KR20060136287A - Liquid crystal display and fabricating method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display device and a method of manufacturing the same that can simplify the process.

A method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display of the present invention includes forming a first conductive pattern group including a gate line and a gate electrode, a common line and a common electrode, a pixel electrode, and a pad on a substrate; Forming an insulating film and a semiconductor pattern including a plurality of contact holes on the first mask pattern group; Forming a second conductive pattern group including a data line, a source electrode, and a drain electrode on the insulating layer on which the semiconductor pattern is formed, and exposing an active layer of the semiconductor pattern.

Description

Liquid crystal display and its manufacturing method {LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY AND FABRICATING METHOD THEREOF}

1 is a perspective view schematically showing a conventional liquid crystal panel structure.

2 is a plan view illustrating a thin film transistor substrate of a liquid crystal display according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a cross-sectional view of the thin film transistor substrate illustrated in FIG. 2 taken along lines II ′, II-II ′, III-III ′, and IV-IV ′.

4A and 4B are a plan view and a cross-sectional view for explaining a first mask process in the method of manufacturing the thin film transistor substrate according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

5A to 5D are cross-sectional views illustrating in detail a first mask process according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

6A and 6B are a plan view and a cross-sectional view for describing a second mask process in the method of manufacturing the thin film transistor substrate according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

7A to 7D are cross-sectional views illustrating in detail a second mask process according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

8A and 8B are a plan view and a cross-sectional view for describing a third mask process in the method of manufacturing the thin film transistor substrate according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

9 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a thin film transistor substrate of a liquid crystal display according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

10A through 10D are cross-sectional views illustrating a first mask process in a method of manufacturing a thin film transistor substrate according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

11 is a plan view illustrating a thin film transistor substrate of a liquid crystal display according to a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

12 is a cross-sectional view of the thin film transistor substrate illustrated in FIG. 11 taken along lines II ′, II-II ′, III-III ′, and IV-IV ′.

13A and 13B are a plan view and a sectional view for explaining a first mask process in the method of manufacturing the thin film transistor substrate according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

14A to 14C are cross-sectional views illustrating in detail a first mask process according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

15A to 15C are cross-sectional views illustrating a third mask process of a thin film transistor substrate according to a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention in detail.

<Description of Symbols for Main Parts of Drawings>

2: upper glass substrate 4: black matrix

6: color filter 8: common electrode

10 color filter substrate 12 lower glass substrate

14, 102: gate line 16, 104: data line

18, TFT: thin film transistor 20: thin film transistor substrate

22, 118: pixel electrode 24: liquid crystal

101: first conductive layer 103: second conductive layer

105: amorphous silicon layer 107: impurity doped silicon layer

108: gate electrode 110: source electrode

112: drain electrode 114: active layer

115: semiconductor pattern 116: ohmic contact layer

120: common line 122: common electrode

126, 134, 128, 136, 228, 236, 238: contact holes

130: storage electrode

124: gate pad 132: data pad

150: substrate 152, 154: gate insulating film

160, 170, 180, 200, 210: photoresist pattern

P1: blocking area P2: halftone exposure area

P3: full exposure area

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display device, and more particularly, to a horizontal field liquid crystal display device and a method of manufacturing the same, which can simplify the process.

The liquid crystal display displays an image by adjusting the light transmittance of the liquid crystal having dielectric anisotropy using an electric field. To this end, the liquid crystal display includes a liquid crystal display panel (hereinafter referred to as a liquid crystal panel) for displaying an image through a liquid crystal cell matrix, and a driving circuit for driving the liquid crystal panel.

Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional liquid crystal panel includes a color filter substrate 10 and a thin film transistor substrate 20 bonded to each other with a liquid crystal 24 interposed therebetween.

The color filter substrate 10 includes a black matrix 4, a color filter 6, and a common electrode 8 sequentially formed on the upper glass substrate 2. The black matrix 4 is formed in the form of a matrix on the upper glass substrate 2. This black matrix 4 divides the area of the upper glass substrate 2 into a plurality of cell areas in which the color filter 6 is to be formed, and prevents light interference and external light reflection between adjacent cells. The color filter 6 is formed to be divided into red (R), green (G), and blue (B) in the cell region divided by the black matrix (4) to transmit red, green, and blue light, respectively. The common electrode 8 supplies a common voltage Vcom which is a reference when driving the liquid crystal 24 to the transparent conductive layer coated on the color filter 6. In addition, an overcoat layer (not shown) may be further formed between the color filter 6 and the common electrode 8 to planarize the color filter 6.

The thin film transistor substrate 20 includes a thin film transistor 18 and a pixel electrode 22 formed in each cell region defined by the intersection of the gate line 14 and the data line 16 in the lower glass substrate 12. The thin film transistor 18 supplies the data signal from the data line 16 to the pixel electrode 22 in response to the gate signal from the gate line 12. The pixel electrode 22 formed of the transparent conductive layer supplies a data signal from the thin film transistor 18 to drive the liquid crystal 24.

