Array Substrate Shared Contact Hole Aperture Ratio
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing array substrates for liquid crystal displays have a reduced aperture ratio due to the increased depth of contact holes caused by organic insulating layers, which also prevents the alignment layer from covering the contact hole areas, affecting transmittance and viewing angle performance.
Innovation Solution
The array substrate design features two subpixels sharing a common gate line with their drain electrodes exposed through a single contact hole, reducing the number of contact holes and allowing the alignment layer to spread over these areas without compromising the aperture ratio, thereby enhancing transmittance and viewing angle performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If organic insulating layers are formed between drain electrode and pixel electrode, then insulation is improved, but contact hole depth increases reducing aperture ratio
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the contact holes of two adjacent subpixels into a single shared contact hole structure. By positioning the contact hole to expose both drain electrodes simultaneously, the design reduces the total number of contact holes and allows the alignment layer to cover the contact hole areas, thereby improving aperture ratio while maintaining insulation through the shared hole configuration
Solution Approach 2:
The single contact hole serves multiple functions: it provides electrical connection for both drain electrodes, allows alignment layer coverage, and maintains insulation between adjacent subpixels. This multi-functional design resolves the contradiction by making the contact hole structure serve both insulation and aperture ratio improvement goals
2Reliability
If contact holes are formed in each subpixel, then electrical connection is ensured, but aperture ratio is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple contact holes into a single shared contact hole that serves two adjacent subpixels. This merging approach ensures electrical connection for both drain electrodes while reducing the total contact hole area, thereby improving aperture ratio without compromising electrical connectivity
3Reliability
If alignment layer is not spread over contact hole areas, then contact hole function is maintained, but transmittance is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
By merging contact holes and positioning them such that the alignment layer can cover the combined contact hole area, the patent enables the alignment layer to spread continuously over the contact regions. This improves transmittance by eliminating alignment layer gaps while the shared contact hole structure maintains proper electrical connection function
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 design increases the aperture ratio and allows the alignment layer to cover contact hole areas, improving transmittance and maintaining excellent viewing angles in liquid crystal displays.
Implementation Method 1
A liquid crystal display is generally driven using optical anisotropy and polarization properties of liquid crystals. Light is refracted in the orientation of the alignment of the liquid crystal molecules by the optical anisotropy, thereby displaying image information.
Implementation Method 2
A liquid crystal display is generally driven using optical anisotropy and polarization properties of liquid crystals.
Data Source
AI summary
An array substrate for a liquid crystal display includes a substrate and first and second subpixels which are positioned on the substrate and are defined by a crossing structure of one gate line, a first data line, a second data line, a first common line, and a second common line. The first subpixel includes a first semiconductor layer, a first source electrode, a first drain electrode, and a first pixel electrode connected to the first drain electrode. The second subpixel includes a second semiconductor layer, a second source electrode, a second drain electrode, and a second pixel electrode connected to the second drain electrode. The first and second subpixels share the one gate line with each other, and the first drain electrode and the second drain electrode are exposed through one contact hole.