Active Pattern Connection Layout for Display ESD Protection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Active patterns in display devices are vulnerable to damage from static electricity during manufacturing and usage due to regions being electrically separated, leading to potential display quality issues.

Innovation Solution

The method involves connecting the first and second regions of the active pattern to a conductive pattern simultaneously while removing the third region, dispersing static electricity and preventing damage, thereby enhancing the robustness of the active pattern against static electricity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If the active pattern includes regions electrically separated from each other, then the display device can achieve better display quality and functionality, but the active pattern becomes vulnerable to damage from static electricity during manufacturing and usage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay qualityVSAvoidvulnerability to static electricity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A conductive pattern is introduced as an intermediary element to connect electrically separated regions of the active pattern. This conductive pattern acts as a mediator that allows controlled electrical connection while protecting the active pattern from static electricity damage, resolving the contradiction between achieving electrical separation for display quality and maintaining reliability against static damage

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The conductive pattern is formed in advance during the manufacturing process, before the device is put into use. This preliminary action ensures that the protective conductive connections are already in place to prevent static electricity damage from occurring during subsequent manufacturing steps or usage, addressing the reliability concern while maintaining the electrical separation needed for display quality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If the active pattern regions are connected to conductive pattern simultaneously while removing the third region, then static electricity can be dispersed and the active pattern protected, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection from static electricityVSAvoidmanufacturing process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple manufacturing steps are merged into a single integrated process. The conductive pattern formation and the removal of the third region are combined into one simultaneous operation, reducing the overall number of discrete steps in the manufacturing process. This merging approach maintains reliability by ensuring proper conductive connections while minimizing the added complexity of the manufacturing process

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP4016629B1Display device and method of manufacturing display device
Publication Date: 2025.12.03 SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO LTD
  • EP4016629B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4016629B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4016629B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method of manufacturing a display device may include forming an active pattern on a substrate, the active pattern including a first region, a second region spaced apart from the first region, and a third region disposed between the first region and the second region, forming an insulation layer on the active pattern, defining a first contact hole exposing a portion of the first region, a second contact hole exposing a portion of the second region, and an opening exposing the third region in the insulation layer, forming a conductive pattern filling the first and second contact holes on the insulation layer and removing the third region at a substantially same time, and forming a planarization layer on the conductive pattern.