Patent Publication Number: US-2023152370-A1

Title: Chip-on-film test board

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of the Korean Patent Applications No. 10-2021-0157716 filed on Nov. 16, 2021, which are hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein. 
     FIELD 
     The present specification relates to a chip-on-film test board. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Among various processes of manufacturing semiconductors, a high-temperature operating life (HTOL) test is a test for identifying the reliability of a device at a high temperature within an operating range. The HTOL test can predict a product defect rate and an average lifetime of the product by operating a test target semiconductor device at a high temperature. 
     In particular, the HTOL test may be performed on a test target semiconductor device, which is distinguished from an actually used semiconductor device, due to the structure of a test board used for the test. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present disclosure is directed to providing a chip-on-film test board for testing a chip-on-film more quickly and efficiently. 
     A chip-on-film test board on which a chip-on-film is mounted according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a main board in which a test circuit configured to output a test pattern signal is formed, and a chip-on-film fixing part that fixes a position of the chip-on-film. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the disclosure and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiments of the disclosure and together with the description serve to explain the principle of the disclosure. In the accompanying drawings: 
         FIG.  1    is a plan view of a chip-on-film test board according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  2    is a plan view of a chip-on-film test board according to another embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  3    is an enlarged perspective view of one chip-on-film fixing part of the chip-on-film test board according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  4    is a cross-sectional view along line I-I′ of  FIG.  3   ; 
         FIG.  5    is a cross-sectional view along line II-II′ of  FIG.  3   ; and 
         FIG.  6    is an enlarged perspective view of one chip-on-film fixing part of a chip-on-film test board according to still another embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     In the specification, it should be noted that like reference numerals already used to denote like elements in other drawings are used for elements wherever possible. In the following description, when a function and a configuration known to those skilled in the art are irrelevant to the essential configuration of the present disclosure, their detailed descriptions will be omitted. The terms described in the specification should be understood as follows. 
     Advantages and features of the present disclosure, and implementation methods thereof will be clarified through following embodiments described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The present disclosure may, however, be embodied in different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the present disclosure to those skilled in the art. Further, the present disclosure is only defined by scopes of claims. 
     A shape, a size, a ratio, an angle, and a number disclosed in the drawings for describing embodiments of the present disclosure are merely an example, and thus, the present disclosure is not limited to the illustrated details. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, when the detailed description of the relevant known function or configuration is determined to unnecessarily obscure the important point of the present disclosure, the detailed description will be omitted. 
     In a case where ‘comprise’, ‘have’, and ‘include’ described in the present specification are used, another part may be added unless ‘only’ is used. The terms of a singular form may include plural forms unless referred to the contrary. 
     In construing an element, the element is construed as including an error range although there is no explicit description. 
     It will be understood that, although the terms “first”, “second”, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another. For example, a first element could be termed a second element, and, similarly, a second element could be termed a first element, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. 
     The term “at least one” should be understood as including any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. For example, the meaning of “at least one of a first item, a second item, and a third item” denotes the combination of all items proposed from two or more of the first item, the second item, and the third item as well as the first item, the second item, or the third item. 
     Features of various embodiments of the present disclosure may be partially or overall coupled to or combined with each other, and may be variously inter-operated with each other and driven technically as those skilled in the art can sufficiently understand. The embodiments of the present disclosure may be carried out independently from each other, or may be carried out together in co-dependent relationship. 
     Hereinafter, a chip-on-film test board according to the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to  FIGS.  1  to  6   . 
       FIG.  1    is a plan view of a chip-on-film test board according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and  FIG.  2    is a plan view of a chip-on-film test board according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.  FIG.  3    is an enlarged perspective view of one chip-on-film fixing part of the chip-on-film test board according to an embodiment of the present disclosure,  FIG.  4    is a cross-sectional view along line I-I′ of  FIG.  3   , and  FIG.  5    is a cross-sectional view along line II-II′ of  FIG.  3   .  FIG.  6    is an enlarged perspective view of one chip-on-film fixing part of a chip-on-film test board according to still another embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     Referring to  FIG.  1   , in order to test a chip-on-film, a chip-on-film  2000  is mounted on a chip-on-film test board  1000  according to the present disclosure, and the chip-on-film test board according to the present disclosure includes a main board  100  and a chip-on-film fixing part  200  that fixes a position of the mounted chip-on-film  2000  and electrically connects the chip-on-film  2000  and the main board  100 . 
