JP3487569B2 - Display panel inspection socket - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display panel,
The present invention relates to a display panel inspection socket which can be suitably used for inspection of display quality of electroluminescence panels, plasma display panels and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, in a manufacturing process of a liquid crystal display panel or the like, a display quality and the like for detecting a display defect portion are inspected for a display panel before connecting peripheral circuits such as a driving IC tab. Therefore, in this type of inspection,
2. Description of the Related Art A display panel inspecting apparatus is used that includes a contact member that comes into contact with electrodes arranged on a substrate of a display panel. For example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-308034, as a contact member to be brought into contact with an electrode of a display panel, a needle-shaped or wire-shaped probe and a base film having flexibility and insulating property have been conventionally used. A contact film formed by forming a wiring pattern for contact on top is known, but with the high density and fine pitch of the electrode, reliability of contact with the electrode, ease of handling,
Contact films tend to be adopted from the viewpoint of manufacturing cost and the like.

Japanese Patent Application No. 7-64731 by the present applicant discloses a display panel inspection socket using a contact film. In this display panel inspection socket, the socket main body is provided with an elastic support member made of an elastic member such as rubber extending in the arrangement direction of the electrodes on the substrate of the display panel, and the back surface is supported by this elastic support member. Since the contact film is provided so that the position of the contact body can be adjusted with respect to the socket body, the electrode on the display panel board and the contact film can be adjusted by adjusting the position of the contact film after positioning the display panel substrate with respect to the socket body. The wiring pattern above can be aligned. After that, by pressing the back surface of the substrate of the display panel with the panel pressing member, the electrodes on the substrate of the display panel and the wiring pattern on the contact film can be brought into contact with each other with a required contact pressure.

[0004]

Since the elastic support described above has a flat film pressing surface extending along the arrangement direction of the electrodes of the display panel, the contact film whose back surface is supported by this elastic support is provided. Although it is possible to contact the wiring pattern of the display panel and the electrode of the display panel with a uniform pressing force, the elastic support adheres to the back surface of the contact film during alignment adjustment of the contact film, which may hinder the adjustment movement of the contact film. There is In particular, the elastic support with a smooth surface is easily adsorbed to the back surface of the contact film when pressure is applied to the back surface of the substrate of the display panel, and even if the display panel is removed after the inspection, it will not contact the contact film. Since it may be held in a sucked state, it may cause trouble when the next display panel is set in the socket and the position of the contact film is adjusted.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to easily and surely align the wiring pattern on the contact film, the back surface of which is supported by the elastic support, with the electrode on the substrate of the display panel, and It is an object of the present invention to provide a display panel inspection socket capable of contacting with a uniform contact pressure.

[0006]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention according to claim 1 is a display panel inspection socket for inspecting a display panel having a plurality of electrodes arrayed on a substrate. There is a socket body to which the display panel is attached, an elastic support body attached to the socket body and extending in the arrangement direction of the electrodes of the display panel, and a back surface supported by the elastic support body to the socket body. A contact film that is mounted so that its position can be adjusted and has a wiring pattern formed on its surface for contacting the electrodes of the display panel, and the wiring of the electrodes of the display panel and the contact film by pressing the back surface of the substrate of the display panel. A panel pressing member for contacting the pattern with a required contact pressure, wherein the elastic support member is formed by the panel pressing member. A pressing support portion having a flat film pressing surface that makes surface contact with the back surface of the contact film when the back surface of the substrate of the display panel is pressed, and the panel pressing member is arranged independently of the film pressing surface of the pressing support portion. When the display panel is not pressed, the back surface of the contact film is floated above the film pressing surface of the pressing supporting portion and is supported by a contact surface smaller than the film pressing surface of the pressing supporting portion. It is characterized by having.

