Probe Module for Display Panel Luminance Deviation Correction
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing manufacturing process for organic light emitting display panels only includes a light emission test for defect inspection, leading to reduced manufacturing yield due to the inability to correct panels with luminance deviations between pixels.
Innovation Solution
A panel inspection apparatus with a probe module that senses pixel characteristics and generates compensation value data to correct luminance deviations, including a data driving circuit, pixel sensing circuit, and communication circuit to transmit data to integrated circuits for panel correction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If only light emission test is performed for defect inspection, then inspection process is simple, but manufacturing yield is reduced due to inability to correct panels with luminance deviations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing pixel characteristic sensing and generating compensation values during the manufacturing process before the panel is shipped. The probe module senses pixel characteristics and the controller generates compensation values that are stored in the panel's memory, enabling correction of luminance deviations before the product reaches the customer.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by using the probe module to sense actual pixel characteristics during manufacturing, comparing them against expected values, and automatically generating compensation values based on the detected deviations. This closed-loop feedback system enables automatic correction of luminance issues without requiring manual inspection or rejection of defective panels.
2Productivity
If compensation value generation is added to the manufacturing process, then manufacturing yield is improved through panel correction, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The probe module is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as a test signal generator and a pixel characteristic sensor. The same hardware infrastructure is used to both stimulate the display panel and measure its response, eliminating the need for separate specialized equipment and reducing overall system complexity despite adding correction capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies self-service by enabling the display panel to correct its own luminance deviations through stored compensation values. The panel's own memory and driving circuits are used to store and apply the compensation data generated during manufacturing, eliminating the need for external correction hardware in the final product.
3Manufacturing precision
If pixel characteristic sensing is performed for each pixel, then luminance deviation correction is enabled, but measurement precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by measuring multiple pixel characteristics (threshold voltage, mobility, current) rather than relying on a single parameter. By sensing various electrical parameters of each pixel and generating compensation values based on the combined information, the system achieves accurate luminance uniformity correction while maintaining feasible measurement precision requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are a probe module for inspecting a display panel, a panel inspection apparatus including the same, and a panel correction method of the panel inspection apparatus, which are provided to correct a display panel selected as a defective display panel during manufacturing of the display panel, thereby improving manufacturing yield of the display panel.