Touch screen test control apparatus and method of use

Abstract

The application provides a touch screen test control device and a use method, which comprise an external component, a connecting component, a test control device and an upper computer. When a to-be-tested touch screen is not connected to the test control device, the test control device is always in a power-off state. When the to-be-tested component is connected to the test control device, the external component informs the test control device through a GPIO port. The touch screen test software controls the test control device to output a control voltage to supply power to the to-be-tested touch screen. After the test is completed, the test control device returns to the power-off state. When the output of the test control device has a voltage, a transient pulse is generated in the to-be-tested touch screen during the process of connecting or removing the to-be-tested touch screen to the test control device, so that the yield of the to-be-tested touch screen is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of touch screen testing technology, specifically to a touch screen testing control device and its usage method. Background Technology

[0002] In the touchscreen manufacturing process, factories often use hot-swapping to connect finished touchscreen modules to the testing device for testing. When the testing device is powered on, the microcontroller unit in the testing device repeatedly performs read operations to detect whether the touchscreen under test is connected to the testing device, or outputs a low voltage to detect whether the touchscreen is connected to the testing device. When the microcontroller unit in the testing device detects that the touchscreen is connected to the testing device, it supplies power and starts the testing process. After the testing process is completed, the microcontroller unit in the testing device repeatedly performs read operations or outputs a low voltage to detect whether the touchscreen has been unplugged from the testing device. After detecting that the tested touchscreen has been unplugged from the testing device, the above operation is repeated to continuously test the component under test.

[0003] When using hot-swapping, the microcontroller unit is energized when repeatedly performing read operations or outputting low voltage to detect the installation status of the touchscreen. When the test device connects the component under test to the test device or removes the component under test while it is energized, a momentary pulse will be generated inside the component under test. This momentary pulse may break down the component, causing irreversible damage to the touchscreen under test, and thus affecting the yield rate of the touchscreen under test. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to provide a touch screen test control device and a method of use to solve the problems mentioned in the background art.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solution:

[0006] A touchscreen test control device, comprising:

[0007] An external component, which is electrically connected to the test control device, is used to detect whether the touch screen is connected to the test control device, and to send a connection signal to the test control device after the touch screen is connected.

[0008] A connection component, which is electrically connected to the test control device, is used to connect to the touch screen, thereby connecting the touch screen to the test control device;

[0009] A test control device is electrically connected to a host computer. It is used to output a control voltage under the control of the host computer after receiving a connection signal to power the touch screen under test, and to disconnect the control voltage under the control of the host computer after the test is completed.

[0010] The host computer has touch screen testing software installed inside it. It is used to control and configure the test control device according to the connection of external components, and to test the touch screen to be tested.

[0011] Preferably, the test control device is based on a microcontroller and is electrically connected to external components through two GPIO ports.

[0012] Preferably, the external components include a power supply terminal, a normally open limit switch, a pull-up resistor, a normally open latching relay, a protection diode, and an NPN transistor. The positive terminal of the power supply terminal, the limit switch, the pull-up resistor, and the GPIO1 port of the test control device are connected in series. The normally open contact of the latching relay is connected in parallel with the limit switch. The protection diode and the coil of the latching relay are connected in parallel. The cathode of the protection diode is electrically connected to the positive terminal of the power supply terminal, and the anode is electrically connected to the collector of the transistor. The emitter of the transistor is grounded, and the base is electrically connected to the GPIO2 port of the test control device. The limit switch is used to detect whether the touch screen is connected to the test control device.

[0013] Preferably, the external component further includes an anti-interference resistor, an anti-interference capacitor, a first voltage divider resistor, and a second voltage divider resistor. The anti-interference resistor and the anti-interference capacitor are connected in series and then connected in parallel across the limit switch. The first voltage divider resistor is connected in series between the GPIO2 port and the base of the conducting transistor. One end of the second voltage divider resistor is grounded, and the other end is electrically connected to the connection node of the limit switch and the pull-up resistor.

[0014] Preferably, the connecting component is a pin header.

[0015] Preferably, the limit switch is located below the connecting component and is used to simultaneously activate the limit switch when the test touchscreen is installed on the connecting component.

