Patent Description:
Owing to technological advancement, electronic products are increasingly lightweight, thin or compact in order to meet consumer needs. Hence, display devices nowadays are no longer restricted to cathode ray tubes (CRT) but develop into thin display units. The thin display units can be applied to cellular phones, cameras, camcorders, laptops, mobile navigation devices, vehicle dashboards, electronic watches, and TV sets. Related manufacturers not only endeavor to develop thinner display devices but also attach great importance to thin bezel design.

However, wirings and components will surround a non-display area or an opening in the event of the presence of the non-display area on a display panel or the presence of the opening on a substrate. Furthermore, owning to process-related limitation, the non-display area is unfit for thin bezel design and thus fails to meet consumer needs.

Therefore, it is imperative to provide a display device that overcomes wiring-related limitation and thus has thin bezels even when a display panel comprises a non-display area or even when a substrate comprises an opening.

<CIT> discloses a display panel and a display apparatus, so as to reduce the width dimension of the peripheral profiled area of the display panel. The display area of the display panel has an opening structure, the peripheral area includes a peripheral profiled area matching the shape of the opening structure, the display panel includes a plurality of first signal lines and a plurality of second signal lines extending to the peripheral profiled area, and a first multipath selector, a second multipath selector, and a plurality of main lines that are arranged in the peripheral profiled area, the first multipath selector includes a plurality of first selection circuits correspondingly connected with the first signal lines one by one, the second multipath selector includes a plurality of second selection circuits correspondingly connected with the second signal lines one by one and corresponding to the first selection circuits one by one, one end of each main line is connected with at least two first selection circuits, the other end of each main line is connected with the second selection circuits corresponding to the at least two first selection circuits, and each first selection circuit and each second selection circuit are provided with switch components.

<CIT> discloses a liquid crystal panel which has a plurality of data lines, a plurality of scan lines and a plurality of display units. Each of the scan lines has a second metal wiring layer, a third metal wiring layer located above the second metal wiring layer, and two transparent conductive lines. The transparent conductive lines are spaced apart from each other and located between the second and third metal wiring layers. The second and third metal wiring layers can form a parallel connection by electrically connecting the second metal wiring layer with the third metal wiring layer, so that the impedance of the scan lines can be reduced.

<CIT> discloses a display panel. The display panel is provided with a display area and a non-display area surrounding the display area. The display panel comprises a plurality of first electrodes extending in the first direction, a first flexible circuit board arranged in the non-display area and a plurality of conductive connection mechanisms, wherein the first flexible circuit board is provided with extending parts extending in the second direction, the extending parts are located in the non-display area on the two sides of the display area, the first flexible circuit board further comprises a plurality of wires at least extending to the extending parts, and the conductive connection mechanisms electrically connect the wires with the first electrodes. According to the display panel, the impedance of signal outgoing lines of detection electrodes can be reduced, and a lower frame of the display panel can be reduced.

<CIT> discloses a liquid crystal display (LCD) device having a common electrode substrate, the device includes a substrate body, a common electrode disposed on the substrate body, and a peripheral first circuit disposed on the substrate body. The peripheral first circuit and the common electrode are electrically separate from each other, and the peripheral first circuit extends along at least a portion of a peripheral region of the substrate body.

The present disclosure provides a display device comprising: a substrate comprising a display area and a non-display area, wherein the display area surrounds the non-display area; a first conductive layer disposed on the substrate and corresponding to the display area, wherein the first conductive layer comprises a first line segment, a second line segment, and a third line segment, the first line segment and the second line segment are disposed at two sides of the non-display area, and the third line segment is disposed parallel to the first line segment; a second conductive layer disposed on the substrate and corresponding to the display area, wherein the second conductive layer and the first conductive layer cross from top view; a third conductive layer disposed on the substrate and comprising a first connection line electrically connected to the first line segment and the second line segment, and a projection of the first connection line is overlapped with at least a portion of the third line segment from top view; a first insulating layer disposed between the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer, wherein the first insulating layer further comprises a first hole and a second hole; a second insulating layer disposed between the second conductive layer and the third conductive layer, wherein the second insulating layer further comprises a third hole and a fourth hole, wherein the first connection line of the third conductive layer is electrically connected to the first line segment via the first hole and the third hole; and wherein the third conductive layer is electrically connected to the second line segment via the second hole and the fourth hole.

