KR20070095544A - Apparatus for attaching touch screen panel and method for attaching touch screen panel using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus for attaching a touch screen panel and a method for attaching the touch screen panel by using the same are provided to give equal pressing force to a touch screen panel by pressing the LCD(Liquid Crystal Display) panel and the touch screen panel by vertically rising the touch screen panel, thereby reducing the generation of badness like the break of the panel. An apparatus(100) for attaching a touch screen panel(200,300) comprises the followings: a first support unit(110) which has an inner open area; a pressing unit(150) where a first panel(200) reaches safe and sound, which is positioned under the first support unit and vertically moves the first panel through the inner open area; and a second support unit(300) where a second panel reaches safe and sound, of which one side is connected to a side of the first support unit and is rotated to be opposite to the first support unit.

Description

Apparatus for attaching touch screen panel and method for attaching touch screen panel using the same}

1 is a flowchart of a liquid crystal display device process using a touch screen panel attachment device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the touch screen panel used in the touch screen panel attaching process of FIG. 1.

3 is a perspective view of an apparatus for attaching a touch screen panel according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 3 taken along lines IV to IV '.

(Explanation of symbols for the main parts of the drawing)

100: touch screen panel attachment device 110: first support portion

115: hole 117, 137: vacuum suction plate

130: second support portion 135: alignment pin

150: press part 151: pressing part

153: cylinder 155: drive part

160: hinge portion 200: first panel

201 and 202: PET films 211 and 212: transparent electrode

220: polarizing film 230: protective film

240: surface treatment film 300: second panel

The present invention relates to an apparatus for attaching a touch screen panel, and more particularly, to an apparatus for attaching a touch screen panel in which a crack failure of the panel is improved.

Generally, a liquid crystal display includes a liquid crystal panel in which liquid crystal is injected between two display panels, a backlight assembly including a light source and a light guide plate for supplying a constant backlight to the liquid crystal panel, and receives an image signal input from the outside. It is a display device to display. In such a liquid crystal display, a digitizer for displaying an image and inputting an electric graphic signal on a displayed screen is mounted. Such a device is called an EGIP (Electric Graphic Input Panel) or a touch screen panel.

The touch screen panel is a peripheral device installed on the display surface of the liquid crystal display device and presses the touch screen panel while the user views the liquid crystal display device to input predetermined information into the computer. The touch screen panel may include a voltage corresponding to a position where the stylus pen or finger is pressed. Generates a current signal and enters user-specified command or graphic information. Such a touch screen panel has a transparent electrode attached to two polyethylene terephthalate (PET) films, and a polyethylene terephthalate film is bonded to each other such that the transparent electrodes face each other, with a constant gap between the polyethylene terephthalate films. It is a structure having a gap.

In the process of attaching the touch screen panel to the liquid crystal panel, in the prior art, the other end of the liquid crystal panel and the other end of the touch screen panel are approached and attached while firstly aligning one end of the liquid crystal panel and one end of the touch screen panel. Although a method has been used, such a method has a strong pressure to be transmitted to one end of a liquid crystal panel or a touch screen panel, such that a defect such as cracking of the liquid crystal panel or a touch screen panel occurs.

An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for attaching a touch screen panel in which a crack failure of a liquid crystal panel or a touch screen panel is improved.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for attaching a touch screen panel using the apparatus for attaching a touch screen panel.

The technical problems of the present invention are not limited to the above-mentioned technical problems, and other technical problems not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a touch screen panel attachment device including a first support having an inner open area, a first panel mounted thereon, and positioned under the first support. It includes a pressing portion for vertically moving the first panel through the open area, the second panel is seated, one side is connected to one side of the first support portion, and rotates to face the first support portion.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for attaching a touch screen panel, the method including: aligning the first panel and the second panel, and rotating the second panel to rotate the second panel. Contacting the panel to face the first panel, and pressing the first panel and the second panel vertically to compress the first panel and the second panel.

Specific details of other embodiments are included in the detailed description and the drawings.

