Color filter manufacturing method and apparatus, ink-jet device, color filter, display device, and apparatus having display device

• US 20050024403A1
• Filed: 08/25/2004
• Published: 02/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/1995
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Wada, Satoshi, Yamaguchi, Nobuhito, Shigemura, Yoshihiro, Yokoi, Hideto, Fujiike, Hiroshi
• Granted Patent: US 7,270,846 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 347/12
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1652 by driving a fluid through the nozzles to the outside thereof, e.g. by applying pressure to the inside or vacuum at the outside of the print head
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/21 for multi-colour printing
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/2132 Print quality control characterised by dot disposition, e.g. for reducing white stripes or banding methods for local corrections by dot omission, image edge enhancement, or multi-pass mask selection G06K15/102; colour conversion H04N1/40
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2202/09 Ink jet technology used for manufacturing optical filters
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/201 in the form of arrays

Abstract

A color filter manufacturing apparatus of this invention includes a plurality of ink-jet heads (120a, 120b, 120c) each having a first ink discharging nozzle group (108) in which the pitch of a plurality of ink discharging nozzles in the Y-axis direction is set to be equal to the pitch of pixels of the same color in the Y-axis direction, and a second ink discharging nozzle group having a nozzle pitch set to be equal to the pixel pitch in the Y-axis direction like the first ink discharging nozzle group. Control of an ink discharging operation is performed for only one of the first and second ink discharging nozzle groups which is to be used to color pixels of corresponding colors on a substrate (1).

Claims

1-15. -15. (Cancelled).

16. An ink-jet apparatus for coloring a coloring medium by using a first ink discharging nozzle group, and a second ink discharging nozzle group capable of discharging an ink in place of said first ink discharging nozzle, comprising:

control means for causing only said first ink discharging nozzle group to perform a pre-discharging operation before the coloring medium is colored by said first ink discharging nozzle group, and causing both said first and second ink discharging nozzle groups to perform a pre-discharging operation at a frequency lower than that of a pre-discharging operation performed by said first ink discharging nozzle group.

17. A manufacturing apparatus for a color filter manufactured by forming a plurality of colored pixels on a substrate, comprising:

an ink-jet head having a plurality of ink discharging nozzles for discharging inks of a same color, said plurality of ink discharging nozzles being divided into a plurality of nozzle groups;

moving means for moving relative positions of said ink-jet head and the substrate; and

control means for controlling an operation of said moving means and an ink discharging operation of said ink-jet head in which the pixels are colored by discharging ink from said ink-jet head,

wherein when said ink-head is scanned a plurality of numbers of times so as to color a substrate, said control means controls the ink discharging operation such that the inks are discharged by using only one nozzle group of said plurality of nozzle groups in each scanning operation without using remaining nozzle groups, and said ink discharging nozzles which are used in a latter scanning operation are always all of or a part of ink discharging nozzles which have been used in a previous scanning operation.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said ink-jet head is a head for discharging an ink by using heat energy, said head having a heat energy generator for generating heat energy applied to the ink.

19. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said control means performs control to perform a pre-discharging operation before said ink-jet head starts to color pixels of corresponding colors on a transparent substrate.

20. A manufacturing apparatus for a color filter manufactured by forming and arranging a plurality of colored pixels on a substrate, comprising:

a plurality of ink-jet heads for different colors, each having a plurality of ink discharging nozzles;

moving means for moving relative positions of said plurality of ink-jet heads and the substrate; and

control means for controlling an operation of said moving means and ink discharging operations of said ink-jet head,

wherein when said plurality of ink-jet heads are to be scanned a plurality of numbers of times so as to color an entire area of the substrate, said control means controls an ink discharging operation such that ink discharging nozzles which have been used in a previous scanning operation are always used entirely or partly in a succeeding scanning operation.

21. The apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said ink-jet head is a head for discharging an ink by using heat energy, said head having a heat energy generator for generating heat energy applied to the ink.

22. The apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said control means performs control to perform a pre-discharging operation before each of said ink-jet heads starts to color pixels of corresponding colors on the substrate.

23. A manufacturing apparatus for a color filter manufactured by forming and arranging many pixels colored in the same color on a substrate in an X-axis direction as one direction, and periodically forming and arranging pixels such that pixels adjacent to each other in a Y-axis direction perpendicular to the X-axis direction are colored in different colors, comprising:

a plurality of ink-jet heads for different colors, each having a plurality of ink discharging nozzles arranged in the Y-axis direction;

moving means for moving relative positions of said plurality of ink-jet heads and the substrate; and

control means for controlling an operation of said moving means and ink discharging operations of said ink-jet head,

wherein when said plurality of in-jet heads are to be scanned a plurality of numbers of times so as to color an entire area of the substrate, said control means controls an ink discharging operation such that ink discharging nozzles which have been used in a previous scanning operation are always used entirely or partly in a succeeding scanning operation.

24. The apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said ink-jet head is a head for discharging an ink by using heat energy, said head having a heat energy generator for generating heat energy applied to the ink.

