Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US20020061361?dq=7,013,345/
Timestamp: 2014-07-12 18:36:41
Document Index: 699096644

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 1', 'art 2', 'art 1', 'art 1', 'art 2', 'art 1', 'art 2', 'art 1', 'art 2', 'art 30', 'art 40', 'art 30', 'art 50', 'art 30', 'art 40', 'art 30', 'art 40', 'art 40', 'art 40', 'art 6', 'art 6', 'art 6', 'art 6', 'art 6', 'art 50', 'art 30', 'art 30', 'art 50', 'art 40', 'art 6', 'art 50', 'art 50', 'art 30', 'art 30', 'art 40', 'art 6', 'art 6']

Patent US20020061361 - Method and apparatus for fabricating electro-optical device and method and ... - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign in<nobr>Advanced Patent Search</nobr>PatentsA method for manufacturing an electro-optical device deposited with an insulating film or alignment layer on the surface of a substrate, the method is characterized by including the step of irradiating ultraviolet radiation onto the surface of the substrate (an ultraviolet radiation irradiating step)...http://www.google.com/patents/US20020061361?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US20020061361 - Method and apparatus for fabricating electro-optical device and method and apparatus for fabricating liquid crystal panelAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS20020061361 A1Publication typeApplicationApplication numberUS 09/946,808Publication dateMay 23, 2002Filing dateSep 5, 2001Priority dateSep 6, 2000Also published asCN1196956C, CN1342914A, US6893688Publication number09946808, 946808, US 2002/0061361 A1, US 2002/061361 A1, US 20020061361 A1, US 20020061361A1, US 2002061361 A1, US 2002061361A1, US-A1-20020061361, US-A1-2002061361, US2002/0061361A1, US2002/061361A1, US20020061361 A1, US20020061361A1, US2002061361 A1, US2002061361A1InventorsHiroki NakaharaOriginal AssigneeHiroki NakaharaExport CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManReferenced by (8), Classifications (11), Legal Events (5) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetMethod and apparatus for fabricating electro-optical device and method and apparatus for fabricating liquid crystal panelUS 20020061361 A1Abstract A method for manufacturing an electro-optical device deposited with an insulating film or alignment layer on the surface of a substrate, the method is characterized by including the step of irradiating ultraviolet radiation onto the surface of the substrate (an ultraviolet radiation irradiating step) and the step of depositing the insulating film or alignment layer on the surface of the substrate irradiated with the ultraviolet radiation (an insulating material coating step or alignment layer coating step). Images(8) Claims(19)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0043]FIG. 1 is an illustration schematically showing one embodiment of the apparatus for manufacturing the electro-optical device of the invention; [0044]FIG. 2 is a process diagram schematically illustrating one embodiment of the method for manufacturing the electro-optical device of the invention; [0045]FIG. 3 is a process diagram schematically illustrating another embodiment of the method for manufacturing the electro-optical device of the invention; [0046]FIG. 4 is an illustration schematically showing one embodiment of the apparatus for manufacturing the liquid crystal panel of the invention; [0047]FIG. 5 is an illustration schematically showing one example of the UV irradiating part in one embodiment of the apparatus for manufacturing the liquid crystal panel of the invention; [0048] FIGS. 6(a)-6(c) schematically show the transfer units for bringing in the substrate passed through the rubbing part toward the UV irradiating part and transferring the substrate inside the UV irradiating part in one embodiment of the apparatus for manufacturing the liquid crystal panel of the invention; [0049] FIGS. 7(a)-7(b) schematically show the transfer units for discharging the substrate irradiated with the ultraviolet radiation in the UV irradiating part in one embodiment of the apparatus for