U.S. patent application number 14/606043 was filed with the patent office on 2015-07-30 for touch panel inspecting apparatus.
The applicant listed for this patent is NIDEC-READ CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Shigeki Fujita, Osamu Hikita, Koji Iwami, Toshihide Matsukawa, Koji Sakamoto.
Application Number | 20150212625 14/606043 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 52396555 |
Filed Date | 2015-07-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150212625 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sakamoto; Koji ; et
al. |
July 30, 2015 |
TOUCH PANEL INSPECTING APPARATUS
Abstract
A touch panel inspecting apparatus includes a workpiece holder,
a pseudo finger, an X-Y movement mechanism, a memory part, an
electric pneumatic regulator, and a panel signal acquiring part.
The workpiece holder allows a touch panel, which is an inspection
target, to be set thereon. The pseudo finger is contactable with
the touch panel set on the workpiece holder. The X-Y movement
mechanism moves the pseudo finger relative to the touch panel. The
memory part stores therein a set value of pressing force of the
pseudo finger, in a changeable manner. The electric pneumatic
regulator regulates the pressing force to bring the pseudo finger
into contact with the touch panel, based on the set value stored in
the memory part. The panel signal acquiring part acquires an
electric signal output from the touch panel.
Inventors: |
Sakamoto; Koji; (Kyoto,
JP) ; Matsukawa; Toshihide; (Kyoto, JP) ;
Iwami; Koji; (Kyoto, JP) ; Fujita; Shigeki;
(Kyoto, JP) ; Hikita; Osamu; (Kyoto, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
NIDEC-READ CORPORATION |
Kyoto |
|
JP |
|
|
Family ID: |
52396555 |
Appl. No.: |
14/606043 |
Filed: |
January 27, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
345/174 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 3/0414 20130101;
G06F 3/0446 20190501; G06F 11/2221 20130101; G06F 3/03545
20130101 |
International
Class: |
G06F 3/044 20060101
G06F003/044; G06F 3/0354 20060101 G06F003/0354; G06F 3/041 20060101
G06F003/041 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 27, 2014 |
JP |
2014-012396 |
Claims
1. A touch panel inspecting apparatus comprising: a holding part
configured to allow a touch panel, which is an inspection target,
to be set thereon; at least one pseudo finger configured to be
contactable with the touch panel set on the holding part; a contact
position changing part configured to move the at least one pseudo
finger relative to the touch panel and to change a contact position
of the touch panel with the at least one pseudo finger; a set
pressing force memory part configured to store a set value of a
pressing force of the at least one pseudo finger, in a changeable
manner; a pressing force regulating part configured to regulate the
pressing force of the at least one pseudo finger in contact with
the touch panel, based on the set value stored in the set pressing
force memory part; and an acquiring part configured to acquire an
electric signal output from the touch panel.
2. The touch panel inspecting apparatus of claim 1, further
comprising: a weight canceling part configured to apply, to the at
least one pseudo finger, a canceling force to bring the at least
one pseudo finger apart from the touch panel.
3. The touch panel inspecting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the set
pressing force memory part is capable of storing a set value
corresponding to zero pressing force of the at least one pseudo
finger.
4. The touch panel inspecting apparatus of claim 2, wherein the set
pressing force memory part is capable of storing a set value
corresponding to zero pressing force of the at least one pseudo
finger.
5. The touch panel inspecting apparatus of claim 1, further
comprising: a housing having an accommodating chamber for
accommodating the at least one pseudo finger, the housing
configured to support the at least one pseudo finger so as to allow
the at least one pseudo finger to move linearly; a bearing-forming
gas passage for a compressed gas to be supplied for forming a
hydrostatic gas bearing between the housing and the at least one
pseudo finger.
6. The touch panel inspecting apparatus of claim 5, further
comprising: a thrust gas passage for a compressed gas to be
supplied for acting on the at least one pseudo finger to provide a
thrust force to bring the at least one pseudo finger close to the
touch panel; and a canceling gas passage for a compressed gas to be
supplied for acting, on the at least one pseudo finger, to provide
a canceling force to bring the at least one pseudo finger apart
from the touch panel, wherein the pressing force regulating part
controls at least one of a thrust gas pressure and a canceling gas
pressure to regulate the pressing force of the at least one pseudo
finger in contact with the touch panel.
7. The touch panel inspecting apparatus of claim 6, further
comprising: a plurality of pseudo fingers, wherein the pressing
force regulating part is configured to regulate, for each pseudo
finger, the pressing force to bring the pseudo finger into contact
with the touch panel.
8. The touch panel inspecting apparatus of claim 2, further
comprising: a housing having an accommodating chamber for
accommodating the at least one pseudo finger, the housing
configured to support the at least one pseudo finger so as to allow
the at least one pseudo finger to move linearly; a bearing-forming
gas passage for a compressed gas to be supplied for forming a
hydrostatic gas bearing between the housing and the at least one
pseudo finger.