25. The apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said control means performs control to perform a pre-discharging operation before each of said ink-jet heads starts to color pixels of corresponding colors on the substrate.

26. A manufacturing apparatus for a color filter manufactured by forming and arranging many pixels colored in the same color on a substrate in an X-axis direction as one direction, and forming and arranging pixels such that pixels adjacent to each other in a Y-axis direction perpendicular to the X-axis direction are colored in different colors, comprising:

a plurality of ink-jet heads for different colors, each having a plurality of ink discharging nozzles arranged in the Y-axis direction, said ink discharging nozzles being arranged at a pitch in the Y-axis direction which is equal to a pitch of pixels of the same color in the Y-axis direction;

moving means for moving relative positions of said plurality of ink-jet heads and the substrate; and

control means for controlling an operation of said moving means and ink discharging operations of said ink-jet head,

wherein when said plurality of ink-jet heads are to be scanned a plurality of numbers of times so as to color an entire area of the substrate, said control means controls an ink discharging operation such that ink discharging nozzles which have been used in a previous scanning operation are always used entirely or partly in a succeeding scanning operation.

27. The apparatus according to claim 26, wherein said ink-jet head is a head for discharging an ink by using heat energy, said head having a heat energy generator for generating heat energy applied to the ink.

28. The apparatus according to claim 26, wherein said control means performs control to perform a pre-discharging operation before each of said ink-jet heads starts to color pixels of corresponding colors on the substrate.

29. A method of manufacturing a color filter by arranging a plurality of colored pixels on a substrate by controlling relative positions of the substrate and an ink-jet head, which has a plurality of ink discharging nozzles for discharging inks of a same color and in which all of the plurality of ink discharging nozzles are divided into a plurality of nozzle groups each consisting of a predetermined number of nozzles, and discharging inks from said ink-jet head onto the pixels on the substrate, comprising:

during coloring of an entire area of a substrate by scanning said ink-jet head a plurality of numbers of times, performing an ink discharging operation such that inks are discharged by using only one nozzle group of the plurality of nozzle groups in each scanning operation without using remaining nozzle groups, and that ink discharging nozzles which are used in a latter scanning operation are always all of or a part of ink discharging nozzles which have been used in a previous scanning operation.

30. The method according to claim 29, wherein said ink-jet head is a head for discharging an ink by using heat energy, said head having a heat energy generator for generating heat energy applied to the ink.

31. The method according to claim 29, wherein said control means performs control to perform a pre-discharging operation before said ink-jet head starts to color pixels of corresponding colors on the substrate.

32. A color filter manufactured by forming and arranging a plurality of colored pixels on a substrate,

wherein said color filter is manufactured by using an ink-jet head having a plurality of ink discharging nozzles, moving means for moving relative positions of said ink-jet head and the substrate, and control means for controlling an operation of said moving means and an ink discharging operation of said ink-jet head, and

performing an ink discharging operation such that ink discharging nozzles which have been used in a previous scanning operation are always used entirely or partly in a succeeding scanning operation, in coloring an entire area of the substrate by scanning said ink-jet head a plurality of numbers of times.

33. A display device using a color filter manufactured by forming and arranging a plurality of colored pixels on a substrate, comprising:

a color filter is manufactured by using an ink-jet head having a plurality of ink discharging nozzles, moving means for moving relative positions of said ink-jet head and the substrate, and control means for controlling an operation of said moving means and an ink discharging operation of said ink-jet head, and performing an ink discharging operation such that ink discharging nozzles which have been used in a previous scanning operation are always used entirely or partly in a succeeding scanning operation, in coloring an entire area of the substrate by scanning said ink-jet head a plurality of numbers of times; and

light amount changing means for changing a light amount.

34. An apparatus including a display device using a color filter manufactured by forming and arranging a plurality of colored pixels on a substrate, comprising:

a display device integrally having a color filter manufactured by using an ink-jet head having a plurality of ink discharging nozzles, moving means for moving relative positions of said ink-jet head and the substrate, and control means for controlling an operation of said moving means and an ink discharging operation of said ink-jet head, and performing an ink discharging operation such that ink discharging nozzles which have been used in a previous scanning operation are always used entirely or partly in a succeeding scanning operation, in coloring an entire area of the substrate by scanning said ink-jet head a plurality of numbers of times, and light amount changing means for changing a light amount; and

image signal output means for outputting an image signal to said display device.

35. A manufacturing apparatus for a color filter manufactured by forming an arranging many colored pixels on a substrate, comprising:

ink discharging means having a plurality of ink discharging nozzles;

moving means for moving relative positions of said ink discharging means and the substrate; and

control means for controlling an operation of said moving means and an ink discharging operation of said ink discharging means,

wherein when said ink discharging means is to be scanned a plurality of numbers of times to color the substrate, said control means controls such that the numbers of nozzles used for coloring in the respective scanning operations become substantially equal to each other.

36. The apparatus according to claim 35, wherein said ink discharging means is a head for discharging an ink by using heat energy, said head having a heat energy generator for generating heat energy applied to the ink.