In the display panel inspection socket having the above structure, when the back surface of the substrate of the display panel is pressed by the panel pressing member, the flat film pressing surface of the supporting portion at the time of pressing in the elastic support is brought into surface contact with the back surface of the contact film. Therefore, the electrodes on the substrate of the display panel and the wiring pattern of the contact film can be uniformly and surely brought into contact with each other at a required contact pressure. Also,
When the back surface of the substrate of the display panel is not pressed by the panel pressing member, the back surface of the contact film is floated above the film pressing surface of the pressing supporting portion by the non-pressing supporting portion of the elastic support, and the contact surface is smaller than the film pressing surface. Therefore, it is possible to secure the lubricity between the display panel and the elastic support when the panel pressing member does not press the back surface of the substrate of the display panel. Therefore, it is possible to easily and surely adjust the position of the contact film for aligning the wiring pattern of the contact film with the electrodes on the substrate of the display panel. Moreover, since the non-pressing supporting portion is arranged independently of the film pressing surface of the pressing supporting portion, the elastic supporting force of the pressing supporting portion when the back surface of the display panel is pressed by the panel pressing member is not It is possible to easily set the elastic supporting force of the supporting portion when not pressed to an appropriate value.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the display panel inspection socket according to the first aspect, a long groove extending along the arrangement direction of the electrodes on the substrate of the display panel is provided on the film pressing surface of the pressing supporting portion. And the non-pressing support portion is provided in the long groove integrally with the pressing support portion, and the non-pressing support portion supports the pressing time when the back surface of the substrate of the display panel is not pressed by the panel pressing member. And a top portion protruding from the film pressing surface of the portion and sunk into the long groove by elastic deformation of the non-pressing support portion itself when the back surface of the substrate of the display panel is pressed by the panel pressing member.

According to the above construction, the elastic support having the pressed portion and the non-pressed portion can be easily manufactured in the minimum steps, so that the display panel inspection socket can be provided at a low cost. it can.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the display panel inspection socket according to the first aspect, a long groove extending along the arrangement direction of the electrodes on the substrate of the display panel is provided on the film pressing surface of the pressing supporting portion. The non-pressing support portion is formed of an elastic member held in a long groove of the pressing support portion, and the non-pressing support portion supports the pressing time when the panel pressing member does not press the back surface of the substrate of the display panel. And a top portion protruding from the film pressing surface of the portion and sunk into the long groove by elastic deformation of the non-pressing support portion itself when the back surface of the substrate of the display panel is pressed by the panel pressing member.

According to the above structure, since the non-pressing supporting portion can be formed of an elastic member different from the pressing supporting portion, it is possible to select an elastic member having a better surface smoothness than the pressing supporting portion. Therefore, it becomes easier to secure the slipperiness between the display panel and the elastic support when the back surface of the substrate of the display panel is not pressed by the panel pressing member.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the display panel inspection socket according to the first aspect, a long groove extending along the arrangement direction of the electrodes on the substrate of the display panel is provided on the film pressing surface of the pressing supporting portion. Formed, the non-pressing supporting portion is held in a long groove of the pressing supporting part, and the non-pressing supporting part is a film of the pressing supporting part when the substrate back surface of the display panel is not pressed by the panel pressing member. It is characterized in that it has a top portion that protrudes from the pressing surface and is recessed in the long groove due to elastic deformation of the bottom portion of the long groove when the back surface of the substrate of the display panel is pressed by the panel pressing member.

According to the above structure, the non-pressing supporting portion can be formed of a member different from the pressing supporting portion.
It is possible to select a member that has better surface smoothness than the supporting part when pressed, and it is easier to secure the sliding property between the display panel and the elastic support when the panel back surface of the display panel is not pressed by the panel pressing member. become.

[0014]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

1 to 8 show a first embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a liquid crystal display panel inspection socket. FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view showing an example of a signal supply mode to electrodes on a substrate of a liquid crystal display panel, FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view showing a state where a socket is being assembled, and FIG. 3 is a partially cutaway perspective view of a main part of the socket. 4 and 5 are plan views of a main part showing a state in which a contact film on the source side is arranged on a film mounting plate incorporated in the socket body of FIG. 2, and FIG. 5 shows a panel pressing member and a shutter of the socket retracted. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 3, and FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view similar to FIG. 5 showing a state in which the shutter has advanced to the substrate of the display panel prior to the panel pressing member of the socket. ,
FIG. 7 shows a state in which the panel pressing member of the socket advances and presses the substrate of the display panel through the shutter.
Longitudinal sectional view similar to FIG. 8 (a) 3, 5, 6 and
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of essential parts showing the specific structure of the elastic support shown in FIG. 7 and the function when the elastic support is not pressed, and (b) the function of the elastic support when pressed.

