JPH08179251A - Device and method for manufacture display device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To stick a polarizing plate only on a display panel having no display defect by inspecting a display state before sticking the polarizing plate on the display panel. CONSTITUTION: A display panel 29 is arranged on the light-transmissive holding surface of a holding member 22, and polarizing plates for an inspection 28, 25 are respectively arranged between the holding member 22 and a light irradiation means 23 and between the display panel 29 of the holding member 22 and a CCD camera 24. Also, continuity members are connected to terminals provided extendedly form display electrodes of the display panel 29, and then display signals for the inspection are supplied from the contitnuity members. The display state of the display panel 29 is inspected by irradiation the CCD camera 24 with light from the light irradiation means 23 and photographing the surface of the display panel 29. When the display defect is not present, a polarizing plate 34 is stuck in a state that terminals of the display panel 29 are conducted by the continuity member. Thus, the polarizing plate 34 is prevented from being stuck futilely.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a device for manufacturing a display device in which a polarizing plate is attached to a display panel having a substance whose optical characteristics are changed by application of an electric field, such as liquid crystal, and a method for manufacturing the display device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 14 is a process chart showing stepwise a method of manufacturing a conventional liquid crystal display device. In addition, FIG.
It is a figure which shows the structure of the manufacturing apparatus 1 of the liquid crystal display device which is a prior art example. Further, FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing the structure of the inspection jig 10 of the conventional liquid crystal display device.

The manufacturing apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 15 is disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-5879 as a manufacturing apparatus for sticking a polarizing plate to the ferroelectric liquid crystal display panel 2. The manufacturing apparatus 1 includes polarizing plates 3 and 4, a light source 5, a light receiving unit 6, a light intensity detecting unit 7, and a driving unit 8. The display panel 2 is arranged between the polarizing plates 3 and 4, an electric field is applied to the pixels while rotating the display panel 2 in the rotation direction 9, and light is emitted from the light source 5 to the display panel 2 and the polarizing plates 3 and 4. To do. The transmitted light of this light is received by the light receiving means 6, and the light intensity detecting means 7 detects the light intensity. The position where the intensity of the transmitted light is maximum or minimum is selected by rotating the display panel 2 in the rotation direction 9. Since this position is a position where the switching direction of the ferroelectric liquid crystal of the display panel 2 and the polarization axes of the polarizing plates 3 and 4 coincide with each other, the polarizing plate is attached to this position.

In the ferroelectric liquid crystal, the long axis direction of liquid crystal molecules has an inclination angle θ with respect to the normal direction of the smectic layer, and the average orientation direction (director) thereof is as the normal direction advances. , A so-called helical structure that rotates on a cone having an apex angle 2θ. The thickness d of the liquid crystal layer using such a liquid crystal and the spiral pitch PO of the director
In a display panel in which and d are d / PO <1, a state in which the director is inclined to the right by an angle θ and a state in which the director is inclined to the left by an angle θ is obtained, and an electric field is applied to the liquid crystal layer. The application switches between the two states.

In step b1 of FIG. 14, the display panel 2 is received. That is, the display panel 2 includes the polarizing plates 3 and 4.
Placed in between. In step b2, one surface of the display panel 2 is cleaned, in step b3, the above-mentioned polarization sticking position is selected, and one polarizing plate is sticked to the cleaned one surface. In step b4, the other surface of the display panel 2 is cleaned, and in step b5, the attachment position is selected in the same manner as in step b3, and the other polarizing plate is attached to the cleaned other surface. In step b6, the panel lighting inspection and the foreign matter inspection of the display panel 2 to which the polarizing plate is attached, that is, the completed ferroelectric liquid crystal display device are performed.

An inspection jig 10 as shown in FIG. 16 is used in the panel lighting inspection and the foreign matter inspection. The inspection jig 10 includes a pair of holding means 11 and 12, and the liquid crystal display device is held between the holding means 11 and 12. The nipping means 11 and 12 are respectively formed with rectangular windows 11a and 12a which expose the display surface of the liquid crystal display device when the liquid crystal display device is held.
Light is emitted from one window side, and the display state is inspected by the light emitted from the other window. Further, on the sandwiching surface side of the sandwiching means 11 and around the windows 11a facing each other, conductive members 13 and 14 for conducting a plurality of terminals extending from the display electrodes of one substrate member of the liquid crystal display device. Are respectively provided on the holding surface side of the holding means 12,
A similar conducting member 15 is also provided around the window 12a.
A plurality of terminals of the other board member are connected to the conductive member 15. An alternating voltage is supplied from the alternating voltage oscillator 16 to the conducting members 13 to 15. For example, the conduction member 1
Reference numerals 3 and 14 are negative terminals 16a of the AC voltage oscillator 16.
And the conducting member 15 is connected to the plus terminal 16b.

