Testing method and testing structure for lighting display

Abstract

A lighting testing method and a testing structure for a display device are provided. The method includes steps of providing a display panel comprising a lighting area, an anode connection area and a plurality of composing units, wherein each of the composing units in the lighting area includes a plurality of pixels containing a color selected from a group consisting of red, green and blue; utilizing a first insulation material to cover a first part of the composing units containing pixels with green and blue colors in a first part of the anode connection area; utilizing a second insulation material to cover a second part of the composing units containing pixels with red and blue colors in a second part of the anode connection area; utilizing a third insulation material to cover a third part of the composing units containing pixels with red and green colors in a third part of the anode connection area; and forming a first, a second and a third cathode connection areas in the first, second and third parts of the anode connection area respectively so as to cover the first, second and third insulation materials and the composing units.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a testing method for lighting a display device, and more particularly to a testing method and a testing structure applicable to an active or passive display device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

During the manufacturing process of a display device, when a display panel is produced and isn't yet to be connected with a driving IC, a lighting test is usually conducted with regard to the pixels on the display panel.

Please refer to FIG. 1(a), which is a top view showing the semi-finished product of a display panel. In FIG. 1(a), the display panel 10 is composed of a lighting area 11 and an anode connection area 12. The lighting area 11 includes a plurality of red pixels 13, green pixels 14 and blue pixels 15. Moreover, when the display panel 10 is an active display panel, the composing unit of the anode connection area 12 is a data line; and when the display panel 10 is a passive display panel, the composing unit of the anode connection area 12 is an ITO anode.

Currently, the prevailing lighting testing methods for pixels of the display device include at least the following two types:

(1) Please refer to FIG. 1(b), which is a schematic view showing a lighting testing method for a conventional display panel. As shown in FIG. 1(b), all the composing units within the anode connection area 12 are electrically connected by means of an electrical connection device 16 to perform a pixel-lighting test. The drawback of the method is that all pixels are lit simultaneously because there is no electrical connection among all composing units of the anode connection area 12 so that the testing personnel fail to know the respective characteristic of each pixel color (red, green or blue) by the individual composing unit.

(2) Please refer to FIG. 1(c), which is a schematic view showing a lighting testing method for another conventional display panel. To improve the shortcoming of the first method, the method adopted by FIG. 1(c) manufactures and utilizes a plurality of one-to-one toolings 17. Each of the toolings 17 is electrically connected with each composing unit of the anode connection area 12 to perform the pixel-lighting test. Whereas, the drawback of this method is that the contact points for the display panel 10 to electrically connect external parts tend to be denser while the resolution of the display panel 10 is higher and that the toolings 17 must be made in smaller size. Besides, the toolings 17 of different size are used for different display panels, thereby significantly affecting the production cost control.

For overcoming the drawbacks of the prior art, the present invention brings about an improved design of the lighting testing method for the display device and the lighting test structure in light of the lighting testing method provided by the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the first aspect of the present invention, a lighting testing method for a display device is provided. The provided lighting testing method includes steps of: providing a display panel including a lighting area, an anode connection area and a plurality of composing units, wherein each of the composing units in the lighting area includes a plurality of pixels containing a color selected from a group consisting of red, green and blue; utilizing a first insulation material to cover a first part of the composing units containing pixels with green and blue colors in a first part of the anode connection area; utilizing a second insulation material to cover a second part of the composing units containing pixels with red and blue colors in a second part of the anode connection area; utilizing a third insulation material to cover a third part of the composing units containing pixels with red and green colors in a third part of the anode connection area; forming a first, a second and a third cathode connection areas in the first, second and third parts of the anode connection area respectively so as to cover the first, second and third insulation materials and the composing units; and providing an electric power to the first, second and third cathode connection areas respectively to only illuminate the composing units containing pixels of the same color with respect to the lighting area of the cathode connection area.

Preferably, the composing units go through the lighting area and the anode connection area.

Preferably, the display panel is an active display panel.

Preferably, each of the composing units is a data line and each of the first, second and third cathode connection area is a scan line.

Preferably, the display panel is a passive display panel.

Preferably, each of the composing units is an anode.

Preferably, the first, second and third insulation materials are the same.

Preferably, each of the first, second and third insulations materials is a bank material.

Preferably, the lighting testing method further includes a step of separating the lighting area from the anode connection area.

