CN101620818A - Display panel and detection method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention discloses a display panel and a detection method thereof. The display panel has a display area and a peripheral circuit area located around the display area. The display panel includes a plurality of data lines, a plurality of scan lines, a plurality of pixels, a signal line, and a plurality of first, second, third, fourth and fifth switch elements. The pixel array is arranged in the display area, and each pixel is electrically connected to one of the data lines and one of the scan lines. The pixel includes a plurality of first, second and third color pixels. The signal line and the plurality of first, second, third, fourth and fifth switch elements electrically connected thereto are all located in the peripheral circuit area. The first switch element is electrically connected to the odd-numbered data lines. The second switch element is electrically connected to the even-numbered data lines. The third, fourth and fifth switch elements are electrically connected to the data lines of the first, second and third color pixels, respectively.

Description

Display panel and detection method thereof

technical field

The present invention relates to a display panel and a detection method thereof, and in particular to a display panel equipped with a detection circuit and a detection method thereof.

Background technique

Generally speaking, before the display panel leaves the factory, electrical testing and lighting testing must be performed on the display panel to ensure the quality of the display panel. Therefore, when manufacturing the display panel, the detection circuit will be fabricated in the peripheral circuit area of the display panel to facilitate the detection operation. In US Patent 2001/0045997 A1, the detection circuit design of the display panel described below is proposed. FIG. 1A is a conventional detection circuit of a display panel. The display panel 100A has a display area D and a peripheral circuit area P. A plurality of pixels 102 are located in the display area D, and the pixels 102 are electrically connected to a plurality of data lines 104 and a plurality of scan lines 106 . The detection circuit 110 is located in the peripheral circuit area P. The detection circuit 110 includes a plurality of signal lines 112 , a part of the signal lines 112 are connected to the data lines 104 of the display panel 100A to form a data line group 114 . Another part of the signal lines 112 is connected to the scan lines 106 of the display panel 100A to form a scan line group 116 . When testing the display panel 100A, a probe must be used to input a testing signal from each pad 118 to each signal line 112 to perform electrical testing or lighting testing.

Since these signal lines 112 will electrically connect the data lines 104 or the scanning lines 106 to each other, after the detection of the display panel 100A is completed, the place where the detection circuit 110 is arranged must be cut along the cutting line C to avoid Each data line 104 or each scan line 106 is short-circuited. Common cutting methods include mechanical cutting or laser cutting, but these methods require additional cutting equipment, and the process yield of these methods will affect the yield and production rate of the display panel 100A.

In addition, the following display panel detection circuit is proposed in US Patent 6624857 B1. FIG. 1B is another conventional detection circuit of a display panel. Referring to FIG. 1B , in the display panel 100B, when forming the detection circuit 110 , a switch element 120 may be formed between each data line 104 and the signal line 112 and between each scan line 106 and the signal line 112 . Each switching element 120 is, for example, a thin film transistor, and is controlled by the same control circuit 122 . When the electrical detection and lighting detection are not performed, the switch element 120 is turned off, and the signal line 112 is not electrically connected to the data line 104 or the scan line 106 . Therefore, there will be no short circuit between the data lines 104 or between the scan lines 106 , and there is no need to cut off the place where the signal lines 112 are disposed, so as to further reduce equipment cost and maintain a good process yield.

However, the above electrical detection and lighting detection of the display panel 100B are controlled by the data line group 114 and the scan line group 116 respectively. Therefore, in order to perform a more rigorous detection of the display panel 100B, the pixels 102 on different data lines 104 must be charged and discharged in stages or simultaneously. Under such a circuit design, it is necessary to input detection signals from multiple pads 118 into each signal line 112 by means of multiple sets of probes, which further complicates the detection steps and the design of the detection circuit.

Contents of the invention

The present invention provides a display panel, the wiring of the detection circuit is reserved in the display panel, so as to avoid the increase of the manufacturing process cost and the decrease of the yield rate caused by the cutting step of the display panel.

The present invention also provides a detection method of the display panel, which can detect the display panel in multiple detection modes under the condition of a single signal input source.

