WO2014112731A1

WO2014112731A1 - Rubbing and photo-aligning device

Info

Publication number: WO2014112731A1
Application number: PCT/KR2013/012359
Authority: WO
Inventors: 윤형열; 코지하시즈메
Original assignee: 위아코퍼레이션
Priority date: 2013-01-15
Filing date: 2013-12-30
Publication date: 2014-07-24
Also published as: CN104903787A; CN104903787B; JP5927358B2; JP2016503194A; KR101393460B1

Abstract

Disclosed is a rubbing and photo-aligning device. A rubbing and photo-aligning device according to an aspect of the present invention includes a gantry positioned above a table for supporting a liquid crystal display element, a lamp arranged within the gantry for generating a light for photo-aligning, and a photo-aligning case connected to the outside of the gantry for altering the properties of the light generated from the lamp, wherein the gantry may be joined selectively with a rubbing roller or the photo-aligning case.

Description

Rubbing and Photoalignment Devices

The present invention relates to a rubbing and photoalignment device, and more particularly, to an apparatus capable of simultaneously performing mechanical rubbing and photoalignment.

Generally, a liquid crystal layer is formed between two glass substrates, a transparent electrode for applying an electric field to the liquid crystal layer on the inner surface of the two glass substrates, a switching element for turning the electric field on and off, and a color. It has a structure in which a color filter for displaying a light emitting film, and an alignment film for orienting liquid crystal molecules are formed. A liquid crystal material is sealed between two glass substrates to produce a liquid crystal display device. The alignment film is made of a resin layer such as polyimide resin (PI) coated on a substrate, and after the alignment film is cured, the liquid crystal is aligned in a predetermined direction by a rubbing treatment with a rubbing device.

In a typical rubbing device, both ends of the rubbing roller are rotatably supported on an upper portion of a table on which a glass substrate is fixed, and a rubbing cloth (napping fabric) is attached to the surface of the rubbing roller by a double-sided tape or the like. By the rotation of this rubbing roller, the rubbing cloth which contacts the surface of the orientation layer of a glass substrate rubs an orientation layer in a fixed direction, and a liquid crystal material is orientated in that direction.

Such mechanical rubbing has the advantage that the alignment process is easy to be suitable for mass production and stable orientation.

However, since the mechanical rubbing is oriented by the direct contact of the rubbing cloth, the rubbing of the liquid crystal cell due to the generation of particles and the destruction of the TFT elements installed on the substrate due to the generation of static electricity, after rubbing Various problems, such as the need for an additional cleaning process and non-uniformity of orientation in large area applications, are caused, resulting in lower yields in the manufacture of liquid crystal displays.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and to provide a rubbing and photoalignment apparatus capable of performing photoalignment in order to compensate for the disadvantages while utilizing the advantages of the alignment treatment using a rubbing roller.

Other objects of the present invention will become more apparent through the embodiments described below.

The rubbing and photoalignment device according to an aspect of the present invention includes a gantry positioned on a table on which a liquid crystal display device substrate is placed, a lamp positioned inside the gantry to generate light for photoalignment, and an outer portion of the gantry. It includes a photoalignment case coupled to change the characteristics of the light from the lamp, the gantry can be selectively combined with a rubbing roller or photoalignment case.

The rubbing and photoalignment device according to this aspect may include one or more of the following embodiments. For example, the gantry has a horizontal frame, the lamp is located inside the horizontal frame, the horizontal frame has a support, the support roller and the optical alignment case may be combined.

The rubbing roller and the optical alignment case may have the same coupling structure with respect to the support. The optical alignment case may include a polarizer and a cold mirror.

The rubbing and photoalignment device according to another aspect of the present invention includes a gantry positioned on a table on which a liquid crystal display device substrate is placed, and an optical alignment module coupled to an outside of the gantry, wherein the optical alignment module includes optical light therein. A lamp for generating light for orientation is provided, and the gantry can be selectively coupled with the optical alignment module or rubbing roller.

The rubbing and photoalignment device according to this aspect may include one or more of the following embodiments. For example, the gantry may have a support coupled to the rubbing roller and the optical alignment module, and the rubbing roller and the optical alignment module may have the same coupling structure with respect to the support. The optical alignment module may include a polarizer and a cold mirror.

