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

• US 6,874,883 B1
• Filed: 07/15/1996
• Issued: 04/05/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): Brooke, Michael S.
• Application Number:
  US08/679,979
• Time in Patent Office: 3,186 Days
• Field of Search: 347/107, 347/40, 347/42, 347/19, 347/43, 400/124.07, 430/7
• US Class Current: 347/106
• 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. A manufacturing apparatus for a color filter manufactured by forming and arranging many filter elements colored in a same color on a substrate in an X-axis direction as one direction, and forming and arranging filter elements such that filter elements 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, each discharging ink of different color, each ink-jet head having at least a first nozzle group having a plurality of ink discharging nozzles arranged in a direction being different from the X-axis direction and a second nozzle group having a plurality of ink discharging nozzles arranged in the same direction as the nozzles of said first nozzle group, said first and second nozzle groups discharging ink of the same color, a pitch of said plurality of ink discharging nozzles of said first nozzle group in the Y-axis direction being set to be equal to a pitch of the filter elements of the same color in the Y-axis direction, a pitch of said plurality of ink discharging nozzles of said second nozzle group in the Y-axis direction being set to be equal to a pitch of the filter elements of the same color in the Y-axis direction, wherein when the nozzles of said first nozzle group correspond to a coloring position where the filter elements are colored, the nozzles of said second nozzle group do not correspond to the coloring position, and when the nozzles of said second nozzle group correspond to the coloring position, the nozzles of said first nozzle group do not correspond to the coloring position;

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

switching means for selecting one nozzle group which is newly used based on one of a used time and a number of discharge times of each of said first nozzle group and said second nozzle group, said switching means switching a nozzle group to be used for coloring the filter elements between said first nozzle group and said second nozzle group; and

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

wherein said control means controls said ink-jet heads to discharge ink from only one nozzle group which can color the filter elements on said substrate within said first and second nozzle groups, and

wherein when one of said first and second nozzle groups is used to color the filter elements, the other one is not used.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control means performs control to perform a pre-discharging operation before said plurality of ink-jet heads color pixels of corresponding colors on the substrate.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control means performs control to cause only a nozzle group, of said first and second ink discharging nozzle groups of each of said plurality of ink-jet heads, which is to be used to color pixels of corresponding colors on the substrate to perform a pre-discharging operation immediately before the pixels are colored.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control means selectively performs control to cause only a nozzle group, of said first and second ink discharging nozzle groups of each of said plurality of ink-jet heads, which is to be used to color pixels of corresponding colors on the substrate to perform a pre-discharging operation immediately before the pixels are colored, or to cause all nozzle groups including a nozzle group which is not used for a coloring operation to perform a pre-discharging operation immediately before the pixels are colored.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said ink-jet head comprises an ink-jet head in which the number of nozzles of said first nozzle group other than said first nozzle group is equal to that of said second nozzle group.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said ink-jet head comprises an ink-jet head in which said first nozzle group and said second nozzle group other than said first nozzle group are arranged in a row.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said ink-jet head comprises an ink-jet head in which all nozzles of said first nozzle group and said second nozzle group other than said first nozzle group are arranged at a same pitch in a nozzle column direction.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, 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.

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

using a plurality of ink-jet heads, each discharging ink of different color, each ink-jet head having at least a first nozzle group having a plurality of ink discharging nozzles arranged in a direction being different from the X-axis direction and a second nozzle group having a plurality of ink discharging nozzles arranged in the same direction as the nozzles of the first nozzle group, said first and second nozzle groups discharging ink of the same color, a pitch of said plurality of ink discharging nozzles of said first nozzle group in the Y-axis direction being set to be equal to a pitch of the filter elements of the same color in the Y-axis direction, a pitch of said plurality of ink discharging nozzles of said second nozzle group in the Y-axis direction being set to be equal to a pitch of the filter elements of the same color in the Y-axis direction, wherein when the nozzles of said first nozzle group correspond to a coloring position where the filter elements are colored, the nozzles of said second nozzle group do not correspond to the coloring position, and when the nozzles of said second nozzle group correspond to the coloring position, the nozzles of said first nozzle group do not correspond to the coloring position;

causing said second nozzle group for coloring of the filter elements to be not used when said first nozzle group is used to color the filter elements, and controlling, with control means, an ink discharging operation of only one nozzle group, of said first and second nozzle groups, which is to be used to color filter elements of corresponding colors on a transparent substrate; and