[0016] The present invention also provides a method for using a touchscreen test control device, wherein the method is applicable to the aforementioned touchscreen test control device, and the method specifically includes:

[0017] S1: Start the touch screen test software inside the host computer, configure the GPIO1 port of the test control device as input mode, configure the GPIO1 port as low level mode, and configure the GPIO2 port of the test control device as output mode;

[0018] S2: Power off the output port of the test control device and the connection component through the host computer configuration, configure GPIO2 port to low level mode, install the touch screen to be tested on the connection component, cyclically obtain the status of GPIO1 port of the test control device, and determine whether GPIO1 port of the test control device is high level.

[0019] S3: After determining that the GPIO1 port of the test control device is high, the touch screen test software controls the test control device to power on the output of the test control device.

[0020] S4: Set the GPIO2 port of the test control device to a high level through the touch screen test software, and start the test on the touch screen to be tested through the touch screen test software.

[0021] S5: After the touch screen test software completes the test, repeat steps S2 to S4, and remove the tested touch screen from the connecting component after the power is turned off at the output port that is electrically connected to the test control device and the connecting component.

[0022] Preferably, in step S3, if the GPIO1 port of the test control device is at a low level, then the status of the GPIO1 port is obtained and determined in steps S2 to S3.

[0023] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are:

[0024] When the touchscreen under test is not connected to the test control device, the test control device is always in a power-off state. When the touchscreen under test is connected to the test control device, the external component notifies the test control device through the GPIO port. The touchscreen test software controls the test control device to output a control voltage to power the touchscreen under test. After the test is completed, the device is restored to a power-off state. This avoids the generation of instantaneous pulses inside the touchscreen under test during the process of connecting or removing the touchscreen under test from the test control device when there is voltage at the output of the test control device, thereby improving the yield of the touchscreen under test. Attached Figure Description

[0025] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall system structure of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the external components in this invention;

[0027] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the installation structure of the limit switch in this invention;

[0028] Figure 4 This is a flowchart illustrating the method of using the present invention.

[0029] In the diagram: 1 External component, 101 Power supply terminal, 102 Limit switch, 103 Pull-up resistor, 104 Lockout relay, 105 Protection diode, 106 Conducting transistor, 107 Anti-interference resistor, 108 Anti-interference capacitor, 109 First voltage divider resistor, 110 Second voltage divider resistor, 2 Connection component, 3 Test control device, 4 Host computer, 5 Touch screen. Detailed Implementation

[0030] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention. Example

[0031] Please see Figures 1 to 3 The present invention provides a technical solution:

[0032] A touchscreen test control device includes: an external component 1, a connection component 2, a test control device 3, and a host computer 4, wherein:

[0033] The test control device 3 is based on an STM32 microcontroller. It is electrically connected to an external component 1 via two GPIO ports, referred to as GPIO1 and GPIO2. The external component 1 includes a power supply terminal 101, a normally open limit switch 102, a pull-up resistor 103, a normally open latching relay 104, a protection diode 105, and an NPN transistor 106. The positive terminal of the power supply terminal 101, the limit switch 102, the pull-up resistor 103, and the test control device 1... The GPIO1 ports of the test control device 3 are connected in series. The normally open contact of the latching relay 104 is connected in parallel with the limit switch 102. The protection diode 105 is connected in parallel with the coil of the latching relay 104. The cathode of the protection diode 105 is electrically connected to the positive terminal of the power supply terminal 101, and the anode is electrically connected to the collector of the conducting transistor 106. The emitter of the conducting transistor 106 is grounded, and the base is electrically connected to the GPIO2 port of the test control device 3. The limit switch 102 is used to detect whether the touch screen 5 is connected to the test control device 3.

