Pulse UV Optical Alignment Device for Liquid Crystal Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical alignment methods for liquid crystal displays face challenges with low productivity and reliability due to instability under external factors like heat, light, and physical impact, and require longer processing times, especially when using contact rubbing methods.
Innovation Solution
An optical alignment device utilizing pulse UV light with a chamber, a UV lamp, a stage for substrate placement, and a detachable polarizer, which emits polarized pulse UV with adjustable parameters to enhance alignment stability and efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If contact rubbing method is used to align liquid crystal, then alignment performance is simple and stable, but processing time increases and fine dust and electrostatic discharge occur to damage substrate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical contact rubbing method with an optical alignment method using UV light irradiation. The UV light induces photopolymerization in the alignment film, creating molecular orientation without physical contact, thereby eliminating dust and ESD issues while reducing processing time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs periodic pulsed UV irradiation instead of continuous illumination. By using intermittent light pulses, the alignment process achieves effective molecular orientation while reducing total exposure time and thermal accumulation, thus improving both speed and stability.
2Loss of time
If UV light is used for optical alignment, then processing time is reduced, but thermal damage may occur to the alignment film
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses periodic pulsed UV irradiation with controlled duty cycles to deliver sufficient energy for alignment while allowing cooling intervals between pulses. This prevents thermal accumulation and damage to the alignment film while maintaining efficient processing speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically adjusts UV light intensity and pulse duration based on real-time feedback from sensors monitoring the alignment process. This dynamic control ensures optimal energy delivery for alignment while preventing excessive thermal buildup that could damage the film.
3Productivity
If high intensity UV light is used to improve alignment efficiency, then productivity increases, but uniformity of light intensity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the UV light source into multiple segmented elements or zones, each independently controllable. This allows differential intensity control across the irradiation area, maintaining high overall productivity while ensuring uniform exposure across the entire alignment film surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates feedback control mechanisms with sensors that monitor light intensity distribution in real-time. The system automatically adjusts UV source intensity or positioning based on detected non-uniformities, ensuring consistent alignment quality across the entire substrate while maintaining high processing speed.
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 significantly reduces processing time, improves alignment stability, and maintains high productivity by using pulse UV with controlled energy and frequency, preventing thermal damage and ensuring uniform light intensity, thus enhancing the phase difference ability of the optical alignment process.
Implementation Method 1
a photopolymerization liquid crystal alignment film in which a photoreactive material coupled to photoreactive polymer causes optical reaction by linearly polarized UV to have predetermined arrangement
Implementation Method 2
irradiation of linearly polarized UV without performing a rubbing process
Data Source
AI summary
An optical alignment device using pulse UV irradiates an alignment film with pulse UV to perform optical alignment of liquid crystal. The optical alignment device using pulse UV may include a chamber, a lamp which is installed at an upper portion of the chamber and emits pulse UV light, a stage which is provided at a lower portion of the chamber and on which a substrate having an alignment film formed on a surface thereof is placed, and a polarizer which is installed detachably between the stage and the lamp.