JP4388035B2 - Display panel rotary inspection apparatus and method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a display panel inspection apparatus and method according to the present invention, and more particularly, to a display panel rotation inspection apparatus and method that can continuously perform lighting inspection of a small display panel that requires aging.

  In general, a flat panel display such as a liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD) is rapidly increasing in size and resolution due to the establishment of mass production technology and the results of research and development. Furthermore, it has been developed not only for notebook computers but also as portable terminal application products, gradually replacing existing products such as single color and single function displays, and the specific gravity in the display industry is gradually increasing.

  For such a flat panel display device, a lighting inspection is performed at the final stage of the production line. As the lighting inspection, a single line inspection, a hue inspection, a visual inspection, and the like of each of a data line and a gate line of a flat panel display (hereinafter referred to as a display panel) are performed using a probe unit.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an inspection apparatus 200 for handling and inspecting a small display panel that requires aging. The inspection process in the inspection apparatus 200 will be briefly described as follows.

  First, the operator moves the first work table base 212 on which the twelve display panels 10 are placed from the second replacement position to the first first inspection position, and the first inspection table already in the first inspection position. 2. Move the worktable base 214 to the third exchange position. The worker lights up the display panel 10 at the first inspection position and performs aging. Then, while the display panel 10 is aged, the operator moves to the third replacement position, extracts the 12 display panels 10 that have been inspected, and places the new display panel on the work table base 214. To do. Thereafter, the operator moves again to the first inspection position and inspects the lighting state of the aged display panel 10.

  Such an existing inspection apparatus 200 has the following problems. First, since a time for aging is required after the display panel 10 is moved to the inspection position and turned on, it is difficult to perform continuous inspection, and the inspection efficiency cannot be increased. Secondly, there is an advantage that a large number of display panels 10 can be placed and inspected at a time, but there is a difference in the height of the inspection position and the inspection position is wide, so that the inspector can display the display panel 10. It is impossible to inspect from various angles (in particular, visual inspection of the uppermost three display panels and the lowermost three display panels is difficult). Thirdly, since the number of work tables increases in order to inspect a large number of display panels 10 at a time, it is difficult to efficiently utilize management man-hours and space. Fourth, in order to inspect a large number of display panels at a time, the backlight unit (not shown) and the work table bases 212 and 214 (plates that move to the left and right) inevitably become large. This increases the size of the apparatus. Fifth, during the aging after the display panel 10 is turned on, it is difficult to perform a continuous inspection by a method of supplying and extracting the display panel 10, and the inspection efficiency cannot be increased.

  It is an object of the present invention to provide a display panel rotary inspection apparatus and method that can efficiently perform display panel inspection.

  It is another object of the present invention to provide a display panel rotary inspection apparatus and method that can shorten the inspection time, continuously inspect the display panel, and reduce the size of the inspection apparatus.

  The present invention provides a rotary display panel inspection apparatus. The apparatus according to the present invention includes a base, a turntable that is rotatably installed on the top of the base, and an inspection unit that is installed on the top of the turntable and inspects the display panel.

  According to an embodiment, the inspection unit includes a base plate installed obliquely on the turntable, at least one backlight unit installed on the front surface of the base plate, disposed in front of the backlight, and used for inspecting the front surface. A probe unit having a work table on which a display panel is mounted and a probe block electrically connected to the display panel mounted on the work table may be included.

  According to an embodiment, when the display panel is replaced from the work table, the inspection unit moves the probe unit located in front of the display panel to the side of the display panel in order to prevent interference with the probe unit. A first moving member may be further included. The first moving member includes a moving plate that supports the probe unit and is installed on the rear surface of the base plate so as to be slidable in one direction, and a first driving unit that slides the moving plate in one direction.

According to an embodiment, the inspection unit may further include a second moving member that moves the probe unit up and down so that the probe of the probe unit is connected to or separated from the display panel. The second moving member is installed on the moving plate, and at one end thereof, a moving shaft connected to the probe unit, a connecting bar connected to the other end of the moving shaft, and installed on the moving plate, A second driving unit for raising and lowering the connection bar may be included.

