Liquid crystal display panel inspection device and method for manufacturing same

• US 5,933,018 A
• Filed: 07/08/1996
• Issued: 08/03/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Shin-Etsu Polymer Company Limited (Shin-Etsu Chemical Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Shin-Etsu Polymer Company Limited (Shin-Etsu Chemical Company Limited)
• Inventors: Komatsu, Hiroto
• Primary Examiner(s): Brier, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bell, Paul A.
• Application Number:
  US08/677,726
• Time in Patent Office: 1,121 Days
• Field of Search: 349/149, 349/150, 349/152, 349/58, 349/60, 248/542, 345/87, 345/205, 345/206, 345/904, 324/755, 324/770, 324/757, 324/754, 324/756, 439/66, 439/67, 439/68, 439/69, 439/70, 439/65, 348/92
• US Class Current: 324/756.05
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1309 Repairing; Testing
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13452 Conductors connecting driver circuitry and terminals of panels
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/006 Electronic inspection or testing of displays and display drivers, e.g. of LED or LCD displays testing individual LED's G01R31/2635; testing lamps G01R31/44; testing of optical features of LCD displays G02F1/1309
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/19107 off-chip wires
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/7076 for connection between PCB and component, e.g. display
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/2414 conductive elastomers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 345/904 Display with fail/safe testing feature

Abstract

A liquid crystal display panel inspection device capable of reducing a manufacturing cost and significantly reducing intervals or pitches between connection wires and a method for manufacturing the same. The device includes a panel holder formed with a mounting hole in which a liquid crystal display panel is mounted and electrodes arranged around the mounting hole on one surface of the panel holder. Also, it includes connection wires of a dog-legged shape each connected at one end thereof to one of the electrodes of the panel holder and arranged so as to extend into the mounting hole. The connection wires are each formed at the other end thereof with a terminal, which is rendered abuttable against one of the electrodes of the liquid crystal display panel. The panel holder is mounted on the other surface thereof with a holding plate for selectively closing the mounting hole. The holding plate functions to pressedly contact the electrodes of the liquid crystal display panel and the terminals of the connection wires with each other.

Claims

1. A liquid crystal display panel inspection device comprising:

a panel holder formed with a holding section constructed so as to be mounted therein with a liquid crystal display panel provided with electrodes;

at least one printed circuit board arranged at a peripheral edge of said holding section of said panel holder and having electrodes formed thereon;

connection wires each connected to one of said electrodes of said printed circuit board in a manner to elastically bendably extend to said holding section and provided at a distal end thereof with a terminal in a manner to be abuttable against one of the electrodes of the liquid crystal display panel; and

an elastic member for sealing within each of said connection wires except each of said terminals thereof.

2. A liquid crystal display panel inspection device as defined in claim 1, wherein said printed circuit board comprises a multi-layer board having a plurality of electrodes laminated thereon to constitute said electrodes of said printed circuit board;

said electrodes on layers of said multi-layer board being exposed in a step-like manner on one side of said multi-layer board;

said electrode on each of said layers being connected at an exposed portion thereof to one of said connection wires.

3. A liquid crystal display panel inspection device as defined in claim 1, wherein said connection wires are each connected at an end thereof in an offset manner to said printed circuit board.

4. A liquid crystal display panel inspection device as defined in claim 2, wherein said connection wires are each connected at an end thereof in an offset manner to said printed circuit board.

5. A liquid crystal display panel inspection device as defined in claim 1, further comprising a holding plate detachably mounted on said panel holder to force the liquid crystal display panel toward said terminals of said connection wires.

6. A liquid crystal display panel inspection device as defined in claim 2, further comprising a holding plate detachably mounted on said panel holder to force the liquid crystal display panel toward said terminals of said connection wires.

7. A liquid crystal display panel inspection device as defined in claim 5, wherein said holding plate is provided on an inner surface thereof with a second elastic member adapted to abut with the liquid crystal display panel.

8. A liquid crystal display panel inspection device as defined in claim 6, wherein said holding plate is provided on an inner surface thereof with a second elastic member adapted to abut with the liquid crystal display panel.

