Display panel

Abstract

The present invention provides a display panel, which includes a first substrate, a plurality of scan lines, a plurality of data lines, pixel structures, an insulating layer, and a coating layer. These scan lines and these data lines are disposed on the first substrate, intersect with each other, and define a plurality of pixel regions. The pixel structures are oppositely disposed in the pixel regions and are electrically connected to one of these data lines and one of these scan lines. The pixel structure includes an active element, an auxiliary electrode, a connection electrode, and a pixel electrode. The auxiliary electrode is electrically connected to the active element. The connection electrode is electrically connected to the auxiliary electrode. The connection electrode has a first opening. The pixel electrode is disposed on the connection electrode. The insulating layer is disposed between the auxiliary electrode and the connection electrode. The coating layer is disposed between the connection electrode and the pixel electrode. The coating layer has a second opening corresponding to the connection electrode. The second opening partially overlaps the first opening and exposes a partial surface of the insulating layer. The pixel electrode is electrically connected to the connection electrode via the second opening.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a display technology, and more particularly to a display panel. Background Art

[0002] Generally, thin-film transistor liquid crystal display panels (TFT-LCDs) can be classified into transmissive, reflective, and transflective types. The basis for this classification lies in the utilization of light sources and the differences in thin-film transistor array substrates (TFT arrays). Among them, reflective thin-film transistor liquid crystal display panels (reflective TFT-LCD panels) mainly utilize natural light or ambient light as the light source. Therefore, most of the pixel electrodes on the thin-film transistor array substrate are reflective electrodes with good reflection characteristics, suitable for reflecting the illumination light source.

[0003] A reflective pixel structure with multiple conductive layers has been proposed. Among them, a coating layer with a certain thickness is provided between some of the conductive layers to reduce the electrical coupling between these conductive layers and the signal lines. However, during the patterning process of the coating layer, an under-cut shape is easily formed at its bottom, causing the conductive layers extending on the coating layer to break or the film to rupture, thereby affecting the electrical connection relationship between these conductive layers and resulting in poor yield. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The present invention is directed to a display panel with a relatively high production yield and a relatively stable electrical connection relationship between components.

[0005] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the display panel includes a first substrate, a plurality of scan lines, a plurality of data lines, a pixel structure, an insulating layer, and a coating layer. These scan lines and these data lines are disposed on the first substrate and intersect with each other to define a plurality of pixel regions. The pixel structure is disposed opposite to one of these pixel regions and is electrically connected to one of these data lines and one of these scan lines. The pixel structure includes an active element, an auxiliary electrode, a connection electrode, and a pixel electrode. The auxiliary electrode is electrically connected to the active element. The connection electrode is disposed on the auxiliary electrode and is electrically connected to the auxiliary electrode. The connection electrode has at least one first opening. The pixel electrode is disposed on the connection electrode. The insulating layer is disposed between the auxiliary electrode and the connection electrode. The coating layer is disposed between the connection electrode and the pixel electrode. The coating layer has a second opening corresponding to the connection electrode. The second opening partially overlaps at least one first opening and exposes a partial surface of the insulating layer. The pixel electrode is electrically connected to the connection electrode via the second opening.

[0006] In the display panel according to an embodiment of the present invention, the coating layer is in contact with a partial surface of the insulating layer via at least one first opening.

[0007] In a display panel according to an embodiment of the present invention, a pixel electrode overlaps at least one first opening of a connection electrode.

[0008] In a display panel according to an embodiment of the present invention, the pixel electrode has a notch located within a second opening, and the notch does not overlap at least one first opening of the connection electrode.

[0009] In a display panel according to an embodiment of the present invention, at least one first opening of the connection electrode is two separated first openings. The second opening of the coating layer overlaps these two first openings. The connection electrode has a partition portion that simultaneously defines these two first openings, and the pixel electrode covers the partition portion to electrically connect to the connection electrode.

[0010] In a display panel according to an embodiment of the present invention, the pixel electrode has two notches located within the second opening. These two notches overlap the partition portion and do not overlap the two first openings.

