Optical aligning apparatus and method

Abstract

An optical alignment apparatus and method are disclosed, the optical alignment apparatus, comprising the steps of: a light unit for generating a parallel beam; a beam-splitter for beam-splitting the parallel beam; and a beam regulator for changing the beam split from the beam-splitter into a polarized beam and irradiating the polarized beam to the alignment film on the LCD substrate.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An optical alignment apparatus for aligning an alignment film on one-sided surface of a LCD substrate, comprising: 
 a light unit for generating a parallel beam;    a beam-splitter for beam-splitting the parallel beam; and    a beam regulator for changing the beam split from the beam-splitter into a polarized beam and irradiating the polarized beam to the alignment film on the LCD substrate.    
     
     
         2 . The optical alignment apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein 
 the light unit includes a light source for generating a beam; and    a parallel beam generating mean for changing the beam from the light source into the parallel beam.    
     
     
         3 . The optical alignment apparatus as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the light source is an Ar+ laser and the parallel beam generating means and the beam modulator are comprised of a collimator and a polarizer, respectively.  
     
     
         4 . The optical alignment apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the LCD substrate is any one of a TFT substrate, a color filter, or a LCD module.  
     
     
         5 . The optical alignment apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the polarized beam irradiated to the LCD substrate is any one of a circularly polarized beam or an elliptically polarized beam.  
     
     
         6 . The optical alignment apparatus as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the alignment film is comprised of methyl orange-contained polyvinylalcohol.  
     
     
         7 . The optical alignment apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the light unit, the beam-splitter and the beam regulator are fixed and the LCD substrate is rotated on the light unit, the beam-splitter and the beam regulator.  
     
     
         8 . The optical alignment apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the LCD substrate is fixed and the light unit, the beam-splitter and the beam regulator are rotated on the LCD substrate.  
     
     
         9 . The optical alignment apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprises an alignment mask arranged between the LCD substrate and the beam modulator, for selectively providing the polarized beam from the beam regulator to the LCD susbtrate to form multi domains.  
     
     
         10 . The optical alignment apparatus as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the alignment mask has a plurality of windows and parts of a plurality of windows are open with the domain number.  
     
     
         11 . An optical alignment apparatus for aligning alignment films formed on one-sided surface of a plurality of LCD substrates, comprising: 
 a light unit for generating a parallel beam;    a plurality of beam-splitters for beam-splitting the parallel beam, respectively; and    a plurality of polarizers for polarizing the beams split from the beam-splitters into polarized beams, respectively;    wherein the alignment films on one-sided surface of the LCD substrates are simultaneously optically aligned.    
     
     
         12 . The optical alignment apparatus as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the LCD substrates are any one of TFT substrates, color filters, or LCD modules.  
     
     
         13 . The optical alignment apparatus as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the polarized beams irradiated to the LCD substrates are any one of circularly polarized beams or elliptically polarized beams.  
     
     
         14 . The optical alignment apparatus as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the light unit, the beam-splitter and the polarizer are fixed and the LCD substrates are rotated on the light unit, the beam-splitter and the polarizer.  
     
     
         15 . The optical alignment apparatus as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the LCD substrates are fixed and the light unit, the beam-splitter, and the polarizer are rotated on the LCD substrates.  
     
     
         16 . The optical alignment apparatus as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the alignment films on one sided surface of the plurality of LCD substrates are simultaneously aligned in the desired direction by setting the plurality of LCD substrates in same direction.  
     
     
         17 . The optical alignment apparatus as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the alignment films on one sided surface of the plurality of LCD substrates are aligned in opposite directions each other by setting parts of the plurality of LCD substrates in one direction and setting others in the other direction.  
     
