JP2003130906A - Method and device for inspection of electronic equipment and connector used for inspection - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent the connector of electronic equipment to be inspected from peeling from a wiring board when the connector of an inspection device is removed from the connector of the electronic equipment. SOLUTION: When the connecting terminal 32 of a panel-side connector 3 is electrically connected to the connecting terminal 72 of an inspecting connector 7 by inserting the projecting section 712 of the connector 7 into the recessed section 312 of the connector 3, the insertion of the projecting section 712 into the recessed section 312 is stopped before the flat surface section 711 of the inspecting connector 7 comes into contact with the flat surface section 311 of the panel-side connector 3 or the top face 712b of the projecting section 712 of the connector 7 comes into contact with the bottom face 312b of the recessed section 312 of the connector 3. In this state, inspection signals are supplied to a liquid crystal panel 1 through the connecting terminals 32 and 72.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a technique for inspecting various electronic devices such as an electro-optical panel represented by a liquid crystal panel.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, electro-optical panels represented by liquid crystal panels and EL panels have become widespread. This type of electro-optical panel generally has a structure in which an electrode for applying a voltage to the electro-optical substance is formed on the surface of a panel substrate for holding the electro-optical substance such as liquid crystal. is there. Furthermore, in order to supply a control signal to these electrodes from the outside, an FP is formed on the surface of the panel substrate.
A configuration in which a wiring board such as C (Flexible Printed Circuit) is mounted is also known.

By the way, in the manufacturing process of such an electro-optical panel, it is extremely difficult to completely eliminate the occurrence of defects such as disconnection and short circuit of wiring, and it is avoided that these defects occur with a certain probability. The current situation is that it cannot be done. Therefore, it is necessary to inspect the manufactured electro-optical panel for defects. As a method of such inspection, conventionally, by observing a predetermined test pattern displayed by the electro-optical panel,
A method for determining whether or not each pixel normally lights up (so-called lighting inspection) is known. An example of the procedure of this kind of lighting inspection is as follows.

First, a connector for inspection (hereinafter referred to as "inspection connector") with respect to a connector (hereinafter referred to as "panel side connector") provided on the surface of the wiring board.
Fit. Next, an inspection signal is supplied from the inspection device to the electro-optical panel to be inspected through the inspection connector and the panel-side connector. This inspection signal is a signal whose content is determined in advance so that the electro-optical panel displays a predetermined test pattern. Then, the quality of the electro-optical panel is determined by observing the test pattern displayed on the electro-optical panel. After this quality judgment, the inspection connector is removed from the panel side connector.

[0005]

However, when a force is applied to the inspection connector in order to remove the inspection connector from the panel connector, the force also acts on the joint portion between the panel connector and the wiring board. As a result, the panel-side connector may be peeled off from the wiring board. In this case, although the panel-side connector is properly mounted on the wiring substrate until the stage of displaying the test pattern and making a pass / fail judgment, the panel-side connector is peeled off thereafter. Therefore,
Such peeling cannot be found by the above-mentioned lighting inspection, which will seriously affect the validity of the inspection result. These problems do not occur only in the electro-optical panel described above, but may similarly occur in all electronic devices in which a connector to which an inspection connector is connected at the time of inspection is provided on a wiring board.

The present invention has been made in view of the circumstances described above, and an inspection method capable of preventing the device-side connector from peeling off from the wiring board when the inspection-use connector is detached from the device-side connector, An object of the present invention is to provide an inspection device for realizing this method, and an inspection connector used in the inspection device.

[0007]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention has an inspection side housing member having a flat surface portion and a convex portion protruding from the flat surface portion, and a portion positioned on a side surface of the convex portion. Using an inspection connector having an inspection-side connection terminal, a device-side housing member having a flat surface portion and a recess provided in the flat surface portion, and an equipment-side connection terminal having a portion located on the side surface of the recessed portion are provided. A method of inspecting an electronic device in which a device-side connector provided is mounted on a wiring board, the process comprising engaging a recess of the device-side housing member and a protrusion of the inspection-side housing member, Either the flat surface portion of the equipment-side housing member and the flat surface portion of the inspection-side housing member, or the bottom surface of the concave portion of the equipment-side housing member and the top surface of the convex portion of the inspection-side housing member. Before contacting, the first step of stopping the insertion of the convex part of the inspection side housing member into the concave part of the device side housing member, and the inspection side connection terminal and the device side connection in the state where the insertion is stopped. A second step of supplying an inspection signal to the electronic device via a terminal.

According to this inspection method, in the step of engaging the concave portion of the device-side housing member and the convex portion of the inspection-side housing member to electrically connect the device-side connection terminal and the inspection-side connection terminal, the device-side housing Before contacting either the flat surface of the member and the flat surface of the inspection-side housing member, or the bottom surface of the concave portion of the equipment-side housing member and the top surface of the projection of the inspection-side housing member, the equipment-side housing member The insertion of the convex portion of the inspection-side housing member into the concave portion is stopped. In other words, the device-side connection terminal and the inspection-side connection terminal are electrically connected without completely fitting the recess of the device-side housing member and the protrusion of the inspection-side housing member.
For this reason, when the inspection-side housing member is removed from the device-side housing member after the inspection, the stress acting on the joint portion between the device-side housing member and the wiring board can be suppressed to be low. Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the device-side housing member from peeling off from the wiring board.