9. The touch panel inspecting apparatus of claim 8, further
comprising: a thrust gas passage for a compressed gas to be
supplied for acting on the at least one pseudo finger to provide a
thrust force to bring the at least one pseudo finger close to the
touch panel; and a canceling gas passage for a compressed gas to be
supplied for acting, on the at least one pseudo finger, to provide
a canceling force to bring the at least one pseudo finger apart
from the touch panel, wherein the pressing force regulating part
controls at least one of a thrust gas pressure and a canceling gas
pressure to regulate the pressing force of the at least one pseudo
finger in contact with the touch panel.
10. The touch panel inspecting apparatus of claim 9 wherein said
weight canceling part comprises the canceling gas passage.
11. The touch panel inspecting apparatus of claim 10, comprising: a
plurality of pseudo fingers, wherein the pressing force regulating
part is configured to regulate, for each pseudo finger, the
pressing force to bring the pseudo finger into contact with the
touch panel.
12. An inspection apparatus comprising: a holder configured to set
an inspection target thereon; at least one pseudo finger configured
to contact the inspection target; a positioner configured to move
the at least one pseudo finger relative to the inspection target
and to change a contact position of the pseudo finger on the
inspection target; a memory configured to changeably store a value
of a contact force of the at least one pseudo finger on the
inspection target; a controller configured to regulate the contact
force based on the value; and a sensor configured to acquire an
electric signal output from the inspection target.
13. The inspection apparatus of claim 12 wherein the inspection
target is a touch panel.
14. The inspection apparatus of claim 13 further comprising: a
housing having a chamber for accommodating the at least one pseudo
finger for linear movement therein; a bearing-forming gas passage
configured to receive a bearing-forming gas pressure for forming a
hydrostatic gas bearing between the housing and the at least one
pseudo finger.
15. The inspection apparatus of claim 13 further comprising: a
thrust gas passage configured to receive a thrust-forming gas
pressure to provide a thrust force biasing the at least one pseudo
finger toward the touch panel; and a canceling gas passage
configured to receive a thrust-canceling gas pressure to provide a
canceling force opposing the thrust force; wherein the controller
controls at least one of a thrust-forming gas pressure and a
thrust-canceling gas pressure to regulate said contact force.
16. The inspection apparatus of claim 15 further comprising: a
housing having a chamber for accommodating the at least one pseudo
finger for linear movement therein; a bearing-forming gas passage
configured to receive a bearing-forming gas pressure for forming a
hydrostatic gas bearing between the housing and the at least one
pseudo finger.
17. The inspection apparatus of claim 16 further comprising: a
plurality of pseudo fingers, wherein the controller is configured
to regulate the contact force of each pseudo finger
independently.
18. The inspection apparatus of claim 16 wherein the hydrostatic
gas bearing is substantially frictionless in the linear
direction.
19. The inspection apparatus of claim 16 wherein the pseudo finger
is journalled within a cylindrical bushing.
20. The inspection apparatus of claim 19 wherein the cylindrical
bushing is porous.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is based on and claims priority from
Japanese Patent Application No. 2014-012396, filed on Jan. 27,
2014, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in
their entirety.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Technical Field
[0003] This disclosure relates to a configuration of an apparatus
for inspecting a touch panel.
[0004] 2. Related Art
[0005] With the recent rapid widespread use of electronic
appliances such as a smartphone and a tablet, there is an
increasing demand for touch panel devices configured to detect a
position touched by a human finger or with a stylus pen. Examples
of the touch panel device include an electrostatic capacitance
touch panel device, a pressure-sensitive resistive film touch panel
device, and the like.
[0006] A recent stylus pen has been provided with a
pressure-sensitive sensor to realize a so-called writing pressure
sensing function. A combination of this pressure-sensitive pen with
a touch panel device allows a process of changing a reaction based
on a difference in writing pressure even when the same position is
touched. As a result, this combination allows more intuitive
operation of an electronic appliance.
[0007] It is considerably important for touch panel device
manufacturers to conduct inspection on touch panel devices (sensor
panels) for the purpose of avoiding defectives from being mixed in
non-defectives to thereby ensure the product quality. For this
reason, various touch panel inspecting apparatuses have been
proposed.
[0008] For example, JP 2003-303051 A discloses a touch panel
inspection device for evaluating the destruction durability
performance of a so-called pressure-sensitive touch panel using a
resistance film. The touch panel inspection device includes a pen
member configured to slide on a panel surface of a touch panel. The
pen member has a first end for pressing the touch panel, and a
second end which is an opposite end to the first end, the second
end provided with a weight corresponding to weighting means having
a predetermined weight.
[0009] The touch panel inspection device disclosed in JP
2003-303051 A is configured to evaluate the destruction durability
performance of a touch panel, but is not configured to determine
whether or not a touch panel is a defective. However, the
configuration disclosed in JP 2003-303051 A allows optional
settings for pressure of the pen member pressed against the panel
surface of the touch panel, which leads to further diversification
of the inspection methods.