     
         18 . An optical alignment apparatus for aligning front alignment films and rear alignment films formed on front and rear surfaces of a plurality of LCD substrates, comprising: 
 a light unit for generating a first parallel beam;    a front alignment optical system for polarizing the first parallel beam received from the light unit into a first plurality of polarized beams having the same polarization direction, respectively and irradiating the first plurality of polarized beams to the front alignment films on the plurality of LCD substrates;    a beam reflection system for reflecting the first parallel beam to generate a second parallel beam which travels in the opposite direction to the first parallel beam; and    a rear alignment optical system for polarizing the second parallel beam received from the beam reflection system into a second plurality of polarized beams having the opposite polarization direction to the first polarized beams, respectively and irradiating the second plurality of polarized beams to the rear alignment films on the plurality of LCD substrates;    where the front alignment films and front alignment films on the front and rear surfaces of the LCD substrates are simultaneously aligned.    
     
     
         19 . The optical alignment apparatus as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the LCD substrates are any one of TFT substrates, color filters, or LCD modules.  
     
     
         20 . The optical alignment apparatus as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the first and second polarized beams irradiated to the LCD substrates are any one of circularly polarized beams or elliptically polarized beams.  
     
     
         21 . The optical alignment apparatus as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein the light unit, front alignment optical system, rear alignment optical system and beam reflection system are fixed and the LCD substrates are rotated on the light unit, the beam-splitter and the polarizer.  
     
     
         22 . The optical alignment apparatus as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein the LCD substrates are fixed and the light unit, front alignment optical system, rear alignment optical system and beam reflection system are rotated on the LCD substrates.  
     
     
         23 . The optical alignment apparatus as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein the alignment films on front and rear surfaces of the plurality of LCD substrates are simultaneously aligned in the desired direction by setting the plurality of LCD substrates in same direction.  
     
     
         24 . The optical alignment apparatus as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein the alignment films on front and rear surfaces of the plurality of LCD substrates are aligned in opposite directions each other by setting parts of the plurality of LCD substrates in one direction and setting others in the other direction.  
     
     
         25 . The optical alignment apparatus as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the front alignment optical system includes: 
 a plurality of beam-splitters for beam-splitting the first parallel beam from the light unit, respectively; and    a plurality of polarizers for polarizing the beams split from the beam-splitters into the first plurality of polarized beams, respectively.    
     
     
         26 . The optical alignment apparatus as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the rear alignment optical system includes: 
 a plurality of beam-splitters for beam-splitting the second parallel beam from the beam reflection system, respectively; and    a plurality of polarizers for polarizing the beams split from the beam-splitters into the second plurality of polarized beams, respectively.    
     
     
         27 . The optical alignment apparatus as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the beam reflection system includes: 
 a first mirror for reflecting the first parallel beam to a beam which travels in the perpendicular direction to the first parallel beam; and    a second mirror for reflecting the beam to the second parallel beam which travels in the opposite direction to the first parallel beam and providing the second parallel beam to the rear alignment optical system.    
     
     
         28 . An optical alignment apparatus for aligning an alignment film on one-sided surface of a LCD substrate, comprising: 
 a light unit for generating a parallel beam;    a plurality of beam-splitters for beam-splitting the parallel beam; and    a plurality of polarizers for polarizing the beams split from the beam-splitters to a plurality of polarized beams having different polarization directions, respectively;    wherein the plurality of polarized beams having different polarization directions are irradiated to the LCD substrate, resulting in aligning the alignment film having different alignment directions.    
     
     
         29 . The optical alignment apparatus as claimed in  claim 28 , wherein the LCD substrate is any one of a TFT substrate, a color filter substrate or a LCD module.  
     
     
         30 . The optical alignment apparatus as claimed in  claim 29 , wherein the polarized beams irradiated to the LCD substrate are any one of circularly polarized beams or elliptically polarized beams.  
     
     
         31 . The optical alignment apparatus as claimed in  claim 30 , wherein the light unit, beam-splitter and polarizer are fixed and the LCD substrate is rotated on the light unit, beam-splitter and polarizer.  
     
     
         32 . The optical alignment apparatus as claimed in  claim 30 , wherein the LCD substrate is fixed and the light unit, beam-splitter and the polarizer are rotated on the LCD substrate.  
     
