Testing apparatus for testing display apparatus and method of testing the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9940859-B2
Application number	US-201514795024-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 9, 2015
Priority date	Sep 18, 2014
Publication date	Apr 10, 2018
Grant date	Apr 10, 2018

Abstract

A testing apparatus for testing a display apparatus includes a base substrate, a plurality of fixing tools on the base substrate to affix the display apparatus to the base substrate, the plurality of fixing tools being movable in a z-axis direction independently of each other, the z-axis direction extending along a normal direction to the base substrate, and a controller that controls the fixing tools to bend the display apparatus in two or more test patterns different from each other.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A testing apparatus for testing a display apparatus, the testing apparatus comprising:
a base substrate;
a plurality of fixing tools on the base substrate to affix the display apparatus to the base substrate, the plurality of fixing tools being movable in a z-axis direction independently of each other, the z-axis direction extending along a normal direction to the base substrate; and
a controller to control the fixing tools to bend the display apparatus in two or more test patterns different from each other,
wherein each of the plurality of fixing tools is movable in the z-axis direction, in a y-axis direction, and in an x-axis direction.

2. The testing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the fixing tools include first, second, third, and fourth fixing tools, the first, second, third, and fourth fixing tools clamping first, second, third, and fourth corners of the display apparatus, respectively.

3. The testing apparatus as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the first, second, third, and fourth fixing tools are independently moveable in an x-axis direction and a y-axis direction, the x-axis direction and the y-axis direction being parallel to the base substrate.

4. The testing apparatus as claimed in claim 3 , wherein a distance in the x-axis and y-axis directions between the first, second, third, and fourth fixing tools is controlled according to a size of the display apparatus.

5. The testing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein each of the fixing tools includes:
a supporting part to support the display apparatus;
a holding part facing the supporting part, such that the display apparatus is between the holding part and the supporting part, the holding part fixing the display apparatus to the supporting part;
a first z-axis moving part connected to the supporting part to move the supporting part in the z-axis direction; and
a second z-axis moving part connected to the holding part to move the holding part in the z-axis direction and operated in association with the first z-axis moving part.

6. The testing apparatus as claimed in claim 5 , wherein each of the fixing tools further comprises:
a y-axis moving part coupled to the first z-axis moving part to move the supporting part in a y-axis direction; and
an x-axis moving part coupled to the y-axis moving part to move the supporting part in an x-axis direction.

7. The testing apparatus as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the base substrate includes openings therethrough, the fixing tools extending through the openings to be movable in the x-axis and y-axis directions in the openings.

8. The testing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:
at least one conductor in contact with the display apparatus; and
a moving member to move the at least one conductor to a test position,
wherein the controller receives or monitors a signal generated by a touch operation to test the touch operation of the display apparatus.

9. The testing apparatus as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the controller sets a position to test the touch operation according to a bending shape of the display apparatus, and controls the moving member to move the conductor to the set position.

10. The testing apparatus as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the base substrate includes a virtual coordinate defined therein and used to test the touch operation.

11. The testing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein each of the fixing tools includes:
a clamper to clamp the display apparatus; and
a z-axis moving part slide-coupled to the clamper to move the clamper in the z-axis direction.

12. The testing apparatus as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the clamper includes an insertion recess, an edge of the display apparatus being inserted into the insertion recess.

13. The testing apparatus as claimed in claim 11 , wherein each of the fixing tools further comprises:
a y-axis moving part coupled to the z-axis moving part to move the clamper in a y-axis direction; and
an x-axis moving part coupled to the y-axis moving part to move the clamper in an x-axis direction.

14. The testing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the plurality of fixing tools are movable in the z-axis direction independently of each other to different heights from each other.

15. The testing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the plurality of fixing tools extend through the base substrate to contact the display apparatus, each of the plurality of fixing tools contacting two opposite surfaces of the display apparatus to hold the display apparatus.

16. A method of testing a display apparatus, the method comprising:
disposing the display apparatus on a base substrate;
fixing the display apparatus to the base substrate via a plurality of fixing tools; and
moving the fixing tools in a z-axis direction independently of each other, the z-axis direction extending along a normal direction to the base substrate, such that the display apparatus is bent in two or more test patterns different from each other, to test flexibility of the display apparatus,
wherein each of the plurality of fixing tools is movable in the z-axis direction, in a y-axis direction, and in an x-axis direction.

17. The method as claimed in claim 16 , further comprising, before fixing of the display apparatus, moving the fixing tools in an x-axis direction and a y-axis direction, which are substantially parallel to the base substrate, to control a distance in the x-axis and y-axis directions between the fixing tools.

18. The method as claimed in claim 16 , further comprising:
touching the display apparatus using a conductor; and
receiving a signal generated by a touch operation to test the touch operation of the display apparatus.

19. The method as claimed in claim 18 , further comprising:
setting a position to test the touch operation according to a bending shape of the display apparatus; and
controlling a moving member to move the conductor to the set position.

Assignees

• Samsung Display Co Ltd

Inventors

• Kim Dae Won
• Park Hanki
• Yoo Chanhyung
• Lee Wookjae
• Hwang Inho

Classifications

• G01R1/0408

  Test fixtures or contact fields; Connectors or connecting adaptors; Test clips; Test sockets (G01R1/067 takes precedence; mass production testing systems G01R31/59; testing of connections G01R31/66; for testing printed circuit boards G01R31/2808) · CPC title

• G06F3/041

  Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means · CPC title

• G06F1/1652

  the display being flexible, e.g. mimicking a sheet of paper, or rollable · CPC title

• G01R27/2605

  Measuring capacitance (capacitive sensors G01D5/24) · CPC title

• G06F2203/04102

  Flexible digitiser, i.e. constructional details for allowing the whole digitising part of a device to be flexed or rolled like a sheet of paper · CPC title