Display Panel Aperture Ratio via Shared Electrode and Black Matrix
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current display panel technologies suffer from low aperture ratios, which limit transmittance and are not conducive to high-resolution and low color shift performance, affecting production and market competitiveness.
Innovation Solution
The display panel design includes pixel units with sub-pixels featuring a backbone and branch portions, a shared electrode extending between main and sub-regions, and a light-shielding layer positioned below the backbone, along with a transparent electrode connecting the shared electrode to the second metal layer, and a black matrix disposed above the data line to enhance aperture ratio and color spectrum.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a light-shielding layer is retained to avoid photo-generated carriers and improve shared electrode stability, then electrode stability is improved, but aperture ratio is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the light-shielding layer from the display panel structure. By eliminating this layer, the patent achieves higher aperture ratios (improving transmittance) while accepting the trade-off of potential photo-generated carrier generation, thus resolving the contradiction by prioritizing aperture ratio over electrode stability protection
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the optical parameters of the display panel by removing the light-shielding layer, thereby increasing light transmittance and aperture ratio. This parameter change directly addresses the contradiction by optimizing for light transmission performance
2Ease of manufacture
If four photomask processes are used to integrate active layer and second metal layer, then production cost is reduced, but aperture ratio is limited due to active layer being wider than second metal layer
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the light-shielding layer that was previously used to compensate for the width mismatch between active layer and second metal layer in four photomask processes. This extraction allows the full aperture area to be utilized while maintaining the cost-effective four photomask manufacturing approach
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different structural configurations to different regions: the active layer and second metal layer maintain their integrated four photomask structure for cost efficiency, while the light-shielding layer is selectively removed from areas where it would otherwise reduce aperture ratio, creating a localized optimization that balances manufacturing ease with optical performance
3Device complexity
If shared electrode is in direct contact with active layer to simplify structure, then device complexity is reduced, but photo-generated carriers are generated under light affecting stability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the light-shielding layer that was previously used to protect the shared electrode from light exposure. By taking out this protective layer, the patent simplifies the overall structure further while accepting the consequence of photo-generated carrier generation, thus prioritizing structural simplicity over stability protection
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 aperture ratio by about 5-6.3%, improving transmittance and color shift, while maintaining the voltage division function and achieving higher contrast through the replacement of DBS design with a black matrix.
Implementation Method 1
a shared electrode in the second metal layer is in direct contact with the active layer, and photo-generated carriers will be generated under light, which affects a stability of the shared electrode
Implementation Method 2
liquid crystals are not deflected to achieve light shielding through the electrode line 40 applied with a common voltage
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a display panel including a plurality of sub-pixels. Each of the sub-pixels includes a main region and a sub-region. Each of the sub-pixels includes pixel electrodes disposed in the main region and the sub-region. Each of the pixel electrodes includes a backbone portion and a plurality of branch portions connected to the backbone portion. One of the sub-pixels in each of the pixel units includes a shared electrode and a light shielding layer. The shared electrode extends from the main region of the one of the sub-pixels to the sub-region of the one of the sub-pixels. The light-shielding layer is disposed in the main region and the sub-region of the one of the sub-pixels.