Track 1 Session 10

9:00 to 10:00 a.m. Friday, October 22, 2010

LCD TV Reliability Testing: An Effective Approach

The cost of LCD TV warranty replacement is extremely high, making reliability a key factor in the profit margin of LCD TV manufacturing. Having the ability to perform accelerated life testing at key subassembly levels (power board, main board and LCD panel) and also at the LCD TV level makes it possible to predict future warranty costs and measure the true benefit of new technology and enhanced manufacturing processes. This presentation illustrates the types of defect mechanisms induced by applying different sequences of stress test types over short test durations and how warranty failure rate predictions can be made. Acceleration modeling is used to calculate simulated operational time periods used in failure rate calculations.

Acceleration modeling with thermal cycling, humidity, thermal shock and elevated temperature is explained in detail with test results compared with real life failure rates to understand acceleration factors and the validity of assumptions made for each acceleration model.

The presentation will discuss the importance of separating a product into key subassemblies and the benefits of being able to perform higher level accelerated stress testing compared to product level testing that is governed by the capability of the weakest subassembly or component to withstand stress levels above normal operating conditions.

Key Words: LCD TV, Early Life Testing and Fail Rate Predictions, MTTF Predictions, PCBA Reliability Testing, LCD Panel Reliability Testing, Acceleration Modeling, Accelerated Life Testing

Martin Shaw

Reliability Solutions