Polarized Light Irradiation Device for Continuous Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing polarized light irradiation devices struggle to form alignment patterns with continuous directional changes, resulting in discontinuous alignment characteristics and difficulties in achieving continuous alignment patterns due to fixed rotation angles during photo-alignment treatments.
Innovation Solution
A polarized light irradiation device with a light source unit that continuously emits polarized light, a light shaping unit that shapes the light into a preset shape, and a transport mechanism that periodically and continuously changes the direction of linearly or elliptically polarized light applied to the target object, allowing for continuous alignment pattern formation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the polarizing plate is moved for each beam spot to irradiate the substrate with linearly polarized laser light, then alignment patterns can be formed, but the alignment directions become discontinuous and the alignment characteristics are not continuous
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by rotating the polarizing plate continuously at a constant speed during the substrate transport, rather than moving it discretely for each beam spot. This continuous rotation dynamically changes the polarization direction, creating a continuous alignment pattern where the alignment direction varies smoothly across the substrate surface, eliminating the discontinuities caused by discrete positioning.
2Device complexity
If the rotation angle of the light irradiation unit is fixed during photo-alignment treatment, then the device complexity is reduced, but the alignment pattern cannot achieve continuous directional changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuity of useful action by maintaining constant rotation of the polarizing plate throughout the photo-alignment treatment process. This continuous rotational motion ensures that the polarization direction continuously changes, enabling the formation of alignment patterns with continuous directional changes. The simplicity of fixed-speed rotation maintains low device complexity while achieving high alignment pattern flexibility.
3Device complexity
If polarized light is applied from a fixed direction, then the device structure is simplified, but the alignment restricting force is lost in regions requiring continuous alignment changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by dynamically rotating the polarizing plate during irradiation. This dynamic adjustment allows the polarization direction to continuously change, ensuring that the alignment restricting force is effectively applied across all regions of the substrate. The continuous rotation maintains alignment restricting force effectiveness without requiring complex multi-directional irradiation structures.
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
The device achieves continuous alignment pattern formation without clear boundaries or discontinuous regions, enabling efficient and uniform application of polarized light over a wide area, reducing alignment restricting force loss and improving exposure energy efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
The light of the lamp is converted into linearly polarized light by passing through the wire grid polarization element
Implementation Method 2
irradiates a photo-alignment film of a work with light from the light irradiation unit while transporting the work, thereby performing a photo-alignment treatment on the photo-alignment film
Data Source
AI summary
A polarized light irradiation device of the present disclosure has: a light source unit which continuously emits polarized light; a light shaping unit which shapes the polarized light emitted from the light source unit into a preset shape to irradiate an irradiation target object with the shaped polarized light; a transport mechanism which transports the irradiation target object relative to the light source unit; and an interlocking mechanism which periodically and continuously changes a direction of linearly polarized light applied to the irradiation target object or an azimuthal angle of elliptically polarized light applied to the irradiation target object according to an amount of transport of the irradiation target object relative to the light source unit by the transport mechanism.