Patent Publication Number: US-7903225-B2

Title: Display and tape carrier package structure

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a divisional of an application Ser. No. 11/161,588, filed on Aug. 9, 2005, now pending. The entirety of each of the above-mentioned patent applications is hereby incorporated by reference herein and made a part of this specification. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention generally relates to a display. More particularly, the present invention relates to a display with a tape carrier package (TCP) structure or with a package structure of chip on flexible printed circuit board (chip on FPC, COF). 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     As the video technology advances drastically, a variety of display devices has been developed. In general, a conventional display includes a display panel for displaying image. The display panel is controlled by a circuit board. The chip on the circuit board computes and provides digital signals in order to control the pixels of the display panel for displaying image and to generate a frame of image. In general, a package structure has to be electrically connected between the circuit board and the display panel. 
     A conventional tape carrier package (TCP) structure or a chip on flexible printed circuit board (chip-on-FPC, COF) package structure is a design for packaging the semiconductor chip to a small size unit. The technology is broadly used to package the liquid crystal display driving integrated chip (LDI). 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic top view of a display using a conventional tape carrier package structure. Referring to  FIG. 1 , a display  100  includes a display panel  110 , at least a circuit board  120  and at least a tape carrier package structure  130 . The circuit board  120  is disposed at a side of the display panel  110 , and the tape carrier package structure  130  is electrically connected between the display panel  110  and the circuit board  120 . 
       FIG. 2  is a schematic cross-sectional view of the tape carrier package structure taken along a line A-A′ of  FIG. 1 . Referring to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , the tape carrier package structure  130  includes a substrate  132 , a plurality of leads  134  and a chip  136 . The substrate  132  has an opening  132   a . The leads  134  are disposed around the opening  132   a  of the substrate  132 , and each lead  134  has an inner lead  134   a  and an outer lead  134   b . A portion of the outer lead  134   b  is electrically connected to the display panel  110  and another portion of the outer lead  134   b  is electrically connected to the corresponding circuit board  120  by using anisotropic conductive film (ACF)  140 . The chip  136  is disposed close to the opening  132   a  of the substrate  132 . In addition, the chip  136  has a plurality of contact points  136   a  electrically connected to the inner lead  134   a . Moreover, a sealing material  150  covers the chip  136  of the tape carrier package structure  130 . 
     However, in the package process of the display panel  110  and the circuit board  120  using the tape carrier package structure  130 , the influence of particles on the yield of the package process should be considered. 
       FIG. 3  is a schematic cross-sectional side view of the tape carrier package structure, a portion of the display panel and a portion of the circuit board along line B-B′ of  FIG. 1 . Referring to  FIG. 3 , a conventional tape carrier package structure  130  is electrically connected to the display panel  110  and the circuit board  120  by using the anisotropic conductive film  140 . However, a bevel region  112  is generally designed on the display panel  110 . Since variation may occur when bonding the package structure and the display panel  110 , in general, the anisotropic conductive film  140  is moved towards the inner side of the display panel  110  for adhesion so that the anisotropic conductive film  140  may be far away from the bevel region  112 . 
     However, as described above, a larger space is formed in the bonding region of the display panel  110  and the anisotropic conductive film  140 . Consequently, particles  160  are easily to fall in the space. Accordingly, abnormal short circuit or open circuit may be occurred between the package structure  130  and the display panel  110 . 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Therefore, the present invention is directed to a display for preventing accumulation of particles in the region between the display panel and the package structure. Therefore, the yield of manufacturing the display may be enhanced and the lifetime of the display is also increased. 
     In addition, the present invention is also directed to a carrier package structure for preventing accumulation of particles in the region between the display panel and the package structure. Therefore, the yield of manufacturing the display may be enhanced and the lifetime of the display is also increased. 
     The present invention provides a display. The display comprises a display panel, at least a circuit board and at least a tape carrier package structure. The circuit board is disposed at a side of the display panel, and the tape carrier package structure is disposed between the display panel and the circuit board. The tape carrier package structure comprises a substrate, a plurality of leads, a chip and a blocking bar. The substrate includes an opening. The leads are disposed around an opening of the substrate, and each of the leads comprises an inner lead and an outer lead. In addition, a portion of the outer leads is electrically connected to the display panel, and another portion of the outer leads is electrically connected to the circuit board correspondingly. The chip is disposed at the opening of the substrate and comprises a plurality of contact points electrically connected to the inner leads. The blocking bar is disposed on the substrate between the chip and the display panel. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, the tape carrier package structure further comprises another blocking bar disposed on the substrate between the chip and the circuit board. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, the blocking bar and the substrate are formed as an integral structure. 
