CN111148343B

CN111148343B - Flexible circuit board, lighting test system and test method

Info

Publication number: CN111148343B
Application number: CN202010066905.4A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 刘辉兵; 李楠; 蒋中玉; 胡瑞生
Original assignee: BOE Technology Group Co Ltd; Chengdu BOE Optoelectronics Technology Co Ltd
Current assignee: BOE Technology Group Co Ltd; Chengdu BOE Optoelectronics Technology Co Ltd
Priority date: 2020-01-20
Filing date: 2020-01-20
Publication date: 2021-04-20
Anticipated expiration: 2040-01-20
Also published as: CN111148343A

Abstract

The invention discloses a flexible circuit board, a lighting test system and a test method, wherein the flexible circuit board comprises a circuit structure and a pin structure, and is characterized by also comprising a switching structure; the switching structure is used for realizing detachable connection by respectively pressing the pressing units on the circuit structure and the pin structure, so that the circuit structure and the pin structure are electrically connected through the switching structure. When one of the circuit structure or the pin structure in the flexible circuit board is damaged, the damaged part can be independently detached for replacement, so that the integrated flexible circuit board does not need to be integrally replaced, the material waste is avoided, and the production cost is favorably reduced.

Description

Flexible circuit board, lighting test system and test method

Technical Field

The invention relates to the technical field of display. And more particularly, to a flexible circuit board, a lighting test system, and a test method.

Background

In the display panel industry, FPCs are often used due to their high flat cable density, light weight, flexibility, and easy installation.

In order to ensure the product yield, the display device to be tested is usually electrically lighted and detected by using a Flexible Printed Circuit Board (FPC) compression joint method.

Fig. 1 shows a schematic structural diagram of a flexible circuit board in the prior art, as can be seen from fig. 1, the flexible circuit board 104 is generally formed as a whole by two parts, namely a circuit part 1042 and a pin part 1041, and when one of the circuit part 1042 and the pin part 1041 is damaged, the whole needs to be replaced, which causes great waste and increases the production cost.

Disclosure of Invention

In order to solve the technical problems in the background art, a first aspect of the present invention provides a flexible circuit board, including a circuit structure, a pin structure, and a switching structure;

the switching structure is used for realizing detachable connection by respectively pressing the pressing units on the circuit structure and the pin structure, so that the circuit structure and the pin structure are electrically connected through the switching structure.

Optionally, the pin structure includes: a first substrate extending in a first direction;

a plurality of sub-pin structures extending along a second direction;

the sub-pin structure is partially overlapped with the first substrate, the sub-pin structure is divided into a first pin part and a first connecting part by the first substrate, and a conducting wire for realizing the electric connection between the first pin part and the first connecting part is arranged on the overlapped part.

Optionally, the circuit structure comprises:

a T-shaped second substrate;

the second substrate comprises a first part extending along a first direction and a second part extending along a second direction, a plurality of second lead parts are arranged at the end part of one side, far away from the first part, of the second part, a plurality of second connecting parts are arranged at one side, far away from the second part, of the first part, and a circuit area used for achieving electric connection between the second lead parts and the second connecting parts is arranged on the second part.

Optionally, the adapting structure includes:

a third substrate extending in the first direction;

the plurality of sub-adapter structures are arranged on the third substrate and extend along a second direction, and the adapter wires extend along a first direction;

the sub-switching structure is partially overlapped with the patch cord, the sub-switching structure is divided into a first crimping part and a second crimping part by the patch cord, and the patch cord is used for realizing the electric connection between the first crimping part and the second crimping part.

Optionally, the first substrate is further provided with a first fixing hole.

Optionally, the first fixing hole is used for fixing the first substrate and the crimping unit.

Optionally, the third substrate is further provided with a second fixing hole.

Optionally, the second fixing hole is used for fixing the second substrate and the crimping unit.

Optionally, a cover plate is further included;

when the adapter structure is respectively pressed on the circuit structure and the pin structure through the pressing unit, the cover plate is used for fixing the circuit structure and the pin structure with the adapter structure.

Optionally, an insulating layer is further disposed on the third substrate.

In a second aspect of the present invention, a lighting test system is provided, which includes the flexible circuit board according to the first aspect of the present invention.

