Abstract:
An exposure method capable of performing accurate exposure without using a large photomask. The exposure method performs exposure while relatively moving a photomask above a substrate and includes a step of performing position correction of the photomask by performing, on a front side of the photomask relatively moved in a moving direction, image recognition of a pattern prearranged on the substrate such as a line and a black matrix and by correcting deviation of the photomask with respect to the pattern, and a step of checking the position correction of the photomask by performing image recognition of a reference mark arranged on the photomask and by determining whether or not the position correction of the photomask is accurately performed in the step of performing the position correction of the photomask.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to an exposure method and an exposure device, and in particular relates to an exposure method and an exposure device which perform exposure while relatively moving a substrate and a photomask. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    In a liquid crystal display panel, a pair of substrates are arranged opposing to each other at a predetermined gap, and liquid crystals are filled therebetween. On one of the substrates, constituents are stacked such as pixel electrodes which apply voltage Lao the liquid crystals, switching elements such as thin film transistors which drive the pixel electrodes, various lines such as gate bus lines and source bus lines, and an alignment layer which provides a pretilt angle to the liquid crystals. On the other substrate, constituents are stacked such as a black matrix, color filter layers having predetermined colors, common electrodes, and an alignment layer. 
         [0005]    An alignment process for aligning the liquid crystals toward a predetermined direction is applied to the alignment layers arranged on the substrates. Conventionally, a rubbing process using a material such as a textile material is used as the alignment process. However, a photoalignment process has recently been used alternatively as the alignment process. The photoalignment process is a process that provides predetermined alignment characteristics on a surface of an alignment layer through a step to project light energy onto the surface of the alignment layer at a predetermined incident angle. 
         [0006]    Constituents such as the switching element, the various lines, the black matrix, and the color filter layers are arranged using a photolithographic process. For example. The color filter layer is formed through a step to coat the substrate surface with a photoresist material having a predetermined color, a step to project light energy onto a predetermined pattern region on the photoresist material using a photomask, and a step to remove an unnecessary portion of the photoresist material (e.g. a portion onto which the light energy is not projected). 
         [0007]    As prior art literatures relating to the present invention, Japanese Patent Application Unexamined Publications Nos. 2005-024649 and Hei 11-133429 are cited. 
         [0008]    An exposure step to project light energy onto a predetermined region on a surface of a substrate is indispensable in manufacturing of liquid crystal display panels. If deviation in an exposure position and/or an exposure range occurs, conditions such as of alignment of liquid crystals and of lines arranged on the substrate may become different from the designed conditions, causing the substrate to fail to have designed alignment or characteristics. For example, if deviation in a position and/or a range of light energy projection occurs in the exposure step to provide the photoalignment process to the alignment layer, it becomes impossible to provide the designed pretilt angle to the liquid crystals. 
         [0009]    In addition, when projecting light energy onto the surface to be irradiated of the substrate using a photomask, the accuracy regarding the position and/or the range of light energy projection is significantly influenced by the dimensional accuracy of a pattern of light shielding portions and light transmitting portions which are arranged on the photomask, thereby rendering the photomask to be expensive. Moreover, the size of photomasks has been increased along with recent upsizing of substrates, resulting in even more expensive photomasks. 
         [0010]    Further, when a large photomask is used, problems tend to occur such as change in the sizes of light shielding portions and light transmitting portions and deviation in alignment with the substrate, due to factors such as deformation and thermal expansion. Countermeasures against the problems are performed for example by suppressing the change in the sizes by managing the temperatures of the substrate and the photomask and by improving the accuracy of the mechanism for alignment and the control thereof, but such countermeasures result in complicated processes and increased running costs. Hence, the present invention aims to provide an exposure method and an exposure device capable of performing accurate exposure Without: using a large photomask. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    An object of the invention is to overcome the problems described above and to provide a method for performing exposure by projecting ultraviolet light or other light onto some regions on a surface of a substrate using a plurality of small photomasks having slit openings while moving the substrate. This method enables predetermined regions on the substrate surface to be exposed in stripes (i.e. irradiated with ultraviolet light or other light). In addition, while projecting ultraviolet light or other light and moving the substrate, this method simultaneously photographs existing patterns prearranged on the substrate surface, for example, line patterns including gate bus lines, source bus lines, and a black matrix, and a reference mark arranged on the photomask, in order to monitor the position onto which the light is actually projected, that is, the position of the photomask with respect to the existing patterns using a photographed image. By such exposure method, it is possible to perform exposure with high alignment accuracy regardless of the sizes of substrates. 
