KR200311510Y1 - Apparatus for repairing Flat Panel Display - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a planar display repair apparatus for repairing a defective area that can be formed in an LCD, comprising: a repair table; A stage provided on the repair table and on which the LCD to be repaired is seated; At least one repair unit having a laser scope for imaging and repairing a defective area of the LCD mounted on the stage; Unit moving means provided on the repair table to move the repair unit in at least one direction so that the repair unit can be disposed above the defective area of the LCD; It characterized in that it comprises a monitor for outputting the image captured by the repair unit. As a result, a flat display repair apparatus is provided, which can reduce the power consumption and shorten the inspection time while increasing the yield. In addition, there is provided a flat panel display repair apparatus capable of drastically reducing the equipment investment due to the construction of a large clean room in pursuit of miniaturization of the apparatus.

Description

Flat display repairing device {Apparatus for repairing Flat Panel Display}

The present invention relates to a planar display repair apparatus, and more particularly, to a planar display repair apparatus capable of increasing the yield while reducing power consumption and inspection time.

The so-called flat panel display (FPD) refers to a flat panel display as a whole, and is categorized into a cathode ray tube (CRT) display and a liquid crystal display (LCD) to be described later.

The CRT is made of glass and panels joined together in front and rear, and the electron gun is accommodated inside the neck portion of the funnel, which has a high resolution but a heavy weight.

Accordingly, as the display industry develops in recent years, the supply and demand of LCDs rather than CRTs are increasing. Hereinafter, for convenience of description, the flat panel display will be described as LCD.

1 is a perspective view of a general computer to which an LCD is applied. As shown in this figure, a typical computer is provided with various cards such as a RAM, a disk driver, a graphics card, etc. on a main board on which a CPU is mounted. A main body 110 provided with a keyboard 110a or the like for inputting predetermined information, and a display device 120 coupled to the main body 110.

The display device 120 is supported by a pair of cover housings 112a and 112b coupled in the front-rear direction and is disposed behind the panel 115 and the panel 115 having an image formed on the plate surface. It includes a backlight unit 118 for transmitting light to the. At this time, the LCD 1 is applied to the panel 115.

As will be described later, the panel 115 to which the LCD 1 is applied is manufactured in such a manner that it does not emit light on its own and adjusts the light transmittance, so that a predetermined image is formed on the panel 115. Back-light unit (118) for projecting light is required.

The LCD 1 employed in the panel 115 of FIG. 1 will be described in more detail as follows.

LCD (1, Liquid Crystal Display) is an application of the electrical and optical properties of liquid crystals, which are intermediate phases of liquids and solids, to the display device, as can be understood by the combination of the words. LCD (1) is a liquid crystal, which is a liquid crystal, which is a liquid phase liquid, which is an intermediate phase between a liquid and a solid liquid crystal. The liquid crystal is arranged in a regular state like a crystal. It is made. The LCD 1 has features such as light weight, slim type, low power consumption, and low voltage driving, and is widely used as an indicator of a portable TV or a computer.

The LCD 1 is distinguished from other existing displays in that it uses light incident from the outside and uses light of a backlight unit 118 (back light) light source. Light has waves in a certain direction. When this wave reaches the filter vertically, the light cannot pass through, and only when it reaches horizontally. The LCD 1 arranges liquid crystal elements in a constant direction by an electric field, and in this case selectively passes light having a wave in a constant direction.

The advantages of the LCD 1 are that it can be made compact and thin and consumes less power. Liquid crystal, which is a liquid and solid state, transmits or blocks light according to changes in voltage and temperature. Therefore, the desired shape can be displayed by controlling the state of contrast by adjusting the voltage and temperature application of the specific portion. Therefore, it is advantageous for thin, small size, low power consumption, but there are common weaknesses in large size, full color realization, contrast enhancement, viewing angle, and the like.

