Active matrix device, and display apparatus

• US 6,392,618 B1
• Filed: 07/16/1999
• Issued: 05/21/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co Limited (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Kimura, Koichi
• Primary Examiner(s): LAO, LUNYI
• Application Number:
  US09/354,154
• Time in Patent Office: 1,040 Days
• Field of Search: 345/85, 345/75.1, 345/104, 345/75.2, 345/76, 345/55, 345/60, 345/64, 345/82, 345/84, 345/87, 345/31, 345/75, 313/507, 313/509, 315/169.3, 349/116, 349/49, 349/41
• US Class Current: 345/85
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1362 Active matrix addressed cells G02F1/134336, G02F1/134363 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/12 the substrate being other than a semiconductor body, e.g. an insulating body
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/1214 comprising a plurality of TFTs formed on a non-semiconducting substrate, e.g. driving circuits for AMLCDs
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/124 with a particular composition, shape or layout of the wiring layers specially adapted to the circuit arrangement, e.g. scanning lines in LCD pixel circuits wiring structures per se H01L23/52

Abstract

It is an object to provide an active matrix device which permits enlargement of the area and high-speed response and which serves in place of a semiconductor switch.

An active matrix device 35 incorporating scanning-signal electrodes 25 and data-signal electrodes 16 disposed in a matrix configuration and structured such that at least one matrix operating means and a light function device which is operated by the matrix operating means are disposed at intersections of the scanning-signal electrodes 25 and the data-signal electrodes 16, wherein the matrix operating means is mechanically-conductive switch 33 which is operated by static electric force. The mechanically-conductive switch 33 incorporates a thin flexible film 23 which is deflected by static electric stress, a conductive film 29 formed on the thin flexible film 23, a data-signal electrode 16 and a pixel electrode 27a of the light function device. When the thin flexible film 23 is deflected, the conductive film 29 is brought into contact with the data-signal electrode 16 and the pixel electrode 27.

Claims

1. An active matrix device comprising:

a substrate on which lines of scanning-signal electrode and lines of data-signal electrode are allowed to intersect one another to one or two dimensionally dispose electrodes and structured such that at least one matrix operating means and a light function device are provided for each intersection, wherein

said matrix operating means is a mechanically-conductive switch which is operated by static electric force and wherein said mechanically-conductive switch makes said data-signal electrode electrically contact a pixel electrode by applying a voltage between a first scanning electrode and a conductive film opposed to said first scanning electrode, wherein

said scanning-signal electrode comprises a first scanning-signal electrode and a second scanning-signal electrode disposed opposite to said first scanning-signal electrode, and said mechanically-conductive switch has a thin flexible film which is moved by dint of a voltage which is applied between said first scanning-signal electrode and said second scanning-signal electrode to bring said data-signal electrode and a pixel electrode of said light function device into electrical contact with each other.

2. An active matrix device comprising:

a substrate on which lines of scanning-signal electrode and lines of data-signal electrode are allowed to intersect one another to one or two dimensionally dispose electrodes and structured such that at least one matrix operating means and a light function device are provided for each intersection, wherein

said matrix operating means is a mechanically-conductive switch which is operated by static electric force and wherein said mechanically-conductive switch makes said data-signal electrode electrically contact a pixel electrode by applying a voltage between a first scanning electrode and a conductive film opposed to said first scanning electrode, wherein

said light function devices are disposed one or two dimensionally, and said active matrix device comprises;

a plurality of parallel first scanning-signal electrodes in the form of stripes formed on a substrate;

a plurality of parallel data-signal electrodes in the form of stripes disposed perpendicular to said first scanning-signal electrodes and formed, at least at intersections with said first scanning-signal electrodes through insulating layers;

common electrodes for pixel portions, light function devices and pixel electrodes which are sequentially laminated in a region on said substrate surrounded by said first scanning-signal electrodes and said data-signal electrodes;

a plurality of support portions formed on the upper surfaces of said first scanning-signal electrodes; and

thin flexible films and second scanning-signal electrodes disposed opposite to said first scanning-signal electrodes and laminated to be supported at the top ends of said support portions; and

conductive films which are disposed opposite to said data-signal electrodes and said pixel electrodes such that contact is permitted through gaps and which are provided for said thin flexible films.

