KR20050116936A - Display apparatus and method of fabricating the same - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed are a display device and a method of manufacturing the same, which can improve the reliability of a product. The array substrate has a signal line for transmitting a signal and an electrode portion electrically connected to a pad of the signal line. The electrode part is made of a different material from the signal line, and prevents static electricity generated from the pad side of the signal line from flowing into the array substrate along the signal line. Accordingly, the array substrate can prevent damage of the thin film transistor due to static electricity, thereby improving the reliability of the product.

Description

DISPLAY APPARATUS AND METHOD OF FABRICATING THE SAME}

The present invention relates to a display device and a method for manufacturing the same, and more particularly, to a display device and a method for manufacturing the same for improving the reliability of the product.

In general, a liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal display panel for displaying an image using light and a backlight assembly for generating light.

The liquid crystal display panel includes an array substrate on which a thin film transistor (TFT), which is a switching element, a color filter substrate that opposes and bonds with the array substrate, and a liquid crystal layer interposed between the array substrate and the color filter substrate. Is done.

The array substrate has a gate line for transmitting a gate signal, a data line for transmitting a data signal, and a TFT connected to the gate line and the data line. Pads are formed at the ends of the gate line and the data line, and the pads are connected to external devices for transmitting the gate signal and the data signal, respectively.

Like display devices, electronic devices have a disadvantage of being very vulnerable to static electricity. In particular, when static electricity is generated on the array substrate, the TFT may be damaged, so that an accurate image cannot be displayed.

In particular, in the case of a dual liquid crystal display device driving two liquid crystal display panels with one driving chip, the sub display panel and the main display panel are electrically connected using a flexible printed circuit board. In this case, an end portion of the data line of the main display panel to which the flexible circuit board is attached remains exposed to the outside even when the process is completed. Accordingly, corrosion of the main display panel may occur at the end of the exposed data line.

In addition, it is difficult to form a circuit for preventing static electricity at the end of the main display panel to which the flexible circuit board is attached, because there is little space. Therefore, after the main display panel is cut in units of LCD cells, malfunctions may occur due to corrosion of the exposed data lines and generation of static electricity.

An object of the present invention is to provide a display device for improving the reliability of the product by preventing corrosion and static electricity of the signal transmission line.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a method of manufacturing the above display device.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a display device including an insulating substrate, one or more signal lines, a thin film transistor, and a shorting bar.

The insulating substrate includes a first region in which an image is displayed and a second region surrounding the first region. The signal line extends in the first direction on the insulating substrate and has a pad formed at least at the first end thereof. The thin film transistor is positioned in a first region on the insulating substrate and is connected to the signal line. The shorting bar is formed on a pad of the second region and the signal line, is electrically connected to the pad, extends to an end of the second region in the first direction, and is made of a conductive metal oxide material.

In addition, the display device manufacturing method according to one aspect for realizing the above object of the present invention, first, forming the gate lines including the gate electrode on the substrate. Subsequently, data lines including source-drain electrodes and pads of a switching device are formed on the gate lines and the substrate. Subsequently, the pads are formed on the pads, and are electrically connected to the pads, and are formed of a metal oxide material, and extend from the pads in an outward direction of the substrate to form a shorting bar electrically connected to each other. The pads are electrically insulated from each other, and the outer portion of the substrate is cut so that the shorting bar exists to the end of the substrate.

According to such a display device and a method of manufacturing the same, it is possible to prevent static electricity generated in the second region from flowing into the first region by using a shorting bar made of a material different from the signal line, thereby improving reliability of the product.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, it will be described in detail the present invention.

1 is a plan view illustrating a dual liquid crystal display according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, a dual liquid crystal display device 3000 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a first liquid crystal display panel 1000 displaying a main image, a second liquid crystal display panel 2000 displaying a sub image, and the first liquid crystal. An integrated driving chip 1100 for driving the display panel 1000 and the second liquid crystal display panel 2000 is included.

The first liquid crystal display panel 1000 may include a first display area DA1 displaying a main image and first to fourth peripheral areas PA1, PA2, PA3, and PA4 formed around the first display area DA1. )

The second liquid crystal display panel 2000 includes a second display area DA2 for displaying a sub image, and fifth and sixth peripheral areas PA5 and PA6 formed around the second display area DA2. .