  According to an exemplary embodiment, the turntable may be rotated by a certain angle, and the inspection unit may be installed at a certain angle around the rotation axis of the turntable.

  In order to achieve the above object, a rotary inspection apparatus for a display panel according to the present invention has a turntable having an inspection unit for inspecting the display panel, and the turntable has a display panel replacement operation. It is characterized in that it can be rotated so as to pivot between an exchange position to be performed and an inspection position at which a display panel inspection operation is performed.

  According to an exemplary embodiment, the camera may further include an aging position that is disposed between the replacement position and the inspection position and is aged while the display panel moves from the replacement position to the inspection position.

  The present invention also provides a display panel rotational verification method. According to the method of the present invention, a plurality of inspection units are provided in the periphery of the turntable, an inspection process is performed by rotating the turntable, and a plurality of inspection units are reached by rotating the turntable. In the inspection unit that has reached any one of the positions, the display panel is exchanged, and in the inspection unit that has reached one of the other positions, a display panel lighting inspection is performed.

  In the inspection unit that has reached another position, the display panel can be aged. A plurality of positions at which the display is aged can be provided.

  As described above, the display panel rotary inspection apparatus of the present invention enables a continuous inspection of the display panel, and has a special effect of improving the processing capability.

  The rotary inspection device for the display panel according to the present invention can maintain the inspection angle by downsizing the existing inspection device, and can reduce the fatigue level of the inspector and enable accurate lighting inspection. Has an effect.

  The rotary inspection apparatus for a display panel according to the present invention makes it possible to manage the quantity of input workers and to easily adjust the production amount in the process.

  For example, the embodiments of the present invention can be modified in various forms, and the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described below. This embodiment is provided to more fully explain the present invention to those who have average knowledge in the field to which the invention belongs. Accordingly, the shape of components in the drawings may be exaggerated in order to emphasize a clearer description.

  An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. Also, the same reference numerals are used for components that perform the same functions in the drawings.

  2 and 3 are a front view and a plan view of a rotary inspection apparatus for a display panel according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  The display panel rotary inspection apparatus 100 according to the present invention performs a single line and hue inspection of each of a data line and a gate line of a small inspection object (hereinafter, display panel 10) that requires aging using a probe unit. It is an apparatus for carrying out a visual inspection using it.

  The display panel rotary inspection apparatus 100 of the present invention is for enabling continuous inspection of the small display panel 10 and increasing the production amount. 2 and 3, the rotary inspection apparatus 100 according to the present invention has a structure in which an inspection unit 120 for inspecting the display panel 10 is rotated in a rotating manner.

The display panel rotary inspection apparatus 100 of the present invention includes, as main elements, a base 102, a turntable 110, and four inspection units 120 that rotate together with the turntable 110 .

  The turntable 110 is rotatably installed on the base 102. Four inspection units 120 are installed on the turntable 110 every 90 degrees. The turntable 110 on which the four inspection units 120 are installed is rotated at intervals of 90 degrees. That is, in the display panel rotary inspection apparatus 100 according to the present invention, aging proceeds from the first position (exchange position: a) where the four inspection units 120 installed on the turntable 110 are replaced. The second and third positions (aging positions: b, c) and the fourth position (inspection position: d) where the lighting test of the aged display panel is performed can be swung in stages. With the above structure, the display panel 10 can be continuously inspected. Here, the turntable 110 can be rotated by a normal rotation driving device (not shown) such as a motor installed in the base 102.

  On the other hand, the inspection unit 120 installed on the turntable 110 performs a lighting inspection on the four display panels 10. The inspection unit 120 irradiates light from a backlight unit (light source) 126 provided behind the display panel 10 loaded on the work table 124, and spots on the display panel 10 generated in the manufacturing process. Inspect the single line status and hue of data lines and gate lines.

  Referring to FIGS. 4 to 7, the inspection unit 120 has a base plate 122. The base plate 122 is installed so as to be detachable from the turntable 110 at an angle of about 60 degrees. On the front surface of the base plate 122, four work tables 124 that adsorb the display panel 10 so that the display panel 10 can be released are installed. On the base plate 122, a backlight unit 126 that is lit to irradiate from behind the display panel 10 placed on each work table 124 is installed behind the work table 124. A probe unit 128 having a probe block 129 that is electrically connected to the display panel 10 mounted on the work table 124 is disposed in front of the work table 124. Here, when inspecting a panel that can emit light depending on the type of the display panel 10, the backlight unit is not used.