In the LCD 1, the screen resolution is the number of pixels that can be displayed in the horizontal direction and is directly connected to the horizontal resolution, and the vertical direction is the vertical resolution. Therefore, in the XGA (1024x768) resolution class LCD 1, the total number of subpixels is 1024x768x3.

The LCD 1 adopts two methods for controlling such individual cells, and is divided into a simple matrix method and an active matrix method according to its driving method.

The simple matrix type (TN, STN) has a simple device configuration because the scan electrodes and the signal electrodes are arranged in an XY shape and the intersection thereof is used as a display pixel. For example, TN and STN LCD 1 belong to this, and STN is used for the high display density, and TN is used for the low density.

The active matrix type (TFT) is largely divided into a three-terminal device in which a thin film transistor (TFT) is installed in each display pixel and a two-terminal device in which a device having a nonlinear (diode) characteristic in current and voltage is set. Directly driving one pixel enables high quality screen and is used for color display.

In this way, the LCD 1 is provided with predetermined coordinate information including a scan electrode, a signal electrode, and the like. That is, as shown in FIG. 2, the LCD 1 has a plurality of contact pad groups 2a to 2d into which predetermined coordinate information including an electrical signal is input, respectively, and a plurality of contact pad groups 2a to 2d. Are each formed in groups of three and have different arrangement directions.

The LCD (1) coordinate information is formed by a plurality of contact pad groups (2a ~ 2d) each of the predetermined coordinate information, including the electrical signal is input at the time of manufacture of the LCD (1) by the manufacturer of the LCD (1) to form a plurality of LCD (1) It is common to input the data into a computer, and a manufacturer manufacturing a computer of the type shown in FIG. 1 displays the coordinate information in the LCD 1 supplied from the LCD 1 manufacturer, and then displays the display as long as it is determined to be good. It is employed as the panel 115 of the device 120.

However, in FIG. 2, in the contact pad group 2a, there is a defective area A in which one electrical signal line 3a extending from the contact pad group 2a overlaps the adjacent signal line 3b without being parallel. . In this case, since the correct image cannot be formed on the LCD 1, the defective area A must be repaired so that the overlapping portions between the signal lines 3a and 3b are cut off so that the signal lines 3a and 3b do not overlap each other. do.

In addition, although not shown, when ITO smears or defective patterns occur during the manufacture of the LCD 1, by repairing them correctly, it is necessary to improve the production yield and reduce the production cost.

3 schematically illustrates such a conventional flat display repair apparatus. The repair apparatus, which will be described hereinafter, will be described with respect to a correction operation for cutting overlapping portions between the signal lines 3a and 3b shown in FIG. 2 to replace the repair operation for bleeding of ITO or defective pattern. do.

As shown in FIG. 3, the conventional repair apparatus includes a stage 120 supporting the repair target LCD 1 and an upper portion of the stage 120 to enlarge the image of the LCD 1 and to repair the laser beam 1 through a laser beam. The laser scope 110 and the light supply unit 130 is provided in the lower portion of the stage 120 to transmit light to the laser scope (110).

As shown by the arrow, the stage 120 supporting the LCD 1 is movable in the X-axis and Y-axis directions when projecting in the horizontal direction.

Thus, when the LCD 1 to be repaired is seated on the stage 120 by a robot (not shown), the defective area A of the LCD 1 may be disposed below the vertical direction of the fixed laser scope 110. The stage 120 moves in the X-axis and Y-axis directions so as to determine its position.

At this time, the position of the stage 120 is adjusted by monitoring the defective area A of the LCD 1 in the laser scope 110 by the light transmitted from the light supply unit 130. When the position of the LCD 1 to be repaired is determined by moving the stage 120 in the XY direction, the defective LCD A is cut while a certain portion of the defective area A is cut by the laser beam projected by the laser scope 110. Can be corrected.

However, in the conventional flat display repair apparatus, since the defective area is repaired while the LCD of the repair target is moved, if the LCD is enlarged, the stage must also move along the X-Y direction while the stage is enlarged to correspond to the LCD.

