Patent ID: 6468822
Filing Date: 2002-10-22
Classification: G02F

Abstract:
A method for manufacturing an electro-optic element including a first insulating substrate wherein a display pixel having a pixel electrode in which a TFT is electrically connected is formed as an array, a TFT array substrate wherein a gate line for sequentially scanning each TFT intersects at right angles a source line which provides a signal potential to the pixel electrode and an opposite substrate having a second insulating substrate on which a color filter and a common electrode are formed, wherein the TFT array substrate and the opposite substrate are affixed with a liquid crystal layer interposed in-between and polarizers are placed outside the TFT array substrate and the opposite substrate, respectively, comprising the steps:(a) forming the above gate line and the gate electrodes of the TFT by patterning a first metal thin film by a first photolithography process after forming the first metal thin film on the first insulating substrate; (b) patterning by dry etching a semiconductor active film and an ohmic contact film by a second photolithography process wherein the semiconductor active film and the ohmic contact film are formed in a continuous shape and are larger than a portion in which the source line and the TFT are formed, wherein said patterning step occurs after forming a first insulating film, the semiconductor active film, and the ohmic contact film; (c) patterning a second metal thin film by a third photolithography process after forming the second metal thin film to form a source line as well as a source electrode and a drain electrode of the TFT and etch-removing by dry etching the ohmic contact film protruding from the source line, the source electrode, and the drain electrode; (d) patterning a second insulating film and the first insulating film by a fourth photolithography process after forming the second insulating film and forming a pixel contact hole that penetrates at least to the drain electrode surface, a first contact hole that penetrates to the first metal thin film surface, and a second contact hole that penetrates the second metal thin film surface; and (e) patterning an amorphous transparent conductive thin film and forming the pixel electrode by a fifth photolithography process after forming the amorphous transparent conductive thin film and (f) crystallizing the pixel electrode with properties being stabilized by annealing, wherein the above first metal thin film comprises at least two layers having a first layer comprising metal and a second layer thereon obtained by adding nitrogen atoms on a metal, and each of the above first and second metal thin films is one selected from the group consisting of Al, Ag and an alloy comprising Al or Ag as a main component.