JPH07270817A - Contact device for liquid crystal panel inspection - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide the contact device for a liquid crystal panel inspection capable of being produced at a low cost and which is excellent in durability and the reliability of conduction and also is capable of performing easily and effectively the display inspection of the whole screen of a liquid crystal panel, CONSTITUTION:A flexible printed wiring board (an FPC) 12 in which plural conductive films 14 whose one edge part is brought into contact with the panel driving device for an inspection and whose other edge part is brought into contact with the electrode film 4 on an insulating substrate 2 are arranged and formed on the one-side of an insulated film 13 is used in this device. Further, the one part of the contacting section of conductive films and electrode films is pressurized by allowing an elastic tube 17 having an internal tight closure structure held in the recessed groove 18 of a press-pushing plate 11 to be in contact with the one part of the rear side of the FPC.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a contact device used for inspecting a display defect of a liquid crystal panel, and more specifically, an inspection panel drive device is electrically connected to an electrode film formed on an insulating substrate of the liquid crystal panel. Contact device for electrically connecting.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a liquid crystal display device has a display element driving I formed on an electrode film formed on a glass substrate of a liquid crystal panel.
The connection terminals of the flexible printed wiring board on which C is mounted are electrically connected by heat sealing or the like. Conventionally, the display inspection of this type of liquid crystal display device is performed by driving the display element of the liquid crystal panel and visually inspecting the display state of the liquid crystal display unit at that time. In the case of such a liquid crystal display device, the display element of the liquid crystal panel can be easily driven by connecting the flexible printed wiring board heat-sealed on the insulating substrate to the connector of the inspection panel drive device. However, if a defect is found in the inspection of the liquid crystal display device, even if the cause of the defect is in the liquid crystal panel, the flexible printed wiring board and the IC mounted on the substrate are also defective together with the liquid crystal panel. Will be disposed of, and it will be uneconomical. Therefore, it is desirable to perform a display inspection of the liquid crystal panel before attaching the flexible printed wiring board. In this case, a contact device for electrically connecting the inspection panel drive device to the electrode film on the glass substrate of the liquid crystal panel. Is required.

Therefore, conventionally, as an inspection contact device for directly contacting the electrode film of the liquid crystal panel, a needle-shaped probe terminal or a loop-shaped wire probe terminal that is spring-biased in the protruding direction is used as an inspection connection terminal. Things have been proposed.

[0004]

In recent years, as the density of liquid crystal display elements in a liquid crystal panel has increased, the electrode films and the pitch thereof have become finer, and the number of electrode films has become extremely large. For this reason, there is a limit in size and processing accuracy in miniaturizing the needle-shaped probe terminals and the loop-shaped wire probe terminals according to the pitch of the electrode film of the liquid crystal panel and incorporating them into the insulating support. In addition, the miniaturized needle-shaped probe terminals and loop-shaped wire probe terminals are extremely fragile, and thus lack durability and are extremely difficult to handle, and poor conduction and short circuit due to deformation of these probe terminals. The risk increases. Furthermore, since manufacturing and assembling of these fine probe terminals and lead wire connection require expensive precision processing technology, a contact device for inspection having the same number of probe terminals as the number of electrode films of a liquid crystal panel is very expensive. It becomes a thing.

If the display inspection of the liquid crystal panel is carried out in units of drive modules, the number of probe terminals of the inspection contact device can be reduced, but it is necessary to repeat the inspection for each drive module, so many Labor and time are required, and the inspection efficiency is significantly reduced. Further, the method in which the inspection is repeated for each drive module cannot display the entire liquid crystal display unit at the same time, and it becomes difficult to determine whether there is a defect such as color unevenness or brightness unevenness in the entire liquid crystal display unit.

On the other hand, a method of pressing the back surface of the flexible printed wiring board with a pressing plate to bring the conductive film of the flexible printed wiring board into contact with the electrode film on the insulating substrate of the liquid crystal panel can be considered. When the entire contact area with the pressing plate is pressed by the pressing plate, the contact pressure between the conductive film and the electrode film generated by the pressing force of the pressing plate becomes very small, and
It becomes difficult to bring each conductive film into contact with the electrode film with a uniform contact pressure, and a conduction failure is likely to occur.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a liquid crystal panel inspection contact which can be manufactured at low cost, has excellent durability and reliability of continuity, and can easily and efficiently perform display inspection of the entire screen of the liquid crystal panel. To provide a device.

[0008]