In this case, when the large-sized stage moves in the X-Y direction, the movement range of the stage becomes large, as well as the yield thereof decreases, and a large amount of inspection time is consumed, and power for moving the large stage is large.

In addition, when the stage is enlarged, the flat display repair apparatus itself must be huge, and a clean room in which the large flat display repair apparatus is to be installed must also be largely constructed.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a flat panel display repair apparatus capable of increasing the yield while reducing power consumption and reducing inspection time.

In addition, another object of the present invention is to provide a flat panel display repair apparatus that can significantly reduce the equipment investment due to the construction of a large clean room in pursuit of miniaturization of the device.

1 is a perspective view of a general computer to which the LCD is applied;

2 is a schematic plan view of the LCD in which the defective area A remains;

3 is a schematic perspective view of a conventional flat display repair apparatus;

4 is a perspective view of a planar display repair apparatus according to the present invention;

5 is a partially enlarged perspective view of FIG. 4;

6 is a partially enlarged perspective view of FIG. 5;

7 is a control block diagram of a planar display repair apparatus according to the present invention.

* Explanation of symbols for the main parts of the drawings

1: LCD 10: Cabinet

12: repair table 14: support leg

16: stage 20: repair unit

32: monitor 34: control

40: X axis moving part 50: Y axis moving part

60: Z axis moving part

According to the present invention, a flat display repair apparatus for repairing a defective area that can be formed in an LCD, comprising: a repair table; A stage provided on the repair table and on which the LCD to be repaired is seated; At least one repair unit having a laser scope for imaging and repairing a defective area of the LCD mounted on the stage; Unit moving means provided on the repair table to move the repair unit in at least one direction so that the repair unit can be disposed above the defective area of the LCD; It is achieved by a planar display repair apparatus comprising a monitor unit for outputting an image picked up by the repair unit.

Here, it is advantageous that a plurality of pin supporting portions for supporting the LCD are provided on the upper surface of the stage.

It may include a plurality of support legs provided in the lower four corner areas of the repair table to support the repair table to be adjustable height.

It is advantageous to further provide vibration damping means provided in the repair table to remove vibrations that may occur in the repair table.

The unit moving means includes: an X-axis moving unit for moving the repair unit in parallel with the loading direction of the LCD loaded onto the stage; A Y-axis moving unit for moving the repair unit along the horizontal direction with respect to the X-axis moving unit; And a Z-axis moving unit provided in the repair unit to lift and lower the laser scope on the Y-axis moving unit.

The X-axis moving unit includes: a pair of X-axis supporters disposed to be spaced apart from each other along a horizontal direction with respect to the loading direction of the LCD loaded on the stage and to stand up from an upper surface of the repair table; A pair of X-axis rail portions respectively provided on top of the pair of X-axis supports; A pair of X-axis rail blocks provided in the pair of X-axis rails to be slidably moved in a mutual dovetail shape; And an X-axis driving unit for slidingly moving the X-axis rail block on the pair of X-axis rail portions.

The Y-axis moving unit comprises: a Y-axis supporter for interconnecting the pair of X-axis rail blocks; A Y-axis rail portion provided on the Y-axis supporter; A Y-axis rail block, one end of which is slidably coupled to the Y-axis rail and the other end of which is coupled to the repair unit; It has a Y-axis driving unit for sliding the Y-axis rail block on the Y-axis rail portion.

The Z-axis moving unit, the fixed unit is coupled to the Y-axis rail block; A movable unit coupled to the fixed unit in a liftable manner; And a Z-axis driving unit for elevating the movable unit with respect to the fixed unit.

A laser source portion for delivering a laser source to the laser scope is provided at an upper portion of the fixed unit, and light is supplied to the laser scope in the repair table opposite to the laser source portion with the laser scope therebetween. A part is provided.

