LCD Inspection Heating Chamber Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing inspection apparatuses for liquid crystal display (LCD) panels face challenges in maintaining uniform temperature during inspection, leading to inaccurate orientation abnormality detection and increased manufacturing costs due to exposure to surrounding air and the need for expensive conveying mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
An inspection apparatus with a heating chamber and a panel transferring part that maintains a uniform temperature by conveying LCD panels directly from the heating chamber to an inspection unit within the same chamber, using a slanted conveyor and clamping mechanism to prevent temperature fluctuations and reduce costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If LCD panels are conveyed from heating chamber to inspection apparatus using expensive conveying mechanisms, then temperature uniformity is maintained, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the heating chamber and inspection apparatus into a single integrated structure, eliminating the need for separate conveying mechanisms. The inspection apparatus is positioned inside the heating chamber, allowing panels to be inspected in-situ without temperature fluctuations during transfer, thus reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining temperature uniformity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a temperature maintenance mechanism as an intermediary between the heating chamber and inspection apparatus. This mechanism ensures that panels remain at controlled temperatures during the inspection process, eliminating the need for expensive external conveying systems while preserving temperature uniformity.
2Ease of manufacture
If LCD panels are exposed to surrounding air during conveyance, then manufacturing cost decreases, but temperature uniformity deteriorates leading to inspection inaccuracies
Solution Approach 1:
The patent maintains a controlled thermal environment within the heating chamber, creating a thermally stable atmosphere for inspection. By positioning the inspection apparatus inside the heating chamber and using temperature maintenance mechanisms, panels remain in a consistent thermal environment during inspection, preventing temperature fluctuations that would compromise inspection accuracy.
3Loss of time
If LCD panels are inspected after exposure to surrounding air, then manufacturing time decreases, but temperature uniformity deteriorates causing orientation abnormality detection errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs inspection while panels are still inside the heating chamber, before any temperature exposure to surrounding air can occur. This preliminary inspection approach eliminates the need for panel conveyance and subsequent re-heating, reducing inspection time while maintaining temperature uniformity throughout the process.
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
Ensures precise inspection of orientation abnormalities while maintaining a uniform temperature, reducing manufacturing costs and time by minimizing exposure to surrounding air and eliminating the need for expensive conveying robots.
Implementation Method 1
a heating chamber to heat a plurality of LCD panels received in a cassette
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein is an inspection apparatus for liquid crystal display panels, which can perform inspection for orientation abnormality of the liquid crystal display panels while maintaining a uniform temperature. The inspection apparatus comprises a heating chamber to heat a plurality of LCD panels received in a cassette, an inspection unit positioned near the heating chamber to receive the LCD panels heated by the heating chamber, and to inspect abnormality of each LCD panel, and a panel transferring part to withdraw each of the LCD panels from the cassette and supply each of the LCD panels to the inspection unit, and to withdraw each of the LCD panels from the inspection unit and supply each of the LCD panels to the cassette while moving between the cassette and the inspection unit.