causing each of said ink-jet heads to discharge an ink while scanning said ink-jet head in the X-axis direction, and coloring all the filter elements by scanning said ink-jet head once or a plurality of numbers of times in the X-axis direction;

selecting one nozzle group which is newly used based on one of a used time and a number of discharge times of each of said plurality of nozzle groups and switching a nozzle group to be used for coloring the filter elements between said plurality of nozzle groups,

wherein said control means controls said ink-jet heads to discharge ink from only one nozzle group which can color the filter elements on said substrate within said first and second nozzle groups, and

wherein when one of said first and second nozzle groups is used to color the filter elements, the other one is not used.

10. The method apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said control means performs control to perform a pre-discharging operation before said plurality of ink-jet heads color pixels of corresponding colors on the substrate.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein said control means performs control to cause only a nozzle group, of said first and second ink discharging nozzle groups of each of said plurality of ink-jet heads, which is to be used to color pixels of corresponding colors on the substrate to perform a pre-discharging operation immediately before the pixels are colored.

12. The method according to claim 9, wherein said control means selectively performs control to cause only a nozzle group, of said first and second ink discharging nozzle groups of each of said plurality of ink-jet heads, which is to be used to color pixels of corresponding colors on the substrate to perform a pre-discharging operation immediately before the pixels are colored, or to cause all nozzle groups including a nozzle group which is not used for a coloring operation to perform a pre-discharging operation immediately before the pixels are colored.

13. A color filter manufacturing apparatus for manufacturing a color filter having a plurality of colored filter elements by discharging ink to a substrate from an ink-jet head having a plurality of ink discharging nozzles comprising:

a plurality of nozzle groups formed by dividing said plurality of ink discharging nozzles into a plurality of groups, each of the plurality of nozzle groups discharging ink of a same color;

switching means for selecting one nozzle group which is newly used based on one of a used time and a number of discharge times of each of said plurality of nozzle groups, said switching means switching a nozzle group to be used for coloring the filter elements between said plurality of nozzle groups;

adjusting means for adjusting relative positions of said newly used nozzle group and the filter elements so that each ink discharging nozzle of said newly used nozzle group, which is selected by said switching means, is capable of coloring the filter elements; and

coloring control means for controlling said ink-jet head to color the filter elements by said newly used nozzle group after adjusting operation of said adjusting means.

14. A color filter manufacturing method for manufacturing a color filter having a plurality of colored filter elements by discharging ink to a substrate from an ink-jet head having a plurality of ink discharging nozzles, the method comprising the steps of:

using a plurality of nozzle groups formed by dividing said plurality of ink discharging nozzles into a plurality of groups, each of the plurality of nozzle groups discharging ink of a same color;

a switching step for selecting one nozzle group which is newly used based on one of a used time and a number of discharge times of each of said plurality of nozzle groups, said switching step switching a nozzle group to be used for coloring the filter elements between said plurality of nozzle groups;

an adjusting step for adjusting relative positions of said newly used nozzle group and the filter elements so that each ink discharging nozzle of said newly used nozzle group, which is selected by said switching step, is capable of coloring the filter elements; and

a coloring control step for controlling said ink-jet head to color the filter elements by said newly used nozzle group after said adjusting step.

15. A manufacturing apparatus for a color filter manufactured by forming and arranging many filter elements colored in a same color on a substrate in an X-axis direction as one direction, and forming and arranging filter elements such that filter elements 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, each discharging ink of different color, each ink-jet head having at least a first nozzle group having a plurality of ink discharging nozzles arranged in a direction being different from the X-axis direction and a second nozzle group having a plurality of ink discharging nozzles arranged in the same direction as the nozzles of the first nozzle group, said first and second nozzle groups discharging ink of the same color, a pitch of said plurality of ink discharging nozzles of said first nozzle group in the Y-axis direction being set to be equal to a pitch of the filter elements of the same color in the Y-axis direction, a pitch of said plurality of ink discharging nozzles of said second nozzle group in the Y-axis direction being set to be equal to a pitch of the filter elements of the same color in the Y-axis direction, wherein when the nozzles of said first nozzle group correspond to a coloring position where the filter elements are colored, the nozzles of said second nozzle group do not correspond to the coloring position, and when the nozzles of said second nozzle group correspond to the coloring position, the nozzles of said first nozzle group do not correspond to the coloring position;

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

switching means for selecting one nozzle group which is newly used, by switching a nozzle group to be used for coloring the filter elements between said first nozzle group and said second nozzle group; and

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

wherein said control means controls said ink-jet heads to discharge ink from only one nozzle group which can color the filter elements on said substrate within said first and second nozzle groups,

wherein said control means detects temperatures of said first and second nozzle groups, and switches said first and second nozzle groups on the basis of a detection result, and

wherein when one of said first and second nozzle groups is used to color the filter elements, the other one is not used.

