Design of Test Pattern Databank for Functional Testing of LCD Panels

To ensure the quality of a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel, extensive quality check in terms of different display patterns is performed after LCD production. Geared to LCD manufacturing facilities with several production lines, this paper presents an LCD testing solution of a server-based test pattern databank (TPD) and units of pattern generation system (PGS). TPD provides a GUI-based tool to facilitate editing and maintenance of test patterns, which are then downloaded to independent PGSs, each connected to LCD panels in a production line, for the pattern testing. Three issues related to the design of the proposed TPD are addressed. First, the definition of file formats used to characterize display patterns and timing parameters utilized for a complete test; second, the underlying graphical user interface (GUI) design of the TPD. Comparison to some existing solutions are also discussed to highlight the benefit of test pattern file consistency as well as cost effectiveness in the proposed TPD