When a voltage equal to or higher than a threshold voltage at which the alignment state of liquid crystal molecules changes is applied to the liquid crystal display device by using such an inspection jig 10, for example, the display electrodes of one and the other substrate members of the liquid crystal display device face each other. All the plurality of pixels formed by doing so are in a display state (lighting state).
Here, when the display electrode has a break or the like, some pixels do not light up, so that the break can be recognized. Further, when foreign matter is attached to the liquid crystal display device, that portion becomes black, for example, so that the attachment of foreign matter can be recognized. Furthermore, it is possible to inspect display unevenness and the like.

In step b6, the display state is inspected as described above, and after the display state is inspected, step b7
Then, a liquid crystal display device having no display defect and excellent in display quality is separated from a liquid crystal display device having poor display quality.

[0009]

In the prior art,
The device for attaching the polarizing plate to the display panel and the device for inspecting the display device are separate units, and the display state is inspected after the polarizing plate is attached to the display panel.
When a display defect due to the display panel occurs, the attached polarizing plate becomes useless. The same applies when foreign matter is attached to the display panel. Further, since the sticking device and the inspection device are separate bodies as described above, it takes time and effort to dispose the display panel on each device. In addition, a large space is required for arranging the two devices.

An object of the present invention is to inspect a display state before sticking a polarizing plate to a display panel, and to stick the polarizing plate only to a display panel having no display defect so that the polarizing plate is not wastefully stuck. An object of the present invention is to provide a display device manufacturing apparatus and a display device manufacturing method that can be manufactured with relatively little time and effort.

[0011]

According to the present invention, a pair of translucent substrate members interpose a substance whose optical characteristics are changed by application of an electric field, and a plurality of substrate-side surfaces facing each other are provided with a plurality of substances. In a display device manufacturing apparatus for sticking a polarizing plate to the surface of a display panel, the display electrode having at least each of the display electrodes and a plurality of terminals extending from each display electrode toward the peripheral portion of the substrate member. A holding means for holding the display panel, at least a holding surface of the display panel having a light-transmitting property, a light source for irradiating the holding means with light, and an imaging means arranged on the side opposite to the light source of the holding means. A polarizing plate for inspection inserted between the holding means and the light source and between the holding means and the light receiving means, and a plurality of terminals on one substrate member side of the display panel held by the holding means. One conducting member, and the other conducting member connected to the plurality of terminals on the other substrate member side, the signal output means for giving a display signal for inspection to the one and the other conducting member, and the plurality of terminals of the one and the other substrate member. A manufacturing apparatus for a display device, comprising: a sticking unit that sticks a polarizing plate on the surface of the display panel in a state of being connected to the one and the other conductive members. Further, according to the present invention, a pair of translucent substrate members interpose a substance whose optical characteristics are changed by applying an electric field, and a plurality of display electrodes and respective display electrodes are provided on the substance-side surfaces of the substrate member facing each other. In a method of manufacturing a display device in which a polarizing plate is attached to the surface of the display panel, the display panel having at least a plurality of terminals extending from the electrodes toward the peripheral portion of the substrate member, and It is placed on a light-transmitting holding surface and is arranged between the holding means and a light source that emits light toward the holding means, and on the opposite side of the display panel on the holding means and the light source of the holding means. The polarizing plate for inspection is inserted between the image pickup means and the plurality of terminals on one substrate member side of the display panel and the conductive member, and
And a plurality of terminals on the other board member side and the conductive member different from the conductive member are connected, the display signal for inspection is supplied from the conductive member, and the display surface of the display panel is imaged,
A display device in which a polarizing plate is attached to the surface of the display panel by inspecting the display state of the display panel and connecting the conductive member and the plurality of terminals only when there is no display defect. Is a manufacturing method.

[0012]

According to the present invention, first, the display panel is placed on the light-transmitting holding surface of the holding means included in the display device manufacturing apparatus. The display panel is configured by interposing a substance whose optical characteristics are changed by applying an electric field between a pair of substrate members, and the pair of substrate members have a plurality of display electrodes and display devices on the substance-side surfaces facing each other. At least each of a plurality of terminals extending from the electrode toward the peripheral portion. Polarized light for inspection between a light source that emits light toward the holding means and the holding means, and between the image pickup means arranged on the opposite side of the light source of the holding means and the display panel held by the holding means. While inserting each plate, connecting a plurality of terminals and the conductive member of one substrate member of the display panel,
On the other hand, a plurality of terminals of the board member and a conducting member different from the conducting member are connected. A display signal for inspection is supplied from the signal output means to the conductive member, and the display surface of the display panel is imaged by the imaging means to inspect the display state.

