Aligning and laminating method for panel, and alignment mark

Abstract

To provide an aligning and laminating method for panels.SOLUTION: Provided is an aligning and laminating method for panels including the steps of: generating four alignment marks on each panel through a photomask, an offset mark being asymmetric with respect to each of a first corner mark, a second corner mark, and a third corner mark; aligning and laminating a first panel and a second panel to form a two-layer panel, aligning the first corner mark of the first panel with the third corner mark of the second panel, and aligning the third corner mark of the first panel with the first corner mark of the second panel; and aligning and laminating the two-layer panel with a third panel to form a three-layer panel, aligning the second corner mark of the first panel with the second corner mark of the third panel, and aligning an offset mark of the first panel with an offset mark of the third panel.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a method for aligning and bonding panels, and to an alignment mark, and more particularly to a method for aligning and bonding panels using the same photomask, and to an alignment mark. [Background technology]

[0002] A color cholesterol liquid crystal display is constructed by stacking multiple monochrome cholesterol liquid crystal panels, and how to accurately bond the monochrome cholesterol liquid crystal panels together is a very important issue in the manufacturing process of a color cholesterol liquid crystal display.

[0003] Specifically, for smaller panels, the glass substrate can be made thinner to make it easier for the bonding equipment to capture clear images of the alignment marks. However, panels made of thin glass substrates have low strength and are easily damaged when inserted, removed, or touched, so this method cannot be applied to medium- to large-sized panels.

[0004] Furthermore, when aligning and laminating medium- to large-sized panels that have not been thinned, the alignment marks of the middle panels tend to interfere with the clarity of the alignment marks of the bottom or top panel captured by the lamination equipment's camera. To address this issue, the prior art has adopted two approaches: For example, the alignment marks of the middle panels are removed with a laser or chemicals before lamination, which can easily result in accidentally damaging or contaminating the panels; or the middle panels are manufactured using an additional photomask to remove the alignment marks, which requires additional investment in expensive photomasks.

[0005] Therefore, to achieve accurate alignment and bonding of panels without requiring additional processing and avoiding contamination or destruction of the panels, it has become an important and urgent problem to be solved in the industry to develop a method for aligning and bonding panels and an alignment mark. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] The present disclosure provides a panel alignment and bonding method and alignment mark that achieves the effect of manufacturing multiple panels using the same photomask and accurately aligning and bonding them by making one side of the alignment mark asymmetric with the other three sides, and that improves the accuracy of panel alignment and bonding by providing a first region and a second region in the alignment mark. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a method includes the steps of: generating four alignment marks on each of a plurality of panels through a photomask, the panels including a first panel, a second panel, and a third panel; the alignment marks are located at four corners of each panel, and are a first corner mark, a second corner mark, a third corner mark, and an offset mark; the first corner mark and the second corner mark are symmetrical; the second corner mark and the third corner mark are symmetrical; and the offset mark is asymmetrical with respect to the first corner mark, the second corner mark, and the third corner mark; and aligning and bonding the first panel and the second panel to form a two-layer panel. the second panel is rotated 180 degrees relative to the first panel, and a first corner mark of the first panel is aligned with a third corner mark of the second panel, and the third corner mark of the first panel is aligned with a first corner mark of the second panel, and the two panels are then laminated together to form a two-layer panel; and the two-layer panel and the third panel are aligned and laminated together to form a three-layer panel, and the second corner mark of the first panel is aligned with a second corner mark of the third panel, and the offset mark of the first panel is aligned with an offset mark of the third panel, and the two panels are then laminated together to form a three-layer panel.

[0008] In the method for aligning and bonding panels according to the embodiment described above, when an alignment mark is formed on each panel via a photomask, the panels may further include a fourth panel.

[0009] The method for aligning and bonding panels according to the embodiment described in the preceding paragraph may further include a step of aligning and bonding a three-layer panel and a fourth panel to form a four-layer panel, rotating the fourth panel 180 degrees relative to the first and third panels, aligning the offset mark of the second panel with the offset mark of the fourth panel, and aligning the second corner mark of the second panel with the second corner mark of the fourth panel, and forming the four-layer panel after bonding.

