This application claims the priority benefit of Taiwan application serial no. 94145221, filed on Dec. 20, 2005. All disclosure of the Taiwan application is incorporated herein by reference.
1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a flexible device inspection technology. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for continuously bending a flexible device.
2. Description of Related Art
The design and developing trend of portable electronic products and consumptive electronic products is light, thin, and compact. Flexible electronic products made of new plastic materials are integrated with optical, electric and sensing functions. In addition to satisfying the forgoing conditions, with these flexible electronic products made of new flexible materials, a new application field for electronic products can be developed. Also it is ergonomic, easy to put on, soft and safe, flexible in bending, and suitable for multi-functional digital mobile electronic products, for example, flexible displays.
However, for a flexible device, its physical properties may alter when bending. Herein, physical properties includes the performance properties of the device, or any physical effect or device performance etc. which may alter when bending the device, for example, the display property of a flexible display. In the phase of research and development, the applicable scope of the product can be acquired from the performance of the flexible device at different curvatures, or the material can be evaluated by the property of the function film thereon which alters along with changes in curvature. During mass production, semi-manufactured products or finished products should go through certain inspections to pick out defective ones, where the bending test is one of the inspection methods employed.
In view of the above, if properties in different curvatures are tested, the device should be bent to an intended curvature. Preferably, every part of the device is bent to an intended curvature, and the curvatures alter continuously.
One object of the invention is to provide a method for continuously bending a flexible device, to continuously bend inspected devices with a curvature for quick inspection in an overall area.
Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for continuously bending a flexible device, to continuously bend inspected devices with a curvature for quick inspection in an overall area.
The invention provides a method for continuously bending a flexible device, applicable to continuously bending a flexible device for inspecting a physical property in different curvatures. The method includes bending the flexible device to generate an intended curvature at an inspection position thereon. Further, the flexible device is moved, so as to make at least one portion of the flexible device pass the inspection position with the intended curvature.
With respect to the method for continuously bending a flexible device according to the preferred embodiments of the invention, the above intended curvature is deduced from a material property and geometrical and physical quantities of the flexible device, or obtained from a measurement reference datum (look-up table), or a direct measurement.
With respect to the method for continuously bending a flexible device according to the preferred embodiments of the invention, the above step of moving the flexible device includes disposing an output portion for continuously outputting the flexible device in the direction towards the inspection position and a receiving portion for continuously receiving the bent flexible device.
With respect to the method for continuously bending a flexible device according to the preferred embodiments of the invention, the above step of moving the flexible device includes respectively fixing both ends of the flexible device on different support portions and moving the two support portions in opposite directions.
With respect to the method for continuously bending a flexible device according to the preferred embodiments of the invention, the step of bending the flexible device includes the steps as follows.
A first support member and a second support member are disposed at a first position and a second position respectively, for clamping and bending the flexible device. The first and second positions of the first and second support members can be adjusted in a relative lateral direction, so as to generate the intended curvature.
With respect to the method for continuously bending a flexible device according to the preferred embodiments of the invention, the forgoing flexible device is an inspected device itself or a carrier for holding an inspected device.
The invention further provides an apparatus for continuously bending a flexible device, applicable to continuously bending a flexible device for inspecting a physical property in different curvatures. The apparatus includes a first support member disposed at a first position, and a second support member disposed at a second position. The flexible device is bent to generate an intended curvature at a position, for example a bending tip at an inspection position, by the support of the first and second support members, in accordance with the first position, the second position, and a material property of the flexible device. Furthermore, the apparatus includes a transmission system, for driving the flexible device to move continuously, and making at least one portion of the flexible device pass the inspection position with the intended curvature.
With respect to the apparatus for continuously bending a flexible device according to the preferred embodiments of the invention, a measurement unit can be further included, for directly measuring the curvature of the device.
With respect to the apparatus for continuously bending a flexible device according to the preferred embodiments of the invention, the transmission system includes an output member, for continuously outputting the flexible device in a first direction towards the inspection position, and a receiving member, for continuously receiving the output flexible device in a second direction.
With respect to the apparatus for continuously bending a flexible device according to the preferred embodiments of the invention, the transmission system includes two support members and the transmission system which is capable of respectively moving supports on the two support members, so as to respectively fix both ends of the flexible device on different supports, and move the two supports in opposite directions.
With respect to the apparatus for continuously bending a flexible device according to the preferred embodiments of the invention, at least one of the first support member or the second support member supports the flexible device through a first clamp and a second clamp for clamping at both surfaces of the flexible device.
With respect to the apparatus for continuously bending a flexible device according to the preferred embodiments of the invention, at least one of the first support member or the second support member includes a surface for contacting with the flexible device.
With respect to the apparatus for continuously bending a flexible device according to the preferred embodiments of the invention, at least one of the first or second support members includes at least one roller, for supporting the flexible device.
