JP4168830B2 - Display panel lighting inspection device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a lighting inspection apparatus for a display panel that inputs and displays a lighting signal on a display panel and performs an image quality inspection before combining a driving circuit with a display panel such as a liquid crystal display or a plasma display.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Generally, a display panel such as a liquid crystal display or a plasma display is manufactured by mounting a driving circuit on the panel. In the manufacturing process, in order to prevent the defective panel from flowing out to the mounting process, a lighting signal is input and a lighting test is performed before the driving circuit is mounted.
[0003]
FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a conventional display panel lighting inspection apparatus. The display panel lighting inspection apparatus includes a panel inspection unit 3 including a panel holding unit 1 and a drive circuit 2 for lighting the display panel set in the panel holding unit 1, and a power source that supplies power to the drive circuit 2. 4, a signal generator 5 that supplies a signal to the drive circuit 2, and a control device 6 such as a personal computer that controls the power supply 4 and the signal generator 5.
[0004]
As this kind of display panel lighting inspection device, one using an inspection probe pin (see Patent Document 1) is known, but instead of this inspection probe pin, it is formed on a flexible printed circuit (FPC). It is also considered to use an electrode as a probe for lighting inspection.
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent No. 2953039 [0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
An object of the present invention is to faithfully reproduce the display quality at the time of product and realize a high-precision inspection in such a display panel lighting inspection apparatus.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a display panel lighting inspection apparatus comprising a plurality of electrode terminal blocks each having a plurality of lead electrodes, a metal chassis for holding the display panel, and a drawer for the display panel. A contact having a plurality of extraction electrodes that electrically contact each of the electrodes to supply a lighting signal to the display panel; and pressing the contact against the electrode terminal block of the display panel to and a connection control block to contact the extraction electrode, as before Symbol chassis covers the entire display area of the display panel, and said the position where the edge of the chassis are in contact with the extraction electrode and the extraction electrode It was also configured so as to be positioned on the display area side of the display panel It is.
[0008]
Thereby, the display quality at the time of a product can be faithfully reproduced and a high precision inspection can be realized.
[0009]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, a display panel lighting inspection apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0010]
FIG. 1 shows the overall configuration of a lighting inspection apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. In the figure, reference numeral 10 denotes a display panel such as a plasma display panel, and an electrode having a plurality of extraction electrodes 102 formed by extending an electrode 101 at the peripheral edge of the display panel 10 as shown in FIG. A plurality of terminal blocks 103 are arranged.
[0011]
Reference numeral 11 denotes a main body base on which the display panel 10 is arranged when the display panel 10 is inspected for lighting. On the main body base 11, a metal chassis 12 for positioning and holding the display panel 10 is disposed. . Further, the display panel 10 is disposed in contact with the chassis 12 so that heat generated in the display panel 10 during a lighting test can be conducted. As shown in FIGS. 4A, 4 </ b> B, and 4 </ b> C, the chassis 12 has a size corresponding to the display area so as to cover the entire display area of the display panel 10.
[0012]
Further, a holding unit base 13 detachably attached to the main body base 11 is disposed on the main body base 11. A panel lighting unit 14 is disposed on the holding unit base 13, and a connection control block 15 is movably disposed on the holding unit base 13.
[0013]
As shown in FIG. 2, the panel lighting unit 14 holds a plurality of contacts 141 on the holding unit base 13 corresponding to the electrode terminal blocks 103 of the display panel 10 by holding blocks 142. A lighting signal generating means 143 for lighting and displaying the display panel 10 is provided on the back side of the chassis 12, and the lighting signal generating means 143 and the contact 141 are connected via the wiring means 144. It is configured by connecting. As shown in FIG. 3, the contact 141 has a plurality of extraction electrodes 145 that are in electrical contact with the extraction electrodes 102 of the display panel 10 and supply a lighting signal to the display panel 10. It is comprised by the flexible printed wiring board which formed electroconductive patterns, such as copper foil, between these films. The holding block 142 is attached to the holding unit base 13 so as to be movable in the arrangement direction of the holding blocks 142.
[0014]
As shown in FIG. 2, the connection control block 15 is mounted on the holding unit base 13 so as to be movable in the direction of the arrow away from the display panel 10 and on the slide base 151. The connection unit 152 is configured to press the contact 141 against the electrode terminal block 103 of the display panel 10 and bring the extraction electrode 145 of the contact 141 into contact with the extraction electrode 102 of the display panel 10.
[0015]
The connection unit 152 includes a presser unit 154 and a receiving unit 155 that are pivotally supported by a shaft 153 so that a distal end thereof can be freely opened and closed, and a movable mechanism unit 156 that rotates the presser unit 154 about the shaft 153. The connection unit 152 is mounted on the slide base portion 151 so as to be movable by a shaft 157. The presser unit 154 and the receiving unit 155 are sized to be located just below the extraction electrode 102 provided at the end of the display panel 10 and are configured not to interfere with the chassis 12.
[0016]
FIG. 1 shows an example in which the holding unit base 13 on which the panel lighting unit 14 and the connection control block 15 are mounted is arranged at two positions corresponding to the sides on both sides centered on one corner of the display panel 10. However, this is appropriately changed depending on which side the electrode terminal block 103 of the display panel 10 is provided, and is arranged corresponding to each side where the electrode terminal block 103 is arranged.
[0017]
Next, the operation of the lighting inspection apparatus having the above configuration will be described.
[0018]
