Array Substrate Motherboard Testing via Planar Bridge Circuits

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Solution Overview

Problem

The electro-static discharge phenomenon at via holes in bridge circuits during testing of gate lines in TFT-LCDs can lead to breakdown of gate lines and abnormal lighting issues, which existing technologies have not adequately addressed.

Innovation Solution

The array substrate motherboard design includes gate line and data line testing leads and pads made of the same material and in the same layer, eliminating the need for via holes and reducing the risk of electro-static discharge, with additional dummy pads and insulating layers to enhance testing and connectivity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If gate lines and testing lines are connected through bridge circuits with via holes, then testing signals can be transmitted to gate lines, but electro-static discharge occurs at the via holes causing gate line breakdown and abnormal lighting

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegate line reliabilityVSAvoidelectro-static discharge
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the via holes from the connection path between testing lines and gate lines. By extracting the problematic via hole component, the design eliminates the electro-static discharge issue while maintaining the testing functionality through direct planar connections.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from a three-dimensional via hole connection (vertical dimension) to a two-dimensional planar connection (horizontal dimension). The testing lines connect to gate lines through bridge circuits on the same layer, eliminating the need for vertical via holes and their associated electro-static discharge risks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Measurement precision

If multiple block pins correspond to multiple lead regions for testing, then comprehensive testing coverage is achieved, but the complexity of the testing mechanism increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetesting coverageVSAvoidtesting mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a universal testing mechanism where a standardized bridge circuit pattern can be reused across multiple lead regions. Each block pin follows the same connection methodology through bridge circuits, allowing comprehensive testing coverage without proportionally increasing mechanism complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent divides the testing mechanism into independent, modular bridge circuits for each lead region. Each segment can be independently configured and tested, allowing comprehensive coverage while maintaining manageable complexity through modular design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3433670B1Array substrate motherboard and fabricating method thereof
Publication Date: 2021.09.01 BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO LTD
  • EP3433670B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2A
  • EP3433670B1 patent drawingFigure 2B~2C
  • EP3433670B1 patent drawingFigure 2D~3

AI summary

In some embodiments, an array substrate motherboard and a fabricating method thereof are provided. The method includes: providing a substrate including multiple gate lines, gate driving leads, data lines, and data driving leads, each gate line corresponds to one gate driving lead, each data line corresponds to one data driving lead; forming multiple gate line testing leads, each gate line testing lead is connected with a gate driving lead; forming multiple data line testing leads, each data line testing lead is connected with a subset of the multiple data driving leads; forming multiple gate line testing pads, each gate line testing pad is connected with a gate line testing lead; forming multiple data line testing pads, each data line testing pad is connected with two data line testing leads; and using the gate line testing pads and gate line testing pads to test the gate lines and data lines.