The recesses and the protrusions may be reversed in the equipment-side housing member and the inspection-side housing member of the above invention. That is, the present invention uses an inspection connector including an inspection-side housing member having a flat surface portion and a concave portion provided in the flat surface portion, and an inspection-side connection terminal having a portion located on a side surface of the concave portion, Electronic device in which a device-side connector including a device-side housing member having a flat surface portion and a convex portion protruding from the flat surface portion and a device-side connection terminal having a portion located on a side surface of the convex portion is mounted on a wiring board. Is a method of inspecting, wherein the step of engaging the convex portion of the equipment-side housing member and the recessed portion of the inspection-side housing member, the flat surface portion of the equipment-side housing member and the flat surface of the inspection-side housing member Part, or the top surface of the convex portion of the equipment-side housing member and the bottom surface of the concave portion of the inspection-side housing member, contact the inspection-side housing member. Step of stopping the insertion of the convex portion of the device-side housing member into the part, and an inspection signal to the electronic device via the inspection-side connection terminal and the device-side connection terminal in a state where the insertion is stopped. And a second step of supplying.

In the first step of the above methods,
You may make it stop insertion of the said convex part with respect to the said recessed part by making an insertion suppression member contact | abut at least one of the plane part of the said apparatus side housing member or the plane part of the said inspection side housing member. Further, in the first step, the insertion preventing member fixed to the inspection connector is brought into contact with the flat surface portion of the device-side housing member to stop the insertion of the convex portion into the concave portion. Good. This makes it possible to use a common insertion restraint member for many electronic devices to be inspected, and it is not necessary to attach the insertion restraint member to the inspection-side housing member every time the inspection is performed, thus improving the inspection efficiency. Is planned.

By the way, when the wiring board is a flexible wiring board having flexibility, it is considered that peeling of the device side connector is particularly likely to occur when the inspection connector is detached. Therefore, the present invention is particularly suitable when inspecting an electronic device using a flexible wiring board having flexibility as a wiring board. Further, as the electronic device in the present invention, an electro-optical device having a panel substrate to which the wiring substrate is joined and a wiring formed on the panel substrate and electrically connected to the device-side connection terminal can be considered. However, the inspection method according to the present invention can be applied not only to the electro-optical device but also to the inspection of other various electronic devices.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a device-side housing member having a flat surface portion and a concave portion provided in the flat surface portion, and a device-side connection terminal having a portion located on the side surface of the concave portion. A device-side connector is an inspection connector for inspecting an electronic device mounted on a wiring board, the inspection-side housing member having a flat surface portion and a convex portion protruding from the flat surface portion; An inspection-side connection terminal having a portion located on a side surface, and an abutment surface lower than the top surface of the convex portion when viewed from the plane of the inspection-side housing member, and the convex portion is a concave portion of the device-side housing member. And an insertion restraining member having a contact surface that comes into contact with the flat surface portion of the device-side housing member or the surface of the wiring board when engaged.

According to this inspection connector, when the convex portion of the inspection side housing member is engaged with the concave portion of the device side housing member to electrically connect the device side connection terminal and the inspection side connection terminal, the device side housing The contact surface of the insertion restraining member can be brought into contact with the flat surface of the member or the surface of the wiring board. That is, the device-side connection terminal and the inspection-side connection terminal are electrically connected without completely fitting the recess of the device-side housing member and the protrusion of the inspection-side housing member. For this reason, when the inspection-side housing member is removed from the device-side housing member after the inspection, the stress acting on the joint portion between the device-side housing member and the wiring board can be suppressed to be low. Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the device-side housing member from peeling off from the wiring board.

Here, in the equipment-side housing member and the inspection-side housing member of the above invention, the concave portion and the convex portion may be reversed. That is, according to the present invention, a device-side connector including a device-side housing member having a flat surface portion and a convex portion protruding from the flat surface portion and a device-side connection terminal having a portion located on a side surface of the convex portion is provided on a wiring board. An inspection connector for inspecting an electronic device mounted on,
An inspection-side housing member having a flat surface portion and a concave portion provided in the flat surface portion, an inspection-side connection terminal having a portion located on a side surface of the concave portion, and the inspection-side housing when viewed from the bottom surface of the concave portion of the inspection-side housing member. A contact surface that is higher than the flat surface of the member, and is in contact with the flat surface of the device-side housing member or the surface of the wiring board when the recess is engaged with the projection of the device-side housing member. And an insertion restraining member having a contact surface. In these inspection connectors, it is conceivable that the insertion restraining member is an annular member that surrounds the periphery of the inspection-side housing member.

Further, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an inspection device according to the present invention comprises the above-mentioned inspection connector and a signal supply circuit for supplying an inspection signal to an inspection-side connection terminal of the inspection connector. It is characterized by doing.

According to this inspection apparatus, the inspection signal can be supplied to the electronic device without completely fitting the concave portion of the device-side housing member and the convex portion of the inspection-side housing member. Therefore, when the inspection-side housing member is removed from the device-side housing member after the inspection, the stress acting on the joint portion between the device-side housing member and the wiring board can be suppressed low. Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the device-side housing member from peeling off from the wiring board.

