JP4196066B2 - 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. 9 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]
In general, a display panel has a plurality of electrodes in a display area, and an electrode terminal having a plurality of extraction electrodes at an end portion outside the display area by extending the electrodes and narrowing the interval. Multiple blocks are arranged. The pitch of the electrodes in the lead-out electrodes of this display panel is, for example, an inter-electrode pitch of about 300 μm when address electrodes of a 42-inch plasma display panel are taken as an example.
[0007]
In the inspection method using the FPC as a probe for lighting inspection, the extraction electrode of the lighting inspection probe made of FPC is brought into contact with the extraction electrode of such a display panel, and the display panel is energized through this probe. The lighting inspection is performed by lighting up.
[0008]
However, in the case of such an inspection method using FPC, when switching the type of display panel to be inspected, for example, when inspecting a display panel of a different type as a display panel, the pitch of the extraction electrodes Since the number of electrodes and the number of electrodes are different, it is necessary to change the pitch of the extraction electrodes of the FPC probe and the number of electrodes in accordance with the extraction electrodes.
[0009]
At this time, since it is necessary to position several tens of probes with high accuracy, it takes about 3 to 4 hours for the product switching and adjustment work. If the frequency of product switching increases, the operating rate of the lighting inspection apparatus decreases. The problem that productivity deteriorated occurred.
[0010]
The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to realize a display panel lighting inspection apparatus with high productivity by reducing the work time required for switching display panel types.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides a lighting inspection apparatus for a display panel in which a plurality of electrode terminal blocks each having a plurality of extraction electrodes are arranged, and a plurality of extractions that are in electrical contact with the respective extraction electrodes of the display panel. A panel-mounted lighting unit comprising a plurality of contacts having electrodes corresponding to the electrode terminal blocks of the display panel, and a display panel provided corresponding to each of the contacts of the panel-mounted lighting unit A contact control block having a plurality of connection units that press the contact against the electrode terminal block of the display panel and bring the extraction electrode of the contact into contact with the lead-out electrode of the display panel. Prepare multiple types according to the type of display panel to be inspected in advance. , By replacing the panel mounting 置点 lamp unit itself during type switching, it is possible to reduce the working time required for type switching and adjustment work.
[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
That is, according to the first aspect of the present invention, in a lighting inspection apparatus for a display panel in which a plurality of electrode terminal blocks having a plurality of lead electrodes are arranged, the display panel is in electrical contact with each lead electrode of the display panel. A panel mounting lighting unit comprising a plurality of contacts having a plurality of extraction electrodes arranged corresponding to the electrode terminal blocks of the display panel, and a main body on which the display panel is mounted together with the panel mounting lighting unit The contact is pressed against the electrode terminal block of the display panel that is movably disposed on the base and the main body base and disposed on the panel mounting lighting unit, and the contact electrode of the contact is brought into contact with the extraction electrode of the display panel A connection control block for causing the connection control unit to Corresponding to respective contacts of the mounting置点lamp unit constituted by a plurality of connection units provided, and the panel mounting置点lamp unit, the lighting unit which is disposed a lighting signal generation means for lighting display the display panel A base, a fixed plate on which a holding block that holds a plurality of contacts is disposed, and a support member that attaches the fixed plate to the lighting unit base so as to form a space in which the connection unit of the connection control block can enter and exit. characterized by comprising and.
[0014]
Hereinafter, a display panel lighting inspection apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0015]
FIG. 1 shows the overall configuration of a lighting inspection apparatus according to Embodiment 1 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 electrodes 101 as shown in FIG. A plurality of terminal blocks 103 are arranged.
