JP3187855B2 - Display panel prober - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a probe for a display panel
The present invention relates to a technology effective for use in a prober used for a large-sized liquid crystal (hereinafter, may be simply referred to as LCD) display panel, for example.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a prober for a liquid crystal display panel, there is, for example, JP-A-61-70579. The prober includes an X probe head that moves in parallel along the X axis of the display panel using an X axis stage with respect to a mounting table of the display panel, and a Y probe head that moves in parallel along the Y axis of the display panel using a Y axis stage. In addition, a third probe head that contacts an arbitrary position on the display panel by an XY stage that moves in parallel along the X axis and the Y axis of the display panel is provided.

[0003]

In the above-described prober for a display panel, in the case of an active matrix type liquid crystal display panel, each pixel is checked one by one. For this reason, there is a problem that a large screen of the liquid crystal display panel, in other words, the test time becomes enormous as the number of pixels increases. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a display panel prober that can significantly reduce the test time. The above and other objects and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the description of the present specification and the accompanying drawings.

[0004]

The following is a brief description of an outline of a typical invention among the inventions disclosed in the present application. That is, the display panel prober of the present invention has the following configuration. (A) A flexible wiring board on which wiring means arranged at the same pitch as the electrodes of the display panel are formed, and a connection end side is electrically connected to the wiring means, and a tip part is attached to the electrode to be measured. probes and is provided so as to sandwich the probe with the flexible wiring board, configured by a guide portion where the probe is inserted is provided a film
The laminated structure to be formed . (B) the laminated structure and, the flop
A probe assembly comprising: a probe mounting body to which the laminated structure is mounted via an elastic body for imparting a spring property to the tip of the lobe . (C) A mounting plate on which a plurality of the probe assemblies are integrally mounted so that the probes simultaneously make electrical contact with all the electrodes of the display panel.

[0005]

According to the above-described means, the increase in the number of electrodes accompanying the enlargement of the screen of the display panel can be dealt with by a combination of probe assemblies having a laminated structure of probes to which a relatively small number of probes are attached. Since the test time can be shortened and each probe assembly can be inserted into the probe guide portion of the film by inserting the tip of the probe into a laminated structure with a flexible printed circuit board and film, it can be attached to the probe mounting body. Easy to do.

[0006]

FIG. 1 shows a display panel professional according to the present invention.
Sectional view main part is enlarged in an embodiment of the over server is shown. The tab (TAB) substrate is a display panel to be measured using a photographic technology on a flexible film base using a manufacturing technology such as a flexible flat cable (hereinafter, referred to as a “TAB”).
(It may be simply referred to as an LCD panel.) A wiring layer whose tip is aligned with a plurality of electrode pitches formed on one side is formed. Probe guide (needle hole guide) corresponding to the tip of the tab board
Is formed. At the leading end of the film, a probe guide having an arrangement corresponding to the electrodes is formed in an oval or comb shape. The probe guide is not particularly limited, but is formed accurately in accordance with the arrangement pitch of the electrodes using a press punching process or a laser beam.

The tip of a probe made of a relatively hard conductive metal mainly composed of tungsten or the like is inserted into the probe guide. This probe can be basically the same as the probe used for the conventional fixed probe board, but is formed to be much shorter in length than the conventional one. That is, the probe of this embodiment has a tip bent about 90 ° and cut from the bent portion to a length of several mm. Since the probe guide of the above film is formed exactly in accordance with the electrode pitch of the LCD panel, by inserting the bent tip of each probe into it, the tip of each probe should be measured to the electrode of the display panel. Can be aligned correctly.

By overlapping the tab substrate from above the probes arranged on the film as described above, the connection end of the probe and the wiring formed on the tab substrate can be brought into electrical contact. In order to more reliably fix this contact, soldering may be performed using, for example, solder, or connection may be performed using a connection medium such as an anisotropic conductive film. The above soldering is relatively easy, for example, by forming a solder layer at the connection portion of the wiring means formed on the tab substrate and the connection end of the probe, and performing heat treatment in the state of being overlapped as described above. It can be carried out. At this time, a spacer slightly thinner than the diameter (height) of the probe may be provided on the surface of the film base other than the portion where the probes are arranged. In this embodiment, for example, silicon rubber as described later is used as the spacer. As described above, the probe is fixed by being sandwiched between the tab substrate and the film from above and below.
As described above, the tab substrate forming the signal transmission path, the probe for making contact with the electrode of the LCD panel, and the film for aligning the tip of the probe are integrated into a laminated structure. Among a large number of electrodes corresponding to one side of the display panel, the electrodes are divided at an appropriate ratio, and the above-mentioned one-layer structure probe is provided corresponding to the plurality of divided electrodes.
Therefore, a plurality of probes having a laminated structure are used on one side of one liquid crystal panel.

