Patent Description:
With the rapid development of the display technology, touch screens have been widely used. For an In-Cell (built-in) touch screen, a touch electrode unit is built in a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) screen to reduce a thickness of a module as well as the manufacture cost, so the In-Cell touch screen has attracted more and more attentions and becomes a new development trend in the future due to such advantages as high integration level, being light and thin, low manufacture cost, low power consumption, high image quality, and being capable of achieve a multi-touch function.

<CIT> discloses a a touch display panel that includes a first gate line, a second gate line, a first metal segment, and a touch sensing line. The first and second gate lines are arranged along a first direction, while the first metal segment is arranged along a second direction, with an angle between the first and second directions. The first metal segment, the first gate line, and the second gate line belong to the same metal layer, and the first metal segment is located between the first and second gate lines, electrically insulated from either the first or second gate lines. The touch sensing line is positioned above the first metal segment and is electrically connected to the first metal segment through vias. This invention can reduce transmission delay distortion of touch sensing signals, thereby enhancing touch sensing performance and effectively preventing display issues.

<CIT> discloses a liquid crystal display device, the liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate, a second substrate and a liquid crystal layer. The first substrate includes a metal layer formed on an interlayer insulating film, arranged in contact with at least one of common electrodes adjacent to each other via a slit, and covering at least a part of the slit. The metal layer is at least partly opposed to a signal line located in correspondence with the slit and is arranged closer than the signal line to a liquid crystal layer.

An object of the present disclosure is to provide an array substrate according to claim <NUM> and a display device according to claim <NUM>, so as to improve the yield as well as the quality of display products.

The present disclosure provides the following technical solutions.

In one aspect, the present disclosure provides in some embodiments an array substrate, including: a base substrate, and a plurality of gate lines extending in a first direction and a plurality of data lines extending in a second direction arranged on the base substrate. Each gate line crosses the plurality of data lines to define a plurality of sub-pixels. The array substrate further includes: a plurality of touch signal lines extending in the second direction and arranged in light shielding regions of the sub-pixels; a plurality of touch electrodes insulated from each other and each coupled to at least one touch signal line; and a plurality of metal pattern units corresponding to the sub-pixels respectively and each arranged in the light shielding region of the corresponding sub-pixel. The metal pattern unit includes a first metal strip arranged on at least one side of the data line and extending in the second direction, an overlapping area between an orthogonal projection of the first metal strip onto the base substrate and an orthogonal projection of the touch signal line onto the base substrate is A, and a ratio of the overlapping area A to an area of the orthogonal projection of the touch signal line onto the base substrate is greater than a threshold.

In a possible embodiment of the present disclosure, in a direction parallel to the base substrate and perpendicular to the second direction, a size of the touch signal line is less than a size of the first metal strip.

In a possible embodiment of the present disclosure, in the direction parallel to the base substrate and perpendicular to the second direction, a boundary of the orthogonal projection of the first metal strip onto the base substrate exceeds a boundary of the orthogonal projection of the touch signal line onto the base substrate by <NUM> to <NUM>.

In a possible embodiment of the present disclosure, the touch signal line is provided with a center line extending in the second direction, the first metal strip is provided with a center line extending in the second direction, and an orthogonal projection of the center line of the touch signal line onto the base substrate coincides with an orthogonal projection of the center line of the first metal strip onto the base substrate.

In a possible embodiment of the present disclosure, the orthogonal projection of the first metal strip onto the base substrate does not overlap an orthogonal projection of the data line onto the base substrate.

In a possible embodiment of the present disclosure, in a direction parallel to the base substrate and perpendicular to the second direction, a minimum distance between a boundary of the orthogonal projection of the first metal strip onto the base substrate and a boundary of the orthogonal projection of the data line onto the base substrate is <NUM> to <NUM>.

In a possible embodiment of the present disclosure, the metal pattern unit further includes a second metal strip, and the second metal strip includes: a first metal sub-line arranged on at least one side of the gate line and extending in the first direction, and a second metal sub-line arranged on at least one side of the data line and extending in the second direction. The first metal sub-line is coupled to the second metal sub-line, and the second metal sub-line and the first metal strip are arranged at two opposite sides of the sub-pixel respectively.

In a possible embodiment of the present disclosure, the first metal strip is arranged at a same layer as the second metal strip, a first notch is formed between the first metal strip and the second metal strip of a same metal pattern unit in the second direction, and a second notch is formed between two first metal sub-lines of different metal pattern units in the first direction.

In a possible embodiment of the present disclosure, each touch electrode includes a plurality of touch sub-electrodes, and an orthogonal projection of the touch sub-electrode onto the base substrate does not overlap an orthogonal projection of the gate line onto the base substrate and an orthogonal projection of the data line onto the base substrate. In a same touch electrode, the first metal sub-lines in the plurality of metal pattern units are coupled to each other through a first bridging portion arranged at a same layer as or a different layer from the first metal strip at the second notch, and at least one metal pattern unit is coupled to at least one touch sub-electrode in the touch electrode. In different touch electrodes, the first metal sub-lines between the plurality of metal pattern units are not coupled to each other at the second notch. In the same touch electrode, the first metal strip and the second metal strip in each of the metal pattern units in at least one column in the second direction are coupled to each other through a second bridging portion arranged at a same layer as or a different layer from the first metal strip at the first notch, and the first metal strip is coupled to a corresponding touch signal line. The metal pattern units are not coupled to each other between the adjacent touch electrodes in the second direction.

In a possible embodiment of the present disclosure, in the same touch electrode, each first metal strip in the first metal strips in at least one column in the second direction is coupled to the corresponding touch signal line, and all first metal strips corresponding to the touch electrode are not coupled to the touch signal lines not corresponding to the touch electrode so that the metal pattern units are not coupled to each other between the adjacent touch electrodes in the second direction; or in the same touch electrode, the first metal strips in at least two columns in the second direction are coupled to different touch signal lines, and the first metal strip coupled to the touch signal line not corresponding to the touch electrode is not coupled to the second metal strip in the touch electrode at the first notch so that the metal pattern units are not coupled to each other between the adjacent touch electrodes in the second direction.

In a possible embodiment of the present disclosure, each touch electrode includes a plurality of touch sub-electrodes, and an orthogonal projection of the touch sub-electrode onto the base substrate does not overlap an orthogonal projection of the gate line onto the base substrate and an orthogonal projection of the data line onto the base substrate. In a same touch electrode, the first metal sub-lines in the plurality of metal pattern units are coupled to each other through a first bridging portion arranged at a same layer as or a different layer from the first metal strip at the second notch, and at least one metal pattern unit is coupled to at least one touch sub-electrode in the touch electrode. In the same touch electrode, the first metal strip and the second metal strip in each of the metal pattern units in at least one column in the second direction are coupled to each other through a second bridging portion arranged at a same layer as or a different layer from the first metal strip at the first notch, and the first metal strip and the second metal strip in at least one column in the second direction are not coupled to each other at the first notch. In the same touch electrode, the metal pattern units in at least two columns in the second direction are coupled to different touch signal lines, and different touch electrodes are not coupled to each other through the first notch.

In a possible embodiment of the present disclosure, in two adjacent metal pattern units in the first direction, the first metal strip in one metal pattern unit and the second metal sub-line in the other metal pattern unit are arranged at two opposite sides of a same data line, and in a direction parallel to the base substrate and perpendicular to the second direction, a distance between a boundary of an orthogonal projection of the first metal strip onto the base substrate and a boundary of the orthogonal projection of the data line onto the base substrate is the same as a distance between a boundary of an orthogonal projection of the second metal sub-line onto the base substrate and the boundary of the orthogonal projection of the data line onto the base substrate.

In a possible embodiment of the present disclosure, the array substrate further includes a pixel electrode and a common electrode arranged in each sub-pixel, and the touch sub-electrode serves as the common electrode.

In a possible embodiment of the present disclosure, in the direction parallel to the base substrate and perpendicular to the second direction, a distance between a boundary of the orthogonal projection of the data line onto the base substrate and a boundary of an orthogonal projection of the pixel electrode in one sub-pixel adjacent to the data line onto the base substrate is the same as a distance between the boundary of the orthogonal projection of the data line onto the base substrate and a boundary of an orthogonal projection the pixel electrode in the other sub-pixel adjacent to the data line onto the base substrate, and a distance between the boundary of the orthogonal projection of the data line onto the base substrate and a boundary of an orthogonal projection of the common electrode in one sub-pixel adjacent to the data line onto the base substrate is the same as a distance between the boundary of the orthogonal projection of the data line onto the base substrate and a boundary of an orthogonal projection the common electrode in the other sub-pixel adjacent to the data line onto the base substrate.