[0011] In a display panel according to an embodiment of the present invention, the film thickness of the insulating layer is less than or equal to

[0012] In a display panel according to an embodiment of the present invention, the film thickness of the coating layer is between and in the range.

[0013] In a display panel according to an embodiment of the present invention, the pixel electrode covers an active element, a corresponding one of a plurality of scan lines, and a corresponding one of a plurality of data lines.

[0014] In an embodiment according to the present invention, the display panel further includes a second substrate and a liquid crystal layer. The second substrate is disposed opposite to the first substrate. The liquid crystal layer is disposed between the pixel electrode and the second substrate. The pixel electrode is a reflective electrode.

[0015] Based on the above, in a display panel according to an embodiment of the present invention, the pixel electrode of the pixel structure is electrically connected to the active element via the connection electrode and the auxiliary electrode. Among them, a coating layer is provided between the connection electrode and the pixel electrode, and the pixel electrode is electrically connected to the connection electrode via the opening of the coating layer. By partially overlapping the opening of the coating layer with the opening of the connection electrode, the electrical connection relationship between the pixel electrode and the connection electrode can be ensured, thereby improving the production yield of the display panel. Description of the Drawings

[0016] Figure 1 is a top view schematic diagram of a display panel according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0017] Figure 2 is Figure 1 a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the display panel;

[0018] Figure 3 It is a top view schematic diagram of a display panel according to another embodiment of the present invention;

[0019] Figure 4 It is a top view schematic diagram of a display panel according to still another embodiment of the present invention;

[0020] Figure 5A and Figure 5B is Figure 4 a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the display panel.

[0021] Description of reference numerals

[0022] 10, 10A, 10B: Display panel;

[0023] 101: First substrate;

[0024] 102: Second substrate;

[0025] 110: Auxiliary electrode;

[0026] 120, 120A, 120B: Connection electrode;

[0027] 130, 130A: Pixel electrode;

[0028] 130c: Notch;

[0029] 150: Liquid crystal layer;

[0030] CE: Common electrode;

[0031] DE: Drain;

[0032] DL: Data line;

[0033] DP: Partition;

[0034] GE: Gate;

[0035] INS1, INS2: Insulating layer;

[0036] INS2s: Surface;

[0037] OC, OC-B: Coating layer;

[0038] OCp1, OCp2, OCp2-B, OCp3, OCp4: Portion;

[0039] OP1, OP2, OP1-A, OP1-B, OP2-B: Opening;

[0040] PA: Pixel area;

[0041] PX, PX-A, PX-B: Pixel structure;

[0042] SC: Semiconductor pattern;

[0043] SE: Source electrode;

[0044] SL: Scanning line;

[0045] T: Active element;

[0046] TH: Contact hole;

[0047] X, Y, Z: Directions;

[0048] A - A’, B - B’, C - C’: Section lines. Detailed implementation manners

[0049] Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numerals are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts.

[0050] The directions X, Y, and Z are marked in the accompanying drawings of the present invention. Specifically, the direction Z may be perpendicular to the first substrate 101 or the second substrate 102, and the directions X and Y are parallel to the first substrate 101 or the second substrate 102, and the direction X is not parallel to the direction Y, but is not limited thereto. The following accompanying drawings may describe the spatial relationship of the structure according to the directions X, Y, and Z.

[0051] Figure 1 is a top - view schematic diagram of a display panel according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 is Figure 1 a cross - sectional schematic diagram of the display panel. Figure 2 Corresponding to Figure 1 the section line A - A’. Figure 3 is a top - view schematic diagram of a display panel according to another embodiment of the present invention. For the sake of clear presentation, Figure 1 not shown Figure 2 the insulating layer INS1, the liquid crystal layer 150, and the second substrate 102.

[0052] Please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 , the display panel 10 includes a first substrate 101 and a plurality of data lines DL, a plurality of scanning lines SL, and a plurality of pixel structures PX disposed on the first substrate 101. In this embodiment, these data lines DL may be arranged along the direction X and extend towards the direction Y, and these scanning lines SL may be arranged along the direction Y and extend towards the direction X, where the direction X is optionally perpendicular to the direction Y. More specifically, these scanning lines SL intersect with these data lines DL and define a plurality of pixel regions PA. These pixel structures PX are respectively disposed opposite to these pixel regions PA and are each electrically connected to one of these data lines DL and one of these scanning lines SL.