[0010] According to some of recent techniques which have been
proposed, a sensor of a stylus pen does not sense writing pressure,
but a touch panel device senses pressure of a touch. Examples of
such a technique include a technique of combining an electrostatic
capacitance touch panel with a pressure sensor and a technique of
forming a touch panel using a material whose characteristics vary
depending on a mechanical load, and the potentials of these
techniques have been under review.
[0011] The technique capable of sensing pressure of a touch using a
touch panel allows sensing of a difference in pressure in addition
to a position touched by a finger without using a dedicated stylus
pen, when being put to practical use. Therefore, this technique can
be expected to further improve user's convenience.
[0012] In order to inspect whether or not such a pressing force
sensitive touch panel correctly operates, it is necessary to bring
a pseudo finger into press contact with the touch panel while
changing pressing force, and to examine electrical signals in the
touch panel.
[0013] However, if the inspection device disclosed in JP
2003-303051 A is adapted to conduct this inspection, a weight is
replaced by a different one each time the pressing force of the pen
member is changed, so that the inspection efficiency is
considerably degraded.
[0014] In the inspection device disclosed in JP 2003-303051 A,
moreover, when the pen member is brought into contact with the
touch panel, the self weights of at least the pen member, the
weight, and an arm member that supports the weight are acted on the
contact. For this reason, weakening the pressing force has a
ceiling and, in actual fact, the inspection device cannot fill a
need to inspect operation of the touch panel which is touched with
considerably light force such as approximately zero gram.
SUMMARY
[0015] In view of the circumstances described above, an exemplary
embodiment of the disclosure provides a touch panel inspecting
apparatus having a configuration capable of inspecting a touch
panel while easily and flexibly changing force to bring a pseudo
finger into contact with the touch panel.
[0016] The technical challenges to be solved by the disclosure are
as described above. Hereinafter, a description will be given of
solutions to these technical challenges and the advantageous
effects of the solutions.
[0017] An exemplary embodiment of the disclosure provides a touch
panel inspecting apparatus having the following configuration. The
touch panel inspecting apparatus includes a holding part, a pseudo
finger, a contact position changing part, a set pressing force
memory part, a pressing force regulating part, and an acquiring
part. The holding part is configured to allow a touch panel, which
is an inspection target, to be set thereon. The pseudo finger is
configured to be contactable with the touch panel set on the
holding part. The contact position changing part is configured to
move the pseudo finger relative to the touch panel and to change a
contact position of the touch panel with the pseudo finger. The set
pressing force memory part is configured to store a set value of
pressing force of the pseudo finger, in a changeable manner. The
pressing force regulating part is configured to regulate the
pressing force to bring the pseudo finger into contact with the
touch panel, based on the set value stored in the set pressing
force memory part. The acquiring part is configured to acquire an
electric signal output from the touch panel.
[0018] Thus, the touch panel inspecting apparatus can inspect the
touch panel, based on the electric signal acquired by the acquiring
part, while easily and flexibly changing the force to bring the
pseudo finger into contact with the touch panel, by changing the
set value stored in the set pressing force memory part.
Accordingly, the touch panel inspecting apparatus can quickly
address a change of a touch panel to be inspected, a change of
inspection conditions, and the like, and therefore can considerably
improve inspection efficiency.
[0019] Preferably, the touch panel inspecting apparatus further
includes a weight canceling part configured to apply, to the pseudo
finger, force to bring the pseudo finger apart from the touch
panel.
[0020] Thus, the touch panel inspecting apparatus can bring the
pseudo finger into contact with the touch panel with force lighter
than the self weight of the pseudo finger. Accordingly, the touch
panel inspecting apparatus can inspect the touch panel under wider
conditions than ever before.
[0021] In the touch panel inspecting apparatus, preferably, the set
pressing force memory part is capable of storing a set value
corresponding to zero pressing force of the pseudo finger.
[0022] Thus, the touch panel inspecting apparatus can bring about a
state in which the pseudo finger is in contact with the touch panel
with the zero pressing force. Accordingly, the touch panel
inspecting apparatus can inspect the touch panel in a special state
in which a mechanical load to be applied to the touch panel is
substantially eliminated.
[0023] Preferably, the touch panel inspecting apparatus has the
following configuration. The touch panel inspecting apparatus
further includes a housing, a bearing-forming gas passage, a thrust
gas passage, and a canceling gas passage. The housing has an
accommodating chamber for accommodating the pseudo finger, and is
configured to support the pseudo finger so as to allow the pseudo
finger to move linearly. The bearing-forming gas passage is a
passage for a compressed gas to be supplied for forming a
hydrostatic gas bearing between the housing and the pseudo finger.
