal panel, an electro-luminescence (EL) panel, etc., for example.

TECHNICAL FIELD This invention relates to the discharge amount control system of an ink, and a manufacturing method of a color filter, when discharging color ink to the target area of the color filter used for a liquid crystal panel, an electro-luminescence (EL) panel, etc., for example. Conventionally, the inkjet method has been used for manufacture of a color filter. In the inkjet method, one or a plurality of inkjet heads discharged color ink onto the substrate while relatively scanning the color filter substrate. One inkjet head was provided with the some nozzle, and the some nozzle discharged ink in the area | region corresponding to the some pixel, respectively.

By the way, in order to color a pixel by a some nozzle, the ejected state of the ink of each nozzle may differ, and this affects the color density of each pixel. There is a method of optically measuring the color density of the colored portion of the color filter substrate and determining the typewriter density (the amount of ink that is typed and embedded) of the ink by the inkjet head in accordance with the measurement result. Specifically, a measurement table (transmittance of light of each pixel) of the color concentration is collected, and a table corresponding to the data of the transmittance of each pixel and the rate of change of the ink typewriter density is prepared, and the table is used. Ink typewriter density is determined (for example, refer patent document 1).

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-266920 (paragraphs [0072], [0076], [0080], [0125])

In the method of the said patent document 1, since the typewriter density of ink is determined based only on light transmittance, ie, brightness (or brightness), generation | occurrence | production of the unevenness in some pixel may not be suppressed.

In view of the above problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide an ink discharge amount control system and a method for manufacturing a color filter, which can improve optical characteristics, such as reducing occurrence of unevenness of a color filter.

In order to achieve the above object, a discharge amount control system according to the present invention includes a plurality of nozzles for respectively discharging ink in a plurality of pixel areas of a color filter, and the ink is discharged from the plurality of nozzles with respective discharge amounts. A discharge amount control system for controlling the discharge amount of the ink from an ink supply unit capable of discharging, the discharge amount control system comprising: a control value for controlling the discharge amount of each of the ink from the plurality of nozzles; Measuring means for supplying a discharge amount of the ink controlled by a common control value to a nozzle, and measuring optical characteristics of the ink in the plurality of pixel regions at each of the plurality of steps, identification information attached to each of the plurality of nozzles, Information on optical characteristics for each of the common control values of the plurality of measured steps A corresponding information generation means for creating corresponding information to be matched, and a control value for calculating the individual discharge amount for calculating an optical characteristic of the ink in the plurality of pixel areas in a predetermined range, based on the created corresponding information. And a supply calculating means for controlling the ink supply unit to eject the ink from the plurality of nozzles, respectively, with the value calculating means and the calculated discharge amount control value.

In this invention, attention is paid to the information of the optical characteristic for every common control value of several steps, and the correspondence information which the optical characteristic information and the identification information of the nozzle corresponded is used. In the control value calculating means, the control value of the optimum individual discharge amount is calculated from the corresponding information, and ink is discharged from each nozzle at the discharge amount control value. Thereby, the color filter which has uniform optical characteristic with a some pixel with respect to one color can be manufactured. That is, the optical characteristic can be improved, such as reducing the occurrence of unevenness of the color filter.

The "calculation" executed by the "control value calculation means" also includes an operation of "selecting" the optimal individual discharge amount control value from the common control values of the plurality of steps.

The "optical characteristic" includes at least one of chromaticity, hue, saturation, brightness, and reflectance, refractive index, and transmittance of a wavelength of a specific frequency.

The measuring means typically measures the optical properties of the individual inks in the plurality of pixel regions. However, the measuring means may measure the optical characteristics of the ink of a predetermined pixel (predetermined plurality of pixels) in the plurality of pixel regions.

For example, the ink supply unit has a device that controls the discharge amount of the ink in accordance with the drive voltage as the control value, and the supply control means controls the waveform of the drive voltage.

The said measuring means measures the optical characteristic of the said ink supplied in the at least 1 pixel area | region of the said some pixel area to the whole in the said one pixel area.

The term "measure the optical characteristic as a whole in one pixel area" means that the measuring means is light in a range substantially equal to or larger than the area of one pixel area, that is, the one pixel area. Means to detect the light in its entirety and measure its optical properties.

Alternatively, the measuring means may detect light in a range smaller than the area of one pixel region, that is, light in a range narrower than the area of the one pixel region, and measure the optical characteristics. In this case, the measuring means can set the computed value based on the said optical characteristic in the several places as the optical characteristic of the said ink in the said one pixel area. Examples of the calculated value include an average value, a median value, or Root Mean Square (RMS).