[0017]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Such an embodiment shows one aspect of the present invention, does not limit the present invention, and can be arbitrarily modified within the scope of the present invention. In each drawing shown below, the scales are different for each layer and each member in order to make each layer and each member recognizable in the drawing. Further, in the following embodiments, the case where the present invention is applied to the liquid crystal panel inspection method is illustrated, but the object of the inspection by the inspection method according to the present invention is not limited to this.

<A: Configuration of Liquid Crystal Panel> In the inspection method according to the present embodiment, the liquid crystal panel to be inspected is operated to turn on the pixels, and the quality of the liquid crystal panel is determined by observing the lighting state. Is the way to do it.
Here, first, prior to the description of this inspection method, the configuration of the liquid crystal panel to be inspected will be described. FIG. 1 is a plan view showing the overall configuration of the liquid crystal panel according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line AA ′ in FIG.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in the liquid crystal panel 1, the rear side substrate 11 and the observation side substrate 12 are bonded together via a sealing material 13 formed in a substantially rectangular frame shape. A liquid crystal 14 such as a TN (Twisted Nematic) type is provided in a region surrounded by both substrates and the sealing material 13.
It is configured to be enclosed. The back side substrate 11 and the observation side substrate 12 are light-transmissive plate-shaped members such as glass, quartz, and plastic. Of these, the rear substrate 11 has a region 11a that projects from the edge of the observation substrate 12 (that is, a region that does not face the observation substrate 12, hereinafter referred to as a "projection region") 11a. Overhang area 1
A driver IC 15 for driving the liquid crystal panel 1 is mounted on the la 1a by using COG (Chip On Glass) technology. Furthermore, in the vicinity of the edge of the overhang area 11a,
An FPC (Flexible Printed Circuit) 2 is joined. When the liquid crystal panel 1 is mounted on an electronic device such as a mobile phone, the FPC 2 is bent to the back side of the liquid crystal panel 1 as shown in FIG. However, FIG. 1 shows a state before the FPC 2 is bent. Further, on the back side of the liquid crystal panel 1 (more specifically, between the bent FPC 2 and the back side substrate 11 of the liquid crystal panel 1), a backlight unit for irradiating the liquid crystal panel 1 with light is arranged. Will be
Illustration is omitted. Under such a configuration, the irradiation light from the backlight unit passes through the rear substrate 11, the liquid crystal 14 and the observation substrate 12 and is visually recognized by an observer.

A plurality of segment electrodes 111 extending in the Y direction shown in FIG. 1 are formed on the inner (liquid crystal 14 side) surface of the rear substrate 11. This segment electrode 111
Is an electrode formed of a transparent conductive material such as ITO (Indium Tin Oxide). Note that, in FIG. 1, each segment electrode 111 is illustrated as one straight line in order to prevent the drawing from being complicated, but the actual segment electrode 111 is a strip-shaped electrode having a predetermined width. (The same applies to the common electrode 121 described later).

Each segment electrode 111 is formed on the rear substrate 1
1, the region 11a (region outside the seal frame) from the region facing the observation side substrate 12 (region inside the seal frame).
And its end is connected to the output bump 15a (projection electrode) of the driver IC 15. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, in a state in which the driver IC 15 is bonded to the rear substrate 11 via an adhesive 161, the output bump 15a and the segment electrode formed on the output terminal of the driver IC 15 are segmented. The end of 111 is electrically connected via the conductive particles 162 dispersed in the adhesive 161.

On the other hand, in the region of the inner surface of the observation side substrate 12 facing the rear side substrate 11, the segment electrode 11 is formed.
A plurality of common electrodes 121 extending in the direction orthogonal to 1 (that is, the X direction shown in FIG. 1) are formed. Each common electrode 121 is a strip-shaped electrode formed of a transparent conductive material such as ITO. The segment electrode 111 is
The observation-side substrate 12 is pulled out to the vicinity of the edge of the observation-side substrate 12 that is in contact with the overhanging region 11a, and its end portion
Of these, the portion where the sealing material 13 is formed is reached. Then, this end portion is provided with the back side substrate 11 through the conductive particles (not shown) dispersed in the sealing material 13.
It is electrically connected to the lead wiring 112 formed above. Each routing wire 112 extends toward the driver IC 15 in the overhang region 11a, and its end is connected to the output bump 15a of the driver IC 15.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the pad 113 is provided in the overhang area 11a from the edge of the overhang area 11a to the area where the driver IC 15 is mounted.
Are formed. As shown in FIG. 2, one ends of these pads 113 are electrically connected to the input side bumps 15b formed on the input terminals of the driver IC 15 through the conductive particles 162 in the adhesive 161.

Actually, the surface of the rear substrate 11 on which the segment electrodes 111 are formed, and the common electrode 1
The surface of the observation-side substrate 12 on which 21 is formed is covered with an alignment film that has been rubbed in a predetermined direction, but is not shown. Further, a polarizing plate and a retardation plate are attached to the outer surfaces of the rear substrate 11 and the observation substrate 12, but these are not shown.

