TW201945718A - Jig for inspecting flexible display panel and inspection device using same - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a jig for testing a flexible display panel capable of testing a curved or flexible display device and a test device using the same. According to the present invention, the jig comprises: a plate-shaped first stage in which a display panel is mounted on a first surface of a first region; and a second stage separated from the display panel by being in contact with the first surface at a predetermined first distance or separated with the display panel by being spaced apart from the first surface and fastened to an engagement unit of a drive unit in a second region around the first region.

Description

   Flexible display panel inspection jig and inspection device using the same   

The present invention relates to a flexible display panel inspection jig and an inspection device using the same, and particularly to a flexible display panel inspection jig capable of inspecting a curved surface or an inspection of a flexible display device and an inspection device using the same.

As described above, the display panel is formed of a plurality of pixels and sub-pixels forming the plurality of pixels. Generally, the size of a sub-pixel is tens of micrometers, and in order to manufacture a sub-pixel, steps similar to those of manufacturing a semiconductor are required.

Therefore, in order to confirm the normal operation of the display panel, it is necessary to confirm whether the state of each sub-pixel is normal. Therefore, various inspections need to be performed. As an example, an inspection is performed in which an image of a display panel composed of only pixels is taken to find a defective sub-pixel, or a detection data signal is input to detect a defective pixel.

Recently, with the release of flexible display devices and curved display devices, changes in inspection methods and inspection devices are required. Specifically, the flexible display device or the curved display device forms a curved portion and a curved portion. Therefore, unlike conventional flat display devices, defects also occur in terms of form.

However, it is difficult to perform such a partial inspection by a conventional inspection device, which makes it difficult to accurately detect a defect and causes a problem of misjudgment. Furthermore, the appearance of a curved surface portion or a display panel having flexible characteristics cannot be inspected by a conventional inspection device, and development of an inspection method capable of detecting an appearance defect is required.

    [Prior technical literature]         [Patent Literature]    

Korean Patent No. 10-1680875 (grant date November 23, 2016).

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a flexible display panel inspection jig capable of inspecting a curved surface or a flexible display device, and an inspection device using the same.

Furthermore, it is another object of the present invention to provide a flexible display panel inspection jig for preventing a false recognition based on a foreign substance and damage to a panel from occurring due to a fixed display panel by adsorption, and a flexible display panel inspection fixture using the same. Check the device.

Furthermore, another object of the present invention is to provide a flexible display panel inspection jig such as a flexible display panel forming a curved surface portion or a display panel whose appearance can be changed, and an inspection device using the same.

In order to achieve the above object, the flexible display panel inspection jig of the present invention is characterized by comprising: a plate-shaped first table, on which a display panel is placed on a first side of a first region; One side is close to a predetermined first distance to contact the display panel, or is separated from the first surface to be separated from the display panel. In a second region around the first region, a coupling portion with the driving portion Combine.

In addition, the inspection device of the present invention is characterized by comprising: a jig including a plate-shaped first table and a second table, wherein the first table places a display panel on a first surface of a first area, and the second work The stage is close to the first surface by a predetermined first distance to contact the display panel, or is separated from the first surface to be separated from the display panel; and the driving unit is combined with the second table for Bringing the second workbench close to or away from the first workbench; a camera that captures a first side of the jig or a second side of the first workbench side by side with the first side to generate a detection image; and a control unit, The driving unit is controlled to move the second stage, and image processing is performed on the detection image to output.

The flexible display panel inspection jig and the inspection device using the same have the effect that inspection of a curved or flexible display device can be performed.

In addition, the flexible display panel inspection jig of the present invention and an inspection device using the same have the effect that the display device can be fixed by adsorption, thereby preventing erroneous recognition due to a foreign substance and damage to the board, and can perform Check accurately.

5, 5a, 5b‧‧‧ display board

6‧‧‧ curved surface

10‧‧‧Control Department

20‧‧‧ camera

20a‧‧‧first camera

20b‧‧‧Second camera

30‧‧‧Driver

31‧‧‧Connection Department

32‧‧‧ junction

33‧‧‧Power Department

40, 140‧‧‧ fixture

41, 141‧‧‧Second Workbench

43, 143‧‧‧The first workbench

145‧‧‧ septa

dH‧‧‧ deformable range

R1‧‧‧First Zone

R2‧‧‧Second Zone

FIG. 1 is an illustration showing an inspection apparatus for a flexible display panel according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exemplary diagram for fixing a display panel based on a jig for explaining a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of inspection failure when a conventional vacuum suction method is used.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of defective detection when the inspection jig of the present invention is used.