[0034] The connecting component 2 and the test control device 3 are electrically connected for connecting to the touch screen 5, thereby connecting the touch screen 5 to the test control device 3. The connecting component 2 is connected to the test connection port of the test control device 3. That is, the connecting component 2 mainly serves to facilitate the connection between the touch screen 5 to be tested and the test control device 3. The connecting component 2 is a pin header, which corresponds to the pin header interface on the touch screen 5 to be tested. The limit switch 102 is located below the connecting component 2 and is used to simultaneously activate the limit switch 102 when the touch screen 5 to be tested is installed on the connecting component 2. When the limit switch 102 is activated, its internal contacts close, indicating that the touch screen 5 to be tested has been connected to the connecting component 2 and is properly connected. The positive terminal of the power supply 101 has a voltage of +5V relative to ground. The GPIO1 port of the test control device 3 is clamped to a high level through the pull-up resistor 103. In this way, after the touch screen 5 is connected to the test control device 3, the external component 1 can send a signal to the test control device 3.

[0035] The test control device 3 and the host computer 4 are electrically connected, and the host computer 4 is a Siemens Smart-700. The touchscreen is connected to the host computer 4 and the test control device 3 via a serial communication port. The host computer 4 and the test control device 3 communicate actively using the Modbus communication protocol. The host computer 4 mainly controls and configures the test control device 3. The host computer 4 has touchscreen test software installed inside, which uses existing communication software. When the GPIO1 port of the test control device 3 is clamped to a high level, the touchscreen test software controls the test control device 3 to power on its output, and the touchscreen 5 to be tested can then start working. The host computer 4 controls the test control device 3 to output a high level through its GPIO2 port, and the base of the conducting transistor 106 is at a high level. At this time, the conducting transistor 106 is turned on, driving the coil of the latching relay 104 to work. In this way, the normally open contact of the latching relay 104 is closed, and the clamping circuit of the GPIO1 port is latched, so that it can always maintain a high level. This can effectively prevent the limit switch 102 from malfunctioning and causing the touchscreen 5 under test to lose power during subsequent testing.

[0036] When the pin header of the touchscreen under test 5 is inserted into the connecting component 2, it will press against the lower limit switch 102, causing it to activate and connect to the test control device 3. When the touchscreen under test 5 is not connected to the test control device 3, the test control device 3 does not receive the GPIO1 port signal, and its connection point with the connecting component 2 is always in a de-energized state. When the touchscreen under test 5 is connected to the test control device 3, the external component 1 notifies the test control device 3 through the GPIO1 port. At this time, the touchscreen test software controls the test control device 3 to output a control voltage to power the touchscreen under test 5. After the test is completed, it returns to the de-energized state. This can avoid the generation of instantaneous pulses inside the touchscreen under test 5 due to the voltage output of the test control device 3 during the process of connecting or removing the touchscreen under test 5, which could damage the touchscreen 5, thereby improving the yield of the touchscreen under test 5.

[0037] The external components also include an anti-interference resistor 107, an anti-interference capacitor 108, a first voltage divider resistor 109, and a second voltage divider resistor 110. The anti-interference resistor 107 and the anti-interference capacitor 108 are connected in series and then connected in parallel across the limit switch 102. The anti-interference capacitor 108 can store energy and mainly plays a role in resisting impact at the moment the limit switch 102 closes and opens. The first voltage divider resistor 109 is connected in series between the GPIO2 port and the base of the conducting transistor 106 to divide the voltage at the base and prevent damage to the conducting transistor 106. One end of the second voltage divider resistor 110 is grounded, and the other end is electrically connected to the connection node of the limit switch 102 and the pull-up resistor 103. It mainly plays a role in voltage division, limiting the voltage of the GPIO1 port and preventing damage to the GPIO1 port. The protection diode 105 has unidirectional conductivity, and its conduction direction is opposite to that of the conducting transistor 106, which also plays a protective role.

[0038] Please see Figure 4 The present invention also provides a method for using a touchscreen test control device, wherein the method is applicable to the aforementioned touchscreen test control device, and the method specifically includes:

[0039] S1: Start the touch screen test software inside the host computer 4, configure the GPIO1 port of the test control device 3 as input mode, configure the GPIO1 port as low level mode, and configure the GPIO2 port of the test control device 3 as output mode.

[0040] S2: Power off the output port of the test control device 3 electrically connected to the connection component 2 through the host computer 4, configure the GPIO2 port to low level mode, install the touch screen 5 to be tested onto the connection component 2, cyclically obtain the status of the GPIO1 port of the test control device 3, and determine whether the GPIO1 port of the test control device 3 is high level.

