In-plane switching liquid crystal display having high aperture ratio

• US 5,907,379 A
• Filed: 10/21/1997
• Issued: 05/25/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kim, Dong-Kyu, Park, Woon-Yong
• Primary Examiner(s): Sikes, William L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hollingshead, Robert J.
• Application Number:
  US08/955,852
• Time in Patent Office: 581 Days
• Field of Search: 349/141, 349/139, 349/147, 349/110
• US Class Current: 349/141
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/134363 for applying an electric field parallel to the substrate, i.e. in-plane switching [IPS]

Abstract

A pair of common electrode lines are formed in the transverse direction, and a plurality of common electrodes in the longitudinal direction connect the common electrodes. Each pixel electrode parallel to the common electrodes is arranged between two of the common electrodes. A pair of connecting members which are connected to the pixel electrodes cover the edges of the common electrode lines adjacent the aperture region. Accordingly, since it is not necessary for a black matrix pattern formed in another substrate to shield the region where the liquid crystal direction does not properly behave, the black matrix lies outside the regions surrounded by the common electrodes, the pixel electrodes and the common electrode lines. In addition, the data line overlaps the adjacent common electrode, and thereby the aperture ratio is increased.

Claims

1. An in-plane switching liquid crystal display comprising:

a plurality of common electrodes formed in a direction;

a common electrode line connecting the common electrodes, the common electrode line including a first edge adjacent the common electrodes and a second edge opposite the common electrodes;

a plurality of pixel electrodes, each formed between two of the common electrodes in the same direction as the common electrodes; and

a connecting member overlapping the common electrode line, connected to the pixel electrode and covering at least a portion of the first edge of the common electrode line.

2. The liquid crystal display according to claim 1, further comprising:

a gate line parallel to the common electrode line,

a data line parallel to the plurality of pixel electrode; and

a three-terminal switching element having a gate connected to the gate line, a source connected to the data line and a drain connected to the connecting member.

3. The liquid crystal display according to claim 2, wherein width of the connecting member is larger than width of the common electrode line.

4. The liquid crystal display according to claim 2, wherein the common electrode line is made of aluminum.

5. The liquid crystal display according to claim 2, wherein the data line is overlapped with the common electrodes adjacent to the data line and insulated from the common electrodes.

6. The liquid crystal display according to claim 2, wherein the gate line has a double-layered structure comprising a bottom metal layer and a top indium tin oxide layer, and extends to form a gate pad.

7. The liquid crystal display according to claim 2, wherein the data line has a double-layered structure comprising a bottom metal layer and a top indium tin oxide layer, and extends to form a data pad.

8. The liquid crystal display according to claim 2, further comprising a gate pad having a double-layered structure which includes a bottom metal layer and a top indium tin oxide layer, and wherein the data line has a double-layered structure comprising a bottom metal layer and a top indium tin oxide layer, and extends to form a data pad.

29. The liquid crystal display according to claim 2, wherein the common electrode line is a first common electrode line, the liquid crystal display further comprising:

a second common electrode line which is located opposite the first common electrode line with respect to the common electrodes, is connected to the common electrodes, and includes a first edge adjacent the common electrodes and a second edge opposite the common electrodes; and

a second connecting member which is located opposite the first connecting member with respect to the pixel electrodes, is connected to the pixel electrodes, overlaps the second common electrode line, and covers at least a portion of the first edge of the second common electrode line.

30. The liquid crystal display according to claim 29, wherein the first and second connecting members completely cover the first and second common electrode lines.

31. The liquid crystal display according to claim 29, wherein the data line overlaps the common electrodes adjacent the data line and is insulated from the common electrodes.

9. A panel of a liquid crystal display, comprising:

a gate line formed in a first direction;

a plurality of common electrodes, electrically connected to each other, formed in a second direction;

a pixel electrode arranged between two of the common electrodes;

a data line which is formed in the second direction, overlaps the adjacent common electrodes and is insulated from the common electrodes; and

a switching element having a gate connected to the gate line, a source connected to the data line and a drain electrically connected to the pixel electrode.