The liquid crystal 24 having dielectric anisotropy is rotated according to the electric field formed by the data signal of the pixel electrode 22 and the common voltage Vcom of the common electrode 8 to adjust the light transmittance so that gray scales are realized.

The liquid crystal panel further includes an alignment layer for initial alignment of the liquid crystal 24 and a spacer (not shown) for maintaining a constant cell gap between the color filter substrate 10 and the thin film transistor substrate 20.

The color filter substrate 10 and the thin film transistor substrate 20 of the liquid crystal panel are formed using a plurality of mask processes. One mask process includes a plurality of processes, such as a thin film deposition (coating) process, a cleaning process, a photolithography process (hereinafter, a photo process), an etching process, a photoresist stripping process, an inspection process, and the like.

In particular, as the thin film transistor substrate includes a semiconductor process and requires a plurality of mask processes, the manufacturing process is complicated and thus becomes an important cause of an increase in the manufacturing cost of the liquid crystal panel. Accordingly, the thin film transistor substrate is developing in a direction of reducing the number of mask processes in the five mask process, which is a standard mask process.

 On the other hand, the liquid crystal display device is divided into a vertical electric field type and a horizontal electric field type according to the direction of the electric field for driving the liquid crystal.

In the vertical electric field liquid crystal display, a liquid crystal of TN (twisted nemastic) mode is driven by a vertical electric field formed between a pixel electrode and a common electrode disposed to face the upper and lower substrates. The vertical field liquid crystal display device has a large aperture ratio, but has a narrow viewing angle of about 90 degrees.

In the horizontal field liquid crystal display, a liquid crystal in an in-plane switching (hereinafter referred to as IPS) mode is driven by a horizontal electric field between a pixel electrode and a common electrode arranged side by side on a lower substrate. The horizontal field liquid crystal display has an advantage that a viewing angle is wide as about 160 degrees.

Since the thin film transistor substrate of the horizontal field liquid crystal display also requires a plurality of mask processes including a semiconductor process, the manufacturing process is complicated. Therefore, in order to reduce manufacturing costs, it is necessary to shorten the number of mask processes.

  Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a horizontal field liquid crystal display device and a method of manufacturing the same, which can simplify the process.

  In order to achieve the above object, a liquid crystal display according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a data line crossing the gate line to define a pixel area; An insulating film between the gate line and the data line; A thin film transistor connected to the gate line and the data line; A pixel electrode connected to the thin film transistor and formed in the pixel region; A common electrode formed in the pixel area in parallel with the pixel electrode; A common line connected to the common electrode; A pad connected to at least one of the gate line, data line, and common line; The gate line, the gate electrode of the thin film transistor, the pixel electrode, the common electrode, the common line, and the pad are formed to include a transparent conductive layer formed on a substrate.

In addition, a method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes forming a first conductive pattern group including a gate line and a gate electrode, a common line and a common electrode, a pixel electrode, and a pad on a substrate; Forming an insulating film and a semiconductor pattern including a plurality of contact holes on the first mask pattern group; Forming a second conductive pattern group including a data line, a source electrode, and a drain electrode on the insulating layer on which the semiconductor pattern is formed, and exposing an active layer of the semiconductor pattern.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention in addition to the above object will be apparent from the description of the preferred embodiment of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 2 to 15C.

FIG. 2 is a plan view illustrating a thin film transistor substrate of a horizontal field liquid crystal display according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 illustrates the thin film transistor substrates of FIGS. -Sectional drawing cut along the line III 'and IV-IV'.

2 and 3 include a gate line 102, a data line 104, and a gate line 102 defining a pixel region by crossing the gate insulating layer 152 therebetween on the lower substrate 150. And a thin film transistor (TFT) connected to the data line 104 and the pixel electrode 118, the pixel electrode 118, the common electrode 122, and the common electrode 122 for forming a horizontal electric field in the pixel region. A common line 120 and a storage capacitor Cst connected to the pixel electrode 118. The thin film transistor substrate further includes a gate pad 124 connected to the gate line 102, a data pad 132 connected to the data line 104, and a common pad (not shown) connected to the common line 120. Equipped.

Gate line 102 supplies a scan signal from a gate driver (not shown) and data line 104 supplies a video signal from a data driver (not shown). The gate line 102 and the data line 104 cross each other with the gate insulating layer 154 therebetween to define respective pixel regions.

The thin film transistor TFT keeps the video signal on the data line 104 charged and held in the pixel electrode 118 in response to the scan signal of the gate line 102. To this end, the thin film transistor TFT may include a gate electrode 108 connected to the gate line 102, a source electrode 110 connected to the data line 104, and a pixel electrode 118 facing the source electrode 110. An active layer 114 and an active layer overlapping the gate electrode 108 with the drain electrode 112 and the gate insulating layer 154 connected therebetween to form a channel between the source electrode 110 and the drain electrode 112. An ohmic contact layer 116 for ohmic contact between 114 and the source and drain electrodes 110, 112.

The gate line 102 and the gate electrode 108 are formed in at least a double layered multilayer structure including a transparent conductive layer on the substrate 150. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the first conductive layer 101 using the transparent conductive layer and the second conductive layer 103 using the opaque metal are laminated.