First, referring to FIG. 1, a liquid crystal display panel 1 is formed by forming a rectangular liquid crystal display section 3 on a rectangular insulating substrate 2 made of, for example, glass, and along a side edge of the liquid crystal display section 3. On the insulating substrate 2, a plurality of electrodes 4 and 5 are arranged in parallel with each other. In the example of the illustrated liquid crystal display panel, the source-side electrodes 4 are arranged and formed on the insulating substrate 2 along one long side of the liquid crystal display unit 3, and the insulating substrate is formed along one short side of the liquid crystal display unit 3. 2, the gate-side electrodes 5 are arranged in an array, and the source-side electrodes are arranged on the insulating substrate along both long sides, or the gate-side electrodes are formed on the insulating substrate along both short sides. You may form an array. Further, the source side electrode 4 and the gate side electrode 5 of the illustrated liquid crystal display panel 1 are liquid crystal driving integrated circuits (not shown).
Common electrodes 6 are formed on the insulating substrate 2 outside the both ends of each block of the source side electrode 4.

Referring to FIGS. 2 to 5, a socket 10 for inspecting a liquid crystal display panel according to a first embodiment of the present invention is as follows.
The socket main body 11 is made of metal or plastic and has a substantially rectangular shape in plan view. Liquid crystal display panel 1 socket body 1
As a means for positioning with respect to the socket body 1
Reference numeral 1 denotes a reference engaging piece 11a that engages a corner portion of the insulating substrate 2 of the liquid crystal display panel 1, and a substrate pressing means 12 that presses the insulating substrate 2 of the liquid crystal display panel 1 toward the reference engaging piece 11a. It is provided. The substrate pressing means 12 has a movable engaging piece 12a that engages with a corner portion of the insulating substrate 2 and a spring (not shown) that biases the movable engaging piece 12a toward the reference engaging piece 11a.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 5, the electrodes 4,
Corresponding to the side portion of the insulating substrate 2 of the liquid crystal display panel 1 in which the numeral 5 is formed, a concave groove 11b extending parallel to the side portion of the insulating substrate 2 is formed on the upper surface of the socket body 11.
A film mounting plate 13 made of a material having substantially the same linear expansion coefficient as that of the insulating substrate 2, for example, the same material as that of the insulating substrate 2 is housed in each groove 11b so as to be slidably displaced in its longitudinal direction. A plurality of flexible contact films 14 are fixed to the upper surface of each film mounting plate 13 with, for example, an adhesive. The contact film 14 can be formed of various resins, but when the inspection socket is used for inspection such as aging of the liquid crystal display panel 1,
The contact film 14 is preferably formed of a resin such as polyimide which can withstand an environmental temperature of 80 to 100 ° C.

FIG. 4 shows a contact film 14 used for contact with the source side electrode 4. On the upper surface of the contact film 14, the wiring pattern 15 and the common electrode which are in contact with the source side electrode 4 of the liquid crystal display panel 1 are formed. A wiring pattern 16 is formed so as to be in contact with 6. These wiring patterns 15 and 16 are lead patterns 1 respectively.
It is connected to the wiring patterns 20 and 21 of the flexible printed wiring board 19 via 7 and 18. The wiring pattern 15 is formed so as to obliquely intersect the electrode 4 of the liquid crystal display panel 1, but this is only an example, and may be formed so as to be orthogonal to the electrode 4, for example. In addition,
Contact film 1 used for contact with the gate electrode 5
4 and the contact film 14 used for contacting the source-side electrode 4 differ only in the wiring pattern of the wiring pattern, and a mounting structure that can be aligned with the electrode 5 by adjusting the position of the film mounting plate 13 described below, and the lower surface of the tip end portion. Since the structure in which the (back) surface is pressed by the elastic support 24 made of an elastic body is the same, the source side contact film 14 will be described in detail below, and the detailed description of the gate side contact film 14 will be omitted. I decided to.