In accordance with the second aspect of the present invention, a lighting testing structure for a display device is provided. The provided lighting testing structure includes a display panel including: a lighting area; an anode connection area; and a plurality of composing units, wherein each of the composing units in the lighting area has a plurality of pixels containing a color selected from a group consisting of red, green and blue, and the anode connection area comprises: a first cathode connection area covering the composing units in a first part of the anode connection area, wherein a first insulation material layer is located between the first cathode connection area and a first part of the composing units have pixels in green and in blue; a second cathode connection area covering the composing units in a second part of the anode connection area, wherein a second insulation material layer is located between the second cathode connection area and a second part of the composing units have pixels in red and in blue; and a third cathode connection area covering every the composing units in a third part of the anode connection area, wherein a third insulation material layer is located between the third cathode connection area and a third part of the composing units have pixels in red and in green.

Preferably, the composing units go through the lighting area and the anode connection area.

Preferably, the display panel is an active display panel.

Preferably, each of the composing units is a data line and each of the first, second and third connection areas is a scan line.

Preferably, the display panel is a passive display panel.

Preferably, each of the composing units is an anode.

Preferably, the first, second and third insulation material respectively layers comprise a bank material.

In accordance with the third aspect of the present invention, a testing structure for performing the lighting testing method of the first aspect is provided.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1(a) is a top view showing the semi-finished product of a display panel;

FIG. 1(b) is a schematic view showing a testing method for lighting a conventional display panel;

FIG. 1(c) is a schematic view showing a testing method for lighting another conventional display panel; and

FIG. 2 is a top view showing a testing method and a testing structure for lighting a display device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Please refer to FIG. 2, which is a top view showing a testing method and a testing structure for lighting a display device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The display panel 20 is composed of a lighting area 21 and an anode connection area 22. The anode connection area 22 includes a plurality of composing units 221 in parallel. The portion of each composing unit 221 located within the lighting area 21 has one of a red pixel 23, a green pixel 24 and a blue pixel 25.

The method of the present invention divides the composing units 221 located within the anode connection area 22 into three parts, as shown in FIG. 2. Firstly, an insulation material 26, such as a bank material, is used to cover the composing units 221 of the portions containing the green pixel 24 and the blue pixel 25 of the first part on the top. Secondly, the insulation material 26 is used to cover the composing units 221 of the portions containing the red pixel 23 and the blue pixel 25 of the second part in the middle. Lastly, the insulation material 26 is used to cover the composing units 221 of the portions containing the red pixel 23 and the green pixel 24 of the third part at the bottom.

In the end, a cathode metal is evaporated or other methods are performed to form the first cathode connection area 27, the second cathode connection area 28 and the third cathode connection area 29 which cover the composing units 221 of the three parts (including the layer formed by the insulation material 26). The first cathode connection area 27 corresponds to the composing units 221 containing the red pixel 23. The second cathode connection area 28 corresponds to the composing units 221 containing the green pixel 24. The third cathode connection area 29 corresponds to the composing units 221 containing the blue pixel 24.

In the first cathode connection area 27, as the insulation material 26 covers the composing units 221 containing the green pixel 24 and the blue pixel 25, if power is provided to the first cathode connection area 27, it will only pass through the cathode metal to illuminate the composing units 221 containing the red pixel 23. However, the composing units containing the green pixel 23 and the blue pixel 25 won't be lit at all.

Likewise, in the second cathode connection area 28, as the insulation material 26 covers the composing units 221 containing the red pixel 23 and the blue pixel 25, if power is provided to the second cathode connection area 28, it will only pass through the cathode metal to illuminate the composing units 221 containing the green pixel 24. However, the composing units containing the red pixel 23 and the blue pixel 25 won't be lit at all.

By means of the aforementioned method, the objective of lighting the composing units 221 containing the pixels with a single color in the lighting test can be attained. Because the composing units containing the red pixel 23, the green pixel 24 and the blue pixel 25 can be lit individually and independently in the lighting area 21, the lighting test can be carried out to measure the characteristics of the display panel. After the lighting test is successfully completed, the display panel 20 is cut along the separation line 30 so as to separate the lighting area 21 and the anode connection area 22 and to obtain the display panel 20 having the lighting area 21 only.

