KR20080027416A - Touch screen display apparatus and method of manufacturing the same - Google Patents

Abstract

A touch screen display and a manufacturing method thereof are provided to implement a light and thin display by installing a touch screen sensor within an LC(Liquid Crystal) panel and reduce a manufacturing cost by reducing a manufacturing process according as a sensor spacer configuring the touch screen sensor is formed through color filters. A black matrix(94) is formed on a first insulating substrate. A first color filter is formed on at least a part of the black matrix and on the first insulating substrate exposed by the black matrix. A sensor spacer(92) is configured with a second color filter(98G,98B) formed on the first color filter. A common electrode(90) is formed on the sensor space and the first color filter. A support spacer(93) is formed on the common electrode.

Description

Touch screen display apparatus and method of manufacturing the same

1A is a layout view of a thin film transistor array panel of a touch screen display device according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view of the thin film transistor array panel of FIG. 1A taken along the line Ib-Ib '.

FIG. 1C is a cross-sectional view of the thin film transistor array panel of FIG. 1A taken along lines Ic-Ic 'and Ic'-Ic ".

2 is a layout view of a common electrode display panel for a touch screen display device according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 3A is a layout view of a touch screen display device including the thin film transistor array panel of FIG. 1A and the common electrode display panel of FIG. 2.

3B is a cross-sectional view of the touch screen display of FIG. 3A taken along line IIIb-IIIb '.

4A through 4E are cross-sectional views sequentially illustrating a process of manufacturing a common electrode display panel of a touch screen display device according to an exemplary embodiment.

5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a process of a user inputting location information by pressing a specific point on the touch screen display of FIG. 3B.

(Explanation of symbols for the main parts of the drawing)

10: insulating substrate 22: gate line

24: gate line end 26: gate electrode

28: first sensor electrode line 29: first sensor electrode

30: gate insulating film 40: semiconductor layer

55, 56: ohmic contact layer 61: second sensor electrode wire

62: data line 63: second sensor electrode

65 source electrode 66 drain electrode

67: drain electrode extension 68: end of the data line

70: passivation 72, 73, 74, 76, 78: contact hole

82: pixel electrode 84: first sensor pad

85: second sensor pad 86: gate line pad

88: data line pad 90: common electrode

92: sensor spacer 93: support spacer

94: black matrix 96: insulating substrate

98: color filter 100: thin film transistor array panel

200: common electrode display panel 300: liquid crystal layer

500: pen

The present invention relates to a display device and a manufacturing method thereof, and more particularly, to a touch screen display device and a manufacturing method thereof.

The touch screen display device is a high-tech input device that replaces the keyboard and the mouse, and the touch screen is mounted on the liquid crystal panel and then touched by hand directly on the liquid crystal panel to perform a desired task. The GUI (Graphic User Interface) environment (Windows operating system) It is an ideal device to perform intuitive tasks under various circumstances, and can be widely used in computer-based training and simulation applications, office automation applications, education applications, and game applications.

Such a touch screen includes a liquid crystal panel for displaying image information, a touch panel attached to the liquid crystal panel, a controller, a device driver, and application software.

The liquid crystal panel includes a common electrode display panel including a common electrode and a thin film transistor array panel including a thin film transistor array. The common electrode display panel and the thin film transistor array panel face each other and are bonded to each other by a seal line interposed between the two display panels, and a liquid crystal layer is formed in a predetermined gap formed therebetween. The liquid crystal panel is composed of two display panels (common electrode display panel and thin film transistor array panel) on which electrodes are formed, and a liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween. The liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer are rearranged by applying a voltage to the electrodes. The device is configured to display a predetermined image by adjusting the amount of light transmitted. Since the liquid crystal panel is a non-light emitting device, a backlight unit for supplying light is disposed on the rear surface of the thin film transistor array panel. Light transmitted from the backlight unit is adjusted according to the arrangement of liquid crystals.