The common line 120 supplies a reference voltage for driving the liquid crystal, that is, a common voltage, to each pixel through the common electrode 122. The common line 120 is formed in a multilayer structure including at least first and second conductive layers 101 and 103 like the gate line 102.

The plurality of common electrodes 122 protrude from the common line 120 into the pixel area and are formed to be parallel to the pixel electrode 118. The common electrode 122 is formed in a multilayer structure including at least first and second conductive layers 101 and 103 like the common line 120. Alternatively, the common electrode 122 may be formed only of the transparent first conductive layer 101. In addition, a part of the common electrode 122 may have a multilayer structure, and a part of the common electrode 122 may be formed of the transparent first conductive layer 101. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the first common electrode 122A positioned between the pixel electrodes 118 among the plurality of common electrodes 122 is formed of a transparent first conductive layer 101 to increase transmittance. The second common electrode 122B adjacent to the data line 104 is formed in a multilayer structure such as the common line 120 to prevent light leakage.

The plurality of pixel electrodes 118 are formed in parallel with the plurality of common electrodes 122 in the pixel area, and are connected to the drain electrodes 112 through the first contact hole 126. The pixel electrode 118 is formed of the transparent first conductive layer 101. Alternatively, the pixel electrode 118 may be formed in a multilayer structure like the common line 120. When the video signal is supplied to the pixel electrode 118 through the thin film transistor TFT, a horizontal electric field is formed between the pixel electrode 118 and the common electrode 122 supplied with the common voltage. The horizontal electric field causes liquid crystal molecules arranged in the horizontal direction between the thin film transistor substrate and the color filter substrate to rotate by dielectric anisotropy. In addition, light transmittance through the pixel region is changed according to the degree of rotation of the liquid crystal molecules, thereby realizing grayscale.

As shown in FIG. 2, the common electrode 122 and the pixel electrode 118 may be formed in a zigzag shape or a linear shape together with the data line 104. In addition, the common electrode 122 and the pixel electrode 118 may be formed in various shapes. The common electrode 122 and the pixel electrode 118 may be formed in a zig-zag shape, and the data line 104 may be formed in a stripe shape.

The storage capacitor Cst includes first and second storage capacitors Cst1 and Cst2 connected in parallel to the pixel electrode 118. The first storage capacitor Cst1 is formed by overlapping the common line 120 and the drain electrode 112 with the gate insulating layer 154 interposed therebetween. The drain electrode 112 overlapping the common line 120 protrudes to overlap the pixel electrode 118, and is connected to the pixel electrode 118 through the first contact hole 126 that passes through the gate insulating layer 154. . The second storage capacitor Cst2 is formed by overlapping the front gate line 102 and the storage upper electrode 130 with the gate insulating layer 154 interposed therebetween. The storage upper electrode 130 overlapping the front gate line 102 protrudes to overlap the pixel electrode 118, and the pixel electrode 118 through the second contact hole 134 penetrating the gate insulating layer 154. Connected. Since the total capacity is increased by the parallel connection of the first and second storage capacitors Cst1 and Cst2, the storage capacitor Cst can be stably maintained until the video signal charged in the pixel electrode 118 is charged next. Will be.

The gate line 102 is connected to a gate driver (not shown) through the gate pad 124. The gate pad 124 extends from the transparent first conductive layer 101 of the gate line 102 and is exposed through the third contact hole 128 penetrating the gate insulating layer 154.

The data line 104 is connected to a data driver (not shown) through the data pad 132. The data pad 132 has the same structure as the gate pad 124. In other words, the data pad 132 is formed as a transparent conductive layer on the substrate 150 and exposed through the fourth contact hole 136 penetrating the gate insulating layer 154. The data pad 132 is connected to the data line 104 through the fifth contact hole 138 penetrating the gate insulating layer 154.

A common pad (not shown) that supplies a common voltage from a common voltage source (not shown) to the common line 120 is formed in the same structure as the gate pad 124.

Such a protective film is not formed on the thin film transistor substrate of the present invention. However, the data line 104 may be protected by an alignment layer (not shown) to be applied thereon together with the thin film transistor TFT and the storage upper electrode 130. In particular, the active layer 114 exposed between the source and drain electrodes 110 and 112 is further protected by the surface layer oxidized to SiO ₂ through plasma surface treatment, thereby maintaining the reliability of the channel without a protective film. In addition, when the active layer 114 is exposed, a mask process such as an exposure process is not applied, thereby further securing stability of device characteristics.

As described above, the horizontal field thin film transistor substrate of the present invention without the protective film is formed in a three mask process as follows.

4A and 4B illustrate a plan view and a cross-sectional view for describing a first mask process in a method of manufacturing a thin film transistor substrate according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 5A to 5D illustrate the first mask process in detail. Figures for the cross-sectional view is shown.