On the other hand, the FPC 2 has a base material 21 and wirings 22 provided on the base material 21. Of these, the base material 21 is a film-shaped member made of polyimide or the like and has flexibility. Each wiring 22 is for supplying the control signal output from the printed circuit board 4 shown in FIG. 2 to the input terminal of the driver IC 15. As shown in FIG. 2, the base material 21 of the FPC 2 is bonded to the rear substrate 11 via the adhesive 171. And the wiring 2 on the base material 21
2 is the conductive particles 17 dispersed in the adhesive 171.
It is electrically connected to the pad 113 on the back side substrate 11 via 2.

Further, the panel side connector 3 is mounted on the substrate 21. The panel-side connector 3 is a connector for connecting the liquid crystal panel 1 to the outside. For example, the panel-side connector 3 in this embodiment
Is connected to a PCB-side connector 5 (details will be described later) provided on the printed circuit board 4, as shown in FIG.
Here, FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a configuration of the panel-side connector 3. As shown in the figure, the panel-side connector 3 has a housing member 31. The housing member 31 is a member formed of, for example, plastic,
The flat surface portion 311 is substantially parallel to the surface of the FPC 2 and the concave portion 312 provided in the flat surface portion 311. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the recess 312 is a groove extending so as to connect a pair of opposite sides of the housing member 31 having a rectangular shape in plan view. Therefore, FIG. 2 and FIG.
As shown in, the cross-sectional shape of the housing member 31 is substantially "concave".

A plurality of connecting terminals 32 are formed in the recess 312 of the housing member 31 in a row along the extending direction of the recess 312. That is, each connection terminal 32
Is from one side surface 312a forming the concave portion 312 to the bottom surface 312b of the concave portion 312 and the other side surface 312c.
It is a terminal formed so as to reach. Each of these connection terminals 32 is connected to the FPC 2 from the bottom surface 312 b of the recess 312.
Is electrically connected to each of the wirings 22 provided on the base material 21 through through holes (not shown) provided over the base material 21.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2, the printed circuit board 4 connected to the FPC 2 is provided with a circuit (not shown) for generating a predetermined control signal such as a clock signal for defining the operation of the driver IC 15. A PCB-side connector 5 connected to these circuits is provided. Here, FIG.
[FIG. 3] is a perspective view showing a configuration of a PCB side connector 5. As shown in the figure, the PCB-side connector 5 has a housing member 51. The housing member 51 is a member formed of, for example, plastic, and has a flat surface portion 511 that is substantially parallel to the printed circuit board 4 and a convex portion 512 that projects from the flat surface portion 511. Panel side connector 3
Similarly to the concave portion 312 in, the convex portion 512 of the PCB-side connector 5 extends so as to connect a pair of opposite sides of the housing member 51 having a rectangular shape in plan view. Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the housing member 5
The cross-sectional shape of 1 is substantially "convex".

On the convex portion 512 of the housing member 51, a plurality of connecting terminals 52 are formed in a row along the extending direction of the convex portion 512. That is, each connection terminal 52 is a terminal formed so as to extend from one side surface 512 a forming the convex portion 512 to the top surface 512 b of the convex portion 512 and the other side surface 512 c. Each of these connection terminals 52 is connected to each of the wirings provided on the printed board 4 through a through hole (not shown) provided so as to reach the printed board 4 from the top surface 512b of the convex portion 512. Are electrically connected.

Next, FIG. 5 shows the panel side connector 3 and the PC.
It is sectional drawing which shows the state in which the B side connector 5 was connected. It should be noted that in FIG. 5, the vertical relationship between the panel-side connector 3 and the PCB-side connector 5 is opposite to that shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. Figure 3
As shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 4, the depth H3 of the recess 312 as viewed from the flat surface portion 311 of the panel side connector 3 and the PCB
The convex portion 512 of the side connector 5 viewed from the flat surface portion 511.
Is almost the same as the height H5, and the width W3 of the concave portion 312 in the panel-side connector 3 and the width W5 of the convex portion 512 in the PCB-side connector 5 are almost the same. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5, the concave portion 31 of the panel-side connector 3 is
2 and the convex portion 512 of the PCB side connector 5 are completely fitted to each other, the connection terminal 32 of the panel side connector 3 has the side surfaces 312a and 312c of the concave portion 312 and the top surface 312b.
Throughout the whole formed in the above, it comes into contact with the connection terminal 52 of the PCB side connector 5. In this specification,
As shown in FIG. 5, the “complete fitting” means the flat surface (311) of the housing member (31) of one connector (3) and the flat surface of the housing member (51) of the other connector (5). Part (511) or the recess (31) of the housing member (31) in one connector (3).
Both connectors are fitted with at least one of the bottom surface (312b) of 2) and the top surface (512b) of the convex portion (512) of the housing member (51) of the other connector (5) being in contact with each other. It means doing.

In this way, with the PCB side connector 5 and the panel side connector 3 completely fitted, the control signal output from the control circuit on the printed circuit board 4 is output from the connection terminal 52 of the PCB side connector 5. The connection terminal 32 of the panel side connector 3, the wiring 22 of the FPC 2, and the rear side substrate 11
It is supplied to the input terminal of the driver IC 15 through the upper pad 113. The driver IC 15 generates a scanning signal and a data signal according to the signal thus received from the control circuit, and the common electrode 121 (the wiring 11).
2) and the segment electrode 111. And
The liquid crystal 14 sandwiched between the rear-side substrate 11 and the observation-side substrate 12 has its alignment direction by applying a voltage according to the scanning signal applied to the common electrode 121 and the data signal applied to the segment electrode 111. Changes. That is, from the backlight unit to the liquid crystal panel 1
The amount of light that passes through and is visually recognized by the observer is controlled for each pixel corresponding to the intersection of the common electrode 121 and the segment electrode 111.

