Patent ID: 12250863

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

For clearer descriptions of the objects, technical solutions and advantages of the present disclosure, implementations of the present disclosure will be described in further detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Apparently, the described embodiments are merely some embodiments, rather than all embodiments, of the present disclosure. Based on the embodiments of the present disclosure, all other embodiments derived by a person of ordinary skill in the art without creative efforts shall fall within the protection scope of the present disclosure.

The display device usually includes a via hole structure, and the via hole structure usually includes a first conductive layer, an interlayer insulating layer, and a second conductive layer that are sequentially arranged. The interlayer insulating layer is provided with a via hole, and the second conductive layer is overlapped with the first conductive layer by the via hole. In a conventional via hole structure, a surface, distal from the first conductive layer, of the interlayer insulating layer is smooth, and the inner wall surface of the via hole is smooth. In this way, parts of the second conductive layer in the via hole and on the interlayer insulating layer are prone to falling off, thereby resulting in poor overlap between the second conductive layer and the first conductive layer.

To prevent the second conductive layer from falling off, the slop angle (which refers to the included angle between the inner wall surface of the via hole and a surface of the first conductive layer proximal to the interlayer insulating layer) of the via hole is mainly corrected by changing etching parameters of an etching process during the formation of the via hole by the etching process. However, due to limitation of the etching process, the etching parameters need to be frequently adjusted to correct the slope angle of the via hole, which is difficult to realize. At the same time, when correcting the slope angle of the via hole, if the interlayer insulating layer is non-uniform film layer, the correction effect to be intended cannot be achieved. Therefore, the requirement on the film forming uniformity of the interlayer insulating layer is high.

The present disclosure provides a via hole structure and a manufacturing method of the via hole, an electronic device, and a display device. In the via hole structure, the interlayer insulating layer is provided with a via hole, and at least part of a surface, in contact with the second conductive layer, of the interlayer insulating layer is uneven. Therefore, the adhesive force between the second conductive layer and the interlayer insulating layer is great, such that the second conductive layer is prevented from falling off, thereby avoiding poor overlap between the second conductive layer and the first conductive layer. In addition, in the solution according to the embodiments of the present disclosure, the slope angle of the via hole is not required to be corrected by changing the etching parameters. In this way, the implementation is simplified, and the requirement on the film forming uniformity of the interlayer insulating layer is lowered. For a detailed solution of the present disclosure, reference may be made to description of the following embodiments.

In the following, the at least part of the surface (that is, the foregoing uneven surface), in contact with the second conductive layer, of the interlayer insulating layer is described below with reference to the drawings.

Referring toFIG.1, a schematic structural diagram showing a via hole structure according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is given. The via hole structure includes a first conductive layer10, an interlayer insulating layer20, and a second conductive layer30that are sequentially arranged. The interlayer insulating layer20is provided with a via hole201. An inner wall surface201a(that is, the inside surface of the via hole) of the via hole201is uneven. The second conductive layer30is overlapped with the first conductive layer10by the via hole201.

To sum up, in the via hole structure according to the embodiments of the present invention, as the inner wall surface of the via hole is uneven, the adhesive force between the part of the second conductive layer in the via hole and the inner wall surface of the via hole is increased, such that the part of the second conductive layer in the via hole is prevented from falling off, thereby avoiding poor overlap between the second conductive layer and the first conductive layer, and improving the effect of overlapping between the second conductive layer and the first conductive layer.

Optionally,FIG.2is a schematic structural diagram showing another via hole structure according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. A surface, distal from the first conductive layer10, of the interlayer insulating layer20is uneven. The via hole structure has a via region and a non-via region. The via region refers to a region where the via hole201of the interlayer insulating layer20is located (that is, a region of the via hole structure corresponding to the via hole of the interlayer insulating layer20). The non-via region refers to a region of the via hole structure other than the via region. That the surface, distal from the first conductive layer10, of the interlayer insulating layer20is the uneven surface refers to that a surface, distal from the first conductive layer10, of the interlayer insulating layer20in the non-via region is the uneven surface. In this way, as in the non-via region of the via hole structure, the surface, distal from the first conductive layer10, of the interlayer insulating layer20is the uneven surface, the adhesive force between the interlayer insulating layer20and the second conductive layer30in the non-via region of the via hole structure is increased, thereby improving the effect of overlapping between the interlayer insulating film layer20and the second conductive layer30.