     
         33 . An optical alignment apparatus for aligning front and rear alignment films on front and rear surfaces of a LCD substrate, comprising: 
 a light unit for generating a first parallel beam;    a front alignment optical system for polarizing the first parallel beam from the light unit into a first plurality of polarized beams having different polarization directions and irradiating the first plurality of polarized beams to the front alignment film;    a beam reflection system for reflecting the first parallel beam to generate a second parallel beam which travels in the opposite direction to the first parallel beam; and    a rear alignment optical system for polarizing the second parallel beam from the beam reflection system into a second plurality of polarized beams having different polarization directions and irradiating the second plurality of polarized beams to the rear alignment film;    wherein the front and rear alignment films are simultaneously aligned in the different alignment directions by irradiating the first and second plurality of polarized beams to the front and rear alignment films, respectively.    
     
     
         34 . The optical alignment apparatus as claimed in  claim 33 , wherein the LCD substrate is any one of a TFT substrate, a color filter or a LCD module.  
     
     
         35 . The optical alignment apparatus as claimed in  claim 34 , wherein the first and second polarized beams irradiated to the LCD substrate are any one of circularly polarized beams or elliptically polarized beams.  
     
     
         36 . The optical alignment apparatus as claimed in  claim 35 , wherein the light unit, front and rear alignment optical systems and beam reflection system are fixed and the LCD substrate is rotated on the light unit, the front and rear alignment optical systems and the beam reflection system.  
     
     
         37 . The optical alignment apparatus as claimed in  claim 35 , wherein the LCD substrate is fixed and the light unit, the front and rear alignment optical systems and the beam reflection system are rotated on the LCD substrate.  
     
     
         38 . The optical alignment apparatus as claimed in  claim 33 , wherein the front alignment optical system includes: 
 a plurality of beam-splitters for beam-splitting the first parallel beam from the light unit, respectively; and    a plurality of polarizers for polarizing the beams split from the beam-splitters into the first plurality of polarized beams, respectively.    
     
     
         39 . The optical alignment apparatus as claimed in  claim 33 , wherein the rear alignment optical system includes: 
 a plurality of beam-splitters for beam-splitting the second parallel beam from the beam reflection system, respectively; and    a plurality of polarizers for polarizing the beams split from the beam-splitters into the second plurality of polarized beams, respectively.    
     
     
         40 . The optical alignment apparatus as claimed in  claim 33 , wherein the beam reflection system includes a first mirror for reflecting the first parallel beam to a beam which travels in the perpendicular direction to the first parallel beam; and a second mirror for reflecting the beam to the second parallel beam which travels in the opposite direction to the first parallel beam and providing the second beam to the rear alignment optical system.  
     
     
         41 . An optical alignment apparatus for aligning an alignment film having multi domains on a LCD substrate, comprising: 
 a light unit for generating a parallel beam;    a beam-splitter for beam-splitting the parallel beam;    a polarizer for polarizing the beam split from the beam-splitter into a polarized beam and irradiating the polarized beam to the alignment film on the LCD substrate; and    an alignment mask arranged between the polarizer and the LCD substrate, for selectively irradiating the polarized beam to the LCD substrate.    
     
     
         42 . The optical alignment apparatus as claimed in  claim 41 , wherein the alignment mask has a plurality of windows on one pixel and parts of windows are open according to domain number.  
     
     
         43 . An optical alignment method, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a LCD substrate which the alignment film is formed on one-sided surface thereof;    generating a parallel beam;    beam-splitting the parallel beam;    polarizing the split beam into a polarized beam;    irradiating the polarized beam to the LCD substrate to align the alignment film.    
     
     
         44 . The optical alignment method as claimed in  claim 43 , wherein the LCD substrate is any one of a TFT substrate, a color filter, or a LCD module.  
     
     
         45 . The optical alignment apparatus as claimed in  claim 44 , wherein the polarized beam irradiated to the LCD substrate is any one of a circularly polarized beam or an elliptically polarized beam.  
     