[0010] In the panel alignment and bonding method according to the embodiment described above, when a first panel and a second panel are aligned and bonded together to form a two-layer panel, when a two-layer panel and a third panel are aligned and bonded together to form a three-layer panel, and when a three-layer panel and a fourth panel are aligned and bonded together to form a four-layer panel, each may be photographed with at least two cameras, and the cameras may be simultaneously installed above or below the two-layer panel, the three-layer panel, and the four-layer panel.

[0011] In the panel alignment and bonding method according to the embodiment described above, there may be four cameras, two of which are provided above the two-layer panel, the three-layer panel, and the four-layer panel, while the other two of the cameras are provided below the two-layer panel, the three-layer panel, and the four-layer panel.

[0012] In the panel alignment and bonding method according to the embodiment described above, each of the first panel, the second panel, the third panel, and the fourth panel may be a cholesterol liquid crystal panel.

[0013] In the panel alignment and bonding method according to the embodiment described above, the first panel, the second panel, the third panel, and the fourth panel may be panels of different colors.

[0014] In the panel alignment and bonding method according to the embodiment described above, each of the first panel, second panel, third panel and fourth panel may include a display area, and each of the alignment marks is located in an area other than the display area.

[0015] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided an alignment mark to be provided on a panel, the alignment mark including a first region surrounded by a plurality of edges and at least one second region located within the first region, wherein the second region allows the transmission of light rays while other regions of the first region other than the second region do not allow the transmission of light rays, and the distance between the second region and one edge of the first region is 0.02 mm or less.

[0016] In the alignment mark according to the embodiment described in the preceding paragraph, the material of the first region may be metal.

[0017] In the alignment mark according to the embodiment described in the preceding paragraph, there may be five second regions, located at the four corners and the center of the alignment mark, respectively.

[0018] In the alignment mark according to the embodiment described in the preceding paragraph, the shape of the first region may be a cross, while the shape of the second region may be a circle.

[0019] In the alignment mark according to the embodiment described in the preceding paragraph, the diameter of the second region may be smaller than 0.18 mm.

[0020] In the alignment mark according to the embodiment described in the preceding paragraph, the edge length may be 0.18 mm or less. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0021] [Figure 1] 1 is a flowchart of a panel alignment and bonding method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a photomask according to the embodiment of FIG. 1. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a first panel according to the embodiment of FIG. 1; [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a second panel according to the embodiment of FIG. 1. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a third panel according to the embodiment of FIG. 1. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a fourth panel according to the embodiment of FIG. 1. [Figure 7] 2 is a schematic diagram showing the alignment and bonding of the first and second panels according to the embodiment of FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 8] 2 is a schematic diagram of the two-layer panel and the third panel being aligned and bonded together according to the embodiment of FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 9] 2 is a schematic diagram showing the alignment and bonding of the three-layer panel and the fourth panel according to the embodiment of FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 10] 2 is a schematic diagram of an alignment mark according to the embodiment of FIG. 1; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0022] Please refer to Figure 1, which is a flow chart of a panel alignment and bonding method according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. As can be seen from Figure 1, the panel alignment and bonding method S100 includes steps S101, S102, and S103.

[0023] Please refer to Figures 2 to 5. Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a photomask according to the embodiment of Figure 1, Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of a first panel according to the embodiment of Figure 1, Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of a second panel according to the embodiment of Figure 1, and Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of a third panel according to the embodiment of Figure 1. As can be seen from Figures 1 to 5, step S101 generates four alignment marks on each of a plurality of panels via a photomask 110, the panels including a first panel 121, a second panel 122, and a third panel 123, each of the alignment marks being located at four corners of each panel (i.e., the first panel 121, the second panel 122, and the third panel 123), each of the alignment marks being a first corner mark 131, a second corner mark 132, a third corner mark 133, and an offset mark 134.

[0024] Furthermore, the first corner mark 131 and the second corner mark 132 are symmetrical, the second corner mark 132 and the third corner mark 133 are symmetrical, and the offset mark 134 is asymmetrical with respect to the first corner mark 131, the second corner mark 132, and the third corner mark 133. In other words, the offset mark 134 is offset from a position that is originally symmetrical with respect to the first corner mark 131 and the third corner mark 133.