  The number of inspection units 120 installed on the turntable 110 in the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. It is also possible to arrange eight inspection units 120 on the turntable 110 as shown in FIG. Furthermore, it is possible to arrange more or less inspection units. A turntable 110 having eight inspection units 120 as shown in FIG. 8 rotates at an interval of about 45 degrees.

  On the other hand, first and second moving members 130 and 136 for moving the probe unit 128 to the Y axis and the X axis are installed on the rear surface of the base plate 122. The probe unit 128 is moved in the Y-axis direction (shown in FIG. 6) by the first moving member 130. The first moving member 130 is for moving the probe unit 128 so that the probe unit 128 can be released from the front of the work table 124 so that the operator does not damage the probe unit 128 in the process of replacing the display panel 10 from the work table 124. is there.

  FIG. 9 shows the inspection unit 120 with the probe unit 128 moved to a position where the display panel 10 can be easily replaced. As shown in FIG. 9, the probe unit 128 is moved in the Y-axis direction from the dotted line position by the first moving member 130, and the replacement operation of the display panel 10 is performed in a state where the probe unit 128 is moved (indicated by a solid line). Progress.

  FIG. 10 shows the inspection unit 120 in a state where the probe unit 128 has been moved to a position where it is electrically connected to the display panel 10.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the probe unit 128 is moved up and down in the Z-axis direction by the second moving member 136 and is electrically connected to or released from the display panel 10 by this movement.

  More specifically, with respect to the first moving member 130 and the second moving member 136, the first moving member 130 has a moving plate 132. The moving plate 132 is installed on the rear surface of the base plate 122 so as to be slidable in the Y-axis direction. A guide rail 135 that guides the sliding movement of the moving plate 132 is installed on the rear surface of the base plate 122. The moving plate 132 is moved by two first cylinders 134 installed at the lower end of the rear surface of the base plate 122. The second moving member 136 has a moving shaft 138 connected to the probe unit 128 at a corner portion of the moving plate 132. The probe unit 128 is supported by these moving shafts 138, and the two moving shafts 138 located on the same line are connected by a connecting bar 140. The connecting bar 140 is moved in the Z direction by a second cylinder (drive unit) 142 installed on the moving plate 132. For example, in the present embodiment, the cylinder is illustrated and described as the drive unit for moving the moving plate 132 and the connecting bar 140. However, this is only an example, and a ball screw or a linear motor may be used depending on the required accuracy. It is possible to use various drive devices such as.

  The inspection process in the rotary inspection apparatus for the display panel configured as described above is performed according to the following procedure.

  First, at the first position a, the display panel 10 is extracted and loaded. The display panel 10 is aged at the second and third positions b and c, and the lighting test of the display panel 10 is performed at the fourth position d. That is, the display panel 10 is inserted to replace the four work tables 124 of the inspection unit 120 at the first position a. The display panel 10 inserted into the inspection unit 120 at the first position a is aged through the second position b and the third position c in the lit state, moves to the fourth position d, and then performs a lighting inspection there. Is done. The display panel 10 that has completed the lighting inspection at the fourth position d is moved again to the first position a and then extracted by the operator, and a new display panel 10 is inserted into the inspection unit 120 for inspection. The

  On the other hand, the extraction and loading process of the display panel 10 at the first position a is as follows. First, the probe unit 128 is moved upward in the Z direction by the second driving member 136 and separated from the display panel (see FIG. 9), and then moved in the Y direction by the first driving member 130 and released from the front of the display panel 10. Is done. In this state, the operator performs the operation of extracting and putting in the display panel 10 from the work table 124. When a new display panel 10 is placed on the work table 124, the probe unit 128 is moved to the opposite side and electrically connected to the display panel 10 to light the display panel 10.