Advantages and features of the present invention and methods for achieving them will be apparent with reference to the embodiments described below in detail with the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed below, but can be implemented in various different forms, and only the embodiments make the disclosure of the present invention complete, and the general knowledge in the art to which the present invention belongs. It is provided to fully inform the person having the scope of the invention, which is defined only by the scope of the claims. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.

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

1 is a flowchart of a manufacturing process of a liquid crystal display device using a touch screen panel attachment device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, a manufacturing process of a liquid crystal display includes a TFT process (S10) for manufacturing a first display panel on which a plurality of thin film transistors are formed, a color for manufacturing a second display panel on which a common electrode and a color filter are formed. Liquid crystal cell process (S20), which combines the first display panel and the second display panel manufactured through the filter process (S15), the TFT process (S10) and the color filter process (S15), and injects the liquid crystal to produce a liquid crystal panel (S20), liquid crystal Touch screen panel attachment process (S30) for attaching a touch screen panel (TSP) to a liquid crystal panel manufactured through the cell process (S20), a liquid crystal display by combining a liquid crystal panel with a touch screen panel and other modules It may consist of a module process (S40) and the like to complete the device.

Each of the processes described above is again comprised of numerous detailed process steps. For example, the TFT process S10 includes a thin film, a deposition, a photo, and an etching process, which are repeated similarly to a silicon semiconductor manufacturing process, and an inspection and cleaning process performed before and after each of these processes.

In addition, the liquid crystal cell process S20 may include a plurality of detailed process steps. For example, the liquid crystal cell process S20 may include alignment layer printing (S211), rubbing (rubbing), spacer dispersion (S213), and seal pattern formation ( S214), short-circuit formation (S215), substrate bonding (S216), cutting (S217), the liquid crystal injection and encapsulation (S218), polarizing plate attached (S219) and inspection (S220) and the like can be configured. .

The alignment film printing process S211 is performed on the pixel electrode and the common electrode of the two display panels manufactured through the TFT process S10 and the color filter process S15. At this time, the alignment film to be printed has excellent adhesion characteristics with the surface of ITO (Indium Tin Oxide) or IZO (Indium Zinc Oxide), etc., which is a component of the electrode. A material that does not react with the liquid crystal due to its high chemical stability may be used.

The rubbing process (S212) is a process of rubbing the alignment layer in one direction using a soft cloth into which cotton or nylon fibers are implanted. As a result, the liquid crystal molecules may be arranged in a constant direction on the surface of the alignment layer.

The spacer spreading process S213 is a process of spreading a spacer in order to maintain a constant cell gap between the first display panel and the second display panel. Spacer dispersion can be carried out by a method such as dry or wet, it should be able to maintain the uniformity of the scatter diagram and the density below the appropriate level.

The seal pattern forming step (S214) is a step of forming a type of bag for injecting liquid crystal between the two display panels manufactured by the above-described process. At this time, the sealant which forms a seal pattern can use epoxy resin etc. which are thermosetting resins, for example. The seal pattern may be formed on the first display panel or on the second display panel.

The shorting process S215 is a process of forming a short circuit for electrical connection between the first display panel and the second display panel. The short circuit may be formed outside the seal pattern to minimize contamination of the liquid crystal molecules by the short circuit material, and a plurality of short circuits may be formed on the display panel. Like the seal pattern, the short circuit may be formed on the first display panel in the same manner as the seal pattern, or may be formed on the second display panel.

The substrate bonding process S216 is completed by bonding the first and second display panels manufactured by the above-described processes to each other and then curing the seal pattern formed on the first display panel or the second display panel. Here, the alignment error allowed for the bonding of the two display panels is determined by a margin or the like given during the design of each display panel.

The first display panel and the second display panel thus bonded are then subjected to a cutting process (S217). The cutting process (S217) is a process of cutting the two bonded panels in the unit of a liquid crystal cell, a scribe process of forming a cutting line on the surface of the display panel with a diamond pen, and a brake to be separated by an impact. (break) process.