     In another embodiment of the present invention, the blocking bar is adhered to the substrate. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, the display further comprises an anisotropic conductive film disposed between the outer leads of the tape carrier package structure and the display panel so that the tape carrier package structure and the display panel are electrically connected. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, the display further comprises an anisotropic conductive film disposed between the outer leads of the tape carrier package structure and the circuit board so that the tape carrier package structure and the circuit board are electrically connected. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, the display further comprises a sealing material covering the chip of the tape carrier package structure. 
     The present invention further provides a display. The display comprises a display panel and at least a package structure of chip on FPC. The package structure of chip on FPC is disposed at a side of the display panel. Each package structure of chip on FPC comprises a flexible printed circuit board, a chip and a blocking bar. The flexible printed circuit board comprises at least two isolation layers and at least a conducting wire layer disposed between the two isolation layers. The chip is disposed on the flexible printed circuit board. Wherein, the chip comprises a plurality of contact points electrically connected to the conductive layer of the flexible printed circuit board. The blocking bar is disposed on the isolation layer of the flexible printed circuit board between the chip and the display panel. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, the blocking bar and the isolation layer of the flexible printed circuit board may be formed as an integral structure. 
     In another embodiment of the present invention, the blocking bar may be adhered to the isolation layer of the flexible printed circuit board. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, the display may further comprise an anisotropic conductive film disposed between the package structure of chip on FPC and the display panel so that the package structure of chip on FPC and the display panel are electrically connected. 
     The present invention provides a tape carrier package structure. The tape carrier package structure comprises a substrate, a plurality of leads, a chip and a blocking bar. The substrate has an opening. A plurality of leads is disposed around the opening of the substrate. Each lead comprises an inner lead and an outer lead. The chip is disposed at the opening of the substrate and comprises a plurality of contact points electrically connected to the inner leads. The blocking bar is disposed on the substrate at a side of the chip. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, the tape carrier package structure further comprises another blocking bar disposed on the substrate at another side of the chip. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, the blocking bar and the substrate may be formed as an integral structure. 
     In another embodiment of the present invention, the blocking bar may be adhered to the substrate. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, the tape carrier package structure may further comprise an anisotropic conductive film disposed between the outer leads of the tape carrier package structure and the display panel so that the tape carrier package structure and the display panel are electrically connected. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, the tape carrier package structure may further comprise an anisotropic conductive film disposed between the outer leads of the tape carrier package structure and the circuit board so that the tape carrier package structure and the circuit board may be electrically connected. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, the tape carrier package structure may further comprise a sealing material for covering the chip of the tape carrier package structure. 
     Accordingly, in the present invention, since a carrier package structure with blocking bar or a package structure of chip on FPC with blocking bar is provided, when the display is packaged, particles are prevented from entering the region between the panel and the package structure. Therefore, the problem of short circuit or open circuit between the package structure and the display panel is prevented, the yield of manufacturing the display is improved and the lifetime of the display is enhanced. 
     One or part or all of these and other features and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in this art from the following description wherein there is shown and described one embodiment of this invention, simply by way of illustration of one of the modes best suited to carry out the invention. As it will be realized, the invention is capable of different embodiments, and its several details are capable of modifications in various, obvious aspects all without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions will be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic top view of a display using a conventional tape carrier package structure. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic cross-sectional view of the tape carrier package structure taken along a line A-A′ of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic cross-sectional side view of the tape carrier package structure, a portion of the display panel and a portion of the circuit board along line B-B′ of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic top view of a display according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic cross-sectional view of the tape carrier package structure taken along a line C-C′ of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic cross-sectional side view of the tape carrier package structure, a portion of the display panel and a portion of the circuit board along line C-C′ of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic local back-side view of a tape carrier package structure of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic view of a display packaged by chip on FPC structure according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic cross-sectional view of a flexible printed circuit board along line E-E′ of  FIG. 8 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. 