  For example, the rotary inspection apparatus 100 for a display panel according to the present invention performs the extraction and insertion work of the display panel 10 at the first position a and the third position c, and performs the lighting inspection at the second position b and the fourth position d. Is possible. In such a case, it is very effective to be applicable to the inspection of the display panel 10 that does not require aging. As described above, when the lighting inspection is performed at the second and fourth positions b and d, the inspection processing amount can be doubled.

  Meanwhile, the present invention can be variously modified in the rotary inspection apparatus for the display panel formed with the above-described configuration, and various forms can be implemented. However, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments mentioned in the above detailed description, but rather the technical idea of the present invention defined by the claims and all modifications within the scope. It should be understood to include equivalents and alternatives.

1 is a view showing a conventional display panel inspection apparatus. 1 is a front view of a rotary inspection apparatus for a display panel according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a plan view of the rotary inspection apparatus for the display panel illustrated in FIG. 2. FIG. 3 is a front perspective view and a rear perspective view showing the inspection unit shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 3 is a front perspective view and a rear perspective view showing the inspection unit shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 3 is a side view and a front view showing the inspection unit shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 3 is a side view and a front view showing the inspection unit shown in FIG. 2. It is a top view which shows the rotary inspection apparatus of the display panel which has eight test | inspection units. It is drawing which shows the test | inspection unit of the state by which the probe unit was moved to the position where replacement | exchange of a display panel is easy. 5 is a view showing an inspection unit in a state where the probe unit is moved to a position where it is electrically connected to the display panel.

Explanation of symbols

102 Base 110 Turntable 120 Inspection unit

Claims (12)

In a rotary inspection device for display panels,
Base and
A turntable installed rotatably on the top of the base;
A plurality of inspection units installed on the turntable so as to be rotatable together with the turntable and inspecting a display panel;
A rotary inspection apparatus for a display panel, comprising: The inspection unit is
A base plate installed diagonally on the turntable;
At least one backlight unit installed in front of the base plate;
A work table disposed in front of the backlight unit and mounted with a display panel for inspection on the front surface;
A probe unit having a probe electrically connected to a display panel mounted on the work table;
The rotary inspection apparatus for a display panel according to claim 1, comprising: The inspection unit is
In order to prevent interference with the probe unit when replacing the display panel from the work table, the display unit further includes a first moving member that moves the probe unit positioned in front of the display panel to the side of the display panel. The rotary inspection apparatus for a display panel according to claim 2, wherein: The first moving member is
A movable plate that supports the probe unit and is slidably installed in one direction on the rear surface of the base plate;
A first drive unit that slides the moving plate in the one direction;
The rotary inspection apparatus for a display panel according to claim 3, comprising: The inspection unit is
The display panel rotary inspection apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a second moving member that moves the probe unit up and down so that the probe of the probe unit is connected to or separated from the display panel. The second moving member is
A moving shaft installed on the moving plate and having one end connected to the probe unit;
A connecting bar connected to the other end of the moving shaft;
A second driving unit installed on the moving plate and moving the connecting bar up and down;
The rotary inspection apparatus for a display panel according to claim 5, comprising:   The display panel rotary inspection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the turntable is rotated by a predetermined angle, and the inspection unit is installed at a predetermined angle around a rotation axis of the turntable. In a rotary inspection device for display panels,
A turntable having a plurality of inspection units for inspecting the display panel;
The turntable is rotated so that the inspection unit pivots between an exchange position where a display panel exchange operation is performed and an inspection position where the display panel inspection operation is performed. Inspection device.   The aging position according to claim 8, further comprising an aging position that is disposed between the exchange position and the inspection position and is aged while the display panel moves from the exchange position to the inspection position. Display panel rotary inspection device. Providing a plurality of inspection units at the periphery of the turntable, performing the inspection process by rotating the turntable,
The display panel is replaced in the inspection unit that has reached one of the plurality of positions reached by the rotation of the turntable, and the display is displayed in the inspection unit that has reached one other position. A rotating inspection method for a display panel, characterized in that a panel lighting inspection is performed. 11. The display panel rotating inspection method according to claim 10, further comprising aging the display panel in the inspection unit that has reached another one of the positions.   12. The display panel rotational inspection method according to claim 11, wherein there are a plurality of positions at which the display panel is aged.

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