With respect to the apparatus for continuously bending a flexible device according to the preferred embodiments of the invention, at least one of the first or second support members includes at least one roller with the function of transmitting the flexible device.
With respect to the apparatus for continuously bending a flexible device according to the preferred embodiments of the invention, the first position and the second position of the first and second support members can be adjusted in lateral directions according to the intended curvature.
With respect to the apparatus for continuously bending a flexible device according to the preferred embodiments of the invention, the flexible device is an inspected device itself or a carrier for holding an inspected device.
In general, the above invention is characterized in that a first support member and a second support member are adopted to bend a flexible device, so as to generate an inspection region with an intended curvature at an inspection position; and the flexible device can be moved for making at least one portion of the flexible device pass the inspection position with the intended curvature. As such, the inspected device can be made to have the intended curvature. With the property of other measurement apparatuses inspecting a stripe area on the device each time and through moving the inspected device, a quick inspection in an overall area can be achieved.
In order to the make the aforementioned and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention comprehensible, preferred embodiments accompanied with figures are described in detail below.
Furthermore, from another point of view, the bent device can be a carrier itself on which the inspected flexible device 103 is attached.
The flexible device, due to its own materiality, for instance, Young's module, will have a curvature at a bent position, for example, a bent tip 210. After being bent, it has a curvature. The radius of the curvature is represented by R. As such, the flexible device 200 is bent by a manner of being supported by the support members 206, 208 at predetermined positions, so as to generate a bent tip 210 with an intended curvature. The bent tip 210 is disposed at an inspection position O. In general, the intended curvature radius R of the flexible device 200 can be, for example, deduced from its own Young's module, thickness, and the distance between the support members 206, 208. However, this is not the only way. For example, the intended curvature radius R of the flexible device 200 can also be obtained by practically measuring the corresponding curvatures of the bent flexible device at different distances L, or can be obtained via direct measurement with a measurement unit 212 each time when bent. Moreover, the positions of the support members 206, 208 are adjusted in accordance with the required curvature radius R. It should be understood that, the mechanical member for constituting the support members 206, 208 and the flexible device 200 can be arranged according to above features and practical designs, and this can be understood by those ordinary skilled in the art and the illustration thereof is omitted herein. Likewise, the part related to the features of the invention is described, while others are omitted.
One or both of the aforementioned support members 206, 208 can be, for example, two supports clamping both surfaces of the flexible device 200. For example, the support member 206 has a support 206a and a support 206b clamping the internal and the external surface of the flexible device 200. The geometric structure of the support 206a and the support 206b is used for fixing the flexible device 200 at a predetermined position in Y direction, for generating a constant intended curvature. Therefore, there is no particular limitation to the geometric structure. However, for the convenience to control position, the support 206a at the external surface preferably is a structure attached to the external surface flatly.
Moreover, the flexible device 200 can also be, for example, wound around an output member 202, for instance, a roller. The output member 202 actively outputs the flexible device 200, and then passes it through the support member 206. After being bent, the flexible device 200 passes through the support member 208, and is received by the receiving member 204.
It should be noted that, the above-mentioned mechanism for transmitting the flexible device 200 can be integrated into a transmission system for transmitting the flexible device 200. In other words, any suitable transmission systems for transmitting the flexible device 200 can be modified based on practical requirements, thereby being integrated with the support members 206, 208. The structure detail of the transmission system can be completed according to the practical design mechanism, and this is appreciated by those skilled in the art and will be omitted herein.
Several embodiments with some design alterations are illustrated for the purpose of illustration, instead of limiting the invention.
Further,
Furthermore,
It should be noted that different designs can be made to the aforementioned embodiments, by adopting suitable corresponding parts and combining them together. Especially, the design of the transmission system and the integration with the support members can be varied according to actual designs. Moreover, the present invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiments.
Also,
Additionally,
In
The structural design of the apparatus has been illustrated above. However, as the practical structure of the design has various alterations, the illustrated embodiments are only the preferred ones. Besides, for the implementation of the embodiment, several steps can be concluded according to the invention. Taking
The method and apparatus for continuously bending a flexible device adopt two support members at corresponding positions to generate an intended curvature. Then, a flexible mechanism design is adopted to transmit the flexible device, so as to have capability to inspect a physical property of the flexible device concerning curvature in a comprehensive and simple way.
The present invention is especially applicable to inspecting flexible display devices, reducing the process and saving the expenses. In addition, it can effectively save the fabricating cost and the fabricating time. The applicable fields of the product can be obtained in the phase of research and development. Or the material can be evaluated by the property of the functional film in different curvatures.
Though the present invention has been disclosed above by the preferred embodiments, it is not intended to limit the invention. Anybody skilled in the art can make some modifications and variations without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, the protecting range of the invention falls in the appended claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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94145221 | Dec 2005 | TW | national |