In order to solve the above problems, the invention according to claim 1 electrically connects an inspection panel drive device to a plurality of electrode films arranged and formed on an insulating substrate of a liquid crystal panel. A contact device for inspecting a liquid crystal panel, comprising: a plurality of conductive films, one end of which is connected to an inspection panel driving device and the other end of which is in contact with an electrode film on an insulating substrate of a liquid crystal panel. A flexible printed wiring board formed in an array on one side, and abutted on a part of the back surface of the flexible printed wiring board so as to press a part of the contact area between the conductive film and the electrode film, and An elastic tube having an internally sealed structure extending along the arrangement direction, and a pressing plate that holds the elastic tube and presses the back surface of the flexible printed wiring board through the elastic tube are provided. And it features.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the liquid crystal panel inspecting contact device according to the first aspect, the pressing plate is formed with a concave groove extending along the arrangement direction of the conductive films, and the elastic tube is partially formed. It is characterized in that it is held in the concave groove so as to project from the pressing plate.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the contact device for inspecting a liquid crystal panel according to the first aspect, a pressure adjusting means for adjusting the internal pressure of the elastic tube is connected.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the liquid crystal panel inspecting contact device according to the first aspect, in the liquid crystal panel inspecting contact device according to the first aspect, the two elastic tubes are provided. A concave groove extending substantially annularly is formed along the arrangement direction of the conductive films, and the two elastic tubes are held side by side in the concave groove so that part of each elastic tube protrudes from the pressing plate. Is connected to pressure adjusting means for adjusting the internal pressure of each.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the contact device for inspecting a liquid crystal panel according to the first aspect, which comprises a plurality of flexible printed wiring boards, each flexible printed wiring board has a number of electrode films for each drive module of the liquid crystal panel. It is characterized in that a number of conductive films corresponding to the above are formed.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the liquid crystal panel inspecting contact device according to the first aspect, at least an outer surface portion of the elastic tube which is in contact with the flexible printed wiring board has irregularities having a finer pitch than the arrangement pitch of the conductive films. It is characterized in that a part is formed.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the liquid crystal panel inspecting contact device according to the first aspect, the pressing plate is made of a material having substantially the same linear expansion coefficient as that of the insulating substrate of the liquid crystal panel, and the flexible printed wiring. The plate is fixed to the pressing plate in the vicinity of the elastic tube.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the liquid crystal panel inspecting contact device according to the first aspect, the back surface of the insulating film of the flexible printed wiring board is provided at a position corresponding to a contact section between the conductive film and the electrode film. A feature is that a convex portion located on the back side of each conductive film is provided.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention according to claim 9 is for electrically connecting an inspection panel drive device to a plurality of electrode films arranged and formed on an insulating substrate of a liquid crystal panel. A contact device for inspecting a liquid crystal panel, wherein a plurality of conductive films, one end of which is connected to an inspection panel driving device and the other end of which is in contact with an electrode film on an insulating substrate of a liquid crystal panel, are arranged on one side of the insulating film. A flexible printed wiring board formed, a pressing plate for pressing the back surface of the flexible printed wiring board, and a back surface of the insulating film of the flexible printed wiring board corresponding to the contact area between the conductive film and the electrode film. A convex portion located on the back side of each conductive film, wherein one of the convex portion and the pressing surface of the pressing plate is formed of a material that is more easily elastically deformed than the other. And butterflies.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the liquid crystal panel inspecting contact device according to the ninth aspect, wherein the convex portion is formed of a material that is more easily elastically deformed than the pressing surface of the pressing plate. The flexible printed wiring board is fixed to the pressing plate in the vicinity of the contact area between the conductive film and the electrode film, and is made of a material having a linear expansion coefficient substantially the same as that of the insulating substrate of the liquid crystal panel. It is made of a material and is formed on the back surface of the insulating film of the flexible printed wiring board.

The invention according to claim 11 is for inspection of a liquid crystal panel according to claim 9, wherein the pressing surface of the pressing plate is made of a material that is more easily elastically deformed than the convex portion located on the back side of each conductive film. In the contact device, the pressing plate has a main plate made of a material having substantially the same linear expansion coefficient as the insulating substrate of the liquid crystal panel, and a part of the main plate corresponding to the contact area between the conductive film and the electrode film. The flexible printed wiring board is fixed to the main plate portion of the pressing plate in the vicinity of the contact area between the conductive film and the electrode film. And

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, the pressing surface of the pressing plate is formed of a material that is more easily elastically deformed than the convex portions located on the back side of each conductive film. In the contact device, the back surface of the insulating film of the flexible printed wiring board has the convex portion.

[0020]

In the contact device according to claim 1, since the conductive film arranged and formed on one surface of the insulating film of the flexible printed wiring board is used as a contact terminal for contacting the electrode film on the insulating substrate of the liquid crystal panel, the liquid crystal It is possible to inexpensively and highly accurately form the contact terminals having a fine pitch interval corresponding to the fine pitch of the electrode film of the panel. Therefore, it is possible to easily realize the contact device including the contact terminals in the number corresponding to the number of electrode films of the liquid crystal panel. Further, since the conductive film of the flexible printed wiring board is unlikely to cause a short circuit due to deformation or breakage, a conduction failure, and the like, handleability and durability are improved.

Furthermore, since a part of the contact area between the conductive film and the electrode film can be concentratedly pressed by the elastic tube when pressing by the pressing plate, a small pressing force can be applied to the contact portion between the conductive film and the electrode film. A large contact pressure can be generated.

Moreover, since the elastic tube extending in the arrangement direction of the conductive films has an internal sealing structure, the internal pressure of the elastic tube is utilized to ensure a uniform contact pressure at the contact portion between each conductive film and the electrode film. can do. That is, the contact pressure between each conductive film and the electrode film can be equalized with higher accuracy than in the case where an elastic tube having an open inside is used.

In the contact device according to the second aspect, since the elastic tube is held in the concave groove formed in the pressing plate, part of the elastic tube is held in the concave groove when the flexible printed wiring board is pressed. Since the position is stable, each conductive film and the electrode film can be brought into stable contact with each other.