In a possible embodiment of the present disclosure, the array substrate further includes an organic insulation layer, the touch signal line is arranged at a same layer and made of a same material as the data line, and the organic insulation layer is arrange between a layer where the data line is located and a layer where the touch electrode is located.

In a possible embodiment of the present disclosure, the array substrate further includes a gate insulation layer and a passivation layer, a layer where the metal pattern unit is located, the gate insulation layer, a layer where the touch signal line and the data line are located, the organic insulation layer, the layer where the touch electrode is located, the passivation layer and a layer where the pixel electrode is located are laminated one on another in a direction away from the base substrate, the touch electrode is coupled to the second metal strip through a first connection hole, and the first connection hole at least penetrates through the passivation layer, the organic insulation layer and the gate insulation layer, the touch signal line is coupled to the first metal strip through a second connection hole, and the second connection hole at least penetrates through the passivation layer, the organic insulation layer and the gate insulation layer.

In a possible embodiment of the present disclosure, the first connection hole includes a first sub-hole and a second sub-hole, the first sub-hole penetrates through the passivation layer to expose a part of the touch electrode, the second sub-hole penetrates through the organic insulation layer and the gate insulation layer to exposes a part of the second metal strip, the array substrate further includes a first connection pattern, and an orthogonal projection of the first connection pattern onto the base substrate covers an orthogonal projection of the first sub-hole onto the base substrate and an orthogonal projection of the second sub-hole onto the base substrate to enable the touch electrode to be coupled to the second metal strip.

In a possible embodiment of the present disclosure, the first connection pattern is arranged at a same layer and made of a same material as the pixel electrode.

In a possible embodiment of the present disclosure, the second connection hole includes a third sub-hole and a fourth sub-hole, the third sub-hole penetrates through the passivation layer to expose a part of the touch signal line, the fourth sub-hole penetrates through the organic insulation layer and the gate insulation layer to expose a part of the first metal strip, the array substrate further includes a second connection pattern, and an orthogonal projection of the second connection pattern onto the base substrate covers an orthogonal projection of the third sub-hole of the second connection hole onto the base substrate and an orthogonal projection of the fourth sub-hole of the second connection hole onto the base substrate to enable the touch signal line to be coupled to the first metal strip.

In a possible embodiment of the present disclosure, the array substrate further includes a driving circuitry, at least a part of an output electrode of the driving circuitry is arranged at a side of the organic insulation layer close to the base substrate, the pixel electrode is coupled to the output electrode through a third connection hole, and the third connection hole at least penetrates through the organic insulation layer and the passivation layer to expose the output electrode of the driving circuitry and enable the pixel electrode to be coupled to the output electrode.

In a possible embodiment of the present disclosure, the driving circuitry includes a driving transistor, the third connection hole includes a fifth sub-hole and a sixth sub-hole, the fifth sub-hole penetrates through the organic insulation layer, the sixth sub-hole penetrates through the passivation layer, an orthogonal projection of the fifth sub-hole onto the base substrate covers an orthogonal projection of the sixth sub-hole onto the base substrate, and the pixel electrode is coupled to the output electrode through the third connection hole.

In a possible embodiment of the present disclosure, each pixel electrode includes a plurality of slits extending in the second direction.

In another aspect, the present disclosure provides in some embodiments a display device, including the above-mentioned array substrate, a counter substrate arranged opposite to the array substrate, and a liquid crystal layer arranged between the array substrate and the counter substrate.

In a possible embodiment of the present disclosure, a black matrix is arranged on the counter substrate, an orthogonal projection of the black matrix onto the array substrate is within the light shielding region of the sub-pixel, in the direction parallel to the base substrate and perpendicular to the second direction, a distance between a boundary of an orthogonal projection of the black matrix onto the base substrate and the boundary of the orthogonal projection of the pixel electrode in one sub-pixel adjacent to the black matrix onto the base substrate is the same as a distance between the boundary of the orthogonal projection of the black matrix onto the base substrate and a boundary of the orthogonal projection the pixel electrode in the other sub-pixel adjacent to the black matrix onto the base substrate, and a distance between the boundary of the orthogonal projection of the black matrix onto the base substrate and the boundary of the orthogonal projection of the common electrode in one sub-pixel adjacent to the data line onto the base substrate is the same as a distance between the boundary of the orthogonal projection of the black matrix onto the base substrate and a boundary of an orthogonal projection the common electrode in the other sub-pixel adjacent to the black matrix onto the base substrate.

The present disclosure has the following beneficial effects.

According to the array substrate and the display device in the embodiments of the present disclosure, the touch signal line and the data line are arranged in parallel and the touch signal line is arranged in the light shielding region between adjacent sub-pixels. As a result, the touch signal line and the data line are covered by the black matrix on the counter substrate, so it is able to solve the problem in the related art where a non-uniform electric field is generated between the touch signal line and each of a left electrode and a right electrode when the touch signal line is arranged in the middle of the sub-pixel, thereby to prevent the occurrence of contaminants. In addition, the touch signal line is covered by at least a part of the metal pattern unit and the metal pattern unit further functions as to shield light, so it is able to reduce the dependence on the light shielding effect of the black matrix, thereby to reduce a light shielding area of the black matrix pattern on the counter substrate.

In order to make the objects, the technical solutions and the advantages of the present disclosure more apparent, the present disclosure will be described hereinafter in a clear and complete manner in conjunction with the drawings and embodiments. Obviously, the following embodiments merely relate to a part of, rather than all of, the embodiments of the present disclosure, and based on these embodiments, a person skilled in the art may, without any creative effort, obtain the other embodiments, which also fall within the scope of the present disclosure.

Unless otherwise defined, any technical or scientific term used herein shall have the common meaning understood by a person of ordinary skills. Such words as "first" and "second" used in the specification and claims are merely used to differentiate different components rather than to represent any order, number or importance. Similarly, such words as "one" or "one of" are merely used to represent the existence of at least one member, rather than to limit the number thereof. Such words as "include" or "including" intends to indicate that an element or object before the word contains an element or object or equivalents thereof listed after the word, without excluding any other element or object. Such words as "connect/connected to" or "couple/coupled to" may include electrical connection, direct or indirect, rather than to be limited to physical or mechanical connection. Such words as "on", "under", "left" and "right" are merely used to represent relative position relationship, and when an absolute position of the object is changed, the relative position relationship will be changed too.

In the embodiments of the present disclosure, two structures "arranged at a same layer" refers to that the two structures are formed on a same material layer so that they are in a same layer, but it does not mean that a distance between each of them and a substrate is equal, nor that they are completely the same as the other layer structures on the substrate.

In the embodiments of the present disclosure, "patterning process" refers to steps of forming a structure with a specific pattern, which may be a photolithography process including one or more steps of forming a material layer, coating a photoresist, exposing, developing, etching, or removing the photoresist. Of course, the "patterning process" may further be an imprinting process, an inkjet printing process, or any other processes.

The present disclosure will be described hereinafter in a clear and complete manner in conjunction with the drawings. In the drawings, same elements are identified with same reference numerals. For the sake of clarity, various parts in the drawings are not drawn to scale. In addition, some well-known parts may not be shown in the drawings.

Many specific details of the present disclosure, such as structure, material, size, treatment processes, and technique of components, will be described hereinafter in order to better illustrate the present disclosure. However, for a person skilled in the art, the present disclosure may not be implemented in accordance with these specific details.

Prior to describing the array substrate and the display device in the embodiments of the present disclosure in details, some descriptions about the related art will be given hereinafter at first.

In the related art, each liquid crystal pixel on a liquid crystal display is driven by TFTs integrated therein. Based on an operation principle of a touch screen and a medium for transmitting information, the touch screen may be divided into four types: a resistive type, a capacitive type, an infrared type and a surface acoustic wave type. The resistive-type touch screen and the capacitive-type touch screen are widely used, and a projected capacitive type touch screen is most widely used to achieve a multi-touch function, but these touch screens have such disadvantages as high manufacture cost and being thick. Low manufacture cost, lightweight and thinness have become a new trend in the field of touch technology.

In order to provide a thin and light touch panel, the integration of a touch panel and a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel becomes more and more popular. An In-Cell touch scheme, in which the touch panel is built into the LCD panel, has attracted more and more attentions.

The In-Cell touch technology include three types, i.e., a resistive type, a capacitive type and an optical type. The capacitive mode includes self-capacitive touch and mutual-capacitive touch. In the self-capacitive touch mode, a transparent conductive layer as a common electrode (Vcom) on an array substrate is divided into a plurality of blocks which serve as touch electrodes. One end of a touch signal (Tx) line is coupled to the touch electrode through a via hole, and the other end of the Tx line is coupled to a driving integrated circuit (IC). When a finger touches the array substrate, a capacitance value of the touch electrode at a corresponding touch position changes, and the driving IC determines the touch position through detecting the change in the capacitance value, so as to achieve a touch function.

