WO2006030506A1

WO2006030506A1 - Method for spraying spacers

Info

Publication number: WO2006030506A1
Application number: PCT/JP2004/013542
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hiroyuki Sekiguchi; Ryusuke Hayashi
Original assignee: Nagase & Co., Ltd.; Choshu Industry Company Limited
Priority date: 2004-09-16
Filing date: 2004-09-16
Publication date: 2006-03-23

Abstract

A method for spraying spacers comprising a step for preparing a color filter (100) having a black matrix (20) provided with a plurality of openings (20p), colored parts (30R, 30G, 30B) provided in respective openings (20p) and an upper film (60) provided on the colored parts (30R, 30G, 30B) and the black matrix (20), a step for adhering a droplet (240) containing a spacer (230) to a region (240s) of the surface of the upper film (60) including a portion (60b) facing the black matrix (20), and a step for disposing a light shielding plate (400) capable of blocking infrared rays and provided with openings (400a) respectively corresponding to the colored parts (30R, 30G, 30B) such that the colored parts (30R, 30G, 30B) face the openings (400a), and irradiating the color filter (100) with infrared rays through the openings (400a).

Description

Specification

Spacer spraying method

Technical field

The present invention relates to a spacer spraying method.

Background art

In a liquid crystal display, a color filter and a drive substrate are arranged to face each other, and liquid crystal is sealed between the color filter and the drive substrate.

[0003] This color filter includes, for example, a grid-like black matrix in which a plurality of openings are formed on a transparent substrate, and colored portions of R, G, and B colors provided in these openings. It is a thing. The color filter can further have an upper film on the colored portion and the black matrix as necessary, and the upper film is formed by laminating a transparent electrode film, an alignment film, and the like.

[0004] A large number of spacers for maintaining a predetermined distance are arranged between the drive substrate and the color filter.

Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-48417

Disclosure of the invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

[0005] In manufacturing such a liquid crystal display, after a spacer is disposed on the surface of the color filter, a driving substrate is overlaid on the spacer. Here, if a spacer is arranged on the surface of the color filter facing the colored portion, it may affect the display quality of the pixel corresponding to the colored portion when used as a liquid crystal display. The Therefore, it is necessary to arrange a spacer on the surface of the color filter in a portion facing the black matrix.

[0006] However, conventionally, it has been difficult and difficult to dispose a spacer with sufficiently high accuracy in a portion of the color filter surface facing the black matrix.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is possible to dispose a spacer with sufficiently high accuracy in a portion of the surface of the color filter facing the black matrix. An object is to provide a method for spreading a spacer.

Means for solving the problem

[0008] A method for spreading a spacer according to the present invention includes a step of preparing a color filter having a black matrix in which a plurality of openings are formed, and a colored portion provided in each opening of the black matrix; A process of adhering droplets containing spacers to the area including the part facing the black matrix on the surface of the color filter, and a light shield capable of shielding infrared rays and having openings corresponding to the colored portions. And a step of arranging the plate so that the colored portion of the color filter faces the opening of the light shielding plate and irradiating the color filter with infrared rays through the opening of the light shielding plate.

[0009] According to the present invention, a droplet including a spacer adheres to a region including a portion facing the black matrix on the surface of the color filter, and the portion facing the colored portion is opened through the light shielding plate. Infrared rays are irradiated to the color filter.

[0010] In this way, infrared rays are exclusively applied to the portion of the droplet that faces the colored portion. Therefore, when the droplets dry, the liquid in the portion of the droplet that faces the colored portion evaporates mainly, and the liquid in the portion of the droplet that faces the black matrix. Is likely to remain. Therefore, in the process of drying the droplets, the spacers in the droplets are pulled by the remaining liquid so that the portion facing the black matrix on the surface of the color filter, in other words, the portion on the black matrix has a counter force. Move. As the drying progresses and the liquid droplets disappear, the spacer is disposed on the surface of the color filter facing the black matrix. In this way, according to the present invention, even if the accuracy of attaching the droplet to the surface of the color filter is slightly worse, and even if the spacer is arranged at an arbitrary position in the droplet, After drying, the spacer is accurately placed on the surface of the color filter facing the black matrix.