In the contact device according to the third aspect, the internal pressure of the elastic tube can be increased or decreased when the conductive film of the flexible printed wiring board and the electrode film on the insulating substrate are in contact with each other. Even if dust or dirt that causes poor continuity is attached to the contact surface of, by increasing or decreasing the internal pressure of the elastic tube,
Securing a larger contact pressure between the conductive film and the electrode film that can overcome physical or electrical obstacles caused by foreign matter such as dust, or conversely weakening the contact pressure and making contact pressure around the foreign matter such as dust. Can be dispersed to secure the contact area. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the conduction failure between the conductive film and the electrode film due to the adhered matter such as dust, and to reliably perform the display inspection of the liquid crystal panel itself.

In the liquid crystal panel inspecting contact device according to the fourth aspect, the internal pressures of the two elastic tubes arranged and held in the concave groove are alternately changed when the flexible printed wiring board is pressed by the pressing plate. As a result, a so-called wiping action can be generated at the contact portion between the conductive film and the electrode film. Therefore, each conductive film and the electrode film can be more surely conducted.

In the contact device according to the fifth aspect, since the flexible printed wiring board having the same number of conductive films can be used in a portion having the same number of electrode films of the drive module of the liquid crystal panel, the flexible printed wiring board The common use makes it possible to inexpensively provide contact devices of various sizes used for liquid crystal panels having different sizes, that is, liquid crystal panels having different numbers of drive modules and total electrode films.

In the contact device according to the sixth aspect, since the pressing force of the pressing plate can be concentrated on the convex portion of the outer surface of the elastic tube and applied to the back surface of the flexible printed wiring board, each pressing force can be reduced. A large contact pressure can be secured between the conductive film and the electrode film, and the contact device can be further reduced in weight. Further, when dust or the like adheres between the outer surface of the elastic tube and the flexible printed wiring board, the flexible printed wiring board can be pressed by the convex portion of the outer surface of the elastic tube while avoiding the dust or the like. The contact pressure between each conductive film and the electrode film can be made stable.

In the contact device according to the seventh aspect, since the back surface of the flexible printed wiring board is fixed to the pressing plate near the elastic tube, the electrode film on the insulating substrate is adjusted by aligning the pressing plate with the insulating substrate. It is possible to easily and quickly align the conductive films of the flexible printed wiring board with respect to.

Further, since the pressing plate is made of a material having substantially the same linear expansion coefficient as that of the insulating substrate of the liquid crystal panel, the flexible plate fixed to the pressing plate when the environmental temperature during the display inspection of the liquid crystal panel is changed. The pitch of the conductive film of the printed wiring board can be made to substantially follow the change of the pitch of the electrode film on the insulating substrate of the liquid crystal panel, and the conductive state between each conductive film and the electrode film can be maintained. Therefore, the display inspection of the liquid crystal panel that changes the environmental temperature can be performed without any trouble.

In the contact device according to the eighth aspect, when the pressing plate is pressed, the convex portion located on the back side of each conductive film of the flexible printed wiring board is intensively pressed by the elastic tube held by the pressing plate. Therefore, each conductive film of the flexible printed wiring board and the electrode film on the insulating substrate of the liquid crystal panel can be more surely brought into contact with each other.

In the contact device according to the present invention, since the conductive film arranged on one surface of the insulating film of the flexible printed wiring board is used as a contact terminal for contacting the electrode film on the insulating substrate of the liquid crystal panel, the liquid crystal is used. It is possible to inexpensively and highly accurately form the contact terminals having a fine pitch interval corresponding to the fine pitch of the electrode film of the panel. Therefore, it is possible to easily realize the contact device including the contact terminals in the number corresponding to the number of electrode films of the liquid crystal panel. In addition, the conductive film of the flexible printed wiring board is short-circuited due to deformation or breakage,
Since poor continuity is unlikely to occur, handleability and durability are improved.

Further, the flexible printed wiring board is pressed by the pressing plate via the convex portion provided on the back surface of the insulating film, and the convex portion is located on the back side of each conductive film in the contact area between the conductive film and the electrode film. Therefore, the pressing force of the pressing plate can be concentrated and acted on the contact area between the conductive film and the electrode film. Therefore, a large contact pressure can be generated at the contact portion between the conductive film and the electrode film with a small pressing force.

Moreover, since one of the convex portion or the pressing surface of the pressing plate located on the back side of each conductive film is made of a material that is more easily elastically deformed than the other, the convex portion or the pressing surface of the pressing plate is By utilizing elasticity, a uniform contact pressure can be secured at the contact portion between each conductive film and the electrode film.

In the contact device according to the tenth aspect of the present invention, a rubber convex portion that is more easily elastically deformed than the pressing surface of the pressing plate is provided at a low cost on the back side of each conductive film on the back surface of the insulating film of the flexible printed wiring board. Since it can be provided with a fine pitch with high precision, it is possible to easily and inexpensively realize a contact device that secures a uniform contact pressure at the contact portion between each conductive film and the electrode film by utilizing the elasticity of the convex portion. it can.

