液晶顯示器為我國兩兆雙星產業之一,也是目前國內最具國際競爭力之明星產業。液晶顯示器需有一光源使其得以呈現影像,此一光源現今皆以背光模組實現。此背光模組之發光元件以發光二極體與冷陰極燈管為市場主流,然而由於發光二極體具眾多優勢,故已逐漸侵蝕冷陰極燈管的市場。儀器科技研究中心憑藉在自動化光學檢測(automatic optical inspection, AOI)方面所累積的技術能量,發展國內首套自製之背光模組檢測機台,期能彌補國內於此等檢測設備上的不足,冀望藉由有效控管背光模組之規格,以提升液晶顯示器整體品質,進而增進國內廠商於國際市場之競爭力。
LCD manufacturing is one of the core industries in Taiwan's ”Two Trillion & Twin Star Industries Development Plan”, and it is now still growing. To display image, LCD needs a light source, and the most common way is to use backlight units (BLU), where CCFL and LED dominate the market at present moment. Between these two light sources, LED has more advantages beyond CCFL, and as a result, the market share is changing. ITRC, based on many-years experience in remote sensing instrument development, has achieved the first in-line BLU inspector to supplement the growing industry in Taiwan. This article describes the development status of BLU and corresponding inspection instruments.