       FIG. 4  is a schematic top view of a display according to one embodiment of the present invention. Referring to  FIG. 4 , a display  200  comprises a display panel  210 , at least a circuit board  220  and at least a tape carrier package structure  230 . The display panel  210  includes a display area  212  and a non-display area  214 . The display area  212  includes a plurality of scan lines  212   a  and a plurality of data lines  212   b . A plurality of pixel units  212   c  are defined by the scan lines  212   a  and the data lines  212   b . If the display  200  is a liquid crystal display (LCD), each pixel unit  212   c  comprises, for example, a thin film transistor (TFT) (not shown), a liquid crystal layer (not shown) and a color filter (not shown). The pixel unit  212   c  displays images via the voltage signals provided by the scan lines  212   a  and the data lines  212   b . In addition, some peripheral circuits disposed in the non-display area  214  may be adopted for electrically connection with the tape carrier package structure  230 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , the circuit board  220  is disposed at a side of the display panel  210 , and the tape carrier package structure  230  is disposed between the display panel  210  and circuit board  220 . Therefore, the tape carrier package structure  230  is used for electrically connecting the display panel  210  and the circuit board  220 . 
       FIG. 5  is a schematic cross-sectional view of the tape carrier package structure taken along a line C-C′ of  FIG. 4 . Referring to  FIG. 5 , the tape carrier package structure  230  comprises a substrate  232 , a plurality of leads  234 , a chip  236  and a blocking bar  238 . The substrate  232  comprises an opening  232   a . The leads  234  are disposed around the opening  232   a  of the substrate  232 , wherein each lead  234  comprises an inner lead  234   a  and an outer lead  234   b . As shown in  FIG. 4 , by using the anisotropic conductive film  240 , a portion of the outer leads  234   b  are electrically connected to the display panel  210 , and another portion of the outer leads  210  are electrically connected to the corresponding circuit board  220 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , the chip  236  is disposed around the opening  232   a  of the substrate  232  and comprises a plurality of contact points  236   a . Wherein, the contact points  236   a  are electrically connected to the inner lead  234   a . In one embodiment of the present invention, a sealing material  250  may further provide for covering the chip  236  in the tape carrier package structure  230  to avoid the damage of the chip  236  and the contact points  236   a  contacted to the inner leads  234   a  by moisture or oxygen. The blocking bar  238  shown in  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5  will be described in detail as follows. 
       FIG. 6  is a schematic cross-sectional side view of the tape carrier package structure, a portion of the display panel and a portion of the circuit board along line C-C′ of  FIG. 4 .  FIG. 7  is a schematic local back-side view of a tape carrier package structure of  FIG. 4 . Referring to  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 7 , note that the blocking bar  238  disposed over the substrate  232  between the chip  236  and the display panel  210  is to prevent particles  260  from entering the region between the display panel  210  and the carrier package structure  230 . Therefore, the package structure with the blocking bar  238  eliminates the abnormal short circuit or open circuit due to the particles  260 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 7 , in another embodiment of the present invention, each tape carrier package structure  230  may further comprise another blocking bar  238   a  disposed over the substrate  232  between the chip  236  and the circuit board  220  to prevent the particles  260  from entering the region between the carrier package structure  230  and the circuit board  220 . In other words, if the two blocking bar  238 ,  238   a  are disposed simultaneously, prevention of the particles  260  entering the carrier package structure  230  can be improved. 
     In addition, in one embodiment of the present invention, the blocking bar  238  and the substrate  232  may be, for example, formed as an integral structure. In other words, the blocking bar  238  may be formed on the carrier tape of the manufacturing tape carrier package structure  230  when the carrier tape is manufactured. Moreover, the blocking bar  238  may also be adhered on the substrate  232 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 6 , in one embodiment of the present invention, an anisotropic conductive film  240  may further be disposed between the outer lead  234   b  of each tape carrier package structure  230  and the display panel  210  so that the tape carrier package structure  230  and the display panel  210  can be electrically connected. In addition, another anisotropic conductive film  240  may also be disposed between the outer lead  234   b  of each tape carrier package structure  230  and the circuit board  220  so that the tape carrier package structure  230  and the circuit board  220  can be electrically connected. The anisotropic conductive film  240  comprises a gel composed of metal particles and polymer material. The carrier package structure  230 , the display panel  210  and the circuit board  220  can be electrically connected for transmitting electronic signals by using the anisotropic conductive film  240 . 
     In the present invention, since the tape carrier package structure  230  includes a blocking bar  238 , and the blocking bar  238  may be disposed on the substrate  232  at a side of the chip  236   a , so that the blocking bar  238  may be provided for preventing the entering of the particles  260  into the region between the chip  236  and the display panel  210 . Therefore, the abnormal short circuit or open circuit due to the particles  260  can be avoided. 
