JPH0784229A - Liquid crystal panel inspecting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide structure capable of miniaturizing a liquid crystal panel inspecting device with an angle-of-visibility changing function. CONSTITUTION:In this liquid crystal panel inspecting device, one line of liquid crystal cells of a liquid crystal panel to be inspected which is mounted on a moving board 1 and moved in one direction are image-picked up by a camera 2, and the image-pickup signal is fetched to decide the quality of the liquid crystal cell. The device is provided with an angle-of-visibility switching means 3 constituted of an optical path switching mechanism between the liquid crystal panel to be inspected and the camera 2, so that visual field that the camera 2 views the liquid crystal display panel to be tested is changed by the switching of the switching means 3.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a liquid crystal panel inspection device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When inspecting a liquid crystal panel, it is necessary to inspect whether all liquid crystal cells operate normally. For this reason, an inspection device is conceivable in which one line of a liquid crystal cell is imaged by a camera having a line sensor as an image pickup element and the image pickup signal is used to determine whether or not the liquid crystal cell is operating normally. There is.

3 and 4 show a schematic structure of a conventional liquid crystal panel inspection apparatus. Reference numeral 1 in the figure denotes a movable table. A liquid crystal panel LCD to be inspected is mounted on the moving table 1. The row in the figure shows the case where three inspected liquid crystal panels LCD are mounted. A camera 2 is arranged above the moving table 1. Camera 2
Uses a line sensor as an image pickup element to pick up an image of, for example, one line of liquid crystal cells in the vertical direction of the liquid crystal panel LCD to be inspected, and output the photoelectric conversion value as an image pickup signal. The movable table 1 moves the panel LCD to be inspected at right angles to the imaging direction, that is, in the horizontal scanning direction in this example, the imaging lines are shifted line by line by this movement, and the entire screen is imaged to inspect all liquid crystal cells. To do. Here, it is required to perform three kinds of inspections in the case where the viewing angle of the liquid crystal panel LCD to be inspected from the camera 2 is 90 ° and when the viewing angle is 90 °, for example, ± 30 °.

In the case of FIG. 3, the case where the camera support device is configured so that the camera 2 can be moved to the position A, the position B, and the position C is shown. Show. In the case of FIG. 4, the supporting device of the movable table 1 is configured so that the supporting angle of the movable table 1 can be changed.

[0005]

The liquid crystal panel 1 to be inspected and the camera 2 must not be relatively displaced due to vibration or the like. Therefore, the support device for the camera 2 and the movable base 1
The support device is solid and heavy in weight.
As a result, if an angle changing mechanism is added to a heavy supporting device, the structure becomes large and the shape becomes large.

An object of the present invention is to provide a liquid crystal panel inspection device having a viewing angle changing function which can be made small with a simple structure.

[0007]

According to the present invention, a viewing angle changing means constituted by an optical path switching mechanism is provided between a liquid crystal panel to be inspected and a camera, and the liquid crystal panel to be inspected is seen from the camera by the viewing angle changing means. The structure is such that the viewing angle is changed. According to the structure of the present invention, the optical path switching mechanism constituting the viewing angle changing means can be constituted by changing the position of the reflecting mirror or by changing the angle of the reflecting mirror. Since the reflecting mirror is generally lightweight, its supporting device does not require so much strength as compared with the supporting device for supporting the camera 2 and the movable table 1. Therefore, by constructing the viewing angle switching means by the switching mechanism of the optical path, it is possible to obtain an effect that it can be made small as a whole.

[0008]

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention. 1 in the figure
Mobile stand, 2 is a camera, and LCD is a liquid crystal panel to be inspected.
The points are the same as those in the conventional technique. In this invention
Changes the viewing angle between the LCD panel to be inspected LCD and the camera 2.
A further means 3 is provided. This viewing angle changing means 3 is
Mirror M₁, M₂, M₃, M _FourBy the four-plate mirror
The case where it is configured is shown. Mirror M₁Is the liquid crystal panel L to be inspected
It is placed at the position closest to the CD and its mounting position is u,
Supported so that it can be changed to v, w. Mirror M₁Place of
Keep the optical path length constant when the position is changed to u, v, w
For the mirror M₂And M₃Is changed to U, V, W
It Mirror M₂And M₃Is a one-piece structure
The position can be changed by U, V,
It can be configured to be able to move continuously to W.
Mirror M₁Is mounted at position v, the mirror M₂When
M₃Is placed in position V and the mirror M ₁Replaced by position u
Mirror M if obtained₂, M₃Is located at position U
Mirror M₁Is replaced by position w, Mira
ー M₂, M₃Is located at position W. In this way
Ra M₁Mirror M by changing the mounting position of
₁Viewing angle from the liquid crystal panel LCD to be inspected
Nokaku is the same as what you saw from camera 2)
Sometimes mirror M₂, M₃By changing the position of
The optical path length between the liquid crystal panel LCD to be inspected and the camera 2 is made uniform.
Can be kept constant. So even if you change the viewing angle
The image formation state of the camera 2 can be maintained.

FIG. 2 shows another embodiment of the present invention. this
In the example, the viewing angle changing means 3 is the mirror M. ₁And fixed mirror M_Four
The following shows a case of configuration. Mirror M₁And fixed mirror
M_FourIs supported by the rotating body 4, and the rotating body 4 is centered around the optical axis 5.
Mirror M by rotating₁Switch position to U and V
To be able to Mirror M₁Is the test liquid
The angle to change the viewing angle looking into the crystal panel LCD
The rotating body 4 is supported so that it can be changed. Mirror M₁of
Inspected by switching the position from U to V or V to U
LCD panel LCD tilts the viewing angle from either left or right direction
It is possible to pick up the image. At this time the mirror M₁Corner of
When the degree is changed, the liquid crystal panel LCD is virtually inspected.
The distance to the camera 2 changes. This distance change is
Adjust it with the focus adjustment mechanism 2A attached to the camera 2.
Yes.

[0010]

As described above, according to the present invention, the viewing angle changing means 3 constituted by the mirror allows
The overall shape can be reduced by adopting a structure in which the viewing angle can be changed. Of course, since the viewing angle changing means 3 is composed of only a mirror, the weight does not increase.
Therefore, it is possible to provide a small and lightweight liquid crystal panel test apparatus.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing a modified embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a front view for explaining a conventional technique.

FIG. 4 is a front view for explaining a conventional technique.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 moving table 2 camera 3 viewing angle changing means 4 rotating body 5 optical axis

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A. A moving base on which the liquid crystal panel to be inspected is mounted and which moves the liquid crystal panel to be inspected in one direction; A camera mounted on the movable table, sequentially capturing an image of one line of an array of liquid crystal cells of a liquid crystal panel to be inspected, optically reading the operating state of the liquid crystal cells and converting the electrical signals into electrical signals for output; A liquid crystal panel inspection device comprising: a viewing angle changing unit for changing a viewing angle of the liquid crystal panel to be inspected from the camera.