manufacturing the liquid crystal panel of the invention; and [0050]FIG. 8 is a process diagram schematically showing the manufacturing steps in one embodiment of the apparatus for manufacturing the liquid crystal panel of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT [0051] Hereafter, one embodiment of the method for manufacturing the electro-optical device of the invention will be specifically described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. [0052]FIG. 1 shows an illustration schematically showing the embodiment of the apparatus for manufacturing the electro-optical device of the invention. As shown in FIG. 1, a manufacturing apparatus 100 of the electro-optical device used for the embodiment comprises a cleaning part 1 for cleaning the surface of a liquid crystal substrate 10 with ultrasonic waves, ultraviolet radiation irradiating part 2 for irradiating ultraviolet radiation 22 onto the surface of the liquid crystal substrate 10 cleaned with the ultrasonic waves or pure water in the cleaning part 1 and a transfer unit 3 for transferring the liquid crystal substrate 10 so as to sequentially pass through the cleaning part 1 and the ultraviolet radiation irradiating part 2. [0053] In the cleaning part 1, a plurality of nozzles 11 for ejecting pure water toward the liquid crystal substrate 10 carried by the transfer unit 3 and air-knife nozzles 12 for spraying air toward the liquid crystal substrate 10 are provided. The nozzles 11 are provided with a vibration plate (not shown) for giving ultrasonic vibrations to pure water. Pure water is ejected from the nozzles 11 as the vibration palate is vibrated and thereby ultrasonic-vibrated water mixed with pure water and air can be ejected from the nozzles 11 to the liquid crystal substrate 10 in full momentum. Air is sprayed from the air-knife nozzles 12 at high speed toward the liquid crystal substrate 10. Thereby, pure water on the liquid crystal substrate 10 can be blown off and removed. [0054] In the ultraviolet radiation irradiating part 2, an ultraviolet lamp 21 for irradiating the ultraviolet radiation 22 toward the liquid crystal substrate 10 carried by the transfer unit 3 is provided. The ultraviolet radiation 22 are irradiated onto the liquid crystal substrate 10 and thereby the wettablity of the alignment layer material or insulating film material to the surface of the liquid crystal substrate 10 can be improved. [0055] As the transfer unit 3, the embodiment illustrates the case of using a belt conveyer type transfer unit as shown in FIG. 1. However, in addition to this, a roller conveyer type transfer unit or an apparatus that transfers the liquid crystal substrate 10 by using a robot may be used. [0056]FIG. 2 shows process diagram schematically illustrating one embodiment of the method for manufacturing the electro-optical device of the invention. Additionally, the embodiment illustrates the case of using a passive matrix liquid crystal device as the electro-optical device. [0057] As shown in FIG. 2 with reference to FIG. 1, before the substrate is cleaned in the manufacturing apparatus 100 of the electro-optical device (before a substrate cleaning step), an ITO electrode pattern is formed on the liquid crystal substrate 10 (an ITO pattern forming step). [0058] The liquid crystal substrate 10 is then brought in the manufacturing apparatus 100 of the electro-optical device and the liquid crystal substrate 10 carried by the transfer unit 3 sequentially passes through the cleaning part 1 and the ultraviolet radiation irradiating part 2 (the substrate cleaning step and an ultraviolet radiation irradiating step). The surface of the liquid crystal substrate 10 brought out of the manufacturing apparatus 100 of the electro-optical device has an enhanced wettability to the insulating film material by cleaning and ultraviolet radiation irradiation. [0059] Subsequently, an insulating material is coated on the surface of the liquid crystal substrate 10 (an insulating material coating step). As the insulating material, inorganic oxide films such as