         [0012]    Preferred embodiments of the present invention provides an exposure method which performs exposure while relatively moving a photomask above a substrate and includes a step of performing position correction of a photomask by performing, on a front side of the photomask relatively moved in a moving direction, image recognition of a pattern prearranged on the substrate and by correcting deviation of the photomask with respect to the pattern, and a step of checking the position correction of the photomask by performing image recognition of a reference mark arranged on the photomask and by determining whether or not the position correction of the photomask is accurately performed in the step of performing the position correction of the photomask. 
         [0013]    It is preferable that a light transmitting window for performing the image recognition of the pattern prearranged on the substrate is arranged on the photomask and the reference mark of the photomask is arranged on the light transmitting window. 
         [0014]    In addition, it is also preferable that the image recognition of the pattern prearranged on the substrate and the image recognition of the reference mark of the photomask are performed using one camera, and it is further preferable if the camera is a bifocal camera. 
         [0015]    Preferred embodiments of the present invention also provide an exposure device which performs exposure while relatively moving a photomask above a substrate and includes a mechanism to perform position correction of the photomask by performing, on a front side of the photomask relatively moved in a moving direction, image recognition of a pattern prearranged on the substrate and by correcting deviation of the photomask with respect to the pattern, and a mechanism to check the position correction of the photomask by performing image recognition of a reference mark arranged on the photomask and by determining whether or not the position correction of the photomask is accurately performed by the mechanism to perform the position correction of the photomask. 
         [0016]    It is preferable that a light transmitting window for performing the image recognition of the pattern prearranged on the substrate is arranged on the photomask and the reference mark of the photomask is arranged on the light transmitting window. 
         [0017]    In addition, it is also preferable that the image recognition of the pattern prearranged on the substrate and the image recognition of the reference mark of the photomask are performed using one camera, and it is further preferable if the camera is a bifocal camera. 
         [0018]    The present invention allows to perform exposure with high alignment accuracy when the exposure is performed while the photomask is relatively moved above the substrate, because the exposure method and the exposure device according to the preferred embodiments of the present invention include the position correction of the photomask in which the image recognition of the pattern prearranged on the front side of the photomask relatively moved in the moving direction and any deviation of the photomask with respect to the pattern is corrected, and the checking of the position correction of the photomask, in which the image recognition of the reference mark arranged on the photomask is performed and it is determined whether or not the position correction of the photomask is accurately performed by the above-described position correction of the photomask. 
         [0019]    If the photomask is configured such that the light transmitting window for performing the image recognition of the pattern prearranged on the substrate is arranged on the photomask and the reference mark of the photomask is arranged on the light transmitting window, the light transmitting window and the reference mark can be provided in a normal manufacturing process of the photomask. Accordingly, the cost to manufacture the photomask does not increase. 
         [0020]    In addition, if the image recognition of the pattern prearranged on the substrate and the image recognition of the reference mark of the photomask are performed using one camera, it becomes possible to simplify equipment for the image recognition, and the positioning accuracy of the camera is improved as compared to the case of providing two cameras for both of the image recognitions. 
         [0021]    Further, if the camera is a bifocal camera, it is possible to simultaneously perform focus adjustment in the image recognition of the pattern prearranged on the substrate and focus adjustment in the image recognition of the reference mark of the photomask. Thus, recognized images are not blurred, thereby allowing easier image processing such as detection of edges. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0022]      FIGS. 1A and 1B  are schematic views illustrating a configuration of major portions of an exposure device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and  FIG. 1A  is an overhead view of the exposure device seen from above a surface to be irradiated of a substrate, while  FIG. 1B  is a side view of the exposure device. 
           [0023]      FIG. 2  is an external perspective view schematically illustrating a configuration of a photomask used in the exposure device illustrated in  FIGS. 1A and 1B . 
           [0024]      FIG. 3  is a view schematically illustrating the bifocal configuration of a camera used in the exposure device illustrated in  FIGS. 1A and 1B . 