[0011] Here, in the step of preparing the color filter, a recessed portion that is depressed more than a portion facing the colored portion on the surface of the color filter is formed in the portion facing the black matrix on the surface of the color filter. In the step of attaching the droplets, it is preferable that the droplets are attached to the region including the depression on the surface of the color filter.

[0012] According to this, the spacer is included in the region including the depression on the surface of the color filter. A droplet adheres and is dried by infrared rays irradiated through the opening of the light shielding plate. Here, the liquid in the recess is more likely to remain in the recess where it is more difficult to evaporate than the liquid outside the recess. As a result, as the drying proceeds, the spacer in the droplet is pulled by the liquid and moves toward the depression. In other words, the spacer is more reliably arranged at the portion facing the black matrix on the surface of the color filter.

[0013] The color filter preferably further has an upper film on each colored portion and the black matrix. Specifically, the upper film can include a transparent electrode film and an alignment film in order from the side closer to the colored portion and the black matrix, and the color filter having such a configuration is suitable for a liquid crystal device.

The invention's effect

[0014] According to the present invention, it is possible to dispose a spacer with sufficiently high accuracy in a portion facing the black matrix in the upper film of the color filter.

Brief Description of Drawings

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a color filter according to a first embodiment.

[FIG. 2] FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the color finisher of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the color finisher shown in FIG. 2.

[FIG. 4] FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a method of depositing a droplet containing a spacer on a color filter.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing droplets attached on the color filter.

[Fig. 6] Fig. 6 is a schematic diagram following Fig. 5 showing how the droplets are dried.

[FIG. 7] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram following FIG. 6 showing how the droplets are dried.

[FIG. 8] FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram following FIG. 7 showing how the droplets are dried.

[FIG. 9] FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram following FIG. 8 showing how droplets are dried.

FIG. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a method for drying droplets on an upper film of a color filter in the second embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a state after drying droplets on an upper film of a color filter in the second embodiment. Explanation of symbols

[0016] 20 ··· Black matrix, 20ρ ··· Opening, 30R, 30G, 30Β ··· Colored portion, 40 ··· Transparent electrode film, 50 ··· Orientation film, 60 · · · Upper film, 60a ... depression, 100 ... color filter, 240 ... droplet, 2 30 ... spacer, 400 ... shading plate, 400a ... opening.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0017] Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of a spacer spraying method according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the description of the drawings, the same elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and duplicate descriptions are omitted. In the drawings, the dimensional ratio does not always match the description.

[0018] (First embodiment)

First, a color filter 100 as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3 is prepared. This color filter 1

00 includes a substrate 10, a black matrix 20, a red coloring portion 30R, a green coloring portion 30G, a blue coloring portion 30B, and an upper film 60.

The substrate 10 is a transparent flat plate on which glass isotropic force is also formed.

[0020] The black matrix 20 is a film that also has a material force to shield visible light. Examples of the material of the black matrix 20 include metal materials such as chromium and chromium Z chromium oxide, and a resin material. The black matrix 20 has a lattice shape or a stripe shape, and forms a large number of openings 20p. The width 20w of the black matrix can be set to about 5-30 / z m, for example. Further, the height 20h of the black matrix can be set to about 0.1-, for example.

[0021] The red coloring portion 30R, the green coloring portion 30G, and the blue coloring portion 30B are arranged in this order in the opening 20p of the black matrix 20, respectively. Each of the red coloring portion 30R, the green coloring portion 30G, and the blue coloring portion 30B is made of a transparent coloring material that can selectively transmit visible light of each color, and for example, a transparent coloring resin can be used. The width 3 Ow of the colored portions 30R, 30G, and 30B can be set to 5 to 100 m, for example. The height 3 Oh of each coloring portion 30R, 30G, 30B can be set to 1 to 2 m, for example.

[0022] Here, the height 30h of each of the colored portions 30R, 30G, and 30B is sufficiently higher than the height 20h of the black matrix 20. An upper film 60 is formed over the colored portions 30R, 30G, 30B and the black matrix 20. This upper film 60 is a laminated body having the transparent electrode film 40 and the alignment film 50 in the order of the substrate 10 side force.