The implementation of the present disclosure is hereunder illustrated by specific embodiments. Persons skilled in the art can easily understand the other advantages and effects of the present disclosure by referring to the disclosure contained herein. The present disclose can also be implemented or applied by the other different specific embodiments. Depending on different viewpoints and applications, various modifications and changes can be made to the details disclosed herein without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure.

Ordinal numbers, such as 'first', 'second' and 'third', used hereunder describe claimed components but do not state implicitly or explicitly what order the claimed components are previously in, whether a claimed component precedes or follows another claimed component, or what order the steps of a manufacturing method are in. The sole purpose of the ordinal numbers is to distinguish a claimed component from another claimed component when the two claimed components are named exactly the same as each other.

Direction-related prepositions and adjectives used herein, such as "on", "upper", "above", "under", "lower" and "below", describe aforesaid two components either in direct contact with each other or not in direct contact with each other.

Features described hereunder in any one of the embodiments of the present disclosure can be combined to form another embodiment.

<FIG> is a top view of a portion of a display device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. <FIG> is a cross-sectional view of the display device taken along line M-M' of <FIG>. First, this embodiment of the present disclosure provides a substrate <NUM>. The substrate <NUM> comprises a display area A and a non-display area B. A photolithography or etching process is performed on the substrate <NUM> to form a first metal layer (functioning as a first conductive layer <NUM>) and then on the first conductive layer <NUM> to form a first insulating layer <NUM>. The aforesaid steps are repeated to form a second metal layer (functioning as a second conductive layer <NUM>) and a second insulating layer <NUM> consecutively. Afterward, a third metal layer (functioning as a third conductive layer <NUM>) is formed on the second insulating layer <NUM>, and then a third insulating layer <NUM> is formed thereon. The third conductive layer <NUM> comprises a first connection line <NUM>. The first insulating layer <NUM> comprises a first hole <NUM>. The second insulating layer comprises a second hole <NUM>. The first conductive layer <NUM> and the first connection line <NUM> extend into the first hole <NUM> and the second hole <NUM>. The first conductive layer <NUM> and the first connection line <NUM> contact and electrically connected with each other.

The substrate <NUM> is a glass substrate, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The first conductive layer <NUM>, the second conductive layer <NUM>, and the third conductive layer <NUM> may comprise metal, such as gold, silver, copper, aluminum, molybdenum, titanium, chromium or an alloy thereof, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The first connection line <NUM> may comprises metal or metallic oxide, such as Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) or Indium Zinc Oxide (IZO), or any other conductive material, as needed, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The first conductive layer <NUM>, the second conductive layer <NUM>, and the third conductive layer <NUM> may be made of the same material or different materials, provided that the result of a sheet impedance of the first connection line <NUM> of the third conductive layer <NUM> divided by a sheet impedance of the first conductive layer <NUM> electrically connected to the first connection line <NUM> is greater than <NUM> and less than or equal to <NUM>. The first conductive layer <NUM>, the second conductive layer <NUM>, and the third conductive layer <NUM> are each independently a monolayer or multilayer structure as needed. The first insulating layer <NUM>, the second insulating layer <NUM> and the third insulating layer <NUM> may comprise silicon oxide, silicon nitride or a combination thereof, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

A display device in an embodiment of the present disclosure comprises: a substrate <NUM> comprising a display area A and a non-display area B; a first conductive layer <NUM> disposed on the substrate <NUM> and corresponding to the display area A; a second conductive layer <NUM> disposed on the substrate <NUM> and corresponding to the display area A, wherein, the second conductive layer <NUM> and the first conductive layer <NUM> cross from top view; a first insulating layer <NUM> disposed between the first conductive layer <NUM> and the second conductive layer <NUM>; a third conductive layer <NUM> disposed on the substrate <NUM> and corresponding to the non-display area B, the third conductive layer <NUM> comprising a first connection line <NUM>; and a second insulating layer <NUM> disposed between the second conductive layer <NUM> and the third conductive layer <NUM>, wherein, the first conductive layer <NUM> is electrically connected to the first connection line <NUM> of the third conductive layer <NUM>, and the result of a sheet impedance of the first connection line <NUM> of the third conductive layer <NUM> divided by a sheet impedance of the first conductive layer <NUM> electrically connected to the first connection line <NUM> is greater than <NUM> and less than or equal to <NUM>. According to the claimed invention, the non-display area B is surrounded by the display area A. However, in another examples not falling within the scope of the claimed invention, the non-display area B is near the display area A, or the display area A is near just a portion of the non-display area B, as needed. The shape of the non-display area B is not limited by this embodiment and thus may be rectangular, round, polygonal or irregular. The routing of the first conductive layer <NUM>, second conductive layer <NUM> or third conductive layer <NUM> may conform to the shape of the non-display area B.

