Abstract:
An exemplary verticality examining apparatus ( 1 ) includes three first sensors, two second sensors, and a plurality of sensor-indicators. Outmost extremities of the first sensors cooperatively define an imaginary single plane, and are configured for physically contacting a first side of an object to be examined. The second sensors are configured for simultaneously physically contacting a second side of the object when the first side of the object contacts the first sensors if the object has verticality as between the first side and the second side thereof. The sensor-indicators are electrically connected to the first and second sensors and are configured for indicating states of the first and second sensors with respect to any physical contact with the object.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to an apparatus for examining the verticality of a product such as a liquid crystal display, and more particularly to a verticality examining apparatus having a number of sensors. 
   GENERAL BACKGROUND 
   Liquid crystal displays are commonly used as display devices for compact electronic apparatuses, because they not only provide good quality images but are also very thin. A verticality examining apparatus is generally needed for achieving accurate white balance of each liquid crystal display in mass manufacturing of liquid crystal displays. 
   Referring to  FIG. 7 , a typical verticality examining apparatus  7  for a liquid crystal display includes a locating member  71  and a supporting member  72  supporting the locating member  71 . The locating member  71  includes a base  73 , a tall locating arm  74 , and a short locating arm  75 . 
   The base  73  includes a bar-shaped main arm  731 , and two subsidiary arms  733  perpendicularly extending in a same direction from respective opposite ends of a long side of the main arm  731 . The main arm  731  includes two pairs of sliding channels  7312  located at opposite ends thereof respectively. The tall locating arm  74  can slide along a first pair of the sliding channels  7312 , and the short locating arm  75  can slide along a second pair of the sliding channels  7312 . The short locating arm  75  includes a first reference surface  751 . The tall locating arm  74  includes a second reference surface  741  coplanar with the first reference surface  751 , and a third reference surface  743  perpendicularly connecting with the second reference surface  741 . Thus the second and third reference surfaces  741 ,  743  cooperatively define an essentially rectangular corner. 
   Referring also to  FIG. 8 , an operation of examining the verticality of a liquid crystal display  76  by using the verticality examining apparatus  7  is typically as follows. Front portions (not labeled) of the liquid crystal display  76  are positioned to contact the first and second reference surfaces  751 ,  741 , and a right side portion (not labeled) of the liquid crystal display  76  is observed by a human operator as to whether it sufficiently contacts the third reference surface  743  or not. Thereby, the verticality of the liquid crystal display  76  is assessed, and a determination is made as to whether the verticality is satisfactory or not. 
   In summary, the verticality of the liquid crystal display  76  is determined by observing whether the side portion of the liquid crystal display  76  sufficiently contacts the third reference surface  743  or not. This process involves manual work, and relies on a human operator&#39;s judgment. The process is somewhat inefficient, and may result in an inaccurate observation or an incorrect determination being made. 
   What is needed, therefore, is a verticality examining apparatus that can overcome the above-described deficiencies. 
   SUMMARY 
   In one preferred embodiment, a verticality examining apparatus includes three first sensors, two second sensors, and a plurality of sensor-indicators. Outmost extremities of the first sensors cooperatively define an imaginary single plane, and are configured for physically contacting a first side of an object to be examined. The second sensors are configured for simultaneously physically contacting a second side of the object when the first side of the object contacts the first sensors if the object has verticality as between the first side and the second side thereof. The sensor-indicators are electrically connected to the first and second sensors and are configured for indicating states of the first and second sensors with respect to any physical contact with the object. 
   Other aspects, novel features and advantages will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of at least one embodiment of the present invention. In the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout various views, and all the views are schematic. 
       FIG. 1  is an isometric, back view of a verticality examining apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the verticality examining apparatus including a locating member. 
       FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the locating member of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  is an assembled, front view of the locating member of  FIG. 2 , the locating member including three first sensors and two second sensors. 
       FIG. 4  is an exploded, isometric view of one of the first sensors of  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 5  is an exploded, isometric view of one of the second sensors of  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 6  is similar to  FIG. 2 , but showing the locating member fully assembled, and showing a liquid crystal display abutting the locating member and ready for examination by the verticality examining apparatus of the exemplary embodiment. 