           [0025]      FIGS. 4A and 4B  are schematic views illustrating a photoalignment process of an exposure method or the exposure device according to preferred embodiments of the present invention.  FIG. 4A  illustrates a photoalignment process on an array substrate,  FIG. 4B  illustrates a photoalignment process on a color filter substrate, and  FIG. 4C  illustrates alignment of liquid crystals in a pixel of a liquid crystal display panel formed by bonding the above substrates together. 
           [0026]      FIGS. 5A and 5B  are views illustrating dimensional relation between a photomask for an array substrate used in the photoalignment process illustrated in  FIGS. 4A and 4B  and a pattern prearranged on the array substrate. 
           [0027]      FIG. 6  is a view illustrating dimensional relation between a photomask for a color filter substrate used in the photoalignment process illustrated in  FIGS. 4A and 4B  and a pattern prearranged on the color filter substrate. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0028]    A detailed description of preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be given with reference to the accompanying drawings.  FIGS. 1A and 1B  are schematic views illustrating a configuration of major portions of an exposure device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and  FIG. 1A  is an overhead view of the exposure device seen from above a surface to be irradiated of a substrate, while  FIG. 1B  is a side view of the exposure device. 
         [0029]    An exposure device  1  includes a plurality of exposure units  11  which project light energy onto a surface to be irradiated of a substrate  3 , and a table  12  which supports and moves the substrate  3 . Arrows a in  FIGS. 1A and 1B  indicate the moving direction of the substrate  3  on the table  12 . 
         [0030]    Each of the exposure units  11  has an exposure head  111 , a light source  112 , a photomask  2 , a camera  113 , a photomask movement mechanism  114 , a storage mechanism  115 , and a comparison mechanism  116 . By arranging a plurality of the exposure units  11  in a zigzag configuration in a direction perpendicular to the moving direction a of the substrate  3  as illustrated in  FIG. 1A , the whole surface to be irradiated of the substrate  3  can be exposed. 
         [0031]    As the light source  112  of the exposure unit  11 , various known light sources may be used which can emit light energy in a predetermined wavelength band, and a suitable light source is selected according to circumstances such as a purpose of irradiation and the type of an object to be irradiated. For example, an ultraviolet light source is used when projecting ultraviolet light onto the surface to be irradiated of the substrate  3 . 
         [0032]    The photomask  2  which is used for exposure is arranged such that the surface thereof is substantially parallel to the surface to be irradiated of the substrate  3  as an ordinary state. In addition, the photomask  2  is hold such that it is located below the exposure head  111  and movable on a planer which is parallel to the surface to be irradiated of the substrate  3 , to a direction b which is perpendicular to the moving direction a of the substrate  3 . 
         [0033]    The photomask  2  is a transparent substrate made of silica glass or other material on which light transmitting portions and light shielding portions are arranged in a predetermined pattern.  FIG. 2  is an external perspective view schematically illustrating a configuration example of the photomask  2 . An arrow a in  FIG. 2  indicates the moving direction of the substrate  3 . On the photomask  2 , vertically long slits defining the light transmitting members  22  are arranged side by side with a predetermined pitch along a direction perpendicular to the moving direction a of the substrate  3 . In  FIG. 2 , a region on which hatching is applied is the light shielding portions  21  while regions on which hatching is not applied are the light transmitting portions  22 . 
         [0034]    A horizontally long slit defining a light transmitting window  23  is arranged on the photomask  2  on a front side of the photomask  2  moved relative to the substrate  3  in a moving direction, and a reference mark  24  defining an alignment mark of the photomask  2  is arranged on the light transmitting window  23 . 
         [0035]    The camera  113  is capable of photographing the surface to be irradiated of the substrate  3  which is placed on the table  12 . A known photographing device such as a CCD camera may be used as the camera  113 . As illustrated in  FIG. 13 , the camera  113  is arranged on the exposure head  111  on a front side of the exposure head  111  moved relative to the substrate  3  in a moving direction. 
         [0036]    The camera  113  photographs an existing pattern  4  including a gate bus line, a source bus line, and a black matrix, which is prearranged on the substrate  3 . Here, the camera  113  photographs the existing pattern  4  in order to perform image recognition of a line from the starting edge to the ending edge of the existing pattern  4  which is arranged in parallel to the moving direction a of the substrate  3  (which is illustrated as a vertical line in  FIG. 1A ). Accordingly, the image recognition of the existing pattern  4  moving under the light transmitting window  23  is performed by photographing the existing pattern  4  using the camera  113 . 