The invention provides a display panel, which has a display area and a peripheral circuit area around the display area. The display panel includes a plurality of data lines, a plurality of scan lines, a plurality of pixels, a signal line, and a plurality of first, second, third, fourth and fifth switching elements. The pixel array is arranged in the display area, and each pixel is electrically connected with one of the data lines and one of the scanning lines. The pixels include a plurality of first, second and third color pixels. The signal line and a plurality of first, second, third, fourth and fifth switching elements electrically connected thereto are all located in the peripheral circuit area. The first switch element is electrically connected to odd data lines. The second switch element is electrically connected to even data lines (even data lines). The third, fourth and fifth switching elements are respectively electrically connected to the data lines of the first, second and third color pixels.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the display panel further includes a first control circuit, a second control circuit, a third control circuit, a fourth control circuit and a fifth control circuit, located in the peripheral circuit area, and The first control circuit is electrically connected to the first switch element, the second control circuit is electrically connected to the second switch element, the third control circuit is electrically connected to the third switch element, the fourth control circuit is electrically connected to the fourth switch element, and the second control circuit is electrically connected to the third switch element. The fifth control circuit is electrically connected to the fifth switch element.

In an embodiment of the present invention, for the data lines connected to the pixels of the first color, each data line is electrically connected to one of the third switching elements and one of the first or second switching elements, and the first The three switching elements are connected in series with the first or the second switching element.

In an embodiment of the present invention, for the data lines connected to the pixels of the second color, each data line is electrically connected to one of the fourth switching elements and one of the first or second switching elements, and the second The four switching elements are connected in series with the first or the second switching element.

In an embodiment of the present invention, for the data lines connected to the pixels of the third color, each data line is electrically connected to one of the fifth switching elements and one of the first or second switching elements, and the second The fifth switching element is connected in series with the first or second switching element.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the above-mentioned signal line is composed of a single line, which is used to transmit a detection signal.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the above-mentioned first, second, third, fourth and fifth switching elements include thin film transistors or diodes.

The present invention further provides a detection method for a display panel, which is used for detecting the above-mentioned display panel. The detection method of the display panel includes inputting a detection signal to the signal line. Turn on at least one of the first switch element and the second switch element. Turn on at least one of the third switch element, the fourth switch element and the fifth switch element.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the above-mentioned first switch element, second switch element, third switch element, fourth switch element and fifth switch element are turned on simultaneously, for example.

In an embodiment of the present invention, when the first switch element is turned on, at least one of the third switch element, the fourth switch element and the fifth switch element is turned on simultaneously.

In an embodiment of the present invention, when the second switch element is turned on, at least one of the third switch element, the fourth switch element and the fifth switch element is turned on simultaneously.

In an embodiment of the present invention, when the third switch element is turned on, at least one of the first switch element and the second switch element is turned on simultaneously.

In an embodiment of the present invention, when the fourth switch element is turned on, at least one of the first switch element and the second switch element is turned on simultaneously.

In an embodiment of the present invention, when the fifth switch element is turned on, at least one of the first switch element and the second switch element is turned on simultaneously.

In the detection circuit of the display panel of the present invention, the same data line is connected to the signal line by two switching elements, and only one signal line can be used to detect the display panel with multiple detection combinations, thus making the detection of the display panel easier And more elastic.

Description of drawings

In order to make the above-mentioned purposes, features and advantages of the present invention more obvious and understandable, the specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1A is a conventional detection circuit of a display panel.

FIG. 1B is another conventional detection circuit of a display panel.

FIG. 2 is a partial schematic diagram of a display panel according to an embodiment of the invention.

Description of main component symbols:

100A, 100B, 200: display panel

102, 206: pixels

104, 202, 202a, 202b, 202c: data lines

106, 204: scan lines

110: detection circuit

112, 212: signal line

114: data line group

116: scan line group

118: Pad

122, 220a, 220b, 220c, 220d and 220e: control lines

206a: first color pixel

206b: second color pixel

206c: third color pixel

C: cutting line

D: display area

P: peripheral line area

SW1: first switching element

SW2: second switching element

SW3: Third switching element

SW4: Fourth switching element

SW5: fifth switching element

Detailed ways

In order to perform a more rigorous detection of the display panel, it is better to subdivide the detection operation into parity switching detection and R, G, B switching detection, where the parity switching detection refers to turning on the pixels on the odd-numbered data lines or the even-numbered pixels respectively. The pixels on the data line are used for detection, and when R, G, and B are switched for detection, the pixels of one of the colors of R, G, and B are respectively turned on for detection. Because, in the existing detection circuit design, a plurality of signal lines and complex detection circuit design are required to perform parity switching detection and R, G, B switching detection, which causes a lot of inconvenience. Therefore, the present invention proposes different designs of the display panel to improve the above disadvantages.