Further, the pressing plate is made of a material having substantially the same linear expansion coefficient as that of the insulating substrate of the liquid crystal panel, and the flexible printed wiring board is fixed to the pressing plate in the vicinity of the contact area between the conductive film and the electrode film. Therefore, when the environmental temperature during the display inspection of the liquid crystal panel is changed, the pitch of the conductive film of the flexible printed wiring board fixed to the pressing plate almost follows the change of the pitch of the electrode film on the insulating substrate of the liquid crystal panel. Therefore, the conductive state of the conductive film and the electrode film can be maintained. Therefore, the display inspection of the liquid crystal panel that changes the environmental temperature can be performed without any trouble.

In the contact device according to the eleventh aspect, it is possible to inexpensively realize the pressing plate having the pressing surface that is more easily elastically deformed than the convex portion provided on the back surface of the insulating film of the flexible printed wiring board.

Further, the substrate portion of the pressing plate is made of a material having substantially the same linear expansion coefficient as the insulating substrate of the liquid crystal panel, and the flexible printed wiring board has the main plate of the pressing plate in the vicinity of the contact area between the conductive film and the electrode film. Since it is fixed to the part, the pitch of the conductive film of the flexible printed wiring board fixed to the main plate part of the pressing plate is changed to the insulating substrate of the liquid crystal panel when the environmental temperature during the display inspection of the liquid crystal panel is changed. It is possible to substantially follow the change in the pitch of the electrode film, and it is possible to maintain the conductive state between each conductive film and the electrode film. Therefore,
The display inspection of the liquid crystal panel that changes the environmental temperature can be performed without any trouble.

In the contact device according to the twelfth aspect, since the insulating sheet of the flexible printed wiring board itself has a convex portion located on the back side of each conductive film on the back surface thereof, the convex portion is formed on the back surface of the insulating sheet. The number of manufacturing steps can be reduced and the manufacturing cost can be reduced as compared with the case of forming by adhesion.

[0039]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

1 to 3 show an embodiment of the present invention. First, referring to FIG. 1, a liquid crystal panel 1 has a transparent insulating substrate 2 made of, for example, glass, a liquid crystal display unit 3 is formed on the insulating substrate 2, and an insulating substrate is provided along the periphery of the liquid crystal display unit 3. A plurality of transparent electrode films (for example, ITO electrode films) 4 connected to a display element (not shown) are formed on the surface 2. The liquid crystal panel 1 is positionably held on a rectangular frame-shaped base 5. When the liquid crystal panel 1 is a transmissive liquid crystal panel, the liquid crystal panel 1 is placed inside the base 5.
A surface light source device (not shown) for illuminating the back surface of the device is provided.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 indicates a liquid crystal panel inspection contact device for electrically connecting an inspection panel driving device (not shown) to each electrode film 4 on the insulating substrate 2 of the liquid crystal panel 1. The contact device 10 includes a rectangular frame-shaped pressing plate 11 and a plurality of flexible printed wiring boards (hereinafter, referred to as FPCs) held by the pressing plate 11.
As shown in FIG. 3, each FPC 12 has an insulating film 13 and a plurality of conductive films 14 arranged and formed on one surface thereof. The number of conductive films 14 in each FPC 12 corresponds to the number of electrode films 4 for each drive module of the liquid crystal panel 1, and the total number of conductive films 14 matches the total number of electrode films 4. Although not shown, the insulating film 1
It is preferable to cover the upper surface of the conductive film 14 formed on one side of the conductive film 14 with a cover film, except for the connecting sections at both ends.

As shown in FIG. 1, a connector 15 is attached to one end of the FPC 12.
Can be connected to the contacts 8 provided on the substrate 9, and the conductive films 14 can be connected through the contacts 15 and 8.
One end of can be connected to the inspection panel drive device. In addition, as schematically shown in FIGS.
Reference numeral 12 indicates the insulating substrate 2 of the liquid crystal panel 1 on the other end of the conductive film 14.
The pressing plate 1 is arranged so as to be arranged at the same pitch as the upper electrode film 4.
1 arranged in a ring shape along the inner peripheral portion of the adhesive 1 (see FIG. 3).
It is fixed to the pressing plate 11 by the reference. The pressing plate 11 is made of a material having substantially the same linear expansion coefficient as the insulating substrate 2 of the liquid crystal panel 1, such as glass. A support window 6 for positioning adjustment and a display window frame 7 also serving as a weight body are provided on the pressing plate 11.
Etc. can be stacked and used.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the pressing plate 11 holds an elastic tube 17 which is in contact with a part of the rear surface of the FPC 12 and which has a substantially cylindrical cross section and extends in the arrangement direction of the conductive films 14. The elastic tube 17 includes the conductive film 14 and the electrode film 4.
The position and size are set so as to press a part of the contact area with. The elastic tube 17 may be adhered and held on the flat pressing surface of the pressing plate 11, but in this embodiment, the pressing plate 11 is formed with a concave groove 18 extending substantially annularly along the inner peripheral edge thereof. The elastic tube 17 is held in the groove 18 so that a part of the elastic tube 17 projects from the pressing plate 11. The FPC 12 has its back surface fixed to the pressing plate 11 by the adhesive 16 in the vicinity of the elastic tube 17.

The elastic tube 17 having an internally sealed structure may have a structure in which both ends are sealed. In this embodiment, one end 17a of the elastic tube 17 is sealed and the other end is internally sealed. A tube connector 19 equipped with a check valve (not shown) is attached, whereby the elastic tube 17 has an internally sealed structure. Further, the tube connector 19 is connected to the air compressor 2 via the connector 20.
2. It can be connected to a pressure adjusting device 21 including a pressure adjusting valve 23 and the like, and the pressure adjusting device 21 can freely adjust the internal air pressure of the elastic tube 17.

