Display Panel Array Substrate With Integrated Ambient Light Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
It is difficult to integrate ambient photosensitive devices into conventional display panels at low cost, as conventional ambient photosensitive devices are typically external, increasing manufacturing costs.
Innovation Solution
A display panel design that integrates a photosensitive device into the array substrate, utilizing a vertical heterojunction structure with a barrier component to reduce dark current and improve sensitivity, while sharing photomasks with TFT device layers to minimize manufacturing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If ambient photosensitive devices are integrated into array substrates using fewer photomasks, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the photosensitive device structure with the TFT device structure by integrating the second active pattern (photosensitive) with the first active pattern (TFT) on the same array substrate. The barrier component is integrated into the gate structure, and both devices share common elements such as the active layer, gate insulating layer, and interlayer insulating layer. This merging approach reduces manufacturing cost by minimizing the number of photomasks required while managing device complexity through unified structural design.
Solution Approach 2:
The gate structure serves multiple functions: it acts as the gate electrode for the TFT device and simultaneously functions as the barrier component for the photosensitive device. The active layer serves dual purposes as both the TFT active pattern and the photosensitive device active pattern. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components and manufacturing steps, thereby reducing manufacturing cost while keeping device complexity manageable.
2Measurement precision
If a barrier component is added to reduce dark current, then sensitivity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The barrier component is merged with the gate structure of the TFT device. The gate electrode and barrier component form an integrated structure that serves both as the control electrode for the TFT and as the dark current barrier for the photosensitive device. This merging approach improves sensitivity by effectively reducing dark current while avoiding the need for separate barrier components that would increase device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The gate structure performs dual functions: controlling the TFT device operation and blocking dark current in the photosensitive device. By making the gate structure universal for both purposes, the patent improves measurement precision (sensitivity) without proportionally increasing device complexity, as the same structural element serves multiple critical functions.
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
The integration of the photosensitive device into the display panel reduces manufacturing costs by minimizing the number of photomasks required and improves sensitivity by reducing dark current through the use of a barrier component.
Implementation Method 1
a photosensitive device, wherein the photosensitive device comprises a first electrode, a second electrode, a second active pattern
Data Source
AI summary
A display panel includes an array substrate. The array substrate includes: a thin-film transistor (TFT) device, the TFT device including a first active pattern; and a photosensitive device, the photosensitive device including a first electrode, a second electrode, a connector electrode, and a second active pattern. The first electrode, the second electrode, the connector electrode, and the second active pattern constitute a vertical heterojunction structure.