Pixels of a Full In-Cell (FIC) capacitive touch screen adopts a design of Tx In Dot, i.e., the Tx line is arranged in the middle of each sub-pixel, but it has the following problems. A pixel electrode in each sub-pixel includes a plurality of pixel grating bars, and there is a slit between adjacent pixel grating bars. The Tx line is arranged in the middle of the pixel electrode slit and is not shielded by a black matrix (BM) on a color film substrate. If pixel grating bar patterns on a left side and a right side of the Tx line change suddenly, a distance between the Tx line and the pixel grating bar pattern on the left side of the Tx line is not the same as a distance between the Tx line and the pixel grating bar pattern on the right side of the Tx line. At this time, non-uniform electric fields are generated on the left side and right side of the Tx line, and thereby contaminants occur.

An object of the present disclosure is to provide an array substrate and a display device, so as to improve the yield as well as the quality of the display products.

According to the array substrate in the embodiments of the present disclosure, touch electrodes and touch signal lines are integrated inside the array substrate, so as to provide a liquid crystal touch display panel with a Full In-Cell Touch structure. For the liquid crystal touch display panel with the Full In-Cell Touch structure, a touch function and a display function are combined, so it is able to achieve the one-stop manufacture, and provide the array substrate with such advantages as high integration level, being thin and light, low manufacture cost, low power consumption, high image quality and being capable of achieve a multi-touch function.

As shown in <FIG>, the present disclosure provides in some embodiments an array substrate.

The array substrate in the embodiments of the present disclosure includes a base substrate <NUM>, and a plurality of gate lines <NUM> extending in a first direction and a plurality of data lines <NUM> extending in a second direction arranged on the base substrate <NUM>. Each gate line <NUM> crosses the plurality of data lines <NUM> to define a plurality of sub-pixels <NUM>. The array substrate further includes: a plurality of touch signal (Tx) lines <NUM> extending in the second direction and arranged in light shielding regions of the sub-pixels <NUM>; a plurality of touch electrodes <NUM> insulated from each other and each coupled to at least one touch signal line; and a plurality of metal pattern units corresponding to the sub-pixels respectively and each arranged in the light shielding region of the corresponding sub-pixel. The metal pattern unit includes a first metal strip arranged on at least one side of the data line and extending in the second direction, an overlapping area between an orthogonal projection of the first metal strip onto the base substrate and an orthogonal projection of the touch signal line onto the base substrate is A, and a ratio of the overlapping area A to an area of the orthogonal projection of the touch signal line onto the base substrate is greater than a threshold.

In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the first direction includes a horizontal direction, and the second direction includes a vertical direction.

In the embodiments of the present disclosure, at least a part of the first metal strips are coupled to the touch signal lines.

It should be appreciated that, when the first metal strip is coupled to the touch signal line, a part of the first metal strip overlaps a part of the touch signal line, and the first metal strip is lapped onto the touch signal line through a via hole. An overlapping area between an orthogonal projection of the first metal strip onto the base substrate and an orthogonal projection of the touch signal line onto the base substrate is B at a position where the first metal strip is coupled to the touch signal line, and the threshold is just a ratio of the overlapping area B to an area of the orthogonal projection of the metal strip onto the base substrate, e.g., <NUM>%-<NUM>%, <NUM>%-<NUM>%, or <NUM>%-<NUM>%. In this regard, in the embodiments of the present disclosure, the overlapping area A between the orthogonal projection of the first metal strip onto the base substrate and the orthogonal projection of the touch signal line onto the base substrate is greater than the threshold, i.e., the first metal strip overlaps the touch signal line not only at the coupling position but also in other regions.

In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the touch signal line <NUM> is coupled to a corresponding touch electrode <NUM> in the array substrate and a chip subsequently bonded onto the array substrate. When the array substrate is arranged opposite to a counter substrate to form an LCD panel and a touch operation is made in a touch region of the LCD panel, a touch signal formed on the touch electrode <NUM> in the array substrate is changed by the touch operation, the touch signal line <NUM> is used to transmit the touch signal collected on a touch unit to the chip, and the chip determines a specific touch position in accordance with the touch signal received from the touch signal line <NUM>.

According to the array substrate in the embodiments of the present disclosure, an aperture region corresponding to the sub-pixel <NUM> is an actual light transmitting region of the sub-pixel <NUM>, and a non-aperture region corresponding to the sub-pixel <NUM> is a light shielding region corresponding to the sub-pixel <NUM>. For the LCD panels with a same size, the larger the area of the aperture region, the larger the aperture ratio of the LCD panel, and the better the display quality of the LCD panel. The non-aperture region surrounds the aperture region.

In a possible embodiment of the present disclosure, an aperture region corresponding to the sub-pixel <NUM> is an actual light transmitting region of the sub-pixel <NUM>, and a non-aperture region corresponding to the sub-pixel <NUM> is a light shielding region corresponding to the sub-pixel <NUM>. In LCD panels with a same size, the larger the area of the aperture region is, the higher the aperture ratio of the LCD panel is, and the better the display quality of the LCD panel is, and the light shielding region surrounds the light transmitting region.

For example, a driving circuitry corresponding to the sub-pixel <NUM> is arranged in the light shielding region corresponding to the sub-pixel <NUM>, and the gate line <NUM> and the data line <NUM> are also arranged in the light shielding region. During the arrangement, the touch signal line <NUM> is arranged to be parallel and adjacent to the data line <NUM>, and the touch signal line <NUM> and the data line <NUM> are both arranged in the light shielding region of the sub-pixel <NUM>. In this way, it is able to shield the touch line <NUM> and the data line <NUM> at the same time through a black matrix on the counter substrate, and prevent the occurrence of non-uniform electric fields on the left side and right side of the touch signal line <NUM> when the touch signal line <NUM> is arranged at an overlapping position of the pixel electrodes, thereby to prevent the occurrence of contaminants.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the touch electrode <NUM> also serves as a common electrode (Vcom), and correspondingly, the touch signal line <NUM> also serves as a common electrode line. Based on this, at a touch stage, the touch signal line <NUM> provides a touch driving signal to the touch electrode <NUM> and receives a touch feedback signal, and at a display stage, the touch signal line <NUM> provides a Vcom signal (i.e., a signal required by the common electrode during the display) to the touch electrode <NUM>. When the touch electrode <NUM> serves as the common electrode and the touch signal line <NUM> serves as the common electrode line, it is able to reduce a thickness of the array substrate, thereby to reduce a thickness of a touch display panel when the array substrate is applied to the touch display panel.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the plurality of metal pattern units <NUM> is arranged on the array substrate, so the touch electrode <NUM> is further electrically coupled to the metal pattern unit <NUM> (i.e., a resistor is coupled in parallel to the touch electrode <NUM>), so as to reduce a resistance of the touch electrode <NUM> and a load of the touch signal line <NUM>, thereby to facilitate a touch response. In addition, when the touch electrode <NUM> serves as the common electrode, it is able to reduce a resistance of the common electrode.

In addition, when the overlapping area between the orthogonal projection of the first metal strip onto the base substrate and the orthogonal projection of the touch signal line onto the base substrate is A and the ratio of the overlapping area A to the area of the orthogonal projection of the touch signal line onto the base substrate is greater than the threshold, the first metal strip <NUM> further functions as to shield light. In this way, it is able to reduce the dependence on a light shielding effect of the black matrix to some extent, and effectively reduce an area of the black matrix pattern on the counter substrate, thereby to increase an aperture ratio.

In the embodiments of the present disclosure, a material of the base substrate <NUM> may be selected according to the practical need, e.g., but not limited to, glass.

For example, in a direction parallel to the base substrate <NUM> and perpendicular to the second direction, a size of the touch signal line <NUM> is less than a size of the first metal strip <NUM>, i.e., a width of the touch signal line <NUM> is less than a width of the first metal strip <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, in the embodiments of the present disclosure, the first metal strip <NUM> is arranged at a side of the touch signal line <NUM> close to the base substrate <NUM>, i.e., after the array substrate <NUM> is arranged opposite to the counter substrate <NUM> to form a cell, the touch signal line <NUM> is arranged at a light-emitting surface of the first metal strip <NUM> facing the display panel. When the width of the first metal strip <NUM> is greater than the width of the touch signal line <NUM>, the touch signal line <NUM> is completely wrapped by the first metal strip <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, in the direction parallel to the base substrate <NUM> and perpendicular to the second direction, a boundary of the orthogonal projection of the first metal strip <NUM> onto the base substrate <NUM> exceeds a boundary of the orthogonal projection of the touch signal line <NUM> onto the base substrate <NUM> by <NUM> to <NUM>. To be specific, in actual use, the value may be adjusted in accordance with a specific size of the display panel and a specific size of the sub-pixel <NUM>, e.g., the value may be <NUM>.