Optionally, both the inner wall surface201aof the via hole201and the surface, distal from the first conductive layer10, of the interlayer insulating layer20may be provided with uneven micro structures (not shown inFIG.1andFIG.2, which may be, for example, microgroove), so that both the inner wall surface201aof the via hole201and the surface, distal from the first conductive layer10, of the interlayer insulating layer20are uneven surfaces, that is, both the inner wall surface201aof the via hole201and the surface, distal from the first conductive layer10, of the interlayer insulating layer20have a certain roughness. Optionally, both the roughness of the surface, distal from the first conductive layer10, of the interlayer insulating layer20and the inner wall surface of the via hole have a value range of 0.05d≤r≤0.19d, where r represents the roughness, and d represents the thickness of the interlayer insulating layer20. Exemplarily, r=0.05d.

Optionally, the uneven surface has a roughness in a value range of 0.06d≤r≤0.19d.

Optionally, the uneven surface has a roughness in a value range of 0.06d≤r≤0.15d.

Exemplarily, r=0.06d, r=0.1d, or r=0.15d.

Where the roughness of the uneven surface refers to a distance between the top of convex and the bottom of concave in the uneven surface.

Optionally, the distance may be a distance between the top of convex and the bottom of concave adjacent to the convex, or may be a distance between the top of the highest convex and the bottom of the lowest concave, or may be an average of all distances between the top of convex and the bottom of concave adjacent to the convex, which is not limited in the present application.

As shown inFIG.2, r represents the distance between the top of the convex and the bottom of the concave adjacent to the convex in the uneven surface, i.e., roughness.

Optionally, at least one of the first conductive layer10and the second conductive layer30is made of metal. The interlayer insulating layer20may be made of silicon nitride, silicon oxide, silicon oxynitride, or the like. Further, the interlayer insulating layer20may be one insulating film layer, or an insulating layer formed by stacking a plurality of insulating film layers, which is not limited in the embodiments of the present disclosure.

It should be noted that the structures shown inFIG.1andFIG.2are only examples. In other implementations, only the surface, distal from the first conductive layer10, of the interlayer insulating layer20may be the uneven surface. Furthermore, in addition to that the entire surface of the inner wall surface201aof the via hole201or the entire surface, distal from the first conductive layer10, of the interlayer insulating layer20is the uneven surface, only the part of the surface of the inner wall surface201aof the via hole201or the part of the surface, distal from the first conductive layer10, of the interlayer insulating layer20may be the uneven surface.

It should be noted that the via hole structure according to the embodiments of the present disclosure may be any via hole structure that includes two conductive layers and an insulating layer located between the two conductive layers, and the two conductive layers overlapping by a via hole on the insulating layer. In different products, the two conductive layers in the via hole structure have different embodiments. For example, in a display screen, the insulating layer is disposed between a common electrode and a common electrode line. The insulating layer is provided with the via hole, and the common electrode is overlapped with the common electrode line by the via hole. Therefore, the common electrode, the common electrode line and the insulating layer constitutes the via hole structure. For another example, in a display substrate, the insulating layer is disposed between a pixel electrode and a drain of a thin film transistor (TFT). The insulating layer is provided with the via hole, and the pixel electrode is overlapped with the drain of the thin film transistor by the via hole. Therefore, the pixel electrode, the drain of the thin film transistor, and the insulating layer constitute the via hole structure. For still another example, in a touch screen, the insulating layer is disposed between a touch sensing trace and a touch sensing electrode. The insulating layer is provided with the via hole, and the touch sensing trace is overlapped with the touch sensing electrode by the via hole. Therefore, the touch sensing trace, the touch sensing electrode, and the insulating layer constitute the via hole structure. For still another example, in a touch panel, the insulating layer is disposed between a transverse metal strip and a longitudinal metal strip. The insulating layer is provided with the via hole, and the transverse metal strip is overlapped with the longitudinal metal strip by the via hole. Therefore, the transverse metal strip, the longitudinal metal strip, and the insulating layer constitute the via hole structure. For yet still another example, in a substrate circuit, the insulating layer is disposed between two transmission lines. The insulating layer is provided with the via hole, and the two transmission lines overlap by the via hole. Therefore, the two transmission lines and the insulating layer constitutes the via hole structure. It should be noted that the via hole structures illustrated herein are merely exemplary and are not intended to limit the solution of the embodiments of the present disclosure. A person skilled in the art should understand that any structure in which two conductive layers overlap by the via hole on the insulating layer between the two conductive layers falls within the scope of the embodiments of the present disclosure, which is not described in detail herein.