[0053] The pixel structure PX includes an active element T, an auxiliary electrode 110, a connection electrode 120, a pixel electrode 130, and a common electrode CE. For example, the active element T includes a semiconductor pattern SC, a source electrode SE, a drain electrode DE, and a gate electrode GE, where the source electrode SE and the drain electrode DE are electrically connected to different two regions of the semiconductor pattern SC respectively. In this embodiment, an insulating layer INS1 is provided between the gate electrode GE and the semiconductor pattern SC, and the gate electrode GE is optionally disposed below the semiconductor pattern SC to form a bottom-gate type active element. The insulating layer INS1 is, for example, a gate insulating layer, and its material may include silicon oxide, silicon nitride, or other suitable dielectric materials. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. In other embodiments, the gate electrode GE may also be disposed above the semiconductor pattern SC to form a top-gate type active element. In this embodiment, the active element T is, for example, an amorphous silicon thin film transistor (a-Si TFT), but is not limited thereto. In other embodiments, the active element T may also be a polycrystalline silicon thin film transistor (poly-Si TFT) or a metal oxide semiconductor thin film transistor (metal oxide semiconductor TFT).

[0054] The auxiliary electrode 110 is disposed on the first substrate 101 and is electrically connected to the active element T. The connection electrode 120 is disposed on the auxiliary electrode 110 and is electrically connected to the auxiliary electrode 110. The pixel electrode 130 is disposed on the connection electrode 120 and is electrically connected to the connection electrode 120. The common electrode CE is disposed between the first substrate 101 and the auxiliary electrode 110. More specifically, these electrodes of the pixel structure PX are disposed in different film layers. For example: the common electrode CE, the gate electrode GE, and the scan line SL may belong to the first metal conductive layer. The auxiliary electrode 110, the source electrode SE, the drain electrode DE, and the data line DL may belong to the second metal conductive layer. The connection electrode 120 may belong to a transparent conductive layer, and an insulating layer INS2 is provided between the transparent conductive layer and the second metal conductive layer (or the auxiliary electrode 110). The pixel electrode 130 may belong to the third metal conductive layer, and a coating layer OC is provided between the third metal conductive layer and the transparent conductive layer.

[0055] In this embodiment, the material of the transparent conductive layer may include metal oxides, such as indium tin oxide, indium zinc oxide, aluminum tin oxide, aluminum zinc oxide, or other suitable oxides, or a stacked structure of at least two of the above. The material of the metal conductive layer may include molybdenum, aluminum, copper, nickel, chromium, the above alloys, or the above stacked structure. The material of the insulating layer INS2 may include silicon nitride, silicon oxide, silicon carbide, or aluminum oxide. The material of the coating layer OC may include inorganic materials (such as silicon oxide, silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride, other suitable materials, or a stacked layer of at least two of the above), organic materials (such as polyesters, polyolefins, polyacrylates, polycarbonates, polyepoxides, polystyrenes, polyethers, polyketones, polyalcohols, polyaldehydes, or other suitable materials, or a combination of the above), or other suitable materials, or a combination of the above. The film thickness of the insulating layer INS2 may be less than or equal to To reduce the capacitive coupling effect between the pixel electrode 130 and the data line DL, the film thickness of the coating layer OC may be between and in the range.

[0056] Specifically, the insulating layer INS2 has a contact hole TH overlapping the auxiliary electrode 110, and the connection electrode 120 is electrically connected to the auxiliary electrode 110 through this contact hole TH. The coating layer OC has an opening OP2 overlapping the connection electrode 120, and the pixel electrode 130 is electrically connected to the connection electrode 120 through this opening OP2. It should be noted that the overlapping relationship between the above two components is, for example, that the two components overlap each other's projections along the direction Z. Unless otherwise specifically mentioned below, the overlapping relationship between components is in the direction Z as the projection direction, and will not be elaborated further.