     The main board  100  may be formed as a printed circuit board (PCB). In detail, the main board  100  may be formed as the PCB having an area in which the plurality of chip-on-films  2000  and a test circuit  110  may be included so that the plurality of chip-on-films  2000  that are test targets may be simultaneously tested. 
     In order to test the chip-on-film  2000 , the main board  100  includes the test circuit  110 , a connection circuit (not illustrated), and a pad part  120  (see  FIG.  4   ). 
     As illustrated in  FIGS.  1  and  2   , the main board  100  includes a first surface  101  and a second surface  102  facing the first surface  101 . 
     According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, as illustrated in  FIG.  1   , both the chip-on-film fixing part  200  and the test circuit  110  may be arranged on one of the first surface  101  and the second surface  102  of the main board  100 . That is, the chip-on-film fixing part  200  and the test circuit  110  may be arranged on one surface of the main board  100 . The test circuit  110  may be electrically connected to the plurality of chip-on-films  2000  arranged on the main board  100  through a connection circuit formed on the one surface of the main board  100 . 
     Alternatively, according to another embodiment of the present disclosure, as illustrated in  FIG.  2   , the chip-on-film fixing part  200  may be disposed on the first surface  101  of the main board  100 , and the test circuit  110  may be formed on the second surface  102 . That is, the chip-on-film fixing part  200  and the test circuit  110  may be arranged on different surfaces of the main board  100 . Although not illustrated, the test circuit  110  may be connected to the chip-on-film  2000  that is a test target through a connection hole passing through the main board  100  and a connection circuit positioned inside the connection hole and including a conductor pin. 
     The test circuit  110  supplies power to the chip-on-film  2000  and outputs a test pattern signal to test the chip-on-film  2000 . 
     According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the test circuit  110  may be embedded in the main board  100  rather than a separate board. Since the test circuit  110  is embedded in the main board  100 , a thickness of the chip-on-film test board  1000  is reduced, and thus a larger number of chip-on-film test boards  1000  may be mounted on test equipment. Accordingly, during one test, a larger number of chip-on-films  2000  can be tested, thereby improving a test progress speed. 
     The test circuit  110  may be connected to the chip-on-film  2000  that is a test target through the connection circuit to supply power to the chip-on-film  2000  and output the test pattern signal. For example, the test circuit  110  may generate a test pattern signal including an arbitrary clock signal, an arbitrary address signal, an arbitrary control signal, an arbitrary command signal, arbitrary data, and the like to apply the generated test pattern signal to the chip-on-film  2000 . Further, the test circuit  110  may receive test result signals output from the chip-on-film  2000  receiving the test pattern signal and determine states of the chip-on-film  2000 , a pad part of the chip-on-film  2000 , the pad part  120  of the main board  100 , or the connection circuit of the main board  100  using the received test result signals. 
     The connection circuit electrically connects the test circuit  110  embedded in the main board  100  and the pad part  120 , which will be described below. The connection circuit may be a wiring line printed on the main board  100 . 
     The pad part  120  (see  FIG.  4   ) may come into contact with and be electrically connected to the pad part of the chip-on-film  2000  that is a test target by the chip-on-film fixing part  200 , which will be described below. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the pad part  120  is in close contact with the pad part of the chip-on-film  2000  by the chip-on-film fixing part  200 , which will be described below. In detail, as an upper fixing part  210  and a lower fixing part  220  are fastened, the mounted chip-on-film  2000  is pressed, and the pad part  120  is in close contact with the pad part of the chip-on-film  2000 . Accordingly, the pad part  120  may be in contact with the pad part of the chip-on-film  2000  to electrically connect the test circuit  110  of the main board  100  and the chip-on-film  2000 . 