In the first display area DA1, a plurality of main gate lines 100 for transmitting a gate signal and a plurality of main data lines 200 orthogonal to the plurality of main gate lines 100 and for transmitting data signals are provided. It is provided.

The second display area DA2 includes a plurality of sub gate lines 2100 for transmitting a gate signal and a plurality of sub data lines 2200 orthogonal to the plurality of sub gate lines 2100.

The size of the first liquid crystal display panel 1000 is larger than that of the second liquid crystal display panel 2000, and thus, the size of the first display area DA1 is also larger than the size of the second display area DA2. Big. In addition, the resolution of the first display area DA1 is higher than that of the second display area DA2. For example, the resolution of the first liquid crystal display panel 1000 is 128 ㅧ 128 and the resolution of the second liquid crystal display panel 2000 is 96 ㅧ 64.

The integrated driving chip 1100 for driving the first and second liquid crystal display panels 1000 and 2000 is mounted in the first peripheral area PA1, and a first flexible printed circuit board 1500 is attached. The first flexible printed circuit board 1500 is electrically connected to the integrated driving chip 1100 and applies various signals provided from the outside to the integrated driving chip 1100.

In addition, the first and second liquid crystal display panels 1000 and 2000 are electrically connected to each other by a second flexible printed circuit board 2500. The first end of the second flexible printed circuit board 2500 is attached to the fourth peripheral area PA4 of the first liquid crystal display panel 1000, and the second end of the second flexible printed circuit board 2500 is formed of the second liquid crystal display panel 2000. 5 is attached to the peripheral area PA5. Therefore, even when the integrated driving chip 1100 is mounted in the first peripheral area PA2, the integrated driving chip 1100 is formed by the second flexible printed circuit board 2500 and the second liquid crystal display panel 2000. Is electrically connected to the

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the second flexible printed circuit board 2500 includes a plurality of first connections CL1 and a plurality of second connection lines CL2. One end of the plurality of first connection lines CL1 is coupled to a portion of the plurality of main data lines 200 in the fourth peripheral area PA4, and the other end is connected to the fifth peripheral area PA5 in the fifth peripheral area PA5. Combine with a plurality of sub data lines 2200.

The plurality of second connection lines CL2 extend to the second flexible circuit board 2500 and the third peripheral area PA3 attached to the fifth peripheral area PA5. One end of the plurality of second connection lines CL2 is electrically connected to the plurality of sub gate line groups 2100 in the sixth peripheral area PA6, and the other end is connected to the first peripheral area PA1. It is electrically connected to the integrated driving chip 1100.

FIG. 2 is a diagram conceptually illustrating the first liquid crystal display panel illustrated in FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 2, the first liquid crystal display panel 1000 includes the plurality of main gate lines 100, the plurality of main data lines 200, a plurality of main gate lines 100, and a plurality of main data lines. A thin film transistor (hereinafter, referred to as TFT) 300 and a shorting bar 400 are connected to the 200.

The plurality of main gate lines 100 extend in a first direction D1 and are disposed in a second direction D2 perpendicular to the first direction D1. The plurality of gate lines 100 is made of a conductive metal material such as aluminum (Al), chromium (Cr), molybdenum (Mo), or the like.

The plurality of main gate lines 100 may include first to third main gate lines 110, 120, and 130. In this case, the number of main gate lines may increase or decrease according to the size of the first liquid crystal display panel 1000. Each main gate line 110, 120, 130 is connected to the integrated driving chip 1100 (see FIG. 1).

The plurality of main data lines 200 extend in the second direction D2 and are disposed in the first direction D1. The plurality of main data lines 200 are made of a conductive metal material such as aluminum (Al), chromium (Cr), molybdenum (Mo), or the like.

The plurality of main data lines 200 includes first to fourth main data lines 210, 220, 230, and 240. In this case, the number of main data lines may increase or decrease according to the size of the first liquid crystal display panel 1000. Data pads 211, 221, 231, which are connected to the second flexible printed circuit board 2500, are formed at first ends of the main data lines 210, 220, 230, and 240 located in the fourth peripheral area PA4. 241 is formed.

The TFT 300 is positioned in each pixel area formed by crossing the plurality of main gate lines 100 and the plurality of main data lines 200. The TFT 300 is connected to the plurality of main gate lines 100 and the main data line 200 to apply and block a pixel voltage to the pixel area.