To sum up, in the via hole structure according to the embodiments of the present invention, as the inner wall surface of the via hole is uneven, the adhesive force between the part of the second conductive layer in the via hole and the inner wall surface of the via hole is increased, such that the part of the second conductive layer in the via hole is prevented from falling off, thereby avoiding poor overlap between the second conductive layer and the first conductive layer, and improving the effect of overlapping between the second conductive layer and the first conductive layer. In the solution according to the embodiments of the present disclosure, the slope angle of the via hole is not required to be corrected by changing the etching parameters. In this way, the implementation is simplified, and the requirement on the film forming uniformity of the interlayer insulating layer is lowered.

The via hole structure according to the embodiments of the present disclosure is applicable to the following method. For the manufacturing method of the via hole structure and the manufacturing principle of the via hole structure of the embodiments of the present disclosure, reference may be made to the description in the following embodiments.

Referring toFIG.3, a flowchart showing a manufacturing method of a via hole structure according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is given. The manufacturing method of the via hole structure may be used to manufacture the via hole structure as shown inFIG.1. The method includes the following steps.

In step101, a first conductive layer, an initial insulating layer, and a mask pattern layer are sequentially formed on a base substrate, and the mask pattern layer is provided with an opening region.

FIG.4is a schematic diagram showing that a first conductive layer10, an initial insulating layer20a, and a mask pattern layer50have been sequentially formed on a base substrate40according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The mask pattern layer50is provided with an opening region501, and the mask pattern layer50may be a photoresist (PR) pattern layer. For example, forming the first conductive layer10, the initial insulating layer20a, and the mask pattern layer50sequentially on the base substrate40may include the following three steps.

In step (1), a conductive material layer is formed on the base substrate40by deposition, coating, sputtering, or the like, and then the first conductive layer10is obtained by processing the conductive material layer by a single patterning process.

In step (2), an initial insulating layer20ais formed by deposition, coating, sputtering, or the like on the base substrate40on which the first conductive layer10has been formed.

In step (3), a PR material layer is formed by deposition, coating, sputtering, or the like on the base substrate40on which the initial insulating layer20ahas been formed, and the mask pattern layer50is obtained by sequentially exposing and developing the PR material layer.

In step102, an interlayer insulating layer is obtained by formed a via hole on a region, corresponding to the opening region, of the initial insulating layer.

FIG.5is a schematic diagram showing that a via hole has been formed on a region, corresponding to the opening region501of the mask pattern layer50, of the initial insulating layer20aaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure. For example, with reference toFIG.4andFIG.5, the region, corresponding to the opening region501of the mask pattern layer50, of the initial insulating layer20amay be etched by a dry etching process, so as to form the via hole on the region, corresponding to the opening region501, of the initial insulating layer20a, thereby obtaining the interlayer insulating layer20.

In step103, an inner wall surface of the via hole is roughened.