FIG. 2 is a partial schematic diagram of a display panel according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 2 , the display panel 200 has a display area D and a peripheral line area P located around the display area D. Referring to FIG. The display panel 200 includes a plurality of data lines 202, a plurality of scan lines 204, a plurality of pixels 206, a signal line 212, a plurality of first switching elements SW1, a plurality of second switching elements SW2, and a plurality of third switching elements SW3 , a plurality of fourth switching elements SW4 and a plurality of fifth switching elements SW5. The pixels 206 are arranged in an array in the display area D, and each pixel 206 is electrically connected to one of the data lines 202 and one of the scan lines 204 . The pixels 206 include a plurality of first color pixels 206a, a plurality of second color pixels 206b and a plurality of third color pixels 206c. The signal line 212 is electrically connected to each of the first switch element SW1, the second switch element SW2, the third switch element SW3, the fourth switch element SW4 and the fifth switch element SW5, and the signal line 212 and these switch elements are located in the peripheral circuit. in zone P. In addition, the signal line 212 is composed of, for example, a single line (as shown in FIG. 2 ), and is used to transmit a detection signal.

In detail, the pixels 206 electrically connected to each data line 202 are, for example, pixels 206 capable of displaying the same color. In FIG. 2 , the pixels 206 electrically connected to the data line 202a are, for example, the pixels 206a of the first color, the pixels 206 electrically connected to the data line 202b are all pixels of the second color 206b, for example, and the data line 202c is electrically connected to The connected pixels 206 are all third color pixels 206c, for example. Wherein, the first color pixel 206a is, for example, a red pixel, the second color pixel 206b is, for example, a green pixel, and the third color pixel 206c is, for example, a blue pixel. Certainly, the first color pixel 206a, the second color pixel 206b and the third color pixel 206c may also be pixel combinations composed of other colors. In addition, the arrangement of the pixels 206 of different colors can be various arrangements such as stripe arrangement, triangle arrangement, mosaic arrangement or rectangular arrangement.

The first switch element SW1 is electrically connected to the odd-numbered data lines 202 , and the second switch element SW2 is electrically connected to the even-numbered data lines 202 . Meanwhile, the third switching element SW3 is electrically connected to the data line 202 of the first color pixel 206a. The fourth switching element SW4 is electrically connected to the data line 202 of the second color pixel 206b. The fifth switching element SW5 is electrically connected to the data line 202 of the third color pixel 206c.

In this embodiment, the first switch element SW1 and the second switch element SW2 are used to control odd-even switching, for example, so the first switch element SW1 and the second switch element SW2 are respectively connected to odd-numbered and even-numbered data lines 202 . That is to say, the first switch elements SW1 and the second switch elements SW2 are alternately arranged on adjacent data lines 202 . The third switch element SW3 , the fourth switch element SW4 and the fifth switch element SW5 are for example used to control switching of R, G, and B, so they are respectively connected to pixels 206 of different colors. That is, the data lines 202 respectively connected to the third switch element SW3 , the fourth switch element SW4 and the fifth switch element SW5 are the data lines 202 connected to the pixels 206 of different colors. For example, the data line 202a is connected to the first color pixel 206a, so the third switch element SW3 is connected to the data line 202a, for example. Similarly, the fourth switch element SW4 and the fifth switch element SW5 are respectively connected to the data line 202b and the data line 202c.

