JPH08201843A - Matrix type color liquid crystal display element and its lighting inspecting method - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a matrix type color liquid crystal display element capable of simply and accurately checking the existence of short-circuiting between data lines and its lighting inspecting method. CONSTITUTION: In a matrix type color liquid display element provided with a plurality of data lines 14 created by coupling a pair of transparent substrates 11 and 12 together via a frame-like sealing material 13 and inserting a liquid crystal in a space surrounded by both of the substrates 11 and 12 and the sealing material 13 for supplying data signals to the inner surfaces of the substrates, a plurality of scanning lines 15 for supplying scanning lines, forming these data lines 14 and 15 in arrays, and a plurality of pixels with the edges of the end sides of these data lines and scanning lines extending to the sealing material for displaying a different color for each column corresponding to a data line, the length of the portion of the data line extending from the sealing material is different for each data line corresponding to one color pixel column.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a matrix type color liquid crystal display element for displaying a color image and a lighting inspection method thereof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A liquid crystal display device comprises a pair of transparent substrates made of glass or the like, which are bonded together through a frame-shaped sealing material, and liquid crystal is enclosed in a space surrounded by the substrates and the sealing material. . For example, in an active matrix type color liquid crystal display element, a plurality of pixel electrodes, a plurality of thin film transistors connected to the pixel electrodes, and a plurality of thin film transistors connected to the pixel electrodes are arranged on the inner surface of one substrate along the column direction of the substrate. A plurality of data lines for supplying a data signal and a scanning line (gate line) arranged along the row direction of the substrate and supplying a scanning signal to the thin film transistor are formed.

On the inner surface of the other substrate, counter electrodes facing all of the pixel electrodes, and R (red), G (green), and B (blue) color filters arranged along the column direction of the substrate. And are formed.

One end of the data line and one end of the scanning line formed on one of the substrates extend to the outside of the sealing material, and a terminal for connecting a drive circuit is formed at the extended end. . Then, after completion of the liquid crystal display element, a drive circuit is connected to the terminal, a scan signal is sequentially supplied to each scan line through the drive circuit, and a data signal is supplied to a data line in synchronization with this,
A color image is displayed by controlling the transmission of light in each pixel and turning on a desired pixel.

By the way, when a liquid crystal display element is manufactured, a lighting inspection is performed before connecting a drive circuit to check for a short between data lines. This lighting inspection method will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 shows data lines extending outside the seal material and arranged, and 1R is a data line for lighting red pixels, 1B.
Is a data line for lighting green pixels, 1C is a data line for lighting blue pixels, and these data lines 1
R, 1G, and 1B are sequentially arranged alternately, and the end portions on one end side of these data lines 1R, 1G, and 1B extend to the outside of the seal material 2 with the same length.

When performing the lighting inspection, as shown by the broken line in the figure, the connector a of the inspection machine incorporating the drive circuit for the inspection is arranged so as to straddle the respective data lines 1R, 1G, 1B. . Then, the inspection drive circuit is controlled to supply the inspection signal voltage to each data line 1R in order to turn on, for example, the red pixel first via the connector a.

By the supply of this signal voltage, the red pixel corresponding to each data line 1R is driven and lit up. Here, a certain data line 1R and the adjacent data line 1G or 1B are short-circuited. Then, at the same time when the red pixel is turned on, the green pixel corresponding to the shorted data line 1R or the blue pixel corresponding to the data line 1B is also turned on.

Therefore, when visually observing the display screen of the liquid crystal display element, when a green pixel or a blue pixel is turned on in addition to the red pixel, a certain data line 1R and a data line 1G or 1B adjacent thereto are It can be seen that there is a defect due to a short circuit. Therefore, in this case, the liquid crystal display element is discarded as a defective product.

If the first inspection is cleared and it is confirmed that no short circuit has occurred between the data line 1R and the data line 1G or 1B adjacent to the data line 1R, the next drive for inspection is performed. The inspection signal voltage is supplied to each data line 1G for controlling the circuit and lighting the green pixel through the connector a.

By the supply of this signal voltage, the green pixel corresponding to each data line 1G is driven and lit up, but here, a certain data line 1G and a data line 1B adjacent thereto are short-circuited. Then, at the same time as turning on the green pixel, the blue pixel corresponding to the shorted data line 1B is also turned on. The presence / absence of a short circuit between the data line 1G for lighting the green pixel and the data line 1R for lighting the red pixel has already been confirmed as no short circuit.