10. The panel according to claim 9, further comprising:

a common electrode line which is formed in the first direction and is connected to the common electrodes; and

a connecting member which is formed in the first direction and is connected to the pixel electrode.

11. The panel according to claim 9, wherein the common electrodes are made of aluminum.

12. The panel according to claim 9, wherein the gate line has a double-layered structure comprising a bottom metal layer and a top indium tin oxide layer, and extends to form a gate pad.

13. The panel according to claim 9, wherein the data line has a double-layered structure comprising a bottom metal layer and a top indium tin oxide layer, and extends to form a data pad.

14. The panel according to claim 9, further comprising a gate pad having a double-layered structure which includes a bottom metal layer and a top indium tin oxide layer, and wherein the data line has a double-layered structure comprising a bottom metal layer and a top indium tin oxide layer, and extends to form a data pad.

15. A panel of a liquid crystal display, comprising:

a transparent insulating substrate;

a gate line which is formed on the substrate, has a double-layered structure comprising a bottom metal layer and a top indium tin oxide layer, and extends to form a gate pad;

a plurality of common electrodes which are formed on the substrate, connected to each other and separated from the gate line;

an insulating layer covering the gate line and the common electrodes;

a plurality of pixel electrodes which are formed on the insulating layer and are arranged between two of the common electrodes;

a data line which is formed on the insulating layer and extends to form a data pad; and

a switching element having a gate connected to the gate line, a source connected to the data line and a drain connected to the pixel electrode.

16. The panel according to claim 15, wherein the data line has a double-layered structure comprising a bottom metal layer and a top indium tin oxide layer.

17. A panel of a liquid crystal display, comprising:

a transparent insulating substrate;

a gate line which is formed on the substrate;

a plurality of common electrodes which are formed on the substrate, connected to each other and separated from the gate line;

an insulating layer covering the gate line and the common electrodes;

a plurality of pixel electrode which are formed on the insulating layer and are arranged between two of the common electrodes;

a data line which is formed on the insulating layer, has a double-layered structure comprising a bottom metal layer and a top indium tin oxide layer, and extends to form a data pad; and

a switching element having a gate connected to the gate line, a source connected to the data line and a drain connected to the pixel electrode.

18. The panel according to claim 17, further comprising a gate pad which is formed on the insulating layer, connected to the gate line through a contact hole formed in the insulating layer, and has a double-layered structure including a bottom metal layer and a top indium tin oxide layer.

19. A liquid crystal display, comprising:

a first substrate including

a gate line in a first direction,

a common electrode line in the first direction separated from the gate line,

a plurality of common electrodes in a second direction which are parallel to each other and connected to the common electrode line at at least a portion of a first edge of the common electrode line,

a plurality of pixel electrodes in the second direction which are separated from the gate line, the common electrode line and the common electrodes and arranged between two of the common electrodes,

a connecting member in the first direction which is connected to the pixel electrodes and separated from the gate line, the common electrode line and the common electrodes, and shields the first edge of the common electrode line,

a data line in the second direction separated from the gate line, the common electrode line, the common electrodes, the pixel electrode and the connecting member; and

a second substrate which is opposite the first substrate and includes a black matrix shielding the gate line and the data line.

20. The liquid crystal display according to claim 19, wherein the black matrix partially shields the common electrode line.

21. The liquid crystal display according to claim 20, wherein the black matrix partially shields a first edge of the common electrode adjacent to the data line.

22. The liquid crystal display according to claim 21, wherein distance between a second edge of the common electrode not being shielded by the black matrix and an edge of the black matrix is at least twice as large as an allowable alignment deviation.

23. The liquid crystal display according to claim 20, wherein the black matrix is grounded.

24. The liquid crystal display according to claim 20, wherein the width of the connecting member is larger than the width of the common electrode line.

25. The liquid crystal display according to claim 24, wherein the width of the connecting member is twice the allowable alignment deviation.

26. The liquid crystal display according to claim 25, wherein the width of a portion of the connecting member shielded by the black matrix is half of the width of the connecting member.

27. The liquid crystal display according to claim 20, wherein the common electrode line is made of aluminum.

28. The liquid crystal display according to claim 20, wherein the data line overlaps the adjacent common electrode.