The probe having the above-mentioned laminated structure is mounted on the lower surface of the probe mounting body via, for example, silicon rubber as an elastic body in order to impart a spring property to the tip portion. The lower surface of the probe mounting body is tapered so as to have an angle with respect to the surface of the liquid crystal panel. And
Corresponding to the tip of the probe having the laminated structure,
Silicon rubber is provided as an elastic body. The mounting of the probe having the above-mentioned laminated structure to the probe mounting body is performed by a clamping plate. The clamping plate is fixed so as to be supported by the lower surface of the film and pressed against the support surface of the probe assembly. For example, the clamping plate has a concave cross section in the direction perpendicular to the axis of the probe, and supports the above-described laminated structure probe on the bottom surface, and fixes the probe assembly to the probe mounting body with both sides sandwiching the probe assembly. Is done. This allows
The laminated structure including the flexible film, the flexible wiring board, and the probe having the above-described flexibility can be maintained with appropriate strength against repeated press-bonding to the semiconductor chip. One probe assembly corresponding to a plurality of electrodes provided on one side of the display panel is constituted by the above-described probe having a laminated structure and a probe mounting body which is mounted via an elastic body such as silicon rubber. You.

Although not particularly limited, the wiring formed on the tab substrate is provided with a shield line between the wirings as signal transmission paths in order to perform good signal transmission.
If the space for forming the shield line becomes insufficient due to the denseness of the wiring layers at the leading end, the shield line is provided except for that part. The probe mounting body is temporarily fixed to the tab mounting board by a probe group mounting screw. Although not particularly limited, the probe mounting body extends leftward from the temporary fixing portion and is mounted on a common mounting plate via a manipulator as described later.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing an embodiment in which the probe assembly is mounted on a mounting plate. In this embodiment, a probe group mounting screw (temporary fixing) provided on a probe mounting body constituting a probe assembly is mounted on a manipulator by a screw B at a right end portion, and is mounted on a mounting plate via the screw B. . That is, the arm fixedly mounted on the manipulator on the upper surface of the mounting plate extends below the through opening of the mounting plate, is fixed by a screw hole and a screw B of the probe mount. The arm intermediate portion of the manipulators, through holes are provided, the temporary sealed probe group mounting screw is removed through this. Therefore, the probe mounting body is released from the tab mounting substrate, and is finely adjusted in the X, Y, Z, and θ directions according to the movement of the arm of the manipulator. This is because the tip of the probe of the probe group corresponding to each side is aligned by the tab mounting board, but the mutual displacement when it is commonly mounted on one mounting body is adjusted by adjusting the manipulator. It is to be corrected.

The correction of the probe tip is carried out in FIG.
To the shows, so that the probe tip of each probe assembly fits to the electrodes of the LCD panel, is performed for each probe assembly. At this time, the assembly mounting plate is fixedly attached to the mounting plate with screws B, and the tab mounting board and the probe mounting board are connected by a flexible wiring board (tab board). Thereby, the position of the probe mounting body can be freely adjusted according to the movement of the arm of the manipulator. When attached to one mounting plate via a mounting substrate with four tabs attached substrate as described above corresponding to the sides, tip reference plane dedicated adjustment jig 1 side with or all pins probe By performing the adjustment in advance so as to conform to the above, fine adjustment of the probe tip by the manipulator after attaching to the mounting plate can be greatly simplified.

The other end of the tab board is connected to a board on which a drive IC is mounted. This drive IC for is not particularly limited, a drive IC for corresponding to a driving circuit of the LCD panel. By mounting the drive IC on the tab mounting board in this way, the storage circuit (latch circuit) built therein can be used, and therefore the number of cables between the tester and the tester can be reduced.
That is, test data can be serially input. In this embodiment, the tab mounting board is directly mounted on the mounting plate by the screw A. Instead of this configuration, a plurality of probe assemblies corresponding to one side of the LCD panel may be mounted on the mounting board as described later, and the probe assembly may be indirectly mounted on the mounting board via the mounting.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing another embodiment of the probe guide portion provided on the film. The needle holes do not need to be completely independent of each other in the shape of an elongated circle, and may have any configuration as long as the probe covers the minute movement amount of the tip portion when the probe contacts the electrode of the LCD panel. Therefore, as shown in the figure, the probe guide portion may be configured such that the tip portion along the probe arrangement direction is connected with a comb-shaped groove, or the end portion corresponding to the film-based probe tip may be combed. And may be configured as a substantial probe guide.

