Test mark and electronic device incorporating the same

• US 6,937,004 B2
• Filed: 10/04/2002
• Issued: 08/30/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tohoku Pioneer Company Limited (Pioneer Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Tohoku Pioneer Company Limited (Pioneer Corporation)
• Inventors: Ohazama, Hidetaka
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Vinh
• Assistant Examiner(s): KOBERT, RUSSELL MARC
• Application Number:
  US10/263,832
• Publication Number:
  US 20030155908A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,061 Days
• Field of Search: 324/158.1, 324/500, 324/537, 324/758, 349149-152, 361/736, 361/784, 361/802, 361/803, 361/756
• US Class Current: 324/750.18
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/66 Testing of connections, e.g. of plugs or non-disconnectable joints testing for incorrect line connections G01R31/55
• 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: H05K 1/0268 for electrical inspection or testing
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/09781 Dummy conductors, i.e. not used for normal transport of current; Dummy electrodes of components
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2203/162 Testing a finished product, e.g. heat cycle testing of solder joints patterns for electrical inspection or testing H05K1/0268
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/361 Assembling flexible printed circuits with other printed circuits

Abstract

A test mark is provided, for use in an inspection after a display panel, TAB tapes, and a flexible board have been connected together. Defective panels can be rejected with high accuracy in the simple inspection, thereby mitigating the burden on the microscopic inspection. At a predetermined distance from each of connection areas for connecting a panel substrate, TAB tapes, and a flexible board, there are provided test marks with at least one on each component. The electrical connection is tested between each pair of the test marks to thereby determine whether the interconnection is in a good state.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a test mark provided on a connection for interconnecting at least two components selected from among a panel substrate, a TAB tape, and a flexible board of a display panel to check for any defect in the connection, wherein at least one alignment mark is formed on each of said panel substrate, said TAB tape, and said flexible board,

said test mark provided on each of said panel substrate, said TAB tape, and said flexible board is combined with another test mark to form a pair of marks, and the pair of marks is tested for electrical connection therebetween after having been connected together subsequent to said interconnection of said at least two components, thereby determining whether said interconnection is in a good state,

each test mark is provided on an axis connecting said test mark with a corresponding alignment mark.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein said test for electrical connection is carried out by means of a test evaluation circuit connected to each of said marks.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein said test for electrical connection is carried out by turning on or off a light-emitting device connected to each of said marks.

4. The device according to claim 3, wherein said light-emitting device is formed together with other display elements on the panel substrate of the display panel.

5. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said pair of marks comprises a pair of triangular marks with their apexes abutting each other.

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein at least two pairs of marks are provided in a manner such that a distance between the apexes of one pair of marks is different from that of the other pair of marks when each pair of marks are connected together.

7. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said display panel, said TAB tape, or said flexible board, is provided with said test mark.

8. The device according to claim 5, wherein said display panel, said TAB tape, or said flexible board, is provided with said test mark.

9. The device according to claim 6, wherein said display panel, said TAB tape, or said flexible board, is provided with said test mark.

10. A device comprising:

a test mark provided on a connection for interconnecting at least two components selected from among a panel substrate, a TAB tape, and a flexible board of a display panel to check for any defect in the connection, wherein said test mark provided on each of said panel substrate, said TAB tape, and said flexible board is combined with another test mark to form a pair of marks, and the pair of marks is tested for electrical connection therebetween after having been connected together subsequent to said interconnection of said at least two components, thereby determining whether said interconnection is in a good state, wherein

said test for electrical connection is carried out by turning on or off at least one organic electroluminescent device connected to each of said marks, and

said light-emitting device is formed together with other display elements on the panel substrate of the display panel.

11. A device comprising:

a test mark provided on a connection for interconnecting at least two components selected from among a panel substrate, a TAB tape, and a flexible board of a display panel to check for any defect in the connection, wherein said test mark provided on each of said panel substrate, said TAB tape, and said flexible board is combined with another test mark to form a pair of marks, and the pair of marks is tested for electrical connection therebetween after having been connected together subsequent to said interconnection of said at least two components, thereby determining whether said interconnection is in a good state, wherein

said pair of marks comprises a pair of triangular marks with their apexes abutting each other.

12. A device comprising:

a test mark provided on a connection for interconnecting at least two components selected from among a panel substrate, a TAB tape, and a flexible board of a display panel to check for any defect in the connection, wherein said test mark provided on each of said panel substrate, said TAB tape, and said flexible board is combined with another test mark to form a pair of marks, and the pair of marks is tested for electrical connection therebetween after having been connected together subsequent to said interconnection of said at least two components, thereby determining whether said interconnection is in a good state, wherein

at least two pairs of marks are provided in a manner such that a distance between the apexes of one pair of marks is different from that of the other pair of marks when each pair of marks are connected together.