The measuring means includes an inspection unit for inspecting the ink state in the plurality of pixel areas discharged under the control of the supply control means.

For example, the said inspection unit is a measuring device which measures the optical characteristic of the said ink in the said some pixel area | region. This measuring device may be used even when the optical characteristics of the ink in the plurality of pixel areas supplied at the discharge amount of the ink controlled by the control value common to the plurality of nozzles are measured for each of the plurality of steps.

The inspection unit may be an image processing type measuring instrument that measures the amount of the ink in the plurality of pixel areas by image processing. Alternatively, the inspection unit measures the weight of the ink in the plurality of pixel regions, and may be a weighing instrument for measuring the amount of the ink.

At least one of an image processing type measuring instrument and a weight measuring instrument may be used as an auxiliary to the measuring instrument. As long as there is no change in the environment (temperature, humidity, etc.) around the discharge amount control system, or the time-dependent change of each nozzle, the corresponding information is created once and the individual discharge amount based on the corresponding information is determined. If the control value is set, no stain occurs. In other words, assuming that there is an environment around the discharge amount control system, or a time-dependent change of each nozzle, the discharge amount control system may further include the following means. That is, the discharge amount control system further includes control means for controlling the ink supply unit so that the discharge amount of the ink from the plurality of nozzles is substantially constant based on the measurement data of at least one of the image processing type gauge and the weight gauge. You may do it.

The manufacturing method of the color filter which concerns on this invention is equipped with the some nozzle which respectively discharges ink in the some pixel area | region of a color filter, and ink which can discharge the said ink by each discharge amount from each of these nozzles In the manufacturing method which manufactures the said color filter using a supply unit, the control value for controlling the discharge amount of each said ink from the said some nozzle is provided, it is set in several steps, and is common to the said some nozzle. The optical characteristics of the ink in the plurality of pixel regions supplied at the discharge amount of the ink controlled by a control value are measured for each of the plurality of steps, and identification information attached to the plurality of nozzles and the common of the measured plurality of steps, respectively Correspondence information which makes correspondence information corresponding to information of optical characteristic for every control value of Based on the calculation, the control value of the respective discharge amount for calculating the optical characteristics of the ink in the plurality of pixel areas in a predetermined range is calculated, and each of the ink is discharged from the plurality of nozzles with the calculated discharge amount control value. To control the ink supply unit.

The manufacturing method of a color filter further bakes the said color filter by which the said ink was supplied by the discharge amount controlled by the said common control value, before measuring the optical characteristic of the said ink. That is, the ink supplied to the color filter can be baked and hardened by the prebaking. As a result, the measurement of the optical characteristics becomes easy, and more accurate optical characteristic information can be obtained.

As mentioned above, according to this invention, generation | occurrence | production of the unevenness of a color filter can be reduced.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is a block diagram which shows the manufacturing system of the color filter which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention.
2 is a diagram showing an inkjet device according to one embodiment.
3 is a side view of the inkjet apparatus shown in FIG. 2.
4A is a plan view in which a part of the color filter substrate VII is enlarged. Fig. 4 (b) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in Fig. 4A.
5 is a schematic diagram for explaining a positional relationship between a nozzle of one print head and a color filter substrate.
FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing the operation of the manufacturing system of the color filter substrate VII.
It is a schematic diagram which shows the measuring principle in the chromaticity measuring instrument as an inspection apparatus.
8 is a graph showing spectral information of a red colored layer.
9 is a graph of an NC table.
10 is a graph of an N-X table.
11 is a graph showing the chromaticity of the ink (or colored layer) for each pixel region measured by chromaticity measurement.
12 is an example of the graph of the N-C table actually created.
FIG. 13 is an example of the graph which shows the chromaticity of the blue color of the ink (or colored layer 6) of each pixel area of the color filter colored based on the N-X table created based on the N-C table shown in FIG.
It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the manufacturing system of the color filter substrate 되는 which concerns on other embodiment of this invention.

EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiment of this invention is described, referring drawings.

1 is a block diagram showing a manufacturing system of a color filter according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The manufacturing system 100 includes the inkjet apparatus 10, the prebaking apparatus 30, the inspection apparatus (inspection unit) 50, and the conveyance apparatus 70.