In the contact device 10 having the above structure, the conductive film 14 formed on one surface of the insulating film 13 of the FPC 12 is used as a contact terminal for contacting the electrode film 4 on the insulating substrate 2 of the liquid crystal panel 1. Therefore, it is possible to inexpensively and highly accurately form the contact terminals having a fine pitch interval corresponding to the fine pitch of the electrode film 4 of the liquid crystal panel 1. Therefore, it is possible to easily realize the contact device including the number of contact terminals corresponding to the number of electrode films of the liquid crystal panel 1. Also, FPC
Since the conductive film 14 of 12 is unlikely to cause a short circuit due to deformation or breakage, poor conduction, and the like, handleability and durability are improved.

Further, since a part of the contact area between the conductive film 14 and the electrode film 4 can be concentratedly pressed by the elastic tube 17 when the pressing plate 11 is pressed, the conductive film 14 and the electrode film 4 can be pressed with a small pressing force. A large contact pressure can be generated at the contact portion with 4.

Moreover, since the elastic tubes 17 extending in the arrangement direction of the conductive films 14 have an internal closed structure, the internal pressures of the elastic tubes 17 are utilized to make the conductive films 14 and the electrode films 4 respectively.
A uniform contact pressure can be secured in the contact portion with. That is, the contact pressure between each conductive film and the electrode film can be equalized with higher accuracy than in the case where an elastic tube having an open inside is used.

Further, since the elastic tube 17 is held in the concave groove 18 formed in the pressing plate 11, a part of the elastic tube 17 is held in the concave groove 18 when the FPC 12 is pressed and the position is stabilized. The conductive film 14 and the electrode film 4 can be brought into stable contact with each other.

Further, since the internal pressure of the elastic tube 17 can be increased or decreased when the conductive film 14 of the FPC 12 and the electrode film 4 on the insulating substrate 2 are in contact with each other, the conductive film 14 and the electrode film 4 can be adjusted.
Even if dust or dirt that causes poor continuity is attached to the contact surface with, by adjusting the internal pressure of the elastic tube 17 to increase or decrease, physical or electrical obstacles due to the attached substances such as dust can be prevented. It is possible to secure a larger contact pressure that can be overcome between the conductive film 14 and the electrode film 4, or conversely weaken the contact pressure to disperse the contact pressure around the deposits such as dust to secure the contact area. It will be possible. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the conductive failure between the conductive film 14 and the electrode film 4 due to the adhered matter such as dust, and to reliably perform the display inspection of the liquid crystal panel 1 itself.

Further, in the same number of electrode films of the drive module of the liquid crystal panel 1, the FPC 12 having the same number of conductive films is used.
Since the FPC 12 is used in common, it is possible to inexpensively provide contact devices of various sizes used for liquid crystal panels having different sizes, that is, liquid crystal panels having different numbers of drive modules and total electrode films.

Further, in the contact device having the above-mentioned structure, since the back surface of the FPC 12 is fixed to the pressing plate 11 in the vicinity of the elastic tube 17, the pressing plate 11 is aligned with the insulating substrate 2 so that the insulating substrate 2 is covered. Positioning of each conductive film 14 with respect to the electrode film 4 can be performed easily and quickly.

Further, since the pressing plate 11 is made of a material having substantially the same linear expansion coefficient as the insulating substrate 2 of the liquid crystal panel 1, the pressing plate 11 is changed when the environmental temperature at the time of the display inspection of the liquid crystal panel 1 is changed. Conductive film 1 of FPC 12 fixed to
4 can be made to substantially follow changes in the pitch of the electrode films 4 on the insulating substrate 2 of the liquid crystal panel 1.
The electrical connection between the electrode 4 and the electrode film 4 can be maintained. Therefore, the display inspection of the liquid crystal panel 1 that changes the ambient temperature can be performed without any trouble.

As described above, the elastic tube 17 of the above-mentioned embodiment has a substantially cylindrical cross section, but the invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG.
FPC12 has a substantially U-shaped cross section on the side held by
The cross-sectional shape on the side contacting with may be a convex curved surface.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4B, the elastic tube 17 may be provided with uneven portions 24 having a finer pitch than the arrangement pitch of the conductive films 14 at least on the outer surface portion contacting the FPC 12. The groove of the uneven portion 24 may extend in the length direction of the elastic tube 17, or may intersect with each other and extend in the spiral direction. By providing such uneven portions 24, the pressing force of the pressing plate 11 can be concentrated on the protruding portions on the outer surface of the elastic tube 17 and act on the back surface of the FPC 12, so that each conductive film 14 can be pressed with a smaller pressing force. A large contact pressure can be secured between the contact electrode 10 and the electrode film 4, and the weight of the contact device 10 can be further reduced. In addition, the outer surface of the elastic tube 17 and the FPC 12
When dust or the like adheres between the conductive film 14 and the electrode film 4, the FPC 12 can be pressed by the convex portion on the outer surface of the elastic tube 17 while avoiding the dust or the like. The pressure can be made more stable.