         [0037]    In case the existing pattern  4  moving under the light transmitting window  23  deviates toward a direction perpendicular to the moving direction a of the substrate  3  white the camera  113  photographs the existing pattern  4 , an amount of the deviation is calculated and the photomask  2  is moved for alignment adjustment according the deviation amount. The alignment adjustment is performed by the above movement control of the photomask  2  following the existing pattern  4 , thereby allowing accurate exposure of a position along the existing pattern  4 . 
         [0038]    In addition to photographing the existing pattern  4  moving under the light transmitting window  23 , the camera  113  simultaneously photographs the reference mark  24  arranged on the light transmitting window  23 . When the photomask  2  is moved to correct the deviation while the camera  113  photographs the existing pattern  4  as described above, the reference mark  24  being photographed also moves. At this timer an amount of the movement of the reference mark  24  is calculated, and it is determined whether or not the movement of the photomask  2  for alignment adjustment has been accurately performed. If the determination result indicates that the photomask has not moved, or the movement amount is considerably greater than the calculated deviation amount, an action such as stopping of the exposure process is performed. 
         [0039]    Each of the photomasks  2  is provided with the camera  113 . Additionally, each of the cameras  113  is made independently movable by a movement mechanism (not shown) which differs from the movement mechanism used to move the photomask  2 . The movement mechanism for the camera  113  is used for purposes such as alignment with the photomask  2  performed before starting exposure. 
         [0040]    The camera  113  is a bifocal camera having two focal points as illustrated in  FIG. 3  which is capable of focusing on each of the existing pattern  4  on the substrate  3  and the reference mark  24  and clearly photographing both of them. As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , a light adjustment plate  113   a  is interposed between a halt of the view field of the camera  113  and the photomask  2  so as to simultaneously focus on the existing pattern  4  on the substrate  3  and the reference mark  24  of the photomask  2  which have different focal depths. 
         [0041]    The storage mechanism  115  stores a reference image used to align the photomask  2  and is capable of further storing an image of the existing pattern  4  and an image of the reference mark  24  of the photomask  2  which are photographed by the camera  113 . 
         [0042]    The comparison mechanism  116  compares the image of the existing pattern  4  on the substrate  3  which is photographed by the camera  113  and the reference image stored in the storage mechanist  115  and determines positional relation between a region of the surface to be irradiated of the substrate  3  onto which the light energy is actually projected and a region onto which the light energy is designed to be projected, in other words, determines an amount of positional deviation of the photomask  2  with respect to the existing pattern  4 . 
         [0043]    The photomask movement mechanism  114  corrects the deviation by moving the position of the photomask  2  based on the deviation amount determined by the comparison mechanism  116  so that the light energy is actually projected onto the region of the surface to be irradiated of the substrate  3  onto which the light energy is designed to be projected. 
         [0044]    In addition, the comparison mechanism  116  compares an image of the reference mark  24  of the photomask  2  photographed by the camera  113  before the position of the photomask  2  is corrected by the mask movement mechanism  114  and an image of the reference mark  24  of the photomask  2  photographed by the camera  113  after the position of the photomask  2  is corrected, determines an amount of the movement of the photomask  2  which has been performed to correct the position, and determines whether or not the correction of the position of the photomask  2  is accurately performed. If the determination result indicates that the photomask has not moved, or the movement amount is considerably greater than the calculated deviation amount, an action such as stopping of the exposure process is performed. If the movement amount of the photomask  2  is equal to the determined deviation amount of the exposure process continues. 
         [0045]    The light energy is projected onto the substrate  3  while moving the substrate  3 , and the alignment adjustment of the photomask  2  is performed following the existing pattern  4  as described above. Then, the exposure process terminates when the existing pattern  4  moves under the photomask  2  from the starting edge to the ending edge. 
         [0046]    By using the image of the existing pattern  4  and the image of the reference mark  24  of the photomask  2  photographed by the camera  113 , positional relation between the existing pattern  4  and the photomask  2  is monitored during exposure. Accordingly, it is possible to significantly improve the accuracy of the alignment of the photomask  2  with respect to the existing pattern  4 . 