The thrust gas passage is a passage for a compressed gas to be
supplied for acting, on the pseudo finger, force to bring the
pseudo finger close to the touch panel. The canceling gas passage
is a passage for a compressed gas to be supplied for acting, on the
pseudo finger, the force to bring the pseudo finger apart from the
touch panel. The pressing force regulating part controls at least
one of pressure of the compressed gas supplied to the thrust gas
passage and pressure of the compressed gas supplied to the
canceling gas passage to regulate the pressing force to bring the
pseudo finger into contact with the touch panel.
[0024] Thus, the touch panel inspecting apparatus forms the
hydrostatic gas bearing to substantially eliminate the slide
friction of the pseudo finger and to control the gas pressure at
the thrust gas passage or the canceling gas passage, thereby easily
and flexibly regulating the pressing force of the pseudo finger.
Moreover, the touch panel inspecting apparatus can easily bring
about a state in which the pseudo finger is in contact with the
touch panel with considerably weak pressing force (or zero pressing
force), by the differential control using the pressure at the
thrust gas passage and the pressure at the canceling gas
passage.
[0025] Preferably, the touch panel inspecting apparatus has the
following configuration. The touch panel inspecting apparatus
includes the plurality of pseudo fingers. The pressing force
regulating part is capable of regulating, for each pseudo finger,
the pressing force to bring the pseudo finger into contact with the
touch panel.
[0026] Thus, the touch panel inspecting apparatus can inspect the
touch panel by bringing the plurality of pseudo fingers into
contact with the touch panel simultaneously, and therefore can
efficiently conduct the inspection.
[0027] The foregoing and other objects, features, aspects, and
advantages of the disclosed invention will become more apparent
from the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction
with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0028] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view illustrating an
overall configuration of a touch panel inspecting apparatus
according to an exemplary embodiment;
[0029] FIG. 2 is a partially conceptual block diagram illustrating
a configuration of a pseudo finger mechanism; and
[0030] FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of the touch panel
inspecting apparatus.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0031] Various embodiments of the disclosure will be described
below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic
perspective view illustrating an overall configuration of a touch
panel inspecting apparatus 1 according to an exemplary
embodiment.
[0032] The touch panel inspecting apparatus 1 illustrated in FIG. 1
is mounted on a horizontal workbench 90 in active use. The touch
panel inspecting apparatus 1 includes a base 51, a workpiece holder
(a holding part) 52, an X-Y movement mechanism 53, a Z movement
mechanism 54, and a pseudo finger mechanism 55.
[0033] The base 51 has a horizontal upper surface, and an X axis
and a Y axis which are orthogonal to each other are defined in a
plane parallel with the horizontal upper surface. Moreover, a Z
axis is defined in a direction perpendicular to the X-Y plane.
[0034] The workpiece holder (the holding part) 52 is fixed onto the
upper surface of the base 51. The workpiece holder 52 has a
horizontal flat plate shape. The workpiece holder 52 has a suction
table (not illustrated) capable of fixedly holding a flat
plate-shaped touch panel 100, which is an inspection target, with a
front surface of the touch panel 100 directed upward. The touch
panel 100 has a rectangular shape, and is set on the workpiece
holder 52 such that one of orthogonal two sides thereof is in
parallel with the X axis and the other side is in parallel with the
Y axis.
[0035] The X-Y movement mechanism 53 corresponds to a biaxial
planar movement mechanism in which two linear guides are combined,
and is mounted on the base 51. The X-Y movement mechanism 53 can
move the pseudo finger mechanism 55 serving as an inspection head,
in the X-Y plane which is parallel with the surface of the base 51
(the surface of the touch panel 100 to be described later). Thus,
it is possible to optionally change a position where a pseudo
finger 21 of the pseudo finger mechanism 55 comes into contact with
the touch panel 100.
[0036] The X-Y movement mechanism 53 includes a linear guide 61, a
guide rail 62, a first carriage 63, and a second carriage 65.
[0037] Each of the linear guide 61 and the guide rail 62 is
disposed in a direction parallel with the Y axis. The linear guide
61 and the guide rail 62 are disposed to face each other with the
base 51 interposed therebetween in plan view.
[0038] The first carriage 63 is disposed to lay over the linear
guide 61 and the guide rail 62. The first carriage 63 is disposed
in a direction parallel with the X axis and is guided by the linear
guide 61 and the guide rail 62 so as to be linearly movable in the
Y axis direction. A Y-axis drive motor 64 is attached to the linear
guide 61 and is driven to optionally displace the first carriage 63
in the Y-axis direction.
[0039] The first carriage 63 is configured to support the second
carriage 65. The first carriage 63 constitutes a linear guide and
guides the second carriage 65 such that the second carriage 65 can
linearly move in the X-axis direction corresponding to the
longitudinal direction of the first carriage 63. An X-axis drive
motor 66 is attached to the first carriage 63 and is driven to
optionally displace the second carriage 65 in the X-axis
direction.
