KR20060035171A - Method of manufacturing a flexible printed circuit board, flexible printed circuit board, display panel having the flexible printed circuit board and display device having the panel - Google Patents

Abstract

A method for manufacturing a flexible circuit board, a flexible circuit board, a display panel having a flexible circuit board, and a display device having a display panel are disclosed. A method of manufacturing a flexible circuit board includes forming signal lines having cut portions periodically reduced in line width on the first insulating member, forming a second insulating member covering the signal lines so that the periphery of the cut portions are exposed, and the first insulating member. And cutting the signal lines at each cut portion. As such, since the cut portions of the signal lines have a narrower width than the signal line bodies, short circuits between the signal lines generated when the cut portions are cut can be prevented.

Description

TECHNICAL OF MANUFACTURING A FLEXIBLE PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD, FLEXIBLE PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD, DISPLAY PANEL HAVING THE FLEXIBLE PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD AND DISPLAY DEVICE HAVING THE PANEL}

1 is a plan view illustrating a first step in a method of manufacturing a flexible circuit board according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a plan view illustrating a second step of the method of manufacturing a flexible printed circuit board according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line I1-I2 of FIG. 2.

4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a third step of the method of manufacturing a flexible printed circuit board according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

5 is a plan view illustrating a flexible circuit board according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II1-II2 of FIG. 5.

7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a display panel according to a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

8 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a display device according to a fourth exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

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

    10: first insulating member 20: signal line                 

    22: signal line body 24: cutout

    30: second insulating member 100: flexible circuit board

    200: display substrate 300: display panel

    400: light source 500: storage container

    600: display device

The present invention relates to a flexible printed circuit board, a flexible printed circuit board manufacturing method, a display panel having a flexible printed circuit board, and a display device having a display panel.

In general, various electronic devices such as a mobile communication terminal, a digital camera, a notebook, a monitor, and the like include a display device for displaying an image in response to an image signal input from an external source.

Various types of display devices, for example, cathode-ray tube (CRT), liquid crystal display (LCD), plasma display panel (PDP), field radiation display device (Field) Emission Display (FED) and Electro Luminescence (EL). Among these, a liquid crystal display (LCD) displays an image by using optical characteristics of a liquid crystal. Liquid crystal displays (LCDs) have the advantages of being thinner and lighter than other displays and operating at low power consumption and low driving voltage.                         

Conventional liquid crystal display (LCD) is a display panel for displaying an image by using the liquid crystal transmittance of light (printed circuit board) and a display panel for generating a drive signal for controlling the display panel to display the image And a flexible printed circuit board electrically connecting the printed circuit board and the driving signal to the display panel.

The flexible circuit board includes a base body having a long tape shape, signal lines disposed on the base body, and is manufactured by cutting the base body to a predetermined length.

However, since the signal lines have a minute spacing, when cutting the base body to manufacture the flexible circuit board, some of the cut signal lines may be pushed to the side or the cutting lines of the signal lines may be uneven so that the signal lines may be mutually shorted. As a result, the display quality of the image is deteriorated.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of such a conventional problem, and a first object of the present invention is to provide a method for manufacturing a flexible circuit board which prevents short circuit of signal lines in the process of manufacturing the flexible circuit board.

In addition, a second object of the present invention to provide a flexible circuit board manufactured by the manufacturing method.

In addition, a third object of the present invention is to provide a display panel having the flexible circuit board.

Further, a fourth object of the present invention is to provide a display device having the display panel.

In order to achieve the first object of the present invention, a method of manufacturing a flexible circuit board may include forming signal lines having cut portions having a reduced line width periodically on the first insulating member, and covering the signal lines to expose the periphery of the cut portions. Forming an insulating member and cutting the first insulating member and the signal lines at each cutting part;

In addition, the flexible circuit board for achieving the second object of the present invention includes a first insulating member, signal lines and a second insulating member.

The first insulating member has, for example, a flexible property. The signal lines include signal line bodies formed with a first width on the first insulating member and cut portions extending along the first insulating member from both longitudinal ends of each signal line body and having a second width narrower than the first width. The second insulating member is formed on the first insulating member, and covers the signal line bodies so that the periphery of the cut portions is exposed.

In addition, a display panel for achieving the third object of the present invention includes a flexible circuit board and a display substrate.

The flexible circuit board includes a first insulating member, signal lines, and a second insulating member. The first insulating member has, for example, a flexible property. The signal lines include signal line bodies formed with a first width on the first insulating member and cut portions extending along the first insulating member from both longitudinal ends of each signal line body and having a second width narrower than the first width. The second insulating member is formed on the upper portion of the first insulating member and covers the signal line bodies so that the periphery of the cutting parts is exposed. The display substrate is electrically connected to the exposed signal line and displays an image. In addition, a display device for achieving the fourth object of the present invention includes a display panel, a light source, and a storage container.