More preferably, the laser scope is rotatably provided in a lower portion of the head portion provided in the lower portion of the laser unit.

A control unit for controlling the repair unit and the unit moving means may be further provided.

Outside the repair table may be provided with a cabinet for forming the appearance of the device.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, and for the necessary components in the description of the present invention described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, the above drawings are referred to and the same reference numerals will be given accordingly. .

The planar display repairing apparatus according to the present invention is used to perform a repair operation for picking up and cutting overlapping portions between signal lines 3a and 3b, which are defective areas A of the LCD 1 shown in FIG. .

4 to 6, the planar display repair apparatus includes a cabinet 10 forming the exterior of the apparatus, a repair table 12 provided in the cabinet 10, and a repair table 12. A laser scope 20b which captures and repairs the stage 16 on which the LCD 1 to be repaired is mounted and the defective area A (see FIG. 2) of the LCD 1 seated on the stage 16. It includes a repair unit 20 having a, a unit moving means for moving the repair unit 20 in at least one direction, and a monitor unit 32 for outputting the image captured by the repair unit 20.

As shown in FIG. 4, the cabinet 10 includes a plurality of unit side wall portions 10a to externally protect the repair table 12 and the repair unit 20. If the planar display repair apparatus is not used, the cabinet 10 may be closed. In the upper part of the cabinet 10, a plurality of dust collectors 10b are provided.

The repair table 12 is provided inside the cabinet 10 and is manufactured in a surface plate. Although not shown in the repair table 12, vibration damping means for removing vibrations that may occur from the outside and the inside are provided.

In the lower four corner regions of the repair table 12, a plurality of support legs 14 are mounted to support the repair table 12 and to adjust the height of the repair table 12.

On the upper surface of the stage 16, a plurality of pin supporting portions 16a for supporting the LCD 1 to be repaired are provided. By supporting the LCD 1 using the plurality of pin supporting portions 16a in this manner, the LCD 1 can maintain flatness within 0.1 mm, for example.

The unit moving means is provided in the repair table 12, and the laser scope 20b provided in the repair unit 20 is closer to the upper portion in the axial direction of the defective area A (see Fig. 2) formed in the LCD 1 to be repaired. The repair unit 20 is moved in at least one direction so as to be approached downward. Here, one direction refers to the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis as mentioned later.

The unit moving unit includes an X-axis moving unit 40 and an X-axis moving unit 40 for moving the repair unit 20 side by side with respect to the loading direction of the LCD 1 to be repaired loaded onto the stage 16. Z to move the repair unit 20 along the horizontal direction relative to the (50), and the repair unit 20 is provided in the Z to move the laser scope (20b) a predetermined distance on the Y-axis moving unit (50) It includes a shaft moving unit (60).

In the following, reference numerals for the unit moving means will be omitted since it is difficult to designate reference numerals in the drawings of the unit moving means. In addition, the movement of the unit moving means in the X-axis, Y-axis and Z-axis adopts an LM Guide structure in which a ball screw that is rotated by a motor is mounted to move the detailed description thereof. Shall be.

As shown in FIG. 5, the X-axis moving parts 40 are spaced apart from each other along the transverse direction with respect to the loading direction of the LCD 1 loaded on the stage 16 and stand up from the upper surface of the repair table 12. On a pair of X-axis support 41, a pair of X-axis rail portion 42 provided on the upper end of the pair of X-axis support 41, and a pair of X-axis rail portion 42 A pair of X-axis rail blocks 43 provided to be slidably movable in a dovetail shape and an X-axis driving part 44 for sliding the X-axis rail blocks 43 on the pair of X-axis rail parts 42 are provided. Include.

The Y-axis moving part 50 includes a Y-axis support 51 for connecting a pair of X-axis rail blocks 43, a Y-axis rail part 52 provided at the Y-axis support 51, and one end thereof. The Y-axis rail block 53 is coupled to the Y-axis rail portion 52 so as to be slidably moved, and the other end is slidably moved on the Y-axis rail portion 52 and the Y-axis rail block 53 coupled to the repair unit 20. Y-axis drive part 54 is included.