The transparent electrode film 40 is a common electrode that should be disposed opposite to a pixel electrode (not shown) of a driving substrate of a liquid crystal display, and is formed of a transparent conductive material such as ITO. The thickness of the transparent electrode film 40 is, for example, about 0.1 μm.

[0025] The alignment film 50 aligns the liquid crystal in a desired direction, and can be formed of, for example, a resin material such as polyimide. The thickness of the alignment film 50 is, for example, about 0.1 μm.

[0026] Then, on the surface of the color filter 100, that is, the surface of the upper film 60, corresponding to the step between the upper surface of the black matrix 20 and the upper surfaces of the colored portions 30R, 30G, and 30B, the black matrix 20 The portion 60c facing each colored portion 30R, 30G, 30B is higher than the portion 60b facing the. That is, on the surface of the upper film 60, a recess 60a that is lower than the portion 60c that faces the colored portions 30R, 30G, and 30B is formed in the portion 60b that faces the black matrix 20. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, the black matrix 20 has a lattice shape, and the recess 60a has a groove shape along the black matrix 20. Since the recess 60a has a groove shape along the black matrix 20, it is easy to attach the droplet 240 to the region 240s including the recess 60a.

For example, such a color filter 100 is formed by forming a lattice-like black matrix 20 on the substrate 10 by a photolithography method or the like and then opening the openings 20p of the black matrix 20 by a photolithography method or the like. The colored portions 30R, 30G, and 30B are sequentially formed so as to be higher than the black matrix 20, and then a predetermined thickness is formed on the black matrix 20 and the colored portions 3OR, 30G, and 30B by a sputtering method, a vapor deposition method, or the like. The transparent electrode film 40 is formed, and an alignment film material such as polyimide resin is applied to the transparent electrode film 40 to a predetermined thickness and solidified, and the surface is rubbed to form the alignment film 50. Obtained in

[0028] Subsequently, droplets 240 including the spacers 230 are deposited on the upper film 60 of the color filter 100 by using a spacer dispersing device 300 as shown in FIG.

[0029] The spraying device 300 includes a discharge unit 200 and a moving unit 250. Discharge unit 200 is open In addition to having a container 210 with a mouth 220 formed therein, a hammer 204 and a piezo element 202 for moving the hammer 204 toward the opening 220 are provided in the container 210. Then, the discharge unit 200 moves the hammer 204 by the piezo element 202 to discharge the spray liquid 206 including the spacer 230 in the container 210 as droplets 240 from the fine openings 220, so that the color filter 100 Adhere on 240s of area.

[0030] The moving unit 250 moves the position of the force filter 100 so that the droplet 240 adheres onto the region 240s of the surface of the upper film 60.

[0031] Here, the region 240s is a region including the recess 60a on the surface of the upper film 60. In this case, if there is a recess 60a anywhere in the region 240s, it is not necessary to include the recess 60a in the center of the region 240s.

In addition, the position of the spacer 230 is arbitrary in the droplet 240 on the color filter 100. Here, since the density of the spacer 230 is higher than the density of the liquid of the droplet 240, the spacer 230 is sunk in the droplet 240. The position where the spacer 230 sinks is a force that may be within the recess 6 Oa. Probabilistically, the portion other than the recess 60a on the upper film 60, that is, each colored part in the upper film 60 Often located opposite to 30R, 30G, 30B

FIG. 5 shows an enlarged cross-sectional view of the color filter 100 with the droplet 240 attached. Here, when the droplet 240 is attached to the region 240s including the recess 60a of the upper film 60, the droplet 240 is particularly attached to the region including the recess 60a between the coloring portion 30R and the coloring portion 30B. Is preferable. In this case, for example, when the spacer 240 is not contained in the recess 60a, for example, when the droplet 240 contains a large number of spacers, the spacer 230 becomes the red colored portion 30R. In other words, the possibility that the spacer 230 is disposed on the green coloring portion 30G is significantly reduced.