FIG. 5 is an illustration showing an inspection apparatus for a flexible display panel according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an illustration for explaining pressurization of a display panel based on a jig according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings, so that those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains can easily implement the present invention. In the drawings, the same component symbols are assigned as much as possible when the component symbols displayed in the structures are marked with the same structure in different drawings. Furthermore, in the course of explaining the present invention, if it is determined that the specific description of the related known function or known structure makes the subject matter of the present invention unclear, a detailed description thereof will be omitted. Moreover, descriptions of any features disclosed in the figures are enlarged or reduced or simplified for simplicity of illustration, and the drawings and their structural elements are not shown at appropriate ratios. However, anyone with ordinary knowledge in the technical field to which the present invention pertains can easily understand such detailed matters.

Fig. 1 is an illustration showing an inspection apparatus for a flexible display panel according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the inspection device for a flexible display panel of the present invention may include: a clamp 40 having a table for fixing the display panel; a driving part 30 for combining with the table for fixing the display panel; and a camera 20 for photographing and fixing on A display panel of a jig to generate a detection image; and a control unit 10.

The control unit 10 controls the inspection device to perform inspection of the display panel 5. To this end, the control section 10 controls the operations of the camera 20 and the driving section 30. When the display panel 5 to be inspected is prepared, the control unit 10 operates the driving unit 30 to open the jig 40, and when the display panel 5 is placed in the jig, the driving unit 30 operates to bring the jig 40 into contact with the display panel 5. And fixed. Then, the control unit 10 captures the display panel 5 fixed by the camera 20 to acquire a detection image of the display panel. If it is ensured that the image is detected, the control unit 10 processes the image according to a preset procedure and transmits or detects a defective portion to an additional output device.

The camera 20 captures the display panel 5 fixed to the jig 40 under the control of the control unit 10, generates a detection image, and transmits the generated detection image to the control unit 10. To this end, the camera 20 is disposed in a direction perpendicular to the first or second surface in such a manner that the first or second surface of the photographing jig 40 (where the vertical direction is the surface of the camera lens facing the first surface, vertical or (Including the specified range with vertical reference). Among them, the first surface or the second surface is a broad surface of the plate-shaped second table 41 and the first table 43. Hereinafter, the surface on which the display panel 5 is placed in the first stage 43 is referred to as a first surface, and the opposite surface side by side is referred to as a second surface. This camera 20 is fixed and arranged in a direction perpendicular to the first surface or the second surface, and one camera can reciprocate between the first surface and the second surface. Alternatively, the camera 20 is composed of a first camera 20a and a second camera 20b, and the first and second surfaces are photographed separately, but is not limited thereto.

The driving unit 30 separates or combines the second table 41 under the control of the control unit 10, and at the same time, when moving, moves the second table 41 to the first table 43 side in contact with the display panel 5. To this end, the driving portion 30 may include: a coupling portion 32 that is combined with an edge of the second table 41; a power portion 33 that generates power for applying pressure; and a connection portion 31 that connects the power portion 33 and the coupling portion 32. The coupling portion 32 is used for coupling the frames by bolts. The bonding unit of the adhesive is bonded to the second region of the second table 41.

The jig 40 is in contact with the display panel 5 for inspection and is fixed. To this end, the jig 40 includes a first table 43 and a second table 41.

The first stage 43 has a first surface placed on the display panel 5 and has a plate shape. Among them, for convenience of description, the first workbench 43 is divided into a first area where the display panel 5 is placed on the first surface and a second area provided around the first area. The first area and the second area are not physically distinguished areas, but areas where the display panel is placed and areas around the placed area.