[0025] Please refer to Figure 6, which is a schematic diagram of a fourth panel according to the embodiment of Figure 1. As can be seen from Figure 6, the panel may further include a fourth panel 124, and a first corner mark 131, a second corner mark 132, a third corner mark 133 and an offset mark 134 are located at the four corners of the fourth panel 124, respectively. Furthermore, each of the first panel 121, the second panel 122, the third panel 123, and the fourth panel 124 may be a cholesterol liquid crystal panel, and the first panel 121, the second panel 122, the third panel 123, and the fourth panel 124 may be panels of different colors. The first panel 121 may be a blue cholesterol liquid crystal panel, the second panel 122 may be a green cholesterol liquid crystal panel, the third panel 123 may be a red cholesterol liquid crystal panel, and the fourth panel 124 may be a black cholesterol liquid crystal panel. B, G, R, and K in Figures 3 to 6 are used to represent blue, green, red, and black, respectively, but are not limited thereto. Furthermore, the first panel 121, the second panel 122, the third panel 123, and the fourth panel 124 may all be formed by a photolithography process.

[0026] As can be seen from FIG. 2, multiple marks 111, 112, 113, and 114 are provided on the photomask 110, and mark 114 is asymmetric with respect to marks 111, 112, and 113, and the individual positions of marks 111, 112, 113, and 114 correspond to the individual positions of the first corner mark 131, the second corner mark 132, the third corner mark 133, and the offset mark 134 on the first panel 121, the second panel 122, the third panel 123, and the fourth panel 124.

[0027] As can be seen from Figures 3 to 6, each of the first panel 121, the second panel 122, the third panel 123 and the fourth panel 124 may include a display area 135, and each of the alignment marks (i.e., the first corner mark 131, the second corner mark 132, the third corner mark 133 and the offset mark 134) is located in an area other than the display area 135.

[0028] Please refer to Figure 7, which is a schematic diagram of aligning and laminating the first panel and the second panel according to the embodiment of Figure 1. As can be seen from Figures 1 and 7, step S102 includes aligning and laminating the first panel 121 and the second panel 122 to form a two-layer panel, rotating the second panel 122 by 180 degrees relative to the first panel 121, aligning the first corner mark 131 of the first panel 121 with the third corner mark 133 of the second panel 122, and aligning the third corner mark 133 of the first panel 121 with the first corner mark 131 of the second panel 122, and forming the two-layer panel after lamination.

[0029] 8, which is a schematic diagram of aligning and laminating the two-layer panel and the third panel according to the embodiment of FIG. 1. As can be seen from FIGS. 1 and 8, step S103 includes aligning and laminating the two-layer panel and the third panel 123 to form a three-layer panel, aligning the second corner mark 132 of the first panel 121 with the second corner mark 132 of the third panel 123, and aligning the offset mark 134 of the first panel 121 with the offset mark 134 of the third panel 123, and laminating the two panels together to form the three-layer panel. Note that the offset mark 134 of the second panel 122 does not affect or interfere with the alignment of the second corner mark 132 of the first panel 121 with the second corner mark 132 of the third panel 123, and the second corner mark 132 of the second panel 122 does not affect or interfere with the alignment of the offset mark 134 of the first panel 121 with the offset mark 134 of the third panel 123.

[0030] See Figure 9, which is a schematic diagram of aligning and bonding a three-layer panel and a fourth panel according to the embodiment of Figure 1. As can be seen from Figures 1 and 9, the panel aligning and bonding method S100 may further include step S104, which includes aligning and bonding a three-layer panel and a fourth panel 124 to form a four-layer panel, rotating the fourth panel 124 180 degrees relative to the first panel 121 and the third panel 123, aligning the offset mark 134 of the second panel 122 with the offset mark 134 of the fourth panel 124, and aligning the second corner mark 132 of the second panel 122 with the second corner mark 132 of the fourth panel 124, and forming the four-layer panel after bonding. Furthermore, the second corner mark 132 of the first panel 121 and the second corner mark 132 of the third panel 123 do not affect or interfere with the alignment of the offset mark 134 of the second panel 122 and the offset mark 134 of the fourth panel 124, and the offset mark 134 of the first panel 121 and the offset mark 134 of the third panel 123 do not affect or interfere with the alignment of the second corner mark 132 of the second panel 122 and the second corner mark 132 of the fourth panel 124.

