Tear secretion dysfunction among women workers engaged in light-on tests in the TFT-LCD industry

BACKGROUND: The TFT-LCD (thin film transistor liquid crystal display) industry is rapidly growing in Taiwan and many other countries. A large number of workers, mainly women, are employed in the light-on test process to detect the defects of products. At the light-on test workstation, the operator is generally exposed to low humidity (in the clean room environment), flashing light, and low ambient illumination for long working hours. Many workers complained about eye discomfort, and therefore we conducted a study to evaluate the tear secretion function of light-on test workers of a TFT-LCD company. METHODS: We recruited workers engaged in light-on tests in the company during their periodical health examination. In addition to a questionnaire survey of demographic characteristics and ophthalmic symptoms, we evaluated the tear secretion function of both eyes of each participant using the Schirmer's lacrimal basal secretion test with anaesthesia. A participant with one or both eyes yielding abnormal test results was defined as a case of tear secretion dysfunction. RESULTS: During the study period, a total of 371 light-on test workers received the health examination at the clinic of the park, and 52 of them were excluded due to having ophthalmic diseases and other systemic diseases that may affect ophthalmic function. All the remaining 319 qualified workers agreed to participate in this study, and they were all females working by 4-shift rotations. The average age was 24.2 years old (standard deviation [SD] = 3.8), and the average employment duration was 13.6 months (SD = 5.7). Among the 11 ophthalmic symptoms evaluated, eye dryness was the most prevalent (prevalence = 43.3%). In addition, the prevalence of tear secretion dysfunction in at least one eye was 40.1% (128 cases), and contact lens users had an odds ratio of 1.73 (95% confidence interval = 1.02–2.94) in comparison with non-contact lens users. Comparing the Schirmer's test results of those who also participated in the screening in the previous year, we found 40 of the 156 participants (17.2%) with normal test results in the previous year turned abnormal in 2001. In contrast, only 21 of the 76 participants (9.1%) with abnormal test results in the previous year turned normal, and the difference was statistically significant (p = 0.02 for McNemar's test). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of tear secretion dysfunction in woman workers engaged in light-on tests is high and increases with a one-year duration of employment. The use of contact lens may further increase the risk

Advanced methods for safe visualization on automotive displays

Camera Monitor Systems (CMSs), for example, for backup cameras or mirror replacements, become increasingly important and already cover safety aspects such as guaranteed latency and no frame freeze. Today\u27s approaches deal only with supervision of the digital interface, LCD backlight, and power supply. This paper introduces methods for advanced safety monitoring of panel electronics and optical display output that aim to enable future CMS based automotive use cases. Our methods are based on correlation of physical measurements with predicted values derived from a corresponding display model. This model was made via calibration measurements and many test patterns. Correlation of the monitoring results with predicted values corresponds to the probability that the RGB data are shown as intended. This implies that an overlying system, an Automotive Safety Integrity Level (ASIL) Prepared Video Safety System (APVSS), ensures that only safety verified RGB data are provided to the panel electronics. In case of failures, our methods enable a safe system state, for example, by deactivating the panel. An additional challenge is to allow graceful degradations, a safe but slightly degraded image may provide a better customer experience compared with no information. We successfully verified our approach by a fully functional prototype and extensive evaluation towards “light-to-light” (camera to display output) supervision

Methods for Dichoptic Stimulus Presentation in Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging - A Review

Dichoptic stimuli (different stimuli displayed to each eye) are increasingly being used in functional brain imaging experiments using visual stimulation. These studies include investigation into binocular rivalry, interocular information transfer, three-dimensional depth perception as well as impairments of the visual system like amblyopia and stereodeficiency. In this paper, we review various approaches of displaying dichoptic stimulus used in functional magnetic resonance imaging experiments. These include traditional approaches of using filters (red-green, red-blue, polarizing) with optical assemblies as well as newer approaches of using bi-screen goggles

Testing of displays of protection and control relays with machine vision

Human-machine interface is the link between a user and a device. In protection and control relays the local human machine interface consist of a display, buttons, light-emitted diode indicators and communication ports. Human-machine interfaces are tested before assembly with visual inspection to ensure quality of LCDs and LEDs. The visual inspection test system of HMIs consists of a camera and lens, a light emitted diode analyser, software and a computer. Machine vision operations, such as corner detection and template matching, are used to process and analyse captured images. Original camera and measurement device set-up have been used several years, and it should be upgraded. New camera and lens were installed in the system, and the aim of the thesis was to evaluate and improve the testing set-up and software to support each other, to get better images, and further, to improve the first pass yield. Camera position and settings were adjusted to capture images with good quality. Features of upgraded set-up and software were tested, and development ideas are given for further improvement. Changes in the set-up and software show promising results by giving more accurate test results from production.fi=Opinnäytetyö kokotekstinä PDF-muodossa.|en=Thesis fulltext in PDF format.|sv=Lärdomsprov tillgängligt som fulltext i PDF-format

The Robotic Visual Information Processing System Based on Wavelet Transformation and Photoelectric Hybrid

Non

A Review and Analysis of Automatic Optical Inspection and Quality Monitoring Methods in Electronics Industry