The conveying apparatus 70 moves the conveyance robot 71 which conveys a color filter board | substrate between each apparatus 10, 30, and 50, and the conveyance path 72 for the conveyance robot 71 to move in an X-axis direction. Have For example, a well-known thing is used for the prebaking apparatus 30. FIG. The arrangement order of the inkjet apparatus 10, the prebaking apparatus 30, and the inspection apparatus 50 is not limited to the thing of FIG. 1, For example, the inkjet apparatus 10 is a prebaking apparatus 30 and an inspection apparatus. It may be arrange | positioned between 50.

2 is a diagram illustrating the inkjet device 10. FIG. 3 is a side view of the inkjet device shown in FIG. 2.

The inkjet apparatus 10 includes one or two or more mounted on the stage 15 and the holding body 16 disposed on the stage 15 and the surface facing the stage 15 of the holding body 16. It has a print head 20.

On the side of the stage 15, rails 17a, 17k are extended and provided. The stage 15 is attached to the rails 17a and 17k so as to be reciprocally moved along the extended installation direction of the rails 17a and 17k. The stage 15 may be fixed and the structure which the holding body 16 moves along the X-axis may be sufficient.

In FIG.2 and FIG.3, the state in which the color filter substrate was arrange | positioned on the stage 15 is shown. The print head 20 is attached to the holding body 16 so that only a predetermined distance is separated from the surface of the color filter substrate Ｗ. When the stage 15 is moved, each print head 20 moves on the surface of the color filter substrate in the axial direction relative to the color filter substrate.

As shown in FIG. 2, the inkjet apparatus 10 is a supply system for supplying the color ink of R (Red), Green (Green), and Blue (Blue) to each print head 20, for example. 4) Equipped. As a kind of ink, a pigment and dye may be sufficient. The supply system 4 has each color supply source 14 R, 14 kV, and 14 kV of R ', and these supply sources 14 R, 14 kV, and 14 kV are the piping 31 R, 31 kV, and 31 kV. Are connected to each of the print heads 20R, 20Hz and 20Hz respectively. Each print head 20R, 20kV, and 20kV and piping 31R, 31kV, and 31kV are connected to one printhead 20 so that one color ink of RV may be supplied. In the present embodiment, five print heads 20 R, 20 Hz, and 20 Hz are provided, but each is not limited to five, four or less, or six or more.

As the supply source 14R, 14kV and 14kV, for example, a tank for storing ink (not shown), a pump for pumping the stored ink to the pipes 31R, 31k and 31k, etc. Omission). In the middle of piping 31 R, 31 K, and 31 K, the filter which is not shown in figure for removing a particle may be provided.

In addition, each print head 20R, 20Hz, and 20Hz is equipped with the discharge port which is not shown in figure, respectively. The ink discharged from this discharge port is returned to the supply source 14R, 14kV, and 14kV via the discharge pipe which is not shown in figure.

4A is a plan view in which a part of the color filter substrate VII is enlarged. Fig. 4 (b) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in Fig. 4 (a). The color filter substrate is, for example, a product under manufacture such as a liquid crystal panel or an EL panel. On the base 5 which can endure with a glass substrate or a transparent resin substrate, the black mattress 7 for partitioning several pixel area | region (here, sub pixel) is formed. As shown in Fig. 4 (iii), one color ink, which is one of R's, is supplied from the nozzles 45, for example, of the print head 20 between the black mattresses 7, respectively. By this, the colored layer 6 is formed.

In addition, in FIG.4 (A), the stripe type by which each color of R 'was lined up in the vertical direction as an array of R' is shown. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be a diagonal type or other arrangements in which each color of the RV is arranged at an angle. In addition, the color filter substrate is not limited to three colors of R ', and may be four or more colors including other colors.

The color filter substrate is disposed on the stage 15 with the surface on which the black mattress 7 is formed vertically upward.

FIG. 5: is a schematic diagram for demonstrating the positional relationship of the nozzle and one color filter substrate of one printhead 20. FIG. Each print head 20 can endure substantially the same structure, respectively. The said some nozzle 45 is provided in the lower surface of the printing head 20, ie, the surface facing a color filter board | substrate. Although the number of nozzles is typically 128, the number of 32, 64, 254, 512, etc. is not limited.

Typically, each print head 20 is mounted so as to be inclined to the holding body 16 in the X-plane, so that the nozzles of each print head 20 are constant in the X-axis direction, Can be arranged in the axial direction. In addition, in this embodiment, each print head 20 is arrange | positioned so that it may become R'3 rows in a Y-axis direction.