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

using a plurality of ink-jet heads, each discharging ink of different color, each ink-jet head having at least a first nozzle group having a plurality of ink discharging nozzles arranged in a direction being different from the X-axis direction and a second nozzle group having a plurality of ink discharging nozzles arranged in the same direction as the nozzles of the first nozzle group, said first and second nozzle groups discharging ink of the same color, a pitch of said plurality of ink discharging nozzles of said first nozzle group in the Y-axis direction being set to be equal to a pitch of the filter elements of the same color in the Y-axis direction, a pitch of said plurality of ink discharging nozzles of said second nozzle group in the Y-axis direction being set to be equal to a pitch of the filter elements of the same color in the Y-axis direction, wherein when the nozzles of said first nozzle group correspond to a coloring position where the filter elements are colored, the nozzles of said second nozzle group do not correspond to the coloring position, and when the nozzles of said second nozzle group correspond to the coloring position, the nozzles of said first nozzle group do not correspond to the coloring position;

a moving step of moving relative positions of said plurality of ink-jet heads and the substrate;

a switching step of selecting one nozzle group which is newly used, by switching a nozzle group to be used for coloring the filter elements between said first nozzle group and said second nozzle group based on a temperature of each of said first and second nozzle groups; and

a control step of controlling an operation of said moving means and ink discharging operations of said plurality of ink-jet heads,

wherein said control step controls said ink-jet heads to discharge ink from only one nozzle group which can color the filter elements on said substrate within said first and second nozzle groups, and

wherein when one of said first and second nozzle groups is used to color the filter elements, the other one is not used.

17. A manufacturing apparatus for a color filter manufactured by forming and arranging many filter elements colored in a same color on a substrate in an X-axis direction as one direction, and forming and arranging filter elements such that filter elements 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, each corresponding to each color, each having a plurality of ink discharging nozzles arranged in a direction tilted with respect to the X-axis direction, and each having a first ink discharging nozzle group, a pitch in the Y-axis direction of the ink discharging nozzles set to be equal to a pitch of the filter elements of the same color in the Y-axis direction, and a second ink discharging nozzle group other than the first ink discharging nozzle group, a pitch in the Y-axis direction of the ink discharging nozzles of the second nozzle group being set to be equal to the pitch of the filter elements of the same color in the Y-axis direction;

moving means for performing a relative scanning operation by moving relative positions of said plurality of ink-jet heads and the substrate;

control means for controlling an operation of said moving means and ink discharging operations of said plurality of ink-jet heads for coloring the filter elements; and

switching means for switching a nozzle group to be used for coloring the filter elements in one ink-jet head,

wherein when the first ink discharging nozzle group is used to color the filter elements, the second ink discharging nozzle group, which discharges the ink of the same color as the first ink discharging nozzle group, is not used to color the filter elements during a coloring operation of one substrate by a plurality of scanning operations of the moving means, and

wherein said control means controls an ink discharging operation of only one of the first nozzle group and the second nozzle group, which is placed above the filter elements to be colored by a color of ink discharged from the one nozzle group, during the coloring operation of the one substrate.

18. A color filter manufacturing apparatus for dividing all ink discharging nozzles of an ink-jet head having a plurality of ink discharging nozzles that discharge inks of the same color into a plurality of nozzle groups each including a predetermined number of nozzles, discharging an ink onto each filter element on a substrate and forming a plurality of colored filter elements upon switching the plurality of nozzle groups as needed, comprising:

coloring control means for coloring the filter elements by discharging the ink onto the filter element by using only one nozzle group within the plurality of nozzle groups during a coloring operation of one substrate;

switching means for switching from the one nozzle group to another nozzle group as a nozzle group to be used for coloring the filter element;

switching operation control means for controlling a switching operation of said switching means; and

adjusting means for adjusting a positional offset between the another nozzle group and each filter element upon switching of the nozzle group to be used by said switching means.