U.S. patent application number 09/083980 was filed with the patent office on 2001-11-29 for liquid crystal display device.
Invention is credited to KIM, JEOM JAE.
Application Number | 20010045997 09/083980 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 19524165 |
Filed Date | 2001-11-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010045997 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
KIM, JEOM JAE |
November 29, 2001 |
LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY DEVICE
Abstract
A liquid crystal display (LCD) device that includes a plurality
of gate lines formed at predetermined intervals in one direction
and a plurality of data lines formed at predetermined intervals in
a direction perpendicular to the plurality of gate lines. The LCD
display device also includes a first shorting bar connected to
(3n-2)th numbered data lines of the plurality of data lines, a
second shorting bar connected to (3n-1)th numbered data lines of
the plurality of data lines, and a third shorting bar connected to
(3n)th numbered data lines of the plurality of data lines.
Inventors: |
KIM, JEOM JAE; (SEOUL,
KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
J MICHAEL THESZ
MORGAN LEWIS & BOCKIUS
1800 M STREET NW
WASHINGTON
DC
20036
|
Family ID: |
19524165 |
Appl. No.: |
09/083980 |
Filed: |
May 26, 1998 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
349/40 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G02F 1/136204 20130101;
G02F 1/136254 20210101 |
Class at
Publication: |
349/40 |
International
Class: |
G02F 001/1333 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 5, 1997 |
KR |
58154/1997 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A liquid crystal display (LCD) device comprising: a plurality of
gate lines formed at predetermined intervals in one direction; a
plurality of n data lines formed at predetermined intervals in a
direction perpendicular to the plurality of gate lines wherein n is
a natural number; a first shorting bar connected to (3n-2)th
numbered data lines of the plurality of data lines; a second
shorting bar connected to (3n-1)th numbered data lines of the
plurality of data lines; and a third shorting bar connected to
(3n)th numbered data lines of the plurality of data lines.
2. The LCD device according to claim 1, further comprising a fourth
shorting bar connected to the gate lines of even numbered gate
lines and a fifth shorting bar connected to the gate lines of odd
numbered gate lines.
3. The LCD device according to claim 2, wherein the first, second,
and third shorting bars are composed of the same materials as each
of the gate lines, and the data lines and the first, second, and
third shorting bars are respectively connected by transparent
electrodes.
4. The LCD device according to claim 3, further comprising a
plurality of auxiliary test pads connected to the first, second,
and third shorting bars and formed between a bundle of pads of the
data lines.
5. The LCD device according to claim 1, wherein the first, second,
and third shorting bars are composed of the same materials as each
of the gate lines, and the data lines and the first, second, and
third shorting bars are respectively connected by transparent
electrodes.
6. The LCD device according to claim 1, further comprising a
plurality of auxiliary test pads connected to the first, second,
and third shorting bars and formed between a bundle of pads of the
data lines.
Description
[0001] This application claims the benefit of Application No.
58154/1997, filed in Korea on Nov. 5, 1997, which is hereby
incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display
(LCD) device and more particularly, to an LCD device in which a
shorting bar of a data line is divided to improve accuracy in
testing and measuring a cell.
[0004] 2. Discussion of the Related Art
[0005] Generally, in the fabricating process steps of an LCD
device, undesired static electricity is produced and subsequently
is applied to the inside of a thin film transistor TFT-LCD array.
The discharging of the static electricity can destroy a device such
as a TFT. To prevent the inner device from being destroyed by
static electricity discharge and also to facilitate TFT-LCD array
testing, after formation of the TFT-LCD array, a shorting bar is
utilized.
[0006] A conventional LCD device including a shorting bar will now
be described with respect to the accompanying drawings.
[0007] FIG. 1 is a schematic layout of a conventional LCD device.
FIG. 2 is a schematic layout illustrating an interconnection
relationship between a data line and a shorting bar of FIG. 1.
[0008] The conventional TFT-LCD array, as shown in FIG. 1, includes
a plurality of gate lines 1a and 1b formed at predetermined
intervals in one direction and a plurality of data lines 2a and 2b
formed at predetermined intervals in a direction perpendicular to
the plurality of gate lines 1a and 1b.
[0009] As shown in FIG. 1, a pixel electrode (not shown) is formed
at each pixel region where the gate lines 1a and 1b cross the data
lines 2a and 2b. A TFT 3 is formed, at each line and gate crossing
and applies picture signals of the data lines 2a and 2b to the
pixel electrode. The picture signals correspond to driving signals
of the gate lines 1a and 1b.
