Thin Film Transistor Array Panel Light Blocking Member Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for manufacturing liquid crystal displays (LCDs) face complications due to color filters covering drain electrodes, leading to manufacturing process issues, etching uniformity problems, and contamination during the formation of contact holes, which affect the aperture ratio and reliability of the display.
Innovation Solution
A thin film transistor array panel design that incorporates a light blocking member to enclose contact holes and define a storing space for the color filter, preventing it from covering the electrodes and allowing for easy formation using an Inkjet process, with the light blocking member formed to include protection portions around the output terminals and storage electrodes to maintain the integrity of the display structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If color filters are formed through conventional methods covering drain electrodes, then color display function is achieved, but manufacturing process complexity increases and etching uniformity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The light blocking member is segmented into multiple protection portions (first protection portion surrounding output terminal, second protection portion extending along data line, third protection portion surrounding storage electrode) that are formed simultaneously as a single structure. This segmentation allows different regions to serve specific protective functions while simplifying the overall manufacturing process by preventing color filter deposition on electrodes that would require complex etching steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The light blocking member is formed preliminarily before the color filter deposition step. This preliminary action defines the storing space for the color filter and protects the drain electrode, output terminal, and storage electrode from color filter coverage, thereby eliminating the need for complex etching processes through multiple layers later in the manufacturing sequence.
2Reliability
If color filters cover drain electrodes to achieve color display, then color function is provided, but contact hole formation becomes complicated with increased contamination risk
Solution Approach 1:
The light blocking member is divided into functional segments including the first protection portion that specifically surrounds the output terminal and the third protection portion that surrounds the storage electrode. This segmentation ensures that contact holes can be formed directly through the overcoat layer without needing to etch through color filter material, reducing contamination and simplifying the manufacturing process.
Solution Approach 2:
The light blocking member acts as an intermediary structure between the underlying electrodes and the color filter layer. It provides a protective barrier that prevents the color filter from covering the drain electrode and output terminal, thereby serving as a mediator that enables straightforward contact hole formation while maintaining color display functionality.
3Ease of manufacture
If light blocking member is formed with protection portions to prevent color filter coverage, then manufacturing process is simplified, but aperture ratio may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The light blocking member is designed with local quality variations through its different protection portions. The first protection portion surrounds the output terminal, the second extends along the data line, and the third surrounds the storage electrode. This localized protection approach ensures that light blocking is applied only where necessary to prevent color filter coverage on electrodes, while minimizing the overall area occupied by the light blocking member to maintain high aperture ratio.
Data Source
AI summary
A thin film transistor array panel and a method of its manufacture are presented. The thin film transistor array panel according to an embodiment includes a substrate, a gate line extending in a first direction on the substrate, a data line extending in a second direction on the substrate and intersecting and insulated from the gate line, a thin film transistor including a control terminal connected to the gate line, an input terminal connected to the data line and an output terminal, a color filter formed on the thin film transistor, a light blocking member formed on the thin film transistor, defining the space for storing the color filter, and including a first protection portion surrounding at least the region of the output terminal of the thin film transistor, and a pixel electrode formed on the light blocking member and the color filter and contacting the region of the output terminal surrounded by the first protection portion of the light blocking member.