The shorting bar 400 is connected to each of the data pads 211, 221, and 231. The shorting bar 400 prevents static electricity generated from the outside from flowing into the pixel areas along the plurality of main data lines 200.

The shorting bar 400 is made of a conductive metal oxide material, and examples thereof include indium tin oxide (ITO) and indium zinc oxide (IZO).

The first liquid crystal display panel 1000 is cut by the cutter along the scribe line SL in units of LCD cells constituting one display panel, and then the edges of the cut surfaces are ground. The scribe line SL passes through a portion where the shorting bar 400 and the data pads 211, 221, 231, and 241 are connected. Thus, the shorting bar 400 is removed by the grinding process. In this case, since the shorting bar 400 is made of a metal oxide material, corrosion is prevented from occurring at the cut portion.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged plan view of a portion A shown in FIG. 2.

2 and 3, the first liquid crystal display panel 1000 surrounds the LCD cell area CA and the LCD cell area CA located in the scribe line SL and is formed by the cutter. It has a transparent insulating substrate 10 made of an invalid cell region NCA that is removed as it is cut.

The main data lines 210, 220, and 230 are disposed on the insulating substrate 10 in the first direction D1.

The shorting bar 400 may include a pad connection part 410 positioned to correspond to each of the data pads 211, 221, and 231, and a first electrode extending from the pad connection part 410 in the second direction D2. And a second electrode line 430 formed extending from the line 420 and the first electrode line 420 in the first direction D1.

In detail, the pad connection unit 410 is positioned in the LCD cell area CA and is electrically connected to each of the data pads 211, 221, and 231. The first electrode line 420 extending from the pad connection part 410 is positioned over the LCD cell area CA and the invalid cell area NCA. The second electrode line 420 extending from the first electrode line 420 is located in the ineffective cell region NCA.

4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II ′ of FIG. 3.

Referring to FIG. 4, a gate insulating layer 610 is provided to protect the insulating substrate 10 and the plurality of main gate lines 100 (see FIG. 2). The gate insulating layer 610 is positioned in the LCD cell area CA and the ineffective cell area NCA, and partially contacts the plurality of main gate lines 100, and partially contacts the insulating substrate 10. The gate insulating layer 610 is made of an inorganic insulating material such as silicon oxide (SiO ₂ ) or silicon nitride (SiN _X ) which has good adhesion to a metal material and suppresses formation of an air layer at an interface. The gate insulating layer 610 is deposited by a plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) method, it is preferably formed to a thickness of about 4500Å.

The second main data line 220 is formed in the LCD cell area CA on the gain insulating layer 610.

The passivation layer 620 is provided on the second main data line 220. The passivation layer is made of an inorganic insulating material, and is disposed in the LCD cell area CA and the invalid cell area NCA. A portion of the passivation layer 620 is removed to have a contact hole 60 for exposing the data pad 221 formed in the second main data line 220.

The shorting bar 400 is provided on the passivation layer 620. The pad connection part 410 of the shorting bar 400 contacts the data pad 221 through the contact hole 60.

The reflective electrode 630 is further provided on the shorting bar 400. The reflective electrode 630 is made of a metal material. The reflective electrode 630 is a surplus electrode provided in preparation for disconnection that may occur in a specific portion of the shorting bar 400. Therefore, the reflective electrode 630 may not be formed in some cases.

In an embodiment, the shorting bar 400 is formed on the first liquid crystal display panel 1000, but the shorting bar 400 is the fifth peripheral area PA5 of the second liquid crystal display panel 2000. The first liquid crystal display panel 1000 may be formed in the same shape as the first liquid crystal display panel 1000.

As described above, in the first liquid crystal display panel 1000 according to the present invention, the shorting bar 400 is formed of a conductive metal oxide material, and thus the fourth peripheral area PA4 narrower in space than other areas. Static electricity is prevented from being introduced into the LCD cell area CA along the plurality of main data lines 2000.

In addition, since the shorting bar 400 is made of the oxide material which is not corroded by oxygen, the shortening bar 400 may prevent corrosion from occurring at the cut surface after cutting the LCD cell area CA.

5 is a plan view illustrating a first liquid crystal display panel according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 5, components that perform the same functions as those of the first liquid crystal display panel 1000 illustrated in FIG. 3 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and a separate description of the functions will be omitted.