A third aspect of the present invention provides a method for performing a lighting test on a display device to be tested by using the lighting test system provided in the second aspect of the present invention, including the following steps:

the switching structure is respectively pressed on the circuit structure and the pin structure through a pressing unit to realize detachable connection, so that the circuit structure and the pin structure are electrically connected through the switching structure;

electrically connecting a display device to be tested on the pin structure;

electrically connecting a detection device to the circuit structure;

and starting the detection device to carry out lighting test on the display device to be tested.

The invention has the following beneficial effects:

in the invention, the mutually independent circuit structure and the pin structure can be electrically connected correspondingly through the switching structure, so that an integrated flexible circuit board is formed, and the circuit structure and the pin structure are respectively detachably connected with the switching structure, so that if one of the circuit structure or the pin structure in the flexible circuit board is damaged, the damaged part can be independently detached for replacement, the integrated flexible circuit board does not need to be integrally replaced, the material waste is avoided, and the production cost is favorably reduced.

Drawings

In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention, the drawings needed to be used in the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below, and it is obvious that the drawings in the following description are only some embodiments of the present invention, and it is obvious for those skilled in the art to obtain other drawings based on these drawings without creative efforts.

Fig. 1 shows a schematic structure of a flexible circuit board in the prior art;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a lighting test of a display device under test in the prior art;

fig. 3 shows a schematic view of the warpage of the lead portion of the flexible circuit board.

Fig. 4 is a schematic structural diagram of a flexible circuit board according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 5 is a schematic structural diagram showing a pin structure in the present embodiment;

fig. 6 shows a schematic configuration diagram of a circuit configuration in the present embodiment;

fig. 7 is a schematic structural view of the transfer structure in the present embodiment;

fig. 8 shows a front view of the transit structure in the present embodiment;

fig. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a method for performing a lighting test on a display device under test by using the lighting test system according to the previous embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure: 101. a crimping unit; 102. a display device to be tested; 103. a table top; 104. a flexible circuit board; 1041. a pin portion; 10411. a warp portion; 1042. a circuit portion; 200. a pin structure; 201. a first substrate; 202. a first lead part; 203. a first connection portion; 204. a conducting wire; 205. a first fixing hole; 300. a circuit structure; 301. a second substrate; 3011. a first portion; 3012. a second portion; 302. a second lead portion; 303. a second connecting portion; 304. a circuit area; 400. a switching structure; 401. a third substrate; 402. a first crimping part; 403. a second crimping part; 404. a patch cord; 405. a second fixing hole; 406. a cover plate; 407. a recess; 408. an insulating layer.

Detailed Description

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings. The exemplary embodiments, however, may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these exemplary embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the concept of the invention to those skilled in the art. The same reference numerals denote the same or similar elements, components, or parts in the drawings, and thus their repetitive description will be omitted.

Features, structures, characteristics or other details described in a particular embodiment do not preclude the fact that the features, structures, characteristics or other details may be combined in a suitable manner in one or more other embodiments in accordance with the technical idea of the invention.

In describing particular embodiments, the present invention has been described with reference to features, structures, characteristics or other details that are within the purview of one skilled in the art to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that the invention may be practiced without one or more of the specific features, structures, characteristics, or other details.

The flow charts shown in the drawings are merely illustrative and do not necessarily include all of the contents and operations/steps, nor do they necessarily have to be performed in the order described. For example, some operations/steps may be decomposed, and some operations/steps may be combined or partially combined, so that the actual execution sequence may be changed according to the actual situation.

The block diagrams shown in the figures are functional entities only and do not necessarily correspond to physically separate entities. I.e. these functional entities may be implemented in the form of software, or in one or more hardware modules or integrated circuits, or in different networks and/or processor means and/or microcontroller means.

