U.S. patent application number 13/535249 was filed with the patent office on 2013-01-03 for system for display images.
This patent application is currently assigned to CHIMEI INNOLUX CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Te-Yu LEE, Hsixg-Ju SUNG, Chun-Ming WANG.
Application Number | 20130003006 13/535249 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 47390331 |
Filed Date | 2013-01-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130003006 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
WANG; Chun-Ming ; et
al. |
January 3, 2013 |
SYSTEM FOR DISPLAY IMAGES
Abstract
A system for displaying images including a display panel is
provided. The display panel has a display area and a peripheral
area. The display panel includes a metal layer disposed on a first
substrate. A patterned planarization layer is disposed on the metal
layer, having at least one opening corresponding to the peripheral
area, wherein a portion of the metal layer is exposed through the
opening. A second substrate is disposed opposite to the first
substrate. A seal is disposed at the peripheral area and between
the first and the second substrates, wherein the seal covers the
metal layer through the opening of the patterned planarization
layer.
Inventors: |
WANG; Chun-Ming; (Miao-Li
County, TW) ; SUNG; Hsixg-Ju; (Miao-Li County,
TW) ; LEE; Te-Yu; (Miao-Li County, TW) |
Assignee: |
CHIMEI INNOLUX CORPORATION
Miao-Li County
TW
INNOCOM TECHNOLOGY(SHENZHEN) CO., LTD.
|
Family ID: |
47390331 |
Appl. No.: |
13/535249 |
Filed: |
June 27, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
349/138 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G02F 1/1341 20130101;
G02F 2202/02 20130101; G02F 1/13306 20130101; G02F 2001/133357
20130101; G02F 1/133345 20130101; G02F 1/1339 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
349/138 |
International
Class: |
G02F 1/1339 20060101
G02F001/1339 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 29, 2011 |
TW |
100122869 |
Claims
1. A system for displaying images, including a display panel,
having a display area and a peripheral area surrounding the display
area, wherein the display panel comprises: a first substrate; a
metal layer disposed on the first substrate; a patterned
planarization layer disposed on the metal layer, having at least
one opening corresponding to the peripheral area, wherein a portion
of the metal layer is exposed through the opening; a second
substrate disposed opposite to the first substrate; and a seal
disposed between the first and the second substrates and at the
peripheral area, wherein the seal covers the metal layer through
the opening of the patterned planarization layer.
2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein an area of the opening
of the patterned planarization layer is 5% to 100% of an area of
the seal.
3. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein an area of the opening
of the patterned planarization layer is above 10% of an area of the
seal.
4. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the opening of the
patterned planarization layer comprises a loop-shaped opening or a
plurality of holes.
5. The system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the plurality of holes
are disposed at corners of the peripheral area of the display
panel.
6. The system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a
passivation layer disposed between the patterned planarization
layer and the metal layer, wherein the passivation layer completely
covers the metal layer.
7. The system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the material of the
passivation layer comprises silicon nitride or silicon oxide.
8. The system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a
passivation layer disposed over the patterned planarization layer,
wherein the passivation layer completely covers the portion of the
metal layer exposed through the opening of the patterned
planarization layer.
9. The system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the material of the
passivation layer comprises silicon nitride or silicon oxide.
10. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the patterned
planarization layer is only disposed at the display area inside the
seal.
11. The system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an
insulating layer disposed between the metal layer and the first
substrate, wherein a portion of the insulating layer is exposed by
the opening of the patterned planarization layer.
12. The system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the seal directly
contacts the metal layer and the insulating layer through the
opening of the patterned planarization layer.
13. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the material of the
patterned planarization layer comprises an organic photoresist and
the material of the insulating layer comprises silicon nitride or
silicon oxide.
14. The system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a display,
wherein the display comprises the display panel.
15. The system as claimed in claim 14, further comprising an
electronic device, wherein the electronic device comprises: the
display; and a control unit coupled to the display to provide an
input to the display such that the display displays images.
16. The system as claimed in claim 15, wherein the electronic
device comprises a mobile phone, digital camera, personal data
assistant (PDA), notebook computer, desktop computer, television,
car display or portable DVD player.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This Application claims priority of Taiwan Patent
Application No. 100122869, filed on Jun. 29, 2011, the entirety of
which is incorporated by reference herein.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The disclosure relates to a system for displaying images
including a display panel, and more particularly to a display panel
with a patterned planarization layer.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Generally, a color filter (CF) substrate and an array
substrate are bonded together by a seal. Then, a space between the
two substrates is filled with a liquid crystal material to form a
liquid crystal display panel.
