Patent ID: 12222610

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

To provide a better understanding of the present invention to those skilled in this field, preferred embodiments will be detailed as follows. The preferred embodiments of the present invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings to elaborate on the contents and effects to be achieved. It should be noted that the drawings are simplified schematics, and therefore show only the components and combinations associated with the present invention, to provide a clearer description of the basic architecture or method of implementation. The components would be complex in reality. In addition, for ease of explanation, the components shown in the drawings may not represent their actual number, shape, and dimensions; details can be adjusted according to design requirements.

A direction DR1, a direction DR2, and a direction DR3are shown in the following drawings. The direction DR3may be the normal direction or the top view direction. As shown inFIG.2, the direction DR3may be perpendicular to a top surface of a substrate100. As shown inFIG.1, the direction DR1and the direction DR2may be horizontal directions and perpendicular to the direction DR3. The direction DR1and the direction DR2are different, for example, the direction DR1may be perpendicular to the direction DR2. The spatial relationship of the structure can be described according to the directions DR1, DR2, and DR3in the following drawings.

Referring toFIG.1andFIG.2,FIG.1is a schematic diagram illustrating a top view of a pixel structure in a display panel according to a first embodiment of the present invention, andFIG.2is a schematic diagram illustrating a cross-sectional view of the display panel according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The display panel of this embodiment takes a transflective liquid crystal panel as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this. As shown inFIG.1, the display panel10includes the substrate100, a plurality of scan lines (such as scan lines GL1and GL2), and a plurality of data lines (such as data lines DL1and DL2). The scan lines and the data lines are disposed on the substrate100. The substrate100may include a rigid substrate such as a glass substrate, a plastic substrate, a quartz substrate, or a sapphire substrate, but not limited thereto. The substrate100may also include a flexible substrate such as a polyimide (PI) substrate or a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrate, but not limited thereto.

The scan lines GL1and GL2are disposed along the direction DR2and extend in the direction DR1, and the data lines DL1and DL2are disposed along the direction DR1and extend in the direction DR2. The scan lines can cross the data lines to form at least one sub-pixel SP, and the display panel10includes at least one sub-pixel SP disposed on the substrate100.

In some embodiments (as shown inFIG.1), the sub-pixel SP includes a reflective region R1and a light transmissive region R2, and the light transmissive region R2can be disposed in the reflective region R1. Specifically, the reflective region R1and the light transmissive region R2do not overlap, and the light transmissive region R2may be surrounded by the reflective region R1. In the present invention, the material that can reflect light (such as metal) is disposed in the reflective region R1. The material that can block light is not disposed in the light-transmitting region R2, but the transparent material (such as the transparent conductive material) can be disposed in the light transmissive region R2.

The sub-pixel SP further includes a switch device SW, and the switch device SW is disposed on the substrate100and in the reflective region R1of the sub-pixel SP. The switch device can include a thin film transistor, and the thin film transistor may be, for example, a bottom-gate thin film transistor, but not limited thereto. In other embodiments, the thin film transistor may also be a top-gate thin film transistor. In addition, the thin film transistor may also be a low temperature poly-silicon (LTPS) thin film transistor, an indium gallium zinc oxide (IGZO) thin film transistor, or an amorphous silicon (a-Si) thin film transistor, but not limited thereto.

Thin film transistor includes a gate G, a source S, a drain D, and a semiconductor layer CH. The scan line GL1is electrically connected to the gate G of the switch device SW, and a switch signal that can control the thin film transistor can be provided to the gate G of the switch device SW through the scan line GL1, thereby controlling the display panel10to update the image. The data line DL1is electrically connected to the source S of the switch device SW, and an image gray-scale signal can be provided to the source S of the switch device SW through the data line DL1.

The sub-pixel SP includes a first electrode FE, and the first electrode FE is disposed in the reflective region R1of the sub-pixel SP. As shown inFIG.1, the first electrode FE can be disposed on one side of the switch device SW, and the first electrode FE is electrically connected to the drain D of the switch device SW.

In addition, the first electrode FE may have a first side and a second side opposite to the first side, the switch device SW may be disposed on the first side of the first electrode FE (as shown in the lower right side of the first electrode FE inFIG.1), and the light transmissive region R2of the sub-pixel SP may be disposed on the second side of the first electrode FE (as shown in the upper side the first electrode FE inFIG.1), but not limited thereto.

The sub-pixel SP includes a second electrode CE, and the second electrode CE is disposed between the first electrode FE and the substrate100. The display panel10includes a common signal line CL extending in the direction DR1and disposed between the scan line GL1and the scan line GL2in the direction DR2. The second electrode CE is electrically connected to the common signal line CL, and the common signal line CL can provide a common voltage to the second electrode CE.