         [0047]    Next, an implementation example according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention is described. The implementation example described herein is a photoalignment process which is applied to an alignment layer to form a plurality of regions having different alignments of liquid crystals (hereinafter referred to as domain regions) in each pixel of a liquid crystal display panel. In this implementation example, ultraviolet light is used as light energy to be projected. 
         [0048]      FIGS. 4A and 4B  are schematic views illustrating projection forms of light energy projected onto pixels which are arranged on each of a pair of substrates that form a liquid crystal display panel, namely, an array substrate and a color filter substrate.  FIG. 4A  illustrates a pixel arranged on the array substrate, while  FIG. 4B  illustrates a pixel arranged on the color filter substrate.  FIG. 4C  is a schematic plane view illustrating alignments of liquid crystals in a pixel of the liquid crystal display panel formed by bonding the above substrates together. 
         [0049]    As illustrated in  FIG. 4A , a pixel electrode  313  is arranged in a region surrounded by source bus lines  312  and gate bus lines  311 , and a thin film transistor  313  which drives the pixel electrode  313  is arranged in the vicinity of an intersection of the source bus line  312  and the gate bus line  311  on the array substrate. In addition, on a surface of a pixel  31 , an alignment layer made of polyamide or other material is arranged (not shown). 
         [0050]    On the color filter substrate, as illustrated in  FIG. 4B , a pixel  32  is defined by the black matrix  321 , and a color filter layer  322  is arranged inside the pixel  32 . In addition, a common electrode and an alignment layer are arranged on a surface of the pixel  32  (not shown). 
         [0051]    As configurations and manufacturing methods of the array substrate and the color filter substrates, conventional configurations and manufacturing methods are applicable, and thus descriptions thereof are omitted herein. 
         [0052]    As illustrated in  FIG. 4A , a photoalignment process of the array substrate involves two regions in the pixel  31  formed by dividing the pixel  31  in two at its substantial center line between the source bus lines  312  arranged on the sides. Alternate long and short dashed lines A in  FIG. 4A  indicate the boundary of the regions. Ultraviolet light is projected from a direction inclined at a predetermined angle θ to the normal to the surface of the pixel  31  onto each of the regions of the alignment layer. The directions of the ultraviolet lights projected onto the regions are such that, given that the optical axes of the ultraviolet lights are projected onto the surface of the pixel  31 , the protected axes are substantially parallel to the source bus line  312 , and the directions of the projected axes are 180 degrees opposite to each other. 
         [0053]    A photoalignmet process of the color filter substrate involves two regions formed by dividing the pixel  32  in two at its substantial center between the two of the black matrix which are parallel to the gate bus lines  311  of the array substrate when the color filter substrate is bonded together with the array substrate. Alternate long and short dashed lines B in  FIG. 4B  indicate the boundary of the regions. Ultraviolet light is projected from a direction inclined at a predetermined angle θ to the normal to the surface of the pixel  32  onto each of the regions of the alignment layer. The directions of the ultraviolet lights projected onto the regions are such that, given that the optical axes of the ultraviolet lights are projected onto the surface of the pixel  32 , the projected axes are substantially parallel to the gate bus lines  311 , and the directions of the projected axes are 180 degrees opposite to each other. 
         [0054]    When the array substrate and the color filter substrate to which the photoalignment processes are applied are bonded together, the liquid crystals tilled between the substrates are aligned according to the directions of the photoalignment processes applied to the regions of the substrates, that is, the directions of the projections of the ultraviolet lights. Arrows in  FIG. 4C  schematically illustrate alignments of the liquid crystals. In each pixel, four domain regions are formed which are different to each other in alignment directions of the liquid crystals. 
         [0055]      FIG. 5A  is a view illustrating a configuration of a photomask used to apply the photoalignment process to the alignment layer of the array substrate in the implementation example (hereinafter referred to as an array substrate photomask).  FIG. 5B  is a schematic plane view illustrating relations in terms of dimensions and positions between the array substrate photomask and a pattern of pixels arranged on the array substrate. 
