JP2004264596A - Inspection method of liquid crystal display panel - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily and reliably perform inspection in a short period of time, wherein the terminal of an inspection device is directly connected to wiring of a liquid crystal display panel. <P>SOLUTION: In one substrate of a substrate 3 having a plurality of first electrodes and a substrate 4 having a plurality of second electrodes, first wiring extended from the first electrodes and second wiring extended from the second electrodes are drawn out toward one side of the one substrate. In an extension part present along the one side, the first wiring and the second wiring are disposed collectively in one or a plurality of collections 6a, 6b, 7a, and 7b and terminals corresponding to the collections of the wiring of the liquid crystal panel are provided at a board for inspection and connected to the collections of the wiring of the liquid crystal panel corresponding to the terminals. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an inspection method for a liquid crystal display panel, and more particularly to an inspection method for determining a lighting state by applying a voltage to an electrode of a liquid crystal display panel.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, before mounting external circuits such as an LCD controller and a driver IC on a liquid crystal display panel, a lighting confirmation test has been performed to confirm whether or not the liquid crystal display panel normally lights.
[0003]
In the conventional lighting confirmation inspection, a predetermined lighting voltage is applied by directly contacting a probe pin of an inspection device with a wiring routed to an extension in which one substrate is larger than the other substrate, and a liquid crystal is determined according to the lighting state. The inspection was performed to determine whether the electrodes of the display panel were disconnected or short-circuited.
[0004]
In this lighting confirmation inspection, since each wiring and the probe pin had to be accurately aligned, for example, an alignment mark provided on the liquid crystal display panel was imaged by a CCD camera, and the image signal was processed by an image processing unit. Processing, the position of the wiring of the liquid crystal display panel is specified, and either the liquid crystal display panel or the probe pin is moved based on the position data, and a positioning mechanism is provided for positioning the wiring and the probe pin ( Patent Document 1).
[0005]
In recent years, a COG (Chip On Glass) type liquid crystal display device in which an IC chip is directly mounted on a substrate of a liquid crystal display panel has been manufactured. Since the COG type liquid crystal display device has an IC chip mounted directly on the substrate of the liquid crystal display panel, the pitch can be made finer, which is advantageous for reduction in weight and thickness. There was an effect.
[0006]
In a liquid crystal display panel for a COG type liquid crystal display device, a wiring of a segment side electrode formed on one substrate and a wiring of a control side electrode formed on the other substrate are extended toward one side of one substrate. There has been known a configuration in which the terminal is pulled out and used as a terminal for connection with an external circuit (see Patent Document 2).
[0007]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2003-43517 A (paragraph 0002-0004)
[Patent Document 2]
JP-A-2000-321594 (FIG. 1)
[0008]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
As described above, in the conventional inspection method, since the alignment work between the wiring of the liquid crystal display panel and the probe pins of the inspection device is performed, positioning accuracy of about the width of the wiring is required as an alignment mechanism. In particular, in a COG type liquid crystal display panel, fine wiring is required at an extended portion of the substrate, so that precise positioning accuracy is required. For this reason, a simple and quick positioning mechanism having a positioning accuracy of about 0.2 mm cannot be used, and a very high-precision positioning mechanism has been employed, which has taken much time.
[0009]
In addition, since a large number of wires are connected one-to-one with the probe pins, the probability of connection failure is high, which has affected the reliability of inspection.
[0010]
Further, the area of the extension portion has been reduced due to the demand for a narrower frame, and the difficulty in connecting the wiring of the liquid crystal display panel to the probe pins of the inspection device has increased.
[0011]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an inspection method for easily and surely performing an inspection for directly connecting a terminal of an inspection device to a wiring of a liquid crystal display panel, shortening the inspection time and improving productivity. And
[0012]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a method for inspecting a liquid crystal display panel according to the present invention includes a substrate having a plurality of first electrodes and a substrate having a plurality of second electrodes. A first wiring extending from the first electrode and a second wiring extending from the second electrode are drawn out toward one side of the one substrate, and the first portion extends along the one side; The wiring and the second wiring are collectively arranged in one or a plurality of sets, and a terminal corresponding to the set of the wirings of the liquid crystal display panel is provided on a substrate for inspection. A terminal of the substrate is connected to a set of wirings of the liquid crystal display panel corresponding to the terminal, and a signal for inspection is applied to an electrode of the liquid crystal display panel.