The liquid crystal injection and encapsulation step (S218) is a process of injecting liquid crystal into a space between the first display panel and the second display panel constituting the liquid crystal panel, and then sealing the injected liquid crystal so as not to leak. Here, the most commonly used method of injecting the liquid crystal is to vacuum the inside of the liquid crystal cell and then inject the liquid crystal by using a pressure difference from the outside.

In addition, encapsulation is performed by a method of blocking the liquid crystal injection hole so that the injected liquid crystal does not flow to the outside, for example, by using an ultraviolet curable resin or the like and sealing the liquid crystal injection hole through ultraviolet irradiation after liquid crystal injection.

The polarizing plate attaching step (S219) is a step of attaching the polarizing plates on both upper and lower surfaces of the liquid crystal panel where the liquid crystal injection and encapsulation step (S218) is completed. At this time, it is more preferable to select only the normal liquid crystal panel through the electrical / optical performance test to proceed with the polarizing plate attaching process (S219).

The inspection step S220 is a process for inspecting the electrical / optical characteristics and the image quality of the liquid crystal panel on which the polarizer is attached. The electrical / optical characteristic inspection of the liquid crystal panel may be performed by applying a test signal to a shorting bar connected to the gate line and the data line in common. After the inspection is completed, the shorting bar is removed by using a laser trimmer. In addition, the image quality inspection may be performed by a Charge Coupled Division (CCD) camera and a computer on which an algorithm for automatic image quality inspection using the same is performed.

The manufacturing process of the liquid crystal panel described above is merely described as an example of the liquid crystal panel manufacturing process, the present invention is not limited to this, it is obvious that all known liquid crystal panel manufacturing process can be used.

As described above, the liquid crystal panel formed by the liquid crystal cell process S20 is then subjected to a touch screen panel (TSP) attaching process (S30).

The touch screen panel has a structure in which conductive films are formed on two display panels, for example, thin rectangular plates formed of resin such as polyethylene terephthalate film, and a predetermined current flows while the conductive films are in contact with each other. Hereinafter, the touch screen panel will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 2.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the touch screen panel used in the touch screen panel attaching process of FIG. 1.

2, in the touch screen panel 200, transparent electrode layers 211 and 212 are formed on opposite surfaces of two films, for example, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) films 201 and 202, respectively. The 211 and 212 have a predetermined space so as to face each other, and the PET films 201 and 202 are bonded to each other by an insulating adhesive or the like.

Here, the lower side of the lower PET film 202 may further include a polarizing film having a function of polarizing light, for example, a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) film 220, and the lower portion of the PVA film 220 A protective film for protecting the PVA film 220 from moisture or the like, for example, may further include a triacetyl cellulose (TAC) film 230.

In addition, the upper portion of the upper PET film 201 further includes a surface treatment film 240, for example, an anti-glare layer (A / G) 240, which prevents flicker and scratches on the surface of the PET film 201. can do.

The operation of the touch screen panel 200 will be described below.

First, the touch screen panel 200 receives a predetermined voltage from an external controller. In this case, voltage is applied to one transparent electrode layer 211 and 212 formed on the touch screen panel 200 in the X-axis direction, and voltage is applied to the other transparent electrode layers 211 and 212 in the Y-axis direction. Here, when the user presses a specific point of the touch screen panel 200 with a finger or a pen, the transparent electrode layers 211 and 212 come into contact with each other, and the voltage value changed by the change of the resistance value at the position is output. At this time, the external controller finds the position of the specific point to which the pressure is applied and detects the digital coordinate, and the detected digital coordinate is provided to the driving device of the liquid crystal panel. Therefore, the driving device of the liquid crystal panel drives the liquid crystal panel based on the digital coordinates.

The touch screen panel 200 having the above-described structure may be attached to the liquid crystal panel, and an adhesive such as a double-sided tape may be interposed on the attachment surface. An apparatus for attaching a touch screen panel for attaching the touch screen panel 200 to a liquid crystal panel will be described in detail later with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.

