Patent Publication Number: US-2010127258-A1

Title: Lcd panel having shared shorting bars for array inspection and panel inspection

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) panel using shorting bars for inspection, and more particularly, to an LCD panel having shared shorting bars for an array inspection and a panel inspection. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Please refer to  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating array test pads of a conventional LCD panel  100 . The fabrication of the LCD panel  100  comprises an array process, a panel process, and a module process. After each process, a test is performed for excluding the defective LCD panels. An array inspection comprises a full contact test and a shorting bar test. The test pads  130  for the shorting bar test are disposed outside a panel area  110  of the LCD panel  100 . In the full contact test, each of the scan lines are electrically connected to their corresponding test pads  120  respectively, and each of the data lines are electrically connected to their corresponding test pads  120  respectively as well, and then the probe contacts each test pad  120  for transmitting the required testing signals onto the test pads  120 . Therefore, the test machine for the full contact test is not only easily broken-down because a large amount of probes is required, but also is incapable of testing the LCD panels of different size. 
     In the shorting bar test, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the scan lines are divided into odd scan lines and even scan lines. The odd scan lines are all electrically connected to the same shorting bar which is electrically connected to the test pad GO. The even scan lines are all electrically connected to the same shorting bar which is electrically connected to the test pad GE. In the same way, the data lines are divided into odd data lines and even data lines. The odd data lines are all electrically connected to the same shorting bar which is electrically connected to the test pad DO. The even data lines are all electrically connected to the same shorting bar which is electrically connected to the test pad DE. When using the shorting bars for the array inspection, only the test pads GO, GE, DO and DE are required to be contacted by the probe. Hence, in the shorting bar test, the amount of the probes can be reduced, and the testing machine can be utilized for testing the LCD panels of different size. However, since the test result of the full contact test is better (more detailed) than that of the shorting bar test, using a switch circuit for switching between the full contact test and the array inspection is more flexible for the user. The switch circuit comprises a first set of switches  151  and a second set of switches  152 . The control ends of the first set of switches  151  are electrically connected to the test pad DSW. The control ends of the second set of the switches are electrically connected to the test pad GSW. When the switch circuit is turned on, the shorting bar test is executed for the array inspection. When the switch circuit is turned off, the full contact test is executed for the array inspection. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 2  is a diagram illustrating panel test pads of a conventional LCD panel. The panel test pads  160  are disposed inside the panel area  110  of the LCD panel. The short bar test is performed for the panel test. In the panel test, besides the data lines are divided into odd data lines and even data lines, the data lines are further divided into red (R) data lines, green (G) data lines, and blue (B) data lines. The first shorting bar  161  is electrically connected to the odd red pixel data lines. The second shorting bar  162  is electrically connected to the odd green pixel data lines. The third shorting bar  163  is electrically connected to the odd blue pixel data lines. The fourth shorting bar  164  is electrically connected to the even red pixel data lines. The fifth shorting bar  165  is electrically connected to the even green pixel data lines. The sixth shorting bar  166  is electrically connected to the odd blue pixel data lines. The seventh shorting bar  167  is electrically connected to the odd scan lines. The eighth shorting bar is electrically connected to the even scan lines. The shorting bars  161 ˜ 166  are electrically connected to the data lines through a switch circuit  171 . The control ends of the switch circuits  171  are electrically connected to the test pad DSW. The shorting bars  167  and  168  are electrically connected to the scan lines through a switch circuit  172 . The control ends of the switch circuits  172  are electrically connected to the test pad GSW. The switch circuits  171  and  172  are turned on only during the panel inspection of the LCD panel. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
     The present invention provides an LCD panel having shared shorting bars for array inspection and panel inspection. The LCD panel comprises a panel area, a plurality of shorting bars, a plurality of panel test pads, and a plurality of array test pads. The panel area comprises a plurality of scan lines and a plurality of data lines. The plurality of shorting bars is disposed inside the panel area. The plurality of scan lines and the plurality of data lines are electrically connected to corresponding shorting bars of the plurality of shorting bars through a switch circuit. The plurality of panel test pads is disposed inside the panel area. The plurality of panel test pads is electrically connected to the plurality of shorting bars respectively. The plurality of array test pads is disposed outside the panel area. The plurality of array test pads is electrically connected to corresponding panel test pads of the plurality of panel test pads. 
     These and other objectives of the present invention will no doubt become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment that is illustrated in the various figures and drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating array test pads of a conventional LCD panel. 
         FIG. 2  is a diagram illustrating panel test pads of a conventional LCD panel. 
         FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating an LCD panel of the present invention having shared shorting bars for the array inspection and the panel inspection. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
     Certain terms are used throughout the description and following claims to refer to particular components. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, electronic equipment manufacturers may refer to a component by different names. This document does not intend to distinguish between components that differ in name but not function. In the following description and in the claims, the terms “include” and “comprise” are used in an open-ended fashion, and thus should be interpreted to mean “include, but not limited to . . . ” Also, the term “electrically connect” is intended to mean either an indirect or direct electrical connection. Accordingly, if one device is coupled to another device, that connection may be through a direct electrical connection, or through an indirect electrical connection via other devices and connections. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating an LCD panel  300  having shared shorting bars for the array inspection and the panel inspection according to the present invention. The LCD panel  300  comprises a plurality of scan lines  320 , a plurality of data lines  330 , a plurality of shorting bars  341 ˜ 348 , a plurality of panel test pads  350 , a first set of switches  361 , a second set of switches  362 , a plurality of driver bonding pads  370 , a plurality of array test pads  380 , and a plurality of full contact test pads  390 . The plurality of scan lines  320 , the plurality of data lines  330 , the plurality of shorting bars  341 ˜ 348 , the first set of the switches  361 , the second set of the switches  362 , and the plurality of driver bonding pads  370  are disposed inside the panel area  310 . The plurality of array test pads  380  and the plurality of full contact test pads  390  are disposed outside the panel area  310 . During the array inspection of the LCD panel  300 , the plurality array test pads  380  inputs the testing signals to the plurality of scan lines  320  and the plurality of data lines  330 , through the plurality of shorting bars  341 ˜ 348 . The part outside the panel area  310  is cut after the panel process. During the panel test of the LCD panel  300 , the plurality of panel test pads  350  inputs the testing signals to the plurality of scan lines  320  and the plurality of data lines  330 , through the plurality of shorting bars  341 ˜ 348 . Hence, the plurality of shorting bars  341 ˜ 348  can be shared by the array inspection and the panel inspection. In other words, the plurality of shorting bars  341 ˜ 348  can be utilized for the array inspection, and can be utilized for the panel test as well, so that the required layout space of the LCD panel  300  can be reduced. 
