Active Device Array Substrate with Color Filter Protection

Solution Overview

Problem

The existing active device array substrates for liquid crystal displays are costly due to the materials and processing steps involved, necessitating a solution to reduce material costs while maintaining performance.

Innovation Solution

An active device array substrate design incorporating a substrate with intersecting scan and data lines, a thin film transistor, a color filter layer, a transparent conductive layer, and an insulating layer, where the color filter layer acts as a protective layer and the transparent conductive layer provides a common voltage potential, reducing the need for additional protective layers and shielding to enhance aperture ratio and minimize material usage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If additional protective layers and shielding layers are added to protect scan lines, data lines and thin film transistors, then reliability is improved, but device complexity and material cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection of scan lines, data lines and thin film transistorVSAvoidnumber of layers

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The color filter layer is designed to serve dual functions: (1) providing color filtering for the display pixels, and (2) acting as a protective layer covering and protecting the scan lines, data lines and thin film transistor. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate protective layers, reducing device complexity while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the protective function with the color filter layer by having the color filter layer extend over and cover the scan lines, data lines and thin film transistor. This consolidation combines two previously separate functions (protection and color filtering) into a single integrated layer, reducing the total number of layers and material cost.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Loss of substance

If the color filter layer is extended to cover scan lines, data lines and thin film transistor, then material cost is reduced, but manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvematerial costVSAvoidalignment of color filter layer

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of substanceVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The color filter layer is designed to serve dual functions: (1) providing color filtering for the display pixels, and (2) acting as a protective layer covering and protecting the scan lines, data lines and thin film transistor. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate protective layers, reducing device complexity while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Productivity

If aperture ratio is increased by reducing layer thickness and material usage, then productivity is improved, but shielding effectiveness may deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaperture ratioVSAvoidlight leakage and signal interference

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The color filter layer is designed to serve dual functions: (1) providing color filtering for the display pixels, and (2) acting as a protective layer covering and protecting the scan lines, data lines and thin film transistor. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate protective layers, reducing device complexity while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The transparent conductive layer is positioned between the color filter layer and the pixel electrode to provide shielding against signal interference while maintaining optical transparency. This intermediary layer blocks electromagnetic signals from interfering with the pixel electrode while allowing light to pass through, thus preventing signal interference without compromising the aperture ratio.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS9029882B2Active device array substrate

Publication Date: 2015.05.12 HANNSTAR DISPLAY CORP

AI summary

An active device array substrate for saving material cost includes a substrate, scan lines, data lines, a thin film transistor, a color filter layer, a transparent conductive layer, an insulating layer and a pixel electrode. The color filter layer covers and contacts the scan lines, data lines and the thin film transistor. The transparent conductive layer is disposed on the color filter layer and electrically isolated from the scan lines, the data lines and the thin film transistor by the color filter layer. The insulating layer covers the transparent conductive layer. The pixel electrode is disposed on the insulating layer and connected to the thin film transistor.