JP2002181866A - Inspecting socket for display substrate - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To align a display substrate with a frame and a probe unit without contacting contacts with the display substrate. SOLUTION: This inspecting socket for the display substrate includes the frame with an opening receiving the display substrate; the probe unit having the plural contacts at intervals in one direction, disposed in the frame such that the contacts can contact with electrodes of the display substrate received by the frame; and at least one energizing mechanism disposed in the frame, energizing the display substrate upward from below by elastic force to separate at least a part on the electrode side of the display substrate from the contacts upward.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a socket used for conducting a current on a liquid crystal substrate such as a liquid crystal display panel or a display substrate such as an organic EL (erectroluminescense) substrate.

In the present invention, one of the display substrates arranged in the socket in the thickness direction is referred to as “upper”,
The other is called "downward."

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art In conducting a current test of a small display substrate such as a liquid crystal display panel used in a cellular phone, a video camera, or the like, a mounting tool generally called a socket for mounting the display substrate is used. Done. For example, a lighting inspection socket is provided with a display substrate mounted thereon, and in that state, it is arranged on a backlight unit, a table, or the like.

As one of such sockets, there is one in which a probe unit having a plurality of contacts individually pressed against electrodes of a display substrate is assembled to a frame (for example, JP-A-2000-241788). . In this socket, the display substrate is arranged on the frame so that each electrode contacts a predetermined contact, and is supported by the frame in that state. Positioning for accurately aligning the electrodes with the contacts is performed by moving the display substrate with respect to the probe unit while the display substrate is placed on the frame.

[0005]

However, in this type of conventional socket, when positioning the display substrate with respect to the probe unit, the contact is in contact with the display substrate (especially, the electrode), and the display substrate is contacted. Move with respect to the contact, the display substrate (particularly, the electrode) is easily damaged, and the contact may be damaged.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to align a display substrate with respect to a frame and a probe unit in a state where a contact is not brought into contact with a display substrate.

[0007]

A display board inspection socket according to the present invention is a probe unit including a frame having an opening and receiving a display board, and a plurality of contacts spaced in one direction. A probe unit arranged on the frame such that the contact can be brought into contact with the electrode of the display substrate received on the frame, and at least a part of the display substrate on the electrode side is separated upward from the contact. And one or more urging mechanisms disposed on the frame for urging the display substrate upward from below with elastic force.

The display substrate is mounted on the frame so as to close most of the opening of the frame. In this state, at least a portion on the electrode side of the display substrate is separated from the contact by the biasing mechanism. In this state, the display substrate can be moved with respect to the probe unit to align the display substrate with the probe unit.

As described above, according to the present invention, since the urging mechanism for separating at least the electrode-side portion of the display substrate upward from the contact is provided, the probe does not contact the contact with the display substrate. The display substrate can be positioned with respect to the unit.

The urging mechanism includes an elastic member disposed in a hole formed in the frame and opening upward, and a lower portion received in the lower portion with the upper portion protruding from the hole and coming into contact with the elastic member. And a substrate holder to be used. By doing so, the urging mechanism has a simple structure.

A plurality of the urging mechanisms may be arranged on the frame at intervals in the one direction. By doing so, during the alignment, the display substrate can be reliably displaced to a position where the contact does not contact the display substrate.

[0012] The display substrate inspection socket may further include a pressing member that releasably presses at least the electrode arrangement portion of the display substrate against the probe unit against the elastic force. By doing so, it is possible to maintain a state in which the electrodes are securely in contact with the contacts during the inspection.

[0013] The display board inspection socket is further provided with an elastic plate for receiving an edge of the probe unit corresponding to a region where the contact is arranged from below, and the frame is arranged to receive the elastic plate. And a plate-like probe holder. By doing so, even if there is a slight change in the height position of the contact, the change in the height position is absorbed by the elastic deformation of the elastic plate.
The electrode can be maintained in a state where the electrode is securely in contact with the contact.

[0014] The display board inspection socket may further include one or more elastic bodies for receiving the probe holder. By doing so, even if the probe unit is slightly inclined in the one direction, the inclination is absorbed by the elastic deformation of the elastic body, so that the electrodes are maintained in a state of being securely in contact with the contacts during the inspection. can do.

[0015] The display substrate inspection socket may further include a plurality of substrate holders for detachably holding the display substrate on the frame. By doing so, after the alignment, the display substrate can be pressed against the frame and the contact by the substrate holder, and assembled to the frame.

The display board inspection socket may further include a positioning mechanism for moving the display board in the one direction and positioning the display board with respect to the probe unit. By doing so, the positioning can be performed without touching the display substrate with a hand, and thus the positioning is facilitated.