The thin film transistor array panel includes a plurality of gate lines, data lines, and pixel electrodes. The gate line extends in the row direction to transfer the gate signal, and the data line extends in the column direction and transfers the data signal. The pixel is connected to the gate line and the data line and includes a switching element and a storage capacitor.

The switching element is formed at the intersection of the gate line and the data line, the switching element is a control terminal connected to the gate line, the input terminal connected to the data line. And a three-stage element having an output terminal connected to the pixel electrode. A sustain capacitor and a liquid crystal capacitor are connected to the output terminal of the switching element.

The touch panel includes two opposing substrates, upper and lower conductive films respectively formed on the two substrates, and a plurality of support spacers interposed between the two conductive films. When the user presses a specific point with a finger or a pen, the upper conductive layer and the lower conductive layer are in contact with each other to recognize the location information.

Such a touch screen display device is particularly used as a basic component in a personal digital assistant (PDA), and recently, has been used in a mobile communication device (Mobile Phone).

As described above, in the case of a conventional touch screen display device in which a separate touch panel is attached to a liquid crystal panel to grasp position information, the entire display device has a large volume, which makes it difficult for a user to move it. Therefore, development is required for a touch screen display device that is light and simple and has a simple manufacturing process.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in an effort to provide a touch screen display device that is light and simple and has a simple manufacturing process.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method of manufacturing the touch screen display device.

Technical problems of the present invention are not limited to the technical problems mentioned above, and other technical problems not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a touch screen display device including a first insulating substrate, a black matrix formed on the first insulating substrate, at least a portion of the black matrix, and the black matrix. A sensor spacer including a first color filter formed on the first insulating substrate exposed by the second insulating layer, a sensor spacer including a second color filter formed on the first color filter, and a common electrode formed on the sensor spacer and the first color filter. And a support spacer formed on the common electrode.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of manufacturing a touch screen display device, including forming a black matrix on an insulating substrate, at least a portion of the black matrix, and forming a black matrix on the black matrix. Forming a first color filter on the exposed first insulating substrate, forming a sensor spacer composed of a second color filter on the first color filter, and forming the sensor spacer and the first color filter. Forming a common electrode on the common electrode; and forming a support spacer on the common electrode.

Specific details of other embodiments are included in the detailed description and the drawings.

Advantages and features of the present invention and methods for achieving them will be apparent with reference to the embodiments described below in detail with the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed below, but can be implemented in various different forms, and only the embodiments make the disclosure of the present invention complete, and the general knowledge in the art to which the present invention belongs. It is provided to fully inform the person having the scope of the invention, which is defined only by the scope of the claims. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.

Hereinafter, a touch screen display device of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The touch screen display device according to the present invention includes a thin film transistor array panel including a thin film transistor defined by a gate line and a data line, a common electrode panel facing the thin film transistor array panel and having a common electrode, and between the thin film transistor array panel and the common electrode display panel. It includes a liquid crystal layer interposed therein.

First, a thin film transistor array panel will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1A to 1C. FIG. 1A is a layout view of a thin film transistor array panel of a touch screen display device according to an exemplary embodiment. FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view of the thin film transistor array panel of FIG. 1A taken along line Ib-Ib ′, and FIG. Is a cross-sectional view of the thin film transistor array panel taken along lines Ic-Ic 'and Ic'-Ic ".

The gate line 22 disposed in the horizontal direction on the insulating substrate 10 and the gate electrode 26 formed in the form of a protrusion are formed on the gate line 22. A gate line end 24 is formed at the end of the gate line 22 to receive a gate signal from another layer or the outside and transmit the gate signal to the gate line 22. The gate line end 24 is connected to an external circuit. The width is extended. The gate line 22, the gate electrode 26, and the gate line end 24 are referred to as gate wirings.

In addition, the first sensor electrode 28, which is separated from the gate line 22 and disposed in the horizontal direction, is formed on the insulating substrate 10 in the form of a protrusion from the first sensor electrode line 28. (29) is formed. The first sensor electrode 29 is connected to the first sensor pad 84 and the contact hole 72 as one terminal of the touch screen sensor, and the sensor spacer (refer to FIG. 92 of FIG. 2) when an external pressure is applied. Energized with a common electrode on the reference) to provide positional information to which an external pressure is applied. The first sensor electrode 29 and the first sensor electrode line 28 are called first sensor wirings.

