Peripheral Circuit Structure with Spare Conductive Lines for ESD Repair
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Solution Overview
Problem
Display devices often suffer from defects caused by electrostatic discharge (ESD) that lead to electrical conduction between conductive lines and the common electrode, resulting in impaired pixel unit functionality, and existing repair methods are inefficient, especially when multiple conductive lines are damaged, affecting the common electrode's functionality.
Innovation Solution
A peripheral circuit structure comprising a common electrode layer, ESD protection diodes, an isolation layer, and multiple conductive lines, where the conductive lines are connected in parallel and strategically positioned to form junctions, allowing one line to act as a spare when defects occur, thereby rerouting current and preventing damage to the common electrode.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of repair
If laser cutting is used to repair damaged conductive lines by slitting the common electrode, then the damaged conductive line can be isolated from the common electrode, but the repair success rate is low due to the long cutting distance and the common electrode's functionality is compromised when multiple lines are damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring a spare conductive line (second conductive line) that is ready to take over the function of the first conductive line if damage occurs. This spare line is positioned and connected in advance, allowing immediate repair without laser cutting, thus increasing repair success rate while maintaining common electrode functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses an intermediary approach by introducing a second conductive line as a mediator between the first conductive line and the common electrode. When the first conductive line is damaged, the second conductive line serves as an alternative pathway, eliminating the need for laser cutting and preserving the common electrode's continuity.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If laser cutting is used to separate the common electrode at damaged conductive line locations, then ESD damage can be isolated, but the distance for cutting is too long (at least greater than the width of the common electrode) making repair difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The second conductive line acts as an intermediary that provides an alternative current path around the damaged area. This eliminates the need for long-distance laser cutting to isolate ESD damage, as the spare line naturally routes current away from the damaged section without requiring physical separation of the common electrode.
Solution Approach 2:
The spare conductive line is pre-positioned and connected to provide immediate ESD isolation functionality without requiring subsequent laser cutting operations. The protective function is established in advance through the parallel configuration, eliminating the need for long cutting distances.
3Ease of repair
If multiple conductive lines are damaged and repaired by slitting the common electrode, then individual lines can be isolated, but the region of the common electrode between the damaged lines becomes insulated from other conductive lines, affecting the common electrode's function
Solution Approach 1:
The patent pre-configures multiple spare conductive lines (second conductive lines) that remain connected to the common electrode even when first conductive lines are damaged. This preliminary arrangement ensures that the common electrode's functionality is preserved from the outset, avoiding the insulation problem that occurs with laser cutting repairs.
Solution Approach 2:
The second conductive lines serve as intermediaries that maintain electrical connection between the common electrode and the display area when first conductive lines are damaged. These intermediary lines prevent insulation of the common electrode region, ensuring continuous functionality across multiple damage scenarios.
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 configuration enhances the repair success rate by allowing current to bypass defective conductive lines, maintaining the common electrode's functionality and preventing insulation issues between damaged lines, thus improving the display device's performance.
Implementation Method 1
defects caused by electrostatic discharge (ESD) damages may often be formed on the signal input end and the signal terminal of the display device
Implementation Method 2
The isolation layer covers the common electrode layer... located between the first conductive line and the common electrode layer
Implementation Method 3
Two ends of the second conductive line are electrically connected to the first conductive line to respectively form a first junction and a second junction
Data Source
AI summary
A display device includes a substrate and a peripheral circuit structure on the substrate. The peripheral circuit includes a common electrode layer between the ESD protection diode and a pixel unit of the substrate, an ESD protection diode, an isolation layer covering the common electrode layer, a first conductive line on the isolation layer and over the common electrode layer, and a second conductive line on the isolation layer and over the common electrode layer. Two ends of the first conductive line are respectively electrically connected to the ESD protection diode and the pixel unit. Two ends of the second conductive line are electrically connected to the first conductive line on positions that are between the ESD protection diode and the common electrode layer and between the pixel unit and the common electrode layer to respectively form a first junction and a second junction.