In FIG. 1, when the display panel 10 to be inspected is mounted on the panel holding means 12 and inspected for lighting, the connection control block 15 first causes interference between the connection unit 152 and the display panel 10 as shown in FIG. In order to avoid this, the slide base portion 151 provided with the connection unit 152 moves in a direction not interfering. At this time, the contactor 141 and the lighting signal generator 143 are separated from the slide base part 151 and installed on the holding unit base 13, and therefore do not move together with the slide base part 151.
[0019]
After the display panel 10 is mounted, the slide base portion 151 provided with the connection unit 152 moves integrally in the direction opposite to the previous direction. After this movement, the slide base portion 151 is connected by the movable mechanism portion 156 as shown in FIG. The holding unit 154 of the unit 152 is rotated, and the contact 141 of the display panel 10 and the panel lighting unit 14 is sandwiched between the receiving unit 155 and thereby the extraction electrode 102 of the display panel 10 and the extraction electrode of the contact 141. 145 makes electrical contact. At this time, the extraction electrode 145 of the contactor 141 of the panel-mounted lighting unit 11 and the extraction electrode 102 of the display panel 10 are in the same position without the lighting signal generating means 143, the contactor 141, and the holding block 142 moving. For this reason, the display panel 10 that is installed is brought into contact with the display panel 10 at a predetermined position with high accuracy.
[0020]
After the above operation, a lighting signal is supplied from the lighting signal generating means 143 to the display panel 10 through the contact 141, and lighting display is performed. After the inspection is completed, the operation is the reverse of the above operation. First, after the display panel 10 and the panel lighting unit 14 in the connection control block 15 are released from the clamping state, the display panel 10 and the connection unit 152 interfere with each other. In order to avoid this, the slide base portion 151 is moved away from the display panel 10 and the display panel 10 is removed. Thereafter, the display panel 10 to be inspected next is mounted and the inspection is repeatedly performed.
[0021]
By the way, when the type of the display panel 10 to be inspected is switched, for example, in the display panel 10 of a different type, the pitch of the electrode terminal block 103, the number of electrodes, and the like are different. It becomes necessary to change the pitch of the extraction electrodes 145 formed on the contacts 141 of the mounting lighting unit 11 and the number of electrodes. For this reason, when changing the product type, it is necessary to replace and install the contact 141 of the panel mounting lighting unit 11 in accordance with the shape of the electrode terminal portion of the display panel 10 to be inspected.
[0022]
In the lighting inspection apparatus of the present invention, the panel lighting unit 14 having the contact 141 and the lighting signal generating means 143 is placed at a predetermined position according to the number of electrodes and the electrode pitch of the electrode terminal block 103 of each type of display panel 10. If the position of the holding unit base 13 is adjusted in advance so that the mounting position of the contactor 141 of the panel lighting unit 14 is a predetermined position, the holding unit base 13 arranged at the position of the panel lighting unit 14 can be changed. In this case, the holding unit base 13 adjusted for each product type may be placed on the main body base 11, and the work time required for product type switching and adjustment work can be reduced.
[0023]
In the present embodiment, a flexible printed wiring board is used for the contact 141. However, a rigid printed board or the like is used for a portion where the extraction electrode 145 to be brought into contact with the extraction electrode 102 of the display panel 10 is used. The substrate and the extraction electrode 102 of the display panel 10 may be in contact with each other.
[0024]
Here, in the display panel 10 such as a plasma display panel, if the product, for heat radiation and holding the display panel 10, the finished product is attached to a metal plate such as a driving circuit is mounted. That is, when sold as an actual product, a metal plate is attached to the display panel 10, and the metal chassis 12 disposed in contact with the display panel 10 as in the present invention is disposed on the display panel. By making the size corresponding to 10 display areas, it is possible to faithfully reproduce the display quality at the time of product, thereby improving the accuracy of inspection and preventing the outflow of defective panels to the subsequent process. It is possible to significantly reduce the loss cost in the manufacturing process.
[0025]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to faithfully reproduce the display quality at the time of product in the lighting inspection of the display panel, thereby improving the accuracy of the inspection and defective panel to the subsequent process. Can be prevented and loss in the manufacturing process can be greatly reduced.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a front view showing an overall configuration of a lighting inspection apparatus for a display panel according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a side view showing the configuration of the main part of the apparatus. [Fig. 4] (a), (b), and (c) are a top view, a front view, and a side view showing the main configuration of the apparatus. [Fig. 5] A schematic configuration of a lighting inspection apparatus for a display panel. Block diagram [Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Display panel 11 Main body base 12 Chassis 13 Holding | maintenance unit base 14 Panel lighting unit 15 Connection control block 102 Extraction electrode 103 Electrode terminal block 141 Contact 143 Lighting signal generation means 145 Extraction electrode 151 Slide base part 152 Connection unit

Claims (1)

In a display panel lighting inspection apparatus comprising a plurality of electrode terminal blocks each having a plurality of lead electrodes, a metal chassis for holding the display panel and a display panel in electrical contact with each lead electrode of the display panel A contact having a plurality of extraction electrodes for supplying a lighting signal to the display panel, and a connection control block for pressing the contact against the electrode terminal block of the display panel and bringing the extraction electrode of the contact into contact with the extraction electrode of the display panel as before Symbol chassis covers the entire display area of the display panel, and, as an end of the chassis is positioned in the display area side of the display panel than a position in contact with the extraction electrode and the extraction electrode of the display panel, characterized in that configuration the Light inspection apparatus.

Images