Patterned Oxide Electrode Pixel Structure for LCD Transmittance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional LCD panels, such as TN and IPS, suffer from narrow viewing angles and increased fabrication costs due to complex processes and light transmittance issues, while FFS panels face rubbing mura and uneven brightness problems.
Innovation Solution
A pixel structure with a patterned oxide electrode layer including a semiconductor and conductive part, where the conductive part serves as the pixel electrode, is used, reducing process steps and fabrication costs while enhancing brightness uniformity by positioning the semiconductor part to overlap the common electrode and the conductive part to avoid overlap, thus improving light transmittance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a conventional IPS LCD panel is used to achieve wider viewing angle, then viewing angle is improved, but light transmittance and aperture ratio are reduced due to the region corresponding to the pixel electrode and common electrode not being light permissible
Solution Approach 1:
The oxide electrode layer is segmented into two distinct parts: a semiconductor part that overlaps with the common electrode to control liquid crystal, and a conductive part that serves as the pixel electrode and does not overlap with the common electrode. This segmentation allows different regions to have different optical and electrical properties, enabling both wide viewing angle and high light transmittance.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the oxide electrode layer are assigned different local qualities: the semiconductor part has properties suitable for liquid crystal control (overlapping the common electrode), while the conductive part has properties optimized for light transmission (not overlapping the common electrode). This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between viewing angle requirements and light transmittance.
2Illumination intensity
If a conventional FFS LCD panel is used to achieve higher light transmittance, then light transmittance is improved, but fabrication cost and process complexity are increased due to requiring two layers of patterned conductive layers
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the functions of the semiconductor layer and the pixel electrode into a single oxide electrode layer. The oxide layer simultaneously serves as the switching device component (semiconductor part) and the pixel electrode (conductive part), eliminating the need for separate patterned conductive layers required in conventional FFS panels.
Solution Approach 2:
The oxide electrode layer performs multiple functions: it acts as the semiconductor layer for liquid crystal control, serves as the pixel electrode for applying electric fields, and provides the conductive path for electrical signals. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate layers and simplifies the fabrication process.
3Illumination intensity
If a conventional FFS LCD panel is used to achieve higher light transmittance, then light transmittance is improved, but rubbing mura occurs to the alignment film causing uneven brightness problem
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the pixel electrode function from the alignment film region. By positioning the conductive part of the oxide electrode layer such that it does not overlap with the common electrode, the alignment film is no longer subjected to rubbing-induced mura effects in the pixel electrode region, eliminating the source of brightness non-uniformity.
Data Source
AI summary
A pixel structure includes an active switching device, a patterned common electrode layer, an insulation layer, a patterned oxide electrode layer and a patterned passivation layer. The insulation layer covers the patterned common electrode layer. The patterned oxide electrode layer is disposed on the insulation layer and electrically connected to the active switching device. The patterned oxide electrode layer includes a semiconductor part and a conductive part. The semiconductor part and the patterned common electrode layer substantially overlap to each other in a vertical projection direction. The conductive part and the semiconductor part are connected to each other, the conductive part and the patterned common electrode layer do not overlap to each other in the vertical projective direction, and the conductive part is a pixel electrode. The patterned passivation layer covers the semiconductor part, and the patterned passivation layer has an opening exposing the conductive part.