KR100676818B1 - Panel inspection apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a panel inspection apparatus for inspecting a panel, comprising: a centering unit supporting the panel; A backlight for supplying light to the rear surface of the panel supported by the centering unit; A mask provided to be movable relative to the panel, the mask covering an edge area of the panel so that the active area of the panel is exposed; A pinboard movably provided with respect to the panel, the pinboard being in contact with an electrode of the panel to apply an electrical signal to the panel; And a photographing unit provided in front of the panel and photographing any one of an active area of the panel covered by the mask and an entire surface of the panel exposed by the movement of the mask. As a result, the structure is simple and the inspection time of the active area inspection and the appearance inspection of the panel can be reduced.

Description

Panel Inspection Equipment {PANEL INSPECTION APPARATUS}

1 is a schematic view of a panel inspection apparatus for active area inspection of a conventional panel;

2 is a schematic view of a panel inspection apparatus for inspecting the appearance of a conventional panel;

3 is a schematic view of a panel inspection apparatus according to the present invention;

4 is a perspective view of a panel inspection apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention,

5 to 7 is an operation perspective view of the panel inspection apparatus of FIG.

<Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

1: Panel inspection device 5: Panel

8 electrode 9 base member

10: backlight 15: shield

20: centering unit 21: centering member

23: centering member drive unit 30: support

32: Frontlight 33: Mask

35: pin board 41: mask driver

42: first driving unit 45: second driving unit

51: support unit driving unit 60: photographing unit

61: camera

The present invention relates to a panel inspection apparatus, and more particularly, to a panel inspection apparatus having an improved structure so as to easily perform an active region inspection and an appearance inspection of a panel.

In general, the panel is mounted on an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) to form an image, and includes an active area where an image is formed and an edge area provided outside the active area. Such a panel is manufactured through several stages of manufacturing process, and the manufacturing process includes an inspection process for inspecting performance and the like.

The inspection process of the panel may be divided into an active area inspection for inspecting the performance of the active region in which the image of the panel is formed through an electrical signal and an appearance inspection for inspecting the appearance quality of the active region and the edge region of the panel.

1 is a schematic diagram of a panel inspection apparatus for inspecting the performance of an active area of a conventional panel. As shown in the figure, the conventional panel inspection apparatus 101 is provided between the backlight 110 and the backlight 110 and the panel 105 provided under the panel 105 to support the panel 105. And a panel jig 120 covering the edge region of the panel 105 so that light generated from the backlight 110 only shines in the active region of the panel 105, and provided above the panel 105. It includes a camera 130 for photographing the active area.

With this arrangement, the conventional panel inspection apparatus 101 applies power to the backlight 110 and an electrical signal to the panel 105 to form a reference image in the active area, and then the quality of the image in the active area. And brightness uniformity can be inspected.

2 is a schematic diagram of a panel inspection apparatus for inspecting the appearance of a conventional panel. As shown in this figure, the conventional panel inspection apparatus 201 is provided with a backlight 210 provided below the panel 205 and an upper side of the panel 205 to photograph the entire appearance of the panel 205. Camera 230.

By such a configuration, the conventional panel inspecting apparatus 201 can apply power to the backlight 210 to inspect the appearance of the entire surface of the panel 205 for being stamped or scratched.

However, these conventional panel inspection apparatuses are separately provided to perform active area inspection and appearance inspection of the panel, and a separate transport means for transporting the panel must be provided between each panel inspection apparatus, so that the structure of the panel inspection apparatus Is complicated and the inspection time is long.

In addition, since the conventional panel inspection apparatus has to be provided with a separate panel jig for each panel, a method capable of easily supporting panels having a diversified size is required.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a panel inspection apparatus which is simple in structure and can reduce inspection time of active region inspection and appearance inspection of a panel.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a panel inspection apparatus capable of supporting panels of various sizes.

The above object is, according to the present invention, a panel inspection apparatus for inspecting a panel, comprising: a centering unit supporting the panel; A backlight for supplying light to the rear surface of the panel supported by the centering unit; A mask provided to be movable relative to the panel, the mask covering an edge area of the panel so that the active area of the panel is exposed; A pinboard movably provided with respect to the panel, the pinboard being in contact with an electrode of the panel to apply an electrical signal to the panel; And a photographing unit provided in front of the panel and photographing any one of an active area of the panel covered by the mask and an entire surface of the panel exposed by the movement of the mask. Is achieved by.

The centering unit may support the panel to be positioned at the center of at least one of the mask, the pinboard, and the photographing unit.

