The optical alignment device includes a light unit (11) generating a parallel light beam. A beam splitter (13), and a beam control for converting the split light beam into a polarised light beam (11c), which is then directed onto a film (16) on a LCD substrate (15). The light unit comprises a light beam generating light source and a parallel light beam generator (12), converting the light source beam into a parallel light beam (116). Typically the light source is an Ar+ laser, with a collimator or polariser contained in the parallel beam generator.