Therefore, when visually observing the display screen of the liquid crystal display element and the blue pixel lights up in addition to the green pixel,
A defect due to a short circuit has occurred between a certain data line 1G and the data line 1B adjacent thereto. Therefore, in this case, the liquid crystal display element is discarded as a defective product.

When the second inspection is cleared, it means that no defect due to a short circuit has occurred in any of the data lines 1R, 1G, 1B, and therefore the liquid crystal display element is determined to be a normal product. can do.

[0013]

However, in such a lighting inspection method, it is necessary to separately supply the signal voltage to the data line for each color under the control of the drive circuit of the inspection machine. The drive circuit of the machine and its control become complicated. Also, since it is necessary to supply the signal voltage separately for each color data line, the connector of the inspection machine is provided with a connection terminal corresponding to each data line, and the connection terminal is properly contacted with the corresponding data line. There must be. Therefore, not only the structure of the connector becomes complicated, but also an inspection error is likely to occur due to poor contact between the connection terminal and the data line.

The present invention has been made paying attention to such a point, and an object thereof is to provide a matrix type color liquid crystal display element capable of easily and accurately checking the presence or absence of a short circuit between data lines. And to provide a lighting inspection method thereof.

[0015]

According to the present invention, a pair of transparent substrates each having a transparent electrode formed on each surface thereof are bonded to each other through a frame-shaped sealing material with each electrode forming surface facing inward. A liquid crystal is enclosed in a space surrounded by a substrate and a sealing material, and each pixel is formed in a matrix with the respective electrodes facing each other through the liquid crystal, and pixels that display the same color are connected to each other. A plurality of data lines for supplying a data signal to the pixels and a plurality of scanning lines for supplying a scanning signal are provided on one surface of one of the pair of substrates facing each other at one end of each line outside the sealing material. In a matrix-type color liquid crystal display element that is formed by extending in a row, the length of the portion of each of the data lines extending from the sealing material is determined by the color displayed by a pixel column connected by the data line. To be different each time becomes, and is obtained by forming respectively from the terminal of the driving circuit connected to a position closer to the sealing member distal end of the extending out portion from the sealing material.

Preferably, each terminal of each data line is set to the sealing material rather than the position of the extending tip of the data line having the shortest length of the portion of the data line extending from the sealing material. Place it close to you.

Further, the lengths of the portions of the scanning lines extending from the sealing material are made different alternately for the scanning lines arranged adjacent to each other. Further, according to the present invention, a pair of transparent substrates each having a transparent electrode formed on each surface thereof are bonded to each other through a frame-shaped sealing material with each electrode forming surface inside, and are surrounded by both the substrates and the sealing material. Liquid crystal is enclosed in a space, and each pixel is arranged in a matrix with the respective electrodes facing each other through the liquid crystal, pixels that display the same color are connected, and a data signal is supplied to each pixel. Data lines and a plurality of scanning lines for supplying a scanning signal are formed in an array on one surface of one of the pair of substrates with one end of each line extending outside the sealing material. The length of the portion of each data line extending from the sealing material is different for each color displayed by the pixel row connected by the data line, and the tip of the portion extending from the sealing material is different. before that A method for inspecting lighting of a matrix type color liquid crystal display element, wherein terminals for connecting a drive circuit are respectively formed at positions close to a sealing material, wherein a straight line connected to a power supply device supplying an inspection signal voltage to the data line. Connector is prepared, and a contact position at which the connector can simultaneously conduct and contact the same or longer data line of the data lines extending from the sealing material is set for each data line of the same length. The operation of turning on the pixel connected to the data line which is in conductive contact with the connector positioned at the contact position is performed for each contact position, and the presence or absence of disconnection of each data line and short circuit between each data line is inspected. To do.

[0018]

According to the present invention, when the connector is commonly contacted only with the data line corresponding to the column of pixels of one color and the inspection signal voltage is supplied to each of the data lines to inspect for a short circuit. And a data line corresponding to a column of pixels of one color and a data line arranged adjacent to this data line are commonly contacted with a connector, and an inspection signal voltage is supplied to each data line to make a short circuit. In any case of inspecting the presence or absence of the above, the common inspection signal voltage may be simultaneously supplied to the data line with which the connector contacts at that position. Therefore, the inspection signal voltage is separately supplied for each data line of each color. Such a troublesome control becomes unnecessary, and the drive circuit of the inspection machine can be configured simply.

Further, since it is not necessary to separately supply the inspection signal voltage to the data line for each color, the connector of the inspection machine is provided with the connection terminals corresponding to the respective data lines, and the individual connection terminals are associated with it. Without having to take the complicated configuration of contacting each data line
It is possible to use a single connection terminal that extends in one direction and supply the inspection signal voltage to the required data line in common with that connection terminal, and thus ensure that the connection terminal and the data line are in contact with each other. As a result, it is possible to reliably prevent inspection errors due to poor contact.