The rubbing and photoalignment device according to another aspect of the present invention includes a gantry positioned on a table on which a liquid crystal display substrate is placed, and a lamp and a polarizing element for photoalignment are provided inside the gantry. Can be combined and separated with the rubbing roller.

The rubbing and photoalignment device according to this aspect may include the following embodiments. For example, the gantry may be provided with a horizontal frame in which the lamp and the polarizer are positioned, and the support may be provided with the rubbing roller.

The present invention can provide a rubbing and photoalignment device capable of increasing the manufacturing yield of a liquid crystal display device and enabling the manufacture of a high-quality liquid crystal display device, since the orientation and photoalignment by rubbing can be used selectively or simultaneously. .

1 is a perspective view illustrating a rubbing and photoalignment device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view of a gantry of the rubbing and photoalignment device illustrated in FIG. 1.

3 is a perspective view of a rubbing roller coupled to the gantry illustrated in FIG. 2.

4 is a perspective view of an optical alignment case coupled to the gantry illustrated in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a view illustrating a state in which the optical alignment case illustrated in FIG. 4 is coupled to the gantry illustrated in FIG. 2.

6 is a perspective view illustrating an optical alignment module of the rubbing and optical alignment device according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

7 is a diagram illustrating a gantry of a rubbing and photoalignment device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

As the inventive concept allows for various changes and numerous embodiments, particular embodiments will be illustrated in the drawings and described in detail in the written description. However, this is not intended to limit the present invention to specific embodiments, it should be understood to include all transformations, equivalents, and substitutes included in the spirit and scope of the present invention. In the following description of the present invention, if it is determined that the detailed description of the related known technology may obscure the gist of the present invention, the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular example embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention. Singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. In this application, the terms "comprise" or "have" are intended to indicate that there is a feature, number, step, operation, component, part, or combination thereof described in the specification, and one or more other features. It is to be understood that the present invention does not exclude the possibility of the presence or the addition of numbers, steps, operations, components, components, or a combination thereof.

Terms such as horizontal and vertical and main and auxiliary may be used to describe various components, but the components should not be limited by the terms. The terms are used only for the purpose of distinguishing one component from another.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, and in describing the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, the same or corresponding elements are denoted by the same reference numerals regardless of the reference numerals, and duplicates thereof. The description will be omitted.

Hereinafter, the rubbing and optical alignment device 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a rubbing and photoalignment apparatus 100 according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a gantry 120 of the rubbing and photoalignment apparatus 100 illustrated in FIG. 1. This is the drawing. 3 is a perspective view of the rubbing roller 190, Figure 4 is a perspective view of the optical orientation case 220.

1 and 2, the rubbing and photoalignment device 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention may be provided with a lamp 210 in the gantry 120 to perform photoalignment. The optical alignment case 220 (see FIG. 4) may be coupled to the outside of the flavor gantry 120 to obtain light characteristics such as a desired polarization direction. In addition, the rubbing and photoalignment device 100 according to the first embodiment may perform the rubbing by combining the rubbing roller 190 (see FIG. 3) for rubbing to the outside of the gantry 120. Therefore, since the rubbing and photoalignment apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment can perform mechanical rubbing and photoalignment selectively or simultaneously, the rubbing and photoalignment apparatus 100 has an advantage of performing orientation by utilizing the advantages of rubbing and photoalignment.

The rubbing and photoalignment device 100 according to the first embodiment includes a gantry 120, a main base 150 and an auxiliary base 152, a stage driving device 160, a stage 170, and a table 174. Have And the rubbing roller 190 may be selectively coupled to the outside of the gantry 120 to perform the orientation by the rubbing. In addition, in order to perform the optical alignment, the lamp 210 and the reflecting mirror 212 is provided inside the gantry 120, the optical alignment case 220 on the outside of the gantry 120, the rubbing roller 190 It can instead be combined selectively.