Electronics industry is one of the fastest evolving, innovative, and most competitive industries. In order to meet the high consumption demands on electronics components, quality standards of the products must be well-maintained. Automatic optical inspection (AOI) is one of the non-destructive techniques used in quality inspection of various products. This technique is considered robust and can replace human inspectors who are subjected to dull and fatigue in performing inspection tasks. A fully automated optical inspection system consists of hardware and software setups. Hardware setup include image sensor and illumination settings and is responsible to acquire the digital image, while the software part implements an inspection algorithm to extract the features of the acquired images and classify them into defected and non-defected based on the user requirements. A sorting mechanism can be used to separate the defective products from the good ones. This article provides a comprehensive review of the various AOI systems used in electronics, micro-electronics, and opto-electronics industries. In this review the defects of the commonly inspected electronic components, such as semiconductor wafers, flat panel displays, printed circuit boards and light emitting diodes, are first explained. Hardware setups used in acquiring images are then discussed in terms of the camera and lighting source selection and configuration. The inspection algorithms used for detecting the defects in the electronic components are discussed in terms of the preprocessing, feature extraction and classification tools used for this purpose. Recent articles that used deep learning algorithms are also reviewed. The article concludes by highlighting the current trends and possible future research directions.Framework of the IQONIC Project; European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Program

Amorphous In-Ga-Zn-O Thin-Film Transistors for Next Generation Ultra-High Definition Active-Matrix Liquid Crystal Displays.

Next generation ultra-high definition (UHD) active-matrix flat-panel displays have resolutions of 3840x2160 (4K) or 7680x4320 (8K) pixels shown at 120 Hz. The UHD display is expected to bring about immersive viewing experiences and perceived realness. The amorphous In-Ga-Zn-O (a-IGZO) thin-film transistor (TFT) is a prime candidate to be the backplane technology for UHD active-matrix liquid crystal displays (AM-LCDs) because it simultaneously fulfills two critical requirements: (i) sufficiently high field-effect mobility and (ii) uniform deposition in the amorphous phase over a large area. We have developed a robust a-IGZO density of states (DOS) model based on a combination of experimental results and information available in the literature. The impact of oxygen partial pressure during a-IGZO deposition on TFT electrical properties/instability is studied. Photoluminescence (PL) spectra are measured for a IGZO thin films of different processing conditions to identify the most likely electron-hole recombination. For the first time, we report the PL spectra measured within the a IGZO TFT channel region, and differences before/after bias-temperature stress (BTS) are compared. To evaluate the reliability of a-IGZO TFTs for UHD AM-LCD backplane, we have studied its ac BTS instability using a comprehensive set of conditions including unipolar/bipolar pulses, frequency, duty cycle, and drain biases. The TFT dynamic response, including charging characteristics and feedthrough voltage, are studied within the context of 4K and 8K UHD AM-LCD and are compared with hydrogenated amorphous silicon technology. We show that the a-IGZO TFT is fully capable of supporting 8K UHD at 480 Hz. In addition, it is feasible to reduce a-IGZO TFT feedthrough voltage by controlling for non-abrupt TFT switch-off.PhDElectrical EngineeringUniversity of Michigan, Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studieshttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/111526/1/ekyu_1.pd

Full resolution hologram-like autostereoscopic display

Under this program, Dimension Technologies Inc. (DTI) developed a prototype display that uses a proprietary illumination technique to create autostereoscopic hologram-like full resolution images on an LCD operating at 180 fps. The resulting 3D image possesses a resolution equal to that of the LCD along with properties normally associated with holograms, including change of perspective with observer position and lack of viewing position restrictions. Furthermore, this autostereoscopic technique eliminates the need to wear special glasses to achieve the parallax effect. Under the program a prototype display was developed which demonstrates the hologram-like full resolution concept. To implement such a system, DTI explored various concept designs and enabling technologies required to support those designs. Specifically required were: a parallax illumination system with sufficient brightness and control; an LCD with rapid address and pixel response; and an interface to an image generation system for creation of computer graphics. Of the possible parallax illumination system designs, we chose a design which utilizes an array of fluorescent lamps. This system creates six sets of illumination areas to be imaged behind an LCD. This controlled illumination array is interfaced to a lenticular lens assembly which images the light segments into thin vertical light lines to achieve the parallax effect. This light line formation is the foundation of DTI's autostereoscopic technique. The David Sarnoff Research Center (Sarnoff) was subcontracted to develop an LCD that would operate with a fast scan rate and pixel response. Sarnoff chose a surface mode cell technique and produced the world's first large area pi-cell active matrix TFT LCD. The device provided adequate performance to evaluate five different perspective stereo viewing zones. A Silicon Graphics' Iris Indigo system was used for image generation which allowed for static and dynamic multiple perspective image rendering. During the development of the prototype display, we identified many critical issues associated with implementing such a technology. Testing and evaluation enabled us to prove that this illumination technique provides autostereoscopic 3D multi perspective images with a wide range of view, smooth transition, and flickerless operation given suitable enabling technologies

Artificial iris performance for smart contact lens vision correction applications

This paper presents the simulated performance assessment of an artificial iris embedded on a scleral contact lens using real data from an aniridia patient. The artificial iris is based on guest-host liquid crystal cells (GH-LCD) in order to actively modify the transmittance of the lens and effective pupil size. Experimental validation of the GH-LCD spectrum and iris contrast (determined to be 1:2.1) enabled the development of optical models that include the effect of a small pupil on image quality and visual quality on an optical system with aniridia characteristics. Visual simulations at different light conditions (high/low photopic and mesopic) demonstrated the theoretical capacity of the customized artificial iris smart contact lens to expand the depth-of-focus and decrease the optical aberrations (in particular, the spherical aberration). The visual modelling suggests a maximum depth-of-focus value for a 2-mm pupil diameter for both eyes as follows: 3D (1,000 cd/m(2)), 2D (10 cd/m(2)) and 0.75D (1 cd/m(2)). This work demonstrates the beneficial optical effects of an active artificial iris, based on visual simulations in response to different light levels, and enables further experimental investigation on patients to validate the dynamic light attenuation and visual performance of smart contact lenses with GH-LCD