[0031] As can be seen from Figures 7 to 9, when the first panel 121 and the second panel 122 are aligned and bonded together to form a two-layer panel, when the second panel 121 and the third panel 123 are aligned and bonded together to form a three-layer panel, and when the three-layer panel and the fourth panel 124 are aligned and bonded together to form a four-layer panel, each of these processes can be photographed by at least two cameras 140, and cameras 140 are simultaneously installed above or below the two-layer panel, the three-layer panel, and the four-layer panel. Furthermore, the number of cameras 140 may be four, with two of the cameras 140 installed above the two-layer panel, the three-layer panel, and the four-layer panel, and the other two installed below the two-layer panel, the three-layer panel, and the four-layer panel. The number of cameras 140 is determined by process demands, but is not limited thereto.

[0032] Furthermore, the order in which the first panel 121, the second panel 122, the third panel 123, and the fourth panel 124 are attached may be from top to bottom or from bottom to top, and the first panel 121, the second panel 122, the third panel 123, and the fourth panel 124 may all have a thickness of 0.2 mm to 0.5 mm and an area of ​​13.3 inches to 27.6 inches, but is not limited to this.

[0033] 7 to 9 are shown to emphasize the X-shape and its offset position, thereby emphasizing the need to avoid interference with other alignment marks during alignment and bonding, and the actual offset mark 134 and the first corner mark 131, second corner mark 132, and third corner mark 133 are cross-shaped like the panel, as shown in FIGS. 3 to 6. Also, the offset mark 134 may be in a shape other than the X-shape or the first corner mark 131, second corner mark 132, and third corner mark 133 in FIGS. 7 to 9, thereby achieving the effect of avoiding interference with other alignment marks during alignment.

[0034] Please refer to FIG. 10, which is a schematic diagram of an alignment mark according to the embodiment of FIG. 1. As can be seen from FIG. 10, the alignment mark (not shown) includes a first region 151 surrounded by a plurality of edges 153 and a plurality of second regions 152 located within the first region 151. The second regions 152 allow light to pass through, while the other regions of the first region 151 other than the second regions 152 do not allow light to pass through. The distance DS between the second regions 152 and the edges 153 of the first region 151 is 0.02 mm or less, and may be between 0.01 mm and 0.02 mm. The alignment mark is provided on a panel. Specifically, the second regions 152 can prevent the alignment mark from completely blocking the passage of the coaxial light source.

[0035] The alignment marks in Figure 10 may be a first corner mark 131, a second corner mark 132, a third corner mark 133 and an offset mark 134 on the first panel 121, the second panel 122, the third panel 123 and the fourth panel 124, and marks 111, 112, 113 and 114 provided on the photomask 110.

[0036] The material of the first region 151 may be metal, the length PD of the edge 153 may be 0.18 mm or less, the number of edges 153 of the first region 151 may be plural, and the lengths of the edges 153 may all be the same. Specifically, the above numerical values ​​are determined by the capabilities of the exposure, development, and etching processes of the photolithography process, and are also related to the lens magnification of the camera 140 and the field of view that can be provided.

[0037] The number of second regions 152 may be five, and the second regions 152 are located at the four corners and the center of the alignment mark, respectively. The shape of the first region 151 may be cross-shaped, while the shape of the second region 152 may be circular, and the diameter DA of the second region 152 may be smaller than 0.18 mm, but the number and shape are not limited to these.

[0038] Specifically, in FIG. 10, the distance DS between the second region 152 and the edge 153 of the first region 151 is 0.015 mm, the diameter DA of the second region 152 is 0.15 mm, and the length PD of the edge 153 is 0.18 mm.

[0039] As described above, the panel alignment and bonding method disclosed herein can form four panels using the same photomask and achieve accurate alignment. The diagonal alignment marks on each panel eliminate interference problems during alignment, and the panel alignment and bonding method can also be applied to panels of different areas. This saves processes and costs and solves the problems of panel damage and contamination caused by photomasks. Furthermore, the alignment marks disclosed herein can further improve the alignment effect. During alignment and bonding, the camera can receive clearer images of the alignment marks, thereby improving the accuracy of panel alignment and bonding.