The first conductive layer <NUM> functions as a scan line, and the second conductive layer <NUM> functions as a data line, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The first conductive layer <NUM> may also function as a data line, or the second conductive layer <NUM> may also function as a scan line. When the non-display area B comprises a non-circuit area C which are not overlapped with the first conductive layer <NUM>, the second conductive layer <NUM> or the third conductive layer <NUM> but is spaced apart from the display area A by an overly short distance, a short circuit may easily develop between adjacent scan lines or adjacent data lines, because the scan lines or data lines must circumvent the non-circuit area C in order to transmit a signal. On the other hand, the display device cannot have thin bezels, when the distance between the non-circuit area C and the display area A is overly long. According to the present disclosure, the third conductive layer <NUM> is disposed in the non-display area B, whereas the third conductive layer <NUM> comprising a first connection line <NUM> electrically connected to the first conductive layer <NUM> via the first hole <NUM> and the second hole <NUM>; hence, the same signal can be transmitted for a limited distance without causing a short circuit, thereby allowing the display device to have thin bezels. In this embodiment, the third conductive layer <NUM> is electrically connected to the first conductive layer <NUM>, so as to transmit signals of the scan lines, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. In this embodiment, the non-circuit area C can be disposed centrally in the non-display area B and surrounded by the display area A. However, in another embodiment, the non-circuit area C can be near the display area A, or the non-circuit area C is near just a portion of the non-display area B, as needed. The shape of the non-circuit area C is not limited by this embodiment and thus may be rectangular, round, polygonal or irregular. The routing of the first conductive layer <NUM>, second conductive layer <NUM> or third conductive layer <NUM> may conform to the shape of the non-circuit area C.

<FIG> is a top view of a portion of the display device according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. The first conductive layer <NUM> comprises a second wiring <NUM> and a third wiring <NUM> electrically insulated with the second wiring <NUM>. The second wiring <NUM> is adjacent and parallel to the third wiring <NUM>. The second wiring <NUM> and the third wiring <NUM> extend in a first direction P. The first connection line <NUM> of the third conductive layer <NUM> is electrically connected to the second wiring <NUM>. The projection of the first connection line <NUM> on the substrate <NUM> is overlapped with at least a portion of the third wiring <NUM>.

In another embodiment of the present disclosure, the substrate <NUM> comprises an opening D disposed corresponding to the non-display area B. The opening D is not overlapped with the first conductive layer <NUM>, the second conductive layer <NUM>, or the third conductive layer <NUM>. The opening D may penetrate the substrate <NUM>.

This embodiment of the present disclosure is not restrictive of the position of the non-display area B. For instance, the non-display area B can be disposed at the center of the substrate <NUM>, an edge of the substrate <NUM>, or a corner of the substrate <NUM>, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the display area A of the display device comprises a plurality of pixel units <NUM>, and the non-display area B is disposed between at least two pixel units <NUM>. Preferably, each pixel unit <NUM> is of a width W, and the width of the non-display area B is greater than 2W.

In another embodiment of the present disclosure, as shown in <FIG>, the display area A surrounds the non-display area B, and the first conductive layer <NUM> comprises a first scan line segment <NUM>, a second scan line segment <NUM> and a third scan line segment <NUM> which extend in the first direction P. The first scan line segment <NUM> and the second scan line segment <NUM> are disposed corresponding to two sides of the non-display area B. The third scan line segment <NUM> is disposed parallel to the first scan line segment <NUM>. The first connection line <NUM> of the third conductive layer <NUM> is electrically connected to the first scan line segment <NUM> and the second scan line segment <NUM>. The projection of the first connection line <NUM> is overlapped with at least a portion of the third scan line segment <NUM> from top view. The first insulating layer <NUM> comprises a first through-hole <NUM> (indicated by a dashed line) and a second through-hole <NUM> (indicated by a dashed line). The first connection line <NUM> of the third conductive layer <NUM> electrically connects to the first scan line segment <NUM> via the first through-hole <NUM>. The first connection line <NUM> of the third conductive layer <NUM> electrically connects to the second scan line segment <NUM> via the second through-hole <NUM>. In this embodiment, the first connection line <NUM> and the third scan line segment <NUM> overlap at two points, namely a junction X, and the first connection line <NUM> and the third scan line segment <NUM> are electrically insulated at the junction X. In this embodiment, the third conductive layer <NUM> and the first conductive layer <NUM> are not necessarily made of metal. Instead, the first conductive layer <NUM> may comprise metal, whereas the third conductive layer <NUM> may comprise metallic oxide, such as ITO or IZO, or any other conductive material or metal, as needed, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The display device in this embodiment of the present disclosure will work well and can have thin bezels, provided that limitation on the distances between the wirings in the conductive layers is reduced.