The sub-pixel SP includes a transparent electrode TE (represented by a thick black line), and the transparent electrode TE is disposed on the first electrode FE and in the reflective region R1and the light transmissive region R2of the sub-pixel SP. The transparent electrode TE is electrically connected to the first electrode FE. For example, the transparent electrode TE can be electrically connected to the first electrode FE through a contact hole CO. The transparent electrode TE has a length L11in the direction DR1and a length L21in the direction DR2. For example, one side (e.g., short side) of the transparent electrode TE has the length L11in the direction DR1, and another side (e.g., long side) of the transparent electrode TE has the length L21in the direction DR2. The length L21is greater than the length L11, but not limited thereto. The area of the transparent electrode TE is greater than the area of the first electrode FE, but not limited thereto.

The sub-pixel SP includes a reflective electrode RE (represented by dots) disposed on the transparent electrode TE, and the reflective electrode RE is electrically connected to the transparent electrode TE. For example, the reflective electrode RE is partially overlapped with the transparent electrode TE, and the reflective electrode RE can be directly contacted to the transparent electrode TE. The reflective electrode RE, the transparent electrode TE, and the first electrode FE are electrically connected to each other and can together be electrically connected to the drain D of the switch device SW. Therefore, the reflective electrode RE, the transparent electrode TE, and the first electrode FE together can be served as a pixel electrode.

The reflective electrode RE has a length L12in the direction DR1and a length L22in the direction DR2. For example, one side (e.g., short side) of the reflective electrode RE has a length L12in the direction DR1, and another side (e.g., long side) of the reflective electrode RE has a length L22in the direction DR2. The length L22is greater than the length L12, but not limited thereto.

In this embodiment, the length L12of the reflective electrode RE is greater than the length L11of the transparent electrode TE, and the length L22of the reflective electrode RE is greater than the length L21of the transparent electrode TE. The area of the reflective electrode RE (the area of the region surrounded by four sides, and the area of the opening inside is also included) is greater than the area of the transparent electrode TE. As shown inFIG.1, four edges of the transparent electrode TE are covered by the reflective electrode RE. More specifically, as shown inFIG.2, the side surface of the edge of the transparent electrode TE is also covered by the reflective electrode RE.

When the edge of the transparent electrode TE and the edge of the reflective electrode RE are aligned in the direction DR3(such as when the length of the reflective electrode RE is equal to the length of the transparent electrode TE), or when the edge of the reflective electrode RE is located inside the edge of the transparent electrode TE (such as when the length of the reflective electrode RE is less than the length of the transparent electrode TE), the silver from the reflective electrode RE will remain at the edges of the transparent electrode TE, causing the image quality of the display panel10poor.

However, in this embodiment, the lengths of four sides of the reflective electrode RE are greater than the lengths of four sides of the transparent electrode TE, and four edges of the transparent electrode TE are covered by the reflective electrode RE. This design can reduce the phenomenon that the silver of the reflective electrode RE remains at the edges of transparent electrode TE, thereby further improving the image quality of the display panel10.

In this embodiment, the reflective electrode RE includes an opening OP, and the position of the opening OP is corresponded to the light transmissive region R2of the sub-pixel SP. As shown inFIG.1, the opening OP may be disposed between the scan line GL2and the second electrode CE in the direction DR2and between the data line DL1and the data line DL2in the direction DR1, but not limited thereto. In this embodiment, the transparent electrode TE can extend into the light transmissive region R2of the sub-pixel SP, whereas the reflective electrode RE is only disposed in the reflective region R1of the sub-pixel SP and does not extend into the light transmissive region R2of the sub-pixel SP. Therefore, as shown inFIG.2, the opening OP of the reflective electrode RE overlaps a portion of the transparent electrode TE in the direction DR3, and the portion of the transparent electrode TE is exposed by the opening OP of the reflective electrode RE.

Since there is no opaque element disposed in the light transmissive region R2of the sub-pixel SP, light from the backlight can pass through the light transmissive region and increase the brightness of the display panel10. In addition, the ambient light can be reflected by the reflective electrode RE or other metal elements in the reflective region R1to increase the brightness of the display panel10. Therefore, the image quality of the display panel10can be improved.

In addition, as shown inFIG.2, the display panel10includes a conductive layer202, a gate insulating layer204, a conductive layer206, an insulating layer208, a conductive layer209, an insulating layer210, an insulating layer212, a transparent conductive layer214, and a conductive layer216disposed on the substrate100. In some embodiments, the display panel10may not include the conductive layer209.

The conductive layer202may include the scan line GL1, the scan line GL2, the gate G of the switch device SW, the second electrode CE, and the common signal line CL inFIG.1, but not limited thereto. The gate insulating layer204is disposed on the conductive layer202. The conductive layer206and the semiconductor layer CH are disposed on the gate insulating layer204. The conductive layer206(represented by diagonal lines) may include the data line DL1, the data line DL2, the source S and the drain D of the switch device SW, and the first electrode FE inFIG.1, but not limited thereto.

The insulating layer208, the conductive layer209, the insulating layer210, and the insulating layer212are sequentially disposed on the conductive layer206and/or the gate insulating layer204. The gate insulating layer204and the insulating layers208,210and212may include inorganic or organic insulating materials, but not limited thereto. The conductive layer209can be disposed between the insulating layer208and the insulating layer210, and the conductive layer209may include an electrode2091and an electrode2093, but not limited thereto. The electrode2091may be disposed on the switch device SW and may be overlapped with the semiconductor layer CH. The electrode2093may be disposed on the first electrode FE and may receive a common voltage.