A mounting plate position adjusting means 22 for aligning one end of the film mounting plate 13 with one end of the insulating substrate 2 of the liquid crystal display panel 1 is provided at one end of each groove 11b. It is provided. The mounting plate position adjusting means 22 is a contact piece 2 that contacts one end of the film mounting plate 13.
2a and an adjusting screw 2 for adjusting the position of the contact piece
2b and. A coil spring 23 is provided at the other end of the groove 11b so as to contact the other end of the film mounting plate 13 and press the film mounting plate 13 against the contact piece 22a of the mounting plate position adjusting means 22. There is.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the lower surface (back surface) of the tip end portion of the contact film 14 opposite to the wiring patterns 15 and 16 is pressed against the fitting portion 11c formed in the socket body 11. An elastic support 24 for fitting is fitted. The elastic support 24 is used as the contact film 14.
It extends along the arrangement direction of the electrodes 4 so as to press a part of each electrode 4 on the insulating substrate 2 of the liquid crystal display panel 1 via. The elastic support 24 can be formed of various rubbers or rubber-like elastic bodies. However, when the inspection socket is used for inspection such as aging of the liquid crystal display panel 1, the elastic support 24 has an ambient temperature of 80 to 100 ° C. It is preferably formed of, for example, silicon rubber which can withstand the above.

Further, the socket 10 is the insulating substrate 2 of the liquid crystal display panel 1 mounted on the contact film 14.
Insulating substrate 2 of liquid crystal display panel 1 when moved to the upper surface of
And a panel pressing member 25 slidably provided on the socket body 11 so as to press the contact film 14 against the contact film 14, and the panel pressing member 25.
The flexible shutter 26 is interposed between the panel pressing member 25 and the insulating substrate 2 of the liquid crystal display panel 1 when the insulating substrate 2 of FIG. Further, a spring 27 (see FIG. 2) for urging the rear end of the shutter 26 forward is attached to the socket body 11, and the tip 26a of the shutter 26 is urged by the urging force of the spring 27 to move the liquid crystal display panel mounting area. From the retracted position where it opens (see FIGS. 3 and 5), the tip 26a can move to the covering position (see FIGS. 6 and 7) that covers the insulating substrate 2 of the liquid crystal display panel 1. A support plate 28 that covers the contact film 14 and extends along the side of the insulating substrate 2 of the liquid crystal display panel 1 is fixed to the socket body 11 with screws 29, and the shutter 26 supports the support plate 28. It is slidably supported on the top.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the panel pressing member 25 of this embodiment has a spring property which is attached to the socket body 11 so that the socket body 11 and the insulating substrate 2 of the liquid crystal display panel 1 are vertically sandwiched. A metal clamper 30 having a horizontal U-shaped cross section, and a plastic slide that is screwed to the lower surface of the upper piece 30a over substantially the entire length of the upper piece 30a and is in sliding contact with the upper surface of the shutter 26. And a moving piece 31. As the plastic material used for the sliding piece 31, for example, a material having high slidability such as polytetrafluoroethylene is preferable. The sliding piece 31 has a protruding portion 31 a that forms a tip pressing portion of the panel pressing member 25. Further, the sliding piece 31 is retracted from the pressing position (see FIG. 7) where the protrusion 31a presses the insulating substrate 2 of the liquid crystal display panel 1 to the open position (see FIG. 6) where the liquid crystal display panel mounting area is opened. An engagement portion 31b that engages with the engagement portion 26b of the shutter 26 when the shutter 26 is moved is provided.
When the panel pressing member 25 further moves backward from the open position, the shutter 26 is moved from the covered position to the retracted position (see FIG. 5) against the biasing force of the spring 27 by the engaging portion 31b.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the upper surface of the support plate 28 contacts the lower surface of the front end of the panel pressing member 25 when the panel pressing member 25 moves between the open position and the retracted position. A guide portion 28a that projects the panel pressing member 25 from the upper surface of the contact film 14 is provided. Further, a plurality of boss portions 28b through which the screws 29 are inserted are provided on the upper surface of the support plate 28 so as to project. The guide portion 28 degrees and the boss portion 28b of the support plate 28 are slidably engaged with the long holes 26c and 26d formed in the shutter 26. The shutter 26 can be moved forward to the covering position by contacting the rear end of the elongated hole 26d with the boss 28b of the support plate 28.