In a preferred embodiment, each substrate retainer is composed of a retainer having an elongated hole extending in one direction and a screw member screwed into a screw hole formed in the frame from above. And a screw member through which the holding member is attached to the frame.

In a preferred embodiment, the positioning mechanism further includes a contact member movably disposed in the one direction at one end of the frame in the one direction.
A position adjusting mechanism that adjusts the position of the contact member in the one direction, a pressing member movably disposed in the one direction, and a pressing member disposed at the other end of the frame in the one direction; An elastic body for urging toward the side, and a knob for retracting the pressing member against the urging force of the elastic body.

In a preferred embodiment, the probe unit further includes an electrically insulating sheet member, and a plurality of wires formed on the sheet member.
Each of the contacts is formed on the upper surface of the sheet-like member and is electrically connected to the wiring.

[0020]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIGS. 1 to 5, a socket 10 is used for a conduction test of a rectangular display substrate 12, that is, a conduction test. The display substrate 12 has a plurality of electrodes extending in a direction connecting a pair of opposing sides on a front surface or a rear surface of an edge portion corresponding to one side.

Hereinafter, the left-right direction in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4 is referred to as “left-right direction”, and the lower and upper directions in FIG. 1 are referred to as “front” and “rear”, respectively. The “vertical direction” in the present invention refers to a direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 1, and refers to a vertical direction in FIGS. 2 and 4.

The socket 10 includes a plate-shaped frame 14 for receiving the display substrate 12 on the upper side, and a probe unit 16.
And a pair of urging mechanisms 1 for urging the display substrate 12 upward.
8 and a plate-shaped pressing body 20 that releasably presses the electrode arrangement portion of the display substrate 12 against the pair of probe units 16.
A positioning mechanism 22 for moving the display substrate 12 in the left-right direction to position the display substrate 12 with respect to both probe units 16, and a plurality of substrate holders for detachably holding the display substrate 12 on the frame 14. 24, a connection board 26 disposed on the upper surface of the frame 14, and a pair of unit holders 28 that receive one end of the probe unit 16 from below.

The frame 14 is formed in a rectangular planar shape, and chamfered at four corners. The frame 14 also has a rectangular opening 30 corresponding to the display substrate 12 to be inspected, and has pin-shaped legs 32 at each of the four corners.

The opening 30 is used for the passage of light from a backlight unit or the like at the time of an electric conduction test. Each leg 32 is used when the socket 10 is mounted on a backlight unit or the like.
They are used as mounting parts for sockets on them, protection parts for various members constituting the sockets, and the like.

The frame 14 further includes a display substrate 12
The plurality of substrate receivers 34 receiving the opposite edges of the
At one or more edges. In the illustrated example, two board receivers 34 are arranged on the front edge at intervals in the longitudinal direction of the edge, and one board receiver 34 is located at the center of the left and right edges in the longitudinal direction. Are located.

Each of the substrate receivers 34 is formed in an inverted L-shape by a plate member, and an upper portion bent with respect to a lower portion extending in the vertical direction corresponds to the opening 30 so as to receive the display substrate 12 thereon. It extends from the edge toward the center of the opening 30. Two substrate receivers 34 arranged at the front edge
Also act as a positioning member or a stopper for the display substrate 12 in the front-back direction.

As shown in FIG. 3, each probe unit 16 is formed in a sheet-like shape having a plurality of wirings 36 extending in parallel with each other on one surface of a sheet-like member 38. A plurality of contacts 40 are arranged at one end at intervals in the longitudinal direction of the wiring 36. But,
One contact 40 may be arranged on each wiring 36.

The wiring 36 extends from one end to the other end of the sheet member 38 and is electrically connected to a terminal of a connector 42 attached to the other end of the sheet member 38. The sheet-like member 38 is formed of a material having electrical insulation such as polyimide.

Each contact 40 is fixed to the corresponding wiring 36 by soldering or the like, and is also electrically connected. The contact 40 of the adjacent wiring 36 is the wiring 36
Are aligned in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. In the illustrated example, each contact 40 is a protruding electrode having a pyramid shape.
It may have another shape such as a conical shape or a hemispherical shape.

The two probe units 16 extend in the front-rear direction on the edge of the frame 14 behind the opening 30 with an interval in the left-right direction. In addition, both probe units 1
6 has the contact 40 directed upward, and the contact 40
The side of the end where is disposed is the opening 30 side.

Each of the biasing mechanisms 18 includes an elastic body 46 disposed in an upwardly opened hole 44 formed in the frame 14,
And a substrate holder 48 received in the hole 44 at the bottom. The two urging mechanisms 18 are spaced apart in the left-right direction so that the rear corner of the display substrate 12 is received by the substrate holder 48.