Here, the shape of the spacer 230 is not limited! However, it is preferable that the spacer 230 has a spherical shape because of the movement to the recess 60 a on the upper film 60. The material of the spacer 230 is arbitrary, and for example, a silicon compound such as silica, a plastic particle formed by a silicone-modified polymer or the like can be used. The particle size of the spacer 230 can be set to 1 μm-7 μm, for example. On the other hand, the liquid of the droplet 240 is not particularly limited! However, for example, a mixed solution of water and alcohol (IPA) can be used. The diameter of the droplet 240 on the color filter 100 can be, for example, about 50-100 m.

Subsequently, a drying operation is performed on the droplets 240 in a state as shown in FIG.

Here, as shown in FIG. 5, a light shielding plate 400 capable of shielding infrared rays is prepared. In the light shielding plate 400, openings 400a having shapes and sizes corresponding to the colored portions 30R, 30G, and 30B of the color filter 100 are formed. Such a light shielding plate 400 can be easily manufactured by patterning a material such as a metal resin by a known patterning method. The light shielding plate 400 can also be formed of a material having a heat insulating effect in addition to the infrared light shielding property, such as ceramic. In this case, the light shielding plate 400 itself is not easily heated, and the heat of the light shielding plate 400 is difficult to reach the droplet 240, which is preferable.

[0038] Then, the light shielding plate 400 is applied to the colored plate 30R, 30G, and 30B of the S color finoleta 100 against the surface of the color filter 100 on which the droplets 240 of the color filter 100 adhere. Arrange to face.

[0039] Here, the distance between the light shielding plate 400 and the color filter 100 is as short as possible in the range without contact with the light shielding plate 400 and the droplet 240, and the force S is as short as possible.

[0040] An infrared lamp located on the opposite side of the color filter 100 with the light shielding plate 400 interposed therebetween.

From 450, the infrared light is irradiated to the color filter 100 through the opening 400a of the light shielding plate 400.

Here, a preferable wavelength range of infrared rays is about 0.76 μm to 1000 μm, and particularly, a far infrared ray, that is, 4 μm to 1000 μm is preferable.

Then, as shown in FIG. 5 to FIG. 9 in order, the infrared rays are mainly incident on the portion 240c facing the colored portions 30R, 30G, 30B in the droplet 240, and a part of the infrared rays is transmitted through the portion 240c. Thus, the light mainly enters the portion 60c facing the colored portions 30R, 30G, and 30B on the surface of the color filter 100. And these parts are mainly heated by infrared rays.

[0043] In other words, infrared rays do not enter the portion 240b facing the black matrix 20 in the droplet 240 or the portion 60b facing the black matrix 20 on the surface of the color filter 100, and the temperature of these portions Is hard to go up. [0044] Therefore, when the droplet 240 is dried, the portion 240c facing the colored portions 30R, 30G, 3OB in the droplet 240 is mainly evaporated, and the black portion of the droplet 240 is black. The portion 240b facing the matrix 20 tends to remain until the end. As a result, as shown in FIGS. 5 to 9, in the process of drying the droplet 240, the spacer 230 in the droplet 240 is pulled by the remaining droplet 240 until the end, and the upper film of the color filter 60 is formed. Move to the part 60b facing the black matrix 20 on the 60. When the drying progresses and the droplets 240 disappear, the spacer 230 is disposed on the portion 60 b facing the black matrix 20 on the surface of the color filter 100.

[0045] Furthermore, in the present embodiment, since the recess 60a is formed in the portion 60b facing the black matrix 20 on the surface of the color filter 100, the liquid in the recess 60a is further in comparison with the outside of the recess 60a. Evaporate. Therefore, when the droplet 240 is dried, the droplet 240 moves more accurately in the recess 60 a that is a portion facing the black matrix 20 on the surface of the color filter 100. Therefore, even if the accuracy of depositing the droplet 240 on the surface of the color filter 100 is slightly worse, and even if the spacer 230 is disposed at an arbitrary position in the droplet 240 when the droplet is deposited, the droplet 240 If 240 adheres to the region 240s including the depression 60a, the spacer 230 moves into the depression 6Oa as the droplet 240 dries.

[0046] When all of the liquid has evaporated, the spacer 230 is disposed in the recess 60a as shown in FIG. This completes the spacer spraying process.

[0047] Thereafter, an electrode substrate (not shown) is stacked with the spacer 230 interposed therebetween, and liquid crystal is sealed between the color filter 100 and the electrode substrate to complete a liquid crystal display.

