Detection apparatus and operating method

The disclosed technology provides a detection apparatus and its operating method. The disclosed technology provides a detection apparatus, comprising: a test chamber, an exchange chamber, and a communicating mechanism, which is provided between the test chamber and the exchange chamber and capable of rendering the test chamber and the exchange chamber separated from or communicated with each other; wherein transmission devices are positioned within the test chamber and the exchange chamber, respectively, and the transmission devices are adapted to convey a probe frame from the test chamber to the exchange chamber or from the exchange chamber to the test chamber.

BACKGROUND

Embodiments of the disclosed technology relate to the region of mechanical techniques, particularly relates to a detection apparatus and an operating method.

Electron beam matrix detection technique is one of the most common detection techniques in the industry of TFT-LCD (Thin Film Transistor Liquid Crystal Display). The detection results can be achieved, usually in a vacuum environment, by inputting signals to the pads on the substrate to be tested through a probe frame in a test chamber, and then testing the pixels applied with the signals. To different product types, effective test can be performed on glass substrates to be tested only when corresponding probe frame has been employed, because glass substrates of different types have different shapes and pad arrangement. In current industry, although many improvements have been made on the product design and probe frame structure, it is also unavoidable to install and replace probe frames during manufacturing.

During the process of installation or replacement of above-mentioned probe frames, the inventors have noted there exists at least the following problems. Due to the larger volume of the test chamber, a longer timer period is needed for restoring the vacuum environment which is required during the test chamber detection after the test chamber is opened for installing or exchanging the probe frame, and detecting efficiency decreases greatly.

SUMMARY

The embodiments of this disclosed technology provide a detection apparatus and its operating method, which can improve detecting efficiency effectively.

An aspect of the disclosed technology provides a detection apparatus, comprising a test chamber, an exchange chamber, and a communicating mechanism, which is provided between the test chamber and the exchange chamber and capable of rendering the test chamber and the exchange chamber separated from or communicated with each other; wherein transmission devices are positioned within the test chamber and the exchange chamber, respectively, and the transmission devices are adapted to convey a probe frame from the test chamber to the exchange chamber or from the exchange chamber to the test chamber.

Another aspect of the disclosed technology provides a method for operating the detection apparatus, comprising: separating an exchange chamber of a detection apparatus from a test chamber of the detection apparatus; vacuum pumping of the exchange chamber, such that the vacuum level in the exchange chamber is same as that in the test chamber; communicating the exchange chamber with the test chamber; and conveying a probe frame from the test chamber to the exchange chamber or from the exchange chamber to the test chamber.

With the detection apparatus and the operating method provided by the embodiments of this disclosed technology, due to the test chamber and exchange chamber capable of communicating with or separating from the test chamber comprised in detection apparatus, vacuum pumping operation can be performed to the exchange chamber separated from the test chamber with the exchange chamber as intermediation. When the vacuum level of the exchange chamber is the same as that of the test chamber, the exchange chamber is communicated with the test chamber, and a probe frame is conveyed from the test chamber to the exchange chamber or from the exchange chamber to the test chamber. In this way, during the procedure of exchanging the probe frame, the vacuum environment in the test chamber is not disadvantageously affected, and it is not necessary to wait for the restoration of vacuum environment in the test chamber, thus the time required for exchanging probe frame can be decreased, and the detecting efficiency can be improved effectively.

Further scope of applicability of the present disclosed technology will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the disclosed technology, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the disclosed technology will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A detailed description will be given in the following about the technical solutions of the embodiments of this disclosed technology in conjunction with the drawings of the embodiments of this disclosed technology. It should be noted, the embodiments described blow are only part of and not all of the embodiments of this disclosed technology. The other embodiments conceived by those skilled in the relevant technical field based on the described embodiments of this disclosed technology without any inventive work are in the protection scope of this disclosed technology.

As shown inFIG. 1, the embodiment of this disclosed technology provides a detection apparatus, comprising a test chamber1and an exchange chamber2, and a communication mechanism3is provided between the test chamber1and the exchange chamber2, with which the test chamber1and the exchange chamber can be separated from or communicated with each other.

A transmission device41is provided within the test chamber1, and a transmission device42is provided within the exchange chamber2. The transmission device41and the transmission device42are used to convey a probe frame5, and can convey the probe frame5from the test chamber1to the exchange chamber2or from the exchange chamber2to the test chamber1.