The elastic body 46 is a plurality of compression coil springs in the illustrated example, but may be a block-like elastic body that can be largely elastically deformed like a sponge. The substrate holder 48 has a shape of a pin having a circular cross section, and is contacted with the elastic body 46 on the lower surface and urged upward by the elastic body 46.

The upper end of the substrate holder 48 has a contact 4
It protrudes from the hole 44 so as to be above the front end of the zero. However, the substrate holder 48 can be moved up and down as shown by the arrow 90 in FIG.

The pressing body 20 has a rubber plate 50 mounted on the lower surface thereof, and after being aligned with the display substrate 12, is mounted on the frame 14 by a plurality of screw members. Elastic body 46 of urging mechanism 18
Is pressed against the probe unit 16 against the urging force (elastic force). The pressing of the display substrate 12 by the pressing body 20 is released by loosening or removing a screw member that attaches the pressing body 20 to the frame 14.

The positioning mechanism 22 has a pair of cases 52 disposed on the frame 14 so as to face each other via the opening 30. The case 52 is assembled to the left and right edges of the frame 14.

In one case 52, the display substrate 12
Abutting member 54 for abutting the edge of the contact member 5 is disposed so as to be movable in the left-right direction, and the abutting member 5 in the left-right direction.
An eccentric cam 56 for adjusting the position of No. 4 is rotatably arranged around an axis extending in the vertical direction.

A part of the contact member 54 is part of the one case 52.
, And is urged to retreat into the case 52 by an elastic body 58 such as a compression coil spring.

The eccentric cam 56 is fitted to the contact member 54 at its eccentric cam portion so as to be displaceable, that is, rotatably fitted around an axis extending in the up-down direction, and so as not to move in the left-right and front-back directions. It is rotatably connected to the case 52, and is further connected to an adjustment knob 60 provided outside the case 52. The amount of protrusion of the contact member 54 from the case 52 can be adjusted by rotating the adjustment knob 60 angularly and changing the eccentric direction of the eccentric cam 56.
Can be adjusted.

In the other case 52, the display substrate 12
And an elastic body 64 such as a compression coil spring that urges the pressing member 62 toward the contact member 54.

The pressing member 62 is partly corresponding to the case 5
2 and projecting toward the contact member 54, and is coupled to a retraction knob 66 provided outside the case 52. The pressing member 62 is moved by the knob 66 in the left-right direction as shown by an arrow 92 in FIG. 3, whereby the display substrate 12 is moved in the left-right direction by an arrow 94 in FIG.

The board holder 24 has a pair of holding members 68 arranged on the left and right edges of the frame 14 so as to face each other through the opening 30. Each holding member 68 is formed in an inverted L-shape from a plate member, has a long hole extending in the left-right direction, and further has a screw member 70 screwed into a screw hole formed in the frame 14 from above. To removably assemble the frame 14.

Each holding member 68 has its upper part opposed to the upper part of the substrate receiver 34 so as to press the display substrate 12 in cooperation with the substrate receiver 34 arranged on the lateral edge of the frame 14. . Each board receiver 34 and each holding member 68
Have rubber sheets 72 and 74 for preventing damage to the display substrate 12 on the upper and lower surfaces, respectively.

The screw member 70 is passed through a long hole. For this reason, the holding member 68 has a position where a part of the holding member 68 projects above the display substrate 12 by loosening the screw member 70,
The position can be adjusted to an appropriate position between the position at which the display substrate 12 retreats from the display substrate 12.

The connection board 26 is a sheet-shaped wiring board having a plurality of wirings respectively corresponding to the wirings 36 of the probe unit 16 and is attached to the rear edge of the frame 14 by an appropriate method such as bonding. Have been. A drive integrated circuit for driving the display substrate 12 is disposed on the connection substrate 26. However, such a driving integrated circuit may be arranged on another member.

The wiring of the connection board 26 is the probe unit 1
6 are connected to the corresponding wiring 36 by a connector 42, and are also connected to the driving integrated circuit described above. The driving integrated circuit is connected to a flexible printed wiring board (FPC) by the other wiring of the connection board 26 and the connector 78.
Is connected to the corresponding wiring of the connection cable 76. The connection cable 76 is connected to an external circuit.

Each unit holder 28 has an elastic plate 80 for receiving the end of the probe unit 16 corresponding to the area where the contact 40 is disposed from below, and a plate-like plate disposed on the frame 14 for receiving the elastic plate 80. Probe holder 82
And one or more elastic members 84 arranged on the frame 14 to receive the probe holder 82.