SiO2, ZnO, ZrO2, TiO2, and Sb2O5 can be used. As a coating method of the insulating material, typical methods such as screen printing and relief printing can be used. [0060] After the insulating film is deposited, an alignment layer is coated on the insulating film (an alignment layer coating step). As the alignment layer material, polyimide etc. can be used. Then, a rubbing process is applied to the alignment layer (a rubbing process step). The rubbing process is a process for forming fine grooves by rubbing the surface of the alignment layer in one direction with cotton cloth or the like. Thereby, the alignment direction of liquid crystals sealed in the liquid crystal device (panel) can be controlled. [0061] Subsequently, a seal material for attaching a pair of substrates constituting the liquid crystal device (panel) is formed (a seal material printing step). [0062] Then, the pair of substrates are attached with the seal material and liquid crystals are injected between the pair of substrates to complete the liquid crystal panel (an assembling step). [0063] In the embodiment mentioned above, the example where the insulating film material coating step is arranged after the ultraviolet ray irradiating step was shown, but the same effect can be obtained by the case where the alignment layer coating step is arranged after the ultraviolet radiation irradiating step. [0064]FIG. 3 shows a process diagram schematically illustrating another embodiment of the method for manufacturing the electro-optical device of the invention. Additionally, the embodiment also illustrates the case of using the passive matrix liquid crystal device as the electro-optical device. [0065] In the embodiment, the alignment layer coating step is arranged after the ultraviolet radiation irradiating step, not through the insulating film material coating step. In this manner, the ultraviolet radiation are irradiated before the alignment layer is deposited and thereby the alignment layer can be deposited uniformly. [0066] In this case, as the alignment layer material, organic polymer based alignment layer materials (a polyimide-based varnish is preferable among them) and the like can be used. [0067] The glass substrate originally has a poor wettability to the alignment layer material such as polyimide, but the ultraviolet radiation irradiation enhances the wettability to the insulating material on the surface of the liquid crystal substrate in the embodiment as described above. Thus, the alignment layer can be deposited uniformly. [0068] In the embodiment, when a period of time after ultraviolet radiation irradiation until the alignment layer is coated is prolonged, the effect of ultraviolet radiation irradiation is weakened. Therefore, the time is preferably within 30 minutes. Additionally, the intensity of the ultraviolet radiation is preferably 200 mJ/cm2 or greater at a wavelength of 254 nm. [0069] In the embodiment, the case where the manufacturing apparatus 100 of the electro-optical device is used to fabricate the liquid crystal device was exemplified, but the method for manufacturing the electro-optical device of the invention is not limited to the case of using the apparatus described above. Furthermore, the method for manufacturing the electro-optical device of the invention is not limited to the application of the passive matrix liquid crystal device, which can be applied to the case of manufacturing all the electro-optical devices such as plasma display devices and electro luminescent display devices, in addition to all the liquid crystal devices including active matrix liquid crystal devices. [0070] Hereafter, one embodiment of the apparatus for manufacturing the liquid crystal panel of the invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 7. [0071]FIG. 4 shows an illustration schematically showing one embodiment of the apparatus for manufacturing the liquid crystal panel of the invention. Additionally, FIG. 4 shows a single-substrate processing type apparatus for manufacturing the liquid crystal panel as a liquid crystal panel manufacturing