<FIG> is a top view of a portion of the display device according to another embodiment of the present disclosure, not falling under the scope of the claimed invention, This embodiment is distinguished from embodiment <NUM> by the technical feature as follows: in this embodiment, the third conductive layer <NUM> and the second conductive layer <NUM> are electrically connected, so as to transmit signals of data lines, allowing the display device to have thin bezels. Referring to <FIG>, this embodiment has technical features as follows: the third conductive layer <NUM> comprises a second connection line <NUM>; the second conductive layer <NUM> is electrically connected to the second connection line <NUM> of the third conductive layer <NUM>; the result of a sheet impedance of the second connection line <NUM> of the third conductive layer <NUM> divided by a sheet impedance of the second conductive layer <NUM> electrically connected to the second connection line <NUM> is greater than <NUM> and less than or equal to <NUM>. <FIG> is a cross-sectional view of the display device taken along line N-N' of <FIG>. As shown in the diagram, the second connection line <NUM> of the third conductive layer <NUM> extends into the second hole <NUM> of the second insulating layer <NUM> and thus electrically connects to the second conductive layer <NUM>.

In another embodiment of the present disclosure, the second conductive layer <NUM> comprises a fourth wiring <NUM> and a fifth wiring <NUM> electrically insulated with the fourth wiring <NUM>. The fourth wiring <NUM> is adjacent and parallel to the fifth wiring <NUM>. The second connection line <NUM> of the third conductive layer <NUM> is electrically connected to the fourth wiring <NUM>. The projection of the second connection line <NUM> on the substrate <NUM> is overlapped with at least a portion of the fifth wiring <NUM>.

The materials which the substrate <NUM>, the first conductive layer <NUM>, the second conductive layer <NUM>, the third conductive layer <NUM>, the first insulating layer <NUM>, the second insulating layer <NUM>, and the third insulating layer <NUM> are made of and the positions of the display area A and non-display area B in this embodiment are the same as their counterparts in Embodiment <NUM> and thus are, for the sake of brevity, not described herein again. In this embodiment, the first conductive layer <NUM> functions as a scan line, and the second conductive layer <NUM> functions as a data line, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The first conductive layer <NUM> can also function as a data line, or the second conductive layer <NUM> can also function as a scan line.

In another embodiment of the present disclosure, as shown in <FIG>, the display area A surrounds the non-display area B, and the second conductive layer <NUM> comprises a first data line segment <NUM>, a second data line segment <NUM> and a third data line segment <NUM> which extend in a second direction Q. The first data line segment <NUM> and the second data line segment <NUM> are disposed corresponding to two sides of the non-display area B. The third data line segment <NUM> is parallel to the first data line segment <NUM>. The second connection line <NUM> of the third conductive layer <NUM> is electrically connected to the first data line segment <NUM> and the second data line segment <NUM>. The projection of the second connection line <NUM> is overlapped with at least a portion of the third data line segment <NUM> from top view. The second insulating layer <NUM> comprises a third through-hole <NUM> (indicated by a dashed line) and a fourth through-hole <NUM> (indicated by a dashed line). The second connection line <NUM> of the third conductive layer <NUM> electrically connects to the first data line segment <NUM> via the third through-hole <NUM>. The second connection line <NUM> of the third conductive layer <NUM> electrically connects to the second data line segment <NUM> via the fourth through-hole <NUM>. In this embodiment, the second connection line <NUM> and the third data line segment <NUM> overlap at two points, namely a junction Y, and the second connection line <NUM> and the third data line segment <NUM> are electrically insulated at the junction Y. In this embodiment, the third conductive layer <NUM> and the second conductive layer <NUM> are not necessarily made of metal. Instead, the second conductive layer may comprise metal, whereas the third conductive layer <NUM> may comprise metallic oxide, such as ITO or IZO, or any other conductive material or metal, as needed, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The display device in this embodiment of the present disclosure will work well and can have thin bezels, provided that limitation on the distances between the wirings in the conductive layers is reduced, or the distance between the opening D and the display area A is reduced.