The centering unit includes at least one pair of centering members provided to be in contact with both side surfaces of the panel, and a centering member driving unit for moving the pair of centering members to support the pair of centering members in contact with the panel. can do.

It may further include a front light provided in front of the panel to supply light to the front of the panel.

The apparatus may further include a support provided at the front of the panel to be movable with respect to the backlight, wherein the support may support the front light and movably support the mask and the pinboard.

And a mask driver configured to integrally move the mask and the pinboard with respect to the support, wherein the mask driver includes a first driver configured to move the mask and the pinboard in a direction standing up against the plate surface of the support. And a second driving part for moving the mask and the pin board in a direction parallel to the plate surface of the support.

The mask may be provided to be in contact with the front edge of the panel.

The display device may further include a protection plate provided between the backlight and the panel.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The panel inspection apparatus 1 according to the present invention sequentially performs an active region inspection for inspecting the performance of the active region 6 forming an image of the panel 5 and an appearance inspection for inspecting the overall appearance of the panel 5. It is a device provided to perform.

3 is a schematic view of the panel inspection apparatus 1 according to the present invention, and FIGS. 4 to 7 are perspective and operational perspective views of the panel inspection apparatus 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in these drawings, the panel inspection apparatus 1 according to the present invention includes a centering unit 20 supporting the panel 5 to inspect the panel 5, and a panel supported on the centering unit 20 ( A backlight 10 for supplying light to the rear surface of 5) and a border region 7 which is provided at the edge of the panel 5 so as to be movable relative to the panel 5 and to expose the active region 6 of the panel 5. ) And a pin board 35 which is provided to be movable relative to the panel 5 and in contact with the electrode 8 of the panel 5 to apply an electrical signal to the panel 5. And a photographing unit 60 provided in front of the panel 5 to photograph the panel 5 to inspect the panel 5. The panel inspecting apparatus 1 according to the present invention may further include a front light 32 provided in front of the panel 5 to supply light to the front side of the panel 5. The panel inspection apparatus 1 according to the present invention may further include a support 30 provided in front of the panel 5 to be movable with respect to the backlight 10, and the mask 33 and the support 30 with respect to the support 30. It may further include a mask driver 41 for movably supporting the pin board 35. The panel inspecting apparatus 1 according to the present invention may further include a protective plate 15 provided between the backlight 10 and the panel 5.

The panel 5 shows a display panel mounted on a TFT-LCD (THIN FILM TRANSISTOR-LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY) to form an image. However, the panel 5 may represent a display panel that is mounted on a flat panel display such as a plasma display panel (PDP) and an organic ELD (ELECTRO LUMINESCENCE DISPLAY) to form an image. The panel 5 is provided with a plate-shaped glass substrate or the like, and is transferred to the panel inspection apparatus 1 to be inspected in a state where a pattern or the like constituting an electrical circuit is formed to form an image. The panel 5 includes an active area 6 in which an image is formed in the center thereof, an edge area 7 of the panel 5 outside the active area 6, and an edge area of the panel 5. It includes a plurality of electrodes (8) connected to the pattern and the like (7) provided in contact with the pin board (35). The panel 5 may be supplied and discharged to the panel inspection apparatus 1 by a panel transfer means (not shown). In addition, the panel transfer means may be configured in various ways such as a conveyor method for seating and transporting the panel 5 and a vacuum adsorption method for vacuum suctioning the panel 5 to be seated on the protective plate 15 to be described later. As the panel 5 is illustrated in FIG. 5 as an example of the present invention, the panel 5 is seated on the protective plate 15, so that the front of the panel 5 represents the upper side of the panel 5.

The backlight 10 is supported by the base member 9 to be disposed below the panel 5 to supply light to the rear surface of the panel 5. Various optical sheets such as a polarizer plate 13 may be provided between the backlight 10 and the panel 5. The backlight 10 is large enough to supply light to the panels 5 of various sizes.

The protective plate 15 is made of a transparent material between the polarizing plate 13 and the panel 5 to protect the supplied panel 5 and the polarizing plate 13. The protective plate 15 is provided large enough to cover the whole of the backlight 10.

The support 30 is disposed above the protection plate 15, and is provided to be liftable with respect to the base member 9 by the support driving unit 51. The support 30 is provided in a plate shape, and a support through-hole 31 is formed in the central area thereof so that the mask 33 and the pin board 35 can pass therethrough. That is, the support 30 is provided in a rectangular donut shape. However, the support 30 may be provided in various shapes without being limited to the donut shape.