[0057] It should be particularly noted that the connection electrode 120 has an opening OP1. The opening OP2 of the coating layer OC partially overlaps this opening OP1 and exposes a part of the surface INS2s of the insulating layer INS2. In this embodiment, the pixel electrode 130 can continuously extend from the coating layer OC into the region overlapping the opening OP1 in the opening OP2, and directly cover the surface INS2s of the insulating layer INS2 and the part of the connection electrode 120 that defines the opening OP1.

[0058] Since a part OCp1 of the coating layer OC that defines the opening OP2 overlaps the opening OP1 of the connection electrode 120, and this part OCp1 is directly connected to the insulating layer INS2 at the opening OP1 of the connection electrode 120, the coating layer OC will not form an under-cut configuration at the part connecting the insulating layer INS2, so that the pixel electrode 130 can continuously cover the coating layer OC and the connection electrode 120, thus ensuring the electrical connection relationship between the pixel electrode 130 and the connection electrode 120.

[0059] In this embodiment, another part OCp2 of the covering layer OC defining the opening OP2 does not overlap with the opening OP1 of the connection electrode 120. That is to say, the part OCp2 of the covering layer OC fails to directly contact the insulating layer INS2. Therefore, an undercut configuration is likely to form in the part of the covering layer OC near the connection electrode 120, causing the pixel electrode 130 to be prone to generate a break 130c in the part OCp2 of the covering layer OC, which affects the electrical connection relationship between the pixel electrode 130 and the connection electrode 120.

[0060] In other words, compared with a general connection electrode without the opening OP1, the connection electrode 120 in this embodiment, due to the opening OP1 overlapping with a part OCp1 of the covering layer OC, can effectively reduce the film breakage or wire breakage of the pixel electrode 130 in the part OCp1 of the covering layer OC, thereby improving the production yield of the display panel 10. From another perspective, in this embodiment, the break 130c of the pixel electrode 130 will occur in another part OCp2 of the covering layer OC that does not overlap with the opening OP1 of the connection electrode 120. That is to say, the connection electrode 120 in this embodiment is electrically connected to the pixel electrode 130 in the direction from the part exposed by the opening OP2 of the covering layer OC to the part OCp1 of the covering layer OC covering the pixel electrode 130.

[0061] For example, in this embodiment, the orthographic projection profile of the opening OP1 of the connection electrode 120 on the first substrate 101 is semi-circular. That is, the orthographic projection profile of the opening OP1 of the connection electrode 120 on the first substrate 101 can be a combination of a straight line segment and an arc segment. It should be particularly noted that the connection electrode 120 can be electrically connected to the pixel electrode 130 in the direction from the straight line segment of the semi-circular profile to the arc segment, but this is not limited thereto. Please refer to Figure 3 , in another embodiment, the orthographic projection profile of the opening OP1-A of the connection electrode 120A of the pixel structure PX-A of the display panel 10A on the first substrate 101 can also be semi-circular ring-shaped. This semi-circular ring-shaped orthographic projection profile can have two arc segments with a common center of the circle, and the connection electrode 120A can be electrically connected to the pixel electrode 130 in the direction from the arc segment with a smaller circle radius to the arc segment with a larger circle radius.

[0062] Please continue to refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2, in this embodiment, the display panel 10 may further include a second substrate 102 and a liquid crystal layer 150. The second substrate 102 is disposed opposite to the first substrate 101, and the liquid crystal layer 150 is disposed between the first substrate 101 and the second substrate 102. The pixel electrode 130 is, for example, a reflective electrode. That is to say, the display panel 10 is, for example, a reflective liquid crystal display panel. Therefore, in this embodiment, the pixel electrode 130 optionally covers the active element T and the adjacent scan line SL and data line DL, but is not limited thereto.