[0020]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 shows a partial configuration of an active matrix type color liquid crystal display element.

Reference numerals 11 and 12 are substrates made of transparent glass or the like, and these substrates 11 and 12 are bonded to each other through a frame-shaped sealing material 13 and surrounded by both the substrates 11 and 12 and the sealing material 13. Liquid crystal is enclosed in the space. A part of the outer circumference of one of the substrates 11 is connected to the drive circuit connecting portion 11
Projected from the edge of the other substrate 12 as a and 11b.

A plurality of pixel electrodes (not shown) and a plurality of thin film transistors (not shown) connected to the pixel electrodes are formed on the inner surface of one substrate 11, and a data signal is supplied to the thin film transistors. A plurality of data lines 14 are arranged along the column direction of the substrate 11, and a plurality of scan lines 15 for supplying a scanning signal to the thin film transistor are arranged along the row direction of the substrate 11.

A counter electrode (not shown) is formed on the inner surface of the other substrate 12 so as to face the entire pixel electrodes, and R extends along the column direction of the substrate 12.
Color filters (not shown) of (red), G (green), and B (blue) are sequentially and alternately formed.

One end of each data line 14 extends to the outside of the sealing material 13 and extends to the drive circuit connecting portion 11a.
The scanning line 15 has an end portion on one end side extending outside the sealing material 13 and arranged on the drive circuit connecting portion 11b.

The data line 14 is a data line corresponding to a pixel displaying a red color (hereinafter referred to as a red display data line 14R) and a data line corresponding to a pixel displaying a green color ( Hereinafter, this is divided into a green display data line 14G) and a data line corresponding to a pixel displaying a blue color (hereinafter, this is referred to as a blue display data line 14B). 14R, 14G, and 14B are sequentially arranged alternately.

The length of the portion of each data line 14 extending from the seal material 13 differs depending on the difference in color display, that is, for example, the length L1 of the data line 14B for blue display is the longest and the length L1 is green. The length L2 of the display data line 14G is next longest, and the length L3 of the red display data line 14R is shortest (L1>L2> L3).

A wide drive circuit connecting terminal 14a is integrally formed at an intermediate portion of a portion of each data line 14 extending from the sealing material 13, and these terminals 14a are alternately provided for each data line 14. The positions are arranged in a staggered pattern. Further, any of the terminals 14a is located inside the data line 14R, that is, at a position closer to the seal material 13 than the position of the extended end of the data line 14R in which the length of the portion of the data line 14 extending from the seal material 13 is the shortest. It is located in.

In this example, a so-called COG (chip on glass) mounting method in which the LSI chip (driver chip) of the drive circuit is directly mounted on the drive circuit connection portion 11a of the substrate 11 is adopted, and each lead of the driver chip is mounted. It is directly conductively connected to each terminal 14a of the corresponding data line. That is, the portion from the terminal 14a to the tip of each data line 14 (tip portion) is a portion dedicated to the inspection used only for the lighting inspection, and is hidden under the driver chip after mounting.

The length of the portion of each scanning line 15 extending from the sealing material 13 is different from the length of each scanning line 15 to the length of L4 and the length of L5 (L4> L5) alternately. . A wide terminal 15a is integrally formed at an intermediate portion of a portion of the scanning line 15 extending from the sealing material 13, and the terminals 15a are alternately arranged in a staggered manner for each scanning line 15. Are arranged.

Above the drive circuit connecting portion 11a of the substrate 11, a virtual A position that crosses all the data lines 14 and the data lines 14G for green display and the data lines for blue display of the data lines 14 are displayed. A virtual B position that crosses 14B and a virtual C that crosses only the blue data line 14B of the data lines 14.
Of the scanning line 15 and a portion of the scanning line 15 extending from the sealing material 13 above the drive circuit connecting portion 11b of the substrate 11. An imaginary E position that crosses only the longer scan line 15 is defined.

When conducting a lighting inspection of the liquid crystal display element,
First, as shown in FIG. 2A, the connector a of the inspection machine is arranged on the position A of the drive circuit connecting portion 11a, and the connector b of the inspection machine is arranged on the position D of the drive circuit connecting portion 11b. Deploy.