The support driving unit 51 is coupled to the base member 9 and the other side is coupled to the support 30 to raise and lower the support 30 with respect to the base member 9. The support drive unit 51 is provided in a cylindrical manner as an example of the present invention, but various methods such as a driving motor for elevating the support 30 by rotating screws and screws coupled to the support 30 and the base member 9. Can be prepared as. The support stand driving unit 51 is preferably provided in plurality.

The front light 32 is mounted on the lower surface of the support 30 to supply light to the upper surface of the front side of the panel (5). The front light 32 is coupled to the support 30 so as to be disposed on the upper side of the panel 5 to supply light to the panel 5 inclinedly. The front light 32 is provided in a rectangular donut shape corresponding to the square panel 5 as an example of the present invention. However, the front light 32 is not limited to the donut shape but may be provided in various shapes.

The mask 33 is provided in a plate shape to cover the edge region 7 of the panel 5. The mask 33 is provided in a donut shape in which a mask penetrating portion 34 is formed in the center region so that the active region 6 of the panel 5 is exposed. The mask 33 is provided to be movable by the mask driver 41. The mask 33 is provided to be in contact with the front edge region 7 of the panel 5. Thus, the mask 33 is the other side of the panel 5 when the pin 36 of the pin board 35 to be described later presses the electrode 8 to contact the electrode 8 provided on one side of the panel 5. This can be prevented from being heard.

The pinboard 35 includes a plurality of pins 36 provided in contact with the electrodes 8 of the panel 5. The pin board 35 is provided in a donut shape like the mask 33 as an example of the present invention and is provided above the mask 33. The pin board 35 is coupled to the mask 33 on the upper side of the mask 33 so as to be movable together with the mask driver 41. However, the pin board 35 may be moved by a driving means separate from the mask 33.

One side of the mask driver 41 is coupled to the support 30, and the other side is coupled to the mask 33 to move the mask 33 and the pin board 35 with respect to the support 30. The mask driver 41 supports the first driver 42 and the mask 33 and the pin board 35 to move the mask 33 and the pin board 35 in a direction standing up on the plate surface of the support 30. And a second driving part 45 for moving in the direction parallel to the plate surface of 30.

The mask driver 41 has a first driver 42 and one side coupled to the support and the other side coupled to the mask 33 so that the mask 33 and the pin board 35 are moved forward and backward with respect to the support 30. It includes a second driving unit 45 to move.

One side of the first driving unit 42 is coupled to the support and the other side is coupled to the mask 33 to move the mask 33 and the pin board 35 in the up and down direction with respect to the support 30. The first driving part 42 is coupled to the first guide 43 and the mask 33 and the pin board 35 standing up and down on the support 30, and the first slider sliding along the first guide 43. (44). The first driving unit 42 further includes a cylinder unit (not shown) for driving the first slider 44 to slide along the first guide 43. The first driving part 42 moves the mask 33 and the pin board 35 in contact with the panel 5 through the support through-hole part 31.

One side of the second driving unit 45 is coupled to the support and the other side is coupled to the mask 33 to move the mask 33 and the pin board 35 in the front-rear direction with respect to the support 30. The second driving part 45 is coupled to the second guide 46 provided in the front and rear direction on the upper side of the support 30, the mask 33 and the pin board 35, and slides along the second guide 46. It includes a two slider 47 and a cylinder unit 48 for driving the second slider 47 to slide along the second guide 46. The second driving part 45 moves the mask 33 and the pin board 35 which are raised to the upper side of the support 30 in the front-rear direction.

The photographing unit 60 is provided in front of the panel 5 and the whole of the panel 5 exposed by the movement of the mask 33 and the active region 6 of the panel 5 covered by the mask 33. One of the faces is taken. The photographing unit 60 includes a camera 61 for photographing the front surface of the panel 5 and a camera support 63 supporting the base member 9 supporting the camera 61. The photographing unit 60 is connected to a controller (not shown) that analyzes an image photographed by the camera 61 and determines whether there is a defect.

The camera 61 is provided above the panel 5 to photograph the front surface of the panel 5. The camera 61 passes the panel 5 through the mask penetrating portion 34 when the mask 33 and the pin board 35 contact the panel 5 to inspect the active area 6 of the panel 5. The active area 6 of the panel 5 is photographed. When the mask 33 and the pin board 35 are moved from the panel 5 to examine the appearance of the panel 5, the active area 6 of the panel 5 is photographed. 6) and the entire surface of the panel 5 including the border area 7 is photographed.

