JPH09211048A - Examining apparatus for liquid crystal display panel - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an examining apparatus which performs defective display inspection of a liquid crystal display panel correctly for stabilizing quality of the panel and also improves productivity. SOLUTION: A probe substrate 7 is fixed to a probe body 6 provided approximately vertically to an input terminal 8 of a liquid crystal display panel 2 so that it can retreat, and probe electrodes 9 (A9, B9) are arranged on the probe substrate 7 with a pitch interval equal to that of the input terminal 8 for joining a plurality of probe needles 10 to the respective probe electrodes 9. The probe electrode 9 comprises a conductor pattern etched on a printed board, and the plurality of probe needles 10 are wire-bonded to it.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display (LC).
D: Liquid Crystal Display) The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display panel inspection device used for display defect inspection of a panel.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a manufacturing process of a liquid crystal display panel, a display defect inspection for inspecting a display defect portion before incorporating the liquid crystal display panel into a product is performed. A device for performing this display defect inspection is a liquid crystal display panel inspection device. Conventionally, in this device, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-308034, a plurality of input terminals provided on a liquid crystal display panel are brought into contact with external terminals for inspection by contact probe needles to output a driver signal. By applying the voltage, the display screen of the liquid crystal display panel is turned on and the inspected person visually checks the turned-on display screen, or the image is recognized by the CCD camera to automatically determine the defective portion.

Generally, in a liquid crystal display panel inspection apparatus, in order to supply a driver signal to a liquid crystal display panel of a component to be inspected, a contact probe is used as disclosed in JP-A-6-308034. Then, each needle tip of the contact probe is brought into contact with the input terminal of the liquid crystal display panel to supply the driver signal. Generally, like this contact probe, each needle tip of the contact probe and the input terminal of the liquid crystal display panel are provided at a ratio of 1: 1.

[0004]

In the conventional liquid crystal display panel inspection apparatus, since only one needle of each contact probe is installed for one input terminal of the liquid crystal display panel, the liquid crystal When the display panel is placed on the inspection device, if there is a horizontal misalignment, or if there is dust or dirt on the input terminal, the needle tip of one contact probe may become defective. Then, the driver signal cannot be supplied to the liquid crystal display panel, and the liquid crystal display panel does not operate normally. Therefore, the display defect inspection is hindered, the quality of the liquid crystal display panel cannot be stabilized, and the productivity is reduced.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a probe needle, which comes into contact with an input terminal of a liquid crystal display panel and supplies a driver signal from the main body, at the same pitch interval as the input terminal. A plurality of probes are joined to each of the arrayed probe electrodes. Then, the probe needle is wire-bonded to a probe electrode made of a conductor pattern etched on the printed wiring board. Further, the probe needle may be one in which one conductive wire is alternately wire-bonded to the probe electrode in a Z shape.

As a result, with such a probe needle,
Since a plurality of probe needles come into contact with one input terminal of the liquid crystal display panel, even if the input terminal and the probe electrode are misaligned in the horizontal direction, the positional deviation can be absorbed, and the input terminal is dusted. Even if adheres, since a plurality of probe needles are joined to the probe electrode, it is possible to maintain conduction with another probe needle that does not pass through dust.

Therefore, a stable display defect inspection can be performed, the quality of the liquid crystal display panel is stabilized, and
Productivity can be improved.

Further, the probe needle is formed by directly bonding a plurality of probe needles to a printed wiring board or alternately wire-bonding one conductive wire at a plurality of Z-shaped positions.
It is possible to arrange the probe needles at a narrow pitch.

[0009]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The present invention is a liquid crystal display panel inspection apparatus, wherein the probe means is a probe main body attached to an input terminal of the liquid crystal display panel so as to be able to move up and down.
The probe substrate is fixed to the probe body.

The probe substrate is fixed to the probe body, and the probe electrodes are arranged on the lower surface of the substrate at the same pitch as the input terminals of the liquid crystal display panel.
A plurality of probe needles are joined to each of the probe electrodes. When the probe body descends, one or all of the probe needles will surely come into contact with the one input terminal.

Further, the probe electrode is composed of a conductor pattern etched on a printed wiring board, and a plurality of probe needles are wire-bonded to the conductor pattern.

Further, the probe needle may be a plurality of probe needles by alternately wire-bonding one conductive wire in a Z shape.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. In FIGS. 1 and 2, a liquid crystal display panel inspection apparatus 1 for inspecting a display defect portion of a liquid crystal display panel includes a stage 3 on which a liquid crystal display panel 2 is mounted. There is an elevating stage 5 for elevating the probe means 4 for supplying a driver signal to the input terminal 8 of the liquid crystal display panel 2. The probe means 4 is composed of a probe main body 6 which is attached to an elevating stage 5 so as to be movable up and down, and a probe substrate 7 which is fixed to a lower portion of the probe main body 6.

The probe board 7 is a printed wiring board. On the bottom surface of the board, probe electrodes 9 having copper foil surfaces etched are arranged at the pitch intervals of the input terminals 8 of the liquid crystal display panel 2, as shown in FIG. There is. A plurality of probe needles 10 are wire-bonded to the probe electrodes 9 together with a driver IC 11.

As shown in FIG. 4, the probe needle 10 comes into contact with the input terminal 8 of the liquid crystal display panel 2 when the probe means 4 descends on the elevating stage 5 by a predetermined distance, and the driver signal output from the driver IC 11 is output. Input terminal 8
To supply. The probe needle 10 is formed of a material such as a tungsten wire having excellent elasticity, strength and conductivity.