[0040] The second carriage 65 is configured to support a bracket
67. The second carriage 65 includes a screw feed mechanism (not
illustrated) for guiding the bracket 67 such that the bracket 67
can linearly move in the Z-axis direction corresponding to an
up-and-down direction. A Z-axis drive motor 68 is attached to the
second carriage 65 and is driven to optionally displace the bracket
67 in the Z-axis direction. The screw feed mechanism and the like
constitute the Z movement mechanism 54 capable of moving the pseudo
finger mechanism 55 in the Z-axis direction.
[0041] The pseudo finger mechanism 55 is supported on a lower
portion of the bracket 67. The pseudo finger mechanism 55
constitutes the inspection head in the touch panel inspecting
apparatus 1 according to an illustrative embodiment, and includes a
plurality of (three in an illustrative embodiment) pseudo fingers
(each including a movable member, a needle, a contact member) 21
elongated in the up-and-down direction. The three pseudo fingers 21
are linearly arranged at equal intervals (FIG. 1 illustrates the
state in which the pseudo fingers 21 are arranged in the X-axis
direction). The pseudo finger mechanism 55 can press the three
pseudo fingers 21 against the touch panel 100 with preset
force.
[0042] The pseudo finger mechanism 55 is supported by the bracket
67 via a pivot 70 directed in a perpendicular direction.
Accordingly, the pseudo finger mechanism 55 is rotatable about the
pivot 70. A turning motor 71 is provided on an upper portion of the
bracket 67 and is driven to change an angle of the pseudo finger
mechanism 55 (i.e., an arrangement angle of the three pseudo
fingers 21) relative to the X and Y axes.
[0043] With reference to FIG. 2, next, a description will be given
of the detailed configuration of the pseudo finger mechanism 55.
FIG. 2 is a partially conceptual block diagram illustrating the
configuration of the pseudo finger mechanism 55.
[0044] The pseudo finger mechanism 55 includes the pseudo fingers
21 described above, and a housing 22 for accommodating these pseudo
fingers 21.
[0045] The pseudo finger mechanism 55 is formed of a hydrostatic
air bearing actuator (a gas bearing actuator), and is capable of
supporting the rod-shaped pseudo finger 21 by an air bearing (a gas
bearing) in a non-contact manner.
[0046] The housing 22 has an accommodating chamber 24 formed
therein and is capable of accommodating the pseudo fingers 21. Each
of the pseudo fingers 21 formed into the round rod shape elongated
in the up-and-down direction has an upper portion inserted into the
accommodating chamber 24 and a lower end (a distal end) protruding
from the housing 22. The pseudo finger 21 is supported by the
housing 22 so as to be displaceable in the up-and-down direction.
With this configuration, when the pseudo finger 21 is displaced
downward, the lower end of the pseudo finger 21 can be brought into
contact with the touch panel 100.
[0047] The accommodating chamber 24 is provided with a cylindrical
bush 25 made of a porous material, and the pseudo finger 21 is
inserted into the bush 25. A small clearance is created between the
bush 25 and the pseudo finger 21 in a radial direction. The housing
22 also has a bearing-forming air passage (a bearing-forming gas
passage) 31 formed therein. In the housing 22, compressed air
(compressed gas) supplied to the bearing-forming air passage 31
passes through a large number of pores in the porous bush 25 and
then is uniformly ejected to the clearance between the bush 25 and
the pseudo finger 21. The air bearing thus formed holds the pseudo
finger 21 in the non-contact manner. As a result, it is possible to
reduce, to a negligible degree, sliding resistance generated when
the pseudo finger 21 moves up and down relative to the housing
22.
[0048] The bearing-forming air passage 31 has a first end opened at
the accommodating chamber 24 and a second end (a bearing-forming
air port 36) opened at an outer surface of the housing 22. The
bearing-forming air port 36 is connected to a compressed air source
(a compressed gas supply source) 5 via an appropriate pipe.
[0049] In the pseudo finger mechanism 55, the housing 22 also has a
thrust air passage (a thrust gas passage) 32 formed therein. The
thrust air passage 32 has a first end opened at the accommodating
chamber 24 and a second end (a thrust air port 37) opened at the
outer surface of the housing 22. The thrust air port 37 is
connected via an appropriate pipe to an electric pneumatic
regulator 42 for regulating pressure of the compressed air supplied
from the compressed air source 5.
[0050] In the pseudo finger mechanism 55, the housing 22 also has a
canceling air passage (a weight canceling part, a canceling gas
passage) 33 formed therein. The canceling air passage 33 has a
first end opened at the accommodating chamber 24 and a second end
(a canceling air port 38) opened at the outer surface of the
housing 22. The canceling air port 38 is connected via an
appropriate pipe to an electric pneumatic regulator 43 for
regulating the pressure of the compressed air supplied from the
compressed air source 5.