Further, the upper surface of the support plate 28 is shown in FIG.
As can be seen from FIG. 5, the tip 28c near the side of the insulating substrate 2 of the liquid crystal display panel 1 mounted on the contact film 14 is substantially the same as the upper surface of the side of the insulating substrate 2 of the liquid crystal display panel 1. The support plate 28 has a height, and the upper surface of the support plate 28 is closer to the tip 28 than the vicinity of the guide 28a.
It is declining gently as it goes to c.

Further, in this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, an upper protruding portion 30c is bent and formed at the tip of the lower piece portion 30b of the clamper 30, and the lower surface of the socket body 11 is formed. Is a recess 1 that elastically engages with the protrusion 30c of the clamper 30 when the panel pressing member 25 is in the pressing position (FIG. 7) and the retracted position (FIG. 5).
1d and 11e are formed. Therefore, the panel pressing member 25 can be stably locked at the pressing position and the retracted position, respectively. The slide operation of the clamper 30 is preferably performed using a jig (not shown).

Referring to FIG . 8 , the elastic support member 24 of this embodiment is the liquid crystal display panel 1 formed by the panel pressing member 25.
Contact film 14 when pressing the back surface of the insulating substrate 2 of
The pressing support 24c having a flat film pressing surface 24d in surface contact with the back surface of the liquid crystal display panel 1, and the non-pressing of the liquid crystal display panel 1 by the panel pressing member 25 which is arranged independently of the film pressing surface 24d of the pressing support 24c. It also has a non-pressing supporting portion 24e for supporting the back surface of the contact film 14 above the film pressing surface 24d of the pressing supporting portion 24c by a contact surface smaller than the film pressing surface 24d.

Further, in this embodiment , the liquid crystal display panel 1 is provided on the film pressing surface 24d of the supporting portion 24c during pressing.
Long grooves 24f extending along the arrangement direction of the electrodes 4 and 6 on the insulating substrate 2 are formed. And the supporting portion 2 when not pressed
4e is provided in the long groove 24f integrally with the pressing support portion 24c, and the top of the non-pressing support portion 24e is a pressing support portion when the insulating substrate 2 of the liquid crystal display panel 1 is not pressed by the panel pressing member 25. protrudes than 24c of the film pressing surface 24d (see FIG. 8 (a)), and a liquid crystal display panel 1
Has become the non-pressing at supporting portions 24e elastically deformed itself in pressing of the insulating substrate 2 to submerge into the long groove 24f (see Figure 8 (b)).

In the display panel inspection socket of the first embodiment having the above structure, when the back surface of the insulating substrate 2 of the liquid crystal display panel 1 is pressed by the panel pressing member 25, the pressing support portion 24c of the elastic support member 24 is formed. Since the flat film pressing surface 24d can be brought into surface contact with the back surface of the contact film 14, the electrodes 4 and 5 on the insulating substrate 2 of the liquid crystal display panel 1 and the wiring patterns 15 and 16 of the contact film 14 make a required contact. It is possible to make uniform and reliable contact with pressure. In addition, the panel pressing member 25
When the insulating substrate 2 of the liquid crystal display panel 1 is not pressed by,
The non-pressing supporting portion 24e of the elastic support 24 causes the back surface of the contact film 14 to float above the film pressing surface 24d of the pressing supporting portion 24c.
Since it can be supported with a contact surface smaller than 4d,
The liquid crystal display panel 1 and the elastic support 2 when the insulating substrate 2 of the liquid crystal display panel 1 is not pressed by the panel pressing member 25
It is possible to secure the slipperiness between 4 and 4. Therefore,
The position adjustment of the contact film 14 for aligning the wiring patterns 15 and 16 of the contact film 14 and the electrodes 4 and 6 of the liquid crystal display panel 1 can be performed easily and reliably. Moreover, since the non-pressing support portion 24e is arranged independently of the film pressing surface 24d of the pressing support portion 24c, the panel pressing member 25 supports the insulating substrate 2 of the liquid crystal display panel 1 during pressing. Part 24
The elastic supporting force of c and the supporting portion 24 when not pressed
The elastic supporting force of e can be easily set to an appropriate value.