Referring to FIG. 5, the first liquid crystal display panel 900 according to the present invention includes an insulating substrate 10, a plurality of main gate lines (not shown) for transmitting gate signals, and a plurality of main data lines for transmitting data signals. A thin film transistor (TFT) (not shown), a guide line 700, and a shorting bar 800 connected to the plurality of main gate lines and the plurality of main data lines 200. do.

More specifically, the insulating substrate 10 surrounds the LCD cell area CA on which an image is displayed and the LCD cell area CA, and an invalid cell area NCA that is removed by a cutter along the scribe line SL. )

The plurality of main data lines 200 are positioned in the LCD cell area CA and include first to third main data lines 210, 220, and 230. Each of the main data lines 210, 220, and 230 is disposed on the insulating substrate 10 in a first direction D1 and extends in a second direction D2 perpendicular to the first direction D1. It is formed.

Data pads 211, 221, and 231 for applying the data signal to the second flexible circuit board 2500 (see FIG. 1) are formed at the first ends of the main data lines 210, 220, and 230.

The guide line 700 is positioned on the insulating substrate 10 and is made of a metal material.

The shorting bar 800 is electrically connected to each of the data pads 211, 221, and 231 and the guide line 700. In the guide line 700 and the shorting bar 800, static electricity generated outside the LCD cell area CA flows into the LCD cell area CA along the plurality of main data lines 200. Prevent it. In this case, the shorting bar 800 is made of a conductive metal oxide material such as ITO or IZO.

The first liquid crystal display panel 900 is cut by the LCD cell region CA constituting one display panel along the scribe line SL by a cutter, and then the edges of the cut surfaces are ground. The scribe line SL passes through a portion where the shorting bar 800 and the gate pads 111, 121, and 131 are connected to each other.

Therefore, the shorting bar 800 is a portion removed by the grinding process after cutting. In this case, since the shorting bar 800 is made of oxide, corrosion may be prevented from occurring at the cut portion.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II ′ of FIG. 5.

Referring to FIG. 6, the second main data line 220 is formed in the LCD cell area CA on the insulating substrate 10, and in the invalid cell area NCA on the insulating substrate 10. The guide line 700 is formed. The guide line 700 may be positioned on the same line as the second main data line 220, but may also be located on the same line as the plurality of main gate lines (not shown).

A gate insulating layer 910 is provided on the insulating substrate 10 to protect the plurality of gate lines.

The second main data line 220 is provided on the gate insulating film 910 of the LCD cell area CA, and the guide line 700 is disposed on the gate insulating film 910 of the invalid cell area NCA. Is provided.

The passivation layer 920 is provided on the second main data line 220 and the guide line 700. The passivation layer is made of an inorganic insulating material, and is disposed in the LCD cell area CA and the invalid cell area NCA. The passivation layer 920 is partially removed to partially expose the first contact hole 90 and the guide line 700 for exposing the data pad 221 formed in the second main data line 220. It has a second contact hole 95.

The shorting bar 800 is provided on the passivation layer 920. The pad connection part 810 of the shorting bar 800 is in contact with the data pad 221 through the first contact hole 90. The electrode line 820 of the shorting bar 800 partially contacts the guide line 95 through the second contact hole 95.

As described above, in the first liquid crystal display panel 900 according to the present invention, the shorting bar 800 is formed of a conductive metal oxide material, so that static electricity generated from the outside is formed along the plurality of main data lines 200. It is prevented from flowing into the LCD cell area CA.

As described above, according to the present invention, in the dual liquid crystal display device which drives the first and second liquid crystal display panels using one driving chip, the first liquid crystal display panel is connected to the second liquid crystal display panel. A shorting bar electrically connected to the pad of the data line is provided on the pad region side of the main data line to which the flexible circuit board is attached. The shorting bar is made of a conductive metal oxide material. Accordingly, the first liquid crystal display panel prevents the static electricity generated at the portion to which the second flexible circuit board is attached by using the shorting bar to be introduced into the LCD cell region, thereby improving the reliability of the product.

In addition, since the shorting bar prevents corrosion from occurring at the cutting surface of the array substrate cut for each LCD cell region, the yield of the product may be improved.

Although described above with reference to the embodiments, those skilled in the art can be variously modified and changed within the scope of the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention described in the claims below. I can understand.