The elastic plate 80 is made of a rubber material such as silicone rubber, and is adhered to the upper surface of the probe holder 82. The probe holder 82 is made of a resin, ceramic, or metal material in the form of a thick plate having a rectangular planar shape. The elastic body 84 is a plurality of compression coil springs in the illustrated example, but may be formed of the same material as the elastic plate 80, a sponge, or the like.

The frame 14 also has a recess 86 having a rectangular planar shape corresponding to the probe holder 82 and opening at an upper portion to receive each unit holder 28 at a location 88 corresponding to one end of the probe unit 16. . The elastic body 84 is arranged at the bottom of the recess 86.
The probe holder 82 is disposed on the elastic body 84 with a part thereof protruding upward from the recess 86.
However, the probe holder 82 can be moved up and down as shown by an arrow 96 in FIG.

The probe holder 82 of the frame 14
May be formed of a member independent of other portions of the frame 14, or the frame 88
May be formed integrally with other portions.

In the socket 10, when the display substrate 12 is not received, the upper end of the substrate holder 48 protrudes above the tip of the contact 40. In this state, the operation of setting the display substrate 12 in the socket 10 is performed. The steps for such an operation are described below.

First, the holding member 68 of both substrate holders 24 is retracted to the left and right ends of the opening 30 by manual operation using the screw member 70, and the positioning mechanism 2 is used.
The second pressing member 62 is retracted toward the case 52 by manual operation using the knob 66 as shown by an arrow 98 in FIG.

Next, in the above state, the display substrate 1
The display substrate 12 is placed on the substrate receiver 34 such that the two electrodes are on the rear side and the lower side of the opening 30.
As a result, the electrodes of the display substrate 12 and the tips of the contacts 40 face each other, and most of the opening 30 of the frame 14 is closed by the display substrate 12.

Since the electrodes of the display substrate 12 are arranged at a small pitch in one direction, the dimensions of each electrode in the electrode arrangement direction (horizontal direction) are small, but the directions perpendicular to the electrode arrangement direction (front and rear directions). The dimension of each electrode in (direction) has a large rectangular shape. For this reason, the position of the display substrate 12 in the front-rear direction is adjusted by bringing the front edge of the display substrate 12 into contact with the substrate receiver 34 at the front edge of the opening 30.

Next, the knob 66 of the positioning mechanism 22
Is separated from the operator's hand. As a result, the pressing member 62 of the positioning mechanism 22 is pressed by the elastic body 64 and pushes the display substrate 12 to the left. By contacting the contact member 54, the position of the edge is adjusted.

Next, utilizing the positioning mechanism 22,
Positioning of the display substrate 12 with respect to both probe units 16 in the left-right direction is performed.

In the above positioning step, the display substrate 1
2, the eccentric cam 56 is angularly rotated by the adjustment knob 60 while visually confirming the positional relationship between the electrode of the display substrate 12 and the contact 40 through the contact member 54 and the display substrate 12 in the left-right direction. Can be performed by changing the position of. If the alignment is performed without touching the display substrate 12 by the operator's hand, the alignment work becomes easy.

Next, the pressing members 68 of the two substrate pressing members 24 are advanced toward the opening 30 by manual operation, and
The upper part of 8 is moved onto the display substrate 12, and the pressing body 20 is mounted on the portion of the display substrate 12 where the electrodes are arranged, and is assembled to the frame 14.

Until the above steps, the display substrate 12
Is separated from the contact 40 by the urging mechanism 18, the contact 40 does not contact the display substrate 12, and therefore the display substrate 12
In contrast, even if the display substrate 12 and the contacts 40 are moved in the front-rear direction or the left-right direction, there is no risk of damaging the display substrate 12 and the contacts 40.

When the pressing body 20 is arranged on the portion of the display substrate 12 on which the electrodes are arranged and assembled to the frame 14, the electrodes of the display substrate 12 come into contact with each other against the elastic force of the urging mechanism 18. As a result, the electrodes of the display substrate 12 and the contacts 40 are maintained in a state where they are securely in contact with each other.

When the display substrate 12 is pressed against the probe unit 16 by the pressing body 20, the elastic plate 80 and the elastic body 84 of the unit holder 28 are compressed and elastically deform.
Thereby, even if there is a slight change in the height position of the contact 40, the change in the height position is absorbed by the elastic deformation of the elastic plate 80, so that the electrode of the display substrate 12
Is maintained in a reliable contact state. Further, even if the probe unit 16 is slightly inclined in the left-right direction, the inclination is absorbed by the elastic deformation of the elastic body 84, so that the electrodes of the display substrate 12 are maintained in a state in which they are securely in contact with the contacts 40. .