The gate line 102, the gate electrode 108, the common line 120, the common electrode 122, the pixel electrode 118, the gate pad 124, and the data pad are disposed on the lower substrate 150 by the first mask process. A first mask pattern group including 132 is formed. Here, the gate line 102 and the gate electrode 108, the common line 120, and the second common electrode 122B are formed in a multilayer structure in which at least two conductive layers are stacked. And only a dual structure in which the second conductive layers 101 and 103 are stacked. The first common electrode 122A, the pixel electrode 118, the gate pad 124, and the data pad 132 are formed of the transparent first conductive layer 101. The first mask pattern group having the multilayer and single layer structure is formed in one mask process by using a half tone mask or a diffraction exposure mask. Hereinafter, an example in which a halftone mask is used as the first mask will be described.

Referring to FIG. 5A, first and second conductive layers 101 and 103 are stacked on the lower substrate 150 through a deposition method such as a sputtering method.

As the first conductive layer 101, transparent conductive materials such as ITO, TO, IZO, ITZO, and the like, and as the second conductive layer 103, Mo, Ti, Cu, AlNd, Al, Cr, Mo alloys, Cu alloys, Metal materials, such as Al alloys, are laminated and used in a single layer or more than two layers.

The first photoresist pattern 160 having a different thickness is formed on the second conductive layer 103 by a photolithography process using a halftone mask.

The halftone mask includes a blocking portion that blocks ultraviolet rays, a halftone transmission portion that partially transmits ultraviolet rays by using a phase shift material, and a transmission portion that transmits all of them. By the photolithography process using the half tone mask, the first photoresist pattern 160 has the first and first photoresist patterns 160A and 160B having different thicknesses and openings. The relatively thick 1A photoresist pattern 160A may be formed in the blocking region P1 of the first photoresist that overlaps the blocking portion of the halftone mask, and may be thinner than the first B photoresist pattern 160A. 160B is formed in the halftone exposure part P2 overlapping with the halftone transmission part, and the opening part is formed in the full exposure area P3 overlapping with the transmission part.

Referring to FIG. 5B, the first and second conductive layers 101 and 103 are etched by an etching process using the first photoresist pattern 160 as a mask, thereby forming the multilayer gate line 102 and the gate electrode 108. The first mask pattern group including the common line 120, the common electrode 122, the pixel electrode 118, the gate pad 124, and the data pad 132 is formed.

Referring to FIG. 5C, the thickness of the first A photoresist pattern 160A is thinned by the ashing process, and the first B photoresist pattern 160B is removed. The second conductive layer of the first common electrode 122A, the pixel electrode 118, the gate pad 124, and the data pad 132 may be formed by an etching process using the ashed first A photoresist pattern 160A as a mask. 103) is removed.

Referring to FIG. 5D, the first A photoresist pattern 160A remaining on the first mask pattern group in FIG. 5C is removed by a strip process.

6A and 6B illustrate a plan view and a cross-sectional view for describing a second mask process in a method of manufacturing a thin film transistor substrate according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 7A to 7D illustrate the second mask process in detail. Figures for the cross-sectional view is shown.

The gate insulating layer 154 and the semiconductor pattern 115 including the plurality of contact holes 126, 134, 128, 136, and 138 may be formed on the lower substrate 150 on which the first mask pattern group is formed. Is formed. The semiconductor pattern 115 and the contact holes 126, 134, 128, 136, and 138 are formed by one mask process using a diffraction exposure mask or a half tone mask. Hereinafter, a case in which a halftone mask is used as the second mask will be described.

Referring to FIG. 7A, an amorphous silicon doped with a gate insulating layer 154, an amorphous silicon layer 105, and an impurity (n + or p +) is deposited on a lower substrate 150 on which a first mask pattern group is formed by PECVD. Layer 107 is formed sequentially. As the gate insulating layer 154, an inorganic insulating material such as SiOx, SiNx, or the like is used.

A second photoresist pattern 170 having a different thickness is formed by a photolithography process using a half tone mask. The second photoresist pattern 170 has second and second photoresist patterns 170A and 170B having different thicknesses and openings. The relatively thick 2A photoresist pattern 170A may be formed in the blocking region P1 of the second photoresist that overlaps the blocking portion of the halftone mask, and may be thinner than the second B photoresist pattern 170A. 170B is formed in the half-tone exposure part P2 overlapping with the halftone transmission part, and the opening part is formed in the full exposure area P3 overlapping with the transmission part.

Referring to FIG. 7B, the first through fifth contact holes 126 penetrating from the amorphous silicon layer 107 doped with impurities to the gate insulating layer 154 by an etching process using the second photoresist pattern 170 as a mask may be used. 134, 128, 136, 138 are formed. The first and second contact holes 126 and 134 are pixel electrodes 118, the third contact hole 126 is gate pad 124, and the fourth and fifth contact holes 136 and 138 are data pads. Expose 132.

Referring to FIG. 7C, the thickness of the second A photoresist pattern 170A is thinned by the ashing process, and the second B photoresist pattern 170B is removed. The active silicon layer 114 and the ohmic contact layer 116 are patterned by patterning the amorphous silicon layer 107 and the amorphous silicon layer 105 doped with impurities in an etching process using the ashed second A photoresist pattern 170A as a mask. A semiconductor pattern 115 is formed.