As shown in FIG. 6, the Z-axis moving unit 60 includes a fixed unit 62 coupled to the Y-axis rail block 53 and a movable unit 64 coupled to the fixed unit 62 in a liftable manner. And a Z-axis driving portion 66 provided in the stationary unit 62 to move the movable unit 64 up and down with respect to the stationary unit 62.

The laser source part 20c which transfers a laser source to the laser scope 20b is provided in the upper part of the stationary unit 62 which comprises the repair unit 20. As shown in FIG. The head unit 20a is provided below the repair unit 20, and the plurality of laser scopes 20b are provided in the head unit 20a.

At this time, the plurality of laser scopes 20b are rotatably arranged by the rotating member 20d provided in the head portion 20a. As such, the reason why the plurality of laser scopes 20b are formed is to select the resolution and the intensity of the laser beam to capture.

That is, if the defective area A formed on the LCD 1 is visible, the head 20a is rotated by the rotating member 20d to employ a laser scope having a low resolution. If it is desired to repair (A, see Fig. 2), it is also possible to increase the efficiency by selecting and using a suitable laser scope.

A light supply unit (not shown) for transmitting light toward the laser scope 20b is provided in the repair table 12 on the opposite side of the laser source unit 20c with the laser scope 20b interposed therebetween. The light supply unit may brightly form an image displayed on the monitor unit 32 while the laser scope 20b photographs the defective area A (see FIG. 2) formed on the LCD 1 and outputs the same to the monitor unit 32. It is provided so that the arrangement may be in accordance with the arrangement configuration of FIG. 3. Therefore, it is not shown separately here.

On the other hand, the above-mentioned repair unit 20 and the unit moving means are controlled by the predetermined control part 34 (refer FIG. 7). That is, the operator checks the partial image of the LCD 1 captured by the laser scope 20b by the light supply unit and controls the control unit 34 (see FIG. 8) to repair the unit 20 through the unit moving means. The position of the laser beam 20b can be repaired and the defective area A (see FIG. 2) can be repaired by the laser scope 20b.

As such, the position control and repair work of the repair unit 20 by the unit moving unit from the loading of the LCD 1 is performed by controlling the control unit 34 while the operator checks the monitor unit 32. However, all of these work actions may be made to be performed automatically by a predetermined control program.

Referring to the repair process by the flat panel display repair device having such a configuration is as follows.

From the cassette (not shown) in which the plurality of LCDs 1 are accommodated, the LCD 1 in which the defective area A (see FIG. 2) remains is taken out by the transfer robot to the upper part of the stage 16 on the repair table 12. Loaded.

When the LCD 1 to be repaired is seated on the stage 16 and the repair position of the LCD 1 is set, the unit moving means is driven. That is, the X-axis rail block 43 is moved in the X-axis direction on the X-axis rail part 42 by the X-axis drive part 44, and the Y-axis rail block 53 is moved by the Y-axis drive part 54. On the Y-axis rail portions 52a and 52b, they are respectively moved in the Y-axis direction.

As described above, when the repair unit 20 is disposed above the defective area A (see FIG. 2) of the LCD 1 by the X-axis moving unit 40 and the Y-axis moving unit 50, the Z-axis moving unit 60 is moved. Works. That is, the movable unit 64 is moved downward by a predetermined distance toward the LCD 1 to be repaired with respect to the fixed unit 62 by the Z-axis driving unit 66.

If it is moved downward, the control unit 34 transmits the laser source from the laser source unit 20c toward the laser scope 20b so that the laser beam passes through the laser scope 20b. A, see FIG. 2). Then, for example, the signal line of reference numeral 3a superimposed on the signal line indicated by reference numeral 3b in FIG. 2 is cut and the overlapping state of the signal lines 3a and 3b is removed, so that the repair operation of the defective area A is completed. .