Referring back to FIG. 1, the liquid crystal panel to which the touch screen panel is attached is subjected to a module process (S40).

The module process (S40) includes steps such as mounting a driving IC, attaching a printed circuit board (PCB), and assembling a backlight unit and a chassis.

Here, technologies for mounting a driving IC in a liquid crystal panel include tape automated bonding (TAB), chip on board (COB), and chip on glass (COG).

In addition, the PCB includes various circuit elements formed in a multilayer structure, and is electrically connected to the driving IC by a flexible printed circuit (FPC) to form a driving circuit unit of the liquid crystal display. The PCB is formed separately using SMT (Surface Mount Technology) technology and then attached to the liquid crystal panel.

Subsequently, the liquid crystal display device is completed by assembling / combining the separately formed backlight unit and the chassis with the liquid crystal panel in which the driving IC unit is mounted.

Hereinafter, an apparatus for attaching a touch screen panel will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.

3 is a perspective view of an apparatus for attaching a touch screen panel according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 3 taken along lines IV to IV '.

3 and 4, the touch screen panel attachment apparatus 100 includes a first support 110, a second support 130, and a crimping unit 150.

The first support part 110 has an inner open area which is an open area for the up / down movement of the crimping unit 150 to be described later, and has a rectangular frame structure as a whole. In addition, the first support 110 is provided with a plurality of coupling coupling holes 115 to help the first support 110 and the second support 130 are coupled along the side.

The first panel 200, for example, the touch screen panel, is mounted on one surface of the first support 110. Here, a predetermined region of the first support 110, for example, a region substantially the same as the size of the first panel 200 may be separated to allow the up / down movement. In addition, the region may further include a vacuum suction plate 117 for adsorbing / fixing the first panel 200.

The second support 130 is positioned adjacent to the first support 110, and one side of the second support 130 is connected to one side of the first support 110 by the hinge 160. Here, a second panel 300, for example, a liquid crystal panel 300, is seated on the second support 130, and the second support 130 is rotated by the hinge 160. The support 110 may be coupled to face each other. In addition, an alignment pin 135 for aligning the second panel 300 protrudes along the side of the second panel 300 in the second support 130. Here, the plurality of alignment pins 135 may be positioned along the side of the second panel 300, and provided at the first support 110 when the first support 110 and the second support 130 are coupled to each other. Are arranged to correspond to the coupling holes 115. In addition, the alignment pin 135 and the coupling hole 115 may be formed at positions opposite to each other. For example, the alignment pin 135 may be formed in the first support 110, and the alignment pin 135 may be formed. Coupling hole 115 corresponding to) may be formed in the second support 130.

The second support part 130 may further include a vacuum suction plate 137 for adsorbing / fixing the second panel 300.

The crimping unit 150 is positioned below the first support unit 110. Here, the crimping unit 150 seats and fixes the first panel 200, and the pressing unit 151 for pressing the first panel 200 and the second panel 300 and the pressing unit 151 vertically. It may be configured to include a cylinder 153 for raising or lowering and a driving unit 155 for driving the cylinder 153. The crimping part 150 raises the first panel 200 when the first support part 110 and the second support part 130 are coupled to face each other, and raise the first panel 200 and the second panel 300. Press together and join each other.

The pressing unit 151 may have a plate shape and may be substantially the same as the size of the first panel 200. The pressing unit 151 is disposed in the inner open area of the first support unit 110. Preferably, in the initial state before the pressing step, the upper surface of the pressing unit 151 is disposed on the same plane as the upper surface of the surrounding first support unit 110.

Here, the first panel 200 is seated on the upper surface of the pressing unit 151, and further includes a vacuum suction plate 117 for fixing the first panel 200. The pressing unit 151 is vertically lifted by the cylinder 153 to compress the first panel 200 and the second panel 300 to be bonded to each other.