         [0056]    Similar to the photomask  2  shown in  FIG. 2 , an array substrate photomask  2   x  is a plate member which has a substantially rectangle shape and is made of silica glass or other material. As illustrated in  FIG. 5A , a plurality of light transmitting portions  22   x  capable of transmitting ultraviolet light are arranged substantially parallel to each other with a predetermined pitch. A pitch P x  of the light transmitting portions  22  is set to be equal to a pitch of the source bus lines  312  arranged on the array substrate as illustrated in  FIG. 5B . The width of the light transmitting portion  22   x  is set to be equal to about the half length of the pitch P x . In addition, a light transmitting window  23   x  is arranged on the array substrate photomask  2   x , and a reference mark  24   x  is arranged on the light transmitting window  23   x . An arrow a in  FIG. 5B  indicates the moving direction of the array substrate with respect to the array substrate photomask  2   x.    
         [0057]    Using the array substrate photomask  2   x , ultraviolet light ids projected at a predetermined incident angle onto one of the two regions formed by dividing the pixel at its substantial center line between the source bus lines  312 . Then, ultraviolet light is projected onto the other region at a predetermined incident angle. The relation between the incident angles of the ultraviolet lights projected onto the regions are as described above. It is possible to project ultraviolet light onto each of the two regions using the single array substrate photomask  2   x  by shifting the position of the array substrate photomask  2   x  with respect to the array substrate by the half length of the pitch P x  of the light transmitting portions in a direction perpendicular to the moving direction a of the array substrate. 
         [0058]      FIG. 6  is a schematic plane view illustrating relations in terms of dimensions and positions between a photomask used to apply a photoalignment process to the alignment layer arranged on the surface of the color filter substrate in the implementation example (hereinafter referred to as a color filter substrate photomask) and the pixels arranged on the color filter substrate. 
         [0059]    The configuration of a color filter substrate photomask  2   y  is basically the same as that of the array substrate photomask  2   x  except for the dimensions of light transmitting portions  22   y . As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , a pitch P y  of the light transmitting portions  22   y  is set to be equal to the pitch of the sides of the black matrix  321  which are parallel to the gate bus lines of the array substrate. The width of the light transmitting portions  22   y  is set to be equal to about the half length of the pitch P y . In addition, a light transmitting window (not shown) which is similar to the light transmitting window  23   x  of the array substrate photomask  2   x  is arranged on The color filter substrate photomask  2   y , and a reference mark is arranged on the light transmitting window. An arrow a in  FIG. 6  indicates the moving direction of the color filter substrate with respect to the color filter substrate photomask  2   y.    
         [0060]    Using the color filter substrate photomask  2   y , ultraviolet light is projected at a predetermined incident angle onto one of the two regions formed by dividing the pixel at its substantial center line between the sides which are parallel to the gate bus lines of the array substrate. Then, ultraviolet light is projected onto the other region at a predetermined incident angle. The relation between the incident angles of the ultraviolet lights projected onto the regions is as described above. It is possible to project ultraviolet light onto each of the two regions using the single color filter substrate photomask  2   y  by shifting the position of the color filter substrate photomask  2   y  with respect to the color filter substrate by the half length of the pitch P y  of the light transmitting portions  22   y  in a direction perpendicular to the moving direction a of the color filter substrate. 
         [0061]    As described above, the present invention provides a method to perform exposure by projecting ultraviolet light or other light onto some regions on a surface of a substrate using a plurality of small photomasks having slit openings, while moving the substrate. By this method, it is possible to perform exposure with high alignment accuracy regardless of sizes of substrates. 
         [0062]    In addition, while projecting ultraviolet light or other light and moving the substrate, the method simultaneously photographs an existing pattern prearranged on the substrate surface, such as a line pattern including a gate bus line, a source bus line, and a black matrix, and a reference mark of the photomask to monitor using a photographed image the position onto which the light is actually projected, in other words, monitor the position of the photomask with respect to the existing pattern on the substrate. The above procedures enable the exposure method according to the present invention to be performed with high accuracy. 
         [0063]    The foregoing description of the preferred embodiments and the implementation example of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description with reference to the drawings. However, it is not intended to limit the present invention to the preferred embodiments, and modifications and variations are possible as long as they do not deviate from the principles of the present invention. 
         [0064]    For example, the present invention is applied to a photoalignment process of an alignment layer of a liquid crystal display panel in the descriptions above; however, it is not limited thereto. The present invention is applicable to exposure performed using photolithographic technique to provide color filter layers, a black matrix, and other certain constituents.