The gate wirings 22, 24, and 26 and the first sensor wirings 28 and 29 may include aluminum-based metals such as aluminum (Al) and aluminum alloys, silver-based metals such as silver (Ag) and silver alloys, and copper (Cu). And copper-based metals such as copper alloys, molybdenum-based metals such as molybdenum (Mo) and molybdenum alloys, and chromium (Cr), titanium (Ti), and tantalum (Ta). In addition, the gate wirings 22, 24, and 26 and the first sensor wirings 28 and 29 may have a multilayer structure including two conductive layers (not shown) having different physical properties. One of the conductive films is a low resistivity metal such as aluminum-based metal or silver so as to reduce the signal delay or voltage drop of the gate wirings 22, 24, 26 and the first sensor wirings 28, 29. It consists of a series metal, a copper series metal, etc. In contrast, the other conductive layer is made of a material having excellent contact properties with other materials, particularly indium tin oxide (ITO) and indium zinc oxide (IZO), such as molybdenum-based metals, chromium, titanium, tantalum and the like. A good example of such a combination is a chromium bottom film and an aluminum top film and an aluminum bottom film and a molybdenum top film. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the gate wires 22, 24, 26 and the first sensor wires 28, 29 may be made of various metals and conductors.

A gate insulating layer 30 made of silicon nitride (SiNx) is formed on the gate lines 22, 24, and 26 and the first sensor lines 28 and 29.

The semiconductor layer 40 made of hydrogenated amorphous silicon, polycrystalline silicon, or the like is formed on the gate insulating layer 30. The semiconductor layer 40 may have various shapes such as an island shape and a linear shape. For example, the semiconductor layer 40 may be formed in an island shape on the gate electrode 26 as in the present embodiment. In addition, it may be formed under the data line 62 to have a linear shape extending to the upper portion of the gate electrode 26. When the linear semiconductor layer 40 is formed, it may be formed by patterning the same as the data line 62.

On the semiconductor layer 40, resistive contact layers 55 and 56 made of a material such as n + hydrogenated amorphous silicon doped with a high concentration of silicide or n-type impurities are formed. The ohmic contacts 55 and 56 may have various shapes such as islands and linear shapes. For example, in the case of the islands of ohmic contact layers 55 and 56, the drain electrode 66 and the source electrode may have different shapes. Located below 65, the linear ohmic contact layer may extend below the data line 62.

The data line 62 and the drain electrode 66 are formed on the ohmic contacts 55 and 56 and the gate insulating layer 30. The data line 62 extends in the longitudinal direction and crosses the gate line 22. The source electrode 65 extending from the data line 62 to the top of the semiconductor layer 40 in the form of a branch is formed. At the end of the data line 62, a data line end 68 is formed which receives a data signal from another layer or the outside and transmits the data signal to the data line 62. The data line end 68 is connected to an external circuit. The width is extended. The drain electrode 66 is separated from the source electrode 65 and positioned above the semiconductor layer 40 so as to face the source electrode 65 with respect to the gate electrode 26. The thin film transistor is a three-stage element of the gate electrode 26, the source electrode 65, and the drain electrode 66, and a current between the source electrode 65 and the drain electrode 66 when a voltage is applied to the gate electrode 26. It is a switching device that flows.

The drain electrode 66 includes a rod pattern on the semiconductor layer 40 and a drain electrode extension 67 extending from the rod pattern and having a large area and in which the contact hole 76 is located.

The data line 62, the source electrode 65, the drain electrode 66, the drain electrode extension 67, and the data line end 68 are referred to as data wirings.

