KR-20260062105-A - DISPLAY PANEL INSPECTION METHOD AND INSPECTION SYSTEM

Abstract

A display panel inspection system includes an inspection table, an imaging unit, a driving unit, and a control unit. An object to be inspected is placed on the inspection table. The imaging unit surrounds the display area of the object to be inspected and irradiates light in the ultraviolet band onto an organic film inspection area located in a non-display area outside the display area, and generates an image of the organic film inspection area based on the irradiated light. The driving unit moves the imaging unit over the organic film inspection area. The control unit analyzes whether an organic film is present in the organic film inspection area based on the image generated by the imaging unit.

Inventors

• 김대홍
• 이정문

Assignees

• 삼성디스플레이 주식회사

Dates

Publication Date

20260507

Application Date

20241024

Claims (20)

1. Examination table on which the subject of examination is placed; An imaging unit that irradiates light in the ultraviolet band onto an organic film inspection area located in a non-display area surrounding the display area of the inspection target and outside the display area, and generates an image of the organic film inspection area based on the irradiated light; A driving unit that moves the imaging unit relative to the inspection target on the above organic film inspection area; and A display panel inspection system comprising a control unit that analyzes whether an organic film exists in the organic film inspection area based on an image generated by the above-mentioned imaging unit.
2. In Article 1, The above organic film inspection area is a display panel inspection system that includes the boundary between the area where the organic film is applied and the area where the organic film is not applied in the inspection target.
3. In Article 1, The above control unit is, Extracting a target location from a structure for preventing organic matter flow located in the non-displayed area of the above image, and extracting a gray value of the target location, The above-mentioned structure for preventing organic matter flow is, It includes an inclined surface that protrudes from the above inspection target and has a slope in a direction intersecting the display direction, The above target location is a display panel inspection system provided on the above inclined surface.
4. In Paragraph 3, The above control unit is, A display panel inspection system that compares a gray value extracted at the above target location with a preset reference value, and defines that an organic film exists at the above target location if the extracted gray value is greater than the reference value.
5. In Paragraph 4, The above control unit is, A display panel inspection system that determines that an inspection target is defective when the organic film is defined to exist at the target location, and the target location is located further from the display area than a preset reference location.
6. In Paragraph 4, The above control unit is, A display panel inspection system that, when defined as not having the organic film at the above target location, also defines that the organic film is not having the above organic film in an area adjacent to the organic film inspection area that is not captured through the imaging unit.
7. In Article 1, The above imaging unit is, A light source unit that irradiates light in the ultraviolet band to the organic film inspection area; A light guide member disposed at one end of the light source member; An objective lens connected to one end of the light guide section above to transmit light in the ultraviolet band reflected from the organic film inspection area; A camera connected to the other end of the light guide portion to receive light transmitted from the objective lens and form an image; and A display panel inspection system comprising a half mirror unit disposed within the light guide unit, transmitting light irradiated from the light source unit to the organic film inspection area, and transmitting light reflected from the organic film inspection area to the camera.
8. In Article 7, The above imaging unit is, A display panel inspection system further comprising a UV bandpass filter mounted in front of the camera lens.
9. In Article 7, The above camera is a display panel inspection system that is a mono camera or a UV camera.
10. In Article 7, The above half mirror part is, A first half mirror that reflects light irradiated from the light source in a first direction and converts it into a second direction intersecting the first direction; and A display panel inspection system comprising a second half mirror that reflects light incident in the second direction, converts it to the first direction, transmits it to the organic film inspection area, and transmits the light reflected from the organic film inspection area.
11. In Article 7, The above half mirror part is, A first half mirror that transmits light irradiated from the light source in a first direction to the organic film inspection area and reflects light reflected from the organic film inspection area in a second direction intersecting the first direction; and A display panel inspection system comprising a second half mirror that reflects light incident in the second direction in the first direction and transmits it to a camera.
12. In Article 1, The above driving unit is, A support on which the above-mentioned imaging unit is mounted; and It includes a first moving rail that moves the above support in a first direction, and The above support is, A display panel inspection system comprising a second moving rail that moves the above-mentioned imaging unit in a second direction intersecting the first direction.
13. In Article 1, The above driving unit is, A display panel inspection system comprising a third moving rail that moves the above inspection table in a first direction.
14. A step of arranging a light source and a camera together on an organic film inspection area located in a non-display area situated outside the display area, surrounding the display area of the inspection target; A step in which the light source irradiates light in the ultraviolet band to the organic film inspection area; A step of receiving light in the ultraviolet band reflected from the organic film inspection area through the camera; and A display panel inspection method comprising the step of analyzing whether an organic film exists in the organic film inspection area based on an image formed by the received light.
15. In Article 14, A method for inspecting a display panel, wherein the organic film inspection area includes the boundary between the area where the organic film is applied and the area where the organic film is not applied in the inspection target.
16. In Article 14, The step of analyzing whether the above organic film exists is, A step of extracting a target location from a structure for preventing organic flow located in the non-displayed area in the above image; and It includes the step of extracting the gray value of the above target location, The above-mentioned structure for preventing organic matter flow is, It includes an inclined surface that protrudes from the above inspection target and has a slope in a direction intersecting the display direction, The above target location is a method for inspecting a display panel provided on the above inclined surface.
17. In Article 16, The step of analyzing whether the above organic film exists is, A step of comparing a gray value extracted from the above target location with a preset reference value; A display panel inspection method further comprising the step of defining that an organic film exists at the target location if the extracted gray value is greater than the reference value.
18. In Article 17, The step of analyzing whether the above organic film exists is, A display panel inspection method further comprising the step of determining that the inspection target is defective if the target location is located farther from the display area than a preset reference location, when the organic film is defined to exist at the target location.
19. In Article 17, The step of analyzing whether the above organic film exists is, A display panel inspection method further comprising the step of defining that, when the organic film is defined not to exist at the target location, the organic film is also defined not to exist in an area adjacent to the organic film inspection area that is not captured by the camera.
20. In Article 14, A method for inspecting a display panel in which the step of analyzing whether the above organic film is present is performed simultaneously with the step of arranging the light source and the camera together.

