Test apparatus having auto probe that contacts a display device and test method using the same
AssigneeLG.Display Co., Ltd.
InventorsHan Rok Chung, Byun Sung Nam
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A test apparatus having an auto probe and a test method using the same reduces difficulties in defect detection which are caused by a manual test by operators. The test apparatus includes an auto probe unit that contacts a panel of a display device. A test pattern is input to the panel. A vision unit installed above the panel collects a pattern displayed on the panel. A computer system analyzes and determines information about the collected pattern. Whereas the panel was previously tilted from a horizontal position and then examined by the operator manually, in the present test method a movable camera installed at an auto probe apparatus permits testing while the panel is in the horizontal position.
Claims11
A test apparatus having an auto probe, comprising:
- an auto probe unit having a plurality of gate needles and data needles configured to facilitate electrical communication with a plurality of corresponding contacts on a panel of a display device;
- the auto probe unit configured to input a test pattern to the panel performed by arbitrarily supply voltage to the gate needles and the data needles, wherein the auto probe unit performs a test for determining whether or not the panel has a defect in appearance or an electric defect before a module process of connecting a driving circuit for driving the panel;
- a supporting member provided with the auto probe unit thereon;
- a vision unit installed above the panel configured to collect data corresponding to a pattern of the visible light displayed on the display device,
- wherein the vision unit comprises a vision apparatus that scans the panel in a horizontal direction and collects the pattern displayed on the panel during the test,
- wherein the vision apparatus operates within a plurality of predetermined angular ranges including 0 to 70 degrees, 80 to 100 degrees, and 110 to 160 degrees during the test to provide complement defect detection varying according to the viewing angle of the panel and
- wherein the panel is loaded onto the supporting member in a conveyor logistics system and the test is performed in a horizontal direction using the vision apparatus;
- a computer system in communication with the vision unit configured receive the collected data from the vision unit and to analyze the data to determine if a defect exists;
- and
- the computer system configured to control movement of the vision unit in horizontal direction relative to the panel and in a tilting direction relative to the panel.
A method of automatically testing a panel of a display device, the method comprising:
- conveying the panel to a testing location;
- connecting a plurality of gate needles and data needles of an auto probe unit to circuitry on the panel after the panel reaches the testing location;
- supplying a predetermined pattern of signals to the circuitry through the probes performed by arbitrarily supply voltage to the gate needles and the data needles;
- collecting a visible light corresponding to the pattern displayed on the display device using a vision system;
- scanning the panel multiple times by a vision apparatus during collection of the display pattern as the panel for testing rests on the auto probe unit of a supporting member by a transfer method using a conveyor in a horizontal direction,
- wherein the vision apparatus alters a relative angle between the panel and the vision apparatus multiple times and
- wherein the relative angle between the panel and the vision apparatus limits to ranges 0 to 70 degrees, 80 to 100 degrees, and 110 to 160 degrees dependent on a viewing angle of the panel;
- moving the vision system in a horizontal direction relative to the panel to collect the visible light corresponding to the pattern displayed on the display device;
- tilting the vision system at an angle relative to the panel to collect the visible light corresponding to the pattern displayed on the display device;
- and
- determining whether the panel has a defect from the collected patterns, wherein the plurality of gate needles and data needles perform a test for determining whether or not the panel has a defect in appearance or an electric defect before a module process of connecting a driving circuit for driving the panel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.