It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, third, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, or sections, these terms should not be construed as limiting. These phrases are used to distinguish one from another. For example, a first device may also be referred to as a second device without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

The term "and/or" and/or "includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

Fig. 2 shows a schematic diagram of a lighting test of a display device under test in the prior art, as shown in fig. 2, the display device under test 102 is located on the table 103, and the flexible circuit board 104 is pressed on the display device under test 102 under the driving of the pressing unit 101 for further lighting test, however, the common major damage surfaces of the flexible circuit board 104 are local phenomena such as pin abrasion, warpage, and fracture in the pin portion 1041 and circuit damage in the circuit portion 1042, which are specifically divided into the following three cases:

(a) the pins are worn, and since the lighting test is performed on different display devices to be tested 102 for many times, the pins of the pin part 1041 are worn due to frequent crimping, so that poor crimping occurs in the lighting test;

(b) as shown in fig. 3, when the surface of the display device 102 to be tested is warped, when the pin portion 1041 of the flexible circuit board 104 is pressed against the display device 102 to be tested, the pin of the pin portion 1041 is warped or warped, and a warped portion 10411 appears;

(c) the circuit is damaged, and the circuit in the circuit portion 1042 is damaged due to human or other reasons, and thus the circuit cannot be used normally.

The above-mentioned situation of local damage all needs to be correspondingly changed for the flexible circuit board 104, and because the pin portion 1041 of the flexible circuit board 104 and the circuit portion 1042 are an integral body, when the flexible circuit board 104 is locally damaged, the integral body must be changed, thereby causing great waste and increasing the production cost.

In order to solve the above problem, an embodiment of the present invention provides a flexible circuit board, as shown in fig. 4, including a circuit structure 300, a pin structure 200, and a transition structure 400.

In the specific example of fig. 4, the circuit structure 300 and the lead structure 200 are independent from each other, and the adapting structure 400 is detachably connected (also referred to as detachably connectable) by pressing the pressing units (not shown) onto the circuit structure 300 and the lead structure 200 respectively, so that the circuit structure 300 and the lead structure 200 are electrically connected through the adapting structure 400.

That is to say, in this embodiment, the mutually independent circuit structure 300 and the pin structure 200 can realize corresponding electrical connection through the adapting structure 400, thereby forming an integrated flexible circuit board, because the circuit structure 300 and the pin structure 200 can be detachably connected with the adapting structure 400 respectively, therefore, if one of the circuit structure 300 or the pin structure 200 in the flexible circuit board is damaged, the damaged part can be detached separately for replacement, thereby the integrated flexible circuit board does not need to be replaced integrally, the material waste is avoided, and the production cost is reduced.

Fig. 5 shows a schematic structural diagram of the pin structure 200 in this embodiment, and as shown in fig. 5, the pin structure 200 includes:

a first substrate 201 extending in a first direction;

a plurality of sub-pin structures extending along a second direction;

the sub-lead structure is partially overlapped with the first substrate 201, the sub-lead structure is divided into a first lead part 202 and a first connection part 203 by the first substrate 201, and a conduction wire 204 for realizing the electrical connection between the first lead part 202 and the first connection part 203 is arranged on the overlapped part.

Specifically, in the example of fig. 5, there are two sub-lead structures, and the two sub-lead structures are respectively disposed on two sides of the first substrate 201, it should be noted that, in this embodiment, the number of the sub-lead structures is not specifically limited, and fig. 5 is only an example.

In fig. 5, the conducting wires 204 are disposed on the portion of the first substrate 201 between the first connecting portion 203 and the first lead portion 202, and are electrically connected to the first connecting portion 203 and the first lead portion 202, respectively, and the first connecting portion 203 and the first lead portion 202 are electrically connected through the conducting wires 204, and it should be noted that, in the example of fig. 5, the shape of the first substrate 201 is rectangular, but it should be understood by those skilled in the art that the shape of the first substrate 201 is not limited thereto, and the shape of the first substrate 201 can be set according to the need and the actual manufacturing work, for example: square, circular, or other shapes, all of which are within the scope of the present application.

Fig. 6 shows a schematic structural diagram of the circuit structure 300 in the present embodiment, and as shown in fig. 6, the circuit structure 300 includes:

a T-shaped second substrate 301;

the second substrate 301 includes a first portion 3011 extending along a first direction and a second portion 3012 extending along a second direction, a plurality of second lead portions 302 are disposed at an end portion of one side of the second portion 3012, which is far away from the first portion 3011, a plurality of second connection portions 303 are disposed at a side of the first portion 3011, which is far away from the second portion 3012, and a circuit region 304 for realizing electrical connection between the second lead portions 302 and the second connection portions 303 is disposed on the second portion 3012.