[0016]
Reference numeral 11 denotes a panel-mounted lighting unit on which the display panel 10 is arranged when the display panel 10 is inspected for lighting. The panel-mounted lighting unit 11 is mounted on the main body base 12 of the lighting inspection apparatus. It is mounted in a state where it is positioned and held by. Further, panel holding means 14 for adjusting the holding position of the display panel 10 is arranged on the main body base 12 so that the display panel 10 is arranged at a predetermined position of the panel mounting lighting unit 11. Has been. Further, a connection control block 15 that is movable in the direction of the arrow in FIG. FIG. 1 shows an example in which the connection control blocks 15 are arranged at two positions corresponding to the sides on both sides centered on one corner of the display panel 10, but this is an electrode terminal of the display panel 10. The block 103 is appropriately changed depending on which side the block 103 is provided. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the electrode terminal block 103 is provided on the long side and the short side of the display panel 10 so that the front and back sides are opposite. In FIG. Is arranged on the upper side, and the electrode terminal block 103 on the short side is arranged on the lower side.
[0017]
As shown in FIG. 3, the panel-mounted lighting unit 11 holds a lighting unit base 112 provided with a lighting signal generating means 111 for lighting the display panel 10 and a plurality of contacts 113. A fixing plate 115 on which the block 114 is disposed, and a support member 116 that attaches the fixing plate 115 to the lighting unit base 112 with a predetermined space.
[0018]
A plurality of the contacts 113 are provided corresponding to the electrode terminal blocks 103 of the display panel 10, and the contacts 113 are electrically connected to the lead electrodes 102 of the display panel 10 as shown in FIG. It has the some extraction electrode 113a which contacts, and is comprised by the flexible printed wiring board which formed electroconductive patterns, such as copper foil, between insulating films. The holding block 114 holds each of the plurality of contacts 113 at a predetermined adjustable interval, and is attached to the lighting unit base 112 so as to be movable in the arrangement direction of the holding blocks 114. Further, the lighting signal generating means 111 and the contactor 113 are connected via a wiring means 117.
[0019]
As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the connection control block 15 is mounted on the slide base portion 151, which is disposed on the main body base 12 so as to be movable in the direction of the arrow, and is mounted on the panel mount. From a plurality of connection units 152 that press the contact 113 against the electrode terminal block 103 of the display panel 10 disposed in the stationary lighting unit 11 to bring the extraction electrode 113a of the contact 113 into contact with the extraction electrode 102 of the display panel 10. It is configured.
[0020]
This connection unit 152 is provided corresponding to each of the contacts 113 of the panel-mounted lighting unit 11 so that the interval can be adjusted in the arrangement direction of the electrode terminal blocks 103 of the display panel 10, and each connection unit 152 is A presser unit 154 and a receiving unit 155 that are pivotally supported by a shaft 153 so that the front end portion can be opened and closed, and a movable mechanism unit 156 that rotates the presser unit 154 about the shaft 153, and The connection unit 152 is mounted on the slide base portion 151 so as to be movable by a shaft 157. Further, the receiving unit 155 of the connection unit 152 is disposed at a position where it can enter and leave the space A (see FIG. 5) between the lighting unit base 112 and the fixed plate 115 of the panel mounting lighting unit 11. Thus, the connection unit 152 presses the contact 113 against the electrode terminal block 103 of the display panel 10 without interfering with the panel mounting lighting unit 11 with the presser unit 154 and the receiving unit 155 opened. It is possible to freely move between a position to be moved and a position in a standby state away from the panel-mounted lighting unit 11.
[0021]
Next, the operation of the lighting inspection apparatus having the above configuration will be described.
[0022]
In FIG. 1, when the display panel 10 to be inspected is mounted on the panel holding means 14 and inspected for lighting, in the connection control block 15, first, in order to avoid interference between the connection unit 152 and the display panel 10, the connection unit 152 The slide base portion 151 provided with is moved in a direction that does not interfere. At this time, since the contactor 113 and the lighting signal generating unit 111 are installed in the panel mounting lighting unit 11 separated from the slide base unit 151, they do not move together with the slide base unit 151.
[0023]
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 movable mechanism portion 156 causes the presser unit 154 of the connection unit 152 to move. By rotating and sandwiching the contact 113 of the display panel 10 and the panel mounting lighting unit 11 between the receiving unit 155, the extraction electrode 102 of the display panel 10 and the extraction electrode 113a of the contact 113 are electrically connected. Contact. At this time, the extraction electrode 113a of the contactor 113 of the panel-mounted lighting unit 11 and the extraction electrode 102 of the display panel 10 are in the same position without moving the lighting signal generating means 111, the contactor 113, and the holding block 114. For this reason, the display panel 10 that has been installed is brought into contact with the display panel 10 in a state of being accurately positioned.