When the connector a is arranged at the position A of the drive circuit connecting portion 11a, the connector a crosses all of the data lines 14 and contacts all the data lines 14, and also the drive circuit connecting portion 11b. When the connector b is arranged at the position D, the connector b crosses all the scanning lines 15 and contacts all the scanning lines 15. Therefore, in this state, all the pixels are turned on. However, if there is a pixel that does not light up in this state, one of the lines is broken, so the liquid crystal display element to be inspected is determined as a defective product.

Next, as shown in FIG. 2B, while the connector b of the inspection machine is placed on the position D of the drive circuit connecting portion 11b, the connector b of the drive circuit connecting portion 11a is placed on the position B. Arrange the connector a of the inspection machine.

At position B of the drive circuit connecting portion 11a, only the data line 14B for displaying blue and the data line 14G for displaying green extend to this portion, and the data line 14R for displaying red extends. Absent. Therefore, when the connector a is arranged at the position B of the drive circuit connecting portion 11a, the connector a crosses the data line 14B for displaying blue and the data line 14G for displaying green and the data line 14B for displaying blue. The data line 14G for green display is touched, and the data line 14R for red display is not touched.

Therefore, in this state, the blue pixel and the green pixel are lit, and the red pixel is not lit. However, when the red pixel is lit here, between the data line 14B for blue display and the data line 14R for red display, or between the data line 14G for green display and the data line 14R for red display. It means that a short circuit has occurred. Therefore, in this case, the liquid crystal display element is determined to be defective and discarded.

After this inspection is cleared, next, as shown in FIG.
As shown in (c), the connector a of the inspection machine is arranged above the position C of the drive circuit connection portion 11a while the connector b of the inspection machine is arranged above the position D of the drive circuit connection portion 11b. .

At the position C of the drive circuit connecting portion 11a, only the data line 14B for displaying blue extends to this portion, and the data line 14G for displaying green and the data line 14R for displaying red extend. Absent. Therefore, when the connector a is arranged at the position C of the drive circuit connecting portion 11a, the connector a crosses only the data line 14B for blue display and comes into contact with only the data line 14B for blue display, and the data line 14B for green display is contacted. The data line 14G and the data line 14R for displaying red are not touched.

Therefore, in this state, only the blue pixel is lit, and the green pixel and the red pixel are not lit. However, when the green pixel is turned on, a short circuit has occurred between the data line 14B for blue display and the data line 14G for green display. Therefore, in this case, the liquid crystal display element is determined to be defective and discarded. The presence / absence of a short circuit between the data line 14B for blue display and the data line 14G for red display has already been checked in the previous step (b), and it has been confirmed that there is no short circuit. In this step (C), the red pixel does not light up.

Next, as shown in FIG. 2D, the connector a of the inspection machine is arranged on the position A of the drive circuit connecting portion 11a, and the inspection is performed on the position E of the drive circuit connecting portion 11b. Arrange the machine connector b.

When the connector a is arranged at the position A of the drive circuit connecting portion 11a, the connector a crosses all the data lines 14 and contacts all the data lines 14 as described above. Further, when the connector b is arranged at the position E of the drive circuit connecting portion 11b, the connector b crosses the scanning line 15 of each scanning line 15 and contacts the scanning line 15 of each scanning line 15. .

Therefore, in this state, the pixels in the row corresponding to the scanning line 15 contacted by the connector b are turned on, and the pixels in the row corresponding to the scanning line 15 not contacted by the connector b are turned off. That is, among the pixels arranged in the row direction, the pixels in every other column in the row are turned on.

However, here, when the pixels in the adjacent columns are both turned on, there is a short circuit between the adjacent one scanning line 15 and the other scanning line 15, and therefore in this case. First, the liquid crystal display element is determined to be defective and discarded.

According to such a lighting inspection method, when the connector a of the inspection machine is arranged at any position of A, B and C of the drive circuit connecting portion 11a, the data line which the connector a contacts at that position. It is only necessary to simultaneously supply the common inspection signal voltage to the data lines 14, so that the troublesome control of supplying the inspection signal voltage separately for each data line 14 of each color is unnecessary, and therefore the drive circuit of the inspection machine has a simple configuration. Can be

Further, since it is not necessary to separately supply the inspection signal voltage to the data line 14 for each color, the connector a of the inspection machine is provided with the connection terminals corresponding to the respective data lines 14, and the individual connection terminals are provided. A single connection terminal extending in one direction is used without using a complicated configuration in which each data line 14 corresponding thereto is contacted, and the inspection signal voltage required for the data line 14 is common to the connection terminals. Therefore, the connection terminal and the data line 14 can be surely brought into contact with each other and the inspection error due to the contact failure can be surely prevented.

