Display Panel Fan-Out Area Flatness via Second Metal Lines
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing liquid crystal display (LCD) technologies face quality issues due to the formation of grooves in fan-out areas, which cause the alignment liquid to flow and overlap with frame glue, affecting the curing process and resulting in quality problems.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of second metal lines that fill clearances among the tracks of the fan-out area, creating a flat terrain and preventing the alignment liquid from flowing, while connecting the first and second metal lines in parallel to reduce impedance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If only first metal lines are used to connect data lines/scanning lines to sub-drive circuits, then the structure is simple, but grooves are formed on the fan-out area surface causing alignment liquid to flow and overlap with frame glue
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines first metal lines and second metal lines in parallel within the fan-out area to form a composite conductive structure. The second metal lines are positioned between adjacent first metal lines and connected to both, creating a merged structure that fills surface grooves and provides both electrical connection and surface planarization functions simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The second metal lines serve multiple functions: they act as additional conductive paths for electrical signals, fill the grooves formed by first metal lines to planarize the surface, and prevent alignment liquid from flowing along groove paths. This multi-functional element resolves the contradiction by addressing both electrical connection and surface flatness requirements.
2Manufacturing precision
If second metal lines are added to fill clearances and create flat terrain, then surface flatness is improved and alignment liquid flow is prevented, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges first metal lines and second metal lines into a unified conductive network where both line types are interconnected in parallel. This merging allows the structure to achieve surface planarization while maintaining electrical functionality, balancing the trade-off between improved manufacturing precision and increased device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The second metal lines act as intermediary elements that fill the gaps between first metal lines. These intermediary structures serve as both mechanical fillers for surface planarization and electrical conductors, mediating between the conflicting requirements of simple structure and flat surface.
3Reliability
If first and second metal lines are connected in parallel, then impedance is reduced, but manufacturing process complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple metal line layers in parallel configuration to reduce electrical impedance. The first and second metal lines are strategically interconnected at multiple points along their lengths, creating redundant parallel current paths that lower overall resistance while the interconnection points are designed to be formed using standard semiconductor manufacturing processes.
Data Source
AI summary
This application discloses a display panel and a display apparatus. A non-display area in the display panel includes a plurality of fan-out areas, a drive circuit in the display panel includes a plurality of sub-drive circuits, each fan-out area is an area formed by all first metal lines connected with each sub-drive circuit, and the fan-out areas are connected with a display area and the drive circuit; each fan-out area includes a plurality of second metal lines, and each of the second metal lines is located between two adjacent first metal lines; and the surface of each fan-out area is flat.