When a display signal is applied to the display electrode, the optical characteristics of the substance interposed between the pair of substrate members change,
A region where the display electrodes of each substrate member face each other, that is, a pixel is in a display state (lighting state) in which light from the light source is transmitted. When all the pixels are turned on, it is determined that the display electrodes are not broken in the display panel. If there is a pixel that is not lit, it is determined that a disconnection has occurred. Further, it is possible to evaluate the display quality such as whether or not display unevenness has occurred. Furthermore, depending on how the terminals are drawn out, it is possible to inspect whether or not a short circuit has occurred in the display electrodes. For example, when terminals are alternately drawn out, when a display signal for inspection is supplied, every other pixel is lit. It is determined that the display electrodes are short-circuited when the pixels are continuously illuminated. In this way, after the display state is inspected, the polarizing plate is attached to the surface of the display panel by the attaching means in a state where the conductive member and the terminal are connected only when there is no display defect.

Further, the display surface of the display panel is imaged by the image pickup means, and it is inspected whether or not foreign matter is attached to the display panel. For example, when the light from the light source is used, the foreign matter attached to the display panel is imaged in black, and when the reflected light of the light from the imaging unit side is used, it is imaged in white.
After the presence or absence of foreign matter is inspected as described above, if the foreign matter is attached, the foreign matter is removed. A polarizing plate is attached to the surface of the display panel by the attaching means in the state where the conductive member and the terminal are connected to the display panel where the foreign matter is not attached and the display panel where the foreign matter is removed.

In this way, the display state and the adhered state of the foreign matter are inspected, there is no display defect, and the polarizing plate is attached only when there is no foreign matter attached. Therefore, after the polarizing plate is attached, the display state inspection and It prevents the polarizing plate from being unnecessarily attached as in the case where the display defect or the attachment of the foreign matter is detected by inspecting the foreign matter attachment. Therefore, the manufacturing cost can be reduced. In addition, since the polarizing plate is attached in a state where the conductive member and the terminal extended from the display electrode are connected, static electricity of several hundred to several thousand V generated during the attachment of the polarizing plate is generated in the plurality of display electrodes. It is possible to prevent electrostatic breakdown by not concentrating and accumulating in any of them. Furthermore, since the sticking of the polarizing plate and the inspection of the display state can be performed by one manufacturing apparatus, the labor and time for disposing the display panel in the manufacturing apparatus can be shortened. Moreover, the manufacturing apparatus can be arranged in a smaller space.

[0016]

1 is a block diagram showing the electrical construction of a display device manufacturing apparatus 41 which is an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the inspection / pasting unit 21 of the manufacturing apparatus 41. The manufacturing apparatus 41 inspects the display state of the display panel 29, and takes an image with the inspection / pasting unit 21 for sticking a polarizing plate to the display panel 29, and the CCD (charge coupled device) camera 24 included in the inspection / pasting unit 21. An image processing circuit 38 for processing the image data obtained by
An output circuit 39 that outputs data processed by the image processing circuit 38, and a control circuit 40 that receives the data processed by the image processing circuit 38 and that controls the operation of the inspection / pasting unit 21 are included. .

Specifically, the display panel 29, which will be described later, generally includes a substance, such as a liquid crystal material, whose optical characteristics change between the pair of translucent substrate members when an electric field is applied. It is configured to intervene. By applying a voltage equal to or higher than a threshold voltage at which the alignment state of the liquid crystal changes to the display electrodes of the pair of substrate members, and a voltage lower than the threshold voltage, the optical characteristics of the liquid crystal change, and The arranged display panel 29 transmits / blocks incident light. As a result, bright and dark display is realized.
Here, the polarization axes of the pair of polarizing plates are aligned and arranged such that the transmitted light intensity is maximum when light is transmitted and the transmitted light intensity is minimized when light is blocked.

Under the control of the control circuit 40, the CCD camera 24 takes an image of the above-mentioned display state and gives the obtained image data to the image processing circuit 38. The image processing circuit 38 binarizes the input image data, for example. With this, the intensity of incident light incident on the CCD camera 24 and its change rate are obtained, and it is possible to detect the presence or absence of a display defect on the display panel 29 and the presence or absence of foreign matter on the surface of the display panel 29. The binarized data is output from an output circuit 39 realized by a display unit or a printing unit such as a CRT (cathode ray tube) or a liquid crystal display device. By outputting from the output circuit 39, the operator can confirm the display state. Further, the binarized data is given to a control circuit 40 realized by, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit). Control circuit 40
Controls the operation of the inspection / sticking unit 21 and sticks the polarizing plate on the display panel 29 only when there is no display defect. The attachment of the polarizing plate to the display panel 29 may be based on the judgment of the control circuit 40, or the control circuit 40 may be attached.
It may be based on an operator's instruction to an instruction means (not shown) connected to the.

