paneltester

Panel tester is a term used for a device or software system designed to test display panels, including LCDs, OLEDs, and other flat-panel technologies. It is used in manufacturing, assembly, and repair contexts to verify panel functionality, identify defects, and validate performance against specifications before integration into devices.

A typical panel tester comprises a pattern generator and interface driver to apply drive signals to the panel (data, clock, and control signals), a power and backlight control module, a load board or connector interface, measurement and logging hardware, and control software. It may support various display interfaces such as LVDS, eDP, MIPI-DSI, or parallel RGB, and can exercise individual panels or panel arrays. Some systems include a lighting or optical inspection module to capture images of the panel surface.

Common tests include electrical qualification (measured voltages, drive currents, leakage, clocking accuracy), functional testing (pixel on/off, color correctness, grayscale performance, gamma), and defect screening (stuck pixels, dead lines, color uniformity). Optical inspection may be used to assess brightness uniformity and color balance. Reliability tests, such as burn-in or thermal cycling, may be performed on certain panels. Calibration tools may adjust color parameters using colorimeters or spectrophotometers to meet target gamut and white point.

Panel testers are used by display manufacturers, panel suppliers, module assemblers, and service labs to reduce waste and characterize yield. They are adaptable to different panel sizes and technologies, from small mobile panels to large TV panels, and can be integrated with test management software for data logging and traceability.

See also: display tester, test equipment, quality control, LVDS, MIPI-DSI, eDP.