In addition, as shown in <FIG>, in the direction parallel to the base substrate <NUM> and perpendicular to the second direction, a minimum distance between the touch signal line <NUM> and the data line <NUM> is <NUM> to <NUM>, and correspondingly, a minimum distance between a boundary of the orthogonal projection of the first metal strip <NUM> onto the base substrate and a boundary of the orthogonal projection of the data line <NUM> onto the base substrate is <NUM> to <NUM>. To be specific, in actual use, the minimum distances may be adjusted in accordance with a process condition, a specific size of the display panel, and a specific size of the sub-pixel <NUM>, e.g., the minimum distance between the touch signal line <NUM> and the data line <NUM> may be <NUM>, and the minimum distance between the first metal strip <NUM> and the data line <NUM> may be <NUM>.

For example, the orthogonal projection of the first metal strip <NUM> onto the base substrate <NUM> completely covers the orthogonal projection of the touch signal line <NUM> onto the base substrate <NUM>. In this regard, it is able to further shield the touch signal line <NUM>, or even shield the touch signal line <NUM> without the black matrix <NUM>, thereby to further increase the aperture ratio.

In addition, as shown in <FIG>, in some embodiments of the present disclosure, the touch signal line <NUM> is provided with a center line extending in the second direction, the first metal strip <NUM> is provided with a center line extending in the second direction, and an orthogonal projection of the center line of the touch signal line <NUM> onto the base substrate <NUM> coincides with an orthogonal projection of the center line of the first metal strip <NUM> onto the base substrate <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, in the embodiments of the present disclosure, a center of the touch signal line <NUM> coincides with a center of the first metal strip <NUM>, the touch signal line <NUM> is completely wrapped by the first metal strip <NUM>, and a wrapping degree of the touch signal <NUM> is the same in the first direction, so it is able for the sub-pixels <NUM> at two sides of the touch signal line <NUM> to emit light equally, thereby to ensure a display effect of the display panel.

In addition, as shown in <FIG>, the orthogonal projection of the metal pattern unit <NUM> onto the base substrate <NUM> does not overlap the orthogonal projection of the data line <NUM> onto the base substrate <NUM>, so as to prevent the metal pattern unit <NUM> from adversely affecting an electric field of the data line <NUM>.

For example, the array substrate <NUM> includes a first indium tin oxide (ITO) layer (1ITO layer) and a second ITO layer (2ITO layer), the 1ITO layer is arranged between the base substrate <NUM> and the 2ITO layer and includes a common electrode <NUM>, and the 2ITO layer includes a pixel electrode <NUM>.

When the orthogonal projection of the touch electrode <NUM> onto the base substrate <NUM> overlaps the orthogonal projection of the data line <NUM> onto the base substrate <NUM> and the orthogonal projection of the gate line <NUM> onto the base substrate <NUM>, a signal on the data line <NUM> and a signal on the gate line <NUM> may be adversely affected by a signal on the touch electrode <NUM>. In this regard, in some embodiments of the present disclosure, the touch electrode <NUM> is arranged in the touch region of the array substrate <NUM>, and it includes a plurality of touch sub-electrodes <NUM> independent of each other. The plurality of touch electrodes <NUM> is arranged in an array form, i.e., the touch region is divided into a plurality of touch sub-regions T, and each touch electrode <NUM> is, but not limited to, arranged in a corresponding touch sub-region T.

Each touch electrode <NUM> includes a plurality of touch sub-electrodes <NUM>, and an orthogonal projection of the touch sub-electrode <NUM> onto the base substrate <NUM> does not overlap the orthogonal projection of the gate line <NUM> onto the base substrate <NUM> and the orthogonal projection of the data line <NUM> onto the base substrate <NUM>. The touch sub-electrodes <NUM> in the same touch electrode <NUM> are coupled to each other and coupled to a corresponding touch signal line <NUM>, and different touch electrodes <NUM> are not coupled to each other.

The orthogonal projection of the gate line <NUM> onto the base substrate <NUM> and the orthogonal projection of the data line <NUM> onto the base substrate <NUM> do not overlap the orthogonal projection of the touch sub-electrode <NUM> onto the base substrate <NUM>, so it is able to prevent the touch electrode <NUM> from adversely affecting the signal on the data line <NUM> and the signal on the gate line <NUM>.

Based on this, in the related art, the plurality of touch sub-electrodes <NUM> in the touch electrode <NUM> is coupled to each other through a conductive line arranged at a same layer as the touch electrode <NUM>. Usually, the touch electrode <NUM> is made of ITO or indium zinc oxide (IZO), so a resistance of the conductive line is large. In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the plurality of touch sub-electrodes <NUM> in the same touch electrode <NUM> is coupled to each other through the metal pattern unit <NUM> and the touch signal line <NUM>, and the metal pattern unit <NUM> is electrically coupled to the touch electrode <NUM>. A resistance of the metal pattern <NUM> is less than the resistance of ITO or IZO, so it is able to reduce the resistance of the touch electrode <NUM>.

It should be appreciated that, a specific position of the touch region may be arranged according to the practical need. For example, the touch region coincides with an entire display region of the LCD panel, or the touch region is arranged in the display region and merely coincides with a designated region in the display region. In other words, for the plurality of sub-pixels <NUM> on the array substrate <NUM>, each sub-pixel <NUM> is provided with a touch sub-electrode <NUM>, or a part of the sub-pixels <NUM> are provided with the touch sub-electrodes <NUM>, and the other part of the sub-pixels <NUM> are not provided with the touch sub-electrodes <NUM>.

It should be further appreciated that, the metal pattern unit <NUM> may be formed independently and not formed at a same layer as an existing pattern layer on the array substrate <NUM>, or the metal pattern unit <NUM> may be formed at a same layer as the existing pattern layer on the array substrate <NUM>. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, as shown in <FIG>, the metal pattern unit <NUM> is formed at a same layer as the gate line <NUM>, i.e., the metal pattern unit <NUM> is formed at a same layer and made of a same material as the gate line <NUM>. When the metal pattern unit <NUM> is arranged at a same layer and made of a same material as the gate line <NUM>, it is able to form the metal pattern unit <NUM> and the gate line <NUM> at the same time, thereby to simplify a manufacture process of the array substrate <NUM>.

In the case that the metal pattern unit <NUM> is arranged at a same layer and made of a same material as the gate line <NUM>, the metal pattern unit <NUM> does not overlap the gate line <NUM>. In this regard, the metal pattern unit <NUM> needs to be designed in such a manner as to be coupled to the touch electrode <NUM> and the touch signal line <NUM> to reduce the resistance of the touch electrode <NUM>, enable the touch sub-electrodes <NUM> in the same touch electrode <NUM> to be electrically coupled to each other, and enable different touch electrodes <NUM> to be decoupled from each other.

In this regard, in some embodiments of the present disclosure, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the metal pattern unit <NUM> further includes a second metal strip <NUM>, and the second metal strip <NUM> includes a first metal sub-line <NUM> and a second metal sub-line <NUM>. The first metal sub-line <NUM> is arranged on at least one side of the gate line and extending in the first direction, and the second metal sub-line <NUM> is arranged on at least one side of the data line and extending in the second direction. The first metal sub-line <NUM> is coupled to the second metal sub-line <NUM>, and the second metal sub-line <NUM> and the first metal strip <NUM> are arranged at two opposite sides of the sub-pixel respectively.

Based on the above, the metal pattern unit <NUM> includes the first metal strip <NUM> and the second metal strip <NUM>, and the second metal strip <NUM> includes the first metal sub-line <NUM> and the second metal sub-line <NUM>. In this way, the metal pattern unit <NUM> surrounds the aperture region of the sub-pixel, so it is able to use the metal pattern unit <NUM> as a light shielding pattern to event replace the black matrix <NUM>.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, as shown in <FIG>, the first metal strip <NUM> is arranged at a same layer as the second metal strip <NUM>, a first notch <NUM> is formed between the first metal strip <NUM> and the second metal strip <NUM> in a same metal pattern unit <NUM> in the second direction, and a second notch <NUM> is formed between two first metal sub-lines <NUM> in different metal pattern units <NUM> in the first direction.

For example, as shown in <FIG>, in a same touch electrode <NUM>, the first metal sub-lines <NUM> between adjacent metal pattern units <NUM> in the first direction are coupled to each other through a first bridging portion <NUM> arranged at a same layer as or a different layer from the first metal strip <NUM> at the second notch <NUM>, and at least one metal pattern unit is coupled to at least one touch sub-electrode in the touch electrode. In different touch electrodes adjacent to each other in the first direction, the first metal sub-lines <NUM> between the plurality of metal pattern units <NUM> are not coupled to each other at the second notch <NUM>.

