JP2000276073A - Plane display device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To lighten the device load and process load of an inspecting process for a display panel before a driving circuit part and external input wires are mounted at the peripheral edge part of the display panel. SOLUTION: Three adjacent signal lines supply image signals to pixels for color outputs red(R), green(G), and blue(B). Signal line pads 1-R regarding the color output of red(R) are put together in an inner column on a substrate, signal line pads 1-G regarding the color output of green(G) are put in an intermediate column, and signal line pads 1-B regarding the color output of blue(B) in an outer column on the substrate. Consequently, image signals for inspection can be supplied from the printed wiring board 5 for inspection signal input which has a simple terminal structure.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a flat panel display. In particular, the present invention relates to an active matrix liquid crystal display device for displaying a high-definition image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A flat display device such as a liquid crystal display device generally includes, on an insulating substrate constituting a display panel, a pixel region for displaying an image and a connection peripheral portion outside the pixel region. In the section, a drive circuit section and an external input wiring are formed.

[0003] As a method of forming a drive circuit portion on a peripheral portion for connection, for example, a so-called chip-on-chip, in which a drive IC chip is directly mounted on an insulating substrate via a connection member such as an ACF (anisotropic conductive film). There is a glass (COG) method.
According to the COG method, the ratio of the image non-display area at the periphery of the display panel can be reduced, and the parts and assembly costs of the flat panel display device can be reduced.

In the manufacturing process of a flat display device, an image pattern is displayed before a drive circuit portion or the like is mounted on a peripheral portion for connection in order to detect a short-circuit between wirings, a defect such as a pixel defect or a display unevenness. May be performed. This is because, if the drive circuit unit and the like are mounted while the display panel has a defect, the mounting operation is wasted, and the drive circuit unit is damaged when the drive circuit unit and the like are peeled off.

If a defect is detected by the image output inspection,
In some cases, a more detailed inspection is performed. TFT
In the case of an active matrix type liquid crystal display device using a (thin film transistor) as a switching element,
Disconnection of scanning line or signal line, short circuit at intersection, or T
The quality of the FT is detected.

In order to perform such an inspection, it is necessary to bring an inspection probe of an inspection apparatus into contact with each signal input pad on the peripheral edge for connection. In particular, in order to perform an image output inspection, a corresponding inspection probe is brought into contact with each of the signal input pads arranged on the peripheral portion for connection, and a sufficient electrical connection with the image pattern output system of the inspection apparatus is made. Continuity is required.

[0007]

However, in recent years, as the definition of the flat display device has been advanced, the arrangement pitch of the signal input pads and the interval between the signal input pads have become very narrow. Therefore, the production of the inspection probe requires extremely precise processing, which has led to a significant increase in the cost of the inspection apparatus and a decrease in reliability. In addition, considerable accuracy is required for the alignment in the inspection process, resulting in an increase in the process load or an increase in the cost of the inspection device due to the incorporation of a precise alignment device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and in a flat panel display device having a driving circuit portion mounted on a peripheral portion of the display panel, a device load and a process in an inspection process of the display panel before the mounting are performed. An object of the present invention is to provide a flat display device which can reduce a load.

[0009]

In the flat display device according to the present invention, a plurality of scanning lines, a plurality of signal lines intersecting the scanning lines, and pixel electrodes are arranged in a matrix at the intersections. An image display area, a plurality of signal line pads for supplying a drive input signal to each of the plurality of signal lines from the drive circuit unit, and a plurality of scan lines from the other drive circuit unit. A peripheral connection region where a plurality of scanning line pads for supplying an input signal are arranged,
A signal line pad for a video signal for outputting a first color, and a signal for a video signal for outputting a second color, among the plurality of signal line pads. A plurality of signal line pads related to the output of the first color are arranged adjacent to each other, and a plurality of signal line pads related to the output of the second color are arranged in a row. It is characterized by being arranged in a row.

According to the above configuration, the load on the apparatus and the load on the process of inspecting the display panel can be reduced. In particular, the image output inspection can be performed with a simple inspection apparatus that does not require much precision processing.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A flat panel display according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 schematically shows an essential part of the flat display device of the embodiment, that is, an arrangement of signal input pads.

The flat display device 10 is an active matrix type liquid crystal display device of a COG system, and is formed by combining an array substrate 3 and a counter substrate 35 via an alignment film and a liquid crystal layer (not shown). The flat display device 10 is a 10.4 inch diagonal SVGA type capable of high definition display.

In the array substrate 3, 2400 signal lines composed of an upper metal wiring pattern and 600 scanning lines composed of a lower metal wiring pattern are formed in a grid pattern on a glass substrate via an insulating film. For example, ITO (Ind) is disposed as a transparent conductive film in a region corresponding to each grid of the lattice.
A pixel electrode made of ium-tin-oxide is disposed. And
At each intersection of the grid, a switching element for controlling each pixel electrode is arranged, and the gate electrode of the TFT is connected to the scanning line.
The drain electrode is electrically connected to the signal line, and the source electrode is electrically connected to the pixel electrode.