FIG. 5 shows a modification of the elastic tube 17 and the pressing plate 11. As shown in FIG.
The pressing plate 11 is formed with a concave groove 18 capable of accommodating the two elastic tubes 17, and the two elastic tubes 17 are arranged in the concave groove 18 so that a part of each elastic tube 17 projects from the pressing plate 11. It is held. Further, although not shown, both elastic tubes 17 are connected to a pressure adjusting device for adjusting the internal pressure of each, as in the above-described embodiment. Although the elastic tube 17 of this embodiment has the cross-sectional shape shown in FIG. 4 (a), it is not limited to this and, for example, the cross-sectional shape shown in FIG. 3 or 4 (b) may be used. it can. The groove 18 may have a constant width from the groove bottom portion to the opening end, but in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5A, the groove 18 extends from the vicinity of the opening end toward the opening end. It is expanding.

In the contact device of this embodiment,
As shown in FIG. 2B, when the internal pressures of both elastic tubes 17 are substantially equal, both elastic tubes 17 are laterally displaced at the expanded portion of the concave groove 18 when the FPC 12 is pressed by the pressing plate 11, The slack of the FPC 12 can be eliminated and the tension can be increased.

It is also possible to alternately change the internal pressures of both elastic tubes 17, and by alternately changing the internal pressures of both elastic tubes 17, the contact portion between elastic tube 17 and FPC 12 and conductive film 14 are formed. A so-called wiping action can be generated in each contact portion with the electrode film 4. Therefore, each conductive film 14 and the electrode film 4 can be more surely electrically connected.

6 and 7 show another embodiment of the present invention. In these figures, the same components as those in the above-mentioned embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals. The contact device 10 of this embodiment does not include the elastic tube described above, but as can be seen from FIGS. 6A to 6C, F
On the back surface of the insulating film 13 of the PC 12, the convex portion 25 located on the back side of each conductive film 14 is provided. In the case of this embodiment, it is important that one of the convex portion 25 and the pressing surface of the pressing plate 11 is formed of an elastic material that is more easily elastically deformed than the other, but in this embodiment, the convex portion 25 is formed. Is made of a rubber material such as silicon rubber that is more easily elastically deformed than the pressing surface of the pressing plate 11, and is formed on the back surface of the insulating film 13. On the other hand, the pressing plate 11 is made of a material such as glass having substantially the same linear expansion coefficient as that of the insulating substrate 2 of the liquid crystal panel 1 as in the above embodiment, and the FPC 12 is made of a conductive film 14 as shown in FIG. It is fixed to the pressing plate 11 in the vicinity of the contact area with the electrode film 4.

As shown in FIG. 6B, the insulating film 1
A plurality of protrusions 2 are provided on the backside of each conductive film 14 on the backside of the protrusion 3.
It is preferable that the 5 are arranged in an array along the length direction of the conductive film 14.

In this embodiment, the conductive film 14 arrayed on one side of the insulating film 13 of the FPC 12 is used as a contact terminal for contacting the electrode film 4 on the insulating substrate 2 of the liquid crystal panel 1, and therefore the liquid crystal panel 1 is used. It is possible to inexpensively and highly accurately form the contact terminals having a fine pitch interval corresponding to the fine pitch of the electrode film 4. Therefore, it is possible to easily realize the contact device including the number of contact terminals corresponding to the number of electrode films of the liquid crystal panel 1. Further, since the conductive film 14 of the FPC 12 is unlikely to cause a short circuit due to deformation or breakage, a defective conduction, and the like, handleability and durability are improved.

Further, the FPC 12 is pressed by the pressing plate 11 via the protrusions 25 provided on the back surface of the insulating film 13, and the protrusions 25 are formed on the conductive film 14 in the contact area between the conductive film 14 and the electrode film 4. Since it is located on the back side, the pressing plate 1
The pressing force of 1 can be concentrated on the contact area between the conductive film 4 and the electrode film 4 to act. Therefore, a large contact pressure can be generated at the contact portion between the conductive film 14 and the electrode film 4 with a small pressing force.

Moreover, since the convex portion 25 located on the back side of each conductive film 14 is formed of a rubber material that is more easily elastically deformed than the pressing surface of the pressing plate 11, the elasticity of the convex portion 25 is utilized to make each conductive portion conductive. A uniform contact pressure can be secured at the contact portion between the film 14 and the electrode film 4.

FIG. 8 shows a modification of the embodiment shown in FIG. In the figure, the same components as those of the embodiment of FIG. 7 are designated by the same reference numerals. This embodiment is characterized in that the pressing surface of the pressing plate 11 is made of an elastic material that is more easily elastically deformed than the convex portion 25 located on the back side of each conductive film 14. More specifically, the pressing plate 11 includes a main plate portion 26 made of a material having substantially the same linear expansion coefficient as the insulating substrate 2 of the liquid crystal panel 1, and the main plate portion 26.
The elastic pressing part 27 made of a rubber material is formed in a film shape on a part of the pressing surface. On the other hand, the convex portion 25 is made of metal, hard resin, or the like, and is formed on the back surface of the insulating film 13. Further, the FPC 12 is adhesively fixed to the main plate portion 26 of the pressing plate 11 in the vicinity of the contact area between the conductive film 14 and the electrode film 4.