     The chip-on-film fixing part  200  may fix positions of the plurality of chip-on-films  2000  that is a test target, press the plurality of chip-on-films  2000 , allow the chip-on-films  2000  to come into contact with the pad part  120  of the main board  100 , and thus electrically connect each chip-on-film  2000  and the test circuit  110 . 
     When the chip-on-film  2000  on which a plurality of chips are mounted is disposed to extend in a second direction D 2 , as illustrated in  FIGS.  1  and  2   , the plurality of chip-on-film fixing parts  200  may be arranged in a first direction D 1  and positioned to extend in the second direction D 2 . Alternatively, the plurality of chip-on-film fixing parts  200  may be arranged in each of the first direction D 1  and the second direction D 2  and may be positioned to extend in the first direction D 1  or the second direction D 2 . However, the chip-on-film fixing part  200  may be formed to have different lengths in the first direction D 1  and the second direction D 2  to correspond to a direction in which the chip-on-film  2000  extends. However, the embodiment of the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the chip-on-film fixing part  200  may have the same length in the first direction D 1  and the second direction D 2  according to a size of chips mounted on the chip-on-film  2000 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  3   , the chip-on-film fixing part  200  may include the upper fixing part  210 , the lower fixing part  220 , and an auxiliary fixing part  270 . 
     The upper fixing part  210  may be coupled to the lower fixing part  220  to fix a position of the chip-on-film  2000  that is a test target. 
     The upper fixing parts  210  may be arranged at regular intervals in the second direction D 2  in which the chip-on-film  2000  extends. 
     The upper fixing part  210  may have different lengths in the first direction D 1  and the second direction D 2 . In detail, the upper fixing part  210  may have a shape extending in the first direction D 1  perpendicular to the second direction D 2  in a plan view, and for example, as illustrated in  FIG.  3   , the length of the upper fixing part  210  in the first direction D 1  may be greater than the length of the upper fixing part  210  in the second direction D 2 . However, an embodiment of the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the upper fixing part  210  may have the same length in the first direction D 1  and the second direction D 2  according to the size of chips mounted on the chip-on-film  2000 . 
     Further, the upper fixing part  210  may extend in the first direction D 1  to a position overlapping the lower fixing part  220  in a plan view and may be fastened to the lower fixing part  220  at the position overlapping the lower fixing part  220 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS.  4  and  5   , the upper fixing part  210  may include a first housing  211 , a pressing part  212 , and a first fastening part  213 . 
     The first housing  211  may accommodate and protect the pressing part  212  and the first fastening part  213 , which will be described below, and may have a shape in which the first fastening part  213  and a second fastening part  222 , which will be described below, are easily fastened or unfastened. For example, as described above, the first housing  211  may have a rectangular shape in which a length thereof in the first direction D 1  is greater than a length thereof in the second direction D 2  in a plan view and may include an auxiliary housing, such as a button, for easy fastening or unfastening of the first fastening part  213  and the second fastening part  222 . 
     The pressing part  212  presses the chip-on-film  2000  inside the first housing  211  to fix the position of the chip-on-film  2000  and electrically connects the test circuit  110  of the main board  100  and the chip-on-film  2000 . In detail, as the upper fixing part  210  is fastened to the lower fixing part  220 , the pressing part  212  presses the chip-on-film  2000  mounted between the upper fixing part  210  and the main board  100  to fix the position of the chip-on-film  2000  as illustrated in  FIGS.  3  to  5   . To this end, the pressing part  212  may have an elastic shape made of an elastic material. For example, the pressing part  212  may be a sheet-shaped member having elasticity, may be made of rubber or silicone having elasticity due to the nature of the material itself, and may have a structure in which a polymer resin having an elastic force is foamed, a structure including a spring, or the like in terms of a structure or shape. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the pressing part  212  may be made of a material that exhibits an elastic pressing force. 