FIG.6is a schematic diagram showing that an inner wall surface of the via hole has been roughened according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. For example, the inner wall surface of the via hole may be bombarded by preset plasma (not shown inFIG.6) to roughen the inner wall surface of the via hole. For example, the structure shown inFIG.5may be disposed in a plasma etching machine, and the plasma is introduced into the plasma etching machine to bombard the inner wall surface of the via hole by the plasma, thus achieving the purpose of roughening the inner wall surface of the via hole. It should be noted that as easily understood fromFIG.6that when bombarding the inner wall surface of the via hole, the plasma may also bombard the surface, distal from the interlayer insulating layer20, of the mask pattern layer50.

The bombardment is physical bombardment, and the plasma may be a gas that does not react with the initial insulating layer. For example, the plasma includes at least one of helium (He), argon (Ar), and oxygen (O2), helium and argon are inert gases, and oxygen is a gas that does not react with the initial insulating layer. The plasma etching machine is a common device in the field of electronic technologies. Therefore, step103may be carried out in an existing device and is simple to implement. In this implementation, after the roughening treatment, the entire film layer structure may be cleaned to remove substances generated on the surface of the conductive layer by reaction between the plasma and the conductive layer.

In other implementations, the plasma may be a gas that neither reacts with the initial insulating layer nor with the conductive layer. In this way, the plasma may not react with the conductive layer, and generation of other substances on the surface of the conductive layer is avoided by the reaction.

In step104, a mask pattern layer is stripped.

FIG.7is a schematic structural diagram showing that a mask pattern layer50has been stripped according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. An interlayer insulating layer20is provided with a via hole201, and an inner wall surface of the via hole201has uneven curves. For example, the mask pattern layer may be stripped by a stripping process, which may be an ashing process, a photoresist stripping process, or the like.

In step105, a second conductive layer is formed on a side, distal from the first conductive layer, of the interlayer insulating layer, and the second conductive layer is overlapped with the first conductive layer by the via hole.

FIG.8is a schematic diagram showing that a second conductive layer30has been formed on a side, distal from a first conductive layer10, of an interlayer insulating layer20according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, where the first conductive layer10, the interlayer insulating layer20, and the second conductive layer30constitutes the via hole structure.

Optionally, a layer of conductive material may be deposited on the side, distal from the first conductive layer10, of the interlayer insulating layer20by a physical vapor deposition (PVD) process to obtain a conductive material layer. Then, the conductive material layer is processed by a single patterning process to obtain the second conductive layer30. With reference toFIG.7, during the process of depositing the conductive material on the side, distal from the first conductive layer10, of the interlayer insulating layer20by the PVD process, the conductive material may also be deposited within the via hole201of the interlayer insulating layer20, resulting in that the part of the finally-manufactured second conductive layer30in the via hole201contacts with the first conductive layer10. In this way, the second conductive layer30is overlapped with the first conductive layer10by the via hole201.

In the embodiments of the present invention, the inner wall surface of the via hole is roughened after the via hole is formed on the interlayer insulating layer, so that the inner wall surface of the via hole is rough. When the second conductive layer is deposited, the conductive material is prone to being deposited within the via hole. In this way, the part of the second conductive layer in the via hole is prevented from falling off, thereby avoiding a fault of the second conductive layer, and improving the effect of overlapping between the second conductive layer and the first conductive layer.

To sum up, in the manufacturing method of the via hole structure according to the embodiments of the present invention, as the inner wall surface of the via hole is roughened, the adhesive force between the part of the second conductive layer in the via hole and the inner wall surface of the via hole is increased, such that the part of the second conductive layer in the via hole is prevented from falling off, thereby avoiding poor overlap between the second conductive layer and the first conductive layer, and improving the effect of overlapping between the second conductive layer and the first conductive layer. In the solution according to the embodiments of the present disclosure, the slope angle of the via hole is not required to be corrected by changing the etching parameters. In this way, the implementation is simplified, and the requirement on the film forming uniformity of the interlayer insulating layer is lowered.

Referring toFIG.9, another flowchart of a manufacturing method of a via hole structure according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is given. The manufacturing method of the via hole structure is applicable to manufacturing of the via hole structure as shown inFIG.2. The method includes the following steps.

In step201, a first conductive layer, an initial insulating layer, and a mask pattern layer are sequentially formed on a base substrate, and the mask pattern layer is provided with an opening region.