In performing detection with the detection apparatus provided by the embodiment of this disclosed technology, the communication mechanism3is in a closing state of separating the test chamber1from exchange chamber2, the probe frame5is disposed within the test chamber1, and an object to be tested (for example an array substrate) is positioned below the probe frame5. The test chamber1is pumped to the vacuum level required by detection, and the object to be tested is detected in the vacuum environment within the test chamber1.

When it is necessary to change the probe frame5, the exchange chamber2is first subjected to a vacuum pumping operation when the communication mechanism3is kept in the closing state, in which the exchange chamber2and the test chamber1are separated from each other. When the vacuum level in the exchange chamber2is the same as that in the test chamber1, the communication mechanism3is brought into an opening state for communicating the test chamber1with the exchange chamber2, and the original probe frame5is conveyed from the test chamber1to the exchange chamber2or the replaced probe frame5is conveyed from the exchange chamber2to the test chamber1by the transmission device41and transmission device42. Thereafter, the communication mechanism3is closed so as to separate the test chamber1from the exchange chamber2again.

In this way, with the detection apparatus provided by the embodiment of this disclosed technology, the vacuum environment in the test chamber1during the procedure of exchanging the probe frame with the exchange chamber2as intermediation is not disadvantageously affected, and it is not necessary to wait for the restoration of vacuum environment in the test chamber, thus the time required for exchanging probe frame decreased, and the detecting efficiency improved effectively.

In an example, the volume of the exchange chamber2is smaller than that of the test chamber1, and the volume of the exchange chamber2may be just for the probe frame being arranged completely therein and be capable of being conveyed by transmission device42so as to decrease the time for the vacuum pumping of the exchange chamber2to reach the same vacuum level as that in the test chamber1, thus the time for replacing a probe frame can be further decreased and detecting efficiency can be improved effectively.

An example of the communication mechanism3is a valve, and when the valve is opened, the test chamber1and the exchange chamber2are communicated with each other, but when the valve is close, the test chamber1and the exchange chamber2are separated from each other. The communication mechanism3may be a sealing valve so as to effectively prevent the vacuum level in the test chamber1from being disadvantageously affected. Of course, the communication mechanism3can also be another structure allowing the test chamber1and the exchange chamber2to be communicated with or separated from each other, such as flap, and the present disclosed technology is not limited thereto.

The transmission device41and the transmission device42can be realized in various ways, for example, a transmission roller wheel or a conveyor belt; Such a transmission roller wheel or a conveyor belt can not only support the probe frame5placed thereon but also transport the same, that is, convey the probe frame5within the test chamber1and the exchange chamber2.

Furthermore, both of the transmission device41and the transmission device42can have a transmission rail. For the transmission device realized with transmission roller wheels, its transmission rail comprises the transmission roller wheels arranged in a certain order, while for the transmission device realized with a conveyor belt, the running path forms its transmission rail. The probe frame5is conveyed along the transmission rails of the transmission device41and the transmission device42from the exchange chamber2to the test chamber1or from the test chamber1to the exchange chamber2. It should be noted that the width of the transmission rail of transmission device41could be greater than, equal to or less than the width of the transmission rail of the transmission device42, as long as the transmission for the probe frame5arranged thereon can be ensured. This disclosed technology is not limited thereto.

Although there is no physical connection between the transmission device41and the transmission device42due to the existence of the communication mechanism3, before probe frame5runs out of any one of the transmission device41and the transmission device42, the physical dimension of the probe frame5is enough to make the probe frame5runs into the other transmission device when it is conveyed along the transmission rails, thereby a reliable conveyance for the probe frame5is ensured between the test chamber and the exchange chamber.

Further, to avoid deviation occurred when the probe frame5is delivered on the transmission rails, guiding members can be optionally arranged on either side or both sides of the transmission rails of the transmission device41and the transmission device42, such as guiding wheels. Guiding members are preferably provided on both sides of the transmission rails while guiding the probe frame5, thus the damage caused by the deviation of the probe frame5when being conveyed and thereby impaction with other devices can be prevented effectively. It should be noted that the guiding member can make the probe frame5not only run in a linear way, but also turn at a certain angle if required, and the mounting position and the numbers of the guiding members are not limited.

A detail description is made for the detection apparatus according to the disclosed technology, by taking one specific example of the transmission device42within the exchange chamber2as an example. As shown inFIG. 2, the example of the transmission device42comprises two rows of transmission roller wheels421, and the transmission roller wheels421are positioned on the both sides within the exchange chamber2and can roll in a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction, and transfer the probe frame5placed thereon with static friction force, thereby the probe frame5can be moved forward or backward on the transmission rail. The distance between the two rows of roller wheels may be slightly smaller than the width of the probe frame5so as to support and convey the probe frame5. Of course, in this embodiment, the rows of transmission roller wheels are not limited to two rows, and any arrangements allowing the conveyance of the probe frame5to the test chamber are within the protection scope of this disclosed technology.