<B: Configuration of Inspection Device> Next, the configuration of the inspection device for inspecting the liquid crystal panel 1 described above will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG.
Is a test signal generation circuit 62 housed in the main body 61,
The inspection connector 7 is fixed to the main body 61.
The inspection signal generation circuit 62, when inspecting the liquid crystal panel 1,
It is a circuit that generates a signal (hereinafter referred to as “inspection signal”) supplied to the driver IC 15 of the liquid crystal panel 1.

The inspection connector 7 is a connector which is connected to the panel side connector 3 of the liquid crystal panel 1 when the liquid crystal panel 1 is inspected. Here, FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the inspection connector 7. As shown in the figure, the inspection connector 7 includes a housing member 71, a plurality of connection terminals 72, and an insertion restraining member 73. The housing member 71 and the connection terminal 72 are the above-mentioned PC
Housing member 51 of B-side connector 5 and connection terminal 5
It has the same configuration as that of 2. That is, as shown in FIG. 7, the housing member 71 of the inspection connector 7 has a flat surface portion 711 and a convex portion 712 protruding from the flat surface portion 711.
And the convex portion 712 has a shape capable of engaging with the concave portion 312 of the housing member 31 in the panel-side connector 3. In addition, the connection terminal 72 of the inspection connector 7
Is a terminal formed so as to extend from one side surface 712 a forming the convex portion 712 of the housing member 71 to the top surface 712 b of the convex portion 712 and the other side surface 712 c. Each of these connection terminals 72 is passed through a through hole (not shown) provided so as to extend from the top surface 712b of the convex portion 712 to the main body portion 61, and the inspection signal generation circuit 62 housed in the main body portion 61. Is electrically connected to the output terminal of.

On the other hand, the insertion preventing member 73 is a member for preventing the fitting of both connectors when the inspection connector 7 and the panel side connector 3 are connected, and is made of, for example, plastic or It is made of rubber or the like. As shown in FIG. 7, the insertion restraining member 73 in the present embodiment is a housing member 7 having a substantially rectangular shape in plan view.
It is an annular member that surrounds the periphery of 1, and is fixed to the housing member 71 and the main body 61. Furthermore, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 8 which is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB ′ of FIG. 8, the height Hb of the surface (hereinafter, referred to as “contact surface”) 73a of the insertion restraining member 73 on the side opposite to the main body portion 61 is The height Hc of the top surface 712c of the convex portion 712 is lower than the height Ha of the flat surface portion 711 when the surface of the main body portion 61 on which the inspection connector 7 is arranged is used as a reference. .

Here, FIG. 9 is a sectional view showing a state in which the inspection connector 7 and the panel side connector 3 are connected. Note that in FIG. 9, the vertical direction of the inspection connector 7 is opposite to that shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.

As shown in the figure, the width Wa of the housing member 71 in the inspection connector 7 is narrower than the width Wb of the housing member 31 in the panel side connector 3. Therefore, when the convex portion 712 of the inspection connector 7 is inserted into the concave portion 312 of the panel-side connector 3, the flat surface portion 7 of the housing member 71 in the inspection connector 7 is inserted.
11 and the housing member 31 in the panel side connector 3
Plane portion 311 or the top surface 712b of the convex portion 712 of the housing member 71 of the inspection connector 7 and the concave portion 312 of the housing member 31 of the panel side connector 3.
Before any of the bottom surfaces 312 b of the contact surfaces 73 a of the insertion restraining member 73 contacts the flat surface portion 311 of the housing member 31 of the panel-side connector 3. As a result, the inspection connector 7 is prevented from being inserted deeper into the panel-side connector 3. In other words, the inspection connector 7 and the panel-side connector 3 are engaged with each other without being completely fitted. Here, the connection terminal 72 of the inspection connector 7 is the side surface 71 of the convex portion 712.
2a and 712c, while the connection terminal 32 of the panel-side connector 3 has the side surface 31 of the recess 312.
It is as described above that it has the portions located at 2a and 312c. Therefore, the housing member 71 of the inspection connector 7 and the housing member 31 of the panel-side connector 3
Although the complete fitting is suppressed between the connector and the connector, the connection terminals of both connectors are electrically connected at these portions.

<C: Inspection Method> Next, a method of inspecting the liquid crystal panel 1 using the above-described inspection device 6 will be described. As shown in FIG. 10, the subject of this inspection is the liquid crystal panel 1 in the state where the PCB side connector 5 is not connected to the panel side connector 3.