The liquid crystal display device (not shown) positioned on the table 174 passes through the lower portion of the gantry 120 by linear reciprocating motion by the stage driving device 160. In this process, the alignment layer (not shown) formed on the liquid crystal display device is rubbed by a rubbing roller 190 coupled to the gantry 120, or the lamp 210 and the gantry 120 provided in the gantry 120. The optical alignment in the desired direction is made by the optical alignment case 220 coupled to.

On the table 174, a liquid crystal display element to be worked is placed. The table 174 is positioned above the stage 170 by the support 172 having a constant height. On the table 174, a polarized angle sensor (not shown) may be provided to measure the degree of polarization of the light irradiated upon the optical alignment.

The stage 170 receives the driving force of the stage driving device 160 to linearly reciprocate the lower portion of the gantry 120 along the guide rail 164. A driving coil (not shown) corresponding to the mover of the stage driving device 160 may be coupled to the lower portion of the stage 170.

The stage driving device 160 corresponds to a linear motor for linearly moving the stage 170. The stage driving device 160 includes a stator 162 corresponding to a magnet, a driving coil (not shown) coupled to a lower portion of the stage 170, and a guide rail corresponding to a movement path of the stage 170. 164. When a current is applied to the driving coil, a force for moving the stage 170 is generated by electromagnetic interaction with a magnet corresponding to the stator 162.

As the stage driving device 160, various driving sources such as a ball screw using a motor in addition to the linear motor may be used.

The stage driver 160 is located on the main base 150. The auxiliary base 152 is provided on both left and right sides of the main base 150, respectively. The auxiliary base 152 is provided with gantry rotating means 142 and up-down means 140 for driving the gantry 120.

The gantry rotating means 142 rotates the gantry 120 at a predetermined angle (for example, 0 to 45 degrees) in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction. That is, the gantry rotating means 142 may change the angle formed by the stage 170 and the rubbing roller 190, and thus the rubbing process of the twisted nematic mode or the IPS mode (In-Plane Switching mode). Makes it possible.

Up-down means 140 serves to adjust the height of the horizontal frame 122 of the gantry 120 relative to the table (174). Therefore, by adjusting the up-down means 140, it is possible to adjust the height of the rubbing roller 190 or the optical alignment case 220 for the liquid crystal display element placed on the table 174.

Tilt adjustment means 134 is provided on the left and right vertical frames 134 of the gantry 120. The tilt adjusting means 134 serves to adjust the tilt angle of the horizontal frame 122 of the gantry 120.

The gantry 120 is selectively coupled with a rubbing roller 190 for rubbing or an optical orientation case 220 for photoalignment. The gantry 120 includes a horizontal frame 122 positioned at a predetermined height on the table 174, and a vertical frame 134 extending vertically from the left and right ends of the horizontal frame 122.

The cuboid-shaped horizontal frame 122 includes an internal space 128, and the internal space 128 is provided with a lamp 210 and a reflector 212 for optical alignment. In addition, the lower left and right both sides of the horizontal frame 122 is provided with a support 126 for coupling with the rubbing roller 190 or the optical alignment case 220. A part of the lower surface of the horizontal frame 122 corresponds to the light transmitting part 124 through which the light from the lamp 210 can pass.

The lamp 210 generates light for photo-alignment, and may correspond to a lamp for generating ultraviolet rays (UV) by microwaves, and the internal space 128 of the horizontal frame 122 is applied to the microwaves. It may correspond to the resonator for. After the light from the lamp 210 passes through the light transmission unit 124, after passing through the polarizing element 224 and the cold mirror 226 of the optical alignment case 220 is coupled to the lower portion of the horizontal frame 122 The alignment layer (not shown) of the liquid crystal display element substrate placed on the table 174 is reached.

Lamp 210 for the photo-alignment can be used a variety of lamps in addition to the micro UV lamp is a matter of course.

The lamp 210 may be formed with one having a length capable of covering all the widths of the liquid crystal display substrate or a plurality of lamps having a shorter length than the length of the liquid crystal display device substrate. In addition, the lamps 210 may be arranged in one row or two or more rows in parallel with each other in the horizontal frame 122.

