Touch screen-integrated display device

• US 10,282,016 B2
• Filed: 10/12/2016
• Issued: 05/07/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Yoon, Kyuhan, Han, JungWoo
• Primary Examiner(s): Lam, Vinh T
• Application Number:
  US15/291,659
• Publication Number:
  US 20170153747A1
• Time in Patent Office: 937 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13338 Input devices, e.g. touch panels
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1343 Electrodes reflective electrodes G02F1/133553
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/134363 for applying an electric field parallel to the substrate, i.e. in-plane switching [IPS]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04103 Manufacturing, i.e. details related to manufacturing processes specially suited for touch sensitive devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0416 Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04164 Connections between sensors and controllers, e.g. routing lines between electrodes and connection pads
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/044 by capacitive means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0443 using a single layer of sensing electrodes

Abstract

There is provided a touch screen-integrated display device. The touch screen-integrated display device includes: a substrate including an active area including a plurality of subpixels and a non-active area; a gate line and a data line to define one subpixel; a thin-film transistor disposed in subpixel; a first electrode electrically connected to a source electrode of the thin-film transistor; and a second electrode disposed to be overlapped with the first electrode with a protective layer interposed therebetween, and further includes a pad connection layer configured to connect the line pad and the signal supply pad in the non-active area. Thus, it is possible to reduce a contact resistance between the signal supply pad and the line pad and also possible to suppress damage to the pad connection layer.

Claims

1. A display device having an active area, a non-active area, and a plurality of subpixels at the active area, comprising:

a gate line and a data line to define a subpixel;

a thin-film transistor in the subpixels;

a passivation layer on the thin-film transistor and having an opening area in the non-active area where the passivation layer is removed;

a signal supply pad in the opening area;

a line pad in the opening area and on a first protective layer covering the signal supply pad;

a second protective layer disposed on the first protective layer and partially covers the line pad;

a pad connection layer disposed on the second protective layer and connecting the line pad through at least one first contact hole where the second protective layer is partially removed and the signal supply pad through at least one second contact hole in the opening area;

a first electrode on the passivation layer and connected to a source electrode of the thin-film transistor through a fourth contact hole, and the first protective layer on the first electrode;

a second electrode on the second protective layer and overlapping the first electrode; and

a touch sensing line in parallel with the data line,

wherein the second electrode functions as a touch sensor during a touch mode and functions as a common electrode during a display mode, and the second electrode is formed of the same material as the pad connection layer,

wherein the second protective layer is disposed on the touch sensing line disposed on the first protective layer, and

wherein a touch connection layer is electrically connected to the touch sensing line through at least one third contact hole where the second protective layer is partially removed.

2. The display device according to claim 1, further comprising a touch connection layer connected to the touch sensing line through at least one third contact hole.

3. The display device according to claim 1, further comprising a GIP (gate-in-panel) circuit connected to the line pad in the non-active area.

4. The display device according to claim 2, wherein the touch sensing line, the first electrode and the second electrode are separated apart from a substrate by different distances.

5. The display device according to claim 4, wherein the touch sensing line and the line pad are formed of the same material.

6. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the quantity of the at least one first contact hole is plural, and a quantity of the at least one second contact hole is plural.

7. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the signal supply pad and the gate line are formed of the same material.

8. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the signal supply pad and the data line are formed of the same material.

9. The display device according to claim 8, further comprising a gate insulation layer, and the signal supply pad and the data line on the gate insulation layer.

10. The display device according to claim 9, further comprising a contact layer on the passivation layer.

11. The display device according to claim 10, wherein the contact layer is between the pad connection layer and the signal supply pad.

12. The display device according to claim 11, wherein the pad connection layer and the signal supply pad is connected through the contact layer.

13. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the second electrode is in a block shape.

14. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the second electrode has a size greater than a size of one subpixel.

15. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the first electrode is patterned into a comb teeth shape or a slit shape, and the second electrode is patterned into a plate shape.

16. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the first electrode is patterned into a plate shape and the second electrode is patterned into a comb teeth shape or a slit shape.

17. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the data line, the touch sensing line, opposite edges of the first electrode and opposite edges of the second electrode are in parallel with one another.

18. A display device having an active area, a non-active area and a plurality of subpixels at the active area, comprising:

a gate line and a data line defining each subpixel;

a thin-film transistor in the subpixels;

a passivation layer on the thin-film transistor;

a control signal line pad area at the non-active area where the passivation layer is removed;

a signal supply pad and a line pad disposed at the control signal line pad area;

a first protective layer covering the signal supply pad;

a second protective layer disposed on the first protective layer and partially covers the line pad;

a touch sensing line disposed on the first protective layer;

a pad connection layer disposed on the second protective layer and connecting the line pad through at least one first contact hole where the second protective layer is partially removed and the signal supply pad through at least one second contact hole;

a touch connection layer electrically connected to the touch sensing line through at least one third contact hole where the second protective layer is partially removed; and

a gate insulation layer disposed on the signal supply pad and the gate line, wherein the signal supply pad and the line pad are separated from each other by the gate insulation layer and the first protective layer in the control signal pad area at the non-active area,

wherein the second protective layer is disposed on the touch sensing line disposed on the first protective layer.