Active matrix substrate and repairing method thereof

• US 7,439,589 B2
• Filed: 02/26/2006
• Issued: 10/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AU Optronics Corporation
• Original Assignee: AU Optronics Corporation
• Inventors: Lai, Han-Chung
• Primary Examiner(s): Weiss; Howard
• Assistant Examiner(s): Trinh; Hoa B
• Application Number:
  US11/307,879
• Publication Number:
  US 20070029615A1
• Time in Patent Office: 968 Days
• Field of Search: 257/355, 257/360, 257/E33.064, 349/38
• US Class Current: 257/355
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/136204 Arrangements to prevent high voltage or static electricity failures
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/0248 for electrical or thermal protection, e.g. electrostatic discharge [ESD] protection
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/131 Interconnections, e.g. wiring lines or terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/88 Dummy elements, i.e. elements having non-functional features
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 71/861 Repairing

Abstract

An active matrix substrate including a substrate, a plurality of pixel units, a plurality of driving lines, an electron static discharge (ESD) protection circuit and a floating line is provided. The substrate has an active region and a peripheral region connected with the active region. The pixel units are arranged in a matrix in the active region. The driving lines electrically connected to the pixels are disposed in the active region and the peripheral region. The ESD protection circuit and the floating line are disposed in the peripheral region of the substrate. The ESD protection circuit is electrically connected to the driving lines. The ESD protection circuit includes an outer short ring (OSR) and an inner short ring (ISR) disposed between the pixel units and the OSR. The floating line is located beside the outer driving line.

Claims

1. An active matrix substrate, comprising:

a substrate having an active region and a peripheral region adjacent to the active region;

a plurality of pixel units arranged in a matrix in the active region of the substrate;

a plurality of driving lines disposed in the active region and the peripheral region and electrically connected to the plurality of pixel units;

an electron static discharge (ESD) protection circuit disposed in the peripheral region of the substrate and electrically connected to the plurality of driving lines, the ESD protection circuit comprising;

an outer short ring (OSR); and

an inner short ring (ISR) disposed between the plurality of pixel units and the OSR; and

a floating line disposed in the peripheral region and located beside the outer driving line.

2. The active matrix substrate of claim 1, further comprising:

a first redundant line interleaved with the outer driving line and the floating line; and

a second redundant line interleaved with the outer driving line and the floating line, wherein the first redundant line is electrically isolated from the second redundant line.

3. The active matrix substrate of claim 1, further comprising an electron static releasing line disposed in the peripheral region of the substrate, wherein the ESD protection circuit is electrically connected to the electron static releasing line.

4. The active matrix substrate of claim 1, wherein the plurality of pixel units comprise:

a plurality of active elements, each active element being electrically connected to a corresponding driving line; and

a plurality of pixel electrodes, each pixel electrode being electrically connected to a corresponding active element.

5. The active matrix substrate of claim 1, wherein the OSR comprises:

a first conductive line; and

a plurality of first protection elements electrically connected with each other via the first conductive line.

6. The active matrix substrate of claim 5, wherein each of the plurality of first protection elements comprises one or more diodes, one or more thin film transistors (TFTs), one or more capacitors, or combinations thereof.

7. The active matrix substrate of claim 6, wherein each of the plurality of first protection elements has a floating gate.

8. The active matrix substrate of claim 1, wherein the ISR comprises:

a second conductive line; and

a plurality of second protection elements electrically connected with each other via the second conductive line.

9. The active matrix substrate of claim 8, wherein each of the plurality of second protection elements comprises one or more diodes, one or more thin film transistors (TFTs), one or more capacitors, or combinations thereof.