       FIG. 7  is an isometric, back view of a conventional verticality examining apparatus. 
       FIG. 8  is similar to  FIG. 7 , but showing a liquid crystal display abutting the verticality examining apparatus and ready for examination using the verticality examining apparatus. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Reference will now be made to the drawings to describe preferred and exemplary embodiments of the present invention in detail. 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , a verticality examining apparatus  1  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown. The verticality examining apparatus  1  includes a supporting member  10 , a locating member  12 , and an observing member  14 . 
   The supporting member  10  includes a main body  102 , and two L-shaped supporting arms  104  fixed to the main body  102 . Each supporting arm  104  includes a first plate  105  fixed to the main body  102 , and a second plate  106  perpendicularly extending from the first plate  105 . The second plates  106  of the supporting arms  104  are parallel to each other and extend in a same direction. Top portions of the second plates  106  are coplanar. Each supporting arm  104  further includes a roller  107 , which perpendicularly extends up from the top portion of the respective second plate  106 . 
   The observing member  14  includes a vertical bar  142 , and an observing scope  144  fixed to an upper portion of the bar  142 . The observing scope  144  includes a lens (not shown). The lens has a pair of crosshairs marked on an outmost surface thereof. The crosshairs perpendicularly cross each other at a center of the lens, thereby providing an alignment cross for a user of the observing scope  144 . A height of the observing scope  144  relative to the supporting member  10  can be adjusted as required. Typically, the bar  142  is adjustable in order to move the observing scope  144  as required. 
   Referring also to  FIG. 2 , the locating member  12  includes a base  121 , a short locating arm  122 , a tall locating arm  123 , two first location blocks  124 , a second location block  125 , a flexible printed circuit (FPC)  126 , and a control circuit box  127 . The base  121  includes a main arm  1210 , and two subsidiary arms  1212  perpendicularly extending in a same direction from a long side of the main arm  1210 . The subsidiary arms  1212  and the main arm  1210  are essentially bar-shaped, and the subsidiary arms  1212  are parallel to each other. Each subsidiary arm  1212  includes a first through channel  1214  located along a length thereof. A transverse width of the first through channel  1214  corresponds to a width of each of the rollers  107 . That is, the base  121  can slide relative to the observing scope  144 , with the subsidiary arms  1212  moving along the second plates  106 , and the rollers  107  turning on their own axes and moving along the first through channels  1214 . The main arm  1210  includes two pairs of second channels  1216  located at opposite ends thereof respectively. The second channels  1216  in each pair of second channels  1216  are parallel to each other. The tall locating arm  74  can slide along a first pair of the sliding channels  7312 , and the short locating arm  75  can slide along a second pair of the sliding channels  7312 . The first location blocks  124  can slide along a first pair of the second channels  1216 , and can then be fixed at respective desired positions. 
   Referring also to  FIG. 3 , the short locating arm  122  and the first location blocks  124  are located at one of the ends of the main arm  1210 , and can slide along the corresponding second channels  1216 . The first location blocks  124  can abut two opposite sides of the short locating arm  122  and then be fixed in position. Thus, the first location blocks  124  sandwich the short locating arm  122  therebetween and fix the short locating arm  122  in a desired position. The short locating arm  122  includes a first reference surface  1221  perpendicular to a top side of the main arm  1210 . A first sensor  128  is arranged at the first reference surface  1221 . 