apparatus 200. [0072]FIG. 5 shows an illustration showing one example of a UV irradiating part in the embodiment of the liquid crystal panel manufacturing apparatus of the invention. [0073] As shown in FIG. 4, the liquid crystal panel manufacturing apparatus 200 comprises a rubbing part 30 for applying a rubbing process to the alignment layer deposited on a substrate (mother substrate) 10 where a plurality of panel substrates are arranged and a UV irradiating part 40 for irradiating the ultraviolet radiation onto the side of the substrate 10 where the alignment layer has been deposited, with the substrate having passed through the rubbing part 30. Furthermore, a bringing-in part 50 for receiving the substrate 10 is disposed on the near side of the rubbing part 30. Besides, a numeral 6 denotes a cleaning part. [0074] As shown in FIG. 5, the UV irradiating part 40 is provided with a UV lamp 21 for irradiating ultraviolet radiation 22 toward the substrates 10 carried in a state that they are arranged with a constant spacing. [0075]FIG. 6 shows illustrations schematically showing transfer units for bringing in the substrates 10 that have passed through the rubbing part 30 toward the UV irradiating part 40 and transferring the substrates 10 inside the UV irradiating part 40 (see FIG. 4); FIG. 6(a) shows a belt conveyor type transfer unit 4 and FIG. 6(b) shows a roller conveyer type transfer unit 4A. [0076] As shown in FIG. 6(a), in the belt conveyor type transfer unit 4, the substrates 10 are placed and carried on a belt 41 under the UV lamp 21. The substrates 10 are carried with the side formed with the alignment layer up. The belt 41 is driven by a drive mechanism (not shown). [0077] As shown in FIG. 6(b), in the roller conveyer type transfer unit 4A, a plurality of rollers 42 are disposed along the transfer path of the substrates 10. A drive mechanism (not shown) rotates the rollers 42 and thereby the substrates 10 placed on the rollers 42 are carried under the UV lamp 21. The substrates 10 are carried with the side formed with the alignment layer up. [0078]FIG. 6(c) shows the case where a single-substrate irradiation furnace with robots is used as the transfer unit. In this transfer unit 4B, a robot 43 places the substrates 10 on a stage 44 one by one and the ultraviolet radiation 22 are irradiated onto the substrate 10 on the stage 44. The substrate 10 is placed with the side formed with the alignment layer up. After ultraviolet radiation irradiation, a robot 45 brings the substrate 10 out of the stage 44. The stage 44 is provided with lifting pins 44 a for driving the substrate 10 vertically. The lifting pins 44 a lift the substrate 10 and thereby spacing where a hand 43 a of the robot 43 and a hand 45 a of the robot 45 are inserted at the time of carrying-in and carrying-out the substrates 10 can be secured. [0079]FIG. 7 shows illustrations schematically showing transfer units for discharging the substrate 10 irradiated with the ultraviolet radiation in the UV irradiating part 40 (see FIG. 4). FIG. 7(a) illustrates a transfer unit 5 using a robot, and FIG. 7(b) illustrates a roller conveyer type transfer unit 5A. In the transfer unit 5 shown in FIG. 7(a), a robot 51 is used to house the substrates 10 on a rack 52 one by one. The substrate 10 housed on the rack 52 is moved to the cleaning part 6 as a unit of the rack 52 and is cleaned as the units of the racks 52 (by batch process). In the transfer unit 5A shown in FIG. 7(b), rollers 53 arranged along the transfer direction of the substrates 10 sequentially transfer the substrates 10 toward the cleaning part 6. In this case, the substrates 10 are transferred inside the cleaning part 6 one by one and are cleaned sequentially. When the substrates 10 are transferred to the cleaning part 6 one by one as shown in FIG. 7(b), the cleaning part 6 can be incorporated as a part of the liquid crystal panel fabricating apparatus. [0080] As shown in FIG. 4, the liquid crystal panel 10 placed on the bringing-in part 50 is configured so that the transfer unit (not shown) leads it to the