The cylinder 153 is connected to the pressing unit 151 and vertically raises or lowers the pressing unit 151 and the first panel 200 mounted thereon. In addition, the driving unit 155 is connected to the cylinder 153 serves to drive the cylinder 153.

The operation of the touch screen panel attachment device 100 having the above-described structure will be described below.

First, the first panel 120 is seated on an upper surface of the pressing unit 151 disposed in the inner open area of the first support unit 110. At this time, the first panel 200 is adsorbed / fixed by the vacuum suction plate 117 of the pressing unit 151.

The second panel 300 is seated on one surface of the second support part 130 connected by the first support part 110 and the hinge part 160. Here, the second panel 300 is aligned by the alignment pin 135, and is adsorbed / fixed by the vacuum adsorption plate 137 located on the upper surface of the second support 130.

Next, the first support part 110 and the second support part 130 are positioned to face each other by the rotation of the hinge part 160. At this time, the alignment pin 135 formed on the second support 130 is correspondingly coupled to the coupling hole 115 formed on the first support 110, where the first panel 200 and the second panel 300 are They are temporarily attached to each other in an aligned state.

When the first support part 110 and the second support part 130 are coupled such that they face each other, the pressing part 150 located below the first support part 110 may have a pressing part 151 on which the first panel 200 is seated. ) Is raised to compress the first panel 200 and the second panel 300.

Here, one surface of the first panel 200 or the second panel 300, that is, the surfaces that are attached to each other, may be provided with a predetermined adhesive, for example, a double-sided tape, and the like. The first panel 200 and the second panel 300 are bonded to each other.

In addition, the pressing unit 151 is raised vertically by the cylinder 153. At this time, since all surfaces of the first panel 200 are uniformly compressed to the second panel 300, defects such as cracking of the panel may be improved. Can be.

The pressing unit 150 raises the pressing unit 151 until the first panel 200 is completely pressed and attached to the second panel 300. In addition, when the attachment of the first panel 200 and the second panel 300 is completed, the cylinder 153 is lowered to return the pressure unit 151 to the original position, and the second unit is rotated by the hinge 160. By returning the support 130 to its original position, the following attachment process can be performed.

Although embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings, those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains may implement the present invention in other specific forms without changing the technical spirit or essential features thereof. I can understand that. Therefore, it should be understood that the embodiments described above are exemplary in all respects and not restrictive.

As described above, according to the touch screen panel attaching device and the touch screen attaching method according to the present invention, the touch screen panel is vertically lifted and pressed together with the liquid crystal panel to give the panel a uniform compressive force such that the panel is broken or the like. Occurrence can be reduced.

Claims (9)

A first support having an inner open area; A crimping portion on which a first panel is seated, positioned below the first support, for vertically moving the first panel through the inner opening area; And And a second panel on which a second panel is seated, one side of which is connected to one side of the first support, and which rotates to face the first support. According to claim 1, The said 1st panel and the said 2nd panel are a touch screen panel attachment apparatus which opposes contact by the rotation of the said 2nd support part. According to claim 1, The pressing unit may include a pressing unit for mounting the first panel; And a cylinder for vertically moving the pressing unit. The method of claim 3, wherein The cylinder is a touch screen panel attachment apparatus for pressing the first panel and the second panel by raising the pressing portion when the first panel and the second panel is in contact with each other. According to claim 1, The second support further includes an align pin adjacent to a side of the second panel, And the first support part further comprises a coupling hole coupled to the alignment pin when the first support part faces the second support part by the rotation of the second support part. According to claim 1, The first panel to be seated or the second panel to be seated is a touch screen panel attachment device having an adhesive on one surface. A touch screen panel attachment method using the touch screen panel attachment device according to any one of claims 1 to 6. Aligning the first panel and the second panel, respectively; Pivoting the second panel to bring the second panel into contact with the first panel; And And pressing the first panel and the second panel vertically to compress the first panel and the second panel. The method of claim 8, And a step of forming an adhesive layer on one surface of the first panel or the second panel before the rotating the second panel.

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