In the counter substrate 35, a color filter layer and a transparent conductive film such as ITO are formed on a glass substrate.
Is disposed. In this color filter layer, a red (R) color portion is assigned to a pixel electrode driven by one signal line, and a green (G) color is assigned to a pixel electrode driven by an adjacent signal line. , And a blue (B) color portion corresponding to a pixel electrode driven by another adjacent signal line. That is, the color filter layers are separately formed in stripes along the signal lines.

The array substrate 3 is formed to be larger than the counter substrate 35, and a portion protruding toward one long side (X end side 3a) forms a shelf-like connecting portion 31 for driving input to a signal line. The portion protruding toward one short side (Y end side 3b) forms a shelf-shaped connection portion 32 for driving input to a scanning line.

A plurality of drive IC chips 4 for driving signal lines are mounted face-down on the shelf-like connection portion 31 on the X end side 3a side, and drive signals are transmitted from each drive IC chip 4 to a plurality of signal lines. Feeding takes place. That is, the driving IC chip 4
The output bumps 41 on the lower surface of the device and the signal line pad 1 formed at the tip of the lead 33 from the signal line are electrically connected using an anisotropic conductive film (ACF) or an anisotropic conductive resin. You.

On the other hand, one or a plurality of scanning line side driving IC chips 45 are mounted face-down on the shelf-like connection portion 32 on the Y end side 3b side, and the output bumps 46 on the lower surface are similarly mounted.
Is electrically connected to the signal line pad 2 formed at the tip of the wiring 34 extending from the scanning line.

Although not shown in the figure, each shelf-like connecting portion 3
In 1 and 32, an input flexible printed wiring (FPC) and an IC-FPC pattern wiring for inputting a drive from the external drive input device to each of the drive IC chips 4 and 45 are arranged. IC-FPC pattern wiring
The FPC for input is electrically connected to each drive IC chip 4 and is formed simultaneously with the input pads 1 and 2.

The operation of the flat display device, that is, the image display is performed as follows. Each scanning line is sequentially scanned and driven by an address signal from the scanning line driving IC chip 45,
Each TFT corresponding to this scanning line becomes conductive. On the other hand, a video signal based on image data is supplied from the signal line driving IC chip 4 to the signal line in synchronization with the scanning of the scanning line.

As shown in FIG. 1, one driving IC chip 4
Are three adjacent signal lines 1-R, 1
-G and 1-B are arranged in three steps so that they are located in the outer row, the middle row, and the inner row, respectively. Specifically, a signal line pad 1-B for inputting a video signal to a pixel colored blue is a column outside the substrate, and a signal line pad 1-G for inputting a video signal to a pixel colored green is arranged next to the column. Middle row, next to it,
A signal line pad 1-R for inputting a video signal to a pixel colored red is located in a row inside the substrate.

As described above, the signal input pad 1 is moved from one end of the pad group to the outside of the board → the middle → the inside of the board → the outside of the board →
The columns are arranged sequentially in the order of middle →..., And are also divided into columns for each color related to output. That is, a plurality of signal line pads 1-R for red color output are grouped in a row inside the substrate, and a plurality of signal line pads 1-G for green color output are grouped in an intermediate row. A plurality of signal line pads 1-B related to blue color output are arranged in a row outside the substrate.

As described above, since the signal line pads 1 are sequentially arranged stepwise, as shown in the figure, the width of the input pad 1 (the dimension in the direction perpendicular to the lead lines) is set to half of the pitch P of the lead lines 33. It can be of degree or greater. Alternatively, the margin between the input pad 1 and the adjacent wiring pattern is set to be substantially the same as the pitch P of the lead lines 33,
Or it can be larger. In the illustrated example, the width W of the input pad, which is substantially square, is
3, the pitch between the input pad 1 and the adjacent lead-in lines 33 is about half the pitch P of the lead lines. The interval between adjacent input pads 1 is substantially equal to the pad width W.

Therefore, even when the pitch between the signal lines is narrowed due to the high definition of the image display, a large-sized inspection probe can be used.
In addition, because the blue, green, and red pads are arranged in rows,
As described later, three strip-shaped output terminals 51-R, 51-G, and 5 of the inspection signal supply PCB (printed wiring board) 5
1-B, input can be collectively performed to a plurality of signal line pads 1.

On the other hand, as shown at the right end of FIG. 1, the scanning line input pads 2 are arranged in two steps so that two adjacent ones are located in a row outside the substrate and a row inside the substrate, respectively. Is done. With such an arrangement, as in the case of the signal line pad 1, the width of the input pad 2 or the margin between the input pad 2 and the adjacent wiring pattern can be made larger than the pitch of the lead lines 34. .

Next, the image output inspection will be described with reference to FIG.

The image output inspection is performed before the driving IC chips 4, 45 and the like are mounted on the display panel of the flat panel display.
FIG. 2 shows output inspection signal input PCBs 5, 55 for signal line pad 1 and scanning line pad 2 for image output inspection.
2 schematically shows how the terminal surface of FIG.