[0051] Although not illustrated in the drawings, the housing 22 has
a discharge passage appropriately formed therein to let the
compressed air supplied to each of the bearing-forming air passage
31, the thrust air passage 32, and the canceling air passage 33
escape to the outside.
[0052] Each of the two electric pneumatic regulators (the gas
pressure regulators) 42 and 43 is electrically connected to a
control computer 15 for controlling the operation of the touch
panel inspecting apparatus 1.
[0053] The electric pneumatic regulator 42 regulates the pressure
of the compressed air supplied to the thrust air port 37, to
pressure responsive to an electric signal from the control computer
15. Likewise, the electric pneumatic regulator 43 regulates the
pressure of the compressed air supplied to the canceling air port
38, to pressure responsive to an electric signal from the control
computer 15. This pressure control allows the pseudo finger 21 to
linearly move in a direction close to or apart from the touch panel
100. As will be described in detail later, moreover, this pressure
control allows regulation of pressing force to press the pseudo
finger 21 against the touch panel 100.
[0054] The electric pneumatic regulator 42 and the electric
pneumatic regulator 43 are of a high resolution type, and therefore
can finely regulate the pressure at the thrust air port 37 and the
pressure at the canceling air port 38, respectively.
[0055] As illustrated in FIG. 1, a load cell 72 corresponding to a
load sensor is disposed on the second carriage 65 supporting the
pseudo finger mechanism 55. The load cell 72 is configured to
measure and output pressing stress of the pseudo finger 21. For
example, the measured value of the pressing stress is used for
calibrating the pressing force of the pseudo finger 21 in the touch
panel inspecting apparatus 1. This calibration allows enhancement
of accuracy for controlling the pressing force of the pseudo finger
21.
[0056] FIG. 2 illustrates only one of the pseudo fingers 21 as a
representative. Actually, the three pseudo fingers 21 are arranged
horizontally. The accommodating chamber 24 and the air bearing are
formed for each pseudo finger 21. Moreover, one electric pneumatic
regulator 42 and one electric pneumatic regulator 43 are provided
for each pseudo finger 21. Accordingly, the three pseudo fingers 21
can be displaced in the up-and-down direction independently of one
another, and the pressing forces to press the respective pseudo
fingers 21 against the touch panel 100 can also be regulated
independently of one another.
[0057] With reference to FIG. 3, next, a description will be given
of an electrical configuration of the touch panel inspecting
apparatus 1. FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of the touch
panel inspecting apparatus 1.
[0058] The control computer 15 is capable of exchanging signals
with the respective constituents of the touch panel inspecting
apparatus 1 in order to inspect the touch panel 100. The control
computer 15 is capable of sending signals to the X-axis drive motor
66, the Y-axis drive motor 64, the Z-axis drive motor 68, the
turning motor 71, and the electric pneumatic regulators 42 and 43
to control these constituents. Moreover, the control computer 15 is
capable of acquiring a signal from the load cell 72.
[0059] The control computer 15 is electrically connected to a panel
signal acquiring part 19 to acquire from the panel signal acquiring
part 19 results of detection regarding the contact position of the
touch panel 100 with the pseudo finger 21 and the pressing force to
press the pseudo finger 21 against the touch panel 100.
[0060] In an illustrative embodiment, the control computer 15
corresponds to a personal computer, and is provided with an
operating part 16 including a mouse, a keyboard, and the like for
setting the operations of the touch panel inspecting apparatus 1;
and a memory part 17 including memory devices such as a ROM, a RAM,
and an HDD for storing the various settings. A user operates the
operating part 16, thereby setting various parameters required for
conducting inspection using the touch panel inspecting apparatus 1.
The parameters thus set are stored in the memory part 17 of the
control computer 15.
[0061] Examples of the parameter storable in the memory part 17 may
include, but not limited thereto, lengthwise and widthwise
dimensions of a touch panel to be inspected; the number of
electrodes arranged in a matrix in the touch panel; a pitch between
the electrodes arranged in rows; and a pitch between the electrodes
arranged in columns.
[0062] One of the parameters settable by the user who operates the
control computer 15 is the magnitude of the pressing force to press
the pseudo finger 21 against the touch panel 100. More
specifically, the user operates the operating part 16, thereby
inputting and setting the magnitude of the force to press the
pseudo finger 21 against the touch panel 100 (the pressing force)
within a predetermined range. The magnitude of the pressing force
can be stored in the memory part 17. In the case of changing the
pressing force, the user operates the operating part 16 to input a
new set value of the pressing force. The set value can be newly
stored in the memory part 17. Accordingly, the memory part 17 may
be referred to as a set pressing force memory part.
[0063] In the touch panel inspecting apparatus 1 according to an
illustrative embodiment, the range of the pressing force settable
by the user includes zero. Specifically, the pressing force may be
set within a range of 0 gf (lower limit) to 3 kgf (upper limit) for
example. When the pressing force is set at 0 gf, the control
computer 15 controls the two electric pneumatic regulators 42 and
43 so as to keep a balance among the force to press the pseudo
finger 21 downward by the compressed air supplied to the thrust air
port 37, the self weight of the pseudo finger 21, and the force to
press the pseudo finger 21 upward by the compressed air supplied to
the canceling air port 38.