Referring to FIG. 2, the inspection / pasting section 21 includes a holding member 22 for holding a display panel 29 and a light irradiation means 2.
3. CCD camera 24, inspection polarizing plates 25, 2 described above
8, a support plate 26, a support 27, a moving means 30, and a sticking means 31. At least the holding surface of the holding member 22 on which the display panel 29 is placed has a light-transmitting property, and is made of, for example, a glass plate. On the holding surface,
For example, a plurality of insertion holes are formed, and after the display panel 29 is placed on the holding surface, the display panel 29 is held on the holding surface of the holding member 22 by sucking air from the insertion hole by suction means such as a pump. It is fixed by suction. Further, as will be described later, a conductive member provided on the holding member 22 and a terminal extending from the display electrode of the display panel 29 are connected, and further positioned and fixed by a positioning member provided on the holding member 22. It

The light irradiating means 23 irradiates the holding member 22 with light, for example, a linear light source such as a fluorescent lamp, a light guide plate for guiding the light from the light source into a planar shape, and the light holding member. It is configured to include a reflection plate that reflects toward 22. Further, the thickness of the light guide plate may be controlled such that the intensity of the emitted light is substantially uniform in the same plane, or a light diffusion plate or a light diffusion reflection plate may be provided.

The CCD camera 24 is arranged on the side of the holding member 22 opposite to the light irradiation means 23. The CCD camera 24 images the vicinity of the holding surface of the holding member 22.

The pair of inspection polarization plates 25 and 28 are inserted between the holding member 22 and the CCD camera 24 and between the holding member 22 and the light irradiation means 23, respectively. One of the polarizing plates 25 for inspection is a support plate 26 attached to a column 27.
The other inspection polarizing plate 28 is provided on the surface of the holding member 22 on the side opposite to the display panel 29 side surface. When the support plate 26 is placed at the inspection position between the holding member 22 and the CCD camera 24, the support plate 26 has at least a light-transmitting region in a region corresponding to the holding surface of the holding member 22. The inspection polarizing plate 25 is provided in the light region. Further, the support plate 26 is angularly displaced about the pillar 27 in a direction 42 parallel to the surface of the base 36 to which the pillar 27 is fixed,
The polarizing plate 25 and the support plate 26 can be removed from between the holding member 22 and the CCD camera 24. The support plate 26 may be fixed to the column 27 and the column 27 may be angularly displaced in the direction 42. The inspection polarizing plate 28 includes the holding member 22.
The display panel 29 is affixed to a region corresponding to the holding surface on the surface opposite to the display panel 29. The light irradiation surface of the light irradiation means 23, the holding surface of the holding member 22, the surface of the inspection polarizing plate 28,
The surface of the inspection polarizing plate 25 and the light receiving surface of the CCD camera 24 are all arranged in parallel with the surface of the base 36.

The attaching means 31 includes a support plate 32 for holding a polarizing plate 34 to be attached to the display panel 29, and a support plate 32.
It includes a rotating means 33 for angularly displacing the base plate 36 in a direction 43 perpendicular to the surface of the base 36 and a sticking roller 35 for sticking the polarizing plate 34 to the display panel 29. When the display state of the display panel 29 is inspected and it is determined that there is no display defect, the holding member 22 holding the display panel 29 is held.
However, the moving means 30 fixed to the surface of the base 36 moves in the direction approaching the sticking means 31 indicated by the arrow 44a, and the polarizing plate 34 is stuck as described later.
When the attaching of the polarizing plate 34 is completed, the holding means 22 moves in the direction indicated by the arrow 44b opposite to the arrow 44a and returns to the inspection position before the attaching.

FIG. 3 shows the holding member 22 and the light irradiation means 2.
3 is a perspective view showing 3 and a support plate 26. FIG. Support plate 26
Is a support plate body 45 and the window 4 of the support plate body 45.
6 includes a translucent member 47 and a handle 48. The support plate body 45 is made of, for example, a synthetic resin, and has a window 46 formed at least in a region corresponding to the holding surface of the holding member 22 when the supporting plate body 45 is arranged at the above-described inspection position. In the window 46, from the insertion hole formed in the side surface 45a of the support plate body 45, the inspection polarizing plate 28 is inserted.
A light-transmissive member 47 made of, for example, glass attached thereto is inserted. Further, on the side surface 45b of the support plate body 45, a handle 48 for the operator to rotate the support plate 26 to the arrow 42 described above is attached.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the holding member 22, and FIG. 5 shows the display panel 29 on the holding surface 53 of the holding member 22.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which is held. On the one surface 22a of the holding member 22 having the holding surface 53 for holding the display panel 29, the conducting means 49, 50 and the conducting members 51, 5 are provided.
2 and the positioning member 54 are provided. Conduction means 4
Reference numerals 9 and 50 are provided in parallel to one end portions of the rectangular holding surface 53 that face each other and outside the holding surface 53, respectively, and the conducting members 51 and 52 are the other end portions that face each other and are different from the one end portion. Parallel to the section and inside the holding surface 53. The conducting means 49, 50 are both configured to include a mounting member 56, a leaf spring 57 and a conducting member 58. The mounting member 56 has an elongated rod shape, and the plate spring 57 is fixed to the holding member 22 by the mounting member 56. The leaf spring 57 is made of metal, for example, and has a flat plate shape having substantially the same length as the mounting member 56. Leaf spring 57
At the end opposite to the mounting member 56 of, for example, 10 ⁶
A conductive member 58 made of conductive rubber or the like having a resistance value of Ω or less is provided. The conducting members 51, 52 are made of, for example, the same conductive rubber as the conducting member 58, and are formed in the shape of an elongated rod.