[0048] Thus, according to the present embodiment, the droplet 240 including the spacer 230 is attached to the region 240s including the portion 60b facing the black matrix 20 on the surface of the color filter 100, and the coloring portion 30R. The color filter 100 is irradiated with infrared rays through a light shielding plate having an opening 400a opposite to 30G and 30B. As a result, the droplet 240 is mainly dried from the portion 240c facing the coloring portions 30R, 30G, and 30B, and as the drying proceeds, the spacer 230 in the droplet 240 is pulled by the remaining liquid, and the color filter 100 It moves toward the part 60b facing the black matrix 20 on the surface. Therefore, drop 240 is applied to the upper film 60. Even if the accuracy of adhesion to the droplet is slightly worse, and even if the spacer 230 is located at an arbitrary position in the droplet 240 when the droplet is deposited, the spacer will be removed after the droplet is dried. It is arranged in a portion 60b facing the black matrix 20 on the surface of 100.

[0049] (Second embodiment)

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The spacer spraying method according to the present embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the upper film 60 further includes a flat film 55 in the color filter 100. Specifically, this flat film 55 is also formed of material strength such as epoxy resin, acrylic resin, etc., and fills the level difference between the colored portions 30R, 30G, 30B and the black matrix 20 with color. It has the role of flattening the surface of the filter 100. The transparent conductive film 40 and the alignment film 50 are formed on the flattening film 55. That is, in this embodiment, the depression 60a is formed on the surface of the color filter 100.

[0050] In the present embodiment, the droplet 240 is attached to the region including the portion 60b facing the black matrix 20 on the surface of the color filter 100, that is, the surface of the upper film 60, and then the first embodiment. In the same manner as described above, the color filter 100 is irradiated with infrared rays through the opening 400a of the light shielding plate 400. Then, in the same manner as in the first embodiment, the droplet 240 is likely to remain on the portion 60b facing the black matrix 20 on the surface of the color filter 100. Therefore, after drying, the spacer 230 is shown in FIG. As described above, the color filter 100 is disposed on the portion 60b facing the black matrix 20 on the surface.

[0051] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made. For example, in the above embodiment, the spacer density is higher than the droplet density, but the spacer density may be lower than the droplet density. In this case, when the liquid droplet 240 is attached to the surface of the color filter 100, for example, in the first embodiment, the spacer 230 is in the state shown by the dotted line in FIG. In the same manner as described above, the spacer 230 is disposed in the portion 60 b facing the black matrix 20 on the surface of the color filter 100. The same applies to the second embodiment.

[0052] In the above embodiment, the spray device 300 ejects the droplets 240 from the top to the bottom, and the droplets adhere to the color filter 100 with the upper film 60 disposed upward. The droplet 240 may be discharged from the bottom to the top by the cloth device 300, and the droplet 240 may be attached to the lower surface of the color filter 100 in which the upper film 60 is disposed downward. Even in this case, the spacer 230 is disposed in the recess 60a in the same manner as described above, regardless of whether the spacer 230 floats or sinks in the droplet.

Claims

The scope of the claims

[1] preparing a color filter having a black matrix in which a plurality of openings are formed, and a colored portion provided in each opening of the black matrix;

Attaching a spacer-containing droplet to an area including a portion facing the black matrix on the surface of the color filter;

A light shielding plate capable of shielding infrared rays and having openings corresponding to the respective colored portions is disposed so that the colored portions of the color filter and the openings of the light shielding plate face each other, and the openings of the light shielding plates are arranged. Irradiating the color filter with infrared rays through

How to spread spacers including

[2] In the step of preparing the color filter, a recessed portion that is recessed from a portion facing the colored portion on the surface of the color filter is formed in a portion facing the black matrix on the surface of the color filter. And

2. The spacer spraying method according to claim 1, wherein the droplet is adhered to a region including the depression on the surface of the color filter over the step of depositing the droplet.

[3] The spacer spraying method according to [1] or [2], wherein the color filter further has an upper film on each of the colored portions and the black matrix.

[4] The spacer spraying method according to [3], wherein the upper film includes a transparent electrode film and an alignment film in that order near the colored portion and the black matrix.