rubbing part 30. As the transfer unit, the same transfer unit as those shown in FIGS. 6(a) to 6(c) can be used. This transfer unit may be shared with an apparatus (not shown) for transferring the substrates inside the rubbing part 30 or the transfer unit may be shared in the transfer path from the bringing-in part 50 to the UV irradiating part 40 or to cleaning part 6. [0081] Next, one embodiment of the method for manufacturing the liquid crystal panel of the invention will be described with reference to FIG. 8. [0082]FIG. 8 shows a process diagram schematically illustrating manufacturing steps in the embodiment of the method for manufacturing the liquid crystal panel of the invention. [0083] As shown in FIG. 8, after an ITO electrode pattern is formed on the surface of the substrate 10 (see FIG. 4) (an ITO electrode pattern forming step), an alignment layer is deposited on the ITO electrode pattern using screen printing, letterpress printing or the like (an alignment layer depositing step). As the alignment layer material, polyimide and the like can be used. Additionally, after the ITO electrode pattern is formed, an insulating film is deposited on the ITO electrode pattern and the alignment layer may be deposited on the insulating film. [0084] Then, as shown in FIG. 8 with reference to FIG. 4, the substrate 10 deposited with the alignment layer is placed on the bringing-in part 50 of the liquid crystal panel manufacturing apparatus 200 shown in FIG. 4. The substrate 10 placed on the bringing-in part 50 is introduced into the rubbing part 30 by the transfer unit described above. In the rubbing part 30, a rubbing process is performed to the alignment layer on the substrate 10 (a rubbing step). Thereby, the alignment direction of liquid crystals to be sealed inside the liquid crystal panel can be controlled. Additionally, as the rubbing process, generally used processing methods can be used. [0085] Subsequently, the substrate 10 is transferred to the UV irradiating part 40 to irradiate the ultraviolet radiation on the alignment layer (a UV irradiating step). After that, the substrates 10 are sequentially housed on the rack 52 or are transferred to the cleaning part 6 one by one (see FIG. 7). [0086] Then, the substrates 10 are ultrasonic-cleaned with pure water in the cleaning part 6 (a post-rubbing cleaning step). At this step, foreign matters such as fibers of cloth attached on the alignment layer surface at the rubbing step are removed at this step. In the embodiment, the alignment layer is ultrasonic-cleaned after the ultraviolet radiation have been irradiated onto the alignment layer. Therefore, the wettability of the alignment layer is improved and the cleaning effect can be enhanced. The effect of ultraviolet radiation irradiation will be described later. [0087] After the alignment layer is cleaned and the substrates 10 are dried, seal printing is preformed (a seal printing step). In seal printing, the seal material is coated to the substrate 10 or a substrate (mother substrate) to be combined with the substrate 10 in a shape to match the shape of each of the liquid crystal panels. [0088] Subsequently, after a pair of substrates (mother substrates) described above has been sealed with the seal material, it is cut into stripes. Then, after liquid crystals are injected and sealed between the pair of substrates, it is cut into discrete liquid crystal panels. Thereby, the liquid crystal panels can be fabricated (an assembling step). [0089] Relationships between the amount of ultraviolet radiation irradiation after the rubbing process and a period of time to stand after ultraviolet radiation irradiation until cleaning with respect to the cleaning effect by ultraviolet radiation irradiation are shown in table 1 (the case of 254 nm of an ultraviolet radiation wavelength) and table 2 (the case of 365 nm of an ultraviolet radiation wavelength). UV Irradiation Amount, Time to Stand and Effect UV Irradiation Amount (mJ/cm2) Time to Stand 75 150 300 450 600 900 1050 5 Minutes ◯ ◯◯ ◯◯ ◯◯ ◯◯ ◯◯ ◯◯ 10 Minutes Δ ◯ ◯◯ ◯◯ ◯◯ ◯◯ ◯◯ 