For the data lines 202a connected to the pixels 206a of the first color, each data line 202a is electrically connected to one of the third switch elements SW3 and one of the first switch elements SW1 or the second switch elements SW2. Meanwhile, the third switch element SW3 is connected in series with the first switch element SW1 or the second switch element SW2 on the data line 202a. For example, in FIG. 2, the data line 202a is electrically connected to the first switch element SW1 and the third switch element SW3, and the first switch element SW1 and the third switch element SW3 connected to the data line 202a are connected in series. If a thin film transistor is used as each switching element in this embodiment, the drain of the first switching element SW1 is connected to the source of the third switching element SW3 , for example, in a series relationship. Of course, each switching element in this embodiment may also be other elements with switching functions, such as diodes. In addition, one of the second switching elements SW2 and one of the third switching elements SW3 may be connected to other data lines 202a connected to the pixels 206a of the first color.

Similarly, for the data lines 202b connected to the second color pixel 206b, each data line 202b is electrically connected to one of the fourth switching elements SW4 and one of the first switching elements SW1 or the second switching element SW2, And the fourth switching element SW4 is connected in series with the first switching element SW1 or the second switching element SW2 connected to the same data line 202b. For example, the data line 202b is connected to the second switch element SW2 and the fourth switch element SW4, and the second switch element SW2 and the fourth switch element SW4 are connected in series. As for other data lines 202b connected to the pixels 206b of the second color, one of the first switches SW1 and one of the fourth switches SW4 may be connected.

In addition, for the data lines 202c connected to the third color pixel 206c, each data line 202c is electrically connected to one of the fifth switch elements SW5 and one of the first switch elements SW1 or the second switch elements SW2. The fifth switch element SW5 is connected in series with the first switch element SW1 or the second switch element SW2 on the same data line 202c. In general, each data line 202c is configured with two switching elements, one of which is used to control the parity switching and the other is used to control the R, G, B switching. In this embodiment, only one signal line 212 is required to transmit the detection signal and whether these switching elements are turned on or not can simultaneously control the parity switching and R, G, B switching.

If each switching element is composed of thin film transistors, a plurality of control circuits 220 a , 220 b , 220 c , 220 d and 220 e are disposed in the peripheral circuit area P of this embodiment. The switch elements located between the signal line 212 and the control line 220a are all the first switch elements SW1, the switch elements located between the control lines 220a and 220b are all the second switch elements SW2, and the switches located between the control lines 220b and 220c The elements are all the third switch element SW3, the switch elements between the control lines 220c and 220d are all the fourth switch elements SW4, and the switch elements between the control lines 220d and 220e are all the fifth switch elements SW5.

In addition, the gates of all the first switching elements SW1 are connected to the same control line 220a, for example. Therefore, all the first switch elements SW1 are turned on or turned off at the same time. The gates of all the second switching elements SW2 are connected to another control circuit 220b, and the third switching element SW3, the fourth switching element SW4 and the fifth switching element SW5 are respectively connected to the control circuits 220c, 220d and 220e. In other words, each of the control lines 220a, 220b, 220c, 220d, and 220e is connected to a plurality of first switching elements SW1, second switching elements SW2, third switching elements SW3, fourth switching elements SW4, or fifth switching elements SW5, and these switches Components will be turned on or off at the same time. Therefore, in this embodiment, each switching element can be turned on or off by the control of the control circuits 220a, 220b, 220c, 220d, and 220e, so as to detect various detection conditions. The control mode of the detection circuit of the present invention is shown in Table 1.

Table 1 Control mode of each switching element when performing different detection methods in an embodiment of the present invention.

The first switching element The second switching element The third switching element The fourth switching element Fifth switching element Odd detection open close open open open even detection close open open open open R detection open open open close close G detection open open close open close B test open open close close open Full lighting detection open open open open open

Specifically, the detection method of the display panel 200 includes inputting a detection signal to the signal line 212, turning on at least one of the first switching element SW1 and the second switching element SW2, and turning on the third switching element SW3 and the fourth switching element SW4. and at least one of the fifth switch element SW5. Since there are two switching elements on each data line 202 , to input the detection signal from the signal line 212 to each pixel 206 , the two switching elements must be turned on simultaneously. By turning on these switching elements, various detection methods such as full-screen lighting detection, lighting detection of R, G, and B different color screens, and lighting detection of odd and even screens can be performed on the display panel 200 . It is worth mentioning that, to carry out the above-mentioned various panel inspections, only one signal line 212 is required to transmit the detection signal, so that the panel inspection method and design are greatly simplified, and multiple sets of probes are not required for signal detection. enter.