[0064] In an illustrative embodiment, the pseudo finger 21 is made
of a light-weight material and has slide friction of substantially
zero by virtue of the air bearing described above. Moreover, the
self weight of the pseudo finger 21 can be canceled by the supply
of the compressed air to the canceling air port 38. Furthermore,
the pressing force generated at the pseudo finger 21 is
differentially controlled by the pressure applied to the thrust air
port 37 and the pressure applied to the canceling air port 38. The
electric pneumatic regulators 42 and 43 that control the respective
pressures are of a high resolution type. As described above, the
touch panel inspecting apparatus 1 can bring about a state in which
the pseudo finger 21 is not substantially pressed against the touch
panel 100 although the pseudo finger 21 is in contact with the
touch panel 100.
[0065] The state of a contact at zero pressing force can be
represented as "an ultimate soft touch", and can be utilized in
various scenes which could not have been conceived heretofore. For
example, in a case of inspecting a touch panel having
characteristics varying by application of a mechanical load, the
inspection can be conducted in a state in which the mechanical load
is substantially eliminated, which is advantageous. As described
above, the touch panel inspecting apparatus 1 according to an
illustrative embodiment can considerably extend the set lower limit
value of the pressing force of the pseudo finger 21.
[0066] In the touch panel inspecting apparatus 1 according to an
illustrative embodiment, moreover, the user designates the
magnitude of the pressing force to press the pseudo finger 21
against the touch panel 100 in the form of a set value, thereby
pressing the pseudo finger 21 against the touch panel 100 with the
designated pressing force. Accordingly, it is possible to conduct
inspection assuming that the touch panel 100 is touched with
various forces, in a considerably efficient manner.
[0067] The touch panel 100 to be inspected is electrically
connected to the panel signal acquiring part 19 including a
microcomputer and the like, via a connector and an electric wire.
The panel signal acquiring part 19 acquires information about a
pressed position of the touch panel 100 and the magnitude of the
pressing force, by calculation based on a signal from the touch
panel 100. The information thus acquired is transmitted to the
control computer 15.
[0068] The control computer 15 compares the pressed position of the
touch panel 100 and the magnitude of the pressing force of the
pseudo finger 21 with the information thus acquired from the panel
signal acquiring part 19, thereby determining whether or not the
touch panel 100 is abnormal. Thus, it is possible to detect a
defective touch panel with reliability.
[0069] FIG. 1 illustrates the touch panel inspecting apparatus 1
including the three pseudo fingers 21 arranged in parallel with the
X axis. In a case of conducting the inspection with the three
pseudo fingers 21 brought into contact with the touch panel 100
simultaneously, the direction of arranging the pseudo fingers 21 is
preferably inclined relative to both the X and Y axes. Furthermore,
controlling the turning motor 71 such that the direction of
arranging the pseudo fingers 21 becomes parallel with a diagonal
line of a lattice formed by transparent electrodes arranged in a
matrix while reading, from the memory part 17, the pitch between
the transparent electrodes arranged in rows and the pitch between
the transparent electrodes arranged in columns in the touch panel
100 is preferable because inspection conducted in this condition
has no deviation as compared with inspection conducted in the state
in which the direction of arranging the pseudo fingers 21 is
parallel with the X or Y axis.
[0070] As described above, the touch panel inspecting apparatus 1
according to an illustrative embodiment includes the workpiece
holder 52, the pseudo finger 21, the X-Y movement mechanism 53, the
memory part 17, the electric pneumatic regulators 42 and 43, and
the panel signal acquiring part 19. The workpiece holder 52 allows
the touch panel 100, which is an inspection target, to be set
thereon. The pseudo finger 21 is contactable with the touch panel
100 set on the workpiece holder 52. The X-Y movement mechanism 53
allows the pseudo finger 21 to move relative to the touch panel
100. The memory part 17 stores therein a set value of pressing
force of the pseudo finger 21, in a changeable manner. Each of the
electric pneumatic regulators 42 and 43 regulates the pressing
force to bring the pseudo finger 21 into contact with the touch
panel 100, based on the set value stored in the memory part 17. The
panel signal acquiring part 19 acquires an electric signal output
from the touch panel 100.
[0071] Thus, the touch panel inspecting apparatus 1 can inspect the
touch panel 100 while easily and flexibly changing the force to
bring the pseudo finger 21 into contact with the touch panel 100,
by changing the set value stored in the memory part 17.
Accordingly, the touch panel inspecting apparatus 1 can quickly
address a change of a touch panel to be inspected, a change of
inspection conditions, and the like, and therefore can considerably
improve inspection efficiency.