In the display panel10of the present invention, at least one insulating layer is disposed between the first electrode FE and the transparent electrode TE, a contact hole CO is disposed in the at least one insulating layer, and the transparent electrode TE is electrically connected to the first electrode FE through the contact hole CO. As shown inFIG.2, the insulating layer208, the insulating layer210, and the insulating layer212are disposed between the first electrode FE and the transparent electrode TE, and the contact hole CO can be disposed in the insulating layer208, the insulating layer210, and the insulating layer212. The contact hole CO penetrates through the insulating layers208,210, and212and exposes a portion of the first electrode FE.

The transparent conductive layer214is disposed on the insulating layer212and includes a transparent electrode TE, but not limited thereto. As shown inFIG.2, the transparent electrode TE can extend into the contact hole CO and contact with the first electrode FE, thus the transparent electrode TE can be electrically connected to the first electrode FE. The transparent conductive layer214may include a transparent conductive material, such as indium tin oxide (ITO), indium zinc oxide (IZO), or aluminum zinc oxide (AZO), but not limited thereto.

The conductive layer216is disposed on the transparent conductive layer214and includes the reflective electrode RE. As shown inFIG.2, the reflective electrode RE is disposed on the transparent electrode TE and directly contacted with the transparent electrode TE, and the reflective electrode RE can extend into the contact hole CO. Each of the conductive layers202,206, and209may be a single metal layer including aluminum, copper, titanium, or tungsten, but not limited thereto. Each of the conductive layers202,206, and209may also be a composite metal layer including molybdenum/aluminum/molybdenum, titanium/aluminum/titanium, titanium/copper/titanium, titanium/copper, etc., but not limited thereto. The conductive layer216may include silver or other suitable reflective metal materials, but not limited thereto. The conductive layer216may include a single metal layer or a composite metal layer, but not limited thereto.

The display panel of the present invention is not limited to the aforementioned embodiment. The following description continues to detail other embodiments. To simplify the description and show the difference between other embodiments and the above-mentioned embodiment, identical components in each of the following embodiments are marked with identical symbols, and the identical features will not be redundantly described.

Referring toFIG.3andFIG.4,FIG.3is a schematic diagram illustrating a top view of a pixel structure in a display panel according to a second embodiment of the present invention, andFIG.4is a schematic diagram illustrating a cross-sectional view of the display panel according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The patterns of the transparent electrode TE and the reflective electrode RE in this embodiment are different from those in the first embodiment.

In this embodiment, the transparent electrode TE includes a portion1020, a portion1022, and a portion1024. The portion1022is disposed between the portion1020and the portion1024, one end of the portion1022is connected to the portion1020, and the other end of the portion1022is connected to the portion1024. A portion of the portion1020may be disposed in the light transmissive region R2, and another portion of the portion1020may be disposed in the reflective region R1. The portion1024may be electrically connected to the first electrode FE through the contact hole CO. The portion1020may have a width W1, the portion1022may have a width W2, and the portion1024may have a width W3. The width W1may be greater than the width W3, and the width W3may be greater than the width W2.

In this embodiment, the reflective electrode RE may not have the opening OP, and a length L4of the long side of the reflective electrode RE may be less than the length L22of the reflective electrode RE in the first embodiment. The reflective electrode RE only covers a portion of the portion1020of the transparent electrode TE, and the other portion of the portion1020of the transparent electrode TE is exposed.

The short side of the reflective electrode RE in this embodiment may have a length L3, the length L3may be greater than the width W3and the width W2of the transparent electrode TE, and the length L3of the reflective electrode RE may be approximately the same as the width W1of the transparent electrode TE, but not limited thereto.

Since the length L3of the reflective electrode RE can be greater than the widths W3and W2of the transparent electrode TE, the edges of the portions1022and1024of the transparent electrode TE can be covered by the reflective electrode RE. In addition, some edges of the portion1020of the transparent electrode TE can also be covered by the reflective electrode RE. Through the above design, the phenomenon that the silver from the reflective electrode RE remains at the edges of the transparent electrode TE can be reduced, and the image quality of the display panel10can be improved.

In addition, the display panel10of this embodiment can include an opening OG, and the light transmissive region R2can be corresponded to the position of the opening OG. As shown inFIG.3, the opening OG may be disposed between the reflective electrode RE and the scan line GL2in the direction DR2and between the data line DL1and the data line DL2in the direction DR1, but not limited thereto.

In summary, in the display panel of the present invention, the lengths or widths of the reflective electrode can be greater than the lengths or widths of the transparent electrode, and at least part of the edges of the transparent electrode can be covered by the reflective electrode. Therefore, the phenomenon that the silver of the reflective electrode remains at the edges of the transparent electrode can be reduced, and the image quality of the display panel can be improved.

Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous modifications and alterations of the device and method may be made while retaining the teachings of the invention. Accordingly, the above disclosure should be construed as limited only by the metes and bounds of the appended claims.