Transflective LCD Aperture Ratio via Merged Reflective Electrode
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Solution Overview
Problem
The manufacturing process of transflective liquid crystal display devices is complex, leading to increased costs and a reduced aperture ratio in the transmissive area due to the need for multiple mask processes and separate contact holes for connecting pixel and drain electrodes.
Innovation Solution
A simplified method for fabricating a transflective thin film transistor substrate using a reflective electrode that connects the pixel electrode with the drain electrode and storage upper electrode through a transmission hole, reducing the number of mask processes required and eliminating the need for separate contact holes, thereby increasing the aperture ratio.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate contact holes are formed to connect pixel and drain electrodes, then electrical connection is achieved, but aperture ratio is reduced and manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The reflective electrode is designed to simultaneously serve as both the drain electrode and the connection electrode to the pixel electrode. By merging these two previously separate functions into a single electrode structure, the patent eliminates the need for separate contact holes, thereby increasing the aperture ratio while maintaining reliable electrical connections.
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple mask processes are used to form separate contact holes and reflective electrode, then precise positioning is achieved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the formation of the reflective electrode and the connection electrode into a single mask process. The reflective electrode pattern is designed to inherently include the connection regions, allowing both structures to be formed simultaneously in one step rather than requiring separate masking and etching processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The reflective electrode is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as the reflective surface for display purposes and as the connection conductor to the pixel electrode. This universal design eliminates the need for dedicated connection holes and separate contact electrodes, simplifying the manufacturing process while maintaining positioning accuracy.
3Reliability
If separate contact holes are formed for electrode connection, then electrical connectivity is ensured, but manufacturing time and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the reflective electrode and connection electrode into a single structure formed in one mask process, the patent reduces the total number of manufacturing steps. This eliminates the sequential operations of forming contact holes followed by forming the reflective electrode, thereby improving manufacturing efficiency and reducing production time.
Solution Approach 2:
The multi-functional reflective electrode that serves both reflection and connection purposes eliminates the need for separate connection hole formation steps. This universal design reduces the total process time and manufacturing cost while ensuring reliable electrical connectivity is maintained through the integrated electrode 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
The simplified process reduces the complexity of manufacturing and enhances the aperture ratio of the transmissive area, improving the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the transflective liquid crystal display device.
Implementation Method 1
a liquid crystal having dielectric anisotropy to rotate, thereby controlling the transmissivity of the light that runs through the liquid crystal layer
Implementation Method 2
The reflective electrode 28 reflects an external light that is incident through a color filter substrate, toward the color filter substrate
Implementation Method 3
the surface of the organic film 24 formed under the reflective electrode 28 has an embossed or raised shape, therefore the reflective electrode 28, which is formed on top of the organic film, also has an embossed shape. As a result, the reflection efficiency of the reflective electrode 28 increases due to the dispersion effect of the embossed surface
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid crystal display device is provided that comprises a gate line; a first insulating film on the gate line; a data line crossing the gate line to define a pixel region, the pixel region having a transmissive area and a reflective area; a thin film transistor connected to the gate line and the data line; a pixel electrode formed in the pixel region; a second insulating film on the thin film transistor; a storage capacitor including a storage upper electrode overlapping the gate line; a transmission hole exposing at least a portion of the pixel electrode, and a reflective electrode formed in the reflective area of the pixel region, the reflective electrode connecting the pixel electrode with thin film transistor and the storage upper electrode, wherein the gate line and the pixel electrode include a first transparent conductive layer.