IP Library Granted Patent US 8,957,962
Granted Patent B2
US 8,957,962 · App. 12/784,936 · Granted Feb 17, 2015

Defect correcting method and defect correcting device for an electronic circuit pattern

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,957,962
App. No.
12/784,936
Granted
Feb 17, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

Provided is a defect correcting device for an electronic circuit pattern, which is capable of making a defect seed obvious, and normalizing a pixel or forming a pixel into a semi-black spot. A defect correcting device for an electronic circuit pattern includes: an imaging unit for irradiating a defective portion of the electronic circuit pattern with irradiation light having a wavelength of a visible light region and a wavelength of an infrared light region, and receiving reflected light having the wavelength of the visible light region and the wavelength of the infrared light region from the electronic circuit pattern; a signal processing unit for extracting the defective portion from a picked-up image, and determining a correcting method; a laser irradiating unit for irradiating the defective portion with laser light; and a correction determining unit for determining success or failure of defect correction before and after laser irradiation.

Claims (22)

1. A defect correcting device for an electronic circuit pattern, for correcting a defect of the electronic circuit pattern including a thin film transistor with a drain electrode and a source electrode formed on an upper surface of a semiconductor layer via a high-concentration semiconductor layer formed on a substrate to normalize the electronic circuit pattern based on inspection data of an inspection device,

the defect correcting device comprising:

an inspection data receiving unit for receiving the inspection data from the inspection device;

an imaging unit for irradiating a defective portion of the electronic circuit pattern with irradiation light having a wavelength of an infrared light region, and receiving reflected light having the wavelength of the infrared light region from the electronic circuit pattern;

a signal processing unit for extracting the defective portion of the electronic circuit pattern from a picked-up image obtained by the imaging unit, and detecting the defect of the electronic circuit pattern by checking presence or absence of a residue of the high-concentration semiconductor layer on the semiconductor layer between the drain electrode and the source electrode and determining a correcting method; and

a laser irradiating unit for irradiating the defective portion of the electronic circuit pattern with laser light.

2. The defect correcting device for an electronic circuit pattern according to claim 1 , further comprising a correction determining unit for determining success or failure of defect correction of the electronic circuit pattern based on the reflected light received by the imaging unit before and after laser irradiation by the laser irradiating unit.

3. The defect correcting device for an electronic circuit pattern according to claim 1 , wherein the laser irradiating unit processes and removes only a semiconductor layer and an insulating layer in the electronic circuit pattern in which the semiconductor layer and the insulating layer are laminated on metal wiring.

4. The defect correcting device for an electronic circuit pattern according to claim 1 , wherein the imaging unit picks up an image using light in a range of 800 nm to 1,500 nm.

5. The defect correcting device for an electronic circuit pattern according to claim 1 , wherein the imaging unit includes an optical element for correcting detect position information based on the wavelength of the infrared light region.

6. A defect correcting method for an electronic circuit pattern including a thin film transistor with a drain electrode and a source electrode formed on an upper surface of a semiconductor layer via a high-concentration semiconductor layer obtained by forming one of an inorganic substance and an organic substance on a substrate, followed by resist coating, light exposure, development, and etching successively,

the defect correcting method comprising:

detecting a short-circuit defect by checking presence or absence of a residue of the high-concentration semiconductor layer on the semiconductor layer between the drain electrode and the source electrode from an imaging signal of a wavelength of an infrared light region;

determining a correcting method and correcting the electronic circuit pattern by irradiating the short-circuit defect with a laser in the selected correcting method.

7. The defect correcting method for an electronic circuit pattern according to claim 6 , wherein the irradiating with the laser includes laser processing performed using at least two wavelengths, that is, a laser wavelength for processing an insulating layer and a laser wavelength for processing a semiconductor layer, with respect to the electronic circuit pattern in which a semiconductor layer and an insulating layer are laminated on metal wiring.

8. A defect correcting device for an electronic circuit pattern, for correcting a defect of the electronic circuit pattern formed on a substrate to normalize the electronic circuit pattern based on inspection data of an inspection device, the defect correcting device comprising:

an inspection data receiving unit for receiving the inspection data from the inspection device;

an imaging unit for irradiating a defective portion of the electronic circuit pattern with irradiation light having a wavelength of a visible light region and a wavelength of an infrared light region, and receiving reflected light having the wavelength of the visible light region and the wavelength of the infrared light region from the electronic circuit pattern;

a signal processing unit for comparing two picked-up images obtained by the wavelength of a visible light and an infrared light, respectively, of the imaging unit and extracting the defective portion of the electronic circuit pattern, and determining a correcting method; and

a laser irradiating unit for irradiating the defective portion of the electronic circuit pattern with laser light.

9. The defect correcting method for an electronic circuit pattern according to claim 8 , wherein the signal processing unit more particularly utilizes the comparing of the two picked-up images to differentiate between defects caused by a residue of a metal film in comparison to defects caused by a residue of an n+a-Si layer, and more particularly, determines the correcting method for a subject defect according to whether the subject defect was determined as being caused by a residue of a metal film, or caused by a residue of an n+a-Si layer.

10. The defect correcting method for an electronic circuit pattern according to claim 9 , wherein a picked-up image obtained by the wavelength of an infrared light, of the two picked-up images, is used to determine the defects caused by the residue of an n+a-Si layer.

Assignments (7)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 10, 2025
From: JAPAN DISPLAY INC
To: MAGNOLIA PURPLE CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 071890/0202 →
NUNC PRO TUNC ASSIGNMENT Recorded Nov 17, 2023
From: PANASONIC LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY CO., LTD.
To: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CORPORATION OF AMERICA
Reel/Frame 065615/0327 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Nov 4, 2014
From: JAPAN DISPLAY EAST INC.
To: JAPAN DISPLAY INC.
Reel/Frame 034150/0927 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Oct 24, 2014
From: HITACHI DISPLAYS, LTD.
To: JAPAN DISPLAY EAST INC.
Reel/Frame 034046/0432 →
COMPANY SPLIT PLAN TRANSFERRING FIFTY (50) PERCENT SHARE IN PATENT APPLICATIONS Recorded Oct 20, 2011
From: HITACHI DISPLAYS, LTD.
To: IPS ALPHA SUPPORT CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 027092/0684 →
MERGER Recorded Oct 20, 2011
From: IPS ALPHA SUPPORT CO., LTD.
To: PANASONIC LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 027093/0937 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 15, 2010
From: ARAI, TAKESHI; NAKASU, NOBUAKI
To: HITACHI DISPLAYS, LTD.
Reel/Frame 024689/0809 →