3. An active matrix device comprising:

a substrate on which lines of scanning-signal electrode and lines of data-signal electrode are allowed to intersect one another to one or two dimensionally dispose electrodes and structured such that at least one matrix operating means and a light function device are provided for each intersection, wherein

said matrix operating means is a mechanically-conductive switch which is operated by static electric force and wherein said mechanically-conductive switch makes said data-signal electrode electrically contact a pixel electrode by applying a voltage between a first scanning electrode and a conductive film opposed to said first scanning electrode, wherein

said light function devices are disposed one or two dimensionally by mechanically-conductive switches which are operated by static electric force, said active matrix device comprises;

a plurality of parallel first scanning-signal electrodes in the form of stripes formed on a substrate;

a plurality of parallel data-signal electrodes in the form of stripes disposed perpendicular to said first scanning-signal electrodes and formed at least at intersections with said first scanning-signal electrodes through insulating layers such that said first scanning-signal electrodes are extended to substantially the overall region on said substrate surrounded by said first scanning-signal electrodes and said data-signal electrodes so that light function devices and pixel electrodes are sequentially laminated on said extended first scanning-signal electrodes; and

a plurality of support portions formed on said insulating layers; and

thin flexible films and second scanning-signal electrodes disposed opposite to said first scanning-signal electrodes and laminated to be supported at the top ends of said support portions; and

conductive films which are disposed opposite to said data-signal electrodes and said pixel electrodes such that contact is permitted through gaps and which are provided for said thin flexible films.

4. An active matrix device comprising:

a substrate on which lines of scanning-signal electrode and lines of data-signal electrode are allowed to intersect one another to one or two dimensionally dispose electrodes and structured such that at least one matrix operating means and a light function device are provided for each intersection, wherein

said matrix operating means is a mechanically-conductive switch which is operated by static electric force and wherein said mechanically-conductive switch makes said data-signal electrode electrically contact a pixel electrode by applying a voltage between a first scanning electrode and a conductive film opposed to said first scanning electrode, wherein

said light function devices are disposed one or two dimensionally, and said active matrix device comprises;

a plurality of parallel first scanning-signal electrodes in the form of stripes formed on a substrate;

a plurality of parallel data-signal electrodes in the form of stripes disposed perpendicular to said first scanning-signal electrodes and formed at least at intersections with said first scanning-signal electrodes through insulating layers;

pixel electrodes, light function devices and common electrodes for pixel portions which are sequentially laminated in a region on said substrate surrounded by said first scanning-signal electrodes and said data-signal electrodes;

a plurality of support portions formed on said insulating layers; and

thin flexible films and second scanning-signal electrodes disposed opposite to said first scanning-signal electrodes and laminated to be supported at the top ends of said support portions; and

conductive films which are disposed opposite to said data-signal electrodes and said pixel electrodes such that contact is permitted through gaps and which are provided for said thin flexible films.

5. An active matrix device according to claim 4, further comprising an upper substrate disposed opposite to said substrate, structured to hold said thin flexible films and said signal electrodes disposed on said substrate and joined to the upper surface of said common electrodes for said pixel portions.

6. An active matrix device comprising:

a substrate on which lines of scanning-signal electrode and lines of data-signal electrode are allowed to intersect one another to one or two dimensionally dispose electrodes and structured such that at least one matrix operating means and a light function device are provided for each intersection, wherein

said matrix operating means is a mechanically-conductive switch which is operated by static electric force and wherein said mechanically-conductive switch makes said data-signal electrode electrically contact a pixel electrode by applying a voltage between a first scanning electrode and a conductive film opposed to said first scanning electrode, wherein

said light function devices disposed one or two dimensionally and arranged to be operated by mechanically-conductive switches which are operated by static electric force, wherein

said thin flexible film switches and said light function devices are formed on individual surfaces and said mechanically-conductive switches and said light function devices are electrically connected to one another.

7. An active matrix device according to claim 6, wherein a plurality of parallel first scanning-signal electrodes in the form of stripes are formed on the right side of a first substrate, a plurality of parallel data-signal electrodes in the form of stripes disposed perpendicular to said first scanning-signal electrodes are formed at least at intersections with said first scanning-signal electrodes through insulating layers, pixel electrodes, light function devices and common electrodes for pixel portions are sequentially laminated in a reverse side region of said first substrate surrounded by said first scanning-signal electrodes and said data-signal electrodes, a second substrate is, through a color filter, joined to the surface of said light function device opposite to said first substrate such that said second substrate is disposed opposite to said first substrate,

a plurality of support portions are formed on said insulating layers of said first substrate, thin flexible films and second scanning-signal electrodes disposed opposite to said first scanning-signal electrodes are laminated to be supported at the top ends of said support portions, the right and reverse sides of said first substrate are conducted to each other to extend said pixel electrodes of said light function devices to positions adjacent to said- data-signal electrodes, and conductive films disposed opposite to said data-signal electrodes and said pixel electrodes such that contact is permitted through gaps are provided for said thin flexible films.

8. An active matrix device according to claim 7, wherein the two ends of said thin flexible film are supported.

9. An active matrix device according to claim 7, wherein said thin flexible film having a length substantially corresponding to the length of one pixel is provided for each pixel.

10. An active matrix device according to claim 7, wherein said conductive film is made of metal.

11. An active matrix device according to claim 10, wherein a plurality of said mechanically-conductive switches are provided for one pixel.

12. An active matrix device according to claim 11, wherein said plural mechanically-conductive switches are connected in series.

13. An active matrix device according to claim 11, wherein said plural mechanically-conductive switches are connected in parallel.