20 Minutes X Δ ◯ ◯◯ ◯◯ ◯◯ ◯◯ 30 Minutes X X ◯ ◯ ◯◯ ◯◯ ◯◯ 45 Minutes X X Δ ◯ ◯ ◯◯ ◯◯ 60 Minutes X X X Δ ◯ ◯◯ ◯◯ 90 Minutes X X X X Δ ◯ ◯ 120 Minutes X X X X X ◯ ◯ 240 Minutes X X X X X X X [0090] Evaluation: [0091] ∘∘ denotes the condition that there is no spot-like wettability defect on the surface of the substrate when the substrate cleaned after rubbing is confirmed by a method (condition 1); [0092] denotes the condition that there are less than ten spot-like wettability defects on the surface of the substrate when the substrate cleaned after rubbing is confirmed by a method (condition 2); [0093] denotes the condition that ten or more spot-like wettability defects are confirmed but not cause failure when a panel is formed (condition 3); and [0094] denotes the defective condition when the panel is lit(condition 4). UV Irradiation Amount, Time to Stand and Effect UV Irradiation Amount (mJ/cm2) Time to Stand 250 500 1000 1500 2000 3000 3500 5 Minutes ◯ ◯◯ ◯◯ ◯◯ ◯◯ ◯◯ ◯◯ 10 Minutes Δ ◯ ◯◯ ◯◯ ◯◯ ◯◯ ◯◯ 20 Minutes X Δ ◯ ◯◯ ◯◯ ◯◯ ◯◯ 30 Minutes X X ◯ ◯ ◯◯ ◯◯ ◯◯ 45 Minutes X X Δ ◯ ◯ ◯◯ ◯◯ 60 Minutes X X X Δ ◯ ◯◯ ◯◯ 90 Minutes X X X X Δ ◯ ◯ 120 Minutes X X X X X ◯ ◯ 240 Minutes X X X X X X X [0095] Evaluation: [0096] ∘∘ denotes the condition that there is no spot-like wettability defect on the surface of the substrate when the substrate cleaned after rubbing is confirmed by a method (condition 1); [0097] denotes the condition that there are less than ten spot-like wettability defects on the surface of the substrate when the substrate cleaned after rubbing is confirmed by a method (condition 2); [0098] denotes the condition that ten or more spot-like wettability defects are confirmed but not cause failure when a panel is formed (condition 3); and [0099] denotes the defective condition when the panel is lit(condition 4). [0100] The cleaning results are evaluated at four grades; the best condition is the condition that there is no spot-like wettablity defect on the surface of the substrate cleaned after rubbing (condition 1: indicated by ∘∘ in the table), the second best condition is the condition that there are less than ten spot-like wettablity defects on the surface of the substrate cleaned after rubbing (condition 2: indicated by ∘ in the table), the third best condition is the condition that ten or more spot-like wettablity defects are confirmed but they are not defects when the panel is lit (condition 3: indicated by Δ in the table), and the worst condition is the condition that defects are generated when the panel is lit (condition 4: indicated by � in the table). [0101] As apparent from table 1, in the case where the time to stand is set to five minutes when the ultraviolet radiation wavelength is 254 nm, it becomes condition 2 at the irradiation amount of 75 mJ/cm2 but condition 1 at the irradiation amount of 150 mJ/cm2 or greater. In the case where the time to stand is set to ten minutes, it becomes condition 3 at the irradiation amount of 75 mJ/cm2, condition 2 at the irradiation amount of 150 mJ/cm2, and condition 1 at the irradiation amount of 300 mJ/cm2 or greater. In the case where the time to stand is set to 20 minutes, it becomes condition 4 at the irradiation amount of 75 mJ/cm2, condition 3 at the irradiation amount of 150 mJ/cm2, condition 2 at the irradiation amount of 300 mJ/cm2, and condition 1 at the irradiation amount of 450 mJ/cm2 or greater. In the case where the time to stand is set to 30 minutes, it becomes condition 4 at the irradiation amount of 150 mJ/cm2 or below, condition 2 at the irradiation amounts of 300 mJ/cm2 and 450 mJ/cm2, and condition 1 at the irradiation amount of 600 mJ/cm2 or greater. In the case where the time to stand is set to 45 minutes, it becomes condition 4 at the irradiation amount of 150 mJ/cm2 or below, condition 3 at the irradiation amount of 300 mJ/cm2 , condition 2 at the irradiation amounts of 450 mJ/cm2 and 600 mJ/cm2, and condition 1 at the irradiation amount of 900 mJ/cm2 or greater. In the case where the time to stand is set to 60 minutes, it becomes condition 4 at the