As described above, the positioning members 54 are provided near the ends of the elongated rod-shaped mounting members 56 of the conducting means 49, 50 and the conducting members 51, 52, respectively, which are close to each other. Further, in the vicinity of the positioning member 54,
Insertion holes 55 that are inserted from the one surface 22a of the holding member 22 to the other surface 22b are provided. The positioning member is realized by, for example, a cylindrical protrusion protruding from the one surface 22a. The insertion hole 55 is formed, for example, in a rectangular cross section. Positioning member 54 and insertion hole 5
The number and shape of 5 are not limited to those described above, and may be any number and any shape. Further, the position of the positioning member 54 may be a position in contact with the outer peripheral portion of the display panel 29, and the position of the insertion hole 55 may be a position corresponding to the terminal portion excluding the display portion of the display panel 29 and the display outer peripheral portion. However, it is not limited to the above.

As shown in FIG. 5, the holding surface 53 is
In addition, a plurality of terminals arranged on one surface member 22a of the display panel 29 facing downward, that is, a plurality of terminals arranged toward the one surface 22a are brought into contact with the conductive members 51 and 52, and are positioned by the positioning member 54. A display panel 29 is arranged. Air is sucked from the insertion hole 55 by suction means (not shown), whereby the display panel 29 is suction-fixed to the holding member 22. Display panel 2
The plurality of terminals arranged upward of the other substrate member 68 of 9 are brought into contact with the conducting member 58 by angularly displacing the conducting means 49, 50 having the leaf spring 57 and the conducting member 58. In this way, the terminals extending in the four directions are electrically connected.

In this embodiment, the holding surface 53 is set near one corner of the one surface 22a of the holding member 22. The display panel 29 is arranged on the holding member 22 by a center reference method in which the center of the holding member 22 and the center of the display panel 29 are aligned with each other, or the display panel 2 as in this embodiment.
One of the four corners of the holding member 22 is
Use one of the corner standard methods that match one corner. When the former center reference method is adopted, when the polarizing plate is attached, the attaching surface of the display panel 29 and the attaching roller 35 can be aligned without being biased, and the polarizing plate can be surely attached. . On the other hand, in the latter case, one corner of the holding member 22 and the display panel 29
Since one corner is used as a reference, even if the size of the display panel 29 to which the polarizing plate is attached is changed, the reference position does not change, and the replacement work of the constituent members is easy. Become. In this embodiment, the latter case will be described, but the same effect can be obtained even with the former case.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing the display panel 29 held by the holding member 22 in a direction parallel to the rotation axis of the sticking roller 35, and FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis. FIG. The display panel 29 includes a pair of substrate members 64, 68, a liquid crystal layer 69, and an adhesive member 70.
It is configured to include. The one substrate member 64 and the other substrate member 68 are both transparent substrates 61, 65 and display electrodes 6.
2 and 66, and alignment films 63 and 67, respectively.
The display electrodes 62 and 66 are formed on the translucent substrates 61 and 65 in a plurality of strips that are parallel to each other. Further, alignment films 63 and 67 are formed so as to cover the formed display electrodes 62 and 66, respectively. Substrate members 64 and 68 are arranged so that the display electrodes 62 and 66 are orthogonal to each other. The substrate members 64 and 68 are adhered to each other with an adhesive member 70 at a predetermined interval, and a liquid crystal material is injected into the gap between the substrate members 64 and 68 to form a liquid crystal layer 69. The plurality of terminals 71 extending from each display electrode 66 are connected to the conducting member 58 of the conducting means 49, 50. The plurality of terminals 72 extending from each display electrode 62 are connected to the conductive members 51 and 52.

The display panel 29 described above is a so-called simple matrix type liquid crystal display device, but the structure of the display panel 29 is not limited to the simple matrix type, and may be, for example, an active matrix type. Also, other structures may be used. Also,
The display panel is not limited to the liquid crystal display panel, but may be the liquid crystal layer 69.
Any display panel may be used as long as a layer made of a substance whose optical characteristics are changed by applying an electric field is arranged.

FIG. 8 is a process chart showing the manufacturing method of the display device step by step. 9 and 12 are sectional views showing the manufacturing method step by step. Furthermore, FIG.
FIG. 11 is a side view showing the foreign matter removing means 73 used when cleaning the surface of the display panel 29, and FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing step by step the procedure of attaching the polarizing plate 34.