On the other hand, when the inspection at each stage is cleared and it is confirmed that there is no defect due to a short circuit, the liquid crystal display element is determined to be a normal product. For the liquid crystal display element determined to be a normal product, after the lighting inspection, the terminals 14a of the data lines 14 arranged on the drive circuit connecting section 11a and the scanning lines arranged on the drive circuit connecting section 11b. A driving circuit of a predetermined driver chip is connected to each of the terminals 15a of the fifteen.

In this case, the drive circuit connecting portions 11a and 11b
It is also possible to adopt the COG method in which the resin-molded driver chips are directly mounted on the above and the driving circuits of the driver chips are directly connected to the terminals 14a of each data line 14 and the terminals 15a of each scanning line 15. is there.

Although the present invention is applied to the active matrix type color liquid crystal display element in the above-mentioned embodiment, the data line (signal electrode) for supplying the data signal to one of the pair of substrates. Can also be applied to a simple matrix type color liquid crystal display element in which scanning lines (scanning electrodes) for supplying scanning signals are arrayed in the direction orthogonal to the data lines on the other substrate. In the case of the active matrix type, it is also possible to use an active matrix type color liquid crystal display element using MIM as the active element.

Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to a color liquid crystal display element in which pixels of the same color are arranged on the same straight line using a stripe type color filter, but a mosaic type color filter is used, and pixels of the same color are zigzag-shaped. It can also be applied to a line-up type color liquid crystal display element.

[0049]

As described above, according to the present invention, the presence / absence of a short circuit between data lines and scan lines can be checked easily and accurately by using a control circuit and a connector having a simple structure.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a part of a liquid crystal display element according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a lighting inspection method for the liquid crystal display element.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a lighting inspection method in a conventional liquid crystal display element.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 ... Substrate 12 ... Substrate 13 ... Sealing material 14 ... Data line 14R ... Data line for turning on red pixel 14G ... Data line for turning on green pixel 14B ... Data line for turning on blue pixel 14a ... Terminal 15 ... Scan Line 15a ... Terminal a ... Connector

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A pair of transparent substrates, each having a transparent electrode formed on each surface thereof, are bonded to each other with a frame-shaped sealing material with each electrode forming surface inside, and surrounded by both the substrates and the sealing material. Liquid crystal is enclosed in a space, and each pixel is arranged in a matrix with the respective electrodes facing each other through the liquid crystal, pixels that display the same color are connected, and a data signal is supplied to each pixel. Data lines and a plurality of scanning lines for supplying a scanning signal are formed in an array on one surface of one of the pair of substrates with one end of each line extending outside the sealing material. In the matrix-type color liquid crystal display element, the length of the portion of each data line extending from the sealing material is different for each color displayed by the pixel column connected by the data line, One matrix type color liquid crystal display device, characterized in that the terminal for the sealing member located in the drive circuit connected closer to the sealing member from the tip portions extending from are respectively formed. 2. A position where each terminal of each data line is closer to the sealing material than a position of the extending tip of the data line where the length of the portion of the data line extending from the sealing material is the shortest. The matrix type color liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein the matrix type color liquid crystal display device is arranged. 3. The length of a portion of the scanning line extending from the sealing material is alternately different for each scanning line arranged adjacent to each other.
The matrix-type color liquid crystal display element described in 1. 4. A pair of transparent substrates, each having a transparent electrode formed on each surface thereof, are bonded to each other through a frame-shaped sealing material with each electrode forming surface inside, and are surrounded by both the substrates and the sealing material. Liquid crystal is enclosed in a space, and each pixel is arranged in a matrix with the respective electrodes facing each other through the liquid crystal, pixels that display the same color are connected, and a data signal is supplied to each pixel. Data lines and a plurality of scanning lines for supplying a scanning signal are formed in an array on one surface of one of the pair of substrates with one end of each line extending outside the sealing material. The length of the portion of each data line extending from the sealing material is different for each color displayed by the pixel row connected by the data line, and the tip of the portion extending from the sealing material is different. From above A method of lighting a matrix type color liquid crystal display element in which terminals for connecting a drive circuit are formed at positions close to the base material, and the method is connected to a power supply device that supplies a test signal voltage to the data lines. A linear connector is prepared, and a contact position at which the connector can simultaneously conduct conductive contact with the same or longer data line of the data lines extending from the sealing material is set for each data line of the same length. Then, the operation of turning on the pixel connected to the data line which is in conductive contact by locating the connector at the contact position is performed for each contact position, and the presence or absence of disconnection of each data line and short circuit between each data line is checked. A method for inspecting lighting of a matrix type color liquid crystal display element, characterized by inspecting.