[0024]
After the above operation, a lighting signal is supplied from the lighting signal generating means 111 to the display panel 10 through the contact 113 of the panel mounting lighting unit 11 to perform lighting display. After completion of the inspection, the operation is the reverse of the above operation. First, after the holding state of the display panel 10 and the panel mounting lighting unit 11 by the connection unit 152 of the connection control block 15 is released, the display panel 10 and the connection unit 152 are then released. In order to prevent interference, the slide base portion 151 is moved away from the panel mounting lighting unit 11 and the display panel 10 is removed. Thereafter, the display panel 10 to be inspected next is mounted and the inspection is repeatedly performed.
[0025]
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 113a formed on the contacts 113 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 attach the contactor 113 of the panel mounting lighting unit 11 according to the shape of the electrode terminal portion of the display panel 10 to be inspected.
[0026]
In the lighting inspection apparatus of the present invention, a panel mounting in which contacts 113 and lighting signal generating means 111 are arranged at predetermined positions in accordance with 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 block 114 is adjusted in advance so that the mounting position of the contactor 113 of the panel mounting lighting unit 11 is prepared and the mounting position of the contactor 113 of the panel mounting lighting unit 11 is a predetermined position, The panel mounting lighting unit 11 adjusted for each time may be mounted on the lighting unit base 13, and the work time required for the product type switching and adjustment work can be reduced.
[0027]
As a procedure for switching the type of the display panel 10, first, the panel mounting lighting unit 11 is moved upward while the slide base unit 151 is retracted so that the connection control block 15 does not interfere with the panel mounting lighting unit 11. And remove from the lighting unit base 13. Next, a panel-mounted lighting unit 11 of a type adapted to the display panel 10 to be newly inspected is prepared, positioned and arranged on the lighting unit base 13, and then the slide base portion 151 is moved in the opposite direction to the previous one. By doing so, the product type switching operation of the panel mounting lighting unit 11 is completed.
[0028]
In this configuration, by finely adjusting the holding block 114 on the fixed plate 115, the electrode positions of the contactor 113 and the electrode terminal block 103 of the display panel 10 can be matched with each other with high accuracy. Once the position of the block 114 is adjusted, the position does not change. Therefore, when the type is switched, the contactor 113 and the holding block 114 are simply mounted on the lighting unit base 13 with the panel mounting lighting unit 11 adjusted for each type. Position can be reproduced, and position adjustment can be simplified.
[0029]
FIG. 6 shows a main configuration of a lighting inspection apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. In the second embodiment, the fixed plate 115 is supported by only the two supporting members 116 disposed at both ends, and is also supported by the portion corresponding to each connection unit 152. The member 118 is disposed and configured to support the fixed plate 115. That is, by arranging the support members 118 in the corresponding portions between the connection units 152 and supporting the fixing plate 115 in this way, even when the display panel 10 becomes large and the fixing plate 115 becomes long, The fixed plate 115 can be supported with sufficient rigidity.
[0030]
7 and 8 show the main configuration of a lighting inspection apparatus according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. In the third embodiment, the lighting unit base 112 of the panel-mounted lighting unit 11 is sized so that the end portion where the electrode terminal block 103 of the display panel 10 is provided, and the contactor 113 is provided. The fixing plate 115 is supported and arranged by the support members 116 and 118 so that a space is formed in the height direction of the lighting unit base 112 and a space is formed between the end of the lighting unit base 112. Is.
[0031]
As described above, according to the present embodiment, the contact 113 having the plurality of extraction electrodes 113a that are in electrical contact with each of the extraction electrodes 102 of the display panel 10 is connected to the lighting unit base 112 as the electrode terminal of the display panel 10. A plurality of panel mounting / lighting units 11 are provided corresponding to the block 103, and the panel mounting / lighting units 11 are provided in a plurality of types according to the type of the display panel 10 to be inspected in advance. By preparing and exchanging the panel mounting lighting unit 11 itself at the time of product type change, the work time required for product type change and adjustment work can be reduced.