[0041] S3: After determining that the GPIO1 port of the test control device 3 is at a high level, the test control device 3 is powered on by the touch screen test software.

[0042] If the GPIO1 port of the test control device 3 is at a low level, then the state of the GPIO1 port is obtained and judged in steps S2~S3.

[0043] S4: Set the GPIO2 port of the test control device 3 to a high level using the touch screen test software, and start the test on the touch screen 5 to be tested using the touch screen test software.

[0044] S5: After the touch screen test software completes the test, repeat steps S2 to S4, and remove the tested touch screen from the connecting component after the power is turned off at the output port that is electrically connected to the test control device 3 and the connecting component 2.

[0045] Although embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, substitutions and alterations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A touchscreen testing and control device, characterized in that, include: An external component, which is electrically connected to the test control device, is used to detect whether the touch screen is connected to the test control device, and to send a connection signal to the test control device after the touch screen is connected. A connection component, which is electrically connected to the test control device, is used to connect to the touch screen, thereby connecting the touch screen to the test control device; A test control device is electrically connected to a host computer. It is used to output a control voltage under the control of the host computer after receiving a connection signal to power the touch screen under test, and to disconnect the control voltage under the control of the host computer after the test is completed. The host computer has touch screen testing software installed inside it, which is used to control and configure the test control device according to the connection of external components, and to test the touch screen to be tested. The external components include a power supply terminal, a normally open limit switch, a pull-up resistor, a normally open latching relay, a protection diode, and an NPN transistor. The positive terminal of the power supply terminal, the limit switch, the pull-up resistor, and the GPIO1 port of the test control device are connected in series. The normally open contact of the latching relay is connected in parallel with the limit switch. The protection diode and the coil of the latching relay are connected in parallel. The cathode of the protection diode is electrically connected to the positive terminal of the power supply terminal, and the anode is electrically connected to the collector of the transistor. The emitter of the transistor is grounded, and the base is electrically connected to the GPIO2 port of the test control device. The limit switch is used to detect whether the touch screen is connected to the test control device. The external components also include an anti-interference resistor, an anti-interference capacitor, a first voltage divider resistor, and a second voltage divider resistor. The anti-interference resistor and the anti-interference capacitor are connected in series and then connected in parallel across the two ends of the limit switch. The first voltage divider resistor is connected in series between the GPIO2 port and the base of the conducting transistor. One end of the second voltage divider resistor is grounded, and the other end is electrically connected to the connection node of the limit switch and the pull-up resistor.

2. The touchscreen testing and control device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The test control device is based on a microcontroller and is electrically connected to external components through two GPIO ports.

3. The touchscreen testing and control device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The connecting component is a pin header.

4. The touchscreen testing and control device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The limit switch is located below the connecting component and is used to activate the limit switch simultaneously when the test touchscreen is installed on the connecting component.

5. A method of using a touch screen test control device, characterized in that: The method of use is applicable to the touch screen test control device according to any one of claims 3-4, and the method of use specifically includes: S1: Start the touch screen test software inside the host computer, configure the GPIO1 port of the test control device as input mode, configure the GPIO1 port as low level mode, and configure the GPIO2 port of the test control device as output mode; S2: Power off the output port of the test control device and the connection component through the host computer configuration, configure GPIO2 port to low level mode, install the touch screen to be tested on the connection component, cyclically obtain the status of GPIO1 port of the test control device, and determine whether GPIO1 port of the test control device is high level. S3: After determining that the GPIO1 port of the test control device is high, the touch screen test software controls the test control device to power on the output of the test control device. S4: Set the GPIO2 port of the test control device to a high level through the touch screen test software, and start the test on the touch screen to be tested through the touch screen test software. S5: After the touch screen test software completes the test, repeat steps S2 to S4, and remove the tested touch screen from the connecting component after the power is turned off at the output port that is electrically connected to the test control device and the connecting component.

6. The method of using the touch screen test control device according to claim 5, characterized in that: In step S3, if the GPIO1 port of the test control device is at a low level, then continue with steps S2 to S3 to obtain and determine the state of the GPIO1 port.

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