The signal line inspection signal input PCB 5 for inputting an image output inspection signal to the signal line pad 1 is band-shaped, and has three band-shaped signal supply terminals 51 on its lower surface in its length direction.
Is provided. These signal supply terminals 51-R, 51-
G, 51-B are a plurality of signal line pads 1-R, 1-G, respectively, for red, green, and blue color outputs.
1-B to supply red, green, and blue image signals collectively.

When performing the image output inspection, the signal supply terminal 51-
R is pressed and electrically connected to a plurality of signal line pads 1-R for red color output via conductive rubber. Therefore, during the image output inspection, the same image signal is supplied to the plurality of red signal line pads 1-R. Regarding the connection between the signal supply terminal 51-G and the plurality of signal line pads 1-G for the green color output, the signal supply terminal 51-B and the plurality of signal line pads 1 for the blue color output are also connected. The same applies to the connection with -B.

On the other hand, a strip-shaped scanning line inspection signal input PCB
On the lower surface of 55, two band-shaped signal supply terminals 56 are provided in the longitudinal direction. One signal supply terminal 56-
in is pressed on the scanning line pads 2-in in the row outside the substrate, and the other signal supply terminal 56-out is pressed on the scanning line pads 2-out in the row inside the substrate via the conductive rubber to be electrically connected. Connected to. Therefore, it is possible to separately supply or stop the scanning signals to the odd-numbered scanning lines and the even-numbered scanning lines from one end. For example, a scan signal can be supplied only to odd-numbered scan lines, and the supply of scan signals to even-numbered scan lines can be stopped. That is, only the pixels related to every other scanning line can be turned on, which is advantageous for finding a defect.

A short circuit between input pads, a defective pixel, a defective TFT, and the like can be detected by the image output inspection for inputting such signals. Further, the display unevenness is caused by performing a red raster display by supplying a signal only to the signal input pad relating to the red color output, a green and blue raster display performed similarly, and a white and black raster display. Can be detected.

According to the above embodiment, electrical conduction for supplying an input signal for inspection to each input pad can be easily and reliably performed by a simple device and operation.
Therefore, the process load and the device load in the inspection process can be significantly reduced, and the reliability thereof can be improved.

In the above embodiment, when inspecting the display panel, the test signals are collectively input from the strip-shaped output terminals to the plurality of input pads. Electrical continuity can also be obtained.

[0033]

According to the flat display device in which the driving circuit portion and the external input wiring are mounted on the peripheral portion of the display panel, the device load and the process load in the inspection process of the display panel before the mounting can be greatly reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partial plan perspective view schematically showing an arrangement of signal input pads in a flat panel display device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 schematically shows how each input pad is brought into contact with a terminal of an inspection signal input PCB for image output inspection.

[Explanation of symbols]

1-R Signal line pad for red color output 1-G Signal line pad for green color output 1-B Signal line pad for blue color output 10 Flat panel display 2-in, 2-out Inside substrate and Scanning line pad outside substrate 3 Array substrate 35 Counter substrate 4,45 Driving IC chip 5,55 PCB for image inspection signal input

Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2H092 GA47 GA48 GA60 JA24 JB22 JB31 NA27 NA30 PA01 PA08 5G435 AA17 AA19 BB12 CC12 EE37 EE45

Claims (5)

[Claims] A plurality of scanning lines, a plurality of signal lines intersecting the scanning lines, an image display area in which pixel electrodes are arranged in a matrix at the intersections, and a plurality of signal lines extending from a driving circuit unit to the plurality of signal lines. A plurality of signal line pads for supplying drive input signals, and a plurality of scan line pads for supplying drive input signals to the plurality of scan lines from other drive circuit units, respectively, are arranged. A peripheral connection area; and a signal line pad for outputting a second color among the plurality of signal line pads, the signal line pad being related to a video signal for outputting a first color. And a plurality of signal lines related to the output of the second color are arranged such that a plurality of signal line pads related to the output of the first color are arranged in one row. Line pad is Flat display apparatus characterized by being arranged to form a. 2. A signal line pad for a video signal for outputting a third color among the plurality of signal line pads, the signal line pad relating to the output of the first color or the signal line pad of the second color. The flat display device according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of signal line pads related to the output of the third color are arranged adjacent to the signal line pads related to the output, so as to form another row. . 3. The flat display device according to claim 1, wherein in each of the rows, a plurality of the signal line pads included in the row have the same distance from the image display area. 4. The plurality of scanning line pads are arranged so as to form a plurality of rows having different distances from the image display area, and one scanning line pad and the adjacent scanning line pad are arranged in a plurality of rows. 2. The flat display device according to claim 1, wherein the flat display devices are located in different ones of the rows. 5. The flat display according to claim 1, wherein a pad width of the signal line pad is substantially equal to or larger than a pitch of a lead line drawn from the signal line to the peripheral connection region. apparatus.