[0013]
By adopting such a configuration, each terminal of the inspection board and each set of wires of the liquid crystal display panel are collectively connected, so that it is not necessary to perform fine positioning for each wire, which is easy and reliable. The inspection of the liquid crystal display panel can be performed in a short time. Therefore, the productivity of the liquid crystal display panel can be improved.
[0014]
Further, in the liquid crystal display panel inspection method according to the present invention, in the region where the terminal of the inspection substrate of the extension portion is connected to a set of wirings of the liquid crystal display panel, the first set of wirings is located next to the set. The distance between the second wiring and the set of wirings is 0.3 mm or more.
[0015]
Since the positioning accuracy of the simple and quick positioning mechanism is about 0.2 mm, by adopting such a configuration, a distance to a set of wirings of different electrodes adjacent to each other is set to 0.3 mm in consideration of a margin. Because of the above separation, a simple and quick positioning mechanism can be used, and the inspection can be performed in a shorter time.
[0016]
Further, the inspection method of the liquid crystal display panel of the present invention is characterized in that the liquid crystal display panel has a terminal for directly mounting an IC chip on the extension.
[0017]
A liquid crystal display panel having a terminal for directly mounting an IC chip in an extension portion has a fine-pitch wiring, and thus is suitable for applying the present invention in which a terminal of an inspection board is connected to a set of wiring. It is.
[0018]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0019]
1A and 1B are schematic plan views of a liquid crystal display panel 1 and a substrate 2 for inspection. FIG. 1A shows a state before both are connected, and FIG. Show the later state.
[0020]
The liquid crystal display panel 1 has a first substrate 3 having a plurality of first electrodes and a second substrate 4 having a plurality of second electrodes. The two substrates 3 and 4 intersect each electrode in a matrix. Are bonded together by a seal, and a liquid crystal is sealed therebetween. In FIG. 1, the size of the first substrate 3 is larger than the size of the second substrate 4, and when the two substrates 3 and 4 are bonded together, the first substrate 3 protrudes to form an extension.
[0021]
In the liquid crystal display panel 1, a display area 5 for driving a liquid crystal by applying a voltage to each electrode is formed in a portion where both substrates 3 and 4 overlap, and wiring extends from both electrodes in the display area 5. Are there. In FIG. 1, the electrodes are not shown, and the wirings are not shown one by one, but are shown as a set of wirings with diagonal hatching for each electrode.
[0022]
Each wiring is drawn out toward one side of one of the substrates, and constitutes a connection terminal with an external circuit in an extension existing along one side of the substrate. The wiring may have a configuration in which the electrode is directly extended or a configuration in which the wiring is connected to another conductive material via a terminal or the like. The direction in which the wiring is drawn may be on the long side or the short side, but in general, the long side has more pixels, and hence the number of wirings. Is preferable because the total length of the wiring can be reduced and the size of the substrate can be reduced.
[0023]
The first wiring extending from the first electrode and the second wiring extending from the second electrode are formed by grouping a plurality of wirings. The number of sets can be appropriately set, for example, depending on the arrangement of connection terminals with external circuits. If the sets of wirings of the same electrode are arranged adjacent to each other (for example, the sets 6a and 6b in FIG. 1), the terminals of the substrate for inspection can be put together. This is preferable because the number of terminals on the board for inspection can be reduced as compared with the case (sets 7a and 7b in FIG. 1) (terminal 8 and terminals 9a and 9b in FIG. 1).