     Accordingly, the pressing part  212  allows the pad part (not illustrated) of the chip-on-film  2000  and the pad part  120  of the main board  100  to come into contact and be electrically connected with each other. Accordingly, the pressing part  212  may electrically connect the test circuit  110  and the chip-on-film  2000  through the pad part  120  of the main board  100  and the pad part of the chip-on-film  2000  electrically connected to each other. 
     As described above, the first fastening part  213  is fastened to the second fastening part  222  of the lower fixing part  220  at a position overlapping the lower fixing part  220 . The first fastening part  213  may include a structure which includes a permanent magnet or an electromagnet and is coupled to the second fastening part  222  by a magnetic force. Alternatively, the first fastening part  213  may include a fastening structure such as a bolt, a rivet, a fastening groove, a fastening hole, and a fastening ball and may be coupled to the second fastening part  222 . According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the structure of the first fastening part  213  is not limited thereto, and the first fastening part  213  may include all structures that may be coupled to the second fastening part  222 . 
     The lower fixing part  220  may be coupled to the upper fixing part  210  to fix the position of the chip-on-film  2000  that is a test target. 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  3   , the lower fixing part  220  may be positioned to face each other in the first direction D 1  perpendicular to the second direction D 2  in which the chip-on-film  2000  extends. In detail, in a state in which the chip-on-film  2000  is mounted in the second direction D 2 , the lower fixing parts  220  may be arranged facing each other in the first direction D 1  with the chip-on-film  2000  interposed therebetween in a plan view. 
     According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, each lower fixing part  220  may be fastened to one upper fixing part  210 . 
     The lower fixing parts  220  may be arranged at regular intervals in the second direction D 2  in which the chip-on-film  2000  extends. 
     The lower fixing part  220  may include a second housing  221  and a second fastening part  222 . 
     The second housing  221  may accommodate and protect the second fastening part  222 , which will be described, and may have a shape in which the first fastening part  213  and the second fastening part  222  are easily fastened to each other or unfastened from each other. For example, as described above, the second housing  221  may include an auxiliary housing, such as a button, for easy fastening or unfastening of the first fastening part  213  and the second fastening part  222 . 
     The second fastening part  222  may be fastened to the first fastening part  213  of the upper fixing part  210 . The second fastening part  222  may include a structure which includes a permanent magnet or an electromagnet and is coupled to the first fastening part  213  by a magnetic force. Alternatively, the second fastening part  222  may include a fastening structure such as a bolt, a rivet, a fastening groove, and a fastening ball and may be fastened to the first fastening part  213 . According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the structure of the second fastening part  222  is not limited thereto, and the second fastening part  222  may include all structures that may be coupled to the first fastening part  213 . 
     According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, as illustrated in  FIGS.  2  to  4   , the upper fixing part  210  and the lower fixing part  220  may fix the position of the chip-on-film  2000 . In detail, the upper fixing part  210  fixes the position of the chip-on-film  2000  in the second direction D 2  and a third direction D 3 , and the lower fixing part  220  fixes the position of the chip-on-film  2000  in the first direction D 1 . The chip-on-film  2000  is positioned between the two lower fixing parts  220  facing each other in the first direction D 1 , and thus the position of the chip-on-film  2000  in the first direction D 1  is fixed. The upper fixing part  210  is coupled or fixed to the lower fixing part  220  to press the chip-on-film  2000  so as to fix the position of the chip-on-film  2000  in the second direction D 2  and the third direction D 3 . 
     According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, when the upper fixing part  210  and the lower fixing part  220  are unfastened from each other, the chip-on-film  2000  may be automatically moved in the second direction D 2  by a handler of automatic test equipment. For example, since the chip-on-film  2000  may be automatically moved like a conveyor belt by the handler of the test equipment, a user may automate a process of directly fixing the position of the chip-on-film  2000  to repeat the test, and thus the test can be performed more quickly and efficiently using the test board according to the present disclosure. 