In the same touch electrode <NUM>, the first metal strip <NUM> and the second metal strip <NUM> in each metal pattern unit in at least one column in the second direction are coupled to each other through a second bridging portion <NUM> arranged at a same layer as or a different layer from the first metal strip <NUM> at the first notch <NUM>, and the first metal strip <NUM> is coupled to a corresponding touch signal line <NUM>. The metal pattern units <NUM> are not coupled to each other between adjacent touch electrodes <NUM> in the second direction.

Based on the above, the common electrode is made of ITO, and the metal pattern unit <NUM> is made of a conductive metal. Generally, a resistivity of the conductive metal is far less than a resistivity of ITO. In this regard, when the common electrodes in a same touch sub-region T are coupled to each other through the metal pattern unit <NUM>, it is able to remarkably reduce an overall resistance of the common electrodes in the array substrate <NUM>, thereby to improve uniformity of the resistance of the common electrodes in the same touch sub-region T.

In addition, as shown in <FIG>, the plurality of metal pattern units <NUM> in a same touch sub-region T is coupled to each other through bridging portions.

To be specific, <FIG> shows the arrangement of the plurality of metal pattern units in the same touch sub-region and the metal pattern units in different touch sub-regions in the array substrate. As shown in <FIG>, in some embodiments of the present disclosure, in the plurality of metal pattern units <NUM> arranged in the same touch sub-region T, adjacent metal pattern units <NUM> arranged in the first direction (i.e., a row direction) are coupled to each other through the first bridging portion <NUM>, and the first bridging portion <NUM> is arranged between first metal sub-lines of two adjacent metal pattern units. The first bridging portion <NUM> is arranged at the same layer as the first metal sub-line, i.e., the first metal sub-lines of two adjacent metal pattern units are coupled to each other, or the first bridging portion <NUM> may be arranged at a different layer from the first metal sub-line and may be coupled to the first metal sub-line through a via hole, so that the metal pattern units in the same touch electrode are coupled to each other in the row direction. The metal pattern units <NUM> in different touch sub-regions T are not coupled to each other in the row direction at the first notch <NUM>.

In the second direction (i.e., a column direction), the first metal strip and the second metal strip <NUM> are coupled to each other through the second bridging portion <NUM> arranged at a same layer as or a different layer from the first metal strip <NUM> at the first notch <NUM>. The second bridging portion <NUM> is arranged at a same layer as the first metal sub-line, i.e., the first metal sub-lines of two adjacent metal pattern units are coupled to each other, or the second bridging portion <NUM> is arranged at a different layer from the first metal sub-line and coupled to the first metal sub-line through a via hole. The first metal strips in at least one column in the second direction in the same touch sub-region T are coupled to a same touch signal line (i.e., the touch signal line corresponding to the touch sub-region) through the via hole (the dotted circle O in <FIG>), and not couple to the other non-corresponding touch signal lines (i.e., touch signal lines not corresponding to the touch sub-region), so that the metal pattern units in the same touch sub-region are coupled to each other through the corresponding touch signal line in the column direction. The first metal strip is merely coupled to the corresponding touch signal line in the column direction and is not coupled to the non-corresponding touch signal lines, so the metal pattern units are not coupled to each other between the adjacent touch electrodes in the second direction.

For example, the first bridging portion <NUM> and the second bridging portion <NUM> are not formed on a same layer as an existing pattern layer on the array substrate <NUM>, or formed on a same layer as the existing pattern layer on the array substrate <NUM>. For example, the first bridging portion <NUM> and the second bridging portion <NUM> may be formed on a same layer as the gate line <NUM>, i.e., the first bridging portion <NUM> and the second bridging portion <NUM> are arranged at a same layer and made of a same material as the gate line <NUM>. When the first bridging portion <NUM> and the second bridging portion <NUM> are arranged at a same layer and made of a same material as the gate line <NUM>, it is able to form the metal pattern unit <NUM> and the gate line <NUM> at the same time, thereby to simplify the manufacture process of the array substrate <NUM>.

It should be appreciated that, the above are for illustrative purposes only, and in the row direction, the adjacent second metal strips <NUM> are coupled to each other, and the touch electrode is divided into blocks in the row direction through controlling whether these blocks are coupled to each other at the second notch <NUM>.

In the column direction, the first metal strip <NUM> and the second metal strip <NUM> in the metal pattern unit in each touch sub-region are coupled to each other though the second bridging portion arranged at a same layer or a different layer from the first metal strip and the second metal strip. Not all first metal strips <NUM> are coupled to the touch signal lines <NUM> through via holes. Merely the touch signal line corresponding to the touch sub-region where the first metal strip <NUM> is arranged is coupled to the touch electrode through the via hole, and the touch signal lines not corresponding to the first metal strip <NUM> are not coupled to the touch electrode, i.e., the touch electrode is divided into blocks in the column direction through controlling whether the first metal strip <NUM> is coupled to different touch signal lines.

It should be appreciated that, in some embodiments of the present disclosure, as shown in <FIG>, the first metal strip <NUM> and the second metal strip <NUM> in the metal pattern unit in each touch sub-region are coupled to each other. In some other embodiments of the present disclosure, as shown in <FIG>, in a part of metal pattern units in the same touch sub-region, the first metal strip and the second metal strip are coupled to each other, and in the other part of the metal pattern units, the first metal strip and the second metal strip are not coupled to each other at the first notch <NUM>.

In addition, <FIG> shows the arrangement of the plurality of metal pattern units in the same touch sub-region and the metal pattern units in different touch sub-regions in the array substrate.

As shown in <FIG>, in a same touch electrode, the first metal sub-lines between metal pattern units are coupled to each other through a first bridging portion arranged at a same layer as or a different layer from the first metal strip at the second notch, and at least one metal pattern unit is coupled to at least one touch sub-electrode in the touch electrode. In different touch electrodes, the first metal sub-lines between the plurality of metal pattern units are not coupled to each other at the second notch.

In the same touch electrode, the first metal strips in at least two columns in the second direction are coupled to different touch signal lines through via holes (the dotted circle O in <FIG>), and a first metal strip coupled to the touch signal line not corresponding to the touch electrode is not coupled to the second metal strip in the touch electrode at the first notch, so that the metal pattern units are not coupled to each other between the adjacent touch electrodes in the second direction.

In the embodiments of the present disclosure, in the row direction, the adjacent second metal strips <NUM> are coupled to each other, and the touch electrode is divided into blocks in the row direction through controlling whether these blocks are coupled to each other at the second notch <NUM>.

In the column direction, the first metal strips <NUM> are all coupled to the touch signal lines <NUM> through the via holes. Through the first notch <NUM>, the touch signal line is coupled to the touch electrode corresponding to the touch signal line, and the touch signal line is not coupled to the touch electrode not corresponding to the touch signal line, so it is able to divide the touch electrode into blocks in the column direction.

In addition, in the embodiments of the present disclosure, as shown in <FIG>, in two adjacent metal pattern units <NUM>, the first metal strip <NUM> in one metal pattern unit <NUM> and the second metal sub-line <NUM> in the other metal pattern unit <NUM> are arranged at two opposite sides of a same data line <NUM>, and in a direction parallel to the base substrate <NUM> and perpendicular to the second direction, a distance between a boundary of an orthogonal projection of the first metal strip <NUM> in one metal pattern unit <NUM> onto the base substrate <NUM> and a boundary of the orthogonal projection of the data line <NUM> onto the base substrate <NUM> is the same as a distance between a boundary of an orthogonal projection of the second metal sub-line <NUM> in the other metal pattern unit <NUM> onto the base substrate <NUM> and the boundary of the orthogonal projection of the data line <NUM> onto the base substrate <NUM>.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, as shown in <FIG>, the orthogonal projection of the first metal sub-line <NUM> onto the base substrate <NUM> and the orthogonal projection of the second metal sub-line <NUM> onto the base substrate <NUM> are completely covered by an orthogonal projection of a light shielding strip of the black matrix <NUM> on the counter substrate <NUM> onto the base substrate <NUM>. For example, in the direction parallel to the base substrate <NUM> and perpendicular to the first direction, the boundary of the orthogonal projection of the black matrix <NUM> onto the base substrate <NUM> exceeds the boundary of the orthogonal projection of the first metal strip <NUM> onto the base substrate <NUM> by <NUM> to <NUM>. To be specific, in actual use, the value may be adjusted in accordance with a specific size of the display panel and a specific size of the sub-pixel <NUM>, e.g., the boundary of the orthogonal projection of the black matrix <NUM> onto the base substrate <NUM> exceeds the boundary of the orthogonal projection of the first metal strip <NUM> onto the base substrate <NUM> by <NUM>.