Referring to FIG. 7D, the second A photoresist pattern 170A remaining on the semiconductor pattern 115 in FIG. 7C is removed by a strip process.

8A and 8B are plan views and cross-sectional views illustrating a third mask process in the method of manufacturing a thin film transistor substrate according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

A third mask pattern group including a data line 104, a source electrode 110, a drain electrode 112, and a storage upper electrode 130 on the gate insulating layer 154 on which the semiconductor pattern 115 is formed by the third mask process. In addition, the active layer 114 whose surface is oxidized is exposed between the source electrode 110 and the drain electrode 112.

In detail, a third conductive layer is formed on the gate insulating layer 154 on which the semiconductor pattern 115 is formed through a deposition method such as sputtering. As the third conductive layer, a metal material such as Mo, Ti, Cu, AlNd, Al, Cr, Mo alloy, Cu alloy, Al alloy, or the like is laminated and used in one or more layers. The third conductive layer is patterned by a photolithography process and an etching process to form a third mask pattern group including the data line 104, the source electrode 110, the drain electrode 112, and the storage upper electrode 130. do. The data line 104 has a data pad 132 through the fifth contact hole 138, the drain electrode 112 has a pixel electrode 118 through the first contact hole 126, and the storage upper electrode 130. Is connected to the pixel electrode 118 through the second contact hole 134.

In addition, the active layer 114 is exposed by removing the ohmic contact layer 116 between the source electrode 110 and the drain electrode 112 while the photoresist pattern is present on the third mask pattern group. This can prevent process defects than exposing the active layer 114 using diffraction exposure using slits in a conventional four mask process. Further, by not applying a mask process such as an exposure process to the active layer 114, the stability of device characteristics can be further ensured.

Subsequently, the surface of the exposed active layer 114 is oxidized to SiO ₂ through a surface treatment using an oxygen plasma, thereby ensuring the reliability of the channel without a protective film.

As such, the manufacturing method of the horizontal field thin film transistor substrate according to the first embodiment of the present invention can be simplified to a three mask process.

9 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a horizontal field thin film transistor substrate according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and a plan view thereof is as shown in FIG. 2.

The thin film transistor substrate according to the second embodiment shown in FIG. 9 is a pattern having a multi-layered structure among the first mask pattern groups, that is, the second conductive layer, as compared to the thin film transistor substrate according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 3. Since the second gate insulating layer 152 is provided with the same components except that the second gate insulating layer 152 is further formed between the 103 and the gate insulating layer 154, the description of the overlapping components will be omitted.

The second gate insulating layer 152 illustrated in FIG. 9 is formed on the gate line 102, the gate electrode 108, the common line 120, and the second common electrode 122B having a multilayer conductive layer structure. The second gate insulating layer 152 may further separate the two lines 102 and 104 at the intersection of the gate line 102 and the data line 104, thereby minimizing signal interference between the two lines 102 and 104. It becomes possible. The second gate insulating layer 152 is formed in a first mask process together with the first mask pattern group.

10A to 10D are cross-sectional views illustrating a first mask process in detail in the method of manufacturing the thin film transistor substrate illustrated in FIG. 9.

The gate line 102, the gate electrode 108, the common line 120, the common electrode 122, the pixel electrode 118, the gate pad 124, and the data pad are disposed on the lower substrate 150 by the first mask process. Along with the first mask pattern group including 132, a second gate insulating film 152 is further formed over the pattern having the multilayer structure. For example, the second gate insulating layer 152 may include a gate line 102 and a gate electrode 108 having a multilayer structure in which at least the first and second conductive layers 101 and 103 are stacked, a common line 120, It is formed on the second common electrode 122B. The second gate insulating layer 152 is formed in one mask process by using a half tone mask or a diffraction exposure mask together with a first mask pattern group having a multilayer and a single layer structure. Hereinafter, an example in which a halftone mask is used as the first mask will be described.

Referring to FIG. 10A, first and second conductive layers 101 and 103 are stacked on the lower substrate 150 by a deposition method such as a sputtering method, and a second gate insulating layer (eg, a second gate insulating layer) on the second conductive layer 103. 152 is formed.

As the first conductive layer 101, transparent conductive materials such as ITO, TO, IZO, ITZO, and the like, and as the second conductive layer 103, Mo, Ti, Cu, AlNd, Al, Cr, Mo alloys, Cu alloys, Metal materials, such as Al alloys, are laminated and used in a single layer or more than two layers. As the second gate insulating film 152, an inorganic insulating film similar to the gate insulating film 154 described above is used.

A first photoresist pattern 180 having a different thickness is formed on the second gate insulating layer 152 by a photolithography process using a halftone mask. The first photoresist pattern 180 has first and second photoresist patterns 180A and 180B having different thicknesses and openings. The relatively thick 1A photoresist pattern 180A may be formed in the blocking region P1 of the first photoresist that overlaps the blocking portion of the halftone mask, and may be thinner than the first B photoresist pattern 180A. 180B is formed in the halftone exposure part P2 overlapping with the halftone transmission part, and the opening part is formed in the full exposure area P3 overlapping with the transmission part.

