LASER PATTERNING OF COLOR FILTERS FOR LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAYS

COLOR FILTER FABRICATION IS ONE OF THE MOST EXPENSIVE STEPS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF COLOR LCD DISPLAYS. COLOR FILTER FORMATION IS USUALLY ACCOMPLISHED BY A PHOTOLITHOGRAPHIC PROCESS WHICH REQUIRES A NUMBER OF STEPS. THE YIELD IS LOW AND LABOR AND MATERIAL COSTS ARE RELATIVELY HIGH. IN ADDITION, THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF THE CHEMICALS REQUIRED FOR EXISTING PROCESSES IS NOT DESIREABLE. WE PROPOSE TO USE INNOVATIVE LASER PATTERNING AND CURING PROCESSES TO MAKE COLOR FILTERS TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF MANUFACTURING STEPS, REDUCE PRODUCTION COSTS AND MINIMIZE ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS. IN PHASE I, WE WILL EVALUATE TWO TECHNIQUES: (1) LASER ABLATION OF COLOR FILTER MATERIALS TO OBTAIN CLEAR CUTS WITH DIFFERENT GEOMETRIES AND (2) LASER CURING OF THE COLOR FILTER MATERIALS AT A CONTROLLED TEMPERATURE. COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE COLOR FILTER MATERIALS WILL BE EVALUATED USING THESE TECHNIQUES. THE PROCESSES PROPOSED CAN REDUCE THE COST OF COLOR FILTER PRODUCTION WHILE MAINTAINING OR IMPROVING COLOR RESOLUTION. ANTICIPATED BENEFITS: LARGE FLAT PANEL LCD DISPLAYS SWITCHED BY THIN FILM TRANSISTORS ARE EXPECTED TO ACHIEVE A MARKET SIZE PARALLELING IC PRODUCTION. THESE LARGE DISPLAYS HAVE APPLICATION IN LAPTOP COMPUTERS, DEDICATED WORK PROCESSORS AND FLAT SCREEN AND PROJECTION TELEVISION SYSTEMS.