Photo-Alignment Device with Movable Shielding Plates
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing photo-alignment equipment cannot simultaneously expose regions with different alignment directions on a substrate, requiring multiple exposure treatments and increasing processing time, which reduces production efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A photo-alignment device with multiple light source, polarizing, and shielding modules that can form various working modules to expose different alignment directions simultaneously, allowing the substrate to move along a direction while being irradiated with polarized light, thereby simplifying the exposure process and improving efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If multiple exposure treatments are performed sequentially for regions with different alignment directions, then alignment precision is improved, but processing time increases and productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The exposure device is divided into multiple working modules, each capable of handling different alignment directions independently. This segmentation allows simultaneous exposure of different regions with different alignment directions, resolving the contradiction between precision and speed by enabling parallel processing of multiple alignment requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple working modules with different light-polarizing directions are combined into a single exposure device. This merging enables the device to perform multiple exposure treatments simultaneously in one operation, maintaining alignment precision for different regions while dramatically improving processing speed and productivity.
2Manufacturing precision
If a light-shielding plate is used to shield parts of the substrate during exposure, then alignment precision for specific regions is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The light-shielding plates are designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing dynamic adjustment of shielding regions. This enables precise control over which areas receive exposure light while maintaining relatively simple device structure. The movable shielding plates can be repositioned to match different alignment direction requirements without requiring complex reconfiguration of the entire exposure system.
3Manufacturing precision
If the substrate is taken out and rotated between exposure treatments, then alignment precision for different directions is improved, but loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The exposure device maintains continuous operation by exposing different regions with different alignment directions simultaneously through multiple working modules. The substrate moves continuously through the exposure zone without being stopped, taken out, or rotated between treatments. This continuous exposure process eliminates idle time while maintaining precise alignment for all regions, directly resolving the contradiction between alignment precision and time loss.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables the formation of photo-alignment films with different alignment directions in a single exposure process, reducing processing time and enhancing production efficiency while maintaining versatility for single alignment direction films.
Implementation Method 1
the light emitted by the light source module is able to pass through the light-polarizing module to form polarized light to be irradiated to the worktable
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to the field of display technology. Provided are a photo alignment device and a photo-alignment method. The photo alignment device comprises a worktable; at least two light source modules arranged along a first direction; at least two light-shielding modules arranged along the first direction; and at least two light-polarizing modules arranged along the first direction, wherein the light-polarizing modules at least comprises a first light-polarizing module and a second light-polarizing module whose light-polarizing directions are different, the light-shielding modules comprise at least two light-shielding plates that are movable, the light source modules, the light-polarizing modules and the light-shielding modules are able to form a plurality of working modules, and one of the working modules comprises one of the light-polarizing modules, one of the light source modules and one of the light-shielding module The photo-alignment device can improve the efficiency of manufacturing photo alignment films.