What worth mentioning is that the lighting testing method for the display device can be applied not only to an active display panel but also to a passive display panel. In the active display panel, the composing units 221 are data lines and the cathode connection areas 27˜29 are scan lines; while in the passive display panel, the composing units are anodes and the cathode connection areas 27˜29 are cathode materials.

In sum, the present invention provides a testing method and structure for lighting a display device. The method utilizes a bank material to connect the composing units of the anode connection area free of the pixels with the targeting color, further forms a cathode connection area thereon, and subsequently provides power to the cathode connection area so as to individually light up the composing units within the lighting area having the pixels with the targeting color. The structure is the semi-finished product of the display device in the production process while the lighting testing method is carried out.

By means of the lighting testing method and the lighting testing structure for the display device of the present invention, the aging process can be carried out with different parameters configured in accordance with different colors, which effectively enhances the product reliability of the display panel and avoids the transitional aging process condition.

While the invention has been described in terms of what are presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention need not to be limited to the disclosed embodiment. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims, which are to be accorded with the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar structures.

Claims

1. A lighting testing method for a display device, comprising steps of:

providing a display panel comprising a lighting area, an anode connection area and a plurality of composing units, wherein each of said plurality of composing units in said lighting area includes a plurality of pixels containing a color selected from a group consisting of red, green and blue;

utilizing a first insulation material to cover a first part of said plurality of composing units containing pixels with green and blue colors in a first part of said anode connection area;

utilizing a second insulation material to cover a second part of said plurality of composing units containing pixels with red and blue colors in a second part of said anode connection area;

utilizing a third insulation material to cover a third part of said plurality of composing units containing pixels with red and green colors in a third part of said anode connection area;

forming a first, a second and a third cathode connection areas in said first, second and third parts of said anode connection area respectively so as to cover said first, second and third insulation materials and said plurality of composing units; and

providing an electric power to said first, second and third cathode connection areas respectively to only illuminate said plurality of composing units containing pixels of the same color with respect to said lighting area of said cathode connection area.

2. The lighting testing method for a display device of claim 1, wherein said plurality of composing units go through said lighting area and said anode connection area.

3. The lighting testing method for a display device of claim 1, wherein said display panel is an active display panel.

4. The lighting testing method for a display device of claim 3, wherein each of said plurality of composing units is a data line and each of said first, second and third cathode connection area is a scan line.

5. The lighting testing method for a display device of claim 1, wherein said display panel is a passive display panel.

6. The lighting testing method for a display device of claim 5, wherein each of said plurality of composing units is an anode.

7. The lighting testing method for a display device of claim 1, wherein said first, second and third insulation materials are the same.

8. The lighting testing method for a display device of claim 1, wherein each of said first, second and third insulations materials is a bank material.

9. The lighting testing method for a display device of claim 1 further comprising a step of:

separating said lighting area from said anode connection area.

10. A lighting testing structure for a display device, comprising:

a display panel comprising: a lighting area; an anode connection area; and a plurality of composing units, wherein each of said plurality of composing units in said lighting area has a plurality of pixels containing a color selected from a group consisting of red, green and blue, and said anode connection area comprises: a first cathode connection area covering said plurality of composing units in a first part of said anode connection area, wherein a first insulation material layer is located between said first cathode connection area and a first part of said plurality of composing units have pixels in green and in blue; a second cathode connection area covering said plurality of composing units in a second part of said anode connection area, wherein a second insulation material layer is located between said second cathode connection area and a second part of said plurality of composing units have pixels in red and in blue; and a third cathode connection area covering every said plurality of composing units in a third part of said anode connection area, wherein a third insulation material layer is located between said third cathode connection area and a third part of said plurality of composing units have pixels in red and in green.

11. The lighting testing structure for a display device of claim 10, wherein said plurality of composing units go through said lighting area and said anode connection area.

12. The lighting testing structure for a display device of claim 10, wherein said display panel is an active display panel.

13. The lighting testing method for a display device of claim 12, wherein each of said plurality of composing units is a data line and each of said first, second and third connection areas is a scan line.

14. The lighting testing method for a display device of claim 10, wherein said display panel is a passive display panel.

15. The lighting testing method for a display device of claim 14, wherein each of said plurality of composing units is an anode.

16. The lighting testing method for a display device of claim 10, wherein said first, second and third insulation material respectively layers comprise a bank material.

17. A testing structure for performing said light testing method of claim 1.