[0063] On the other hand, in this embodiment, the auxiliary electrode 110 may extend from the drain DE of the active element T. In addition to providing the electrical connection relationship between the active element T and the pixel electrode 130, it can also form a storage capacitor of the pixel structure PX with the common electrode CE. For example, the positive projection areas of the common electrode CE and the auxiliary electrode 110 of the pixel structure PX on the first substrate 101 are substantially the same and overlap with each other. More specifically, the positive projections of some side edges of the common electrode CE and the auxiliary electrode 110 on the first substrate 101 can be substantially aligned. On the other hand, the common electrodes CE of the plurality of pixel structures PX of the display panel 10 can be connected to each other to have a common potential.

[0064] Some other embodiments will be listed below to illustrate the present disclosure in detail. The same components will be labeled with the same symbols, and the description of the same technical content will be omitted. For the omitted part, please refer to the foregoing embodiments and will not be repeated hereinafter.

[0065] Figure 4 is a top view schematic diagram of a display panel according to another embodiment of the present invention. Figure 5A and Figure 5B is Figure 4 a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the display panel. Figure 5A Corresponding to Figure 4 the cross-section line B-B'. Figure 5B Corresponding to Figure 4 the cross-section line C-C'. For the sake of clear presentation, Figure 4 not shown Figure 5A and Figure 5B the insulating layer INS1, the liquid crystal layer 150 and the second substrate 102.

[0066] Please refer to Figures 4 to 5B , the display panel 10B of this embodiment and Figure 1The difference between the display panel 10 and the other one lies in the different number of openings in the connecting electrodes. Specifically, the connecting electrode 120B of the pixel structure PX-B of the display panel 10B has two separated openings OP1-B, and these two openings OP1-B partially overlap the opening OP2-B of the coating layer OC-B respectively. For example, in this embodiment, these two openings OP1-B can be opposite to each other along the direction X (or direction Y). For example, the two openings can be arranged in a mirror image, but this is not a limitation. In other embodiments, an asymmetric arrangement can also be adopted. In addition, the connecting electrode 120B has a separating portion DP that simultaneously defines these two openings OP1-B. It should be particularly noted that the pixel electrode 130A is electrically connected to the connecting electrode 120B by covering this separating portion DP.

[0067] Compared with Figure 2 the connecting electrode 120 of the other one, the connecting electrode 120B of this embodiment also has another opening OP1-B that partially overlaps the opening OP2-B. Therefore, the coating layer OC-B defines the opening OP2-B, and the two parts OCp1, OCp2-B of the coating layer OC-B that overlap the two openings OP1-B of the connecting electrode 120B will not form an under-cut configuration at the bottom of the connecting insulating layer INS2 (as Figure 5A shown), so that the pixel electrode 130A can continuously cover the coating layer OC-B and the connecting electrode 120B, thereby ensuring the electrical connection relationship between the pixel electrode 130A and the connecting electrode 120B.

[0068] In other words, compared with the connecting electrode that generally does not have the opening OP1-B, the connecting electrode 120B of this embodiment has two openings OP1-B that overlap the two parts OCp1, OCp2-B of the coating layer OC-B, which can effectively reduce the film breakage or wire breakage of the pixel electrode 130A at these two parts OCp1, OCp2-B of the coating layer OC-B, thereby improving the production yield of the display panel 10B.

[0069] It should be particularly noted that different from Figure 1 the way that the connecting electrode 120 and the pixel electrode 130 of the other one are electrically connected in a single-sided conduction manner, the display panel 10B of this embodiment enables the pixel electrode 130A and the connecting electrode 120B to be electrically connected in a bilateral conduction manner through the setting of the two openings OP1-B arranged in a mirror image as described above. Therefore, the risk of electrical disconnection between the pixel electrode 130A and the connecting electrode 120B can be further reduced.

[0070] In this embodiment, the orthographic projection profiles of the two openings OP1-B connecting the electrode 120B on the first substrate 101 are each semi-circular. That is, the orthographic projection profile of each opening OP1-B of the connecting electrode 120B on the first substrate 101 can be a combination of a straight line segment and an arc segment. It should be particularly noted that the connecting electrode 120B can be electrically connected to the pixel electrode 130A in the direction from the straight line segment of the semi-circular profile to the arc segment.