First, as shown in FIG. 10, the liquid crystal panel 1
The inspection connector 7 of the inspection device 6 is connected to the panel-side connector 3 mounted on the FPC 2. At this time, the convex portion 712 of the housing member 71 in the inspection connector 7
Is not completely fitted into the concave portion 312 of the housing member 31 of the panel-side connector 3, and the connection terminals of both connectors are electrically connected. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 9, the flat surface portion 311 of the housing member 31 in the panel-side connector 3 and the flat surface portion 711 of the housing member 71 in the inspection connector 7, or the housing member 31 in the panel-side connector 3. Bottom surface 3 of recess 312
12b and housing member 71 in the inspection connector 7
Before any one of the top surfaces 712b of the convex portions 712 comes into contact with the flat surface portion 31 of the housing member 31 of the panel-side connector 3, the contact surface 73a of the insertion restraining member 73 is formed.
Abut 1. As a result, the connection terminal 72 and the connection terminal 32 are electrically connected to each other with the insertion of the protrusion of the inspection connector 7 into the recess 312 of the panel-side connector 3 stopped.

In this way, the inspection signal is output from the inspection signal generating circuit 62 with the inspection connector 7 and the panel side connector 3 engaged with each other. This inspection signal is transmitted from the connection terminal 72 of the inspection connector 7 to the connection terminal 3 of the panel side connector 3.
2, the wiring 22 of the FPC 2, and the pad 113 on the rear substrate 11 to supply to the input terminal of the driver IC 15. The driver IC 15 generates a scanning signal and a data signal based on the inspection signal thus supplied from the inspection signal generating circuit 62, and outputs them to the common electrode 121 and the segment electrode 111, respectively. Here, in the present embodiment, the content of the inspection signal output from the inspection signal generation circuit 62 is predetermined such that all the pixels are turned on by the scanning signal and the data signal generated by the driver IC 15 based on the inspection signal. It is supposed to be.

When an image (test pattern) corresponding to the lighting of the pixels is displayed by the operation of the liquid crystal panel 1, the operator visually observes the display surface to check whether there is any pixel that is not normally lit. To judge. As a result, when all the pixels are normally lit, it is determined as a non-defective product, whereas when any of the pixels is not lit, it is considered that some trouble such as disconnection of electrodes is caused. , Determined to be defective.

After the above steps, the inspection connector 7 is removed from the panel side connector 3. As described above, since the inspection connector 7 is not completely fitted to the panel-side connector 3, the inspection connector 7 can be easily fitted as compared with the case where both connectors are completely fitted. It can be removed. After that, the PCB side connector 5 is completely fitted to the panel side connector 3.

As described above, in the present embodiment, since the lighting inspection is performed without completely fitting the inspection connector 7 and the panel side connector 3, the inspection connector 7 is connected to the panel side connector after the inspection. 3 can be easily removed. That is, if the inspection connector 7 is to be removed from the panel side connector 3 after the lighting inspection is performed with the inspection connector 7 and the panel side connector 3 completely fitted,
A large amount of stress acts on the joint between the FPC2 and the FPC2, and the panel-side connector 3 may be peeled off from the FPC2. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, when the inspection connector 7 is removed, the panel side connector 3 and the FP
Since the stress acting on the joint portion with C2 can be suppressed to a low level, such a problem can be prevented in advance.

<D: Modified Example> Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the above embodiment is merely an example, and various modifications can be made to the above embodiment without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Can be added. For example, the following may be considered as modifications.

<D-1: Modification 1> In the above embodiment, the insertion restraining member 73 is fixed to the inspection connector 7 and the main body portion 61 of the inspection device 6, but the insertion restraining member 73 is used as a member. It does not have to be fixed to the member. That is, the inspection device 6 may not be provided with the insertion inhibiting member 73, and the insertion inhibiting member 73 may be interposed between both connectors when the inspection connector 7 and the panel-side connector 3 are connected. In short, in the process of engaging the housing member 31 of the panel-side connector 3 and the housing member 71 of the inspection connector 7, the flat surface portion 311 of the housing member 31 and the flat surface portion 711 of the housing member 71, or the concave portion of the housing member 31. Before any one of the bottom surface 312b of the housing 312 and the top surface 712b of the convex portion 712 of the housing member 71 comes into contact with the flat surface portion 311 of the housing member 31, the contact surface 73a of the insertion restraining member 73 is abutted. You just have to contact them.

<D-2: Modification 2> In the above-described embodiment and modification, the inspection connector 7 includes the housing member 71 having the convex portion 712 and the insertion preventing member 73, while the panel-side connector 3 is Although the configuration including the housing member 31 having the concave portion 312 is illustrated, the relationship between the convex portion and the concave portion and the position of the insertion restraining member 73 are not limited to this. For example, the following modes are possible.

<D-2-1: First Mode> In the above-described embodiment and modification, the insertion restraining member 73 is fixed to the inspection connector 7 or the main body portion 61 of the inspection device 6, but the structure is fixed. As shown in FIG. 11, the insertion inhibiting member 73
May be fixed to the panel-side connector 3 or the FPC 2. In this case, the abutting surface 73a of the insertion restraining member 73 may be attached to the housing member 71 of the inspection connector 7.
By abutting the flat portion 711, the complete fitting of the inspection connector 7 and the panel-side connector 3 is hindered.

<D-2-2: Second Mode> In the above embodiment and modification, the housing member 31 of the panel-side connector 3 is provided with the recess 312, and the housing member 71 of the inspection connector 7 is provided with the projection. Although the configuration in which 712 is provided is illustrated, the relationship between the convex portion and the concave portion may be reversed. That is, for example, as shown in FIG. 12, when the liquid crystal panel 1 having the panel side connector 3 in which the convex portion 313 is formed on the housing member 31 is to be inspected, the housing member 71 of the inspection connector 7 is The convex portion 31
It is also possible to provide a concave portion 713 that fits with the No. 3 connector. Also in this case, as in the above embodiment, the insertion preventing member 73
By bringing the contact surface 73a of the above into contact with the flat surface portion 311 of the housing member 31 in the panel side connector 3,
Complete fitting of the inspection connector 7 and the panel-side connector 3 is hindered.