<FIG> is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the display device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, not falling within the scope of the claimed invention. This embodiment is distinguished from embodiment <NUM> by technical features as follows: the first conductive layer <NUM> and the third conductive layer <NUM> are electrically connected by the first conductive layer <NUM> is electrically connected to a portion of the second conductive layer <NUM>, and the third conductive layer <NUM> is electrically connected to the portion of the second conductive layer <NUM> via the second hole <NUM>, and the second conductive layer <NUM> is electrically connect to the first conductive layer <NUM> via the first hole <NUM>, thus the first conductive layer <NUM> is electrically connected to the third conductive layer <NUM>, so as to transmit the same signal, hence, the same signal can be transmitted for a limited distance without causing a short circuit, thereby allowing the display device to have thin bezels.

<FIG> is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the display device according to another embodiment of the present disclosure, not falling within the scope of the claimed invention. Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, first, this embodiment of the present disclosure provides a substrate <NUM>. The substrate <NUM> comprises a display area A and a non-display area B. A photolithography or etching process is performed to form a third metal layer (functioning as the third conductive layer <NUM>) in the non-display area B of the substrate <NUM> and then form a second insulating layer <NUM> on the third conductive layer <NUM>. The aforesaid steps are repeated to form a first metal layer (functioning as a first conductive layer <NUM>), a first insulating layer <NUM>, a second metal layer (functioning as a second conductive layer <NUM>), and a third insulating layer <NUM> consecutively. The first conductive layer <NUM> is disposed between the first insulating layer <NUM> and the second insulating layer <NUM>. The first conductive layer <NUM> and the third conductive layer <NUM> are electrically connected through a third hole <NUM>. In some embodiments (figure not shown), the third conductive layer <NUM>, the first conductive layer <NUM> and the second conductive layer <NUM> are electrically connect to each other. This embodiment is distinguished from Embodiment <NUM> by the technical feature: this embodiment involves forming a third metal layer first and then forming the other layers consecutively.

In this embodiment, the first conductive layer <NUM> functions as a scan line, and the second conductive layer <NUM> functions as a data line, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The first conductive layer <NUM> may also function as a data line, or the second conductive layer <NUM> may also function as a scan line. In this embodiment, the purpose of the third conductive layer <NUM> is to reduce limitation on the distances between the wirings in the conductive layers, reduce the distance between the opening D and the display area A, or enable the display device to have thin bezels.

In conclusion, the display device of the present disclosure has thin bezels, by forming a third metal layer in a non-display area, allowing the third metal layer to electrically connect to a first metal layer or a second metal layer, so as to transmit the same signal. The aforesaid embodiments can be combined, but the present disclosure is not restrictive of combinations of the aforesaid embodiments.

The display device of the present disclosure is applied to various types of display devices comprising an organic light-emitting diode (OLED), a quantum dot (QD), a fluorescence molecule, a phosphor, a light-emitting diode (LED), a micro light-emitting diode (micro LED) or any other display medium. In addition, the display device of the present disclosure is applied to any touch display device equipped with a touch panel. Furthermore, the display device of the present disclosure is applied to any tiled display device, any non-curved, curved or flexible display device or any touch display device.

Claim 1:
A display device, comprising:
a substrate (<NUM>) comprising a display area (A) and a non-display area (B), wherein the display area (A) surrounds the non-display area (B);
a first conductive layer (<NUM>) disposed on the substrate and corresponding to the display area, wherein the first conductive layer comprises a first line segment (<NUM>), a second line segment (<NUM>), and a third line segment (<NUM>), the first line segment and the second line segment are disposed at two sides of the non-display area, and the third line segment is disposed parallel to the first line segment;
a second conductive layer (<NUM>) disposed on the substrate and corresponding to the display area, wherein, the second conductive layer (<NUM>) and the first conductive layer (<NUM>) cross from top view;
a third conductive layer (<NUM>) disposed on the substrate and comprising a first connection line (<NUM>) electrically connected to the first line segment and the second line segment, and a projection of the first connection line is overlapped with at least a portion of the third line segment from top view;
a first insulating layer (<NUM>) disposed between the first conductive layer and the third conductive layer, wherein the first insulating layer further comprises a first hole (<NUM>) and a second hole (<NUM>); and
a second insulating layer (<NUM>) disposed between the second conductive layer and the third conductive layer, wherein the second insulating layer further comprises a third hole (<NUM>) and a fourth hole (<NUM>),
wherein the first connection line (<NUM>) of the third conductive layer is electrically connected to the first line segment via the first hole and the third hole, and wherein the third conductive layer is electrically connected to the second line segment via the second hole and the fourth hole.