Of course, even if the bleeding of ITO or the defect of the pattern occurs in the manufacturing of the LCD 1, the defective area A can be repaired by the above-described method, and a description thereof will be omitted.

As described above, according to the present invention, by configuring the repair unit 20 to be moved relative to the LCD 1, the yield can be increased while reducing the power consumption and the inspection time. In addition, it is possible to drastically reduce the equipment investment due to the construction of a large clean room in pursuit of miniaturization of the device.

In the above embodiment, the unit moving means includes a Z axis moving part. However, in the present invention, since the defective area of the LCD is repaired by the laser beam, the repair unit does not necessarily have to approach the LCD adjacent to the LCD, and thus it is not necessary to employ the Z-axis moving unit.

As described above, according to the present invention, there is provided a flat panel display repair apparatus capable of increasing the yield while reducing power consumption and inspection time.

In addition, according to the repair apparatus of the present invention, in pursuit of miniaturization of the apparatus, it is possible to drastically reduce the equipment investment due to the large construction of the clean room.

Claims (12)

A flat display repair apparatus for repairing defective areas that can be formed on an LCD, A repair table; A stage provided on the repair table and on which the LCD to be repaired is seated; At least one repair unit having a laser scope for imaging and repairing a defective area of the LCD mounted on the stage; Unit moving means provided on the repair table to move the repair unit in at least one direction so that the repair unit can be disposed above the defective area of the LCD; And a monitor unit for outputting an image picked up by the repair unit. The method of claim 1, And a plurality of pin supporting portions for supporting the LCD on an upper surface of the stage. The method of claim 1, And a plurality of support legs provided in the lower four corner regions of the repair table to support the repair table in a height-adjustable manner. The method of claim 3, And a vibration damping means provided in the repair table to remove vibrations that may occur in the repair table. The method of claim 1, The unit moving means, An X-axis moving unit which moves the repair unit in parallel with the loading direction of the LCD loaded onto the stage; A Y-axis moving unit for moving the repair unit along the horizontal direction with respect to the X-axis moving unit; And a Z-axis moving unit provided in the repair unit to lift and lower the laser scope on the Y-axis moving unit. The method of claim 5, The X-axis moving unit, A pair of X-axis supports spaced apart from each other along a transverse direction with respect to the loading direction of the LCD loaded on the stage and provided to stand up from an upper surface of the repair table; A pair of X-axis rail portions respectively provided on top of the pair of X-axis supports; A pair of X-axis rail blocks provided in the pair of X-axis rails to be slidably moved in a mutual dovetail shape; And a X-axis driving unit for slidingly moving the X-axis rail block on the pair of X-axis rail units. The method of claim 6, The Y-axis moving unit, A Y-axis supporter for interconnecting the pair of X-axis rail blocks; A Y-axis rail portion provided on the Y-axis supporter; A Y-axis rail block, one end of which is slidably coupled to the Y-axis rail and the other end of which is coupled to the repair unit; And a Y-axis driving unit configured to slide the Y-axis rail block on the Y-axis rail unit. The method of claim 7, wherein The Z-axis moving unit, A fixed unit coupled to the Y-axis rail block; A movable unit coupled to the fixed unit in a liftable manner; And a Z-axis driving unit for elevating the movable unit with respect to the fixed unit. The method of claim 8, A laser source portion for delivering a laser source to the laser scope is provided at an upper portion of the fixed unit, and a light supply for transmitting light toward the laser scope in the repair table opposite the laser source portion with the laser scope therebetween. Flat display repair apparatus, characterized in that the additional provided. The method of claim 1, And the laser scope is rotatably provided in a lower portion of the head portion provided below the laser unit. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, And a control unit for controlling the repair unit and the unit moving means. The method of claim 1, And a cabinet covering the outside of the repair table to form an exterior of the apparatus.