Referring to FIG. 10B, the second gate insulating layer 152 and the first and second conductive layers 101 and 103 are etched by an etching process using the first photoresist pattern 180 as a mask. A first mask pattern group including a gate electrode 108, a common line 120, a common electrode 122, a pixel electrode 118, a gate pad 124, and a data pad 132. The second gate insulating layer 152 is present on the first mask pattern group.

Referring to FIG. 10C, the thickness of the first A photoresist pattern 180A is reduced by the ashing process, and the first B photoresist pattern 180B is removed. The second conductive layer of the first common electrode 122A, the pixel electrode 118, the gate pad 124, and the data pad 132 may be formed by an etching process using the ashed first A photoresist pattern 180A as a mask. 103 is removed together with the second gate insulating film 152 existing thereon. Accordingly, the gate line 102, the gate electrode 108, the common line 120, and the second common electrode 122B have a multilayer structure in which the first and second conductive layers 101 and 103 are stacked. The second gate insulating layer 152 is present thereon.

Referring to FIG. 10D, the first A photoresist pattern 180A remaining on the first mask pattern group in FIG. 10C is removed by a strip process.

11 and 12 are plan views and cross-sectional views illustrating a thin film transistor substrate of a horizontal field liquid crystal display according to a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

11 and 12, the thin film transistor substrate according to the third embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 has a multilayer structure in which all of the first mask pattern groups are formed in comparison with the thin film transistor substrate according to the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Except for the duplicated components will be omitted since the same components are provided except for the same.

The gate line 202, the gate electrode 208, the common line 220, the common electrode 222, the pixel electrode 118, the gate pad 224, and the data pad 232 illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12 may be disposed. The first mask pattern group to be included has a multilayer structure in which at least the first and second conductive layers 201 and 203 are stacked. As described above, the first conductive layer 201 uses a transparent conductive layer, and the second conductive layer 203 uses an opaque conductive layer. As the second conductive layer 203, a metal layer may be used in a single layer, double layer, or triple layer structure.

In particular, the first and second conductive layers 201 and 203 of the first mask pattern group are formed to have a constant step. In other words, the transparent first conductive layer 201 is formed to be constantly exposed along the periphery of the opaque second conductive layer 203. Accordingly, the first conductive layer 201 exposed from the common electrode 222 and the pixel electrode 118 may improve the luminance by increasing light transmittance. In addition, the second conductive layer 203 of the common electrode 222 and the pixel electrode 118 may improve contrast ratio by preventing light leakage.

The gate pad 224 and the data pad 232 having the same structure are respectively formed through the third and fourth contact holes 228 and 236 penetrating the gate insulating film 154 and the second conductive layer 203. The transparent first conductive layer 201 has a structure exposed.

Since the method of manufacturing the thin film transistor substrate according to the third embodiment of the present invention differs only in the first and third mask processes as compared to the method of manufacturing the thin film transistor substrate according to the first embodiment described above, The description of the two-mask process will be omitted.

13A and 13B are plan views and cross-sectional views illustrating a first mask process in a method of manufacturing a thin film transistor substrate according to a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 14A to 14C illustrate the first mask process in detail. These are cross-sectional views.

The gate line 202, the gate electrode 208, the common line 220, the common electrode 222, the pixel electrode 218, the gate pad 224, and the data pad on the lower substrate 150 by the first mask process. A first mask pattern group including 232 is formed. The first mask pattern group is formed in a multilayer structure in which at least the first and second conductive layers 201 and 203 are stacked. Here, the transparent first conductive layer 201 is constantly exposed along the periphery of the opaque second conductive layer 203.

Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 14A, the first and second conductive layers 201 and 203 are stacked on the lower substrate 150 by a deposition method such as a sputtering method, and the second conductive layer ( The photoresist pattern 200 is formed on the 203. The first and second conductive layers 201 and 203 are etched by an etching process using the photoresist pattern 200 as a mask, so that the gate line 202, the gate electrode 208, and the common line 220 of the multilayer structure are etched. The first mask pattern group including the common electrode 222, the pixel electrode 218, the gate pad 224, and the data pad 232 is formed. As the first conductive layer 201, transparent conductive materials such as ITO, TO, IZO, ITZO, and the like, and as the second conductive layer 203, Mo, Ti, Cu, AlNd, Al, Cr, Mo alloys, Cu alloys, Metal materials, such as Al alloys, are laminated and used in a single layer or more than two layers.

Referring to FIG. 14B, by ashing the photoresist pattern 200, the thickness and width of the photoresist pattern 200 may be reduced. The first conductive layer 201 is exposed along the periphery of the second conductive layer 203 by etching the second conductive layer 203 exposed using the ashed photoresist pattern 200 as a mask. And the second conductive layers 201 and 203 may have a constant step.

Referring to FIG. 14C, the photoresist pattern 200 remaining on the second conductive layer 203 of the first mask pattern group in FIG. 14B is removed by a strip process.