[0010] A plurality of shorting bars 4, 5, 6, and 7 are formed
around the TFT-LCD array. The plurality of gate lines 1a and 1b and
the plurality of data lines 2a and 2b are divided into even and odd
numbered lines. The first shorting bar 6 is connected to each of
the data lines 2a, and are designated as the even numbered data
lines. The second shorting bar 7 is connected to each of the data
lines 2b and are designated as the odd numbered data lines. The
third shorting bar 4 is connected to the gate lines 1a which are
designated as the even numbered gate lines. The fourth shorting bar
5 is connected to the gate lines 1b which are designated as the odd
numbered gate lines.
[0011] The interconnection relationship between the data lines 2a
and 2b and the shorting bars 6 and 7, of the LCD device of FIG. 1,
will now be described with reference to FIG. 2.
[0012] As shown in FIG. 2, the first shorting bar 6 is integrally
formed with the data line 2a and is composed of the same material
as data lines 2a and 2b. Similarity (although not shown), the
second shorting bar 7 is composed of the same material as gate
lines 1a and 1b and is integrally formed with gate lines 1a and 1b.
The second shorting bar 7 and the data line 2b are connected to
each other by a transparent electrode 9.
[0013] The shorting bars 4, 5, 6, and 7 in the conventional LCD
device are used to prevent an inner device from being destroyed
because of an electro-static discharge. Static electricity is
produced during the course of manufacture of the TFT-LCD array and
during the testing of the TFT-LCD array to determine whether or not
the gate lines and the data lines have been shorted out. The
testing is accomplished by maintaining an equipotential voltage
between the data lines.
[0014] In other words, a power source is applied to the shorting
bars which are connected to one end of each of the gate lines, the
other end of each of the gate line is then checked to determine
whether or not the gate lines are shorted out. In a similar manner,
as employed for the gate lines, the data lines are tested to
determine whether or not the data lines are shorted out.
[0015] The shorting bars are not an active element of the TFT-LCD
array. The shorting bars are only used in testing the TFT-LCD be
array and the prevention of destructive discharges of accumulated
static electricity. After forming the TFT-LCD array and testing the
same, an upper plate and lower plate of the TFT-LCD are adhered to
each other. The shorting bars are then removed by scribing and
grinding processes.
[0016] The conventional LCD device has several problems. Since the
gate lines 1a and 1b and the data lines 2a and 2b are divided into
odd numbered lines and even numbered lines, respectively, and the
shorting bars are formed at each of the gate lines and data lines
to test the TFT-LCD array and prevent the destructive discharge of
static electricity, respectively, it is difficult to check
characteristics of the R (Red), G (Green), and B (Blue) colors when
testing the TFT-LCD array. In other words, since the shorting bar
is formed by dividing each of the data lines, it is difficult to
separately check the characteristics of each of the R, G, and B
colors.
[0017] Furthermore, the first shorting bar 6 is integrally formed
with the data line and is formed of the same material as the data
line. The second shorting bar 7 is formed of the same material as
the gate line and connected to the data line by means of the
transparent electrode 9. With this configuration, it is likely that
if a poor image occurs it is probably due to resistance differences
between the first shorting bar 6 and the data line and between the
second shorting bar 7 and the data line.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0018] Accordingly, the present invention is directed to an LCD
device that substantially obviates one or more of the problems due
to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.
[0019] An object of the present invention is to provide an LCD
device which reduces damage due to a destructive discharge of
static electricity, which occurs in the course of manufacturing and
testing of a TFT-LCD array.
[0020] A further object of the present invention is to improve the
accuracy of cell testing by dividing a shorting bar of a data line
into three segments.
[0021] Additional features and advantages of the invention will be
set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be
apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the
invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention
will be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed
out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the
appended drawings.
[0022] To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with
the purpose of the present invention, as embodied and broadly
described, an LCD device according to the present invention
includes a plurality of gate lines formed at predetermined
intervals in one direction, a plurality of n data lines formed at
predetermined interval in a direction perpendicular to the
plurality of gate lines wherein n is a natural number, a first
shorting bar connected to (3n-2)th data lines of the plurality of
data lines, a second shorting bar connected to (3n-1)th data lines
of the plurality of data lines, and a third shorting bar connected
to (3n)th data lines of the plurality of data lines.
[0023] It is to be understood that both the foregoing general
description and the following detailed description are exemplary
and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of
the invention as claimed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0024] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a
further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and
constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of
the invention and together with the description serve to explain
the principles of the invention. In the drawings:
[0025] FIG. 1 is a schematic layout of a conventional LCD;
[0026] FIG. 2 is an overhead view of a layout of an interconnection
ID relationship between each data line and each shorting bar in the
conventional LCD device of FIG. 1;
[0027] FIG. 3 is a schematic layout of an LCD device according to
the first embodiment of the present invention;
[0028] FIG. 4 is an overhead view of a layout of an interconnection
relationship between each data line and each shorting bar in the
LCD device of FIG. 3; and
[0029] FIG. 5 is a schematic layout of an LCD device according to a
second embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0030] Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred
embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
[0031] An LCD device according to the first embodiment of the
present invention will now be described in detail with reference to
FIG. 3 and FIG. 4.