Light emitted from the lamp 210 is reflected by the reflector 212 and then directed to the light transmission unit 124. The reflector 212 is to increase the light collecting efficiency of the lamp 210 and has a length slightly larger than that of the lamp 210. In addition, the reflecting mirror 212 may have a parabolic shape in cross section thereof.

The pair of supports 126 disposed below the horizontal frame 122 serves to support the supporting rollers 190 or the both ends of the optical alignment case 220. Since the coupling structure formed at both ends of the rubbing roller 190 and the coupling structure formed at both ends of the optical alignment case 220 are the same, the support 126 is easily coupled with the rubbing roller 190 or the optical alignment case 220. You can do it.

A cooling device (not shown) for cooling the lamp 210 may be provided inside the horizontal frame 122.

Since the support 126 can move left and right by a predetermined distance in the horizontal direction (arrow display), the position of the rubbing roller 190 or the optical alignment case 220 with respect to the liquid crystal display element substrate placed on the table 174 can be moved. I can adjust it. In addition, one of the left and right supports 126 may be provided with a motor (not shown) for providing a rotational force to the rubbing roller 190.

The rubbing and photoalignment device 100 according to the present embodiment includes a microwave generator 180 for emitting light of the lamp 210. The microwave generated by the microwave generator 180 is transmitted to the inside of the horizontal frame 122 of the gantry 120 through the waveguide 182 to induce light emission of the lamp 210 by resonance. The microwave generator 180 may be located at a distance from the rubbing and optical alignment device 100.

In order to perform a rubbing process for the liquid crystal display device substrate, the rubbing roller 190 illustrated in FIG. 3 is coupled to the support 126 of the gantry 120. The rubbing roller 190 includes a cylindrical cylindrical portion 192, a roll flange 194 coupled to both ends of the cylindrical portion 192, and a spindle 196 coupled to the roll flange 194.

A rubbing cloth (not shown) for rubbing the alignment film is coupled around the cylindrical portion 192. The roll flange 194 for coupling with the support 126 is coupled to the left and right ends of the cylindrical portion 192, and the spindle 196 for coupling with the support 126 is coupled to the center of the roll flange 194. . The roll flange 194 and the spindle 196 corresponding to the coupling structure of both ends of the rubbing roller 190 may be the same as the coupling structure of both ends of the optical alignment case 220.

In order to couple the rubbing roller 190, the support 126 is horizontally moved to enlarge the width between the left and right supports 126, and then the roll flange 194 and the spindle 196 of the rubbing roller 190 are supported by the support 126. ) As described above, after the rubbing roller 190 is coupled to the gantry 120, the contact pressure between the rubbing roller 190 and the liquid crystal display device substrate is adjusted by the up-down means 140, and by the gantry rotating means 142. The angle between the liquid crystal display element substrate and the rubbing roller 190 is adjusted, and the tilt angle of the rubbing roller 190 is adjusted by the tilt adjusting means 144.

After adjusting the contact pressure, angle and tilt angle of the rubbing roller 190 with respect to the liquid crystal display device substrate, when the stage driving device 160 is operated to move the table 174, the rubbing roller 190 moves to the liquid crystal display device. The rubbing process is performed by rotation while contacting the alignment layer of the substrate. In addition, during the rubbing process, the contact pressure, angle, and tilt angle of the rubbing roller 190 with respect to the liquid crystal display element substrate may be adjusted.

After the rubbing process is performed, the pretreatment of the alignment layer may be performed before photoalignment to improve the alignment treatment efficiency. The pretreatment may correspond to a process of heating the alignment film subjected to the primary alignment treatment by the rubbing roller 190 to a predetermined temperature by hot air or the like. Such a pretreatment process can improve the responsiveness of the irradiation light to the alignment layer during the photo-alignment process by light irradiation, and can perform an effective alignment treatment even at a small effective energy.

The rubbing and photoalignment device 100 according to the present embodiment may perform the second photoalignment after the first rubbing process and pretreatment, but may perform only one of the rubbing process or the photoalignment by the rubbing roller 190. Of course.