<D-2-3: Third Mode> In the second mode, the insertion restraining member 73 is connected to the inspection connector 7 or the main body 61 of the inspection apparatus 6 as in the above-described embodiment and modification. Although the case where the insertion restraining member 73 is fixed to the panel side connector 3 or the FPC 2 is shown in FIG. In this case,
The contact surface 73a of the insertion restraining member 73 is connected to the inspection connector 7
By abutting against the flat surface portion 711 of the housing member 71 in, the complete fitting of the inspection connector 7 and the panel side connector 3 is hindered.

<D-3: Modification 3> In the above embodiment, the panel-side connector 3 is mounted on the base material 21 of the FPC 2, but the panel-side connector 3 is mounted on the printed circuit board. The liquid crystal panel having the configuration can also be the target of the inspection method according to the present invention. Also in this case,
The same effect as the above embodiment can be obtained. However, as shown in the above-described embodiment, when the portion where the panel-side connector 3 is disposed is the film-shaped base material 21, it is considered that the panel-side connector 3 is particularly easily peeled from the base material 21. Therefore, the effect of the present invention of preventing the panel-side connector 3 from peeling when the inspection connector 7 is detached from the panel-side connector 3 is that the panel-side connector 3 is provided on a flexible base material. It can be said that it is played remarkably when it is present.

<D-4: Modified Example 4> In the above-described embodiment and modified example, the contact surface 73a of the insertion restraining member 73 contacts the flat surface portion 311 of the panel side connector 3 or the flat surface portion 711 of the inspection connector 7. The contact of the projections with the depressions is stopped. However, the means for stopping the insertion is not limited to this, and the insertion may be stopped without using the insertion restraining member 73. That is, taking the inspection method shown in the above embodiment as an example, when the convex portion 712 of the inspection connector 7 is inserted into the concave portion 312 of the panel-side connector 3, the inspection connector 7 is moved in the direction of the panel-side connector 3. While pressurizing, the pressurizing may be stopped at a stage before both connectors are completely fitted. In this case as well, the complete fitting of the panel-side connector 3 and the inspection connector 7 is avoided, so that the same effect as the above-described embodiment can be obtained.

<D-5: Modification 5> In the above-described embodiment and modification, the operator visually recognizes the image displayed by the liquid crystal panel to judge the quality of the liquid crystal panel. The determination method is not limited to this. For example, CCD (Charge Coupled Device)
A display image is picked up by a camera or the like, and image processing using a personal computer or the like is performed on this image to determine the presence / absence of pixels that are not lit and the quality of the liquid crystal panel according to this result. It may be performed. Further, in the above-described embodiment, all the pixels are turned on at the time of inspection, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the pixels may be selectively turned on to display a predetermined test pattern.

<D-6: Modified Example 6> In the above-described embodiment and modified examples, the case where the liquid crystal panel using liquid crystal as the electro-optical material is the object to be inspected has been exemplified. It is not limited to. For example, various electro-optical panels such as EL panels using electroluminescence as the electro-optical substance may be targets for inspection using the inspection method according to the present invention. Further, the inspection target according to the present invention is not limited to the electro-optical device, and all electronic devices having the connector provided on the wiring board may be subjected to the inspection using the inspection method according to the present invention. it can. As described above, the inspection method according to the present invention is applied not only to the lighting inspection for the electro-optical panel but also to all the inspection methods for supplying the inspection signal to the electronic device to be inspected to judge the quality of the electric device. can do.

[0053]

As described above, according to the present invention,
It is possible to suppress the occurrence of defects caused by the removal of the inspection connector.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a configuration of a liquid crystal display panel to be inspected by an inspection method according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line AA ′ in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a shape of a panel side connector of the liquid crystal display panel according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a shape of a PCB side connector connected to the panel side connector.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration when the panel side connector and the PCB side connector are connected.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an inspection device for executing the inspection method.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a shape of an inspection connector in the inspection device according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB ′ in FIG.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration when the panel-side connector and the inspection connector are connected.

FIG. 10 is a side view for explaining the contents of the inspection method.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration when a panel side connector and an inspection connector are connected in a modified example of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration when a panel-side connector and an inspection connector are connected in a modified example of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration when a panel-side connector and an inspection connector are connected in a modified example of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Liquid crystal panel (electronic device), 11 ... Rear side substrate,
11a ... Overhang area, 111 ... Segment electrode, 11
2 ... Wiring wiring, 113 ... Pad, 12 ... Observation side substrate, 121 ... Common electrode, 13 ... Sealing material, 14
... liquid crystal, 15 ... driver IC, 2 ... FPC (wiring board), 21 ... base material, 22 ... wiring, 3 ... panel side connector (device side connector), 31 ... housing member (device side) Housing member), 32 ... Connection terminal (device side connection terminal), 4 ... PCB, 5 ... PCB side connector,
51 ... Housing member, 52 ... Connection terminal, 6 ... Inspection device, 61 ... Main body part, 62 ... Inspection signal generation circuit,
7 ... Inspection connector, 71 ... Housing member (inspection-side housing member), 72 ... Connection terminal (inspection-side connection terminal), 73 ... Insertion suppression member, 73a.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) H01R 24/00 H01R 23/68 303D F term (reference) 2G036 AA28 BA33 BB12 CA09 CA11 2H088 FA12 FA13 FA30 HA02 HA05 HA06 MA20 2H092 GA50 GA54 GA57 GA60 MA56 NA15 NA29 PA06 QA07 5E023 AA04 AA16 BB02 BB22 BB23 BB29 CC02 DD01 HH18 HH21 5G435 AA17 BB12 EE41 KK05 KK10

