LCD Touch Screen Common Electrode Mask Merging
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing manufacturing processes for liquid crystal display devices with built-in touch screens are complex, leading to increased costs and reduced efficiency due to the use of multiple masks and processes, which affects the contact efficiency between data and pixel electrodes, and results in higher production costs and lower yield.
Innovation Solution
The use of low-temperature poly silicon (LTPS) for the lower substrate and a simplified manufacturing process that reduces the number of masks required, specifically employing a half-tone mask to form the common electrode and conductive line simultaneously, enhancing contact efficiency and reducing manufacturing complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If multiple masks and complex manufacturing processes are used to form common electrode and conductive lines separately, then manufacturing precision can be maintained, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the formation of common electrode and conductive lines into a single mask process. The mask pattern is designed to simultaneously define both the common electrode regions and conductive line regions, eliminating the need for separate masking steps and reducing overall process complexity while maintaining manufacturing precision
Solution Approach 2:
The mask serves multiple functions by simultaneously defining both common electrode patterns and conductive line patterns in a single application. This multi-functional mask approach reduces the total number of masking operations required and simplifies the manufacturing workflow
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple separate processes are used to form common electrode and conductive lines, then manufacturing precision is maintained, but productivity decreases due to increased processing time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple formation processes into a single integrated step where both common electrode and conductive lines are formed simultaneously using one mask application and one development process, significantly reducing total processing time while maintaining alignment accuracy through the unified pattern definition
Solution Approach 2:
The mask is designed in advance to contain all necessary pattern information for both common electrode and conductive lines, allowing both structures to be formed in a single operation without requiring sequential processing steps that would increase manufacturing time
3Reliability
If conventional manufacturing processes are used with multiple masks, then process control is maintained, but manufacturing cost increases due to additional materials and steps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent consolidates multiple mask materials and processing steps into a single mask system, reducing material consumption and eliminating redundant process steps while maintaining reliable process control through the integrated design that defines all necessary structures in one operation
Data Source
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AI summary
A liquid crystal display device with a built-in touch screen comprising a substrate having a pixel region, a thin film transistor formed at the pixel region, the thin film transistor including at least an active layer, a gate electrode, an insulating layer, and a data electrode, a first passivation layer formed on the thin film transistor, a first contact hole formed through a portion of the first passivation layer to expose the data electrode, a common electrode formed on at least one portion of the first passivation layer including inside the first contact hole, the common electrode operable to sense touch, a conductive line formed on at least one portion of the first passivation layer including inside the first contact hole, a second passivation layer formed on the common electrode and the conductive line, a second contact hole formed through a portion of the second passivation layer to expose the conductive line corresponding to the data electrode, and a pixel electrode electrically connected with the conductive line, the pixel electrode formed on the second passivation layer and inside the second contact hole, wherein the data electrode and the pixel electrode are electrically connected via the common electrode and the conductive line.