The display panel includes a flexible circuit board and a display substrate. The flexible circuit board includes a first insulating member, signal lines, and a second insulating member. The first insulating member has, for example, a flexible property. The signal lines include signal line bodies formed with a first width on the first insulating member and cut portions extending along the first insulating member from both longitudinal ends of each signal line body and having a second width narrower than the first width. The second insulating member is formed on the first insulating member, and covers the signal line bodies so that the periphery of the cut portions is exposed. The display substrate is electrically connected to the exposed signal lines and displays an image. The light source generates light to provide light to the display panel. The storage container houses the display panel and the light source.

According to the present invention, since each cut portion of the signal lines has a narrower width than the signal line bodies, it is possible to prevent a short circuit between the signal lines generated when the cut portions are cut.

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

Manufacturing method of flexible circuit board

Example 1

1 is a plan view illustrating a first step in a method of manufacturing a flexible circuit board according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, in the method of manufacturing a flexible printed circuit board according to the present embodiment, first, signal lines 20 are formed on cutting portions 24 having a line width periodically reduced on the first insulating member 10.

The signal lines 20 according to the present exemplary embodiment include, for example, copper, a copper alloy, aluminum, and an aluminum alloy having excellent electrical conductivity, and the plurality of signal lines 20 are parallel to the first insulating member 10. Is disposed on.

2 is a plan view illustrating a second step of the method of manufacturing a flexible printed circuit board according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line I1-I2 of FIG. 2.

2 and 3, a second insulating member 30 is formed on the first insulating member 10 so that the periphery of the cut portions 24 is exposed.

In the present embodiment, after the second insulating member 30 is formed, a plating layer 26 may be further formed on the exposed signal lines 20 to suppress oxidation of the signal lines 20 exposed to the atmosphere.

The plating layer 26 according to the present embodiment may be formed of, for example, a double layer of the nickel thin film 26a and the gold thin film 26b. Alternatively, the plating layer 26 may include a tin thin film formed on the signal line 20 by an electroless plating method.

4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a third step of the method of manufacturing a flexible printed circuit board according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4, the first insulating member 10, the second insulating member 20, and the signal lines 20 are cut at each cut portion 24. In the present embodiment, it is preferable that the cutting lines 24a cut at each cutting portion 24 are formed in a direction substantially perpendicular to the signal lines 20.

As such, the width of each cutout 24 formed in the signal lines 20 is smaller than the width of the signal line bodies 22, thereby forming a signal line formed between the first insulating member 10 and the second insulating member 30. It is possible to prevent the signal lines 20 from shorting when they are cut.

Flexible circuit board

Example 2

5 is a plan view illustrating a flexible circuit board according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II1-II2 of FIG. 5.

5 and 6, the flexible circuit board 100 according to the present exemplary embodiment includes a first insulating member 10, signal lines 20, and a second insulating member 30.

The first insulating member 10 according to the present exemplary embodiment may be made of a synthetic resin having a flexible property and having a plate shape so as to be easily bent, for example.

The signal lines 20 according to the present exemplary embodiment include the signal line bodies 22 and the cutting parts 24, and may be made of a metal having excellent electrical conductivity, for example, copper, copper alloy, aluminum, aluminum alloy, or the like.

The signal line bodies 22 have a first width and are arranged on the first insulating member 10, for example, in plurality in parallel.

The cut portions 24 extend along the first insulating member 10 from both ends in the longitudinal direction of the signal line bodies 22 and have a second width narrower than the first width of the signal line bodies 22.

The second insulating member 30 according to the present embodiment is formed on the upper portion of the first insulating member 10, and is surrounded by the cut portions 24, for example, part of the cut portions 24 and the signal line bodies 22. The signal lines 20 are covered so as to expose.

In the present embodiment, the plating layer 26 is formed on the exposed signal lines 20 to suppress the oxidation of the signal lines 20. The plating layer 26 according to the present embodiment may be formed of, for example, a double layer of the nickel thin film 26a and the gold thin film 26b.

As such, each cutout portion 24 of the signal lines 20 is formed on the first insulating member 30 to have a narrower width than the signal line bodies 22, thereby generating a signal line that is generated when the cutout portions 24 are cut off. It is possible to prevent a short circuit between the 20).

Display panel

Example 3

7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a display panel according to a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Since the flexible circuit board according to the third embodiment of the present invention has the same configuration as the flexible circuit board of the second embodiment described above, duplicate description thereof will be omitted, and the same reference numerals and names are used for the same components. Let's do it.                     

Referring to FIG. 7, the display panel 300 according to the present exemplary embodiment includes a flexible circuit board 100 and a display substrate 200.

The display substrate 200 according to the present exemplary embodiment displays an image using light, and is electrically connected to the signal lines 20 of the flexible circuit board 100.

The display substrate 200 according to the present exemplary embodiment includes, for example, a first substrate 210, a second substrate 220, and a liquid crystal layer 230.

The first substrate 210 includes a plurality of pixel electrodes arranged in a matrix form, thin film transistors (TFTs), and thin film transistors disposed at each pixel electrode to apply a driving voltage to each pixel electrode. Thin film signal lines 212 for operating the respective TFTs.