In the contact device of this embodiment,
The pressing force of the pressing plate 11 can be concentrated on the convex portion 25, and the contact pressure between each conductive film 14 and the electrode film 4 is made uniform by utilizing the elasticity of the elastic pressing portion forming the pressing surface of the pressing plate 11. Can be transformed. Insulation film 1 for FPC12
A pressing plate having a pressing surface that is more easily elastically deformed than the convex portion 25 provided on the back surface of the plate 3 can be realized at low cost.

Further, the substrate portion of the pressing plate is made of a material having substantially the same linear expansion coefficient as the insulating substrate of the liquid crystal panel, and F
Since the PC is fixed to the main plate portion of the pressing plate in the vicinity of the contact area between the conductive film and the electrode film, it is fixed to the main plate portion of the pressing plate when the environmental temperature during the display inspection of the liquid crystal panel is changed. It is possible to make the pitch of the conductive film of the FPC substantially follow the change of the pitch of the electrode film on the insulating substrate of the liquid crystal panel,
The conductive state between each conductive film and the electrode film can be maintained. Therefore, the display inspection of the liquid crystal panel that changes the environmental temperature can be performed without any trouble.

Each of the projections 25 in the above-described embodiments of FIGS. 7 and 8 has a substantially hemispherical projection shape.
As illustrated in (a), (b), and (c), the convex portion 25 may have a protrusion shape such as a truncated cone shape, a sideways triangular prism shape, or a cone shape.

Further, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 6B, the convex portions 25 are arranged in a single row along the length direction of the conductive film 14, but FIGS. As shown in FIG. 5, a plurality of convex portions 25 of various shapes may be provided in a staggered arrangement in the length direction of each conductive film 14.

Further, as shown in FIG. 11, the conductive film 14
The back surface of the insulating film 13 formed with may be formed in a shape having the convex portion 25. In this case, it is preferable that each of the convex portions 25 is located on the back side of the conductive film 14 and is arranged in a plurality in the length direction of the conductive film 14, but the length of the conductive film 14 is formed on the back side of each conductive film 14. One convex portion 25 extending in the direction
May have. When using the FPC 12 shown in FIG. 11, it is necessary to form the pressing surface of the pressing plate 11 with a material that is more easily elastically deformed than the convex portion 25.

As described above, FIGS. 1 to 5 show the embodiment using the elastic tube 17, and FIGS. 6 to 11 show the embodiment in which the convex portion 25 is provided on the back surface of the insulating film 13 of the FPC 12. As shown in, it is also possible to use the FPC 12 provided with the convex portion 25 on the back surface of the insulating film 13 and the pressing plate 11 holding the elastic tube 17 in combination. However, in this case, the convex portion 25 is attached to the elastic tube 17
It is desirable to use a material that does not easily elastically deform.

Although the embodiments shown in the drawings have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above,
For example, the number of conductive films 14 corresponding to the number of the electrode films 4 on the insulating substrate 2 of the liquid crystal panel 1 may be arrayed on one FPC. Further, the shape of the pressing plate and the shape and arrangement of the FPC can be changed according to the arrangement of the electrode films of the liquid crystal panel 1 to be inspected. Further, the contact device of the present invention can be used not only for inspecting a transmissive liquid crystal panel but also for inspecting a reflective liquid crystal panel.

[0071]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, it is possible to manufacture at low cost, and it is excellent in durability and reliability of continuity, and moreover, the display inspection of the entire screen of the liquid crystal panel is simple and efficient. A contact device for inspecting a liquid crystal panel that can be performed can be provided.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a contact device and peripheral equipment showing an embodiment of the present invention using an elastic tube.

FIG. 2 is a schematic bottom view of the contact device shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of a main part of the contact device shown in FIG.

4A and 4B are cross-sectional views showing modified examples of the cross-sectional shape of the elastic tube used in the contact device.

5 (a) and 5 (b) are longitudinal cross-sectional views of a main part of another embodiment of the present invention using two elastic tubes, (a) just before starting pressing and (b) showing The deformation state of the elastic tube when pressed is shown.

FIG. 6 shows another embodiment of the present invention in which a convex portion is provided on the back surface of the insulating film of the flexible printed wiring board.
(A) A bottom view of essential parts of the flexible printed wiring board as seen from the conductive film side, (b) a plan view of essential parts of the flexible printed wiring board as seen from the convex side, and (c) of FIG. -A
It is sectional drawing which followed the line.

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of essential parts of a contact device showing an embodiment in which the convex portion of the flexible printed wiring board shown in FIG. 6 is made of a material that is more easily elastically deformed than the pressing surface of the pressing plate.

8 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of essential parts of a contact device showing an embodiment in which the convex portion of the flexible printed wiring board shown in FIG. 6 is made of a material that is less elastically deformable than the pressing surface of the pressing plate.

9 (a), (b), and (c) are perspective views showing modified examples of the shape of the convex portion provided on the back surface of the insulating film of the flexible printed wiring board.

10A and 10B are main-portion plan views each showing a modified example of the arrangement state of the convex portions on the back surface of the insulating film of the flexible printed wiring board.

FIG. 11 is a longitudinal sectional view of an essential part showing an embodiment of a flexible printed wiring board having a convex portion on the back surface of an insulating film.

