Alignment Device for Flexible PCB Goldfingers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Inaccurate alignment of goldfingers on a flexible printed circuit board with electrodes on a substrate leads to inconsistent contact resistances, causing picture flickering due to an inappropriate prewritten voltage of the common electrode in display panels.

Innovation Solution

An alignment device with a light regulating member and a visible light source, featuring alternating shading and transmitting regions, is used to accurately align goldfingers with electrodes, ensuring consistent contact resistances by adjusting the position of the flexible printed circuit board until no light leak occurs at the edges.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If manual pressing is used to align goldfingers with electrodes, then the operation is simple and quick, but the alignment accuracy is insufficient leading to inconsistent contact resistances

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanual pressing operationVSAvoidalignment accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

A light-regulating member with light-transmitting regions corresponding to electrode positions is introduced as an intermediary tool. This member enables visual alignment by allowing light to pass through only at the correct positions, serving as a mediator between the operator and the alignment task, thereby achieving high precision without complex automated equipment

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces purely mechanical alignment methods with an optical assistance system. By using light transmission through the light-regulating member, the system substitutes mechanical measurement and adjustment with optical visualization, making alignment more precise while maintaining manual operation simplicity

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

2Manufacturing precision

If automated lamination is used to align goldfingers with electrodes, then the alignment accuracy is high, but the contact resistance differs from manual pressing conditions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvealignment accuracyVSAvoidconsistency of contact resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary alignment using the light-regulating member under manual pressing conditions before automated lamination. By establishing the correct alignment position beforehand using optical guidance, the system ensures that subsequent automated processes replicate the same contact resistance characteristics

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The light-regulating member creates a visual template or 'copy' of the correct alignment position through light transmission patterns. This optical copy guides the operator to replicate the precise alignment in subsequent operations, ensuring consistency between manual and automated processes

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the voltage of common electrode is adjusted to minimize picture jitter, then the flickering is reduced, but the alignment of goldfingers with electrodes remains inaccurate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepicture flickeringVSAvoidalignment accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary alignment of goldfingers with electrodes using the light-regulating member before adjusting the common electrode voltage. By establishing correct alignment first, the subsequent voltage adjustment can focus solely on minimizing flickering without being confounded by alignment errors

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent separates the alignment and voltage adjustment operations into distinct sequential steps. Alignment is achieved first using the light-regulating member, then voltage adjustment is performed separately to minimize flickering. This segmentation allows each parameter to be optimized independently without interference

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 ensures that the voltage prewritten into the driving chip during manual pressing is suitable for subsequent manufacturing processes, effectively inhibiting picture flickering by achieving precise alignment of goldfingers and electrodes.

Implementation Method 1

a light source (3) and a light regulating member (4)... the light source is a visible light source

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight emission: Light

Implementation Method 2

The light regulating member comprises a plurality of shading regions (41) and a plurality of transmitting regions (42) alternately provided along a length direction

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight absorption and transmission: Absorption (EM radiation)

Data Source

PatentEP3200011B1Alignment device and aligning method
Publication Date: 2022.09.14 BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO LTD
  • EP3200011B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3200011B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The present invention discloses an alignment device and an alignment method for accurately aligning goldfingers of a flexible printed circuit board with electrodes of a substrate to be aligned under a manual pressing mode. The alignment device comprises a light regulating member and a light source provided at a side of the light regulating member. The light regulating member comprises a plurality of shading regions and a plurality of transmitting regions alternately provided along a length direction of the light regulating member. The plurality of transmitting regions have shapes identical to those of electrodes on a substrate to be aligned, and positions of the plurality of transmitting regions are corresponding to those of the plurality of electrodes on the substrate to be aligned.