When full-screen lighting detection is to be performed, the first switch element SW1 , the second switch element SW2 , the third switch element SW3 , the fourth switch element SW4 and the fifth switch element SW5 can be turned on simultaneously. In this way, all the pixels 206 in the display panel 200 are turned on for detection.

When it is desired to perform lighting detection of odd and even images, generally all the pixels 206 on the even numbered data lines 202 are turned on, or all the pixels 206 on the odd numbered data lines 202 are turned on. Therefore, in this embodiment, when it is desired to charge and discharge the pixels 206 on the odd-numbered data lines 202, the third switching element SW3, the fourth switching element SW4, and the fifth switching element SW5 can all be turned on and the first switching element SW5 can be turned on at the same time. The switching element SW1 is turned on. At this time, the pixels 206 on the odd-numbered data lines 202 of the display panel 200 are all charged or discharged to perform electrical detection or lighting detection. Similarly, to charge and discharge the pixels 206 on the even-numbered data lines 202 , the second switch element SW2 can be turned on when the third switch element SW3 , the fourth switch element SW4 and the fifth switch element SW5 are all turned on.

When performing lighting detection of different colors, the pixels 206 of different colors must be turned on respectively. Therefore, for the display panel 200 of this embodiment, when the lighting detection of the first color is to be performed, both the first switch element SW1 and the second switch element SW2 must be turned on and the third switch element SW3 must be turned on at the same time. At this time, all the pixels 206a of the first color can be lighted up for detection. Similarly, the lighting detection of the second color pixel 206b and the third color pixel 206c can respectively turn on the fourth switch element SW4 and the fifth switch element SW5 when both the first switch element SW1 and the second switch element SW2 are turned on. .

When performing parity detection of different colors, one of the first switch element SW1 and the second switch element SW2 can be turned on first, and then the third switch element SW3 , the fourth switch element SW4 or the fifth switch element SW5 can be turned on respectively. That is to say, by means of this detection step, the first color pixel 206 a , the second color pixel 206 b or the third color pixel 206 c located on the odd data lines 202 can be tested respectively. Similarly, the pixels 206 of various colors on the even-numbered data lines 202 can also be tested separately. Certainly, when performing parity detection of different colors, the third switch element SW3 , the fourth switch element SW4 or the fifth switch element SW5 may also be turned on first, and then the first switch element SW1 or the second switch element SW2 are respectively turned on.

Overall, the on and off of each switch element can have the following relationships. When the first switch element SW1 is turned on, at least one of the third switch element SW3 , the fourth switch element SW4 and the fifth switch element SW5 is turned on simultaneously. When the second switch element SW2 is turned on, at least one of the third switch element SW3 , the fourth switch element SW4 and the fifth switch element SW5 is turned on simultaneously.

In addition, when the third switch element SW3 is turned on, at least one of the first switch element SW1 and the second switch element SW2 is turned on simultaneously. When the fourth switch element SW4 is turned on, at least one of the first switch element SW1 and the second switch element SW2 is turned on simultaneously. When the fifth switch element SW5 is turned on, at least one of the first switch element SW1 and the second switch element SW2 is turned on simultaneously. By turning on and off various switching elements, the pixels 206 in the display area D can be lit up in different combinations. Therefore, the display panel 200 of the present invention can ensure its ex-factory quality through various inspection methods.

To sum up, the display panel and the driving method of the display panel of the present invention have at least the following advantages. The display panel of the present invention can constitute the detection circuit of the display panel only by connecting one signal line to a plurality of switching elements. Therefore, when testing the display panel, it is only necessary to input the detection signal into the signal line, instead of inputting the detection signal to multiple signal lines in multiple groups, which helps to simplify the detection method and detection design of the display panel. In the detection method of the display panel of the present invention, various detection methods can be performed by controlling the opening and closing of different switch elements, such as parity detection, full lighting detection, lighting detection of different colors, parity detection of different colors, and simultaneous detection. Parity switching and R, G, B switching detection, etc. Therefore, the detection method of the display panel of the present invention is quite rigorous, so that the quality management of the display panel is further improved.

Although the present invention has been disclosed above with preferred embodiments, it is not intended to limit the present invention. Any person skilled in the art may make some modifications and improvements without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention The scope of protection should be defined by the claims.