At step a1, the display panel 29 is received. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 9A, for example, the support plate 26 having the inspection polarization plate 25 is arranged at a position displaced from the light irradiation area of the light irradiation means 23, and the inspection polarization plate 28 is disposed. The holding member 22 to which is attached and the display panel 29 is fixed is arranged at a predetermined inspection position as shown in FIG. 9 (B). The inspection position means the light irradiation means 2
This is the position where the light from 3 is applied to the display panel 29, and the light transmitted through the display panel 29 enters the CCD camera 24.

In step a2, the supporting plate 26 having the polarizing plate 25 for inspection is angularly displaced in the direction of the arrow 42 described above, and the holding member 22 holding the display panel 29 as shown in FIG. 9C. The display panel 29 is arranged above, and the lighting inspection of the display panel 29 is performed in this state. At the time of inspection, the conducting means 49, 50 and the conducting member 5 provided on the holding member 22.
Display signals for inspection are given to the display panel 29 from 1, 52. When a plurality of pixels formed by the display electrodes 62 and 66 of the display panel 29 facing each other are all turned on, it is determined that the display electrodes 62 and 66 are not broken, and the process proceeds to the next step. When all of the plurality of pixels are not turned on, it is determined that the display electrodes 62 and 66 are broken, and the display electrodes 62 and 66 are removed from the step of attaching the polarizing plate 43. Further, the display quality such as display unevenness can be evaluated here, and when it is determined that the display quality is inferior, it is removed from the step of attaching the polarizing plate 43.

In step a3, foreign matter on the one surface 29a of the display panel 29 is removed. Prior to removing the foreign matter, the foreign matter is first inspected. The foreign matter that becomes a problem after the polarizing plate 34 is pasted is dust having a size of about 0.2 mm or more and fibrous foreign matter (fluff) having a length of about 5 mm. Thus, when the light is emitted from below, it is recognized as black, and when the light is emitted from above, it is recognized as white. For example, in a simple matrix type liquid crystal display device that performs monochrome display, the light transmittance of the liquid crystal display panel is about 95% before the polarizing plate is attached, and about 45% after the polarizing plate is attached. As in the present embodiment, light irradiation is performed from below to detect as a black dot or a black line in a white background. Further, in a simple matrix type or active matrix type liquid crystal display device for color display, the light transmittance of the liquid crystal display panel is 5%.
Since it is the following, light irradiation is performed from above and it is detected as a white dot or a white line in a black background. It is also possible to detect a foreign substance by a method of detecting scattered light due to a foreign substance using laser light.

The detected foreign matter is removed using a foreign matter removing means 73 as shown in FIG. 10, for example. At this time, the support plate 26 having the inspection polarization plate 25 is not shown in FIG.
As shown in (B), it is arranged at a position displaced from the light irradiation area of the light irradiation means 23. The foreign matter removing means 73
For example, a holding member 22 that is provided in the inspection / pasting unit 21 and holds the display panel 29 when removing foreign matter.
Moves in the direction of arrow 76, for example, and removes the foreign matter removing means 73.
The cutter 74 contacts the one surface 29a of the display panel 29. The foreign matter removing means 73 has a cylinder 75, by which the cutter 74 is put in and taken out. By disposing the cutter 74 between the one surface 29a of the display panel 29 and the foreign matter and moving the cutter 74 in and out by the cylinder 75, the foreign matter attached to the one surface 29a of the display panel 29 is removed.

As the foreign matter, for example, glass powder generated when the translucent substrates 61 and 65 are divided, a liquid crystal material attached at the time of injecting liquid crystal, a sealing resin at the time of injection hole sealing or substrate bonding. , There is dust accumulated during storage or transportation of the liquid crystal display panel, and if these are burned in the heat treatment step (for example, a heat treatment step of about 100 ° C.) in the manufacturing process,
It cannot be easily removed. Note that foreign matter that can be removed relatively easily can be removed by blowing air, for example.

Further, the foreign matter removing means 73 is installed in the inspection / pasting section 2
If the operator does not provide the foreign matter removing means 73,
Alternatively, the foreign matter may be removed by using a removing means different from the foreign matter removing means 73. For example, when an operator removes foreign matter, a cutter is used to scrape off the surface of the display panel on which the foreign matter has adhered, and the powdery dust that has been shaved off using an adhesive roller is removed. Wipe it off with a solvent soaked in. Note that, even after the foreign matter is removed by the foreign matter removing unit 73 described above, cleaning is performed using, for example, a neutral detergent, and the foreign matter is wiped off with an organic solvent or the like.