One print head 20 has a plurality of ink chambers 46 (see Fig. 4) respectively connected to the nozzles 45 therein. Ink accumulated in each ink chamber 46 is discharged from each nozzle 45 by a discharge mechanism not shown. As the discharge mechanism, a piezo actuator is typically used. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and heating systems such as bubble jets or thermal jets, electrostatic actuator systems, or other known systems may be mentioned.

As shown in FIG. 5, the pitch # 1 of each nozzle 45 of one print head 20 differs from the pitch # 2 of the pixel area of the same color in a color filter substrate, for example. There are other cases. Therefore, in this embodiment, the holding body (for example, each print head 20 is oblique so that the pitch of the axial direction in every two nozzles 45 may become pitch (2), for example). It is attached to 16).

In addition, although pitch # 1 is 400-500 micrometers, for example, it is not limited to this range. In FIG. 1 and FIG. 5, the angle inclined in the Y-axis axis plane of the long direction of each print head 20 with respect to the Y-axis direction is drawn large in order to make description easy, and actual inclination The angle is trace.

It goes without saying that a print head having a nozzle group composed of a pitch substantially the same as the pitch X2 of the pixel region of the same color in the color filter substrate may be used. In that case, the print head should just be attached to the holding body 16 with the longitudinal direction parallel to the X-axis direction.

An ink supply unit is constituted by at least one print head 20 or at least one print head and the holding body 16 (and / or the supply system 4).

Returning to the description of FIG. 1, the manufacturing system 100 includes a control unit 25, an N-C table storage unit 26, and an N-X table storage unit 27.

The control unit 25 is equipped with a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), and the like. Instead of the CPU, a DSP (Digital Signal Processor), a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPA), an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), or the like may be used.

Although the N-C table storage unit 26 will be described later, a color filter substrate (measured by the identification information and the inspection device 50 attached to each nozzle 45 of one print head 20, respectively) The N-C table (correspondence information) for correlating the chromaticity information in each pixel region of " The identification information of each nozzle 45 is regarded as nozzle numbers 1, 2, 3, ..., for example. The order of this nozzle number should just correspond to the actual arrangement | positioning of each nozzle 45 of the print head 20. As shown in FIG. This N-C table is created by the control part 25 or the inspection apparatus 50 (correspondence information creation means).

The N-X table storage unit 27 stores an N-X table which corresponds to identification information of each nozzle 45 of the one print head 20 and a control value for discharging ink from the nozzles 45. Remember The control unit 25 creates this N-X table based on the said N-C table as mentioned later.

As the storage device of the N-C table storage unit 26 and the N-X table storage unit 27, other known storage devices such as a magnetic disk, a semiconductor memory, a magnetic memory, and the like are used.

As a control value for discharging ink from each nozzle 45, the individual voltage value for driving each piezo actuator in one print head 20 is mentioned, for example. Each piezo actuator is driven by an individual control value (discharge amount control value), so that the discharge amount of ink is individually controlled from each nozzle 45.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the manufacturing system of the color filter substrate 구성된 configured as described above.

The transfer robot 71 carries an uncolored color filter substrate into the inkjet device 10. As a result, the color filter substrate VII is arranged on the stage 15 and aligned. This color filter substrate is a dummy color filter substrate. Hereinafter, this is called a dummy substrate for convenience.

In the inkjet apparatus 10, the stage 15 moves, for example, at least one printhead 20R among the plurality of printheads 20R for red ink is used for each nozzle of one printhead 20R. The control value common to the 45 is divided into a plurality of stages, and ink is discharged from each nozzle 45 (step 101). The common control value is a constant voltage value common to each nozzle 45. Dividing a control value into plural steps divides the common voltage value into plural different values. The number of steps is set to, for example, 2 to 100 steps or 3 to 10 steps, but may be over 100 steps.

As an example, it is assumed that voltage values common to the nozzles 45 can be divided into a [V], ｂ [V], c [V], and d [V] (a <ｂ <c <d) in four steps. . These setting values may be preset and stored by the designer. Or the program for a user to customize the setting value suitably may be memorize | stored in ROM etc. of the control part 25. FIG.

For example, the print head 20R first discharges red ink from each nozzle 45 into each pixel region of the dummy substrate at a voltage value of a [V]. Next, the print head 20R discharges red ink from each nozzle 45 at the voltage value of [V] in each of the other pixel areas of the dummy substrate. Next, the print head 20R discharges red ink from each nozzle 5 at each voltage region of the dummy substrate at a voltage value of c [V], respectively. And finally, red ink is discharged from each nozzle 45 by the voltage value of d [V] in each pixel area of the dummy substrate which is further different.

