Electro-optical Device Tilted Insulating Film Light Refraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electro-optical devices face challenges in suppressing optical leakage current, which limits their application in high-definition liquid crystal devices and increases manufacturing costs due to the complexity of light shielding structures required to prevent light from reaching the TFTs.
Innovation Solution
The electro-optical device incorporates an insulating film with a thinner center and tilted surface, and pixel electrodes that overlap the tilted face, refracting incident light to prevent it from entering non-opening areas, thereby reducing optical leakage and enhancing transmittance without complicating the structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a light shielding film with a complicated stacked structure is formed to suppress optical leakage current, then the optical leakage current is suppressed, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the light shielding function from a separate stacked structure and integrates it into the capacitor insulating film itself. By forming the insulating film with a tilted surface that slopes away from the TFT, the film directly performs the light shielding function without requiring additional light shielding layers, thus suppressing optical leakage current while reducing device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The capacitor insulating film is given dual functionality: it serves both as the insulating layer for the accumulation capacitor and as the light shielding film. The tilted surface configuration enables the insulating film to block incident light from reaching the TFT semiconductor layer, while maintaining its electrical insulation function, thereby eliminating the need for separate light shielding structures
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a complicated stacked structure is formed to shield light, then optical leakage is suppressed, but the layout flexibility and manufacturing ease are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the need for separate light shielding film formation processes by extracting the light shielding function from the conventional stacked structure and embedding it within the capacitor insulating film formation process itself, thereby simplifying the manufacturing workflow
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the light shielding function with the capacitor insulating film formation into a single integrated process. By forming the tilted-surface insulating film that simultaneously provides both insulation and light shielding, the manufacturing process is simplified without compromising the light shielding effectiveness
3Illumination intensity
If a tilted face is formed in the insulating film to refract light, then light transmittance is improved and optical leakage is suppressed, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the insulating film by forming a tilted surface instead of a flat surface. This parameter change enables the film to refract incident light at angles that prevent it from reaching the TFT, while the tilt angle can be optimized to balance light refraction effectiveness with manufacturing feasibility
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by creating a tilted surface specifically in the region where light shielding is needed, while maintaining other regions of the film with standard characteristics. The tilt is localized to the incident light path area, allowing effective light refraction without requiring precision control over the entire film structure
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 solution effectively suppresses optical leakage current, improves image quality by reducing flickers, and allows for higher transmittance, while simplifying the manufacturing process and reducing costs by maintaining high-definition capabilities without complex stacked structures.
Implementation Method 1
the insulating film... has a tilted face that is tilted at an angle with respect to the first area and the other area in a boundary area interposed between the first area and the other area on the surface thereof; and a plurality of pixel electrodes that is disposed in the each pixel on the upper layer side relative to the insulating film and is formed so as to include at least an area of the insulating film that overlaps the tilted face
Data Source
AI summary
An electro-optical device includes an insulating film having a tilted face, the tilted face sloping down toward inside of an opening area of a pixel arranged in a pixel area in plan view, and a pixel electrode that is disposed in the pixel on an upper layer side relative to the insulating film and is formed so as to include at least an area that overlaps the tilted face of the insulating film in plan view.