The second table 41 is combined with the driving section 30, and is separated from the first table 43 according to the operation of the driving section 30 and approaches the first table 43 at a predetermined first interval. As a result, the second stage 41 is in contact with or exerts pressure on the display panel 5 based on the first area. To this end, the second table 41 combines the coupling portion 32 of the driving portion 30 with the second region. When the second table 41 is in contact with the display panel 5 by the driving section 30, the second table 41 moves to a position at a first distance which is a preset interval or a length smaller than the first distance. The first distance is the distance between the highest point and the lowest point of the display panel 5. When the second table 41 is in contact with the display panel 5, the surface of the first table 43 and the second table 41 facing each other It is the same as the first distance, and a shorter distance can be maintained compared to the first distance. Hereinafter, it will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 2.

FIG. 2 is an exemplary diagram for fixing a display panel based on a jig for explaining a first embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, the clamp 40 fixes the display panel 5 (5 a, 5 b) to a photographable flat state without a vacuum suction process.

As shown in FIG. 2 (a), in the figure, the display panel 5 a is in a state of being bent left and right, and may be a flexible substrate having a limited curvature radius. Such a flexible substrate has flexible characteristics within a range that does not exceed the bounded curvature radius or deformation range.

As described above, the jig 40 used for the inspection of such a display panel 5 a includes the first table 43 and the second table 41. The first table 43 and the second table 41 are in contact with the display panel 5a or fixed under pressure in a state where they can be inspected, and function as inspection windows so that imaging by the camera 20 can be performed.

As shown in (a), a display panel 5a for inspection is placed on the first table 43. The display panel 5a is placed in the first region R1. As shown in the figure, such a display panel 5a forms a curved surface portion 6, and the surface of the display panel 5a is curved by its own elastic force.

In this state, if the shooting for inspection is performed, an accurate detection image will not be generated. Therefore, as shown in (b), the second table 41 is brought into contact with the display panel 5 in the direction of the first table 43 to make the plane of the display panel 5 flat.

At this time, the display panel 5a is deformable by its own flexible deformation range dH according to the interval between the second table 41 and the first table 43. As a result, as shown in (b), the portion to which the pressure is applied in the display panel 5b is planarized by the second stage 41, and the curvature of the curved surface portion 6 is reduced. Thereby, the display panel 5 in which the camera 20 is uniformized can be captured. FIG. 2 shows an example of applying pressure to the maximum deformation range of the display panel 5, but it is not limited to this. For example, in the case where the second table 41 is in contact with the display panel 5 (b), no pressure is required. .

For this reason, the faces facing the first table 43 and the second table 41 are maintained at a predetermined distance. That is, in order to perform the inspection, when the second table 41 is in contact with the display panel 5, the distance between the second table 41 and the first table 43 needs to be determined by considering whether the inspection can be performed and the degree of deformation of the display panel 5. . The first distance is the height between the lowest point of the part where the display panel 5 is in contact with the floor and the highest position farthest from the floor when the display panel is placed on a flat floor. In addition, as the first distance, the height at which the boundary between the lowest point and the highest point can be reduced by applying pressure is taken as the minimum height. That is, as shown in (b) of FIG. 2, when a pressure is applied, the height between the highest point and the lowest point is the lowest height of the first distance.

Meanwhile, the first distance varies according to the type of the display panel 5 as an inspection target, and the control unit adjusts the first distance between the second table 41 and the first table 43 based on the information of the display panel 5 input in advance.

On the other hand, the second table 41 functions as a pressure body and an inspection window for imaging. For this reason, the second table 41 may be formed of a transparent material, crystal, glass, a synthetic resin such as acrylic, or a gas equivalent.

The first table 43 functions as a bracket and is formed of metal or synthetic resin. However, as described with reference to FIG. 1, the first table 43 can also function as an inspection window, and when used as an inspection window, it can be formed of a material similar to that of the second table 41.

Among them, when the first stage 43 does not function as an inspection window, it is formed of a black body or a dark material so as to minimize reflection of light. In addition, the side surfaces (the surface connecting the first surface and the second surface) of the first worktable 43 and the second worktable 41 are inside the worktable. In order to reduce the light reflected by the side surfaces, a light absorption can be provided outside the side surfaces. Light absorption layer of dark color. As a result, light is scattered inside the table to prevent the influence of unnecessary light from being detected in the image.

