Display apparatus with improved luminescence

• US 7,450,203 B2
• Filed: 08/18/2006
• Issued: 11/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Samsung Display Company Limited (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Cha, Sung-Eun, Kim, Sang-Woo, Kim, Jae-Hyun, Cha, Young-Ok, Lee, Jae-Young, Park, Won-Sang, Jang, Yong-Kyu
• Primary Examiner(s): QI, ZHI QIANG
• Application Number:
  US11/506,951
• Publication Number:
  US 20060279678A1
• Time in Patent Office: 816 Days
• Field of Search: 349/114, 349/139
• US Class Current: 349/114
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133555 Transflectors
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/136286 Wiring, e.g. gate line, drain line
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2201/123 pixel

Abstract

The invention is directed to a liquid crystal display and assembly without a contact hole in the reflective layer. By eliminating the contact hole, the overall reflectance of the apparatus is increased. In order to prevent light leakage and afterimage, the invention includes an interface electrode that is strategically positioned over where light leakage occurs. An exemplary display apparatus includes a first substrate having a reflective region and a transmissive region including a transparent electrode, a second substrate including a transparent common electrode, a liquid crystal layer located between the first substrate and the second substrate, and a thin film transistor. The tin film transistor includes a gate electrode, a source electrode, and a drain electrode, and the gate electrode is located in the reflective region. Either the source electrode or the drain electrode contacts the transparent electrode between the reflective region and the transmissive region.

Claims

1. A display apparatus comprising:

a first substrate having a reflective region and a transmissive region including a transparent electrode;

a second substrate including a transparent common electrode;

a liquid crystal layer located between the first substrate and the second substrate; and

a thin film transistor including a gate electrode, a source electrode, and a drain electrode, wherein the gate electrode is located in the reflective region and wherein one of the source electrode and the drain electrode contacts the transparent electrode between the reflective region and the transmissive region.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a reflective electrode positioned in the reflective region, wherein the reflective electrode is electrically coupled to the thin film transistor between the reflective region and the transmissive region.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising an organic layer positioned between the reflective electrode and the thin film transistor so that the organic layer forms a sidewall between the reflective region and the transmissive region, wherein the reflective electrode covers the sidewall and a portion of the organic layer in the reflective region.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the transparent electrode covers the transmissive region, the sidewall, and a portion of the organic layer in the reflective region.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the transparent electrode is located between the reflective electrode and the thin film transistor.

6. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the organic layer has a patterned surface and the reflective electrode is conformally coated on the patterned surface.

7. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the transparent electrode is in the reflective region and the transmissive region, and wherein the transparent electrode in the reflective region is covered by the organic layer.

8. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the reflective electrode comprises at least one of a silver layer, a silver alloy layer, a molybdenum-tungsten alloy layer, and an aluminum-neodymium layer.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the reflective region and the transmissive region are located in a pixel region of the apparatus that is defined by signal lines.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a color filter coupled to one of the first and second substrates for filtering light of a predetermined wavelength range.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the reflective region has a first cell gap and the transmissive region has a second cell gap, and wherein the second cell gap is approximately twice as large as the first cell gap.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a signal line that forms a border between the reflective region and the transmissive region, wherein the one of the source electrode and the drain electrode is contacted with the transparent electrode at the border.

13. A display apparatus comprising:

a first substrate having a reflective region, a transmissive region including a transparent electrode, and an interface region located between the reflective region and the transmissive region;

a second substrate including a transparent common electrode;

a liquid crystal layer located between the first substrate and the second substrate; and

a thin film transistor formed in the reflective region, wherein the thin film transistor has a gate electrode that is located in the reflective region, and wherein the thin film transistor contacts the transparent electrode in the interface region.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein an electrode of the thin film transistor extends from the reflective region to the interface region to form an interface electrode in the interface region, wherein the interface electrode is electrically connected to the transparent electrode.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the interface electrode is shaped and positioned to prevent light leakage in the interface region.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the interface electrode extends across the interface region.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the interface electrode has a substantially rectangular shape.

18. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein a shape and a position of the interface electrode are adjusted according to a rubbing direction of the apparatus.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the interface electrode has a substantially triangular shape or a substantially L-shape.

20. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising a signal line that forms a border between the reflective region, the transmissive region and the interface region, wherein the interface electrode is located at the border.