FIG. 4 shows a display panel press according to the present invention.
An overall plan view of one embodiment of the rover is shown. In this embodiment, as described above, L is set to reduce the test time.
Simultaneous contact is made to all electrodes of the CD panel. When such to perform simultaneous contact with all the electrodes of the LCD panel, the number of probes Ru been found provided corresponding to all the electrode becomes enormous in the LCD panel, is difficult its installation work and cumbersome Becomes

In this embodiment, a probe assembly as described above is used in which a relatively small number of probes are fixedly provided for the electrodes of the LCD panel. That is, the probe assemblies are allocated to a large number of electrodes of the LCD panel. Although not particularly limited, in this embodiment, the electrodes corresponding to the scanning lines arranged so as to run in the horizontal direction on the LCD panel are divided into three parts, and three probe assemblies are provided. Further, an electrode corresponding to a signal line arranged so as to run in the vertical direction on the LCD panel is divided into four parts to provide four probe assemblies. In this case, the four probe assemblies arranged in the longitudinal direction of the LCD panel make electrical contact with both ends of the same signal line. When the probe is placed in this way, the continuity check at both ends
The disconnection in the middle of the signal line electrode can be easily detected.

In addition to the above-described arrangement in which probes are assigned to both ends of the same signal line, the signal line electrodes of the LCD panel are divided into odd-numbered and even-numbered ones. For example, every other upper probe assembly unit May be connected to odd-numbered signal line electrodes, and every other probe assembly unit may be connected to even-numbered signal line electrodes. In this case, the number of probes can be halved and the pitch can be twice as large as the pitch of the signal line electrodes. On the other hand, a pixel signal is supplied to the signal line, and a disconnection or the like of the signal line is indirectly detected by a bright spot inspection or a dark spot inspection of the pixel. This means that LC
The same applies to three probe assemblies provided on the left and right sides corresponding to the scanning line electrodes arranged to extend in the lateral direction of the D panel.

Each probe assembly provided corresponding to each of the four sides of the LCD panel is temporarily fixed by a tab mounting board indicated by a dotted line in FIG. 1, and a plurality of tab mounting boards corresponding to one side are: Although not particularly limited, it is mounted on a mounting substrate. It is mounted on a mounting plate composed of a frame corresponding to the LCD panel via this mounting substrate. When a plurality of probe assemblies corresponding to one side of the LCD panel are mounted on one mounting board in this manner, an appropriate alignment jig is used so that the tips of the probes in each probe assembly are aligned on a straight line. I do.
In this manner, when the LCD panel is mounted on the frame-shaped mounting plate, the alignment with the electrodes corresponding to one side of the LCD panel can be simplified. In this way, a probe board that simultaneously contacts all the electrodes of the LCD panel is formed.

Instead of the manipulator, a plurality of probe assemblies mounted on the mounting board may be aligned and mounted on a mounting plate with screws or the like. In this case, the mounting screws provided in the mounting substrate, and allowed to form an X-direction and an oval hole in the perpendicular direction Y to it across the mounting screws, the X and Y directions relative to the mounting plate by the eccentric cam or the like Fine adjustment may be performed. In this case, use a manipulator
Can not be performed as easily fine adjustment of the probe tip of the individual probe assemblies as if can simplify the prober configuration.

The functions and effects obtained from the above embodiment are as follows. (1) A wiring means corresponding to an electrode provided on one side of an LCD panel is formed on a flexible wiring board, a connection end side thereof is electrically connected to the wiring means, and a tip portion is attached to an electrode to be measured. Provide a guide portion for inserting the probe into a film which sandwiches the probe together with the flexible wiring board, and provide an elastic body for imparting a spring property to the tip of the probe with the laminated structure. by constitute a probe assembly mounted so as to press from the lower surface side, providing a manipulator that allows adjust the probe tip position of the individual probe assembly by Clan pin ring plate by interposing the lower surface of the probe mounting member, A relatively small number of Since cope with a combination of a probe assembly having a laminated structure comprising a lobe, the effect is obtained that the assembly can be performed easily.