Subsequently, in step a4 shown in FIG. 8, the polarizing plate 34 is attached to the display panel 29. Polarizing plate 34
The method of attaching will be described with reference to FIG. First, as shown in FIG. 11 (A), a polarizing plate 34 having an adhesive applied to the surface thereof is adsorbed and held on a support plate 32, and the support plate 32 is angularly displaced in the direction of arrow A. 11
The state shown in FIG. Furthermore, the display panel 29
11 is moved by the moving means 30 in the direction 44a approaching the sticking means 31.
The state shown in FIG. At this time, the sticking roller 3
5 moves in the direction of arrow B to bring one end of the polarizing plate 34 into contact with one end of the display panel 29. Display panel 29
By moving the holding member 22 for holding in the direction 44b opposite to the direction 44a, as shown in FIG.
It is attached to 9a. Further, the support plate 32, which adsorbs and holds the polarizing plate 34, is angularly displaced in the direction C opposite to the direction A, and the state shown in FIG.

In this way, when the polarizing plate 34 is attached to the one surface 29a of the display panel 29, FIG.
As shown in, the holding member 22 holding the display panel 29 to which the polarizing plate 34 is attached is again placed at the inspection position. Then, as shown in FIG. 12B, on the holding member 22 on which the inspection polarization plate 28 is not provided,
On the other hand, the display panel 29 having the polarizing plate 34 attached to the surface 29a is held upside down. That is, the attached polarizing plate 34 is placed and held on the holding surface side, and the other surface 2
9b is exposed. The operation of arranging the display panel 29 upside down is performed by an operator, for example.

In step a5, foreign matter on the other surface 29b of the display panel 29 is removed in the same manner as in step a3 described above. In step a6, the polarizing plate 34 is attached to the other surface 29b of the display panel 29 in the same manner as in step a4. On the other hand, when the polarizing plate 34 is attached to the front surface 29b, as shown in FIG. 12C, the holding member 22 for holding the display panel 29 having the polarizing plate 34 attached to both surfaces thereof.
Are again placed in the inspection position. Here, defects when the polarizing plate 34 is attached, such as foreign matter mixture and positional deviation, can be inspected in the same manner as in the panel lighting inspection and foreign substance inspection before attaching the polarizing plate.

In step a7, the display panel 29 to which the polarizing plate 34 is attached, that is, the completed liquid crystal display device is taken out from the inspection / attachment section 21.

FIG. 13 is a plan view showing the display panel 29 when the terminals 71 and 72 of the display panel 29 are previously conducted by the conducting members 77 and 78 in order to protect the display panel 29 from static electricity generated during storage or transportation. It is a figure. Conducting members 77 and 78 are realized by, for example, a conductive paste or a conductive tape. Such conducting members 77, 7
In the case of the display panel 29 provided with 8, the conducting means 4
Instead of 9, 50 and conducting members 51, 52, connecting members 79, 81 are connected. The connecting members 79 and 81 are in contact with the conducting members 77 and 78, and at least the contact surfaces have conductivity. Signals for inspection are supplied from terminals 80 and 82 connected to this conductive portion.

As described above, when the conducting members 77 and 78 are provided, it is possible to apply the display signal for inspection to the terminals 71 and 72 by using the connecting members 79 and 81 having a relatively simple structure. The above-mentioned conducting means 49, 50 and conducting member 51,
In the case of No. 52, that is, in the display panel 29 that does not have the conducting members 77 and 78, the process for removing the conducting members 77 and 78 is unnecessary, and the time and labor for manufacturing are shortened. Further, since no conductive paste or conductive tape remains, no display failure due to the residue occurs.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the display state is inspected by using the inspection polarization plates 25 and 28 and before the polarization plate 34 is attached to the display panel 29. If the display condition is inspected and there is a display defect due to a broken display electrode, or if the display quality is poor due to uneven display,
The polarizing plate 34 cannot be attached. Therefore, the polarizing plate 34
No need to paste the product in vain, and the manufacturing cost is reduced. In addition, by cleaning the surface of the display panel 29 or removing foreign matters, it is possible to reduce defective attachment of the polarizing plate 34.

Further, in the prior art, two devices, a sticking device for the polarizing plate and an inspecting device, were required. However, in this embodiment, one manufacturing device 41 can carry out the inspection and the sticking. The labor and time for disposing the display panel 29 in the device can be reduced. Also,
The space for placing the device is also reduced.

Further, in the manufacturing apparatus 41 of this embodiment, the terminals 71 and 72 of the display panel 29 are short-circuited by the conducting means 49 and 50 and the conducting members 51 and 52, and are arranged in the inspection / pasting section 21. It That is, even when the polarizing plate 34 is attached, the terminals 71 and 72 are still short-circuited. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the display panel 29 from being broken due to static electricity of several hundred to several thousand V generated during the attachment.

The display electrodes 62, 6 of the display panel 29 are
It is possible to inspect whether the display electrodes 62 and 66 are short-circuited, depending on the method of drawing out the terminals 71 and 72 drawn out from the terminal 6. For example, when the display electrodes 62 are alternately drawn out one by one, and the display electrodes 66 are also drawn out in the same manner, if a display signal for inspection is given only to the terminal on the one end side, every other one of the display electrodes 62 and 66 is drawn. A voltage will be applied to. In this case, although the plurality of pixels are lit up every other pixel, when a short circuit occurs, the pixels are continuously lit, so that the short circuit can be recognized.