[0072] The touch panel inspecting apparatus 1 according to an
illustrative embodiment also includes the canceling air passage 33
for applying, to the pseudo finger 21, force to bring the pseudo
finger 21 apart from the touch panel 100.
[0073] Thus, the touch panel inspecting apparatus 1 can bring the
pseudo finger 21 into contact with the touch panel 100 with force
lighter than the self weight of the pseudo finger 21. Accordingly,
the touch panel inspecting apparatus 1 can inspect the touch panel
100 under wider conditions than ever before.
[0074] In the touch panel inspecting apparatus 1 according to an
illustrative embodiment, moreover, the memory part 17 is capable of
storing a set value corresponding to zero pressing force of the
pseudo finger 21.
[0075] Thus, the touch panel inspecting apparatus 1 can bring about
a state in which the pseudo finger 21 is in contact with the touch
panel 100 with the zero pressing force, by setting the pressing
force of the pseudo finger 21 at zero. Accordingly, the touch panel
inspecting apparatus 1 can inspect the touch panel 100 in a special
state in which a mechanical load to be applied to the touch panel
100 is substantially eliminated.
[0076] The touch panel inspecting apparatus 1 according to an
illustrative embodiment includes the housing 22, the
bearing-forming air passage 31, the thrust air passage 32, and the
canceling air passage 33. The housing 22 has the accommodating
chamber 24 for accommodating the pseudo finger 21, and supports the
pseudo finger 21 so as to allow the pseudo finger 21 to move
linearly. The bearing-forming air passage 31 is a passage for
compressed air to be supplied for forming a hydrostatic air bearing
between the housing 22 and the pseudo finger 21. The thrust air
passage 32 is a passage for compressed air to be supplied for
acting, on the pseudo finger 21, force to bring the pseudo finger
21 close to the touch panel 100. The canceling air passage 33 is a
passage for compressed air to be supplied for acting, on the pseudo
finger 21, the force to bring the pseudo finger 21 apart from the
touch panel 100. The electric pneumatic regulators 42 and 43
appropriately control the pressure of the compressed air supplied
to the thrust air passage 32 and the pressure of the compressed air
supplied to the canceling air passage 33, thereby regulating the
pressing force to bring the pseudo finger 21 into contact with the
touch panel 100.
[0077] Thus, the touch panel inspecting apparatus 1 forms the
hydrostatic air bearing to substantially eliminate the slide
friction of the pseudo finger 21 and to control the gas pressure at
the thrust air passage 32 or the canceling air passage 33, thereby
easily and flexibly regulating the pressing force of the pseudo
finger 21. Moreover, the touch panel inspecting apparatus 1 can
easily bring about a state in which the pseudo finger 21 is contact
in with the touch panel 100 with considerably weak pressing force
(or zero pressing force), by the differential control using the
pressure at the thrust air passage 32 and the pressure at the
canceling air passage 33.
[0078] The touch panel inspecting apparatus 1 according to an
illustrative embodiment includes the plurality of pseudo fingers
21. The electric pneumatic regulators 42 and 43 can regulate, for
each pseudo finger 21, the pressing force to bring the pseudo
finger 21 into contact with the touch panel 100.
[0079] Thus, the touch panel inspecting apparatus 1 can inspect the
touch panel 100 by bringing the plurality of pseudo fingers 21 into
contact with the touch panel 100 simultaneously, and therefore can
efficiently conduct the inspection.
[0080] An illustrative embodiment of the disclosure has been
described above; however, the foregoing configuration may be
modified as follows.
[0081] In place of the foregoing embodiment in which the pseudo
finger 21 is directly brought into contact with the touch panel
100, a different member such as an inspection probe or a contact
sensor may be fixed to the pseudo finger 21 or a different
component may be held by the pseudo finger 21, and such a member or
component may be brought into contact with the touch panel 100.
[0082] In the foregoing embodiment, the control computer 15
controls both the pressure at the thrust air passage 32 and the
pressure at the canceling air passage 33 in order to realize the
zero pressing force. In place of the foregoing embodiment, the
control computer 15 may realize the zero pressing force by setting
one of the pressures at a constant value and controlling the other
pressure.
[0083] The number of pseudo fingers 21 is not limited to three, but
may be two or at least four. Moreover, the number of pseudo fingers
21 may be one. If the number of pseudo fingers 21 is one, there is
no necessity to turn the pseudo finger mechanism 55. Therefore, it
is possible to omit the configuration including the turning motor
71 and the like.
[0084] The X-Y movement mechanism 53 may relatively move the pseudo
finger 21. Accordingly, the relative movement of the touched
position may be realized by movement of the touch panel 100 rather
than the pseudo finger 21.
[0085] The foregoing disclosure has been specifically described and
illustrated in connection with certain illustrative embodiments.
However, it is clearly understood that the embodiments are by way
of illustration and example only and are not to be taken by way of
limitation. The spirit and scope of the invention are limited only
by the terms of the appended claims.
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