On the gate insulating layer 30, a second sensor electrode line 61 which is separated from the data line 62 and extends in the vertical direction, and a second sensor electrode having a width extending from the second sensor electrode line 61 in the form of a protrusion. 63 is formed. The second sensor electrode 63 is connected to the second sensor pad 85 and the contact hole 73 as one terminal of the touch screen sensor, and when an external pressure is applied, the sensor spacer (refer to reference numeral 92 of FIG. 2). It is energized with the common electrode on the reference) to provide the position information to which the external pressure is applied. The second sensor electrode 63 and the second sensor electrode line 61 are called second sensor wirings. The first sensor wires 28 and 29 provide horizontal coordinates and the second sensor wires 61 and 63 provide vertical coordinates with respect to the position where the external pressure is applied.

The data wires 62, 65, 66, 67, 68 and the second sensor wires 61, 63 may be made of a single film or a multilayer film made of one or more materials selected from the group consisting of aluminum, chromium, molybdenum, tantalum and titanium. have. For example, the data wires 62, 65, 66, 67, and 68 and the second sensor wires 61 and 63 may be made of refractory metals such as chromium, molybdenum-based metals, tantalum and titanium, and the like. It may have a multi-layer structure consisting of a lower layer of (not shown) and a low-resistance material upper layer (not shown) disposed thereon. Examples of the multilayer film structure may include a triple film of a molybdenum film, an aluminum film, and a molybdenum film in addition to the above-described double film of the chromium lower film and the aluminum upper film or the aluminum lower film and the molybdenum upper film.

The source electrode 65 overlaps at least a portion of the semiconductor layer 40, and the drain electrode 66 faces the source electrode 65 around the gate electrode 26 and at least partially overlaps the semiconductor layer 40. do. Here, the ohmic contacts 55 and 56 are interposed between the semiconductor layer 40 and the source electrode 65, and the semiconductor layer 40 and the drain electrode 66 to lower the contact resistance therebetween.

A protective film 70 made of an insulating film is formed on the data wires 62, 65, 66, 67, and 68, the second sensor wires 61 and 63, and the exposed semiconductor layer 40. The protective film 70 is formed of silicon nitride or silicon oxide, a-Si: C: O formed by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) or organic material having excellent planarization characteristics and photosensitivity. and a low dielectric constant insulating material such as a-Si: O: F. In addition, when the protective film 70 is formed of an organic material, in order to prevent the organic material of the protective film 70 from contacting a portion where the semiconductor layer 40 between the source electrode 65 and the drain electrode 66 is exposed. It may have a double film structure of a lower inorganic film and an upper organic film made of silicon nitride (SiNx) or silicon oxide (SiO ₂ ).

In the passivation layer 70, contact holes 73, 76, and 78 exposing the second sensor electrode 63, the drain electrode 66, and the data line end 68, respectively, are formed, and the passivation layer 70 is formed. In the gate insulating layer 30, contact holes 72 and 74 exposing the first sensor electrode 29 and the gate line end 24 are formed.

The pixel electrode 82 is formed on the passivation layer 70 through the contact hole 76 and is electrically connected to the drain electrode 66 along the shape of the pixel. The pixel electrode 82 to which the data voltage is applied generates an electric field together with the common electrode of the upper panel to determine the arrangement of liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer between the pixel electrode 82 and the common electrode.

In addition, a gate line pad 86 and a data line pad 88 connected to the gate line end 24 and the data line end 68 are formed on the passivation layer 70 through contact holes 74 and 78, respectively. have. The first sensor pad 84 and the second sensor pad 85 are respectively connected to the first sensor electrode 29 and the second sensor electrode 63 through the contact holes 72 and 73 on the passivation layer 70. Is formed. The pixel electrode 82, the first sensor pad 84, the second sensor pad 85, the gate line pad 86, and the data line pad 88 may be formed of a transparent conductor such as ITO or IZO, or reflective material such as aluminum. Made of a conductor. The auxiliary gate line and data line ends 86 and 88 serve to bond the gate line end 24 and the data line end 68 to an external device.