irradiation amount of 300 mJ/cm2 or below, condition 3 at the irradiation amount of 450 mJ/cm2, condition 2 at the irradiation amount of 600 mJ/cm2, and condition 1 at the irradiation amount of 900 mJ/cm2 or greater. In the case where the time to stand is set to 90 minutes, it becomes condition 4 at the irradiation amount of 450 mJ/cm2 or below, condition 3 at the irradiation amounts of 600 mJ/cm2, and condition 2 at the irradiation amount of 900 mJ/cm2 or greater. In the case where the time to stand is set to 120 minutes, it becomes condition 4 at the irradiation amount of 600 mJ/cm2 or below, and condition 3 at the irradiation amount of 900 mJ/cm2 or greater. In the case where the time to stand is set to 240 minutes, it becomes condition 4 at all the irradiation amounts. [0102] In this manner, when the time to stand is set shorter, even with a smaller amount of ultraviolet radiation irradiation, a sufficient cleaning effect can be obtained a sufficient cleaning effect. However, the amount of ultraviolet radiation irradiation needs to be increased as the time to stand is prolonged. Furthermore, when the time to stand is set to 90 minutes or longer, it does not become condition 1 even though the amount of ultraviolet radiation irradiation is increased and a sufficient cleaning effect cannot be obtained. Accordingly, the time to stand is preferably set to within 60 minutes. [0103] For example, in the case where the time to stand is needed for about 30 to 45 minutes due to overhead time that is generated when the post-rubbing cleaning step is set to batch process, the cleaned condition always becomes condition 1 in case where the irradiation amount is set to 900 mJ/cm2. Additionally, when the cleaning step is combined as a sequential single-substrate line as interlocked with the ultraviolet radiation irradiating step, the cleaned condition is always made condition 1 even at the irradiation amount of 150 mJ/cm2 in case where the time to stand can be set to within five minutes, for example. [0104] As clearly seen from table 2, in the case where the time to stand is set to five minutes when the ultraviolet radiation wavelength is 365 nm, it becomes condition 2 at the irradiation amount of 250 mJ/cm2, but it becomes condition 1 at the irradiation amount of 500 mJ/cm2 or greater. When the time to stand is set to ten minutes, it becomes condition 3 at the irradiation amount of 250 mJ/cm2, condition 2 at the irradiation amount of 500 mJ/cm2, and condition 1 at the irradiation amount of 1000 mJ/cm2 or greater. When the time to stand is set to 20 minutes, it becomes condition 4 at the irradiation amount of 250 mJ/cm2, condition 3 at the irradiation amount of 500 mJ/cm2, condition 2 at the irradiation amount of 1000 mJ/cm2, and condition 1 at the irradiation amount of 1500 mJ/cm2 or greater. When the time to stand is set to 30 minutes, it becomes condition 4 at the irradiation amount of 500 mJ/cm2 or below, condition 2 at the irradiation amounts of 1000 mJ/cm2 and 1500 mJ/cm2, and condition 1 at the irradiation amount of 2000 mJ/cm2 or greater. When the time to stand is set to 45 minutes, it becomes condition 4 at the irradiation amount of 500 mJ/cm2 or below, condition 3 at the irradiation amount of 1000 mJ/cm2, condition 2 at the irradiation amounts of 1500 mJ/cm2 and 2000 mJ/cm2 , and condition 1 at the irradiation amount of 3000 mJ/cm2 or greater. When the time to stand is set to 60 minutes, it becomes condition 4 at the irradiation amount of 1000 mJ/cm2 or below, condition 3 at the irradiation amount of 1500 mJ/cm2, condition 2 at the irradiation amount of 2000 mJ/cm2, and condition 1 at the irradiation amount of 3000 mJ/cm2 or greater. When the time to stand is set to 90 minutes, it becomes condition 4 at the irradiation amount of 1500 mJ/cm2 or below, condition 3 at the irradiation amount of 2000 mJ/cm2, and condition 2 at the irradiation amount of 3000 mJ/cm2 or greater. When the time to stand is set to 120 minutes, it becomes condition 4 at the irradiation amount of 2000 mJ/cm2 or below, and condition 3 at the irradiation