     In another embodiment of the present invention, each tape carrier package structure  230  may comprise, for example, another blocking bar  238   a  (as shown in  FIG. 6 ) disposed on the substrate  232  at another side of the chip  236 . The blocking bar  238   a  and substrate  232  may be formed as an integral structure or adhered on the substrate  232 . The tape carrier package structure  230  with the blocking bar will effectively block particles. Therefore, the tape carrier package structure  230  of the present invention will enhance the yield of electricity contact. Thus, the present invention may not only be applied to various displays, but also to package structures such as mobile phones, notebooks or other electronic products so that the stability of the electronic products can be enhanced. 
       FIG. 8  is a schematic view of a display packaged by chip on FPC structure according to one embodiment of the present invention. Referring to  FIG. 8 , the display  300  comprises a display panel  310  and at least a package structure  320  of chip on flexible printed circuits board (chip on FPC, COF). The display panel  310  comprises a display area  312  and a non-display area  314 . The display area  312  comprises a plurality of scan lines  312   a  and a plurality of data lines  312   b . Wherein, a plurality of pixel units  312   c  is defined by the scan lines  312   a  and the data lines  312   b . If the display  300  is a liquid crystal display, each pixel unit  312   c  comprises, for example, a thin film transistor (TFT) (not shown), a liquid crystal layer (not shown) and a color filter (not shown). If the display  300  is an organic electroluminescence display (OLED), thus the pixel unit  312   c  comprises, for example, an active component (not shown) and an organic electroluminescence (OEL) component (not shown). Accordingly, the pixel unit  312   c  displays images by the electronic signals transmitted from the scan lines  312   a  and the data lines  312   b.    
     Referring to  FIG. 8 , the package structure  320  of chip on FPC is disposed at a side of the display panel  310 . Each package structure  320  of the chip on FPC includes a flexible printed circuit board  322 , a chip  324  and a blocking bar  326 . 
       FIG. 9  is a schematic cross-sectional view of a flexible printed circuit board along line E-E′ of  FIG. 8 . Referring to  FIG. 9 , the flexible printed circuit board  322  comprises at least two isolation layers  322   a  and  322   b  and at least a conducting wire layer  322   c  disposed between the two isolation layers  322   a  and  322   b . The chip  324  is disposed over the flexible printed circuit board  322 . In addition, the chip  324  comprises a plurality of contact points  324   a  electrically connected to the conductive layer  322   c  of the flexible printed circuit board  322 . Referring to  FIG. 8 , note that the blocking bar  326  is disposed on the isolation layer  322   b  of the flexible printed circuit board  322  between the chip  324  and the display panel  310 . The blocking bar  326  will prevent particles (not shown) from entering the region between the display panel  310  and the chip  324  so that the abnormal short circuit or open circuit due to the particles can be avoided. 
     Next, referring to  FIG. 9 , in one embodiment of the present invention, the blocking bar  326  and the isolation layer  322   b  of the flexible printed circuit board  322  may be formed as an integral structure or may be adhered to the isolation layer  322   b  of the flexible printed circuit board  322 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 8 , in one embodiment of the present invention, an anisotropic conductive film  330  may further be disposed between the package structure  320  of the chip on FPC and the display panel  310  so that the package structure  320  of the chip on FPC and the display panel  310  may be electrically connected for transmitting electronic signals. 
     In summary, the display and tape carrier package structure of the present invention have the following advantages. 
     (1) The package structure of the display of the present invention includes blocking bar for preventing particles from entering the region between the chip and the panel. Therefore, the problem of abnormal short circuit or open circuit of the electronic components can be avoided. 
     (2) Application of the package structure of the present invention will enhance the yield of manufacturing the display so that the lifetime of the display can also be improved. 
     (3) The package structure of the present invention can be adopted for the package process of other electronic products to upgrade the stability of the electronic products. 
     The foregoing description of the embodiment of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form or to exemplary embodiments disclosed. Accordingly, the foregoing description should be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. Obviously, many modifications and variations will be apparent to practitioners skilled in this art. The embodiments are chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its best mode practical application, thereby to enable persons skilled in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use or implementation contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto and their equivalents in which all terms are meant in their broadest reasonable sense unless otherwise indicated. It should be appreciated that variations may be made in the embodiments described by persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims. Moreover, no element and component in the present disclosure is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether the element or component is explicitly recited in the following claims.