[0006] In conventional liquid crystal display panels, after a
plurality of thin-film transistors (TFTs) and a plurality of scan
lines and data lines are formed on the array substrate, a
planarization layer is blanketly formed over the array substrate to
cover the TFTs, the scan lines, and the data lines. The adhesion
between a material of the planarization layer and a metal material
used for the scan lines and the data lines and the adhesion between
a material of the planarization layer and an inorganic material
used for the TFTs, such as silicon oxide or silicon nitride are
poor. Thus, peeling easily occurs between the planarization layer
and the metal lines of the scan lines and the data lines, and
between the planarization layer and the inorganic material of the
TFTs. If so, then, there is poor bonding between the CF substrate
and the array substrate, which may lead to the separation of the CF
substrate and the array substrate. Therefore, the yield of the
conventional liquid crystal display panels is poor.
SUMMARY
[0007] Accordingly, embodiments of the invention provide a system
for displaying images including a display panel. The display panel
has a patterned planarization layer which improves a bonding force
between two substrates of the display panel. Thus, the peeling
issue found in the manufacturing of conventional liquid crystal
display panels is prevented from occurring. Further, the yield of
the liquid crystal display panels is enhanced.
[0008] According to an embodiment, a system for displaying images
including a display panel is provided. The display panel has a
display area and a peripheral area surrounding the display area.
The display panel comprises a metal layer disposed on a first
substrate. A patterned planarization layer is disposed on the metal
layer, having at least one opening corresponding to the peripheral
area, wherein a portion of the metal layer is exposed through the
opening. A second substrate is disposed opposite to the first
substrate. Further, a seal is disposed between the first and the
second substrates and at the peripheral area, wherein the seal
covers the metal layer through the opening of the patterned
planarization layer.
[0009] A detailed description is given in the following embodiments
with reference to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] The disclosure can be more fully understood by reading the
subsequent detailed description and examples with reference to the
accompanying drawings, wherein:
[0011] FIGS. 1A-1E show schematic plane views of display panels
according to various embodiments of the invention;
[0012] FIG. 2A shows a cross section of a portion of the display
panel at the dotted line area 2A of FIG. 1A according to an
embodiment of the invention;
[0013] FIG. 2B shows a cross section of a portion of the display
panel at the dotted line area 2B of FIG. 1D according to an
embodiment of the invention;
[0014] FIG. 2C shows a cross section of a portion of the display
panel at the dotted line area 2C of FIG. 1E according to an
embodiment of the invention; and
[0015] FIG. 3 schematically shows a system for displaying images
including the display panel according to an embodiment of the
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0016] The description is provided for illustrating the general
principles of the invention and is not meant to be limiting. The
scope of the invention is best determined by reference to the
appended claims.
[0017] In embodiments of the invention, a patterned planarization
layer is formed on a substrate of a display panel. The patterned
planarization layer is disposed between a seal and a metal layer
and an insulating layer formed on the substrate. A contact area
between the seal and the metal layer and the insulating layer is
increased through the design of the patterned planarization layer.
Thus, a bonding force between two substrates of the display panel
is enhanced to prevent the peeling issue found in the manufacturing
of conventional liquid crystal display panels from occurring.
[0018] Referring to FIG. 1A, a plane view of a display panel 100
according to an embodiment of the invention is shown. The display
panel 100 has a display area 100A and a peripheral area 100B
surrounding the display area 100A. A seal 110 is disposed at the
peripheral area 100B for bonding two substrates (not shown) of the
display panel 100 together. Furthermore, the display panel 100 has
a patterned planarization layer 108, which has a loop-shaped
opening 109A disposed corresponding to the peripheral area 100B.
Moreover, the loop-shaped opening 109A is disposed corresponding to
an area of the seal 110.