(2) The contact of the electrode of the LCD panel with
Since a probe (needle) made of a thin line is used, the tip of the probe has a spring property and rubs the electrode surface in the horizontal direction when it comes into contact with the electrode of the LCD panel, so that the oxide film and dust on the electrode surface are removed. Since it is removed, an effect that good electrical contact can be obtained is obtained. (3) According to the above (1), all the electrodes of the LCD panel can be simultaneously contacted, so that the effect of shortening the test time can be obtained. (4) The probe does not have to have a spring property for determining the contact pressure by itself, and is fixed by being sandwiched between the tab substrate and the film, so that a very thin wire can be used. This eliminates the need to form a tapered taper as in the case of the conventional probe, and provides an effect that the processing of the probe is simplified and a large number of probes can be arranged at a high density.

Although the invention made by the inventor has been specifically described based on the embodiment, the invention of the present application is not limited to the embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. Needless to say. For example, the elastic body for imparting the spring property to the probe having the laminated structure may employ various embodiments such as a silicon rubber, a leaf spring incorporated along a film base or a tab substrate, or the like. it can. The number of probe assemblies varies depending on the size of the LCD panel to be inspected. For example, in an LCD panel for a laptop microcomputer, the aspect ratio is not set to 3 to 4 as in a color television, but to 1 to 4.
It is set to any horizontal length, such as 0: 4. Therefore, ten probe assemblies are provided corresponding to the signal lines.
Various embodiments can be adopted, such as providing four scanning lines. The configuration of each member for integrally mounting a plurality of the probe assemblies corresponding to all the electrodes of the LCD panel can employ various embodiments. This invention flop display panel testing the various display device panel form, such as an LCD panel or the like
Can be widely used as rover .

[0023]

The effects obtained by typical ones of the inventions disclosed in the present application will be briefly described as follows. That is, a wiring means corresponding to the electrode of the display panel is formed on the flexible wiring board, a connection end side thereof is electrically connected thereto, and a probe whose tip portion is attached to the electrode to be measured is provided. A guide portion for inserting the probe is provided on a film that sandwiches the probe, and an elastic body for imparting a spring property to the tip of the probe is interposed between the laminated structure and the lower surface of the probe mounting body. by constitute a probe assembly mounted so as to press the lower surface side by the clan pin ring plate attached to the mounting plate by interposing a manipulator that allows adjust the probe tip position of the individual probe assembly Te, large display panel against the increase in the electrode due to screen size, a relatively small number of probes The assembling can be performed easily because it addressed by a combination of a probe assembly having a laminated structure comprising.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an enlarged sectional view showing a main part of an embodiment of a display panel prober according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing one embodiment of a state in which the probe assembly according to the present invention is mounted on a mounting plate.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing another embodiment of the probe guide provided on the film.

FIG. 4 is an overall plan view showing an embodiment of a display panel prober according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 LCD: Liquid crystal display panel

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-63-273328 (JP, A) JP-A-2-118458 (JP, A) JP-A-61-219875 (JP, A) JP-A-3- 37571 (JP, A) JP-A-51-71782 (JP, A) JP-A-3-218472 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G01R 1/073 G01R 31 / 28 H01L 21/66

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] A prober for a display panel having the following configuration. (A) A flexible wiring board on which wiring means arranged at the same pitch as the electrodes of the display panel are formed, and a connection end side is electrically connected to the wiring means, and a tip part is attached to the electrode to be measured. probe, provided so as to sandwich the probe with the flexible wiring board, laminated structure constituted by the guide portion where the probe is inserted is provided films. (B) The laminated structure and the tip of the probe are springy
Via an elastic member for imparting probe constituted by the probe mount which the multilayer structure is attached
Assembly . (C) A mounting plate on which a plurality of the probe assemblies are integrally mounted so that the probes simultaneously make electrical contact with all the electrodes of the display panel. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the probe assembly is temporarily fixed to a mounting substrate corresponding to one side of the display panel by temporary fixing means, and the probe assembly is mounted on the mounting plate via a manipulator. 2. The prober for a display panel according to claim 1, wherein the prober is released from the substrate so that the position of the probe tip can be adjusted by operating the manipulator. 3. The prober according to claim 1, wherein the elastic body is made of a flexible elastic material such as silicone rubber. 4. The probe guide portion provided on the film is formed in a shape of a long circle or a comb along the direction in which the probes are arranged . Item 2. A display panel prober according to item 1.