1 is a plan view illustrating a dual liquid crystal display according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram conceptually illustrating the first liquid crystal display panel illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged plan view of a portion A shown in FIG. 2.

4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II ′ of FIG. 3.

5 is a plan view illustrating a first liquid crystal display panel according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II ′ of FIG. 5.

<Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

100: gate line 200: data line

300: thin film transistor 400: shorting bar

Claims (11)

An insulating substrate including a first area in which an image is displayed and a second area surrounding the first area; At least one signal line formed on the insulating substrate and extending in a first direction, wherein at least a first end of the pad is formed and transmits a signal; A thin film transistor positioned in a first region on the insulating substrate and connected to the signal line; And And a shorting bar formed on the pad of the second region and the signal line, electrically connected to the pad, extending to the end of the second region in the first direction, and made of a conductive metal oxide material. Display. The display device of claim 1, wherein the pad of the signal line is a pad for outputting a signal. A first display panel displaying a first image; A second display panel displaying a second image; A panel driver positioned on the first display panel and outputting an image signal to the first and second display panels; And And a flexible circuit board electrically connected to the first and second display panels to receive an image signal provided from the panel driver to the second display panel. The first display panel, An insulating substrate including a first area in which an image is displayed and a second area surrounding the first area; At least one signal line formed on the insulating substrate and extending in a first direction, the pad being formed in a second region to which the flexible circuit board is attached, and electrically connected to the panel driver to transmit an image signal; And And a first shorting bar formed on the pad of the second region and the signal line, electrically connected to the pad and extending to the end of the second region in the first direction, the first shorting bar made of a conductive metal oxide material. Display device characterized in that. The display panel of claim 3, wherein the second display panel comprises: An insulating substrate including a third region in which an image is displayed and a fourth region surrounding the third region; At least one signal formed on the insulating substrate and extending in a first direction, wherein a pad is formed at a fourth region to which the flexible circuit board is attached, and transmits an image signal received from the first display panel and the flexible circuit board line; And A second shorting bar formed on the pad of the fourth region and the signal line, electrically connected to the pad, extending to the end of the fourth region in the first direction, and including a second shorting bar made of a conductive metal oxide material Device. Forming gate lines including a gate electrode on the substrate; Forming data lines on the gate lines and the substrate, the data lines including source-drain electrodes and pads of a switching device; Forming shorting bars respectively formed on the pads, electrically connected to the pads, made of a metal oxide material, and extending from the pads in an outward direction of the substrate to be electrically connected to each other; And And cutting an outer portion of the substrate such that the pads are electrically insulated from each other and the shorting bar exists to an end of the substrate. The method of claim 5, wherein forming the shorting bar comprises: Forming a passivation layer on the substrate on which the gate lines and the data line are formed; Partially removing the passivation layer to form a first hole exposing the pads to the outside; Depositing a conductive metal oxide on the passivation layer; The conductive metal oxide is partially removed to extend from the first electrode line and the second electrode orthogonal to the first direction from the first electrode line and the first electrode line which are in contact with the pad and extend in a first direction through the first hole. Forming a second electrode line; The method of claim 6, wherein, during cutting, the portion where the first electrode line and the second electrode line are connected is cut to remove the second electrode line. Gate lines including a gate electrode on the substrate; Forming source-drain electrodes of switching elements, data lines including pads on the gate lines and the substrate, and a guide line insulated from the data lines on the substrate; Forming shorting bars respectively formed on the pads and electrically connected to the pads, extending from the pads in an outward direction of the substrate to be electrically connected to the guide lines; And And cutting an outer portion of the substrate such that the pads are electrically insulated from each other and the shorting bar exists to the end of the substrate. The method of claim 8, wherein forming the shorting bar comprises: Forming a passivation layer on the substrate on which the gate lines and the data line are formed; Partially removing the passivation layer to form a first hole exposing the pads to the outside and a second hole exposing a portion of the guide line to the outside; Depositing a conductive metal oxide on the passivation layer; And And removing a portion of the conductive metal oxide from the region corresponding to the pads to extend toward the guide line. The method of claim 9, wherein the shorting bar contacts the pads through the first hole and the guide line through the second hole. The method of claim 9, wherein, when the cutting line is cut, a portion to which the shorting bar and the guide line are connected is cut to remove the guide line.