9. A liquid crystal display panel inspection device as defined in claim 7, wherein said holding plate includes second electrodes formed thereon and second connection wires each connected to one of said second electrodes in a manner to elastically bendably extend to said holding section and provided at a distal end thereof with a second terminal in a manner to be abuttable against one of the electrodes of the liquid crystal display panel, and said second elastic member seals within each of said second connection wires except each of said second terminals thereof.

10. A liquid crystal display panel inspection device as defined in claim 8, wherein said holding plate includes second electrodes formed thereon and second connection wires each connected to one of said second electrodes in a manner to elastically bendably extend to said holding section and provided at a distal end thereof with a second terminal in a manner to be abuttable against one of the electrodes of the liquid crystal display panel, and said second elastic member seals within each of said second connection wires except each of said second terminals thereof.

11. A liquid crystal display panel inspection device as defined in claim 1, wherein said electrodes of said printed circuit board are each formed into a strip-like shape having an enlarged portion increased in width and arranged in a step-like manner, at which enlarged portion one of said connection wires is connected to one of said electrodes of said printed circuit board.

12. A liquid crystal display panel inspection device as defined in claim 3, wherein said electrodes of said printed circuit board are each formed into a strip-like shape having an enlarged portion increased in width and arranged in a step-like manner, at which enlarged portion one of said connection wires is connected to one of said electrodes of said printed circuit board.

13. A liquid crystal display panel inspection device as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said terminals of said connection wires includes a contact portion made of hard metal and adapted to abut against said one of the electrodes of the liquid crystal display panel.

14. A liquid crystal display panel inspection device as defined in claim 2, wherein each of said terminals of said connection wires includes a contact portion made of hard metal and adapted to abut against said one of the electrodes of the liquid crystal display panel.

15. A liquid crystal display panel inspection device as defined in claim 1, wherein said terminals of said connection wires are arranged in an offset manner.

16. A liquid crystal display panel inspection device as defined in claim 2, wherein said terminals of said connection wires are arranged in an offset manner.

17. A method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display panel inspection device including a panel holder formed with a holding section constructed so as to be mounted therein with a liquid crystal display panel provided with electrodes, at least one printed circuit board arranged at a peripheral edge of the holding section of the panel holder and having electrodes formed thereon, connection wires each connected to one of the electrodes of the printed circuit board in a manner to elastically bendably extend to the holding section and provided at a distal end thereof with a terminal in a manner to be abuttable against one of the electrodes of the liquid crystal display panel, and an elastic member for sealing within each of the connection wires except each of the terminals thereof, comprising the steps of:

mounting a dummy panel including contact members corresponding to the electrodes of the liquid crystal display panel on said printed circuit board;

bonding one end of each of said connection wires to a corresponding one of said contact members of said dummy panel and wire bonding the other end of each of said connection wires to a corresponding one of said electrodes of said printed circuit board, to thereby provide each of said terminals;

providing said elastic member on said dummy panel and printed circuit board to seal said connection wires within said elastic member; and

removing said dummy panel from said printed circuit board.

18. A method as defined in claim 17, wherein said printed circuit board comprises a multi-layer board having a plurality of electrodes laminated thereon to form said electrodes of said printed circuit board;

said electrodes on layers of said multi-layer board being exposed in a step-like manner on one side of said multi-layer board;

said electrode on each of said layers being connected at an exposed portion thereof to one of said connection wires.

19. A method as defined in claim 17, wherein said connection wires are each connected at an end thereof in an offset manner to said printed circuit board.

20. A method as defined in claim 18, wherein said connection wires are each connected at an end thereof in an offset manner to said printed circuit board.

21. A method as defined in claim 19, wherein said terminals of said connection wires are arranged in an offset manner.

22. A method as defined in claim 20, wherein said terminals of said connection wires are arranged in an offset manner.

23. A method as defined in claim 17, further comprising the steps of:

forming a resist layer all over one surface of said dummy panel;

partially removing said resist layer to form openings which cause a surface of said dummy panel to be partially exposed;

subjecting said dummy panel to etching on a side thereof on which said resist layer is formed to form recesses on an exposed portion of said dummy panel; and

depositing metal in each of said recesses by electroforming to form each of said contact members constituting at least a part of said terminals.