On the pixel electrode 82, the first sensor pad 84, the second sensor pad 85, the gate line pad 86, the data line pad 88, and the passivation layer 70, an alignment layer capable of orienting the liquid crystal layer ( Not shown) may be applied.

Hereinafter, a common electrode display panel for a touch screen display device and a touch screen display device including the same will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 3B. 2 is a layout view of a common electrode display panel for a touch screen display device according to an exemplary embodiment. FIG. 3A is a layout view of a touch screen display device including the thin film transistor array panel of FIG. 1A and the common electrode display panel of FIG. 2. 3B is a cross-sectional view of the touch screen display of FIG. 3A taken along line IIIb-IIIb '.

2 to 3B, a black matrix 94 for preventing light leakage and an red, green and blue color filter sequentially arranged on a pixel on an insulating substrate 96 made of a transparent insulating material such as glass ( 98) is formed. For example, a red color filter 98R is formed in the pixel shown in this embodiment.

The sensor spacer 92 is formed on the color filter 98. The sensor spacer 92 has a structure in which one or two of the red color filter 98R, the green color filter 98G, and the blue color filter 98B are stacked. For example, in the case where the red color filter 98R is formed as the color filter of the pixel, the sensor spacer 92 has a single layer or the green color filter 98G such as the green color filter 98G and the blue color filter 98B. ) And the blue color filter 98B may have a double layer structure. In other words, the sensor spacer 92 is composed of a color filter different from the color filter 98. In this embodiment, the sensor spacer 92 having a double layer structure in which the green color filter 98G and the blue color filter 98B are stacked is described as an example. The green color filter 98G and the blue color filter 98B constituting the sensor spacer 92 may be formed in the same process as the green and blue color filters formed in the pixels adjacent to the pixel. Therefore, the sensor spacer 92 may be formed without adding a separate process.

A common electrode 90 made of a transparent conductive material such as indium tin oxide (ITO) or indium zinc oxide (IZO) is formed on the black matrix 94, the color filter 98, and the sensor spacer 92.

The support spacer 93 is formed on the common electrode 90. The support spacer 93 supports the thin film transistor array panel 100 and the common electrode display panel 200 and forms a constant cell gap. The support spacer 93 may be formed of, for example, a photosensitive resin. Both the support spacer 93 and the sensor spacer 92 are preferably arranged to overlap the black matrix 94.

An anti-corrosion film (not shown) may be coated on the common electrode 90 to align the liquid crystal molecules.

In the initial state where no external pressure is applied, the sensor spacer 92 is separated from the thin film transistor array panel 100, and when the external pressure is applied, the common electrode 90 on the sensor spacer 92 is the first sensor pad 84. ) And the second sensor pad 85 are energized.

As shown in FIG. 3B, when the thin film transistor array panel 100 and the common electrode panel 200 having the above structure are aligned and combined, and the liquid crystal layer 300 is formed therebetween, the touch panel according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention is provided. The basic structure of the screen display device is achieved. The thin film transistor array panel 100 and the common electrode display panel 200 are aligned such that the pixel electrode 82 accurately overlaps the color filter 98.

The touch screen display device is formed by disposing elements such as a polarizing plate and a backlight on the basic structure. At this time, the polarizing plate (not shown) is disposed one each on both sides of the basic structure and its transmission axis is arranged parallel to the gate line 22 and the other one is perpendicular to this.

Hereinafter, a manufacturing process of the common electrode display panel of the touch screen display device according to the exemplary embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 4A to 4E. 4A through 4E are cross-sectional views sequentially illustrating a process of manufacturing a common electrode display panel of a touch screen display device according to an exemplary embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 4A, a black matrix 94 is formed on the insulating substrate 96.

4B, a red color filter 98R is formed in the pixel to overlap the black matrix 94.