[0032] As shown in FIG. 3, a TFT-LCD array in the LCD device of the
first embodiment includes a plurality of gate lines 1a and 1b
formed at predetermined intervals in one direction and a plurality
of data lines 2a, 2b, and 2c formed at predetermined intervals in a
direction perpendicular to the plurality of gate lines 1a and
1b.
[0033] A pixel electrode (not shown) and a TFT 3 are formed in each
pixel region, which corresponds to where each of the gate lines 1a
and 1b cross each of the data lines 2a, 2b, and 2c. The TFT 3
applies picture signals of the data lines 2a, 2b, and 2c to the
pixel electrodes corresponding to driving signals of the gate lines
1a and 1b.
[0034] A plurality of shorting bars 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 are formed
around the TFT-LCD array. The plurality of gate lines 1a and 1b are
divided into even and odd numbered gate lines. The plurality of
data lines 2a, 2b, and 2c are divided into each of a R, G, and B
color. The first shorting bar 6 is supplied with a R color signal
and is connected to (3n-2)th (n=1, 2, 3, . . . , where n is a
natural number), data lines that correspond to the data lines 2a.
The second shorting bar 7 is supplied with a G color signal, and is
connected to (3n-1)th data lines that correspond to the data lines
2b. The third shorting bar 8 is supplied with a B color signal, is
connected to (3n)th data lines that corresponds to the data lines
2c. The fourth shorting bar 4 is connected to the gate lines 1a of
the even numbered gate lines. The fifth shorting bar 5 is connected
to the gate lines 1b of the odd numbered gate lines.
[0035] For example, in a TFT-LCD array, shorting bar 6 would be
connected to the 1st, 4th, 7th, . . . data lines; shorting bar 7
would be connected to the 2nd, 5th, 8th, . . . data lines; and
shorting bar 8 would be connected to the 3rd, 6th, 9th, . . . data
lines.
[0036] An interconnection relationship between each of the data
lines 2a, 2b, and 2c and each of the first, second, and third
shorting bars 6, 7, and 8, respectively, will now be described with
reference to FIG. 4.
[0037] The first, second, and third shorting bars 6, 7, and 8 are
formed simultaneously with the forming of the gate lines 1a and 1b
and are composed of the same materials as the gate lines 1a and 1b.
The data lines 2a, 2b, and 2c and the first, second, and third
shorting bars 6, 7, and 8 are respectively connected with one
another by transparent electrodes 9 when forming the pixel
electrode. The transparent electrodes 9 are formed of the same
materials as the pixel electrode (not shown).
[0038] FIG. 5 is a schematic layout of an LCD device according to
the second embodiment of the present invention.
[0039] In the LCD device, according to the second embodiment of the
present invention, it is intended that the TFT-LCD array is
separately tested even if the shorting bars are shorted out in the
course of the manufacturing process.
[0040] In other words, auxiliary test pads 11 are formed between a
bundle of pads 10 formed in the data lines to apply signals to the
shorting bars when testing the TFT-LCD array so that the auxiliary
test pads 11 are connected to the first, second, and third shorting
bars 6, 7, and 8, respectively. Thus, it is possible to test
shorting out of the signal lines of the gate lines or the data
lines even if the shorting bars are shorted out.
[0041] The aforementioned LCD device of the present invention has
the following advantages.
[0042] Since the shorting bars of the data lines are divided into
three segments, it is possible to operate a cell independently for
each of the R, G, and B colors in testing and measuring the cell,
thereby improving accuracy of cell tests and measurements.
[0043] Furthermore, since all the shorting bars of the data lines
are formed simultaneously with the patterning of the gate lines and
connected with the data lines by means of the transparent
electrode, the resistances between each of the shorting bars and
each of the data lines is substantially equal to one another. The
second embodiment is capable of reducing any difference between
pictures applied to the cell, which may occur during testing of the
cell.
[0044] Additionally, since two shorting bars are formed in the gate
lines and three shorting bars are formed in the data lines, it is
possible to reduce any damage due to electrostatic discharge and
increase the yield.
[0045] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various
modifications and variations can be made in the LCD device
according to the present invention without departing from the
spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the
present invention cover the modifications and variations of the
invention provided they come within the scope of the appended
claims and their equivalents.
* * * * *