Chip-on-Glass Bonding Quality Testing via Electrical Loop

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional methods for testing chip-on-glass (COG) bonding quality in LCD devices, such as automatic optical inspection (AOI), are slow and unreliable, often resulting in false positives and increased costs due to the need for manual inspection and potential defects in electrical connections.

Innovation Solution

An automated electric testing circuit is implemented, where a test signal is applied to an input node of the circuit formed on the glass panel and the LCD driver, measuring the voltage drop across test nodes to determine the quality of the COG bond, allowing for direct and accurate assessment of electrical connections before further assembly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Extent of automation

If automatic optical inspection (AOI) is used to test COG bonding quality, then inspection can be automated, but the testing speed is slow and reliability is poor with false positives

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomation of inspectionVSAvoidtesting speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the optical inspection system with an electrical testing system. Instead of using cameras and optical sensors to visually inspect bonding quality, the invention applies electrical test signals directly to the COG bond interface and measures electrical characteristics (impedance, capacitance, or resistance) to assess bonding quality. This substitution of mechanical/optical detection with electrical measurement achieves both automation and high-speed testing simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Extent of automation

If automatic optical inspection (AOI) is used to test COG bonding quality, then inspection can be automated, but reliability is poor resulting in false positives

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomation of inspectionVSAvoidtesting accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the optical inspection system with an electrical testing system. Instead of using cameras and optical sensors to visually inspect bonding quality, the invention applies electrical test signals directly to the COG bond interface and measures electrical characteristics (impedance, capacitance, or resistance) to assess bonding quality. This substitution of mechanical/optical detection with electrical measurement achieves both automation and high-speed testing simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces electrical test signals as an intermediary to indirectly assess bonding quality. Rather than directly observing the physical bonding interface, the system uses electrical signals that interact with the bond structure, and the resulting electrical measurements serve as intermediaries to infer bonding quality. This indirect measurement approach provides more reliable and accurate assessment compared to direct optical observation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If traditional connection techniques (COB, TAB, COF) are used to connect LCD driver to panel, then electrical connections can be established, but the device becomes bulky and expensive with multiple components

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrical connection qualityVSAvoidnumber of components
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the LCD driver chip directly onto the glass panel surface, eliminating the need for separate flexible films and intermediate connection structures. The driver chip is bonded directly to the panel's glass substrate, integrating multiple functions (display and driving) into a single unified structure. This merging reduces the number of components from multiple separate elements to a more integrated assembly, decreasing device complexity and bulk while maintaining electrical connection quality through the COG bonding interface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This method significantly reduces the number of defective LCD modules shipped, lowers testing costs, and detects defects earlier in the manufacturing process, improving the reliability and efficiency of the COG bonding process.

Implementation Method 1

measuring the voltage drop across test nodes to determine the quality of the COG bond

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVoltage drop measurement: Ohm's Law

Data Source

PatentEP3384525B1System and method for testing chip-on-glass bonding quality
Publication Date: 2020.10.07 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3384525B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3384525B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3384525B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A system and method of testing chip-on-glass (COG) bonding quality automatically includes a glass panel comprising two test pads, the test pads electrically interconnected, a display driver comprising an input node and an output node, and an adhesive layer between the glass panel and the display driver, the adhesive layer binding the glass panel with the display driver, the adhesive layer comprising conductive portions across the adhesive layer between the glass panel and the display driver, wherein the input node, the output node, the two test pads, and the conductive portions are electrically connected to form an electrical testing loop, the electrical testing loop configured to measure a voltage drop across the conductive portions.