IP Library Granted Patent US 7,084,652
Granted Patent B2
US 7,084,652 · App. 10/848,995 · Granted Aug 1, 2006

Non-destructive contact test

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,084,652
App. No.
10/848,995
Granted
Aug 1, 2006
Kind
B2
Abstract

A non-destructive contact test method and apparatus for testing an electric characteristic of a test object is provided. The method includes providing an apparatus having a conductor, wherein the conductor is in a liquid state; and using the conductor to contact a surface of the test object for testing the electric characteristic of the test object. Thus, damage to the test object during the test can be effectively avoided.

Claims (33)

1. A non-destructive contact test method, for testing electric characteristics of a test object comprising:

providing an apparatus, comprising a conductor, said conductor being in a liquid state at a testing temperature; and

using said conductor to contact a surface of said test object for testing electric characteristics of said test object, wherein said test object is an active array comprising a plurality of pixels.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said conductor has a melting point lower than said testing temperature and said conductor is in a liquid state at said testing temperature.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising a step of heating said conductor to transform said conductor into a liquid state before the step of using said conductor to contact said surface of said test object.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein said conductor has a melting point lower than 400° C.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein said conductor comprises mercury (Hg).

6. The method of claim 1 , further including using a height adjustment system to adjust a height of said conductor in the liquid state.

7. A non-destructive contact test method, for testing electric characteristics of a test object, wherein said test object is an active array, said active array comprising a plurality of pixels, said method comprising: (a) providing an apparatus comprising a plurality of conductors, said plurality of conductors being in a liquid state at a testing temperature;

(b) contacting contact surfaces of a partial number of said pixels using said conductors; and

(c) testing electric characteristics of said partial number of pixels.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising a step (d) of moving said apparatus to align over pixels other than said partial number of pixels after the step (c); and

repeating said steps (b), (c) and (d) until the testing of the electrical characteristics of each of said pixels are completed.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein said plurality of conductors has a melting point lower than 400° C.

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein said conductor has a melting point lower than said testing temperature.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising a step of heating said conductor to transform said conductor into a liquid state before the step of using said conductor to contact said surface of said test object.

12. The method of claim 7 , wherein said apparatus further comprising a height adjustment system adjusting a height of said conductor in the liquid state.

13. An apparatus suitable for testing an electric characteristic of a test object, comprising:

a body, having an opening;

at least a conductor, said conductor being in a liquid state at a testing temperature, a portion of which is being exposed outside said body via said opening for contacting a surface of said test object, and being in a solid state at a temperature below the testing temperature; and

a heater heating said conductor to transform said conductor from solid state to liquid state, and to maintain said conductor in a liquid state during testing.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein said conductor has a melting point lower than said testing temperature.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein said conductor comprises mercury (Hg).

16. The apparatus of claim 13 , further comprising a height adjustment system, adjusting a pressure within, the body to adjust a height of the exposed portion of the conductor at the liquid state.

17. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein said body is an insulating material.

18. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said body is a conductive material.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 , further comprising a common conducting line connected to said body.

20. A method of in process testing electrical characteristics of an OLED array structure, comprising the steps of:

providing a test probe comprising a liquid conductive probe, wherein a portion of the liquid conductive probe extend outside the test probe;

adjusting a pressure within the test probe to adjust a height of said extended portion of the liquid conductive probe by using a height adjustment system;

contacting a test surface in the OLED array structure using the liquid conductive probe; and

obtaining data pertaining to the electrical characteristic of the OLED array structure.

21. The method of claim 7 , wherein said conductor comprises mercury (Hg).

Assignments (1)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Apr 3, 2014
From: CHIMEI INNOLUX CORPORATION
To: INNOLUX CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 032604/0487 →