[0024]
In FIG. 1, the first wires are grouped into two sets 6 a and 6 b, and are drawn out to an extension toward the upper side of the first substrate 3. The second wiring extends from the second substrate 4 to the first substrate 3 via a terminal (not shown) connecting the two substrates, and is grouped into two sets 7a and 7b. After extending in the direction, it is pulled out toward the upper side. Although not shown, each wiring forms a connection terminal to an external circuit in an extension near the upper side. In addition, when the set 7a and the set 7b of the second wiring are extended in the horizontal direction, the length of the wiring of the set 7b can be shortened and the resistance of the wiring can be reduced by reversing the left and right directions.
[0025]
The inspection board 2 is provided with terminals 8 corresponding to the first set of wirings 6a and 6b of the liquid crystal display panel and terminals 9a and 9b corresponding to the second set of wirings 7a and 7b of the liquid crystal display panel. . If an FPC (Flexible Printed Circuit) substrate is used as the inspection substrate 2, even if the extension of the liquid crystal display panel 1 is narrow, it can be used.
[0026]
The terminals 8, 9a, 9b of the inspection board have a width that can be collectively connected to a set of wirings of the liquid crystal display panel. In particular, the terminals of the same electrode of the liquid crystal display panel are adjacent to each other. When they are arranged, the width may be such that they can be connected collectively to the entire adjacent set.
[0027]
The terminals 8, 9a, and 9b of the inspection substrate are provided on the extension of the liquid crystal display panel 1 along the upper side of the wiring of the liquid crystal display panel (which may be a portion constituting a connection terminal of the wiring with an external circuit). Connected to the set. The terminals of the inspection substrate may be directly connected to a group of wires of the liquid crystal display panel, or may be connected by an anisotropic conductive material such as an anisotropic conductive rubber.
[0028]
In FIG. 1B, in the connection region 10 (the region where the terminals of the test board and the set of wires of the liquid crystal display panel are connected), the first set of wires 6a and 6b of the liquid crystal display panel and the test board are connected. Are connected to each other, the set 7a of the second wiring and the terminal 9a of the inspection board, and the set 7b and the terminal 9b are connected.
[0029]
This part will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is an enlarged schematic plan view of a portion X surrounded by a square in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, in the connection region 10, the first wirings 11a, 11b, 11c are connected to the terminals 8 of the inspection substrate, and the second wirings 12a, 12b, 12c are connected to the terminals 9b of the inspection substrate. It is connected.
[0030]
Therefore, the positions of the liquid crystal display panel 1 and the inspection board 2 are set such that the first wiring sets 6a and 6b and the terminals 8 of the testing board overlap with each other, and the second wiring set 7a and the testing board 2 are aligned with each other. The terminal 9a of the substrate only needs to be further adjusted so that the set 7b and the terminal 9b overlap with each other, so that it becomes easy and reliable, and the inspection time can be reduced.
[0031]
In addition, the positioning accuracy of the inspection device depends on the interval between the set of first wires and the set of adjacent second wires (for example, the interval L between the set 6b and the set 7b in FIG. 2). It is apparent that the positioning accuracy is considerably easier than the positioning accuracy of the width of the wiring that has been used.
[0032]
When the terminals 8, 9a, 9b of the inspection board 2 are connected to the wiring sets 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b of the liquid crystal display panel 1 in this manner, the inspection board is connected to an inspection external circuit (not shown). An inspection signal is applied to the electrodes of the liquid crystal display panel 1 through the terminals 2 to test the liquid crystal display panel. As a result, the inspection method of the present invention can perform inspection in about half the time as compared with the conventional inspection method.
[0033]
Furthermore, since the positioning accuracy of the simple and quick positioning mechanism is about 0.2 mm, the distance L between the set of the first wires and the set of the second wires located next to the first wire is considered in consideration of the margin and the like. If it is 0.3 mm or more, it can be used for inspection of a liquid crystal display panel, and the inspection time can be further reduced.
[0034]
In addition, in the COG type liquid crystal display panel having terminals for directly mounting an IC chip in the extension portion, the wiring is made fine pitch, so that the terminals of the inspection board are collectively formed with the set of wirings of the liquid crystal display panel. It is suitable for applying the present invention which can be connected by connecting.
[0035]
Next, FIGS. 3A and 3B show modified examples of the layout of the wiring of the liquid crystal display panel and the arrangement of the terminals of the inspection substrate.