amount of 3000 mJ/cm2 or greater. When the time to stand is set to 240 minutes, it becomes condition 4 at all the irradiation amounts. [0105] In this manner, when the time to stand is set shorter, even with a smaller ultraviolet radiation irradiation amount, a sufficient cleaning effect can be obtained. However, the ultraviolet radiation irradiation amount needs to be increased as the time to stand is prolonged. Besides, when the time to stand is set to 90 minutes or greater, it does not become condition 1 even though the ultraviolet radiation irradiation amount is increased and a sufficient cleaning effect cannot be obtained. Accordingly, the time to stand is preferably set within 60 minutes. [0106] For example, in the case where the time to stand is needed for about 30 to 45 minutes due to overhead time that is generated when the post-rubbing cleaning step is set to batch process, the cleaned condition always becomes condition 1 in case where the irradiation amount is set to 3000 mJ/cm2 or greater. Additionally, when the cleaning step is combined as a sequential single-substrate line as interlocked with the ultraviolet radiation irradiating step, the cleaned condition can be made condition 1 even at the irradiation amount of 500 mJ/cm2 in case where the time to stand can be set to within five minutes, for example. [0107] As described above, the invention can provide the method and the apparatus for manufacturing the electro-optical device capable of uniformly depositing the insulating film or alignment layer and the method and the apparatus for manufacturing the liquid crystal panel capable of efficiently cleaning the alignment layer. The entire disclosures of Japanese Patent Application nos. 2000-270437, 2000-300928, 2000-317082, and 2001-212082 are incorporated herein by reference. Referenced byCiting PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS7372511 *Dec 27, 2002May 13, 2008Lg.Philips Lcd Co., Ltd.Device for controlling spreading of liquid crystal and method for fabricating an LCDUS7863074Sep 23, 2009Jan 4, 2011Stion CorporationPatterning electrode materials free from berm structures for thin film photovoltaic cellsUS8142521Mar 16, 2011Mar 27, 2012Stion CorporationLarge scale MOCVD system for thin film photovoltaic devicesUS8241943May 5, 2010Aug 14, 2012Stion CorporationSodium doping method and system for shaped CIGS/CIS based thin film solar cellsUS8357022 *Jan 24, 2012Jan 22, 2013Innocom Technology (Schenzhen) Co., Ltd.Manufacturing apparatus for liquid crystal panelUS8372684May 7, 2010Feb 12, 2013Stion CorporationMethod and system for selenization in fabricating CIGS/CIS solar cellsUS20120190267 *Jan 24, 2012Jul 26, 2012Chimei Innolux CorporationManufacturing apparatus for liquid crystal panelWO2010039879A1 *Sep 30, 2009Apr 8, 2010Stion CorporationPatterning electrode materials free from berm structures for thin film photovoltaic cells* Cited by examinerClassifications U.S. Classification427/58, 427/558, 118/723.00R, 118/719International ClassificationG09F9/00, G09F9/30, G02F1/1333, G02F1/13, G02F1/1337Cooperative ClassificationG02F1/133788European ClassificationG02F1/1337T4Legal EventsDateCodeEventDescriptionJul 9, 2013FPExpired due to failure to pay maintenance feeEffective date: 20130517May 17, 2013LAPSLapse for failure to pay maintenance feesDec 31, 2012REMIMaintenance fee reminder mailedOct 17, 2008FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 4Dec 5, 2001ASAssignmentOwner name: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION, JAPANFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:NAKAHARA, HIROKI;REEL/FRAME:012342/0050Effective date: 20011029Owner name: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION 4-1, NISHI-SHINJUKU 2-CHOMFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:NAKAHARA, HIROKI /AR;REEL/FRAME:012342/0050RotateOriginal ImageGoogle Home - Sitemap - USPTO Bulk Downloads - Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - About Google Patents - Send FeedbackData provided by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services©2012 Google