In order to perform optical alignment with respect to the liquid crystal display device substrate, the rubbing roller 190 is removed from the gantry 120 and then the optical alignment case 220 is coupled. The left and right sides of the optical alignment case 220 is provided with a spindle 222 and a roll flange 223, which is the same structure as the spindle 196 and the roll flange 194 provided on the left and right sides of the rubbing roller 190. Has Therefore, after separating the rubbing roller 190, it is possible to couple the optical orientation case 220 to the support 126 without any difficulty.

The polarization element 224 and the cold mirror 226 are provided inside the optical alignment case 220.

The polarizer 224 polarizes the light emitted from the lamp 210 in a predetermined direction and may correspond to a wire grid. The polarized light generated by the polarizer 224 reaches the optical alignment layer and aligns the optical alignment layer to have a direction perpendicular to the polarization direction. The polarizer 224 may change the polarization direction.

The cold mirror 226 filters out infrared rays, which cause a temperature increase, from the light emitted from the lamp 210, and serves to suppress temperature rise of the optical alignment case 220 and the table 174.

The optical alignment case 220 may include a cleaning function for removing foreign particles generated after the rubbing process by the rubbing roller 190. In addition, the optical alignment case 220 may further include a device that can remove the static electricity generated after the rubbing process.

5 is a view illustrating a state in which the optical alignment case 220 is coupled to the gantry 120.

Referring to FIG. 5, after the rubbing roller 190 is removed from the gantry 120 to perform optical alignment, the optical alignment case 220 is coupled to the support 126. The optical alignment case 220 may be coupled to be in close contact with the lower portion of the gantry 120, and thus, the UV light generated from the lamp 210 may enter the optical alignment case 220 without being leaked to the outside. do.

And by the operation of the microwave generator 180 to generate a microwave so that the UV light from the lamp 210. The UV light emitted from the lamp 210 passes through the light transmitting part 124 of the gantry 120, passes through the polarizing element 224 and the cold mirror 226 of the optical alignment case 220, and reaches the alignment layer. Perform photoalignment.

Although the rubbing and optical alignment device 100 according to the present embodiment has been illustrated as selectively combining the rubbing roller 190 or the optical alignment case 220 with one gantry 120, the rubbing according to another embodiment. And the optical alignment device may be provided with two gantry to selectively combine the rubbing roller 190 and the optical alignment case 220. In this case, only the rubbing roller 190 may be coupled to both gantry, or only the optical alignment case 220 may be coupled.

Hereinafter, the optical alignment module 300 of the rubbing and optical alignment device according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 6.

6 is a perspective view illustrating an optical alignment module 300 of the rubbing and optical alignment device according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 6, the rubbing and optical alignment device according to the present embodiment includes an optical alignment module 300. The optical alignment module 300 includes a reflector 324, a lamp 326, a polarizer 328, and a cold mirror 332. In addition, the optical alignment module 300 may be selectively coupled to the outside of the gantry for optical alignment, in which the lamp is not provided inside the gantry. Therefore, the rubbing and photoalignment device according to the present embodiment is the same as the rubbing and photoalignment device 100 according to the first embodiment, except that the reflector 324 and the lamp 326 are not located inside the gantry. There is a difference in that the optical alignment module 300 is provided inside.

The optical alignment module 300 includes a case 320, a reflector 324, a lamp 326, a polarizer 328, and a cold mirror 332. The optical alignment module 300 may be coupled to the gantry for optical alignment.

The case 320 forms an outer body of the optical alignment module 300, and a reflecting mirror 324, a lamp 326, a polarizer 328, and a cold mirror 332 are located therein. The case 320 has a resonator structure for microwaves, so that microwaves generated by the microwave generator 180 are transmitted and resonate therein. UV light is induced in the lamp 326 by microwaves resonating inside the case 320.

The spindle 322 and the roll flange 333 are provided on the left and right sides of the case 320. The spindle 322 and the roll flange 333 have the same structure as the spindle 196 and the roll flange 194 of the rubbing roller 190. Thus, the optical alignment module 300 may be easily coupled to the support 126 to which the rubbing roller 190 is coupled.