As shown in FIG. 3, the terminal 12 of the driver IC 11 is wire-bonded to one end of the probe electrode 9, and a plurality of uneven patterns are etched at the other end, and the uneven pattern (referred to as pattern A) is formed. An isolated concavo-convex pattern (referred to as a pattern B) is etched symmetrically to the pattern A at a position opposed to each other by a predetermined distance.

A substantially rectangular parallelepiped silicon conductive rubber 13 is adhered between the opposing patterns A and B, and the probe needle 10 bent in an arc shape is made to line the silicon conductive rubber 13 in a pillow shape. Both ends of the probe needle 10 bent into an arc shape are wire-bonded to the tips of the convex portions of A and B.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the probe needle 10 is cut into a semi-circular arc shape and the silicon conductive rubber 1 is used.
3 may be used, and only one end is wire-bonded to the pattern A. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 6, one conductive line 14 may be arranged along the silicon conductive rubber 13 to alternately form the pattern A in the Z shape. What was wire-bonded to the tip of the convex portion of B may be used.

By wire-bonding the probe needle 10 directly to the printed wiring board, auxiliary components such as the spring 15 and the connector 16 of the conventional probe needle 10 are unnecessary as shown in FIG. Therefore, the probe needles can be arranged at a narrow pitch.

Further, by directly bonding the probe needle 10 to the printed wiring board, the probe needle 1
0 can be automatically mounted by the surface mounter together with the driver IC 11, which allows the probe needle 10 to be mounted.
Can be mounted with high precision and narrow pitch.

When the probe needle 10 comes into contact with the input terminal 8 of the liquid crystal display panel, a plurality of probe needles come into contact with one input terminal, as shown in FIG.
Even if the input terminal 8 and the probe electrode 9 are displaced in the horizontal direction, until the both ends of the plurality of probe needles 10 are disengaged from the input terminal 8 (in FIG. (X = about 0.2 mm) It is possible to conduct electricity, and it is possible to absorb the displacement between both.

Further, as shown in FIG. 8, even if dust or dust of several μm to several tens of μm is attached to the input terminal 8, since the plurality of probe needles 10 are joined to the probe electrode 9. It is possible to maintain continuity with the probe needle that does not pass through dust, dust, and the like.

Although not shown in the figure, the probe means 4 in this embodiment is contacted with an appropriate pressure when the probe means 4 descends for a predetermined distance during inspection and the probe needle 10 contacts the input terminal 8. Has a pressure control mechanism,
Excessive pressure is applied to the probe needle 10,
To prevent destruction.

[0024]

In the liquid crystal display panel inspection apparatus of the present invention, since a plurality of probe needles are wire-bonded to the probe electrode, the input terminal and the probe electrode of the liquid crystal display panel are misaligned, and the input terminal is dusted. Even if dust or the like adheres, the driver signal can be stably supplied to the liquid crystal display panel. As a result, the display defect inspection of the liquid crystal display panel can be accurately performed, the quality of the liquid crystal display panel can be stabilized, and the productivity can be improved.

Further, unlike the conventional case, since the probe needle does not have an extra auxiliary component, the probe needle having a narrow pitch can be obtained and the probe needle can be made inexpensive.

Further, the probe needle can be automatically mounted with high precision and narrow pitch by the surface mounting machine, and the probe board can be made inexpensive by mechanizing the board mounting.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a liquid crystal display panel inspection device.

FIG. 2 is likewise a side view.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a principal part showing an embodiment in which a probe needle (arc shape) is wire-bonded to a probe electrode.

FIG. 4 is likewise a side view of an essential part.

FIG. 5 is a side view of essential parts showing an embodiment in which a probe needle (semi-arcuate shape) is wire-bonded to a probe electrode.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a principal portion showing an embodiment in which one conductive wire is alternately bonded to the probe needle in a Z shape.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram in the case where the probe electrode and the input terminal of the liquid crystal display panel are displaced in the horizontal direction.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which a probe needle and an input terminal of a liquid crystal display panel are in contact with each other through dust, dust, or the like.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing a conventional example of a probe needle.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 liquid crystal display panel 8 input terminal 4 probe means 1 liquid crystal display panel inspection device 6 probe body 9 probe electrode 10 probe needle 14 probe needle 7 probe substrate A pattern (conductor pattern) B pattern (conductor pattern)

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Office reference number FI Technical display location G02F 1/1345 G02F 1/1345 G09F 9/00 352 G09F 9/00 352

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A liquid crystal display panel inspection apparatus having probe means for contacting an input terminal of a liquid crystal display panel and supplying a driver signal from a main body, the probe means being capable of advancing and retracting substantially perpendicularly to the input terminal. A probe main body provided on the probe main body, a probe substrate fixed to the probe main body, probe electrodes arranged at the same pitch interval as the input terminals on the probe main body, and a plurality of probe electrodes are bonded to each of the probe electrodes. A liquid crystal display panel inspection device comprising a probe needle, wherein the probe main body is lowered during inspection so that the probe needle comes into contact with the input terminal. 2. The liquid crystal display panel inspection according to claim 1, wherein the probe electrode comprises a conductor pattern etched on a printed wiring board, and a plurality of probe needles are wire-bonded to each conductor pattern. apparatus. 3. The liquid crystal display panel inspecting device according to claim 2, wherein the probe needles are plural in number by wire-bonding one conductive wire in a Z shape.