15A to 15C are cross-sectional views illustrating a third mask process in a method of manufacturing a thin film transistor substrate according to a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

As described above with reference to FIGS. 6A through 7D, the gate insulating layer 154 including the plurality of contact holes 126, 134, 228, 236, and 238 and the semiconductor pattern 115 are formed in the second mask process.

And a third mask including a data line 104, a source electrode 110, a drain electrode 112, and a storage upper electrode 130 on the gate insulating layer 154 on which the semiconductor pattern 115 is formed in the third mask process. A pattern group is formed, and the second conductive layer 203 of the gate pad 224 and the data pad 232 is exposed through the third and fourth contact holes 228 and 236. In addition, an active layer 115 whose surface is oxidized is exposed between the source electrode 110 and the drain electrode 112.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 15A, a third conductive layer 205 is formed on the gate insulating layer 154 on which the semiconductor pattern 115 is formed by a deposition method such as sputtering, and a photo on the third conductive layer 205. The photoresist pattern 210 is formed by a lithography process. As the third conductive layer 205, a metal material such as Mo, Ti, Cu, AlNd, Al, Cr, Mo alloy, Cu alloy, Al alloy, or the like is laminated and used in a single layer or a double layer or more.

Referring to FIG. 15B, the third conductive layer 205 is patterned by an etching process using the photoresist pattern 210 as a mask, thereby forming the data line 104, the source electrode 110, the drain electrode 112, and the upper storage electrode. A third mask pattern group including 130 is formed. In this case, the first conductive layer 201 is exposed by etching the gate pad 224 and the second conductive layer 203 of the data pad 232 exposed through the third and fourth contact holes 228 and 236. .

In addition, the active layer 114 is exposed by removing the ohmic contact layer 116 between the source electrode 110 and the drain electrode 112 while the photoresist pattern is present on the third mask pattern group. Subsequently, the surface of the exposed active layer 114 is oxidized to SiO ₂ through a surface treatment using an oxygen plasma, thereby ensuring the reliability of the channel without a protective film. Further, by not applying a mask process such as an exposure process to the active layer 114, the stability of device characteristics can be further ensured.

Referring to FIG. 15C, the photoresist pattern 210 existing on the third mask pattern group in FIG. 15B is removed by a strip process.

As such, the manufacturing method of the horizontal field thin film transistor substrate according to the third exemplary embodiment of the present invention can be simplified to a three mask process.

  As described above, the thin film transistor substrate of the horizontal field liquid crystal display and the method of manufacturing the same according to the present invention form a first mask pattern group having a single layer and a multilayer structure by using a first halftone (or diffraction exposure) mask. Done.

On the other hand, the thin film transistor substrate of the horizontal field liquid crystal display according to the present invention and a method of manufacturing the same are formed by forming a first mask pattern in a multilayer structure, and then ashing the upper conductive layer once more after the ashing of the photoresist pattern to the lower transparent The conductive layer is exposed along the perimeter of the upper conductive layer. Accordingly, the transparent conductive layer exposed from the common electrode and the pixel electrode may contribute to luminance, and the upper opaque conductive layer may prevent light leakage and contribute to the contrast ratio.

In addition, the thin film transistor substrate of the horizontal field liquid crystal display and the method of manufacturing the same according to the present invention form a plurality of contact holes and a semiconductor pattern using a second halftone (or diffraction exposure) mask.

In addition, the thin film transistor substrate of the horizontal field liquid crystal display and the method of manufacturing the same according to the present invention form a third mask pattern group using a third mask, and then expose the active layer of the semiconductor pattern and oxidize the surface thereof. Accordingly, the reliability of the channel can be ensured, and the third mask pattern group is protected by the alignment film to be applied thereon, so that a separate protective film is not required. Further, by not applying a mask process such as an exposure process to the active layer, the stability of device characteristics can be further ensured.

As a result, the thin film transistor substrate of the horizontal field liquid crystal display and the manufacturing method thereof according to the present invention can simplify the process in a three-mask process to reduce the material cost, investment cost, etc., and improve the yield.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the technical spirit of the present invention. Therefore, the technical scope of the present invention should not be limited to the contents described in the detailed description of the specification but should be defined by the claims.

Claims (35)