     
         46 . The optical alignment apparatus as claimed in  claim 45 , wherein the alignment film is comprised of methyl orange-contained polyvinylalcohol.  
     
     
         47 . An optical alignment method, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a LCD substrate which the front and rear alignment films are formed on front and rear surfaces thereof, respectively;    generating a first parallel beam;    beam-splitting the first parallel beam;    polarizing the split beam into a first polarized beam;    irradiating the first polarized beam to the LCD substrate to align the front alignment film;    polarizing a second parallel beam which travels in the opposite direction to the first parallel beam to generate a second polarized beam; and    irradiating the second polarized beam to the LCD substrate to align the rear alignment film.    
     
     
         48 . The optical alignment method as claimed in  claim 47 , wherein the step of generating the second parallel beam includes the steps of: first reflecting the first parallel beam into a beam which travels in the perpendicular direction to the first parallel beam and secondly reflecting the beam into the second parallel beam which travels in the opposite direction to the first parallel beam.  
     
     
         49 . The optical alignment method as claimed in  claim 48 , wherein the LCD substrate is any one of a TFT substrate, color filter, or a LCD module.  
     
     
         50 . The optical alignment apparatus as claimed in  claim 49 , wherein the first and second polarized beams irradiated to the LCD substrate are any one of a circularly polarized beam or an elliptically polarized beam.  
     
     
         51 . An optical alignment method, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a LCD substrate which the alignment film is formed on one-sided surface thereof;    generating a parallel beam;    beam-splitting the parallel beam into a plurality of split beams;    polarizing the plurality of split beams into a plurality of polarized beams having different polarization directions; and    irradiating the plurality of polarized beams having different polarization directions to the LCD substrate to align the alignment film having different alignment directions.    
     
     
         52 . An optical alignment method, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a LCD substrate which the front and rear alignment films are formed on both sided surfaces thereof;    generating a first parallel beam;    beam-splitting the first parallel beam into a plurality of split beams;    polarizing the plurality of split beams into a first plurality of polarized beams having different polarization directions;    irradiating the first plurality of polarized beams having different polarization directions on the from alignment film of the LCD substrate;    reflecting the first parallel beam to generate a second parallel beam which travels in the opposite direction to the first opposite direction;    beam-splitting the second parallel beam into a plurality of split beams;    polarizing the plurality of split beams into a second plurality of polarized beams having different polarization direction; and    irradiating the second plurality of polarized beams having different polarization directions to the rear alignment film.    
     
     
         53 . An optical alignment method, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a plurality of LCD substrate;    generating a first parallel beam;    beam-splitting the first parallel beam into a plurality of split beams;    polarizing the plurality of split beams into a first plurality of polarized beams; and    irradiating the first plurality of polarized beams to the plurality of LCD substrates.    
     
     
         54 . The method as claimed in  claim 53 , wherein alignment films are formed on one sided surface of the plurality of LCD substrates.  
     
     
         55 . The method as claimed in  claim 54 , wherein the first plurality of polarization beams are any one of circularly or elliptically polarized beams in one polarization direction.  
     
     
         56 . The method as claimed in  claim 54 , wherein the first plurality of polarization beams are any one of circularly or elliptically polarized beams in different polarization directions.  
     
     
         57 . The method as claimed in  claim 53 , where alignment films are formed on both sided surfaces of the plurality of LCD substrates, respectively.  
     
     
         58 . The method as claimed in  claim 57 , further comprising the steps of: 
 reflecting the first parallel beam to generate a second parallel beam which travels in the opposite direction to the first opposite direction;    beam-splitting the second parallel beam into a plurality of split beams;    polarizing the plurality of split beams into a second plurality of polarized beams; and    irradiating the second plurality of polarized beams to the rear alignment films.    
     
     
         59 . The method as claimed in  claim 58 , wherein the second plurality of polarization beams are any one of circularly or elliptically polarized beams in one polarization direction, respectively.  
     
     
         60 . The method as claimed in  claim 58 , wherein the second plurality of polarization beams are any one of circularly or elliptically polarized beams in different polarization directions.