[0036]
In FIG. 3A, the first wirings on which the first electrodes of the liquid crystal display panel 21 extend are grouped into two sets 26a and 26b, and are drawn out to the extension toward the upper side of the first substrate. The second wiring extending from the second electrode extends from the second substrate to the first substrate via a terminal connecting the two substrates, is collected into a set 27, and once extends in the first substrate in the horizontal direction, and then extends to the upper side. Has been drawn towards. In addition, on the inspection substrate 22 for inspection, terminals 28a and 28b corresponding to the first set of wirings 26a and 26b of the liquid crystal display panel and terminals 29 corresponding to the second set of wirings 27 are provided. The terminals 28a and 28b of the inspection board are connected to two sets 26a and 26b of the first wiring of the liquid crystal display panel, respectively, and the terminal 29 is connected to the set 27 of the second wiring of the liquid crystal display panel.
[0037]
Further, in FIG. 3B, the first wirings on which the first electrodes of the liquid crystal display panel 31 extend are gathered into a set 36, and are drawn out to an extension toward the upper side of the first substrate. The second wiring extending from the second electrode extends from the second substrate to the first substrate via a terminal connecting the two substrates, is collected into a set 37, and once extends in the first substrate in the horizontal direction, and then extends to the upper side. Has been drawn towards. The inspection substrate 32 for inspection is provided with a terminal 38 corresponding to the first wiring set 36 and a terminal 39 corresponding to the second wiring set 37 of the liquid crystal display panel. The terminals 38 of the inspection board are connected to the first set of wirings 36 of the liquid crystal display panel, and the terminals 39 are connected to the second set of wirings 37 of the liquid crystal display panel.
[0038]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, in the method for inspecting a liquid crystal display panel of the present invention, since each terminal of the substrate for inspection and a set of each wiring of the liquid crystal display panel are collectively connected, it is necessary to perform fine alignment for each wiring. In addition, the inspection can be easily and reliably performed, and the inspection of the liquid crystal display panel can be performed in a short time. Therefore, the productivity of the liquid crystal display panel can be improved.
[0039]
Further, if the distance between the set of the first wirings and the set of the second wirings located next to it is separated by 0.3 mm or more, a simple and quick alignment mechanism can be used for inspection of the liquid crystal display panel.
[Brief description of the drawings]
1 (A) and 1 (B) are schematic plan views of a liquid crystal display panel and an inspection substrate of the present invention. [FIG. 2] An enlarged schematic plan view of a portion X surrounded by a square in FIG. 1 (B) [ FIGS. 3A and 3B are schematic plan views of another liquid crystal display panel of the present invention and a substrate for inspection.
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Liquid crystal display panel 2 Inspection board 3 First board 4 Second board 6a, 6b First wiring set 7a, 7b Second wiring set 8 Terminals 9a, 9b corresponding to first wiring set Terminal 10 corresponding to the set Connection area

Claims (3)

A method for inspecting a liquid crystal display panel including a substrate having a plurality of first electrodes and a substrate having a plurality of second electrodes,
In one of the two substrates, a first wiring extending from the first electrode and a second wiring extending from the second electrode are drawn out toward one side of the one substrate;
In the extension existing along the one side, the first wiring and the second wiring are collectively arranged in one or a plurality of sets,
Providing terminals corresponding to the set of wirings of the liquid crystal display panel on a substrate for inspection,
In the extension portion, a terminal of the inspection board and a set of wirings of the liquid crystal display panel corresponding to the terminal are connected,
A method for inspecting a liquid crystal display panel, comprising applying an inspection signal to an electrode of the liquid crystal display panel. In a region where the terminal of the substrate for inspection of the extension portion and the set of wires of the liquid crystal display panel are connected, the interval between the set of the first wires and the set of the second wires located adjacent thereto is 0. 2. The method for inspecting a liquid crystal display panel according to claim 1, wherein the distance is 3 mm or more. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the liquid crystal display panel has a terminal for directly mounting an IC chip on the extension.

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