A data line crossing the gate line to define a pixel area; An insulating film between the gate line and the data line; A thin film transistor connected to the gate line and the data line; A pixel electrode connected to the thin film transistor and formed in the pixel region; A common electrode formed in the pixel area in parallel with the pixel electrode; A common line connected to the common electrode; A pad connected to at least one of the gate line, data line, and common line; And the gate line, the gate electrode of the thin film transistor, the pixel electrode, the common electrode, the common line, and the pad are formed to include a transparent conductive layer formed on a substrate. The method of claim 1, The gate line, the gate electrode, and the common line are formed in a multilayer structure including the transparent conductive layer and the opaque conductive layer. The method of claim 1, Some of the common electrodes have a multilayer structure including the transparent conductive layer and the opaque conductive layer, and the other part is formed of the transparent conductive layer. The method of claim 1, And the pixel electrode and the pad are formed of the transparent conductive layer. The method of claim 1, And the gate line, gate electrode, common line, common electrode, pixel electrode, and pad are formed in a multilayer structure including the transparent conductive layer and an opaque conductive layer. The method of claim 5, The transparent conductive layer is a liquid crystal display, characterized in that formed to be constantly exposed along the outer periphery of the opaque conductive layer. The method of claim 6, And the pad is formed such that the transparent conductive layer is exposed through a contact hole penetrating the opaque conductive layer. The method of claim 1, And a storage capacitor in which a drain electrode of the thin film transistor overlaps a portion of the common line with the insulating layer interposed therebetween. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, And a storage capacitor, wherein the storage upper electrode connected to the pixel electrode overlaps a portion of the gate line with the insulating layer interposed therebetween. The method of claim 9, And the drain electrode and the storage upper electrode are connected to the pixel electrode through a corresponding contact hole passing through the insulating layer. The method of claim 1, And a channel exposed between the source and drain electrodes of the thin film transistor is oxidized and protected on its surface. The method of claim 1, And the thin film transistor and the data line are protected by an alignment film formed thereon. The method of claim 1, And a second insulating film formed on the multilayer conductive layer including the transparent conductive layer among the gate line, gate electrode, pixel electrode, common electrode, common line, and pad. The method of claim 1, And the data line is connected to the pad through a contact hole passing through the insulating layer. Forming a first conductive pattern group including a gate line and a gate electrode, a common line and a common electrode, a pixel electrode, and a pad on a substrate; Forming an insulating film and a semiconductor pattern including a plurality of contact holes on the first mask pattern group; And forming a second conductive pattern group including a data line, a source electrode, and a drain electrode on the insulating layer on which the semiconductor pattern is formed, and exposing an active layer of the semiconductor pattern. . The method of claim 15, The gate line, the gate electrode, and the common line are formed in a multilayer structure including a transparent conductive layer and an opaque conductive layer. The method of claim 15, Some of the common electrodes may have a multilayer structure including a transparent conductive layer and an opaque conductive layer, and the other part may be formed of the transparent conductive layer. The method of claim 15, And the pixel electrode and the pad are formed of a transparent conductive layer. The method of claim 15, Forming the first conductive pattern group Stacking a transparent conductive layer and an opaque conductive layer on the substrate; Patterning the transparent conductive layer and the opaque conductive layer; And removing a part of the opaque conductive layer. The method of claim 19, The first conductive pattern group is formed using any one of a halftone mask and a diffraction exposure mask. The method of claim 15, The gate line, the gate electrode, the common line, the common electrode, the pixel electrode, the pad is formed in a multilayer structure comprising the transparent conductive layer and the opaque conductive layer. The method of claim 21, And the transparent conductive layer is formed to be uniformly exposed along the periphery of the opaque conductive layer. The method of claim 22, Forming the first conductive pattern group Stacking the transparent conductive layer and the opaque conductive layer on the substrate; Forming a photoresist pattern on the opaque conductive layer; Patterning the transparent conductive layer and the opaque conductive layer using the photoresist pattern as a mask; Ashing the photoresist pattern; Etching the opaque conductive layer exposed through the ashed photoresist pattern. The method of claim 21, The pad may expose the transparent conductive layer through a contact hole penetrating the opaque conductive layer. The method of claim 15, Forming the insulating film and the semiconductor pattern Stacking an insulating film and a semiconductor layer on a substrate on which the first conductive pattern group is formed; Forming the plurality of contact holes penetrating to the insulating film; And patterning the semiconductor layer to form the semiconductor pattern. The method of claim 25, The plurality of contact holes and semiconductor patterns are formed using any one of a halftone mask and a diffraction exposure mask. The method of claim 15, And forming a storage capacitor by overlapping a drain electrode of the thin film transistor with a portion of the common line with the insulating layer interposed therebetween. The method according to any one of claims 15 and 27, And forming a storage upper electrode connected to the pixel electrode and overlapping a portion of the gate line with the insulating layer therebetween, together with the second conductive pattern group. Way. The method of claim 28, And the drain electrode and the storage upper electrode are connected to the pixel electrode through a corresponding contact hole penetrating through the insulating film. The method of claim 15, And oxidizing the surface of the active layer exposed between the source and drain electrodes of the thin film transistor by plasma surface treatment. The method of claim 30, The plasma surface treatment is performed in a state in which a photoresist pattern for forming the second conductive pattern group is present. The method of claim 15, A method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device, further comprising the step of forming an alignment layer covering the second conductive pattern group. The method of claim 15, Forming the first conductive pattern group The method may further include forming a second insulating layer on the multilayer conductive layer including the transparent conductive layer among the gate line, gate electrode, pixel electrode, common electrode, common line, and pad. Way. The method of claim 15, And the data line is connected to the pad through a contact hole passing through the insulating layer. The method of claim 24, The opaque conductive layer of the pad exposed through the contact hole is removed when forming the second conductive pattern group.

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