FIG. 12 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of essential parts showing an embodiment of a contact device including a pressing plate holding an elastic tube and a flexible printed wiring board having a convex portion on the back surface of an insulating film.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Liquid crystal panel 2 Insulating substrate 3 Liquid crystal display part 4 Electrode film 10 Contact device 11 Pressing plate 12 Flexible printed wiring board (FPC) 13 Insulating film 14 Conductive film 16 Adhesive 17 Elastic tube 18 Recessed groove 21 Internal pressure adjusting device 24 Uneven part 25 Convex part 26 Main plate part 27 Elastic pressing part

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A liquid crystal panel inspection contact device for electrically connecting an inspection panel drive device to a plurality of electrode films arranged and formed on an insulating substrate of a liquid crystal panel, one end of which is an inspection panel. A flexible printed wiring board formed by arranging a plurality of conductive films, which are connected to a driving device and whose other end is in contact with an electrode film on an insulating substrate of a liquid crystal panel, on one surface of the insulating film, the conductive film and the electrode film. An elastic tube having an internally sealed structure that is in contact with a part of the back surface of the flexible printed wiring board so as to press a part of the contact area with the elastic printed circuit board and that holds the elastic tube. A contact device for inspecting a liquid crystal panel, comprising: a pressing plate that presses the back surface of the flexible printed wiring board via the elastic tube. 2. The pressing plate is formed with a groove extending along the arrangement direction of the conductive films, and the elastic tube is held in the groove so that a part of the elastic tube projects from the pressing plate. The contact device for inspecting a liquid crystal panel according to claim 1. 3. The elastic tube is connected to a pressure adjusting means for adjusting the internal pressure of the elastic tube.
A contact device for inspecting a liquid crystal panel as described. 4. The contact device for inspecting a liquid crystal panel according to claim 1, comprising two elastic tubes, wherein the pressing plate is provided with a groove extending substantially annularly along the arrangement direction of the conductive films. The elastic tubes are held side by side in the groove so that a part of each elastic tube protrudes from the pressing plate, and both elastic tubes are connected with pressure adjusting means for adjusting each internal pressure. Contact device for LCD panel inspection. 5. The contact device for liquid crystal panel inspection according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of flexible printed wiring boards, wherein each flexible printed wiring board has a number of conductive layers corresponding to the number of electrode films for each drive module of the liquid crystal panel. A contact device for inspecting a liquid crystal panel, wherein a film is formed. 6. The contact for liquid crystal panel inspection according to claim 1, wherein an uneven portion having a finer pitch than the arrangement pitch of the conductive films is formed on at least an outer surface portion of the elastic tube which is in contact with the flexible printed wiring board. apparatus. 7. The pressing plate is made of a material having substantially the same linear expansion coefficient as the insulating substrate of the liquid crystal panel, and the flexible printed wiring board is fixed to the pressing plate in the vicinity of the elastic tube. The contact device for inspecting a liquid crystal panel according to claim 1. 8. A convex portion located on the back side of each conductive film is provided on the back surface of the insulating film of the flexible printed wiring board, corresponding to the contact section between the conductive film and the electrode film. The contact device for inspecting a liquid crystal panel according to claim 1. 9. A liquid crystal panel inspection contact device for electrically connecting an inspection panel drive device to a plurality of electrode films arranged and formed on an insulating substrate of a liquid crystal panel, one end of which is an inspection panel. A flexible printed wiring board formed by arranging a plurality of conductive films connected to a driving device and having the other end contacting an electrode film on an insulating substrate of a liquid crystal panel on one surface of the insulating film; A pressing plate that presses the back surface, and a convex portion that is provided on the back surface of the insulating film of the flexible printed wiring board corresponding to the contact section between the conductive film and the electrode film and that is located on the back side of each conductive film, A contact device for inspecting a liquid crystal panel, wherein one of the convex portion and the pressing surface of the pressing plate is formed of a material that is more easily elastically deformed than the other. 10. The contact device for inspecting a liquid crystal panel according to claim 9, wherein the convex portion is formed of a material that is more easily elastically deformed than the pressing surface of the pressing plate, wherein the pressing plate is an insulating substrate of the liquid crystal panel. Made of a material having substantially the same linear expansion coefficient, the flexible printed wiring board is fixed to the pressing plate in the vicinity of the contact area between the conductive film and the electrode film, and the convex portion is made of a rubber material, and A contact device for inspecting a liquid crystal panel, which is formed on the back surface of an insulating film of a flexible printed wiring board. 11. The contact device for inspecting a liquid crystal panel according to claim 9, wherein the pressing surface of the pressing plate is formed of a material that is more easily elastically deformed than the convex portion located on the back side of each conductive film. The plate is formed in a film shape on a part of the main plate part corresponding to a contact section between the main plate part made of a material having substantially the same linear expansion coefficient as the insulating substrate of the liquid crystal panel and the conductive film and the electrode film. An elastic pressing portion made of a rubber material, and the flexible printed wiring board is fixed to the main plate portion of the pressing plate in the vicinity of the contact area between the conductive film and the electrode film. Contact device. 12. The contact device for inspecting a liquid crystal panel according to claim 9, wherein the pressing surface of the pressing plate is formed of a material that is more easily elastically deformed than the convex portion located on the back side of each conductive film. A contact device for inspecting a liquid crystal panel, wherein a back surface of an insulating film of a printed wiring board has the convex portion.