[0071] Conversely, two portions OCp3 and OCp4 of the coating layer OC-B that define the opening OP2-B and overlap with the partition portion DP of the connecting electrode 120B are prone to form an undercut configuration during the manufacturing process because they do not overlap with the opening OP1-B of the connecting electrode 120B (as Figure 5B shown). When the pixel electrode 130A extends into the opening OP2-B of the coating layer OC-B, two breaks 130c are likely to form at the undercut structures of these two portions OCp3 and OCp4 of the coating layer OC-B. That is, these two breaks 130c do not overlap with the two openings OP1-B of the connecting electrode 120B. Therefore, the connecting electrode 120B cannot be electrically connected to the pixel electrode 130A along the extension direction of the partition portion DP (e.g., direction Y). Based on this, it can further highlight the positive effect of the setting of the two openings OP1-B of the connecting electrode 120B on the electrical connection relationship between the connecting electrode 120B and the pixel electrode 130A.

[0072] In summary, in the display panel of an embodiment of the present invention, the pixel electrode of the pixel structure is electrically connected to the active element via the connecting electrode and the auxiliary electrode. Among them, a coating layer is provided between the connecting electrode and the pixel electrode, and the pixel electrode is electrically connected to the connecting electrode via the opening of the coating layer. By partially overlapping the opening of the coating layer with the opening of the connecting electrode, the electrical connection relationship between the pixel electrode and the connecting electrode can be ensured, thereby improving the production yield of the display panel.

[0073] Finally, it should be noted that: the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, not to limit it; although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those of ordinary skill in the art should understand that: they can still modify the technical solutions recorded in the foregoing embodiments, or perform equivalent replacements on some or all of the technical features; and these modifications or replacements do not make the essence of the corresponding technical solutions deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. A display panel, characterized in that, Comprising: A first substrate; A plurality of scan lines and a plurality of data lines, disposed on the first substrate, the plurality of scan lines intersecting with the plurality of data lines and defining a plurality of pixel regions; A pixel structure, oppositely disposed in one of the plurality of pixel regions, and electrically connected to one of the plurality of data lines and one of the plurality of scan lines, the pixel structure comprising: An active element; An auxiliary electrode, electrically connected to the active element; A connection electrode, disposed on the auxiliary electrode, the connection electrode being electrically connected to the auxiliary electrode and having at least one first opening; and A pixel electrode, disposed on the connection electrode; An insulating layer, disposed between the auxiliary electrode and the connection electrode; and A coating layer, disposed between the connection electrode and the pixel electrode, the coating layer having a second opening corresponding to the connection electrode, the second opening partially overlapping the at least one first opening and exposing a partial surface of the insulating layer, wherein the pixel electrode is electrically connected to the connection electrode via the second opening.

2. The display panel according to claim 1, wherein The coating layer is in contact with the partial surface of the insulating layer via the at least one first opening.

3. The display panel according to claim 1, wherein The pixel electrode overlaps the at least one first opening of the connection electrode.

4. The display panel according to claim 1, characterized in that The pixel electrode has a break within the second opening, and the break does not overlap the at least one first opening of the connection electrode.

5. The display panel according to claim 1, characterized in that, The at least one first opening of the connection electrode are two separated first openings, the second opening of the coating layer partially overlaps the two first openings, the connection electrode has a separating portion that simultaneously defines the two first openings, and the pixel electrode covers the separating portion to electrically connect to the connection electrode.

6. The display panel according to claim 5, wherein The pixel electrode has two breaks within the second opening, the two breaks overlap the separating portion and do not overlap the two first openings.

7. The display panel according to claim 1, wherein, The film thickness of the insulating layer is less than or equal to 8. The display panel according to claim 1, wherein The film thickness of the coating layer ranges from to .

9. The display panel according to claim 1, characterized in that, The pixel electrode covers the active element, a corresponding one of the plurality of scan lines, and a corresponding one of the plurality of data lines.

10. The display panel according to claim 9, wherein, Further comprising: A second substrate, disposed opposite to the first substrate; And A liquid crystal layer, disposed between the pixel electrode and the second substrate, wherein the pixel electrode is a reflective electrode.

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