To delivery the probe frame5on the transmission rail while avoiding deviation, guiding wheels (guiding members)43are arranged on the both sides of the transmission rail. The guiding wheel43and the probe frame5are on the same horizontal position. When the delivery direction of the probe frame5is deviated from the transmission rail, one side of probe frame5may contact the guiding wheel43and then return onto transmission rail under the action of the guiding wheel43.

Optionally, in this example, the two rows of the transmission roller wheels can be arranged as a structure retractably fixed onto the inner wall of the exchange chamber2, so that they are held onto the inner wall of the exchange chamber2when out of operation and project and stay when operated, thus the flexible adjustment of the width of the transmission rail is facilitated without bad effect on the other usage of the exchange chamber2.

It should be noted that, in the embodiment of this disclosed technology, the structure of transmission device42shown inFIG. 2is also applicable to the transmission device41, and the detailed description thereto is omitted here.

In one embodiment of this disclosed technology, as shown inFIG. 3, a supporting bracket6matching the shape of probe frame5is arranged within the test chamber1, and when the probe frame5is conveyed into the test chamber1, the transmission device41in the test chamber1places the probe frame5onto the supporting bracket6. For settling the probe frame5onto the supporting bracket6smoothly, the transmission device41in this embodiment comprises transmission part413s(as shown as the dotted frame portion inFIG. 3) capable of conveying the probe frame5onto the supporting bracket6in addition to the transmission roller wheels411near the communication mechanism3and the guiding wheels43. Transmission parts413can be transmission roller wheels provided on the supporting bracket6; it should be understood that the disclosed technology is not limited to the specific structure and mounting positions. For example, sliding devices and the like which can settle the probe frame5on the supporting bracket6. Generally, the transmission device41can not only convey the probe frame5in a predetermined direction, but also convey the probe frame5accurately to the supporting bracket6, to perform the subsequent detecting work.

In order to enable the solid coupling between the probe frame5and the supporting bracket6and thus avoid the deterioration to detecting precision and reliability caused by the occurrence of relative slip between the probe frame5and the supporting bracket6during the subsequent detecting steps, in one embodiment of this disclosed technology, a clamping device is positioned on the supporting bracket6for example, such as a jig or fixture etc., such that the probe frame5placed on the supporting bracket6can be fixed.

In another embodiment of the present disclosed technology, a clamping device is provided on the supporting bracket6, and a locking device corresponding to the clamping device is provided on the probe frame5; the clamping device and the locking device can engage with each other through respective mechanical structures so as to secure the probe frame5onto the supporting bracket6. As shown inFIG. 4, the examples of the clamping device comprises bosses, and the examples of the locking device comprises grooves matching with the bosses, the docking of the grooves and the bosses secure the probe frame onto the supporting bracket; Or, clamping device comprises grooves, the locking device comprises bosses matching with the grooves, the docking between the grooves and the bosses secures the probe frame5onto the supporting bracket6.

In addition to the foregoing bosses and grooves, the clamping device and locking device provided by the embodiment of this disclosed technology can also comprise locking bolts, locking snaps and the like, which can secure the probe frames5onto the supporting brackets6, and the present disclosed technology is not limited thereto.

After the probe frame5is secured onto the supporting bracket6, electrical signals can be input to the object to be tested below the probe frame5through the probe frame5, so as to detect the object to be tested. As show inFIG. 5, a removable signal wire connection member12is provided within the test chamber1, and a signal wire docking portion52is provided on the probe frame5for connecting with the signal wire connection member12. After the probe frame5is placed on the supporting bracket6, the signal wire connection member12moves toward the probe frame5and connects with the signal wire docking portion52on the probe frame5to perform the detection.

As shown inFIG. 6, the signal wire connection member12comprises signal wire docking pins7, and the signal wire docking portion52comprises signal wire docking holes8, and the engagement of the signal wire docking pins7and the signal wire docking holes8connects the signal wire connection member12with the signal wire docking portion52. The positions of the signal wire docking pins7and the signal wire docking hole8are also interchangeable, that is, the signal wire connection member12comprises signal wire docking holes8, while the signal wire docking portion52comprises the signal wire docking pins7, and the engagement of the signal wire docking pins7and the signal wire docking holes8connects the signal wire connection member12with the signal wire docking portion52.