Specifically, in the example of fig. 6, there are a plurality of second lead portions 302 provided on the second portion 3012, and the plurality of second lead portions 302 form a whole, while there are two second connection portions 303 provided on the first portion 3011, and the two second connection portions 303 are respectively provided on both sides of the first portion 3011, it should be noted that, in this embodiment, the number of the second lead portions 302 and the number of the second connection portions 303 are not particularly limited, and fig. 6 is merely an example.

In fig. 6, the circuit region 304 is electrically connected to the second connection portion 303 and the second lead portion 302 respectively, and the second connection portion 303 and the second lead portion 302 are electrically connected through the circuit region 304 correspondingly, it should be noted that, in the example of fig. 6, the shape of the second substrate 301 is T-shaped, but it should be understood by those skilled in the art that the shape of the second substrate 301 is not limited thereto, and the shape of the second substrate 301 can be set according to the need and the actual manufacturing work, for example: square, circular, or other shapes, all of which are within the scope of the present application.

Fig. 7 shows a schematic structural diagram of the adapting structure 400 in the embodiment, and as shown in fig. 7, the adapting structure 400 includes:

a third substrate 401 extending in the first direction;

a plurality of sub-via structures disposed on the third substrate 401 and extending along a second direction, and a via line 404 extending along a first direction;

the sub-adapter structure partially overlaps with the patch cord 404, the sub-adapter structure is divided into a first crimping part 402 and a second crimping part 403 by the patch cord 404, and the patch cord 404 is used for realizing the electrical connection between the first crimping part 402 and the second crimping part 403.

Specifically, in the example of fig. 7, there are two sub-via structures disposed on the third substrate 401, and the two sub-via structures are disposed on two sides of the third substrate 401, respectively, it should be noted that the number of the sub-via structures is not specifically limited, and fig. 7 is only an example.

Specifically, in fig. 7, the patch cord 404 is electrically connected to the first crimp part 402 and the second crimp part 403, so that the first crimp part 402 and the second crimp part 403 are electrically connected through the patch cord 404.

When the display device to be tested is used, the second connection portion 303 on the circuit structure 300 can be crimped on the second crimping portion 403 of the adapting structure 400 through the crimping unit, then the first connection portion 203 on the pin structure 200 can be crimped on the first crimping portion 402 of the adapting structure 400, so that the circuit structure 300 and the pin structure 200 are electrically connected with the adapting structure 400 respectively, the adapting structure 400 is detachably connected with the circuit structure 300 and the pin structure 200 respectively, further, when the display device to be tested is subjected to electrical lighting detection on the display device to be tested 102, the display device to be tested 102 can be electrically connected with the pin structure 200 through the first pin portion 202, and the detection device is electrically connected with the circuit structure 300 through the second pin portion 302.

In this embodiment, the detection device may be a circuit board integrated with a test circuit or other devices and apparatuses capable of implementing a lighting test, which is not specifically limited in this embodiment.

Since the display device 102 to be tested needs to be pressed on the lead structure 200 through the first lead portion 202 when the lighting test is performed on the display device 102 to be tested, to achieve fixation between the pin structure 200 and the crimp unit, returning to the illustration of figure 5, in fig. 5, the first clamping plate of the lead frame 200 is further provided with a plurality of first fixing holes 205, and the number of the first fixing holes 205 is not particularly limited in this embodiment, and a plurality of first fixing holes 205 may be symmetrically located on both sides of the first substrate 201 opposite to the first lead portion 202, in the example of fig. 5, the number of the first fixing holes 205 is 6, 3 on both sides of the first substrate 201 with respect to the first lead portion 202, in use, the pin structure 200 may be fixed to the crimping unit by engaging the first fixing hole 205 with a bolt or other fixing post.

Similarly, when the adapting structure 400 is electrically connected to the pin structure 200 and the circuit structure 300, the first connection portion 203 of the pin structure 200 needs to be pressed against the first pressing portion 402 of the adapting structure 400, and the second connection portion 303 of the circuit structure 300 needs to be pressed against the second pressing portion 403 of the adapting structure 400, and during the pressing process, in order to ensure the fixation between the adapting structure 400 and the pressing unit, as shown in fig. 7, the third substrate 401 further has a second fixing hole 405, and the number of the second fixing holes 405 may be plural, which is not specifically limited in this embodiment, and during the pressing process, the fixing between the adapting structure 400 and the pressing unit can be achieved through the cooperation between the second fixing hole 405 and the bolt or other fixing column.