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. An inspection connector including an inspection-side housing member having a flat surface portion and a convex portion protruding from the flat surface portion, and an inspection-side connection terminal having a portion located on a side surface of the convex portion, An electronic device in which a device-side connector including a device-side housing member having a flat surface portion and a recess provided in the flat surface portion and a device-side connection terminal having a portion located on a side surface of the recessed portion is mounted on a wiring board. Is a method of inspecting, wherein the step of engaging the concave portion of the device-side housing member and the convex portion of the inspection-side housing member, the flat surface portion of the device-side housing member and the flat surface of the inspection-side housing member Part or the bottom surface of the concave portion of the equipment-side housing member and the top surface of the convex portion of the inspection-side housing member before contacting the concave portion of the equipment-side housing member. A first step of stopping the insertion of the convex portion of the inspection side housing member, and an inspection signal to the electronic device via the inspection side connection terminal and the device side connection terminal in the state where the insertion is stopped. And a second step of supplying. 2. A flat surface using an inspection connector having an inspection-side housing member having a flat surface portion and a concave portion provided in the flat surface portion, and an inspection-side connection terminal having a portion located on a side surface of the concave portion. Part and a device-side housing member having a convex part protruding from the plane part, and a device-side connector having a device-side connection terminal having a part located on the side surface of the convex part, an electronic device mounted on a wiring board. A method of inspecting, which is a step of engaging a convex portion of the equipment-side housing member and a concave portion of the inspection-side housing member, the flat surface portion of the equipment-side housing member and the flat surface portion of the inspection-side housing member. Or before the top surface of the convex portion of the device-side housing member and the bottom surface of the concave portion of the inspection-side housing member come into contact with each other, in the concave portion of the inspection-side housing member. The first step of stopping the insertion of the convex portion of the equipment-side housing member, and in the state where the insertion is stopped, an inspection signal is sent to the electronic equipment via the inspection-side connection terminal and the equipment-side connection terminal. And a second step of supplying. 3. In the first step, the insertion restraining member is brought into contact with at least one of the flat surface portion of the device-side housing member or the flat surface portion of the inspection-side housing member, so that the convex portion with respect to the concave portion. The method of inspecting an electronic device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the insertion of the is stopped. 4. In the first step, the insertion preventing member fixed to the inspection connector is brought into contact with a flat surface portion of the device-side housing member to stop the insertion of the convex portion into the concave portion. The method for inspecting an electronic device according to claim 3, wherein the inspection method is performed. 5. The flexible wiring board according to claim 1, wherein the wiring board is flexible.
The method for inspecting electronic devices described in. 6. The electronic device is an electro-optical device having a panel substrate to which the wiring substrate is joined, and wiring formed on the panel substrate and electrically connected to the device-side connection terminal. The method for inspecting an electronic device according to claim 1 or 2. 7. A device-side connector including a device-side housing member having a flat surface and a recess provided in the flat surface and a device-side connection terminal having a portion located on a side surface of the recess is mounted on a wiring board. And a test-side connector having a flat portion and a convex portion protruding from the flat portion, and a test-side connecting terminal having a portion located on a side surface of the convex portion. And a contact surface lower than the top surface of the convex portion when viewed from the plane portion of the inspection-side housing member, and when the convex portion is engaged with the concave portion of the device-side housing member, the device-side housing A connector for inspection, comprising: an insertion restraining member having a contact surface that comes into contact with the flat surface of the member or the surface of the wiring board. 8. A device-side connector including a device-side housing member having a flat surface portion and a convex portion protruding from the flat surface portion, and a device-side connection terminal having a portion located on a side surface of the convex portion is provided on a wiring board. An inspection connector for inspecting a mounted electronic device, comprising: an inspection-side housing member having a flat surface portion and a recess provided in the flat surface portion; and an inspection-side connection terminal having a portion located on a side surface of the recessed portion. A contact surface that is higher than the flat surface portion of the inspection-side housing member when viewed from the bottom surface of the recess of the inspection-side housing member, and when the concave portion is engaged with the convex portion of the device-side housing member, A connector for inspection, comprising: an insertion restraining member having a contact surface for contacting a flat surface portion of a device-side housing member or a surface of the wiring board. 9. The inspection connector according to claim 7, wherein the insertion suppressing member is an annular member that surrounds the periphery of the inspection-side housing member. 10. The inspection connector according to claim 7, and a signal supply circuit for supplying an inspection signal to an inspection-side connection terminal of the inspection connector. Inspection device.