In step202, an interlayer insulating layer is obtained by formed a via hole on a region, corresponding to the opening region, of the initial insulating layer.

For the implementation process of step201and step202, reference may be made to step101and step102in the embodiment shown inFIG.3, which is not repeated in the embodiment of the present disclosure.

In step203, a mask pattern layer is stripped.

For example,FIG.10is a schematic diagram showing that a mask pattern layer on an interlayer insulating layer has been stripped according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. For the implementation process of step203, reference may be made to step104in the embodiment shown inFIG.3, which is not repeated in the embodiment of the present disclosure.

In step204, an inner wall surface of the via hole and a surface, distal from the first conductive layer, of the interlayer insulating layer are roughened.

For example,FIG.11is a schematic diagram showing that an inner wall surface of a via hole201and a surface, distal from a first conductive layer10, of an interlayer insulating layer20has been roughened according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. For the implementation process of step204, reference may be made to step103in the embodiment shown inFIG.3, which is not repeated in the embodiment of the present disclosure. However, it should be noted that, in the present embodiments, as the mask pattern layer on the interlayer insulating layer20has been stripped in step203, when bombardment with plasma is used, the inner wall surface of the via hole201may be bombarded, and the surface, distal from the first conductive layer10, of the interlayer insulating layer20may also be bombarded. In this way, both the inner wall surface of the via hole201and the surface, distal from the first conductive layer10, of the interlayer insulating layer20are uneven surfaces as shown inFIG.11.

In step205, a second conductive layer is formed on a side, distal from the first conductive layer, of the interlayer insulating layer, and the second conductive layer is overlapped with the first conductive layer by the via hole.

For the implementation process of step205, reference may be made to step105in the embodiment shown inFIG.3, which is not repeated in the embodiment of the present disclosure. However, it should be noted that as both the inner wall surface of the via hole and the surface, distal from the first conductive layer10, of the interlayer insulating layer20are roughened in step204, both the inner wall surface of the via hole and the surface, distal from the first conductive layer10, of the interlayer insulating layer20are the uneven surfaces. In this way, the adhesive force between the second conductive layer and the inner wall surface of the via hole201, and the adhesive force between the second conductive layer and the interlayer insulating layer20may be increased, thereby preventing the second conductive layer from falling off, and improving the effect of overlapping between the second conductive layer and the first conductive layer.

To sum up, in the manufacturing method of the via hole structure according to the embodiments of the present invention, as both the inner wall surface of the via hole and the surface, distal from the first conductive layer, of the interlayer insulating layer are roughed, both the adhesive force between the part of the second conductive layer in the via hole and the inner wall surface of the via hole, and the adhesive force between the second conductive layer and the interlayer insulating layer are increased, such that the second conductive layer is prevented from falling off, thereby avoiding poor overlap between the second conductive layer and the first conductive layer, and improving the effect of overlapping between the second conductive layer and the first conductive layer. In the solution according to the embodiments of the present disclosure, the slop angle of the via hole is not required to be corrected by changing the etching parameters. In this way, the implementation is simplified, and the requirement on the film forming uniformity of the interlayer insulating layer is lowered.

It should be noted that in the manufacturing method of the via hole structure according to the embodiments of the present invention, the single patterning process as involved may include photoresist coating, exposure, development, etching, and photoresist stripping. Processing the material layer by the single patterning process to obtain the corresponding structure (such as processing the conductive material layer to obtain the first conductive layer) may include: firstly, coating a material layer (such as a conductive material layer) with a layer of photoresist to form a photoresist layer; next, exposing the photoresist layer by a mask, such that the photoresist layer forms a completely-exposed region and a non-exposed region; subsequently, removing the photoresist in the completely-exposed region completely and retaining all the photoresist in the non-exposed region by a developing process; hereafter, etching a region corresponding to the completely-exposed region of the material layer (such as the conductive material layer) by an etching process; and finally stripping the photoresist in the non-exposed region to obtain the corresponding structure (such as the first conductive layer). Here, the description is given by taking the photoresist being a positive photoresist as an example. When the photoresist is a negative photoresist, for the practice of the single patterning process, reference may be the description in this paragraph and is not repeated in the embodiment of the present disclosure here.