The ink ejection to the voltage values of these four stages is not limited to one dummy substrate, and different dummy substrates (substrate (shape, size, pattern, etc.) of the substrates are the same in each of the four stages). It may be used.

At the time of supplying the ink by the print head 20R for red ink, at least one printhead 20 'and 20' of the plurality of print heads 20 'and 20' for green and blue ink has supplied ink to the dummy substrate. You may supply each. That is, the ink may be supplied to the same dummy substrate by the print heads 20R, 20Hz, 20Hz substantially simultaneously. In this case, the print heads 20 'and 20' are also discharged with ink at a common voltage value in a plurality of stages as in the case of the print head 20R.

Next, the transfer robot 71 takes out the dummy substrate supplied with ink from the inkjet apparatus 10 and carries it into the prebaking apparatus 30. The prebaking apparatus 30 bakes a dummy substrate at a predetermined temperature and time (step 102). The conditions of baking, for example, temperature, time, number of times of baking, etc. are not specifically limited, A well-known setting may be sufficient. By this prebaking, the ink supplied to the dummy substrate can be baked and hardened to form a colored layer 6 as shown in Fig. 4 (iii). Therefore, the chromaticity measurement of the next step becomes easy, and more accurate chromaticity information can be obtained.

After the prebaking, the transfer robot 71 takes out the dummy substrate from the prebaking apparatus 30 and carries it into the inspection apparatus 50.

The inspection apparatus 50 measures, for example, the chromaticity of the ink supplied in each pixel region of one dummy substrate for each pixel region (step 103). In this case, the inspection apparatus 50 includes a chromaticity measuring instrument. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a measurement principle in the chromaticity measuring instrument.

The apache 32 is provided in the lower part of each pixel area | region of a dummy board | substrate, and permeate | transmits light (for example, white light, mixed color light) in the whole one pixel area. The base 5 of the color filter substrate, which is a dummy substrate, is transparent and transmits white light or mixed color light. The light receiving portion 33 is disposed and spectroscopically arranged on each pixel region, and for example, spectrum information shown in FIG. 8 can be obtained. 8 has shown the spectrum information of each RGB colored layer 6.

The chromaticity meter which concerns on this embodiment may measure the chromaticity of the ink (or the colored layer 6) supplied in the at least 1 pixel area among each pixel area in the whole one pixel area. For example, as the light receiving portion, a photodetecting device having a light receiving surface capable of detecting light in a range substantially equal to or larger than the area of one pixel region is used. That is, by spectroscopy the entire light in one pixel region, chromaticity averaged in one pixel region can be obtained.

The chromaticity of the center part in one pixel area was measured conventionally. Since the film thickness of the discharged ink (or colored layer 6) may be different in one pixel area, accurate chromaticity may not be measured. That is, since the film thickness and the chromaticity are substantially in proportional relationship, the chromaticity of the central portion and the other parts may be different in one pixel area depending on the film thickness error.

Alternatively, the chromaticity measuring instrument according to the present embodiment may measure a plurality of locations in one pixel area and set the calculated value based on the chromaticities at the plurality of locations as the chromaticity of the ink in one pixel area. . Examples of the calculated value include an average value, median value, or RMS.

When the colored layer 6 by the ink discharged by the voltage value of several steps was formed in one dummy board | substrate, the inspection apparatus 50 measures the chromaticity of the ink corresponding to the several step. When the colored layer by the ink discharged by the voltage value of several steps was formed in the some dummy board | substrate, the test | inspection apparatus 50 respond | corresponds to a some step, ie, it measures the chromaticity of ink for every said some dummy board | substrate. .

The inspection apparatus 50 or the control unit 25 creates the above-mentioned N-C table based on this spectrum information (step 104), and stores this in the N-C table storage unit 26.

9 is a graph of an N-C table. This shows the relationship between the nozzle number and chromaticity information using the voltage values a [V], V [V], c [V], and d [V] of the plurality of stages as parameters. The chromaticity information is represented by, for example, data of V, y, or V of the CIE color system. Incidentally, Y is luminance data. The inspection apparatus 50 or the control unit 25 creates a table including at least one of X, Y, and Y for each of the colors of R '.