Each of the thin film signal lines 212 according to the present exemplary embodiment may extend to the edge of the first substrate 210 to be electrically connected to the plating layer 26 formed on the signal lines 20 of the flexible circuit board 100. Connected.

The second substrate 220 is disposed to face the first substrate 210. The second substrate 220 is formed on a surface of the second substrate 220 that faces the pixel electrode formed on the first substrate 210 and is transparent and conductive to the common electrode, where each pixel electrode faces each other. Disposed color filters.

The color filters include a red color filter selectively passing red light of white light, a green color filter selectively passing green light of white light, and blue color filters selectively passing blue light of white light.                     

The liquid crystal layer 230 is interposed between the first substrate 210 and the second substrate 220 and is rearranged by an electric field formed between the pixel electrode and the common electrode. The light transmittance of light generated by an external light generator (not shown) is controlled by the rearranged liquid crystal layer 230, and the light controlled by the liquid crystal layer 230 passes through color filters to display an image.

The display panel 300 according to the present exemplary embodiment may further include a printed circuit board (not shown) for generating a driving signal.

The printed circuit board includes a driving circuit for processing an image signal, and the driving circuit converts the image signal input from the outside into a driving signal for controlling the thin film transistor TFT.

In the present exemplary embodiment, the flexible circuit board 300 electrically connects the printed circuit board and the first substrate 210 to transmit driving signals generated from the printed circuit board to the first substrate 210.

Display

Example 4

8 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a display device according to a fourth exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Since the display panel according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention has the same configuration as the display panel of the third embodiment described above, duplicate description thereof will be omitted, and the same reference numerals and names will be used for the same components. do.                     

Referring to FIG. 8, the display device 600 according to the present exemplary embodiment includes a display panel 300, a light source 400, and a storage container 500.

The light source 400 according to the present exemplary embodiment is disposed below the display panel 300 and generates light to provide light to the display panel 300. In the present embodiment, for example, a cold cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL) having a low heat emission amount may be used as the light source 400.

The storage container 500 according to the present embodiment accommodates the display panel 300 and the light source 400 to protect the display panel 300 and the light source 400 from external impact.

According to the present invention, since each cut portion of the signal lines has a narrower width than the signal line bodies, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of impurities on some of the signal lines generated when the cut portions are cut and the occurrence of impurities on the signal lines. As a result, display quality of an image of the display device may be improved by preventing a short circuit between signal lines.

In the detailed description of the present invention described above with reference to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, those skilled in the art or those skilled in the art having ordinary skill in the art will be described in the claims to be described later It will be understood that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims (10)

Forming signal lines on the first insulating member, the cut lines having periodically reduced line widths; Forming a second insulating member covering the signal lines so that the periphery of the cut portions are exposed; And And cutting the first insulating member and the signal lines at each cut portion. The method of claim 1, wherein the forming of the second insulating member Forming a second insulating member covering the signal lines so that the periphery of the cut portions are exposed; And And forming a plating layer on the exposed signal lines to suppress the signal lines from being oxidized. The method of claim 2, wherein the plating layer is formed of a double layer of a nickel thin film and a gold thin film. A first insulating member; Signal line bodies formed on the first insulating member with a first width and cut portions extending along the first insulating member from both longitudinal ends of the respective signal line bodies and having a second width narrower than the first width. Signal lines; And And a second insulating member formed on the first insulating member and covering the signal lines to expose the periphery of the cut portions. The flexible circuit board of claim 4, wherein a plating layer is formed on the exposed signal lines to prevent the signal lines from being oxidized. The flexible circuit board of claim 5, wherein the plating layer is formed of a double layer of a nickel thin film and a gold thin film. The first insulating member, the signal line bodies formed with a first width on the first insulating member, and a second width extending along the first insulating member from both ends in the longitudinal direction of each signal line body and narrower than the first width. A flexible circuit board including signal lines including cut lines having a cut portion, and a second insulating member formed on an upper portion of the first insulating member and covering the signal lines to expose the periphery of the cut portions; And And a display substrate electrically connected to the exposed signal lines and displaying an image. The display panel of claim 7, wherein a plating layer is formed on the exposed signal lines to prevent the signal lines from being oxidized. The first insulating member, the signal line bodies formed with a first width on the first insulating member, and a second width extending along the first insulating member from both ends in the longitudinal direction of each signal line body and narrower than the first width. A flexible circuit board including signal lines including cut lines having a cut portion and a second insulating member formed on an upper portion of the first insulating member and covering the signal lines to expose the periphery of the cut portions, and electrically connected to the exposed signal lines. A display panel including a display substrate displaying an image; A light source generating light to provide the light to the display panel; And And a storage container accommodating the display panel and the light source. The display device of claim 9, wherein a plating layer is formed on the exposed signal lines to prevent the signal lines from being oxidized.

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