[0019] Referring to FIG. 2A, a cross section of a portion of the
display panel 100 at the dotted line area 2A of FIG. 1A according
to an embodiment of the invention is shown. As shown in FIG. 2A,
the display panel 100 includes a first substrate 102, such as an
array substrate. An insulating layer 104 and a metal layer 106 are
formed on the first substrate 102. The material of the insulating
layer 104 is for example silicon oxide (SiOx), silicon nitride
(SiNx) or a combination thereof, which may be used for an
insulating material layer of TFTs. The material of the metal layer
106 may be an electrically conductive material such as titanium,
aluminum, molybdenum, manganese, copper, zinc, tin, gold or silver,
which can be used as metal wires for the scan lines and the data
lines to electrically connect with the TFTs. The patterned
planarization layer 108 is formed on the insulating layer 104 and
the metal layer 106, having the loop-shaped opening 109A to expose
a portion of the insulating layer 104 and a portion of the metal
layer 106. The material of the patterned planarization layer 108 is
for example an organic photoresist made of acrylic-based materials,
which can be processed by an exposure and a development process to
form the loop-shaped opening 109A.
[0020] The display panel 100 further includes a second substrate
120, such as a CF substrate, which is disposed opposite to the
first substrate 102. A color filter layer 122 is formed on the
second substrate 120. The seal 110 is disposed between the first
substrate 102 and the second substrate 120 for bonding with each
other. The material of the seal 110 is for example an adhesion
agent made of acrylic-based materials or epoxy resin, which can be
processed by a coating process to form the seal 110.
[0021] According to the characteristics of the materials of the
seal 110, the insulating layer 104, the metal layer 106 and the
patterned planarization layer 108, the adhesion force between the
seal 110, the insulating layer 104 and the metal layer 106 is
greater than the adhesion force between the patterned planarization
layer 108, the insulating layer 104 and the metal layer 106. In an
embodiment, using the design of the loop-shaped opening 109A of the
patterned planarization layer 108, the seal 110 contacts the
portions of the insulating layer 104 and the metal layer 106
exposed through the loop-shaped opening 109A. Thus, bonding ability
between the first substrate 102 and the second substrate 120 is
enhanced. In an embodiment, the area of the opening of the
patterned planarization layer 108 may be 5% to 100% of the area of
the seal 110, wherein at least greater than 10% is preferred. The
area of the opening of the patterned planarization layer 108 is
larger, and thus a contact area among the seal 110, the insulating
layer 104 and the metal layer 106 on the first substrate 102 is
larger. Therefore, the bonding ability between the first substrate
102 and the second substrate 120 is higher.
[0022] Referring to FIG. 1B, a plane view of a display panel 100
according to another embodiment of the invention is shown. In this
embodiment, the patterned planarization layer 108 has L-shaped
holes 109B disposed at four corners of the peripheral area 100B of
the display panel 100 and the L-shaped holes 109B correspond to the
area of the seal 110. A contact area among the seal 110, the
insulating layer 104 and the metal layer 106 is increased by the
design of the L-shaped holes 109B. The peeling issue easily occurs
at the four corners of the display panel 100 when stress is applied
to the display panel 100. Thus, when a shock test is performed to
the display panel 100, the design of the four L-shaped holes 109B
of the patterned planarization layer 108 prevents the display panel
100 from failing in the shock test due to peeling.
[0023] Referring to FIG. 1C, a plane view of a display panel 100
according to further another embodiment of the invention is shown.
In this embodiment, the patterned planarization layer 108 has a
plurality of holes 109C disposed at the peripheral area 100B of the
display panel 100 and the holes 109C correspond to the area of the
seal 110. A contact area among the seal 110, the insulating layer
104 and the metal layer 106 is increased by the design of the holes
109C. In the embodiments, the shape of the holes 109C may be any
shape. Further, the amount, the size and the distribution position
of the holes 109C are not limited to FIG. 1C. The area of the holes
109C is at least more than 10% of the area of the seal 110.
[0024] Referring to FIG. 1D, a plane view of a display panel 100
according to another embodiment of the invention is shown. In this
embodiment, the patterned planarization layer 108 is disposed
outside of the seal 110 and at the display area 100A. The patterned
planarization layer 108 is not disposed at the peripheral area
100B, such that the seal 110 completely covers the insulating layer
104 and the metal layer 106 at the peripheral area 100B to enhance
the bonding strength between the first substrate 102 and the second
substrate 120.