3 and 4 are diagrams for explaining the difference between when the inspection jig is used and when not in use, and FIG. 3 is an illustration for explaining inspection failure when a conventional vacuum suction method is used. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of defective detection when the inspection jig of the present invention is used.

Referring to FIG. 3, conventionally, when inspecting a non-flexible substrate, a method for fixing is directly applied to a flexible display device for inspection.

As a representative, a vacuum duct for suction is formed in an inspection jig, and a display panel is adsorbed and fixed in the jig.

However, this vacuum suction method causes various problems when it is applied to a case different from the conventional flexible substrate. As a representative, the foreign substances existing in the fixture affect the display panel.

That is, as shown in FIG. 3, when a display panel and a jig are attracted, foreign substances existing in the jig change the surface morphology of the display panel. As in the past, when the display panel is composed of a rigid substrate such as glass, the effect due to such impurities is negligible.

However, in the case of vacuum suctioning a flexible substrate manufactured from a flexible substrate, the shape of the foreign substance not only changes the shape of the display panel, but even causes damage.

Therefore, when the flexible substrate is fixed by vacuum suction, such as the cleaning process of an additional jig, the inspection process becomes complicated.

Therefore, the present invention provides a method for inspecting a display panel by applying pressure to a display panel using a table as a pressurizing body.

Referring to FIG. 4, (a) is a detection image when pressure is applied by the table, and (b) is a detection image when no pressure is applied.

First, observe (b), and generate an image when a test image is generated in a non-pressurized state of the display panel.

As shown in (b), it is possible to prevent the bad influence of the foreign substances existing in the jig without performing vacuum adsorption. However, poor detection also becomes difficult.

Specifically, as shown in (a), in addition to the defective pixels of the display panel of (b), such as the display panel being chiseled, even the display panel where a large number of panel damage occurs, in (b), this damage is completely Did not happen.

However, in (b), only a portion of the pixel is defective (the displayed portion) is confirmed. This occurs because the surface of the display panel cannot form a flat surface. In (b), the left side of the image is dark black, while the right side is black. This is because the surface of the display panel maintains a curved shape so that accurate shooting cannot be performed.

On the contrary, in the case of (a), in addition to the defect (displayed portion), a plurality of gouging phenomena occur on the surface of the display panel. This is a detection image when the jig of the present invention is used. In the detection image of (a), the black portion can be evenly distributed on the front surface of the display panel. In the image of (a), the part where the gouging occurred is shown, and the center of the part where the gouging occurs is a shadow. Moreover, in the image of (a), as shown in FIG. 3, the display panel change based on a foreign substance has not yet occurred.

That is, the inspection jig of the present invention applies pressure to the display panel within a range where no damage to the panel occurs. Thereby, the surface of the display panel maintains a flat surface in an inspectable state, and an accurate detection image can be captured.

5 and 6 are diagrams for explaining a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is an illustration showing an inspection apparatus for a flexible display panel according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is an illustration for explaining pressurization of a display panel based on a jig according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

In the description of the second embodiment of the present invention, the description of the same structure as the above embodiment will be omitted, and the differences will be mainly described. The same components as those of the first embodiment are assigned the same reference numerals for explanation.

5 and FIG. 6, the inspection device for a flexible display panel according to the second embodiment of the present invention may include: a fixture 140 having a table and a driving unit 30 combined with the table for fixing the display panel; Generating a detection image on a display panel of the jig; and the control unit 10.

The jig 140 is in contact with the display panel 5 for inspection and is fixed. To this end, the jig 140 includes a first worktable 143, a second worktable 141, and a spacer 145.

A spacer 145 is provided in a second area of the first stage 143.

The second table 141 is in contact with or separated from one end of the spacer 145 by the driving portion 30. Thus, the second table 141 is in contact with the spacer 145, maintains a predetermined interval with the first table 143, and is in contact with the display panel 5 placed in the first area or applies pressure to fix the display panel. 5.

The spacer 145 is provided on the first surface of the first table 143, that is, the second area of the surface on which the display panel 5 is placed. When the second worktable 141 is close to the first worktable 143 to fix the display panel 5, the spacer 145 is provided on the first worktable 143 to maintain the distance between the worktables at a predetermined first distance. Such a separator 145 can be manufactured using a synthetic resin, a natural resin, a metal, a wood, a mixture of these, or two or more kinds. In order to prevent the reflection and scattering of the illumination, the spacer 145 is made of a black body with little reflection of light or coated with black paint when shooting.