The centering unit 20 supports the panel 5 to be positioned at the center of at least one of the mask 33, the pin board 35, and the photographing unit 60. The centering unit 20 includes at least one pair of centering members 21 provided to be in contact with both side surfaces of the panel 5, and a pair of centerings such that the pair of centering members 21 are in contact with and support the panel 5. And a centering member driver 23 for moving the member 21.

The centering member 21 is provided to be movable on the protective plate 15 so as to support the panel 5 transferred to the protective plate 15. The centering member 21 may be provided in a pair to support both sides of the panel 5, or may be provided in two pairs to support the left and right sides and the front and rear sides of the panel 5. The centering member 21 is provided in the shape of an elongate rod to be in contact with the side surface of the panel 5.

The centering member driver 23 includes a driving screw 24 coupled to a pair of centering members 21, and a driving motor 25 for rotating the driving screw 24 to move the centering member 21. The centering member driver 23 may be provided in a pair to move the two pairs of centering members 21.

With this configuration, looking at the operation of the panel inspection apparatus 1 according to the present invention.

First, the support 30 is lifted with respect to the base member 9 by the support drive unit 51 to seat the panel 5 on the protective plate 15, and the centering unit 20 is driven to drive the panel 5. (See FIG. 5). Then, after the support 30 is lowered with respect to the base member 9 by the support drive unit 51, the mask 33 and the pin board 35 are driven by the second drive unit 45 of the mask drive unit 41. It moves in the front-rear direction corresponding to the support passage part 31 (refer FIG. 6). Thereafter, the mask 33 and the pin board 35 are brought into contact with the panel 5 through the support through-hole part 31 by the first driving part 42 of the mask driving part 41 (see FIG. 7). Then, power is applied to the backlight 10 and the front light 32, and an electrical signal is applied to the electrode 8 of the panel 5 through the pin 36 of the pin board 35. An image is formed in the active area 6. Thereafter, the active area inspection may be performed to photograph the active area 6 of the panel 5 by the camera 61 to determine whether the active area 6 is defective. Then, the first driver 42 and the second driver 45 of the mask driver 41 are sequentially operated to move the mask 33 and the pin board 35 in the state shown in FIG. 4. Then, the centering unit 20 is driven to separate the centering member 21 from the panel 5. Then, the external inspection may be performed to photograph the entire surface including the active area 6 and the edge area 7 of the panel 5 by the camera 61 to determine whether the appearance of the panel 5 is defective. have.

Accordingly, the panel inspection apparatus according to the present invention can simplify the structure and reduce the inspection time by allowing the active area inspection and the appearance inspection of the panel 5 to be performed in one device.

In addition, the panel inspection apparatus according to the present invention can support panels of various sizes by the centering unit.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a panel inspection apparatus which is simple in structure and can reduce inspection time of active region inspection and appearance inspection of the panel.

In addition, a centering unit may be provided to provide a panel inspection apparatus capable of supporting panels of various sizes.

Claims (8)

In the panel inspection apparatus for inspecting the panel, A centering unit supporting the panel; A backlight for supplying light to the rear surface of the panel supported by the centering unit; A mask provided to be movable relative to the panel, the mask covering an edge area of the panel so that the active area of the panel is exposed; A pinboard movably provided with respect to the panel, the pinboard being in contact with an electrode of the panel to apply an electrical signal to the panel; A photographing unit provided in front of the panel and photographing any one of an active area of the panel covered by the mask and an entire surface of the panel exposed by the movement of the mask; And the mask is in contact with the front edge of the panel. The method of claim 1, The centering unit supports the panel to be positioned at the center of at least one of the mask, the pinboard and the photographing unit. The method of claim 2, The centering unit, At least a pair of centering members provided in contact with both side surfaces of the panel; And a centering member driving unit for moving the pair of centering members to support the pair of centering members in contact with the panel. The method of claim 1, And a front light provided at the front of the panel to supply light to the front of the panel. The method of claim 4, wherein And a support provided in front of the panel to be movable relative to the backlight. The support panel supports the front light, and the panel inspection apparatus, characterized in that the movable support for the mask and the pinboard. The method of claim 5, Further comprising a mask driver for supporting the mask and the pinboard to move integrally with respect to the support, The mask driver includes a first driver for moving the mask and the pinboard in a direction standing up to the plate surface of the support, and a second driver for moving the mask and the pinboard in a direction parallel to the plate surface of the support. Panel inspection apparatus, characterized in that. delete The method of claim 1, And a protective plate provided between the backlight and the panel.

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