Array Substrate Integrating Black Matrix and Touch Electrodes
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Solution Overview
Problem
The production of active-matrix substrates for liquid crystal display devices with touchscreens requires a large number of photomasks, increasing production costs due to the complexity of layering and patterning different films for signal lines, touch detecting electrodes, and black matrices.
Innovation Solution
The array substrate design includes gate lines, source lines, switching components, position detecting electrodes, and light blocking portions, where the position detecting electrodes are formed by reducing the resistance of semiconductor film sections, and the touch lines and light blocking portions are patterned using the same photomask, reducing the overall number of photomasks needed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If signal lines, touch detecting electrodes, and black matrices are formed from different films, then the touchscreen functionality is achieved, but the number of photomasks increases and production cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the black matrix layer and touch detecting electrode layer into a single film structure. The touch detecting electrodes are formed in the same film as the black matrix, allowing both functions to be achieved simultaneously with one photomask, thereby reducing the total number of photomasks from multiple to fewer while maintaining touchscreen functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The film containing the black matrix is designed to serve dual functions: optical shielding (black matrix function) and touch detection (touch detecting electrode function). This multi-functional design allows a single film layer to replace what would traditionally require separate layers, reducing manufacturing complexity and photomask count
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple films are used for signal lines and touch detecting electrodes, then proper layering is achieved, but the production cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the formation of black matrix and touch detecting electrodes into a single patterning step using one photomask. This merging reduces the number of sequential manufacturing steps, thereby lowering production costs while still achieving the necessary layering and patterning precision through the integrated film structure
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach simplifies the production process, reduces production costs, and enhances the reliability and sensitivity of position detection in touchscreen functionality while maintaining high-quality image display.
Implementation Method 1
The position detecting electrodes are disposed in a layer lower than the gate lines and the source lines to detect input positions at which the position input operation is performed with a position input body based on electrostatic capacitances between the position input body and the position detecting electrodes
Data Source
AI summary
An array substrate includes gate lines, source lines, switching components, position detecting electrodes, a light blocking portion, and position detecting lines. The position detecting electrodes are disposed in a layer lower than the gate lines and the source lines to detect input positions at which the position input operation is performed with a position input body based on electrostatic capacitances between the position input body and the position detecting electrodes. The light blocking portion is disposed in a layer lower than channel regions of the switching components and opposite the channel regions with a lower insulating film between the light blocking portion and the channel regions. The position detecting lines are formed from sections of a conductive film from which the light blocking portion is formed and coupled to the position detecting electrodes.