Further, according to the above construction, the supporting portion 2 at the time of pressing is provided.
4c and an elastic support 24 having a supporting portion 24e when not pressed.
Since it can be easily manufactured in the minimum process, the display panel inspection socket can be provided at low cost.

9 (a) and 9 (b) show a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 (a) shows the function of the elastic support when not pressed, and FIG. 9 (b) shows when pressed. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a main part showing the function of each of the elastic supports. In the figure, the same components as those of the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals.

This firstTwoThe elastic support 24 of the embodiment is1
Similar to the embodiment, the liquid crystal display panel by the panel pressing member 25 is used.
Contact fill when the back surface of the insulating substrate 2 of the channel 1 is pressed.
A flat film pressing surface 24d that is in surface contact with the back surface of the film 14.
Of the pressing support portion 24c and the pressing support portion 24c
Panel is arranged independently from the film pressing surface 24d
When the liquid crystal display panel 1 is not pressed by the pressing member 25,
When pressing the back surface of the tact film 14, the film of the support portion 24c is pressed.
The film pressing surface 24 is floated above the rum pressing surface 24d.
Non-pressing support portion 24e supported by a contact surface smaller than d
Have and. Then, when pressing, the film of the supporting portion 24c is pressed.
The pressure surface 24d has electrodes on the insulating substrate 2 of the liquid crystal display panel 1.
A long groove 24f extending along the arrangement direction of
The non-pressing support portion 24e is different from the pressing support portion 24c.
The support portion 24c is formed on the body by an elastic member and
It is held in the long groove 24f. When pressed, the support part 24c
When made of recon rubber, etc.,TwoExample
When not pressed, the support portion 24e is a flexible thin plastic
It is formed of a hook piece or a metal piece. When not pressed, the support portion 24e
At the top, the panel pressing member 25 is used to shut off the liquid crystal display panel 1.
When the edge substrate 2 is not pressed, the film is pressed by the supporting portion 24c when pressing.
It projects beyond the pressure surface 24d (Fig.9(See (a)) and
Insulating substrate 2 of liquid crystal display panel 1 by panel pressing member 25
Deformation of the support part 24e itself when not pressed when pressing the back surface of the
Also, it is submerged in the long groove 24f due to the flexural deformation (Fig.9
(See (b)).

According to the above construction, the non-pressing supporting portion 24e
Can be formed of an elastic member different from that of the pressing support portion 24c, so that it is possible to select an elastic member having surface smoothness superior to that of the pressing support portion 24c.
5 makes it easier to secure the slipperiness between the liquid crystal display panel 1 and the elastic support 24 when the insulating substrate 2 of the liquid crystal display panel 1 is not pressed.

FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 (a), (b), is shown a third embodiment of the present invention, FIG 10 is a perspective view of part of the resilient support, FIG. 11 (a) non FIG. 4B is a sectional view of the main part showing the function of the elastic support member when pressed, and FIG. In these figures the first
The same components as those in the first and second embodiments are designated by the same reference numerals.