Next, the screw member 70 of each substrate holder 24 is screwed into the frame, and the holder 68 is moved to the display substrate 1.
2 is pressed into the substrate receiver 34. As a result, the display substrate 12 and its electrodes after the alignment are each
The display substrate 12 is assembled to the frame 14 by being pressed by the contacts 2 and the contacts 40.

Thereafter, the socket 10 is connected to the display substrate 12.
Is mounted on a predetermined mounting portion such as a backlight unit, a chuck top, a stage, and a table. Thereby, the conduction test of the display substrate 12 can be performed. To remove the display substrate 12 from the socket 10, the above steps may be performed in reverse.

When the display substrate 12 has electrodes on the surface as in a general liquid crystal display panel, the socket 10 is placed upside down in a predetermined mounting portion with the display substrate 12 mounted. Is done. However, when the display substrate 12 has an electrode on the back surface like an organic EL substrate, it is arranged in a predetermined mounting portion without being turned upside down.

In the socket 10, the pair of urging mechanisms 18 are arranged on the frame 14 with a space in the left-right direction.
The display substrate 12 can be reliably displaced to a position where the display substrate 12 does not touch the display substrate 2. Since each urging mechanism 18 is constituted by the elastic body 46 and the substrate holder 48, the urging mechanism 18
Becomes a simple structure.

In the above embodiment, a probe unit using a sheet-like or film-like probe is used, but a probe unit using a needle-type or blade-type probe may be used.

The present invention can be applied not only to the case where the display substrate is inspected in a horizontal state, but also to the case where the display substrate is inspected in other states such as a vertical state and an obliquely upward state. can do.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. The present invention can be variously modified without departing from the gist thereof.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an embodiment of a socket according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a relationship among a display substrate, a probe unit, an urging mechanism, a positioning mechanism, and a unit holder in the socket shown in FIG.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are cross-sectional views taken along line 4-4 in FIG. 1, wherein FIG. 4A is a view showing a state where a display substrate is aligned, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a state where the probe unit is pressed by a body.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view showing a part of FIG. 4;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Socket 12 Display board 14 Frame 16 Probe unit 18 Urging mechanism 20 Pressing body 22 Alignment mechanism 24 Substrate retainer 28 Unit holder 30 Opening 34 Substrate receiver 40 Contact 46 Elastic body 48 Substrate holder 52 Case 54 Contact member 56 Eccentricity Cam 58 Elastic body 60 Adjusting knob 62 Pressing member 64 Elastic body 66 Retraction knob 68 Pressing member 70 Screw member 72, 74 Rubber sheet 80 Elastic plate 82 Probe holder 84 Elastic body 86 recess

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Kazuhiro Yamauchi 2-6-8 Kichijoji Honcho, Musashino-shi, Tokyo F-term in Japan Micronics Inc. (reference) 2G036 AA27 BA33 BB12 CA02 5E023 AA04 AA16 BB01 BB11 BB22 CC22 DD01 GG02 HH01

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A probe unit comprising: a frame having an opening and receiving a display substrate; and a probe unit having a plurality of contacts spaced in one direction, the probe unit comprising a display substrate having the contacts received by the frame. A probe unit arranged on the frame so as to be capable of contacting an electrode; and urging the display substrate upward from below with an elastic force so as to separate at least a portion of the display substrate on the electrode side from the contact. , One placed on the frame
A display substrate inspection socket including the above-described biasing mechanism. 2. The urging mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the biasing mechanism includes an elastic body disposed in an upwardly-opening hole formed in the frame, and an elastic body received in the hole at a lower portion with an upper portion protruding from the hole. 2. The display substrate inspection socket according to claim 1, further comprising: a substrate holder that contacts the display substrate. 3. The display board inspection socket according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of biasing mechanisms are arranged on the frame at intervals in the one direction. 4. A pressing body for releasably pressing at least an electrode-arranged portion of the display substrate against the probe unit against the elastic force.
Or the socket for inspecting a display substrate according to 3. 5. An elastic plate for receiving an edge portion of the probe unit corresponding to a region where the contact is arranged from below, and a plate-like probe holder arranged on the frame to receive the elastic plate. The display substrate inspection socket according to claim 4, comprising: 6. A receiving device for receiving the probe holder.
The display substrate inspection socket according to claim 5, comprising the above elastic body. 7. The display substrate inspection socket according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of substrate presses for detachably holding the display substrate on the frame. 8. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a positioning mechanism for moving said display substrate in said one direction and positioning said display substrate with respect to said probe unit. Socket for display board inspection.