[0032]
In this embodiment, the example using the contact 113 corresponding to each one of the short side and the long side of the display panel 10 has been described. However, it corresponds to the electrode terminal blocks 103 on all sides. You may arrange | position the contactor 113 to. Further, in the present embodiment, the panel holding means 14 is disposed on the main body base 12 so as to hold the vicinity of the center of the display panel 10, as long as it does not interfere with the panel mounting lighting unit 11 and other structures. The four corners of the display panel 10 may be held. Further, the panel-mounted lighting unit 11 is supported by the lighting unit base 13 with the four corners regulated, but each side portion of the panel-mounted lighting unit 11 may be regulated and supported.
[0033]
In the present embodiment, a flexible printed wiring board is used for the contactor 113. However, a rigid printed circuit board or the like is used for a portion where the extraction electrode 113a to be brought into contact with the extraction electrode 102 of the display panel 10 is formed. The substrate and the extraction electrode 102 of the display panel 10 may be in contact with each other. Furthermore, the panel-mounted lighting unit 11 is configured by attaching a fixed plate 115 to which a plurality of contacts 113 are attached to the same lighting unit base 112, but if necessary, a plurality of lighting inspection devices can be provided with a plurality of lighting plates. The panel mounting lighting unit 11 may be configured by disposing the lighting unit bases 112 and separately arranging the fixing plates 115 having the contacts 113 disposed on the respective lighting unit bases 112.
[0034]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, in the lighting inspection of the display panel, a plurality of panel mounting lighting units are prepared in advance according to the type of the display panel to be inspected, and the panel mounting lighting unit is switched when switching the type. By exchanging itself, the position adjustment work can be simplified, and the time for changing the product type can be greatly shortened. In particular, in the present invention, when it is necessary to frequently switch product types such as high-mix low-volume production, the operation rate of the apparatus can be improved by greatly reducing the product change time, and in the lighting inspection of the display panel Productivity can be improved.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the overall configuration of a display panel lighting inspection apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the configuration of the main part of the apparatus. FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the main part configuration of the apparatus. FIG. 5 is a side view showing the main part structure of the apparatus. FIG. 6 is a main part of the lighting inspection apparatus according to the second embodiment of the invention. FIG. 7 is a plan view showing the main configuration of a lighting inspection apparatus according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a side view showing the main configuration of the apparatus. FIG. Block diagram showing the schematic configuration of the inspection equipment 【Explanation of symbols】
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Display panel 11 Panel mounting lighting unit 12 Main body base 15 Connection control block 102 Extraction electrode 103 Electrode terminal block 111 Lighting signal generation means 112 Lighting unit base 113 Contact 114 Holding block 115 Fixing plate 116, 118 Support member 151 Slide base part 152 Connection unit

Claims (1)

In a lighting inspection apparatus for a display panel in which a plurality of electrode terminal blocks each having a plurality of extraction electrodes are arranged, a contact having a plurality of extraction electrodes that are in electrical contact with each of the extraction electrodes of the display panel is provided as an electrode of the display panel. A plurality of panel mounting / lighting units arranged corresponding to the terminal blocks, a main body base on which the display panel is mounted together with the panel mounting / lighting unit, and a movable body disposed on the main body base; A connection control block that presses the contact against the electrode terminal block of the display panel disposed in the panel-mounted lighting unit to bring the contact electrode into contact with the extraction electrode of the display panel, and the connection control unit includes: It corresponds to each contact of the panel mounting lighting unit. Constituted by a plurality of connection units provided, and the panel mounting置点lamp units were held with the lighting unit based lighting signal generating means is arranged for lighting display the display panel, a plurality of contact holding A display panel, comprising: a fixing plate on which a block is disposed; and a support member that attaches the fixing plate to the lighting unit base so as to form a space in which a connection unit of the connection control block can enter and exit . Lighting inspection device.

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