   The tall locating arm  123  and the second location block  125  are located at the other end of the main arm  1210 , and can slide along the corresponding second channels  1216 . The second location block  125  is located between the short locating arm  122  and the tall locating arm  123 . Thus, a distance between the tall locating arm  123  and the short locating arm  122  can be adjusted by using the second location block  125 . Therefore, the verticality examining apparatus  1  can be used to examine verticality of liquid crystal displays having different vertical sizes. The tall locating arm  123  includes a second reference surface  1231  coplanar with the first reference surface  1221 , and a third reference surface  1232  perpendicularly connected with the second reference surface  1231 , thus defining an essentially rectangular corner (not labeled). Two first sensors  128  are arranged at the second reference surface  1231 , and two second sensors  129  are arranged at the third reference surface  1232 . Outmost extremities (not labeled) of the three first sensors  128  cooperatively define an imaginary planar surface. Outmost extremities of the second sensors  129  cooperatively define a line parallel to that defined by two of the first sensors  128  located at the second reference surface  1231 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 4 , each first sensor  128  includes a first positive terminal  1281 , a first negative terminal  1282 , and a first spring structure  1283  having a first spring  1284  and a wheel  1285 . The first positive terminal  1281  and the first negative terminal  1282  are each connected to a respective wire (not shown). The first sensor  128  is configured to be in a normal switched-off state when the wheel  1283  is free from external forces, and to be in a switched-on state when an external force is applied to the wheel  1285 . That is, when an external force is applied to the wheel  1285 , the first spring structure  1283  is displaced inward and provides mechanical and electrical interconnection between the first positive terminal  1281  and the first negative terminal  1282 . In this process, the first spring  1284  is compressed. When the external force is removed, the first spring  1284  decompresses and drives the first spring structure  1283  outward, whereby the above-stated mechanical and electrical interconnection is broken. 
   Referring to  FIG. 5 , each second sensor  129  includes a second positive terminal  1291 , a second negative terminal  1292 , a second spring structure  1293 , and a contact terminal  1294 . The second positive terminal  1291  and the second negative terminal  1292  are each connected to a respective wire (not shown). The second sensor  129  is configured to be in a normal switched-off state when the contact terminal  1294  is free from external forces, and to be in a switched-on when an external force is applied to the contact terminal  1294 . The outmost extremities of the first sensors  128  and the second sensors  129  are elastic. 
   The control circuit box  127  includes a control circuit (not shown), a power-on indicator  1271 , five sensor-indicators  1273 , and a housing  1274 . The first sensors  128  and the second sensors  129  are connected to the control circuit via the flexible printed circuit  126 . The power-on indicator  1271  shows whether the control circuit is in a working state or not. Each sensor-indicator  1273  is connected to the control circuit to show a corresponding state of a respective one of the first sensors  128  or second sensors  129 . 
   Referring also to  FIG. 6 , an exemplary method to examine the verticality of a liquid crystal display  16  may include the following steps. First, the distance between the tall locating arm  123  and the short locating arm  122  is adjusted by moving the first and second location blocks  124 ,  125 . Then the first and second location blocks  124 ,  125  are fixed in position. The distance corresponds to a horizontal size of the liquid crystal display  16 . The liquid crystal display  16  displays a cross on a screen thereof, with a center of the cross being at a center of the screen. Second, a height of the observing scope  144  is adjusted and fixed, such that the alignment cross of the observing lens coincides with the center of the cross on the screen of the liquid crystal display  16 . Third, the liquid crystal display  16  is pressed forward until the wheels  1285  of the three first sensors  128  are contacted by front portions of the liquid crystal display  16 . Thus, the sensor-indicators  1273  corresponding to the first sensors  128  indicate to show that the front portions of the liquid crystal display  16  are coplanar. If the contact terminals  1294  of the second sensors  129  are pressed by a right side portion of the liquid crystal display  16 , the other two sensor-indicators  1273  corresponding to the second sensors  129  indicate this. In such case, said other two sensor-indicators  1273  cooperatively indicate to show that the verticality of the liquid crystal display  16  is satisfactory. On the contrary, if at least one of said other two sensor-indicators  1273  remains in a power-off state, this shows the verticality of the liquid crystal display  16  is unsatisfactory. 
   With the above-described configuration, the verticality of the liquid crystal display  16  can be efficiently and accurately determined by observing the sensor-indicators  1273 . Thus, the efficiency of manufacturing and quality control of the liquid crystal display  16  is improved. In addition, the outmost extremities of the first and second sensors  128 ,  129  are elastically movable. This helps prevent the liquid crystal display  16  from being scraped by the first or second sensors  128 ,  129 . 
   It is believed that the present embodiments and their advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the examples hereinbefore described merely being preferred or exemplary embodiments of the invention.