     According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the upper fixing part  210  may be an upper jig, and the lower fixing part  220  may be a lower jig. Since the upper fixing part  210  and the lower fixing part  220  fixing the chip-on-film  2000  through a jig structure do not have a large area, the test circuit  110  may be formed on the main board  100 , and a larger number of chip-on-films  2000  can be tested using one test board  1000 . Further, since the test circuit  110  is positioned on the main board  100  rather than a separate board, a total thickness of the test board  1000  is reduced, a larger number of test boards can be mounted on the test equipment, and thus a larger number of chip-on-films  2000  can be tested. Thus, the test can be performed more quickly and efficiently using the test board according to the present disclosure. 
     Further, the position of the chip-on-film  2000  to be actually used as well as a chip-on-film to be tested may be fixed according to the size of the chip-on-film fixing part  200  of the test board  1000  according to the present disclosure. That is, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the chip-on-film  2000  to be actually used as well as the chip-on-film to be tested having a predetermined standard may be tested, and thus quality assurance and quality improvement of the chip-on-film  2000  can be achieved. 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  3   , the auxiliary fixing part  270  together with the upper fixing part  210 , the lower fixing part  220 , and the pressing part  212  may fix the position of the chip-on-film  2000 . In detail, the auxiliary fixing parts  270  may be positioned between the plurality of upper fixing parts  210  arranged in the second direction D 2  or between the plurality of lower fixing parts  220  arranged in the second direction D 2  and may be positioned to face each other in the first direction D 1  to fix the position of the chip-on-film  2000  in the first direction D 1 , the second direction D 2 , and the third direction D 3 . Further, the auxiliary fixing part  270  allows the pad part  120  of the main board  100  and the pad part of the chip-on-film  2000  to come into contact with each other so as to electrically connect the test circuit  110  of the main board  100  and the chip-on-film  2000 . 
     According to still another embodiment of the present disclosure, as illustrated in  FIG.  6   , the lower fixing part  220  may have a shape extending in the second direction D 2 . In detail, the lower fixing parts  220  extend in the second direction D 2  in which the chip-on-film  2000  extends and is mounted and are arranged to face each other in the first direction D 1  with the chip-on-film  2000  interposed therebetween. Accordingly, the position of the chip-on-film  2000  in the first direction D 1  may be fixed by the two lower fixing parts  220  arranged to face each other with the chip-on-film  2000  interposed therebetween. 
     Further, the lower fixing part  220  may have a shape extending in the second direction D 2  and may be disposed at a position crossing the upper fixing part  210  having a shape extending in the first direction D 1  in a plan view. 
     The lower fixing parts  220  may be fastened to the plurality of upper fixing parts  210 . That is, as the plurality of upper fixing parts  210  extending in the first direction D 1  and the two lower fixing parts  220  extending in the second direction D 2  are fastened, the position of the chip-on-film  2000  is fixed, and the test circuit  110  of the main board  100  and the chip-on-film  2000  are electrically connected. 
     Since a chip-on-film fixing part of a chip-on-film test board according to the present disclosure does not occupy a large area, a test circuit can be embedded in a main board, and a larger number of chip-on-films can be tested using one test board. Further, since the test circuit is positioned on the main board rather than a separate board, the total thickness of the test board is reduced, a larger number of test boards can be mounted on test equipment, and thus a larger number of chip-on-films can be tested. That is, the test can be performed more quickly and efficiently using the chip-on-film test board according to the present disclosure. 
     Further, in the chip-on-film test board according to the present disclosure, a chip-on-film to be actually used as well as a chip-on-film to be tested can be tested, and thus quality assurance and quality improvement of the chip-on-film can be achieved. 
     In the chip-on-film test board according to the present disclosure, the test can be automated using a handler of automatic test equipment, and thus a test progress speed can be improved. 
     It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present disclosure without departing from the spirit or scope of the disclosures. Thus, it is intended that the present disclosure covers the modifications and variations of this disclosure provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. 
     Therefore, it should be understood that the above-described embodiments are not restrictive but illustrative in all aspects. The scope of the present disclosure is defined by the appended claims rather than the detailed description, and it should be construed that all alternations or modifications derived from the meaning and scope of the appended claims and the equivalents thereof fall within the scope of the present disclosure.