     The first set of the switches  361  is electrically connected between the plurality of scan lines  320  and the plurality of shorting bars  347 ˜ 348 . The second set of the switches  362  is electrically connected between the plurality of data lines  330  and the plurality of shorting bars  341 ˜ 346 . During the panel test of the LCD panel  300 , the first set of the switches  361  and the second set of the switches  362  are turned on. The first shorting bar  341  is electrically connected to the odd red pixel data lines. The second shorting bar  342  is electrically connected to the odd green pixel data lines. The third shorting bar  343  is electrically connected to the odd blue pixel data lines. The fourth shorting bar  344  is electrically connected to the even red pixel data line. The fifth shorting bar  345  is electrically connected to the even green pixel data lines. The sixth shorting bar  346  is electrically connected to the even blue pixel data lines. The seventh shorting bar  347  is electrically connected to the odd scan lines. The eighth shorting bar  348  is electrically connected to the even scan lines. 
     The plurality of panel test pads  350  comprises a first data test pad DRO, a second data test pad DGO, a third data test pad DBO, a fourth data test pad DRE, a fifth data test pad DGE, a sixth data test pad DBE, a first scan test pad GO, a second scan test pad GE, a common voltage test pad COM, a first switch test pad GSW, and a second switch test pad DSW. The first data test pad DRO is electrically connected to the first shorting bar  341 . The second data test pad DGO is electrically connected to the second shorting bar  342 . The third data test pad DBO is electrically connected to the third shorting bar  343 . The fourth data test pad DRE is electrically connected to the fourth shorting bar  344 . The fifth data test pad DGE is electrically connected to the fifth shorting bar  345 . The sixth data test pad DBE is electrically connected to the sixth shorting bar  346 . The first scan test pad GO is electrically connected to the seventh shorting bar  347 . The second scan test bar GE is electrically connected to the eighth shorting bar  348 . The common voltage test pad COM is electrically connected to the common voltage source of the LCD panel  300 . Generally speaking, the common voltage source is the ground end of the LCD panel  300 . The first switch test pad GSW is electrically connected to the control ends of the first set of the switches  361 . The second switch test pad DSW is electrically connected to the control ends of the second set of the switches  362 . 
     The plurality of array test pads  380  comprises an odd data test pad DO, an even data test pad DE, an odd scan test pad GO, an even scan test pad GE, a common voltage test pad COM, a first switch test pad GSW and a second switch test pad DSW. The odd data test pad DO is electrically connected to the first data test pad DRO, the second data test pad DGO, and the third data test pad DBO of the panel test pads  350 . The even data test pad DE is electrically connected to the fourth data test pad DRE, the fifth data test pad DGE, and the sixth data test pad DBE of the panel test pads  350 . The odd scan test pad GO is electrically connected to the first scan test pad GO of the panel test pad  350 . The even scan test pad GE is electrically connected to the second scan test pad GE of the panel test pad  350 . Besides, the common voltage test pad COM of the array test pad  380 , the first switch test pad GSW, and the second switch test pad DSW are respectively electrically connected to the common voltage pads COM, the first switch test pad GSW, and the second switch test pad DSW of the panel test pads  350 . 
     In conclusion, the shorting bars of the LCD panel of the present invention can be shared by the array inspection and the panel inspection. In other words, the shorting bars of the LCD panel of the present invention can be utilized for the array inspection, and can be utilized for the panel test as well. The LCD panel of the present invention comprises a panel area, a plurality of shorting bars, a plurality of panel test pads, and a plurality of array test pads. The panel area comprises a plurality of scan lines and a plurality of data lines. The plurality of shorting bars is disposed inside the panel area. The plurality of scan lines and the plurality of data lines are electrically connected to the corresponding short bars of the plurality of shorting bars through a switch circuit. The plurality of panel test pads is disposed inside the panel area. The plurality of panel test pads is electrically connected to the plurality of shorting bars respectively. The plurality of array test pads is disposed outside the panel area. The plurality of array test pads is electrically connected to the corresponding panel test pads of the plurality of panel test pads. During the panel test, the data lines are not only divided into odd data lines and even data lines, but also divided into red pixel data lines, green pixel data lines, and blue pixel data lines. Consequently, when the plurality of panel test pads is electrically connected to the plurality of array test pads, the odd red pixel data lines, the odd green pixel data lines, and the odd blue pixel data lines are electrically connect together. Meanwhile, the odd red pixel data lines, the odd green pixel data lines, and the odd blue pixel data lines are electrically connect together as well. Since the plurality of shorting bars is shared by the array inspection and the panel inspection, additional shorting bar is not required outside the panel area of the LCD panel, saving the consumed layout space. 
     Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous modifications and alterations of the device and method may be made while retaining the teachings of the invention.