The elastic support member 24 of the third embodiment is the first
And, similarly to the second embodiment, a pressing support portion 24c having a flat film pressing surface 24d that makes surface contact with the back surface of the contact film 14 when the back surface of the insulating substrate 2 of the liquid crystal display panel 1 is pressed by the panel pressing member 25. Is provided independently of the film pressing surface 24d of the pressing supporting portion 24c and presses the back surface of the contact film 14 when the liquid crystal display panel 1 is not pressed by the panel pressing member 25.
and a non-pressing supporting portion 24e which floats above the film pressing surface 24d of c and is supported by a contact surface smaller than the film pressing surface 24d. The insulating substrate 2 of the liquid crystal display panel 1 is formed on the film pressing surface 24d of the pressing support 24c.
A long groove 24f extending along the arrangement direction of the upper electrodes is formed, and the non-pressing supporting portion 24e is the pressing supporting portion 24c.
And a long groove 24 of the supporting portion 24c when pressed.
held at f. When the pressing support portion 24c is formed of silicon rubber or the like, the non-pressing support portion 24e of the third embodiment is preferably formed of flexible plastic or metal. The bottom of the long groove 24f is provided with a plurality of ribs 24g that support the lower surface of the support portion 24e when not pressed. The rib 24g is formed integrally with the supporting portion 24c at the time of pressing, but relatively so that it is elastically deformed easily when the pressing force of the panel pressing member 25 is applied to the back surface of the insulating substrate 2 of the liquid crystal display panel 1. It is formed thin. Therefore, the top of the support portion 24e when not pressed is the panel pressing member 25.
When the insulating substrate 2 of the liquid crystal display panel 1 is not pressed, the insulating substrate 2 of the liquid crystal display panel 1 protrudes from the film pressing surface 24d of the pressing support portion 24c (see FIG. 11A ), and is pressed by the panel pressing member 25. submerged in pressing the rear by the elastic deformation of the bottom portion of the long groove 24f in the long groove 24f (see FIG. 11 (b)).

According to the above construction, the non-pressing supporting portion 24e
Since it is not necessary for the panel pressing member 25 to elastically deform itself when the back surface of the insulating substrate 2 of the liquid crystal display panel 1 is pressed, a member different from the pressing support portion 24c may be used, regardless of whether it is an elastic member or an inelastic member. Can be formed.
Therefore, it is possible to select a member having a surface smoothness superior to that of the supporting portion 24c when pressed, and the liquid crystal display panel 1 and the elastic support 24 when the insulating substrate 2 of the liquid crystal display panel 1 is not pressed by the panel pressing member 25. It becomes easier to secure lubricity between the two.

Although the embodiments shown in the drawings have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and the form, the number, etc. of each constituent element are within the scope of the invention described in the claims. Can be modified in various ways. For example, the panel pressing member may be pivotally attached to the socket body 11 so as to be openable and closable. Further, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 7-64731, the shutter 26 is separated from the upper surface of the insulating substrate 2 of the liquid crystal display panel 1 by an upward warp and moves to the outside of the liquid crystal display panel mounting area. It may be one. Further, in the illustrated embodiment, the liquid crystal display panel 1 is described as being mounted on the upper surface of the contact film 14 from above, but the wiring pattern of the contact film 14 is directed downward and the insulating substrate 2 of the liquid crystal display panel 1 is socketed. You may arrange | position so that the contact film 14 may be contacted from the bottom of the main body 11.

Further, the present invention is, in addition to the liquid crystal display panel,
The same can be applied to inspection sockets such as electroluminescence panels and plasma display panels.

[0039]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, it is possible to easily align the wiring pattern on the contact film whose back surface is supported by the elastic support with the electrode on the substrate of the display panel. It is possible to provide a display panel inspection socket that can be surely performed and can be brought into contact with each other with a uniform contact pressure.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view showing an example of a signal supply form to electrodes on a substrate of a liquid crystal display panel.

FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of the socket in the middle of assembly showing the first embodiment when the present invention is applied to the display panel inspection socket used for the inspection of the liquid crystal display panel of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a partially cutaway perspective view of a main part of the socket shown in FIG.

4 is a plan view of relevant parts showing a state in which a contact film on the source side is arranged on a film mounting plate of the socket shown in FIG.

5 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 3 showing a state where the panel pressing member and the shutter of the socket shown in FIG. 2 are retracted.

6 is a vertical cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 5, showing a state in which the shutter has advanced to the substrate of the display panel prior to the panel pressing member of the socket shown in FIG. 2;

7 is a vertical cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 5, showing a state where the panel pressing member of the socket shown in FIG. 2 advances and presses the substrate of the display panel through the shutter.