In the graph shown in FIG. 9, the chromaticity value of the vertical axis | shaft has become low about the nozzle number being close to the median 64. As shown in FIG. For example, it can be said that the chromaticity value of this graph is due to ｘ. The stronger the pitch than the chromaticity diagram of the CIE color system, the stronger the influence of red, and therefore, it is known that the amount of red ink by the nozzle of the print head 20R, corresponding to the vicinity of the center value of the nozzle number, is smaller than that of other nozzles.

In step 101, the voltage values were common to all the nozzles 45 of one print head 20. On the other hand, based on this N-C table, the control part 25 sets the chromaticity of the ink (or colored layer 6) in each pixel area at the time of supplying ink to a dummy substrate next to a predetermined range. In order to determine, the individual drive voltage value of each nozzle 45 is calculated (control value calculation means). In other words, the control unit 25 creates the above-mentioned N-X table (step 105) and stores it in the N-X table storage unit 27.

The example of FIG. 9 is demonstrated. As mentioned above, the amount of red ink by the nozzle of the print head 20R corresponding to the vicinity of the median of the nozzle number is smaller than that of other nozzles. Therefore, the control part 25 creates the N-W table which made the drive voltage value of the nozzle of the center vicinity of the printhead 20R larger than the common voltage value of step 101 by predetermined value. An example of graphing the N-X table at this time is shown in FIG. Thereby, the chromaticity of the red ink (or colored layer 6) in each pixel area at the time of supplying ink to a dummy substrate next becomes constant.

The fluctuation value (the predetermined value) from the common voltage value may be appropriately designed by the designer in advance and stored in the ROM or the like. Or the program for user to customize the fluctuation value suitably may be memorize | stored in ROM.

As described above, the control unit 25 has a plurality of levels of voltage values a [V], V [V], c [V], and d [V] in the pixel area when ink is subsequently supplied to the dummy substrate. It is also possible to "select" the drive voltage value for determining the chromaticity of the ink (or colored layer 6) in a predetermined range.

The "predetermined range" of chromaticity is a range in which chromaticity in each pixel region corresponding to each nozzle 45 of one print head 20 becomes substantially constant. For example, the predetermined range means an error range of 3 sigma, that is, about 0.2%, if the standard deviation of chromaticity is sigma.

The control unit 25 transmits the generated N-X table information to the ink jet apparatus 10. The inkjet device 10 discharges ink from the nozzles 45 of at least one print head 20 to the dummy substrate based on this N-X table (step 106) (supply control means).

The dummy substrate used in Step 106 may be separate from that used in Step 101, or may be the same dummy substrate used in Step 101. In the case of the dummy substrate as used in step 101, in step 106, ink is discharged into the pixel region that is still not supplied.

Thereafter, the same processing as in steps 102 and 103 is performed (steps 107 and 108). FIG. 11 is a graph showing the chromaticity of the ink (or colored layer 6) for each pixel region measured in step 108. The horizontal axis is the pixel number and corresponds to the nozzle number of each nozzle 45.

The control unit 25 determines whether the chromaticity of the ink (or the colored layer 6) in each pixel area, discharged from one print head 20, measured in step 108, is within the above-described predetermined range. (Step 109). That is, in step 109, the control unit 25 may determine whether or not the chromaticity corresponding to all the pixel numbers of the graph shown in FIG. 11 is within a predetermined range.

In step 109, if the chromaticity is not within the predetermined range, the process from step 105 is repeated. In step 109, when the chromaticity is within a predetermined range, the inkjet apparatus 10 discharges ink to the color filter substrate, not the dummy substrate, at a voltage value based on the N-X table (step 110) (supply control). Way). And the color filter substrate is baked by the prebaking apparatus 30 (step 111). Thereby, the coloring process of a color filter substrate is complete | finished.

In addition, after the prebaking of step 107 and 111, each target substrate may be cooled to predetermined temperature.

As described above, in the present embodiment, attention is paid to chromaticity information for each common voltage value in a plurality of stages, and an N-C table in which the chromaticity information and the nozzle number correspond to each other is used. From the information of the N-C table, a voltage value of an optimal individual discharge amount is calculated, and ink is discharged from each nozzle 45 at the voltage value. Thereby, the color filter which has uniform chromaticity with a some pixel with respect to one color can be manufactured. That is, generation | occurrence | production of the spot of a color filter can be reduced.