Identically, in the direction parallel to the base substrate <NUM> and perpendicular to the first direction, the boundary of the orthogonal projection of the black matrix <NUM> onto the base substrate <NUM> exceeds the boundary of the orthogonal projection of the second metal strip <NUM> onto the base substrate <NUM> by <NUM> to <NUM>. To be specific, in actual use, the value may be adjusted in accordance with a specific size of the display panel and a specific size of the sub-pixel <NUM>, e.g., the boundary of the orthogonal projection of the black matrix <NUM> onto the base substrate <NUM> exceeds the boundary of the orthogonal projection of the second metal strip <NUM> onto the base substrate <NUM> by <NUM>.

In addition, in some embodiments of the present disclosure, in the direction parallel to the base substrate <NUM> and perpendicular to the second direction, a distance between a boundary of the orthogonal projection of the data line <NUM> onto the base substrate <NUM> and a boundary of an orthogonal projection of the pixel electrode <NUM> in one sub-pixel <NUM> adjacent to the data line <NUM> onto the base substrate <NUM> is the same as a distance between the boundary of the orthogonal projection of the data line <NUM> onto the base substrate <NUM> and a boundary of an orthogonal projection the pixel electrode <NUM> in the other sub-pixel <NUM> adjacent to the data line <NUM> onto the base substrate <NUM>, and a distance between the boundary of the orthogonal projection of the data line <NUM> onto the base substrate <NUM> and a boundary of an orthogonal projection of the common electrode in one sub-pixel <NUM> adjacent to the data line <NUM> onto the base substrate <NUM> is the same as a distance between the boundary of the orthogonal projection of the data line <NUM> onto the base substrate <NUM> and a boundary of an orthogonal projection the common electrode in the other sub-pixel <NUM> adjacent to the data line <NUM> onto the base substrate <NUM>.

Based on the above, the 1ITO and the 2ITO are symmetrical with respect to the data line <NUM>, i.e., a distance between the data line <NUM> and an electrode on the left is the same as a distance between the data line <NUM> and an electrode on the right. In this way, it is able to reduce defects caused by different parasitic capacitances between the data line and each of the electrode on the left and the electrode on the right.

In addition, in the embodiments of the present disclosure, the array substrate <NUM> further includes an organic insulation layer <NUM>, the touch signal line <NUM> is arranged at a same layer and made of a same material as the data line <NUM>, and the organic insulation layer <NUM> is arranged between a layer where the data line <NUM> is located and a layer where the touch electrode <NUM> is located.

Based on the above, in the embodiments of the present disclosure, the organic insulation layer <NUM> has a large thickness and it functions as to provide a flat surface. At least a part of the organic insulation layer <NUM> is arranged between the touch signal line <NUM> and the common electrode, so as to increase a distance between the touch signal line <NUM> and the pixel electrode <NUM>,prevent the occurrence of non-uniform left electric fields between the pixel electrode <NUM> and the touch signal line <NUM> caused by any process fluctuations of the pixel electrode <NUM>, and improve a transmittance deviation at the aperture region, thereby to prevent the occurrence of non-uniform brightness caused by the transmittance deviation as well as black or white contaminants, and improve the yield of the product.

In the case that the common electrode serves as the touch electrode <NUM> in the same touch sub-region T, after the LCD panel is formed using the array substrate <NUM>, a specific process of achieving the touch function will be described as follows.

At a touch stage, the touch signal line <NUM> provides a touch signal to the common electrode (i.e., the touch electrode <NUM>) coupled to the touch signal line <NUM>. When a touch operation is made in a touch region of the LCD panel, the touch signal corresponding to the touch electrode <NUM> at a touch position changes. The touch electrode <NUM> transmits the changed touch signal to a chip through the corresponding touch signal line <NUM>, and the chip determines the touch position in accordance with the changed touch signal. At the display stage, the touch signal line <NUM> provides a common electrode signal for display to the common electrode coupled to the touch signal line <NUM>, and a driving circuitry of the sub-pixel <NUM> in the array substrate <NUM> provides a driving signal to a corresponding pixel electrode <NUM>, so as to generate an electric field for driving liquid crystals to deflect between the pixel electrode <NUM> and the common electrode, thereby to achieve the display function of the LCD panel.

In addition, as shown in <FIG>, in some embodiments of the present disclosure, the array substrate <NUM> further includes a gate insulation (GI) layer <NUM> and a passivation layer <NUM>. A layer where the metal pattern unit <NUM> is located, the gate insulation layer <NUM>, the layer where the touch signal line <NUM> and the data line <NUM> are located, the organic insulation (ORG) layer <NUM>, the layer where the touch electrode <NUM> is located, the passivation (PVX) layer <NUM> and a layer where the pixel electrode <NUM> is located are laminated one on another in a direction away from the base substrate <NUM>. The touch electrode <NUM> is coupled to the metal pattern unit <NUM> through a first connection hole Via1, and the first connection hole Via1 at least penetrates through the passivation layer <NUM>, the organic insulation layer <NUM> and the gate insulation layer <NUM>. The touch signal line <NUM> is coupled to the metal pattern unit <NUM> through a second connection hole Via2, and the second connection hole Via2 at least penetrates through the passivation layer <NUM>, the organic insulation layer <NUM> and the gate insulation layer <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, for example, the first connection hole Via1 includes a first sub-hole and a second sub-hole; the first sub-hole penetrates through the passivation layer <NUM> to expose a part of the touch electrode <NUM>. The second sub-hole penetrates through the organic insulation layer <NUM> and the gate insulation layer <NUM> to exposes a part of the metal pattern unit <NUM>. The array substrate <NUM> further includes a first connection pattern <NUM>, and an orthogonal projection of the first connection pattern <NUM> onto the base substrate <NUM> covers an orthogonal projection of the first sub-hole of the first connection hole Via1 onto the base substrate <NUM> and an orthogonal projection of the second sub-hole of the first connection hole Via1 onto the base substrate <NUM> to enable the touch electrode <NUM> to be coupled to the metal pattern unit <NUM>.

In the embodiments of the present disclosure, as shown in <FIG>, the second connection hole Via2 includes a third sub-hole and a fourth sub-hole. The third sub-hole penetrates through the passivation layer <NUM> to expose a part of the touch signal line <NUM>, and the fourth sub-hole penetrates through the organic insulation layer <NUM> and the gate insulation layer <NUM> to expose a part of the metal pattern unit <NUM>;. The array substrate <NUM> further includes a second connection pattern <NUM>, and an orthogonal projection of the second connection pattern <NUM> onto the base substrate <NUM> covers an orthogonal projection of the third sub-hole of the second connection hole Via2 onto the base substrate <NUM> and an orthogonal projection of the fourth sub-hole of the second connection hole Via2 onto the base substrate <NUM> to enable the touch signal line to be coupled to the metal pattern unit <NUM>.

Based on the above, the touch electrode <NUM> is coupled to the metal pattern through the first connection pattern <NUM>. The orthogonal projection of the first connection pattern <NUM> onto the base substrate <NUM> covers the orthogonal projection of the first sub-hole of the first connection hole Via1 onto the base substrate <NUM> and the orthogonal projection of the second sub-hole of the first connection hole Via1 onto the base substrate <NUM>. In the embodiments of the present disclosure, during the manufacture of the array substrate <NUM>, the via hole in the organic insulation layer <NUM> (i.e., corresponding to the first sub-hole of the first connection hole) is removed through a single patterning process to expose a part of the touch electrode <NUM>. When the via hole in the passivation layer <NUM> is formed through another patterning process, the gate insulation layer <NUM> and the passivation layer <NUM> on the metal pattern unit <NUM> are removed simultaneously to expose a part of the metal pattern unit. In this way, it is unnecessary to provide a separate etching step for the gate insulation layer <NUM> and save a mask process, thereby to simplify the manufacture of the array substrate <NUM> and reduce the manufacture cost of the array substrate <NUM>.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the first connection pattern <NUM> and the second connection pattern <NUM> are arranged at a same layer and made of a same material as the pixel electrode <NUM>, so as to form the first connection pattern <NUM>, the second connection pattern <NUM> and the pixel electrode <NUM> through a single patterning process, thereby to simplify the manufacture of the array substrate <NUM> and reduce the manufacture cost of the array substrate <NUM>. Of course, it should be appreciated that, the first connection pattern <NUM> and the second connection pattern <NUM> may also be formed separately.

In addition, in some embodiments of the present disclosure, as shown in <FIG>, the array substrate <NUM> further includes a driving circuitry, and at least a part of an output electrode <NUM> of the driving circuitry is arranged at a side of the organic insulation layer <NUM> close to the base substrate <NUM>. The pixel electrode <NUM> is coupled to the output electrode <NUM> through a third connection hole Via3, and the third connection hole Via3 at least penetrates through the organic insulation layer <NUM> and the passivation layer <NUM> to expose the output electrode <NUM> of the driving circuitry and enable the pixel electrode <NUM> to be coupled to the output electrode <NUM>.