Claims (14)

1. a display panel has a viewing area and is positioned at a perimeter circuit district on every side, this viewing area, and this display panel comprises:

Many data lines and multi-strip scanning line;

A plurality of pixels, arrayed are in this viewing area, and each those pixel electrically connects with a data line wherein and one of them sweep trace, and those pixels comprise a plurality of first color pixel, a plurality of second color pixel and a plurality of the 3rd color pixel;

One signal wire is arranged in this perimeter circuit district;

A plurality of first on-off elements are arranged in this perimeter circuit district and electrically connect those data lines of this signal wire and odd number;

A plurality of second switch elements are arranged in this perimeter circuit district and electrically connect those data lines of this signal wire and even number;

A plurality of the 3rd on-off elements, the data line that is arranged in this perimeter circuit district and electrically connects this signal wire and be connected with those first color pixel;

A plurality of the 4th on-off elements, the data line that is arranged in this perimeter circuit district and electrically connects this signal wire and be connected with those second color pixel; And

A plurality of the 5th on-off elements, the data line that is arranged in this perimeter circuit district and electrically connects this signal wire and be connected with those the 3rd color pixel.

2. display panel as claimed in claim 1, it is characterized in that, more comprise one first operation circuit, one second operation circuit, one the 3rd operation circuit, one the 4th operation circuit and one the 5th operation circuit, be arranged in this perimeter circuit district, and this first operation circuit electrically connects those first on-off elements, this second operation circuit electrically connects those second switch elements, the 3rd operation circuit electrically connects those the 3rd on-off elements, the 4th operation circuit electrically connects those the 4th on-off elements, and the 5th operation circuit electrically connects those the 5th on-off elements.

3. display panel as claimed in claim 1, it is characterized in that, for for data line that those first color pixel are connected, each data line can with one the 3rd on-off element wherein and wherein one first or the second switch element electrically connect, and the 3rd on-off element can with this first or the second switch element connect mutually.

4. display panel as claimed in claim 1, it is characterized in that, for for data line that those second color pixel are connected, each data line can with one the 4th on-off element wherein and wherein one first or the second switch element electrically connect, and the 4th on-off element can with this first or the second switch element connect mutually.

5. display panel as claimed in claim 1, it is characterized in that, for for data line that those the 3rd color pixel are connected, each data line can with one the 5th on-off element wherein and wherein one first or the second switch element electrically connect, and the 5th on-off element can with this first or the second switch element connect mutually.

6. display panel as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that this signal wire is made up of single line, and it is used to transmit a detection signal.

7. display panel as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that, those the first, second, third, fourth and the 5th on-off elements comprise thin film transistor (TFT) or diode.

8. the detection method of a display panel, it is used to detect display panel as claimed in claim 1, and the detection method of this display panel comprises:

Import a detection signal to this signal wire;

Open those first on-off elements and one of them person of those second switch elements; And

Open those the 3rd on-off elements, those the 4th on-off elements and one of them person of those the 5th on-off elements.

9. the detection method of display panel as claimed in claim 8 is characterized in that, those first on-off elements, those second switch elements, those the 3rd on-off elements, those the 4th on-off elements and those the 5th on-off elements are to open simultaneously.

10. the detection method of display panel as claimed in claim 8 is characterized in that, when those first on-off elements are opened, opens those the 3rd on-off elements, those the 4th on-off elements and one of them person of those the 5th on-off elements simultaneously.

11. the detection method of display panel as claimed in claim 8 is characterized in that, when those second switch elements are opened, opens those the 3rd on-off elements, those the 4th on-off elements and one of them person of those the 5th on-off elements simultaneously.

12. the detection method of display panel as claimed in claim 8 is characterized in that, when those the 3rd on-off elements are opened, opens those first on-off elements and one of them person of those second switch elements simultaneously.

13. the detection method of display panel as claimed in claim 8 is characterized in that, when those the 4th on-off elements are opened, opens those first on-off elements and one of them person of those second switch elements simultaneously.

14. the detection method of display panel as claimed in claim 8 is characterized in that, when those the 5th on-off elements are opened, opens those first on-off elements and one of them person of those second switch elements simultaneously.

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