Referring to FIG. 4C, a green color filter is formed in a pixel adjacent to the pixel, and a green color filter 98G is formed in a predetermined region on the red color filter 98R of the pixel. A blue color filter 98B is formed on the green color filter 98G on the red color filter 98R of the pixel while simultaneously forming a blue color filter on another pixel adjacent to the pixel. In this way, the sensor spacer 92 is formed by overlapping the green color filter 98G and the blue color filter 98B on the red color filter 98R. The stacking order of the green color filter 98G and the blue color filter 98B constituting the sensor spacer 92 may be arbitrarily changed for each pixel.

4D, a common electrode 90 made of a transparent conductive material such as ITO or IZO is formed on the black matrix 94, the color filter 98, and the sensor spacer 92.

4E, the support spacer 93 is formed on the common electrode 90 using photosensitive resin. Both the support spacer 93 and the sensor spacer 92 are preferably arranged to overlap the black matrix 94.

Hereinafter, an operation of the touch screen display device according to an exemplary embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 5. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a process of a user inputting location information by pressing a specific point on the touch screen display of FIG. 3B.

As shown in FIG. 5, when a user presses a specific point with a finger or a pen 500, the common electrode 90 on the sensor spacer 92 and the first and second sensors on the thin film transistor array panel 100 at the point. Pads 84 and 85 are energized to provide a location information signal for that point.

Although embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings, those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains may implement the present invention in other specific forms without changing the technical spirit or essential features thereof. I can understand that. Therefore, it should be understood that the embodiments described above are exemplary in all respects and not restrictive.

As described above, according to the touch screen display device and the manufacturing method thereof according to the present invention, a light and simple display device can be implemented by embedding the touch screen sensor in the liquid crystal panel. In addition, by forming the sensor spacer constituting the touch screen sensor by using the color filter can reduce the manufacturing cost by reducing the manufacturing process.

Claims (14)

A first insulating substrate; A black matrix formed on the first insulating substrate; A first color filter formed on at least a portion of the black matrix and the first insulating substrate exposed by the black matrix; A sensor spacer configured of a second color filter formed on the first color filter; A common electrode formed on the sensor spacer and the first color filter; And And a support spacer formed on the common electrode. According to claim 1, And the first color filter and the second color filter are different color filters. The method of claim 2, The second color filter has a structure in which one or two of a red color filter, a green color filter, and a blue color filter are stacked. According to claim 1, And the sensor spacer and the support spacer overlapping the black matrix. According to claim 1, A second insulating substrate facing the first insulating substrate and having a cell gap maintained by the support spacer; And And a sensor pad formed on the second insulating substrate at a position corresponding to the sensor spacer and spaced apart from the sensor spacer. The method of claim 5, When an external pressure is applied, the common electrode on the sensor spacer is energized with the sense pad to recognize the position information signal for the external pressure. The method of claim 5, A gate line and a data line insulated from and cross each other on the second insulating substrate; A thin film transistor connected to the gate line and the data line; And a pixel electrode connected to the thin film transistor, And the sensor pad is formed of the same material on the same layer as the pixel electrode. The method of claim 7, wherein And a first sensor electrode line disposed parallel to the gate line and a second sensor electrode line disposed parallel to the data line on the second insulating substrate. The sensor pad may include a first sensor pad connected to the first sensor electrode line and a second sensor pad connected to the second sensor electrode line. The method of claim 8, When an external pressure is applied, the common electrode on the sensor spacer is energized with the first and second sense pads so that the position information signal for the external pressure is recognized. Forming a black matrix on the insulating substrate; Forming a first color filter on at least a portion of the black matrix and the first insulating substrate exposed by the black matrix; Forming a sensor spacer including a second color filter on the first color filter; Forming a common electrode on the sensor spacer and the first color filter; And Forming a support spacer on the common electrode. The method of claim 10, And forming the second color filter on neighboring pixels while forming the sensor spacers. The method of claim 10, The method of claim 1, wherein the first color filter and the second color filter are formed of different color filters. The method of claim 12, The second color filter has a structure in which one or two of a red color filter, a green color filter, and a blue color filter are stacked. The method of claim 10, And the sensor spacer and the support spacer are disposed to overlap the black matrix.

Images