Sharp- UV2A LC alignment for improvement of LCD TV panels

The Sharp proprietary ASV (Advanced Super View) process already set a technological benchmark for aligning and controlling LC molecules for a superior picture performance of LCDs. Now, Sharp again raises the bar substantially introducing the newly developed UV2A technology for an ultraviolet-induced multi-domain vertical alignment of liquid crystal molecules. This innovative technology is based on combining proprietary materials developed by Sharp with UV exposure equipment and processing technologies.

Both, the ASV and the UV2A technology resemble a complex structure on the panel glass provoking the alignment of the LC molecules. The main difference is that with the UV2A technology the micro structure comes from a special polymer film, the so called alignment layer, the panel glass is coated with. The polymer chains standing out of the film surface are aligned by a photometric method to form micro ribs, whereas the predefined tilt angle of the ribs corresponds with the direction of the UV light inducing the alignment of the polymer chains. This ribbed microstructure provides a very precise control over the align-ment of liquid crystal molecules. Thereby the tilt angle of liquid crystal molecules, which are only around two nanometres in size, can be determined with accuracy in the range of picometers.

This high precision alignment of the liquid crystals by applying the UV2A technology has two effects substantially contributing to further improvement of the image performance of LCD TV panels. First of all, it eliminates the light leakage from the backlight almost completely raising the static contrast ratio to 5000:1, making it possible to display extremely deep blacks. Secondly, the UV2A technology enables higher aperture ratios in the LCD panel increasing the light transmission by more than 20 percent for a more efficient use of light from the backlight, thereby saving energy while displaying bright, vivid colours. These quantum leaps in image performance and power saving are of particular significance for next generations full HD LCD television sets. Therefore, Sharp will fully incorporate the UV2A process as a core technology for the production of a new type of LCD panels in the new 10th generation LCD plant at Sakai and at the 8th generation Kameyama Plant No. 2