Test method for a screen in a vehicle

• US 10,304,363 B2
• Filed: 05/28/2014
• Issued: 05/28/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Kabatek, Ulrich, Muller, Gerhard, Schmidt, Reiner, Hohmann, Kai, Lahr, Torsten
• Primary Examiner(s): Sarma, Abhishek
• Application Number:
  US14/899,844
• Publication Number:
  US 20160217719A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,826 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/029 by monitoring one or more pixels in the display panel, e.g. by monitoring a fixed reference pixel
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2330/12 Test circuits or failure detection circuits included in a display system, as permanent part thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2380/10 Automotive applications
• 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: G09G 3/3208 organic, e.g. using organic light-emitting diodes [OLED]
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3233 with pixel circuitry controlling the current through the light-emitting element
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3648 using an active matrix G09G3/367 - G09G3/3696 take precedence

Abstract

In a test method, a screen in a vehicle is actuated in order to generate a specified raster image. An electric current intensity flowing as a result of the actuation is measured, and the measured current intensity is compared with a specified reference current intensity. It is ascertained whether the raster image was generated without errors dependent on the comparison.

Claims

1. A test method comprising:

retrieving a prescribed reference current intensity measured and stored when a screen is manufactured;

actuating the screen in a vehicle to produce a prescribed raster image;

measuring an electrical current intensity flowing in at least one of an individual column driver, an individual row driver, and an individual shift register for the screen as a result of the actuating;

comparing the measured electrical current intensity with the prescribed reference current intensity; and

ascertaining whether the raster image has been produced without error based on the comparing,

wherein the screen has a backlight and the actuating is effected with the backlight not switched on.

2. The test method as claimed in claim 1, wherein an electrical current intensity used to supply the screen with current is used in the measuring and is compared with the prescribed reference current intensity in the comparing.

3. The test method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electrical current intensity flowing at a common node for all driver stages of the screen is used in the measuring and is compared with the prescribed reference current intensity in the comparing.

4. The test method as claimed in claim 1, wherein an electrical current intensity flowing for charging at least one pixel of the screen is used in the measuring and is compared with the prescribed reference current intensity in the comparing.

5. The test method as claimed in claim 1, in which the screen is a luminescent screen.

6. The test method as claimed in claim 1, in which the screen is a TFT liquid crystal screen.

7. The test method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the actuating is effected in response to a switching on of the screen.

8. The test method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the reference current intensity is ascertained based on data from a graphics memory.

9. The test method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electrical current intensity used to supply a hidden point on the screen with current is used in the measuring.

10. A test method according to claim 1 in which testing is performed with different prescribed raster images and respectively associated reference current intensities.

11. The test method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the different prescribed raster images are imperceptibly produced at a prescribed frequency in succession that is greater than or equal to 20 Hz.

12. A test apparatus, wherein the test apparatus is configured to carry out a test method as claimed in claim 1.

13. The test method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electrical current intensity flowing in at least one of the individual column driver, the individual row driver, and the individual shift register for the screen as a result of the actuating within about three seconds of the screen being switched on.