12 is an example of a graph of the N-C table actually created in Step 104. In this example, blue ink is shown, and the chromaticity of the vertical axis is shown for y, y, y, and y. FIG. 13 is a graph showing blue chromaticity of the ink (or colored layer 6) of each pixel region of the color filter colored based on the N-X table created based on the N-C table shown in FIG. In the example of FIG. 13, the chromaticity gap could fall within the range of ± 0.2%.

The flow shown in FIG. 6 may be executed whenever the kind of the color filter substrate, the kind of ink, and the kind of nozzle are changed.

Hereinafter, the Example or Experimental Example of this invention is demonstrated.

As the print head 20, SE-3 of Dimatex Corporation was used. The N-C table was created in five stages of drive voltage values 60 [V], 63 [V], 66 [V], 69 [V], and 72 [V] for controlling the discharge amount from each nozzle. The pulse width and drive frequency of the drive voltage are 6 µsec and 5000 Hz, respectively. The color register RV of Fujifilm Co., Ltd. was apply | coated to the color filter board | substrate of 170 micrometers in width and 510 micrometers in length so that it might become 2 micrometers at the time of a drive voltage value of 66 [V]. Thereafter, the color filter substrate was preheated at 90 ° C. for 120 seconds, and main heating was performed at 220 ° C. for 30 minutes. About this color filter substrate, chromaticity and brightness were measured by LC2100A of Otsuka Electronics. From the measurement result, the optimum drive voltage of each nozzle was determined, that is, the N-X table was created, and printing and heating were performed. The chromaticity gap in this printing achieved red Rxy: + / 0.0014, green yxy: + / 0.0027, and blue yxy: + / 0.0029. The chromaticity in the case of not adjusting the drive voltage of each nozzle was +/- 0.011-0.0089, respectively.

FIG. 14 is a flow chart showing the operation of the manufacturing system of the color filter substrate according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG.

Steps 201 to 211 are the same processes as steps 101 to 111 shown in FIG. 6.

In addition, when the droplet of ink amount is measured by such an image processing type measuring instrument and a weight measuring device, the process of the prebaking of step 211 may be abbreviate | omitted. That is, it is because the amount of the liquid droplets of the ink ejected in step 210 is measured by an image processing measuring instrument or a weight measuring instrument.

After step 211, the inspection apparatus 50 measures the amount of ink (or colored layer 6) in each pixel region of the color filter substrate. In this case, the inspection apparatus 50 includes at least one of an image processing type measuring instrument which measures the amount of ink by image processing, and a weighing instrument which measures the ink amount by measuring the weight of the ink. In addition, the ink amount can also be measured by a microwave measuring instrument.

In an image processing type measuring instrument, for example, the size of an image in plan view of droplets of ink is calculated by image processing. Then, based on the size of the droplet, the ink amount is required by a look-up table or a predetermined calculation formula.

As a method of weighing by a weighing machine, a measurement using a microweigher, a measurement by the surface tension of ink, and other well-known weight measuring methods may be used. The weight of the ink droplets (for example, a plurality of droplets) may be measured directly, or the weight of the color filter substrate 각각 may be measured before and after supplying the ink, respectively.

Returning to the description of FIG. 14, in step 213, when the amount of each ink in each pixel area is within a predetermined range, the inkjet apparatus 10 uses each nozzle (based on the N-X table created in step 205). Ink is discharged from 45 to each pixel region of the color filter substrate (step 213). Thereafter, the color filter substrate is baked by the prebaking device 30 (step 215).

In step 213, when each ink amount does not exist in a predetermined range, the inkjet apparatus 10 adjusts the drive voltage waveform in each nozzle 45 of the at least 1 printing head 20 (step 216). The adjustment of the drive voltage waveform is at least one adjustment among the control of the pulse width when the voltage value and the drive method are, for example, pulse driving, and the pulse frequency.

After adjustment of the drive voltage waveform in step 216, the process may return to step 213 or return to step 205 and the N-X table may be created again.

In step 212, for example, the ink amount may be measured by both the image processing type measuring instrument and the weight measuring instrument. In this case, in step 213, if at least one of the measurement results of both is present, and each ink amount is not within the predetermined range, the process may proceed to step 216.

In this manner, at least one of the image processing type measuring instrument, the weight measuring instrument, and the microwave measuring instrument may be used as an aid to the chromaticity measuring instrument. As long as there is no change in the environment (temperature, humidity, etc.) around the inkjet apparatus 10 or the time-dependent change of each nozzle 45, the said N-C table is created and based on the said N-C table once, If a control value of an individual discharge amount is set, spots do not occur. In other words, it is assumed that there is an environment around the inkjet apparatus 10, or a time-dependent change of each nozzle 45, and the processing after Step 212 is executed.