In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the driving circuitry includes a driving transistor, the third connection hole Via3 includes a fifth sub-hole and a sixth sub-hole, the fifth sub-hole penetrates through the organic insulation layer <NUM>, the sixth sub-hole penetrates through the passivation layer <NUM>, an orthogonal projection of the fifth sub-hole onto the base substrate <NUM> covers an orthogonal projection of the sixth sub-hole onto the base substrate <NUM>, and the pixel electrode <NUM> is coupled to the output electrode <NUM> through the third connection hole Via3.

Based on the above, a gate electrode of the TFT is coupled to a corresponding gate line <NUM>, an input electrode of the TFT is coupled to a corresponding data line <NUM>, an output electrode <NUM> of the TFT serves as an output electrode <NUM> of the driving circuitry, and the output electrode <NUM> is coupled to the pixel electrode <NUM>. In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the output electrode <NUM> includes a source electrode.

In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the output electrode <NUM> is arranged at a same layer and made of a same material as the data line <NUM> and the touch signal line <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the gate insulation layer <NUM>, the output electrode <NUM>, the organic insulation layer <NUM>, the common electrode, the passivation layer <NUM>, and the pixel electrode <NUM> are laminated one on another in a direction away from the base substrate <NUM>.

In the embodiments of the present disclosure, after the formation of the organic insulation layer <NUM>, a fifth sub-hole penetrating through the organic insulation layer <NUM> is formed through a single patterning process. Then, the passivation layer <NUM> is formed, and a sixth sub-hole penetrating through the passivation layer <NUM> is formed through another patterning process. It should be appreciated that, a part of the passivation layer <NUM> is located in the fifth sub-hole, and this part is etched to form the sixth sub-hole. An orthogonal projection of the fifth sub-hole onto the base substrate <NUM> surrounds an orthogonal projection of the sixth sub-hole onto the base substrate <NUM>. The pixel electrode <NUM> is formed and coupled to the output electrode <NUM> through the first sub-hole and second sub-hole.

According to the display substrate in the embodiments of the present disclosure, at least a part of an orthogonal projection of a boundary of the fifth sub-hole onto the base substrate <NUM> at least partially overlaps an orthogonal projection of the output electrode <NUM> onto the base substrate <NUM>, so at least a part of the boundary of the fifth sub-hole is located on the output electrode <NUM>, and thereby at least a part of a boundary of the sixth sub-hole is located on the output electrode <NUM>. In this way, it is able to prevent the pixel electrode <NUM> from being completely interrupted at the boundary of the output electrode <NUM>, thereby to ensure the connection between the pixel electrode <NUM> and the output electrode <NUM>.

In the related art, in order to reduce a resistance of the pixel electrode, the pixel electrode is provided with a plurality of slits. In order to achieve a normal display function of the LCD panel, an extension direction of grooves in an alignment layer needs to be the same as an extension direction of the slits, i.e., during the alignment, an alignment cloth needs to rub an alignment film in a direction perpendicular to an extension direction of the data line. When a rubbing operation is made through the alignment cloth near the data line, the alignment cloth needs to climb at the data line. At this time, a large rubbing shadow region will occur near the data line, and light leakage easily occurs. Hence, the rubbing shadow region needs to be shielded by the black matrix pattern on the counter substrate after the array substrate is arranged opposite to the counter substrate to form a cell. A width of the black matrix pattern in the direction perpendicular to the extension direction of the data line is increased and an aperture ratio of the LCD panel is reduced.

Based on the above problems, it is found through research that, through changing the extension direction of the slit, the extension direction of the slits is enabled to be the same as the extension direction of the data line and the extension direction of the groove after the alignment is enabled to be the same as the extension direction of the data line. In this way, it is able to prevent the rubbing shadow region from being formed near the data line during the alignment and reduce a width of the black matrix pattern for shielding the data line in the direction perpendicular to the extension direction of the data line, thereby to effectively increase the aperture ratio of the LCD panel.

In a possible embodiment of the present disclosure, as shown in <FIG>, each pixel electrode <NUM> includes a plurality of slits 620a extending in the second direction.

Here, when the slit 620a extends in the second direction, it means that the slit 620a extends in the second direction as a whole. In a possible embodiment of the present disclosure, the pixel electrode <NUM> includes a domain, and the slit 620a is of a linear shape. In another possible embodiment of the present disclosure, the pixel electrode <NUM> is divided into two domains, and as shown in <FIG>, each slit 620a includes a first sub-slit and a second sub-slit angled relative to the first sub-slit by an obtuse angle θ.

The alignment layer is formed on the array substrate as follows. An alignment material film is formed on a side of the array substrate with the pixel electrode, and then rubbed with an alignment cloth in the extension direction of the slit in the pixel electrode (i.e., the extension direction of the data line) to form the alignment layer with a groove. The extension direction of the groove is the same as the extension direction of the slit.

The slit 620a extends in the second direction, and when the alignment film is aligned through the alignment cloth, the alignment cloth moves along the second direction, so it is able to prevent the occurrence of a large rubbing shadow region near the data line during the alignment. At this time, there is no light leakage caused by the rubbing shadow region, so it is able to provide the light shielding strip in the black matrix <NUM> with a small width in the first direction, thereby to effectively increase the aperture ratio.

As shown in <FIG>, in the embodiments of the present disclosure, the second metal strip <NUM> is coupled to the touch electrode through the first connection hole Via1. In order to avoid the first connection hole, the pixel electrode is provided with a notch. A length of the slit 620a in a region corresponding to the notch in the second direction is less than a length of the slit 620a in the other region in the second direction. As shown in <FIG>, each pixel electrode includes <NUM> slits, and upper ends and lower ends of the two slits at a side close to the second metal sub-line are aligned. A length of each of the two slits is less than a length of each of the other five slits at a side close to the first metal strip. Upper ends and lower ends of the five slits at the side close to the first metal strip are aligned.

Of course, the above are for illustrative purposes only, and in actual use, the quantity and length of the slits are not limited thereto.

It should be appreciated that, <FIG> shows the arrangement of the sub-pixels in the array substrate. In <FIG>, a line includes a curved portion with a sharp angle. In an actual product, due to the manufacture process, the curved portion should be rounded, which is not shown in <FIG> for ease of drawing.

The present disclosure further provides in some embodiments a display device, including an array substrate <NUM>, a counter substrate <NUM> arranged opposite to the array substrate <NUM>, and a liquid crystal layer arranged between the array substrate <NUM> and the counter substrate <NUM>. The array substrate <NUM> is the above-mentioned array substrate.

A black matrix <NUM> is arranged on the counter substrate <NUM>, and an orthogonal projection of the black matrix <NUM> onto the array substrate is within the light shielding region of the sub-pixel. In the direction parallel to the base substrate and perpendicular to the second direction, a distance between a boundary of an orthogonal projection of the black matrix onto the base substrate and the boundary of the orthogonal projection of the pixel electrode in one sub-pixel adjacent to the black matrix onto the base substrate is the same as a distance between the boundary of the orthogonal projection of the black matrix onto the base substrate and a boundary of the orthogonal projection the pixel electrode in the other sub-pixel adjacent to the black matrix onto the base substrate, and a distance between the boundary of the orthogonal projection of the black matrix onto the base substrate and the boundary of the orthogonal projection of the common electrode in one sub-pixel adjacent to the data line onto the base substrate is the same as a distance between the boundary of the orthogonal projection of the black matrix onto the base substrate and a boundary of an orthogonal projection the common electrode in the other sub-pixel adjacent to the black matrix onto the base substrate.

Based on the above, the 1ITO and the 2ITO are symmetrical with respect to the black matrix <NUM>, i.e., a distance between the black matrix <NUM> and an electrode on the left is the same as a distance between the black matrix <NUM> and an electrode on the right, so as to improve a shielding effect of the black matrix on the sub-pixel, thereby to improve the uniformity of the light transmittance of the sub-pixel, i.e., the symmetry of the pixel.

It should be appreciated that, the display device may be any product or member having a display function, such as a liquid crystal display panel, a television, a monitor, a digital photo frame, a mobile phone, an electronic paper, a tablet computer, a laptop computer, or a navigator.

The display device includes the above-mentioned array substrate <NUM>, so it has the same beneficial effects, which will thus not be particularly defined herein.

The present disclosure further provides in some embodiments a method for manufacturing the array substrate <NUM>, including the following steps.

Step S01: providing a base substrate <NUM>.