[0040] Although the present invention has been disclosed as described above in the examples, the above examples are not used to limit the present invention, and any person skilled in the art can make some changes and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, the protection scope of the present invention should be based on that defined by the scope of the patent application to be attached later. [Explanation of symbols]

[0041] S100: Panel alignment and bonding method S101, S102, S103, S104: Process 110: Photomask 111, 112, 113, 114: Mark 121: First Panel 122: Second Panel 123: Third Panel 124: Fourth Panel 131: First corner mark 132: 2nd corner mark 133: 3rd corner mark 134: Offset mark 135:Display area 140: Camera 151:First area 152:Second area 153: Edge DA: diameter of the second region DS: Distance between the edge of the second area and the edge of the first area PD: Edge length

Claims

1. generating four alignment marks on each of a plurality of panels via a photomask, the plurality of panels including a first panel, a second panel, and a third panel, the four alignment marks being located at four corners of each of the panels, the four alignment marks being a first corner mark, a second corner mark, a third corner mark, and an offset mark, the first corner mark and the second corner mark being symmetrical, the second corner mark and the third corner mark being symmetrical, and the offset mark being asymmetrical with respect to the first corner mark, the second corner mark, and the third corner mark; aligning and laminating the first panel and the second panel to form a two-layer panel, rotating the second panel 180 degrees relative to the first panel, aligning the first corner mark of the first panel with the third corner mark of the second panel, and aligning the third corner mark of the first panel with the first corner mark of the second panel, and laminating the panels together to form the two-layer panel; aligning and laminating the two-layer panel and the third panel to form a three-layer panel, aligning the second corner mark of the first panel with the second corner mark of the third panel, aligning the offset mark of the first panel with the offset mark of the third panel, and laminating them to form the three-layer panel; Panel alignment and lamination methods, including:

2. The panel aligning and bonding method according to claim 1 , wherein when the four alignment marks are generated on each of the plurality of panels via the photomask, the plurality of panels further includes a fourth panel.

3. 3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the steps of: aligning and bonding the three-layer panel and the fourth panel to form a four-layer panel; rotating the fourth panel 180 degrees relative to the first panel and the third panel; aligning the offset mark of the second panel with the offset mark of the fourth panel; aligning the second corner mark of the second panel with the second corner mark of the fourth panel; and bonding the panels together to form the four-layer panel.

4. 4. The panel aligning and bonding method according to claim 3, wherein when the first panel and the second panel are aligned and bonded together to form the two-layer panel, when the two-layer panel and the third panel are aligned and bonded together to form the three-layer panel, and when the three-layer panel and the fourth panel are aligned and bonded together to form the four-layer panel, images are taken with at least two cameras, and the at least two cameras are simultaneously installed above or below the two-layer panel, the three-layer panel, and the four-layer panel.

5. 5. The panel alignment and bonding method of claim 4, wherein the at least two cameras are four, two of the four cameras are provided above the two-layer panel, the three-layer panel, and the four-layer panel, and the other two of the four cameras are provided below the two-layer panel, the three-layer panel, and the four-layer panel.

6. 3. The method of aligning and bonding panels according to claim 2, wherein each of the first panel, the second panel, the third panel, and the fourth panel is a cholesterol liquid crystal panel.

7. 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the first panel, the second panel, the third panel, and the fourth panel are panels of different colors.

8. 3. The panel alignment and bonding method according to claim 2, wherein each of the first panel, the second panel, the third panel, and the fourth panel includes a display area, and each of the four alignment marks is located in an area other than the display area.

9. An alignment mark provided on a panel, a first region surrounded by a plurality of edges; at least one second region located within the first region; Including, the at least one second region allows light to pass through, while other regions of the first region other than the at least one second region do not allow light to pass through; The alignment mark, wherein the distance between the at least one second region and one edge of the first region is 0.02 mm or less.

10. The alignment mark according to claim 9 , wherein the material of the first region is a metal.

11. The alignment mark of claim 9 , wherein the at least one second region is five in number, and is located at four corners and a center position of the alignment mark, respectively.

12. 10. The alignment mark of claim 9, wherein the first region is cross-shaped while the at least one second region is circular in shape.

13. The alignment mark of claim 12 , wherein the diameter of the at least one second region is less than 0.18 mm.

14. 10. The alignment mark of claim 9, wherein the edge has a length of 0.18 mm or less.

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