It should be further noted that the sequence of the steps in the manufacturing method of the via hole structure according to the embodiments of the present disclosure may be appropriately adjusted, and the steps may also be added or omitted according to specific situation. Within the technical scope disclosed by the present disclosure, any variant which may be easily envisaged by those skilled in the art shall fall within the protection scope of the present disclosure, and therefore is not repeated here.

The embodiments of the present disclosure further provide an electronic device. The electronic device includes the via hole structure as shown inFIG.1orFIG.2.

The embodiments of the present disclosure further provide a display device, including an electronic device. The electronic device includes the via hole structure as shown inFIG.1orFIG.2. The display device may be a touch screen, a thin film transistor liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD), an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display, a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a television, a notebook computer, a digital photo frame, or a navigator product or component.

FIG.12is a schematic structural diagram of an OLED display panel according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown inFIG.12, the OLED display panel includes:

a base substrate100, a display function layer200, a touch layer300and a cover plate400that are sequentially laminated on the base substrate100.

Referring toFIG.12again, the display function layer200includes a first buffer layer201, an active layer202, a first gate insulating layer203, a first gate layer204, a second gate insulating layer205, a second gate layer206, a source-drain insulating layer207, a first source-drain layer208, a protection layer (PVX)209, a first planarization layer210, a second source-drain layer211, a second planarization layer212, an anode layer213, a pixel definition layer214, a spacer layer215, a light-emitting layer216, a cathode layer217, a first inorganic encapsulation layer218, an organic encapsulation layer219and a second inorganic encapsulation layer220.

Referring toFIG.12again, a second buffer layer500may be disposed between the touch layer300and the display function layer200. And an optical adhesive layer600may be disposed between the touch layer300and the cover plate400.

It should be noted that, the above structure of the display function layer200is only taken for an example. In the OLED display panel of the present application, the display function layer200may also include fewer or more film layers, which is not limited in the present application.

In some embodiments, the touch layer300includes the via hole structure.FIG.13is a schematic structural diagram of a touch layer according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Referring toFIG.13, the touch layer includes:

a first conductive layer10, an interlayer insulating layer20and the second conductive layer30, wherein the interlayer insulating layer20is provided with a via hole201, the first conductive layer10, the interlayer insulating layer20and the second conductive layer30form the via hole structure as aforementioned.

Where the first conductive layer10includes a touch sensing trace including a touch electrode trace and a sensing electrode trace, and the second conductive layer30includes a touch sensing electrode including a touch electrode and a sensing electrode.

Exemplarily, as shown inFIG.13, the first conductive layer10includes touch electrodes (Tx) traces, the second conductive layer30includes touch electrodes (Tx), and the interlayer insulating layer20between the touch electrodes (Tx) and the touch electrode (Tx) traces is provided with a via hole201which makes the touch electrode (Tx) be in communication with the touch electrode (Tx) traces.

The touch layer further includes sensing electrodes (Rx) and sensing electrode (Rx) traces, the sensing electrodes (Rx) and the sensing electrode (Rx) traces are connected in the same layer, and both are disposed on the same layer as the touch electrodes (Tx).

That is to say, the touch electrodes (Tx), the sensing electrodes (Rx), and the sensing electrode (Rx) traces all belong to the second conductive layer30.

An embodiment of the present application further provides an OLED display device, the OLED display device includes the OLED display panel as aforementioned.

Other embodiments of the present disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the present disclosure. This application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the present disclosure, the variations, uses, or adaptations follow the general principles of the present disclosure and include common knowledge or common-used technical measures which are not disclosed herein. The specification and embodiments are to be considered as exemplary only, and the true scope and spirit of the present disclosure are indicated by the following claims.

It would be appreciated that the present disclosure is not limited to the exact structure that has been described above and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and various modifications and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. It is intended that the scope of the present disclosure is only subject to the appended claims.