[0025] Referring to FIG. 2B, a cross section of a portion of the
display panel 100 at the dotted line area 2B of FIG. 1D according
to an embodiment of the invention is shown. As compared with the
display panel of FIG. 2A, the display panel 100 of FIG. 2B further
includes a passivation layer 112 disposed between the patterned
planarization layer 108 and the insulating layer 104 and the metal
layer 106. Because the patterned planarization layer 108 of the
display panel 100 of FIG. 2B is only disposed at the display area
100A, the metal layer 106 may be corroded by moisture or oxygen
before coating the seal 110. After coating the seal 110, the metal
layer 106 also may be corroded due to the seal 110 not being
accurately coated at an exact position and the metal layer 106 not
completely being covered with the seal 110. In order to overcome
the above mentioned problems, in this embodiment, the passivation
layer 112 is formed on the metal layer 106 to completely cover the
insulating layer 104 and the metal layer 106. The material of the
passivation layer 112 may be silicon oxide (SiOx), silicon nitride
(SiNx) or other suitable insulating materials. According to the
characteristics of the materials of the seal 110, the passivation
layer 112 and the patterned planarization layer 108, the adhesion
force between the seal 110 and the passivation layer 112 is greater
than the adhesion force between patterned planarization layer 108
and the passivation layer 112. Thus, the peeling issue occurring
between the first substrate 102 and the second substrate 120 is
effectively prevented.
[0026] Referring to FIG. 1E, a plane view of a display panel 100
according to another embodiment of the invention is shown. In this
embodiment, an opening 109 of the patterned planarization layer 108
has an area greater than or equal to the area of the seal 110.
Therefore, the seal 110 completely covers portions of the
insulating layer 104 and the metal layer 106 exposed by the opening
109 to enhance the bonding strength between the first substrate 102
and the second substrate 120.
[0027] Referring to FIG. 2C, a cross section of a portion of the
display panel 100 at the dotted line area 2C of FIG. 1E according
to an embodiment of the invention is shown. As compared with the
display panel of FIG. 2A, the display panel 100 of FIG. 2C further
includes a passivation layer 114 disposed above the patterned
planarization layer 108. The portions of the insulating layer 104
and the metal layer 106 exposed by the opening 109 are completely
covered with the passivation layer 114. The material of the
passivation layer 114 may be silicon oxide (SiOx), silicon nitride
(SiNx) or other suitable insulating materials. According to the
characteristics of the materials of the seal 110, the passivation
layer 114 and the patterned planarization layer 108, the adhesion
force between the seal 110 and the passivation layer 114 is greater
than the adhesion force between patterned planarization layer 108
and the passivation layer 114. Thus, the peeling issue occurring
between the first substrate 102 and the second substrate 120 is
effectively prevented. Moreover, before coating the seal 110, the
passivation layer 114 prevents the metal layer 106 from being
corroded by moisture or oxygen. After coating the seal 110, the
metal layer 106 may be corroded due to the seal 110 not being
accurately coated at an exact position and the metal layer 106 not
being completely covered by the seal 110. However, the passivation
layer 114 mitigates the above mentioned issues to prevent the metal
layer 106 from corrosion.
[0028] As the above mentions, the display panels 100 of the
embodiments use the design of the patterned planarization layer 108
to increase the contact area between the seal 110 and the
insulating layer 104 and the metal layer 106 on the first substrate
102, or to increase the contact area between the seal 110 and the
passivation layer 112 or 114 on the first substrate 102. Therefore,
the bonding force between first substrate 102 and the second
substrate 120 is enhanced to prevent the display panel 100 from
failure which is caused by peeling issue. Moreover, the production
yield of the display panel 100 is also enhanced.
[0029] In an embodiment of the display panel 100, a liquid crystal
layer (not shown) is sandwiched between the first substrate 102 and
the second substrate 120. Moreover, the display panel 100 can
further include a pair of polarizers (not shown) disposed on the
outer sides of the first substrate 102 and the second substrate 120
respectively to complete the fabrication of a liquid crystal
display panel.
[0030] Referring to FIG. 3, a system 400 for displaying images
according to an embodiment of the invention is shown. The system
400 for displaying images includes a display 200, for example a
liquid crystal display. The display 200 includes a display panel
100 according to an embodiment of the invention. The display 200
can be a part of an electronic device. In general, the system 400
for displaying images includes the display 200 and a control unit
300. The control unit 300 is coupled with the display 200 to
provide an input to the display 200, such that the display 200
displays images. The above mentioned electronic device can be a
mobile phone, a digital camera, a personal data assistant (PDA), a
notebook computer, a desktop computer, a television, a car display
or a portable DVD player.
[0031] While the invention has been described by way of example and
in terms of embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention
is not limited thereto. To the contrary, it is intended to cover
various modifications and similar arrangements (as would be
apparent to those skilled in the art). Therefore, the scope of the
appended claims should be accorded the broadest interpretation so
as to encompass all such modifications and similar
arrangements.
* * * * *