Step S02: forming a plurality of gate lines <NUM>, a plurality of data lines <NUM>, a plurality of touch signal lines <NUM>, a plurality of touch electrodes <NUM> and a plurality of metal pattern units <NUM> on the base substrate <NUM>. The plurality of gate lines <NUM> extends in a first direction, the plurality of data lines <NUM> extends in a second direction, and the plurality of gate lines <NUM> and the plurality of data lines <NUM> cross each other to define a plurality of sub-pixels <NUM>. The plurality of touch signal lines <NUM> extends in the second direction, and each touch signal line <NUM> is arranged in a light shielding region between adjacent sub-pixels <NUM>. The plurality of touch electrodes <NUM> is insulated from each other. Each metal pattern unit <NUM> is arranged in the light shielding region between adjacent sub-pixels <NUM>, one metal pattern unit <NUM> corresponds to one touch electrode <NUM>, the touch electrode <NUM> is coupled to a corresponding touch signal line <NUM> through the corresponding metal pattern unit <NUM>, and an orthogonal projection of the metal pattern unit <NUM> onto the base substrate <NUM> at least overlaps a part of an orthogonal projection of the touch signal line <NUM> onto the base substrate <NUM>.

According to the method in the embodiments of the present disclosure, the touch signal line <NUM> and the data line <NUM> are arranged in parallel and the touch signal line <NUM> is arranged in the light shielding region between adjacent sub-pixels <NUM>. In this regard, the touch signal line <NUM> and the data line <NUM> are covered by the black matrix <NUM> on the counter substrate <NUM>, so it is able to prevent the occurrence of non-uniform electric fields between the touch signal line and each of the electrode on the left and the electrode on the right when the touch signal line <NUM> is arranged in the middle of the sub-pixel <NUM>, thereby to prevent the occurrence of contaminants. In addition, the touch electrode <NUM> is electrically coupled to the touch signal line <NUM> through the metal pattern, so it is able to reduce the resistance of the touch electrode <NUM> as well a loss on the touch signal line <NUM>, thereby to improve the touch sensitivity and the product quality. In addition, the touch signal line <NUM> is at least partially covered by the metal pattern unit, and the metal pattern unit also functions as to shield light, so it is able to reduce the dependence on the black matrix <NUM>, thereby to reduce the light shielding area of the black matrix <NUM> on the counter substrate <NUM>.

In the embodiments of the present disclosure, Step S02 further includes the following steps.

Step S021: forming the gate line <NUM>, a gate electrode of the driving transistor, and the metal pattern unit <NUM> on the base substrate <NUM>. The metal pattern unit <NUM> is coupled to the common electrode to reduce a transmission resistance of the common electrode.

To be specific, a first gate metal layer (Gate layer) is formed on the base substrate <NUM>, and it includes a first molybdenum layer, a first aluminum layer and a second molybdenum layer laminated one on another in a direction away from the base substrate <NUM>. A thickness of the first molybdenum layer is 150Å, a thickness of the first aluminum layer is 3000Å, and a thickness of the second molybdenum layer is 800Å. The first gate metal layer is subjected to a patterning process to form the gate line <NUM>, the gate electrode and the metal pattern unit <NUM>. The patterning process includes coating, exposing, developing, and wet etching. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the metal pattern unit <NUM> further includes the first bridging portion <NUM> and the second bridging portion <NUM> coupled to the metal pattern unit <NUM> in a same touch sub-region T.

Step S022: forming the driving circuitry, the data line <NUM> and the touch signal line <NUM> on the base substrate <NUM> on which the gate line <NUM> and the metal pattern unit <NUM> are formed.

To be specific, in Step S022, an entire gate insulation layer <NUM> is deposited to cover the gate line <NUM>, the gate electrode and the metal pattern unit <NUM>, a material of the gate insulation layer <NUM> includes silicon nitride, and a thickness of the gate insulation layer <NUM> is 4000Å.

Next, an active layer of the TFT is formed and it has a thickness of 1700Å.

Then, a source/drain metal layer of the TFT is formed. The source/drain metal layer includes a third molybdenum layer, a second aluminum layer and a fourth molybdenum layer laminated one on another in a direction away from the base substrate <NUM>. A thickness of the third molybdenum layer is 150Å, a thickness of the second aluminum layer is 3000Å, and a thickness of the fourth molybdenum layer is 800Å. The source/drain metal layer is subjected to a patterning process to form the input electrode and the output electrode <NUM> of the driving circuitry, the data line <NUM>, and the touch signal line <NUM>. The patterning process includes coating, exposing, developing, and wet etching.

Step S023: forming the organic insulation layer <NUM> on the base substrate <NUM> on which the driving circuitry is formed. The organic insulation layer <NUM> covers the output electrode <NUM> of the driving circuitry, the data line <NUM>, and the touch signal line <NUM>.

To be specific, in the embodiments of the present disclosure, a silicon nitride material is deposited to form a buffer layer with a thickness of 1000Å, and then an organic resin is deposited at a side of the buffer layer away from the base substrate <NUM> to form the entire organic insulation layer <NUM> with a thickness of 20000Å.

A second sub-hole, a fourth sub-hole, and a fifth sub-hole are formed in the organic insulation layer <NUM> through a single patterning process. The second sub-hole and the fourth sub-hole penetrate through the organic insulation layer <NUM> to expose at least a part of the metal pattern unit <NUM>, and the fourth sub-hole, the third sub-hole and the fifth sub-hole penetrate through the organic insulation layer <NUM> to expose at least a part of the output electrode <NUM> of the driving circuitry.

Step S024: forming the common electrode.

To be specific, in Step S024, the 1ITO layer is made of indium tin oxide with a thickness of 700Å. The 1ITO layer is subjected to a patterning process to form the common electrode, and the patterning process includes coating, exposing, developing, and wet etching.

Step S025: forming the passivation layer <NUM> to cover the common electrode.

To be specific, in Step S025, a silicon nitride material is deposited to from the entire passivation layer <NUM> with a thickness of 2500Å.

To be specific, in Step S025, the passivation layer <NUM> is subject to a single patterning process to form the first sub-hole, the third sub-hole and a sixth sub-hole penetrating through the passivation layer <NUM>. The first sub-hole penetrates through the passivation layer <NUM> to expose a part of the touch electrode <NUM>, the third sub-hole penetrates through the passivation layer <NUM> to expose a part of the touch signal line <NUM>, the sixth sub-hole penetrates through the passivation layer <NUM>, and an orthogonal projection of the fifth sub-hole onto the base substrate <NUM> includes an orthogonal projection of the sixth sub-via onto the base substrate <NUM>.

Step S026: forming the pixel electrode <NUM>, the first connection pattern <NUM> and the second connection pattern <NUM>. The orthogonal projection of the first connection pattern <NUM> onto the base substrate <NUM> covers the orthogonal projection of the first sub-hole of the first connection hole Via1 onto the base substrate and the orthogonal projection of the second sub-hole of the first connection hole Via1 onto the base substrate to couple the touch electrode <NUM> to the metal pattern unit, and the orthogonal projection of the second connection pattern <NUM> onto the base substrate <NUM> covers the orthogonal projection of the third sub-hole of the second connection hole Via2 onto the base substrate and the orthogonal projection of the fourth sub-hole of the second connection hole Via2 onto the base substrate to couple the touch signal line <NUM> to the metal pattern unit.

To be specific, in Step S026, the 2ITO layer may be made of indium tin oxide material with a thickness of 700Å. The 2ITO layer is subjected to a patterning process to form the pixel electrode <NUM>, the first connection pattern <NUM> and the second connection pattern <NUM>, and the patterning process includes coating, exposing, developing, and wet etching.

Some description will be given as follows.

Claim 1:
An array substrate (<NUM>), comprising a base substrate (<NUM>), and a plurality of gate lines (<NUM>) extending in a first direction and a plurality of data lines (<NUM>) extending in a second direction arranged on the base substrate (<NUM>), wherein each gate line (<NUM>) crosses the plurality of data lines (<NUM>) to define a plurality of sub-pixels (<NUM>), wherein the array substrate (<NUM>) further comprises:
a plurality of touch signal lines (<NUM>) extending in the second direction and arranged in light shielding regions of the sub-pixels (<NUM>);
a plurality of touch electrodes (<NUM>) insulated from each other and each coupled to at least one touch signal line (<NUM>); and
a plurality of metal pattern units (<NUM>) corresponding to the sub-pixels (<NUM>) respectively and each arranged in the light shielding region of the corresponding sub-pixel (<NUM>),
wherein the metal pattern unit (<NUM>) comprises a first metal strip (<NUM>) arranged on at least one side of the data line (<NUM>) and extending in the second direction, an overlapping area between an orthogonal projection of the first metal strip (<NUM>) onto the base substrate (<NUM>) and an orthogonal projection of the touch signal line (<NUM>) onto the base substrate (<NUM>) is A, and a ratio of the overlapping area A to an area of the orthogonal projection of the touch signal line (<NUM>) onto the base substrate (<NUM>) is greater than a threshold;
wherein the touch signal line (<NUM>) is covered by at least a part of the metal pattern unit (<NUM>) and the metal pattern unit (<NUM>) is configured to shield light.