Further, as shown in fig. 8, the adapting structure 400 further includes a cover plate 406;

when the adapter structure 400 is respectively pressed on the circuit structure 300 and the pin structure 200 by the pressing unit, the cover plate 406 is used for fixing the circuit structure 300 and the pin structure 200 to the adapter structure 400

Specifically, the cover plate 406 can be buckled at the position where the pin structure 200 and the circuit structure 300 are pressed on the adapter structure 400, so as to further ensure the firmness of pressing the pin structure 200 and the circuit structure 300 on the adapter structure 400.

In a preferred implementation manner of this embodiment, a notch 407 is disposed on the third substrate 401, the first crimping portion 402, the second crimping portion 403 and the patch cord 404 are disposed on a surface of the notch 407, and the cover 406 is matched with the notch 407.

Specifically, a corresponding notch 407 is formed in a surface of the third substrate 401, the first crimping part 402, the second crimping part 403 and the patch cord 404 are correspondingly disposed at the surface of the notch 407, the shape of the cover 406 is correspondingly configured to match the notch 407, and when the cover 406 is buckled at a position where the pin structure 200 and the circuit structure 300 are crimped on the interposer structure 400, the notch 407 can perform a corresponding limiting function on the cover 406.

Further, an insulating layer 408 is disposed on the third substrate 401.

Specifically, the insulating layer 408 may be disposed at an edge of the third substrate 401 to prevent the first crimp part 402 and/or the second crimp part 403 from contacting other conductors during operation of the interposer 400, so as to provide corresponding protection.

Another embodiment of the present invention provides a lighting test system, which includes the flexible circuit board provided in the above embodiment.

Fig. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a method for performing a lighting test on a display device under test by using the lighting test system according to the previous embodiment of the present invention, as shown in fig. 9, the method includes the following steps:

the adapting structure 400 is respectively pressed on the circuit structure 300 and the pin structure 200 by a pressing unit to realize detachable connection, so that the circuit structure 300 and the pin structure 200 are electrically connected through the adapting structure 400;

electrically connecting a display device 102 to be tested to the pin structure 200;

electrically connecting a detection device to the circuit structure 300;

turning on the detection device to perform lighting test on the display device to be tested 102

It should be understood that the above-mentioned embodiments of the present invention are only examples for clearly illustrating the present invention, and are not intended to limit the embodiments of the present invention, and it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that other variations or modifications may be made on the basis of the above description, and all embodiments may not be exhaustive, and all obvious variations or modifications may be included within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A flexible circuit board comprises a circuit structure and a pin structure, and is characterized by also comprising a switching structure;

the switching structure is used for realizing detachable connection by respectively crimping the circuit structure and the pin structure through crimping units, so that the circuit structure and the pin structure are electrically connected through the switching structure;

the switching structure includes:

a third substrate extending in the first direction;

2. The flexible circuit board of claim 1, wherein the pin structure comprises: a first substrate extending in a first direction;

a plurality of sub-pin structures extending along a second direction;

3. The flexible circuit board of claim 1, wherein the circuit structure comprises:

a T-shaped second substrate;

4. The flexible circuit board of claim 2, wherein the first substrate further comprises a first fixing hole.

5. The flexible circuit board according to claim 4, wherein the first fixing hole is used to achieve fixing between the first substrate and the crimping unit.

6. The flexible circuit board of claim 1, wherein the third substrate further comprises a second fixing hole.

7. The flexible circuit board according to claim 6, wherein the second fixing hole is used to achieve fixing between the third substrate and the crimping unit.

8. The flexible circuit board of claim 1, further comprising a cover plate;

9. The flexible circuit board of claim 1, wherein an insulating layer is further disposed on the third substrate.

10. A lighting test system comprising the flexible circuit board according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

11. A method for performing a lighting test on a display device under test using the lighting test system of claim 10, comprising the steps of:

electrically connecting a display device to be tested on the pin structure;

electrically connecting a detection device to the circuit structure;