The reflector 324, the lamp 326, the polarizer 328, and the cold mirror 332 provided in the case 320 may include the reflector of the rubbing and optical alignment device 100 according to the first embodiment. 212), the lamp 210, the polarizer 224, and the cold mirror 226 are the same as detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted.

In the rubbing and optical alignment device according to the present embodiment, since the optical alignment module 300 coupled to the gantry includes a lamp 326, the microwave generator 180 and the cooling device in the internal space of the horizontal frame 122 of the gantry. (Not shown) and the like can be stored. In addition, the case 320 of the optical alignment module 300 may have a structure (eg, a mesh structure) that can prevent the outflow of microwaves. In addition, the optical alignment module 300 may further include a function capable of removing foreign particles generated after the rubbing process and a function capable of removing static electricity.

Hereinafter, the rubbing and optical alignment device according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 7.

7 illustrates a gantry 400 of a rubbing and photoalignment device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 7, the gantry 400 of the rubbing and optical alignment device according to the present embodiment includes a lamp 430, a polarizer 436, and a cold mirror 438 inside the horizontal frame 420. It is characteristic in that it exists. Therefore, the rubbing and photoalignment apparatus according to the present embodiment only needs to remove the rubbing roller 190 coupled to the outside of the gantry 400 without having to combine the photoalignment case 220 illustrated in FIG. 4 for photoalignment. do.

The horizontal frame 420 has an inner space 424, which includes a reflector 432, a lamp 430, a polarizer 436, and a cold mirror 438. In addition, the horizontal frame 420 includes a light transmission part 422 through which the light from the lamp 430 can pass. In addition, the lower surface of the horizontal frame 420 is provided with a pair of supports 426 for the coupling of the rubbing roller 190.

Only the rubbing roller 190 for rubbing is coupled to the support 426.

The lamp 430, the reflector 432, the polarizer 436, and the cold mirror 438 provided in the gantry 400 of the rubbing and optical alignment device according to the present embodiment are rubbing according to the first embodiment. And since it is the same as the lamp 210, the reflector 212, the polarizing element 224 and the cold mirror 226 of the optical alignment device, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Although the above has been described with reference to an embodiment of the present invention, those skilled in the art may vary the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as set forth in the claims below. It will be appreciated that modifications and variations can be made.

Claims

A gantry positioned on a table on which the liquid crystal display substrate is placed;

A lamp positioned inside the gantry to generate light for photoalignment; And

It is coupled to the outside of the gantry includes an optical alignment case for changing the characteristics of the light emitted from the lamp,

The gantry is a rubbing and optical alignment device that can be selectively coupled with the rubbing roller or the optical alignment case.
The method of claim 1,

The gantry has a horizontal frame, the lamp is located inside the horizontal frame,

The horizontal frame is provided with a support, the rubbing roller and the optical alignment device, characterized in that the rubbing roller and the optical orientation case is coupled.
The method of claim 2,

The rubbing roller and the photo-alignment case is a rubbing and photo-alignment device characterized in that it has the same coupling structure with respect to the support.
The method of claim 1,

The photoalignment case is a rubbing and optical alignment device, characterized in that it comprises a polarizing element and a cold mirror.
A gantry positioned on a table on which the liquid crystal display substrate is placed; And

It includes an optical alignment module coupled to the outside of the gantry,

The optical alignment module includes a lamp for generating light for optical alignment therein,

The gantry is a rubbing and optical alignment device that can be selectively coupled with the optical alignment module or rubbing roller.
The method of claim 5,

The gantry has a support coupled to the rubbing roller and the optical alignment module,

And the rubbing roller and the optical alignment module have the same coupling structure with respect to the support.
The method of claim 5,

The optical alignment module rubbing and optical alignment device characterized in that it comprises a polarizing element and a cold mirror.
A gantry positioned on a table on which the liquid crystal display substrate is placed,

The gantry is provided with a lamp and a polarizing element for optical alignment,

The gantry is a rubbing and optical alignment device that can be coupled to and separated from the rubbing roller.
The method of claim 8,

The gantry has a horizontal frame in which the lamp and the polarizer is located,

The rubbing and optical alignment device, characterized in that the horizontal frame is provided with a support to which the rubbing roller is coupled.