As described above, the jig 140 for inspecting the display panel 5a includes the first table 143, the second table 141, and the spacer 145. The first table 143 and the second table 141 apply pressure and fix the display panel 5a in a state capable of inspecting the display panel 5a, and function as an inspection window so as to enable imaging by the camera 20.

As shown in (b), the second table 141 is used to apply pressure to the display panel 5 in the direction of the first table 143. At this time, the display panel 5a is deformed into a deformable range dH by its own flexibility and pressure is applied. Therefore, as shown in (b), in the display panel 5b, the portion to which the pressure is applied is planarized by the second table 141, and the curvature of the curved surface portion 6 is also reduced. Thereby, the display panel 5 in which the camera 20 is uniformized can be captured.

Therefore, as described above, the spacer 145 is provided on the first stage 143. The spacer 145 prevents the second table 141 from applying excessive pressure to damage the display panel 5. For this reason, the spacers 145 have different heights according to the products to be inspected, and are replaced together when the inspection objects are replaced.

As shown in the figure, such a spacer 145 and the curved surface portion 6 are arranged side by side in the second region R2 of the first table 143. When the display panel 5 is formed with the curved surface portion 6, as shown in the figure, the curved surface portion 6 is formed on the edges of both sides of the display panel 5 which are symmetrical.

When pressure is applied to the display panel 5 having such a curved surface portion 6, a load due to deformation is concentrated on the curved surface portion 6 and the display panel 5 adjacent to the curved surface portion 6, and damage may occur. Therefore, the spacer 145 is disposed adjacent to the curved portion 6 to prevent the curved portion 6 from being deformed excessively by a load. To this end, the spacer 145 may be formed at the edge of the first region R1, and particularly, the second region R2 at a position corresponding to the curved surface portion.

In the above, in order to illustrate the technical idea of the present invention, specific examples are used for illustration and description. The present invention is not limited to the above specific embodiments and the same structure and function, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the above-mentioned modifications also belong to the scope of the present invention, and the scope of the present invention is defined by the scope of patent application described later.

Claims (10)

    A flexible display board inspection device includes: a clamp, including a plate-shaped first workbench and a second workbench, wherein the first workbench places a display board on a first side of a first area, and the second workbench and the first workbench One side is close to a predetermined first distance to contact the display panel, or is separated from the first surface to be separated from the display panel; the driving part is combined with the second table to make the second The workbench is close to or away from the first workbench; a camera captures a first side of the jig or a second side of the first workbench side by side with the first side to generate a detection image; and a control unit for driving the drive The unit controls to move the second stage, and performs image processing on the detection image to output.         The flexible display panel inspection device according to claim 1, wherein the first distance and the height between the highest point and the lowest point of the display panel are the same or smaller.         The flexible display panel inspection device according to claim 1, wherein one or more of the first workbench and the second workbench are transparent bodies.         The flexible display panel inspection device according to claim 2, wherein the jig further includes a spacer attached to a second region of the edge of the first table and protruding on the first surface.         The flexible display panel inspection device according to claim 4, wherein the spacer is provided at a corner of the first table side by side with an edge of a curved surface on which the display panel is formed.         A fixture for inspecting a flexible display panel includes: a plate-shaped first workbench on which a display board is placed on a first side of a first area thereof; and a second workbench which is closer to the first surface in a predetermined first distance to The second display panel is in contact with the display panel or separated from the first surface to be separated from the display panel, and is coupled to a coupling part of the driving part in a second region around the first region.         The jig for inspecting a flexible display panel according to claim 6, wherein the first distance and the height between the highest point and the lowest point of the display panel are the same or smaller.         The flexible display panel inspection jig according to claim 6, wherein one or more of the first table and the second table are transparent bodies.         The jig for inspecting a flexible display panel according to claim 7, wherein the jig further includes a spacer attached to a second region of the edge of the first table and protruding on the first surface.         The jig for inspecting a flexible display panel according to claim 9, wherein the spacer is provided at a corner of the first table parallel to an edge of a curved surface on which the display panel is formed.