In an example, as shown inFIG. 7, to ensure the stable engagement between the signal wire docking holes8and the signal wire docking pins7, a metal elastic reed9is further provided on the inner wall of each signal wire docking hole8, which can establish a tight engagement with the signal wire connection member12under the action of elasticity, thus a reliable connection is realized between the signal wire connection member12and the signal wire docking portion52.

It should be noted, although the detection apparatus provided by the embodiment of this disclosed technology is applicable for the object detection in a vacuum environment, the present disclosed technology is not limited to the specific operating conditions thereof. Moreover, in the detection apparatus provided by the embodiment of this disclosed technology, the transmission path of the probe frame maybe in a straight line or a curve line as well, and the transmission direction can be in a horizontal direction or form an angle with respect to the horizontal direction, or can be in a vertical direction, and this disclosed technology is not limited thereto.

In the detection apparatus provided by the embodiment of this disclosed technology, the test chamber1and the exchange chamber2are capable of communicating with or separating from each other, a vacuum pumping process can be performed on the exchange chamber2when separated from the test chamber1, and then with the exchange chamber2as a intermediation, the probe frame is replaced. When the vacuum level exchange chamber2is the same as that of test chamber1, the exchange chamber2communicates with the test chamber1, and the probe frame5is conveyed from test chamber1to the exchange chamber2or from the exchange chamber2to the test chamber1. In this way, the vacuum environment in the test chamber1will not be disadvantageously affected, and it is not necessary to wait for the recovery of the vacuum environment in the test chamber during the procedure of replacing the probe frame5; therefore, the time for replacing the probe frame is decreased and thus the detecting efficiency is improved effectively.

Corresponding to the aforementioned embodiment of the detection apparatus, the present disclosed technology also provides a method for operating the detection apparatus. An embodiment of the method for operating the detection apparatus comprises the following steps.

S11, separating an exchange chamber from a test chamber of the detection apparatus.

S12, vacuum pumping the exchange chamber.

In this step, the purpose of vacuum pumping the exchange chamber is to obtain a same vacuum level both in the exchange chamber and the test chamber. It should be noted, due to various factors from technology and circumstance, in this embodiment, the vacuum level of the exchange chamber and the vacuum level of the test chamber may be not the perfectly same; and in the embodiment of this disclosed technology, “the vacuum level of exchange chamber and the vacuum level of test chamber are same” is also connected with “being substantially same”; for example, when both vacuum levels are at the same order of magnitude, the two levels are deemed as same.

S13, communicating the exchange chamber with the test chamber.

S14, conveying a probe frame from the test chamber to the exchange chamber or from the exchange chamber to the test chamber.

The operating method provided by the embodiment of this disclosed technology firstly performs a vacuum pumping process with respect to the exchange chamber, and then conveys a probe frame from the test chamber to the exchange chamber or from the exchange chamber to the test chamber.

In this way, during the procedure of exchanging the probe frame, the vacuum environment in the test chamber is not disadvantageously affected, and it is not necessary to wait for the restoration of vacuum environment in the test chamber, thus the time required for exchanging probe frame is decreased, and the detecting efficiency can be improved effectively.

Further, after conveying the probe frame from the exchange chamber to the test chamber, the operating method provided by the embodiment of this disclosed technology may further comprise the following operations.

The probe frame is held onto a supporting bracket within the test chamber; after conveying of the probe frame to the detecting position, holding the probe frame onto the supporting bracket can avoid the shifting of the probe frame during the subsequent detection, thus further ensures detective precision and reliability.

The probe frame is connected with signal wires so as to provide detecting signals for the objects to be tested through probe frame.

When it is required to convey the probe frame from the test chamber to the exchange chamber, if the probe frame is held onto the supporting bracket within the test chamber and connects with the signal wires, then before conveying of the probe frame from the test chamber to the exchange chamber, the operating method of the detection apparatus provided by the embodiment of this disclosed technology may further comprise: disconnecting the probe frame from the signal wires; and unlocking the probe frame from the supporting bracket within the test chamber. Thereby, the damage to the signal wires and the supporting bracket when the probe frame is conveyed from test chamber to exchange chamber can be avoided.

After conveying of the probe frame from the test chamber to the exchange chamber, it is enough to separate again the test chamber from the exchange chamber and open the exchange chamber to get out the probe frame.

All that described above are only specific embodiments of this disclosed technology, but the protection scope of this disclosed technology is not limited thereto, it's easy for the skilled in this art to conceive modification or alternation within the technical scope disclosed by this disclosed technology, which should be encompassed in the protection scope of this disclosed technology. Therefore, the protection scope of this disclosed technology should be in accord with the protection scope of claims.