Description

Display Panel Inspection Method and Inspection System The present invention relates to an inspection method and an inspection system, and more specifically, to a method and an inspection system for inspecting whether organic matter is present in a non-display area after the formation of an organic encapsulation layer of a display panel. Automated Optical Inspection (AOI) devices are equipment used in manufacturing processes to automatically inspect for defects in parts or products. By capturing high-resolution images using cameras and optical equipment, and having software analyze these images to evaluate quality, AOI devices identify defects in the inspected objects. AOI is primarily utilized in the manufacturing processes of printed circuit boards, semiconductors, or display panels to detect defects related to product reliability. Meanwhile, in the encapsulation process of display panels, inorganic films block the penetration of moisture and air, while organic films help flatten and stabilize the inorganic films between them. However, if organic material is applied to non-display areas during the organic film formation process, defects such as pixel shrinkage or dark spots may occur. Therefore, by verifying the presence of organic material in non-display areas through automated optical inspection, defects can be detected and the reliability of the display panel can be enhanced. However, if the spacing between structures in the inspection area is narrow or the density is high, visibility is reduced during optical inspection, making it difficult to visually confirm the presence of organic material. Additionally, if the organic film is transparent, layers located beneath the organic film appear superimposed in the imaging results; thus, measures are required to improve the accuracy of automated optical inspection. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an inspection system according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an exemplary perspective view of an inspection system according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is an exemplary plan view of an imaging unit according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a flowchart of an inspection method according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a plan view of a display panel according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is an exemplary cross-sectional view of a display panel corresponding to I-I' of FIG. 5. FIG. 7a is an exemplary cross-sectional view of a display panel corresponding to I-I' of FIG. 5 according to the inspection method of FIG. 4. FIG. 7b is an enlarged view of area AA in an exemplary cross-sectional view of the display panel of FIG. 7a. FIG. 8a is an image formed when no monomer is present as a result of inspection according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8b is an image formed when a monomer is present as a result of inspection according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 9a and FIGS. 9b are inspection result images according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 10a and FIGS. 10b are inspection result images according to one embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the proportions and dimensions of the components are exaggerated for the effective illustration of the technical content. "And/or" includes all one or more combinations that the associated components may define. Terms such as "include" are intended to indicate the existence of the features, numbers, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof described in the specification, and should be understood as not precluding the existence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof. Furthermore, terms such as "first," "second," etc., shall be understood as being designated simply to distinguish between multiple features, numbers, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof described in the specification. For example, the first component and the second component may be described as the second component and the first component. In the present invention, "system," "module," "unit," "part," etc. may include or be implemented by computer-related software, hardware, or a combination of software and hardware. In the present invention, first to third directions (DR1, DR2, DR3) may be defined. A display panel may be formed to include pixels on a plane defined by the first direction (DR1) and the second direction (DR2). The third direction (DR3) may be defined as the thickness direction of the display panel, and the first to third directions (DR1, DR2, DR3) may be orthogonal to or intersect each other. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an inspection system (1000) according to an embodiment of the present invention. The inspection system (1000) may include an inspection unit (DU) and a cont