Embodiment which concerns on this invention is not limited to embodiment described above, A various other embodiment can be considered.

In step 105, 106, 205, and 206 shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 14, the voltage value was taken as an example of the control value for controlling the discharge amount of the ink from each nozzle 45. As shown in FIG. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and as described above, in the case of the driving voltage waveform, for example, pulse driving, the control of the pulse width, the frequency of the pulse, and the like are controlled, and the discharge amount of ink from each nozzle 45 is individually. Can be controlled.

In FIG. 6 and FIG. 14, the example which the manufacturing system 100 processes fully is shown. However, for example, at least one of steps 104, 105, 108, 109, 205, 206, 208, 209, 212, 213 and 216 may be manually processed by an operator.

Ｗ color filter board
4 supply system
6 colored layers
10 inkjet device
15 stages
16 Holder
20 (20 R, 20 Ｇ, 20 Ｂ) print head
25 control unit
26 NC table storage unit
27 N-Ｖ table storage unit
30 prebaking unit
45 nozzles
50 inspection device
100 manufacturing system

Claims (9)

A discharge amount control for controlling the discharge amount of the ink from an ink supply unit having a plurality of nozzles each for discharging ink in the plurality of pixel areas of the color filter, and capable of discharging the ink from the plurality of nozzles at respective discharge amounts; In the system,
A control value for controlling the discharge amount of each of the inks from the plurality of nozzles, the set in the plurality of pixel regions supplied in the discharge amount of the ink set in a plurality of steps and controlled to a control value common to the plurality of nozzles; Measuring means for measuring the optical properties of the ink for each of the plurality of steps;
Correspondence information creating means for creating correspondence information for associating identification information attached to the plurality of nozzles with information of optical characteristics for each of the common control values measured in the plurality of steps;
Control value calculating means for calculating a control value of the respective ejection amount for determining an optical characteristic of the ink in the plurality of pixel areas within a predetermined range based on the created corresponding information;
Supply control means for controlling the ink supply unit for ejecting the ink from the plurality of nozzles, respectively, with the calculated discharge amount control value.
And,
Wherein the measuring means comprises:
A discharge amount control system for detecting the optical characteristics of the ink supplied in at least one pixel region of the plurality of pixel regions by detecting light having a range equal to or larger than the area of the one pixel region. delete The method of claim 1,
And the measuring means includes an inspection unit for inspecting the ink state in the plurality of pixel areas ejected under the control of the supply control means. The method of claim 3,
And the inspection unit is a measuring device for measuring an optical characteristic of the ink in the plurality of pixel areas. The method of claim 3,
And the inspection unit is an image processing type measuring instrument for measuring the amount of the ink in the plurality of pixel areas by image processing. The method of claim 3,
And the inspection unit measures a weight of the ink in the plurality of pixel areas, and is a weight measuring device for measuring the amount of the ink. The method of claim 1,
The ink supply unit corresponds to a waveform of a drive voltage as the control value, and includes a device for controlling the discharge amount of the ink,
And the supply control means controls a waveform of the drive voltage. A manufacturing method of manufacturing the color filter using an ink supply unit having a plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink, respectively, in the plurality of pixel areas of the color filter, and capable of ejecting the ink from the plurality of nozzles at respective ejection amounts. To
At least one of the plurality of pixel regions which is a control value for controlling the discharge amount of each of the ink from the plurality of nozzles, and is supplied at the discharge amount of the ink set in a plurality of steps and controlled by a control value common to the plurality of nozzles The optical characteristics of the ink supplied in one pixel region are measured for each of the plurality of steps by detecting light having a range equal to or greater than the area of the one pixel region,
Create corresponding information corresponding to the identification information attached to each of the plurality of nozzles and the information of the optical characteristic for each of the common control values of the measured plurality of steps;
On the basis of the created corresponding information, a control value of the respective ejection amount for setting the optical characteristic of the ink in the plurality of pixel areas to a predetermined range is calculated,
Controlling the ink supply unit for ejecting the ink from the plurality of nozzles, respectively, with the calculated discharge amount control value;
Method for producing a color filter. 9. The method of claim 8,
Before measuring the optical characteristics of the ink, baking the color filter supplied with the ink by the discharge amount controlled by the common control value.

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