FIG. 8 (a) is the elasticity shown in FIGS. 3, 5, 6 and 7.
FIG. 3B is a longitudinal sectional view of an essential part showing the specific structure of the support and the function when not pressed, and FIG.

FIG. 9A is a longitudinal sectional view of an essential part showing the function of the elastic support member used in the socket of the second embodiment of the present invention when it is not pressed, and the function of the elastic support member when it is pressed.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a part of the elastic support body used in the socket of the third embodiment of the present invention.

11 (a) is a sectional view of a principal part showing the function of the elastic support shown in FIG. 10 when not pressed, and (b) the function when pressed.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Liquid crystal display panel (display panel) 2 Insulating board (board) 4, 5, 6 Electrode 10 Display panel inspection socket 11 Socket body 11a Reference engaging piece (panel positioning means) 11c Fitting part 12 Board pressing means (panel positioning) 13) Film mounting plate 14 Contact films 15, 16 Wiring pattern 24 Elastic support 24c Supporting portion 24d when pressed Film pressing surface 24e Supporting portion when not pressed 24f Long groove 24g Rib 25 Panel pressing member 26 Shutter 28 Support plate 30 Clamper

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Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A display panel inspection socket for inspecting a display panel having a plurality of electrodes arrayed and formed on a substrate, the socket main body having the display panel mounted thereon, and the socket main body mounted on the socket main body. And an elastic support member extending in the arrangement direction of the electrodes of the display panel, and wiring for supporting the back surface of the elastic support member to adjust the position of the socket body and for contacting the surface with the electrodes of the display panel. The elastic support includes: a contact film having a pattern formed thereon; and a panel pressing member that presses the back surface of the substrate of the display panel to bring the electrodes of the display panel into contact with the wiring pattern of the contact film at a required contact pressure. The body presses against the back surface of the contact film when the back surface of the substrate of the display panel is pressed by the panel pressing member. The pressing supporting part having a flat film pressing surface to be in contact with is arranged independently from the film pressing surface of the pressing supporting part, and the back surface of the contact film is pressed when the display panel is not pressed by the panel pressing member. A display panel inspection socket, comprising: a non-pressing supporting portion that is floated above the film pressing surface of the pressing supporting portion and is supported by a contact surface smaller than the film pressing surface of the pressing supporting portion. 2. A long groove extending along the arrangement direction of the electrodes on the substrate of the display panel is formed on the film pressing surface of the pressing support part, and the non-pressing support part is integrated with the pressing support part. The non-pressing support portion, which is provided in the long groove, protrudes from the film pressing surface of the pressing support part when the non-pressing of the back surface of the display panel substrate by the panel pressing member and the back surface of the display panel substrate by the panel pressing member. claim 1 display panel test socket wherein the having a top submerged in said longitudinal groove by pressing the elastic deformation of the non-pressing at the supporting portion itself at the time of. 3. A long groove extending along the arrangement direction of the electrodes on the substrate of the display panel is formed on the film pressing surface of the pressing support part, and the non-pressing support part is a long groove of the pressing support part. The non-pressing support portion is made up of a held elastic member, and the non-pressing support portion projects from the film pressing surface of the pressing support portion when the panel back surface of the display panel substrate is not pressed, and the panel pressing member back surface of the display panel substrate. claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a top submerged in said longitudinal groove when pressed by the elastic deformation of the non-pressing at the supporting portion itself
Display panel inspection socket described. 4. A long groove extending along the arrangement direction of the electrodes on the substrate of the display panel is formed on the film pressing surface of the pressing support part, and the non-pressing support part is a long groove of the pressing support part. The non-pressing support portion is retained and protrudes from the film pressing surface of the pressing support part when the panel back surface of the display panel substrate is not pressed by the panel pressing member, and the panel pressing member presses the display panel back surface of the display panel. claim 1 display panel test socket wherein the having a top submerged in said longitudinal groove by elastic deformation of the bottom of the longitudinal groove.