37. The apparatus according to claim 36, wherein a volume of the discharged ink is controlled by changing a driving pulse applied to said heat energy generator.

38. A manufacturing apparatus for a color filter manufactured by forming and arranging many colored pixels on a substrate, comprising:

a plurality of ink discharging means for different colors, each having a plurality of ink discharging nozzles;

moving means for moving relative positions of said plurality of ink discharging means and the substrate; and

control means for controlling an operation of said moving means and ink discharging operations of said plurality of ink discharging means,

wherein when said plurality of ink discharging means are to be scanned a plurality of numbers of times to color an entire area of the substrate, said control means controls such that the numbers of nozzles used for coloring in the respective scanning operations become substantially equal to each other.

39. The apparatus according to clam 38, wherein each of said ink discharging means is a head for discharging an ink by using neat energy, said head having a heat energy generator for generating heat energy applied to the ink.

40. The apparatus according to claim 39, wherein a volume of the discharged ink is controlled by changing a driving pulse applied to said heat energy generator.

41. A manufacturing apparatus for a color filter manufactured by forming and arranging many pixels colored in the same color on a substrate in an X-axis direction as one direction, and forming and arranging pixels such that pixels adjacent to each other in a Y-axis direction perpendicular to the X-axis direction are colored in different colors, comprising:

a plurality of ink discharging means for different colors, each having a plurality of ink discharging nozzles arranged in the Y-axis direction;

moving means for moving relative positions of said plurality of ink discharging means and the substrate; and

control means for controlling an operation of said moving means and ink discharging operations of said plurality of ink discharging means,

wherein when said plurality of ink discharging means are to be scanned a plurality of numbers of times to color an entire area of the substrate, said control means controls such that the numbers of nozzles used for coloring in the respective scanning operations become substantially equal to each other.

42. The apparatus according to claim 41, wherein each of said ink discharging means is a head for discharging an ink by using heat energy, said head having a heat energy generator for generating heat energy applied to the ink.

43. The apparatus according to claim 42, wherein a volume of the discharged ink is controlled by changing a driving pulse applied to said heat energy generator.

44. A manufacturing apparatus for a color filter manufactured by forming and arranging many pixels colored in the same color on a substrate in an X-axis direction as one direction, and forming and arranging pixels such that pixels adjacent to each other in a Y-axis direction perpendicular to the X-axis direction are colored in different colors, comprising:

a plurality of ink discharging means for different colors, each having a plurality of ink discharging nozzles arranged in the Y-axis direction, said ink discharging means having nozzle arrays in which at least a pitch of said plurality of ink discharging nozzles in the Y-axis direction is set to be equal to a pitch of pixels of the same color in the Y-axis direction;

moving means for moving relative positions of said plurality of ink discharging means and the substrate; and

control means for controlling an operation of said moving means and ink discharging operations of said plurality of ink discharging means,

wherein when said plurality of ink discharging means are to be scanned a plurality of numbers of times to color an entire area of the substrate, said control means controls such that the numbers of nozzles used for coloring in the respective scanning operations become substantially equal to each other.

45. The apparatus according to claim 44, wherein each of said ink discharging means is a head for discharging an ink by using heat energy, said head having a heat energy generator for generating heat energy applied to the ink.

46. The apparatus according to claim 44, wherein a volume of the discharged ink is controlled by changing a driving pulse applied to said heat energy generator.

47. A manufacturing method for a color filter manufactured by forming and arranging many colored pixels on a substrate, comprising

in coloring an entire area of the substrate by performing a scanning operation of moving relative positions of an ink discharging means having a plurality of ink discharging nozzles and the substrate a plurality of numbers of times, performing a coloring operation such that the numbers of nozzles used for coloring in the respective scanning operations become substantially equal to each other.

48. A color filter manufactured by forming and arranging many colored pixels on a substrate,

wherein when an entire area of the substrate is to be colored by performing a scanning operation of moving relative positions of an ink discharging means having a plurality of ink discharging nozzles and the substrate a plurality of numbers of times, a coloring operation is performed such that the numbers of nozzles used for coloring in the respective scanning operations become substantially equal to each other.

49. A display device using a color filter manufactured by forming and arranging many colored pixels on a substrate, comprising:

a color filter manufactured by performing a coloring operation such that the numbers of nozzles used for coloring in the respective scanning operations become substantially equal to each other when an entire area of the substrate is to be colored by performing a scanning operation of moving relative positions of an ink discharging means having a plurality of ink discharging nozzles and the substrate a plurality of numbers of times; and

light amount changing means for changing a light amount.

50. An apparatus including a display device using a color filter manufactured by forming and arranging many colored pixels on a substrate, comprising:

a display device integrally having a color filter manufactured by performing a coloring operation such that the numbers of nozzles used for coloring in the respective scanning operations become substantially equal to each other when an entire area of the substrate is to be colored by performing a scanning operation of moving relative positions of an ink discharging means having a plurality of ink discharging nozzles and the substrate a plurality of numbers of times, and light amount changing means for changing a light amount; and

image signal output means for outputting an image signal to said display device.

51-58. -58. (Cancelled).