[0048]

As described above, according to the present invention, the display state is inspected, and the polarizing plate is attached only when there is no display defect. Can be reduced. In addition, since the terminals of the display panel are made conductive at the time of sticking, the display electrodes are prevented from being damaged by static electricity generated at the time of sticking. Further, since the inspection and the sticking can be performed by one manufacturing apparatus, the time and labor required for disposing the display panel can be shortened, and the manufacturing apparatus can be disposed in a small space.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an apparatus 4 for manufacturing a display device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of 1. FIG.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an inspection / pasting unit 21 of the manufacturing apparatus 41.

FIG. 3 shows a holding member 22, a light irradiating means 23 and a supporting plate 2.
It is a perspective view showing 6.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the holding member 22.

FIG. 5 shows the display panel 2 on the holding surface 53 of the holding member 22.
FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a state in which 9 is held.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the display panel 29 held by a holding member 22 cut in a direction parallel to the rotation axis of a sticking roller 35.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing the display panel 29 held by a holding member 22 cut in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis of a sticking roller 35.

FIG. 8 is a process chart showing stepwise a method of manufacturing a display device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing a method of manufacturing the display device step by step.

FIG. 10 is a side view showing foreign matter removing means 73 used when cleaning the surface of the display panel 29.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a step-by-step procedure for attaching a polarizing plate.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view showing a method of manufacturing the display device step by step.

FIG. 13 is a display panel 29 having conducting members 77 and 78.
FIG.

FIG. 14 is a process chart showing stepwise a method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device as a conventional example.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a configuration of a manufacturing apparatus 1 of a conventional liquid crystal display device.

FIG. 16 is an inspection jig 10 for a liquid crystal display device, which is a conventional example.
It is a perspective view which shows the structure of.

[Explanation of symbols]

 21 inspection / sticking part 22 holding member 23 light irradiation means 24 CCD camera 25, 28 inspection polarizing plate 29 display panel 30 moving means 31 sticking means 32 support plate 33 rotating means 34 polarizing plate 35 sticking roller 38 image processing circuit 39 output circuit 40 Control Circuit 41 Manufacturing Device of Display Device 49, 50 Conducting Means 51, 52, 58 Conducting Member 53 Holding Surface 61, 65 Translucent Substrate 62, 66 Display Electrode 63, 67 Alignment Film 64, 68 Substrate Member 69 Liquid Crystal Layer 70 Adhesive member 71,72 Terminal 79,81 Connection member

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A pair of translucent substrate members interpose a substance whose optical characteristics are changed by application of an electric field, and a plurality of display electrodes and respective display electrodes are provided on the substance-side surfaces of the substrate member facing each other. A display panel having at least a plurality of terminals extending from the substrate member toward the peripheral edge of the substrate member, and a polarizing plate attached to the surface of the display panel. The holding surface of the display panel has a translucent holding means, a light source for irradiating the holding means with light, an imaging means arranged on the opposite side of the holding means from the light source, and a holding means between the holding means and the light source. And a polarizing plate for inspection inserted respectively between the holding means and the light receiving means, one conducting member connected to the plurality of terminals on the one substrate member side of the display panel held by the holding means, and the like. The other conducting member connected to the plurality of terminals on the board member side, the signal output means for giving the display signal for inspection to the one and the other conducting member, and the plurality of terminals of the one and the other substrate member to the one and the other conducting member. An apparatus for manufacturing a display device, comprising: a sticking unit that sticks a polarizing plate on the surface of the display panel in a state of being connected to the display panel. 2. A pair of translucent substrate members interpose a substance whose optical characteristics are changed by applying an electric field, and a plurality of display electrodes and respective display electrodes are provided on the substance-side surfaces of the substrate member facing each other. In a method for manufacturing a display device in which a polarizing plate is attached to the surface of the display panel, the display panel having at least a plurality of terminals extending from the electrodes toward the peripheral portion of the substrate member, the display panel holding means It is placed on a light-transmitting holding surface and is arranged between the holding means and a light source that irradiates light to the holding means, and on the opposite side of the display panel on the holding means and the light source of the holding means And a plurality of terminals on the one substrate member side of the display panel are connected to the conductive member, and a plurality of terminals on the other substrate member side are electrically connected to each other. Element Is connected to a different conductive member, the display signal for inspection is supplied from the conductive member, the display surface of the display panel is imaged, the display state of the display panel is inspected, and only when there is no display defect. A method for manufacturing a display device, wherein a polarizing plate is attached to the surface of a display panel in a state where the conductive member and a plurality of terminals are connected to each other.