Display apparatus and manufacturing method thereof

• US 7,502,083 B2
• Filed: 07/17/2007
• Issued: 03/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sanyo Electric Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sanyo Electric Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Ishida, Satoshi, Yamada, Tsutomu, Oda, Nobuhiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Caley; Michael H
• Application Number:
  US11/879,276
• Publication Number:
  US 20070263167A1
• Time in Patent Office: 602 Days
• Field of Search: 349/113, 349/114
• US Class Current: 349/113
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133553 Reflecting elements associated to illuminating devices G02F1/133605
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133555 Transflectors
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/136227 Through-hole connection of the pixel electrode to the active element through an insulation layer
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 2102/3026 Top emission
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/856 comprising reflective means
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/12 Active-matrix OLED [AMOLED] displays
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/878 comprising reflective means

Abstract

On a first substrate are formed a TFT provided to each pixel, an insulating film which covers the TFT, and a reflective layer which is provided on the insulating film so as to be insulated from the TFT and reflects light incident from a second substrate side. The reflective layer is covered with a passivation film on which a first electrode made of a transparent conductive material, such as ITO having the work function equivalent to a second electrode, is formed and connected to the TFT. The passivation film covering the reflective layer prevents the reflective surface of the reflective layer from deteriorating in reflection properties during a process for connecting the TFT and the first electrode. Further, the first and second electrodes having similar characteristics can symmetrically AC drive the liquid crystal layer.

Claims

1. A method for manufacturing a display apparatus comprising a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between a first substrate having a first electrode and a second substrate having a second electrode, comprising steps of:

forming a thin film transistor on said first substrate,

covering said thin film transistor to form at least a single-layer insulating film,

covering said insulating film to form a reflective material layer which is then patterned such that the formed reflective material layer remains on a predetermined pixel region other than a region corresponding to the active layer of said thin film transistor to form a reflective layer,

covering said reflective layer to form a passivation film,

forming a contact hole which penetrates said passivation film and said insulating film on the region in which said reflective layer is removed, the region corresponding to the active layer of said thin film transistor;

exposing said active layer with use of said passivation film as a protective film for said reflective layer during slight etching to expose said active layer at a bottom of said contact hole when forming said contact hole, and

covering said passivation film and said active layer exposed with transparent conductive material to form said first electrode which is then connected to said active layer through said contact hole, wherein said reflective layer is insulated from both said active layer and said first electrode.

2. A method for manufacturing a display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an inner wall of said contact hole is covered with said passivation film.

3. A method for manufacturing a display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a silicon oxide is used for said passivation film.

4. A method for manufacturing a display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, a silicon material is used for said active layer.

5. A method for manufacturing a display apparatus comprising a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between a first substrate having a first electrode and a second substrate having a second electrode, comprising steps of:

forming a thin film transistor on said first substrate,

covering said thin film transistor to form at least a single-layer insulating film,

covering said insulating film to form a reflective material layer which is then patterned such that the formed reflective material layer remains on a predetermined pixel region other than at least a region of formation of a contact hole of said thin film transistor to form a reflective layer,

covering said reflective layer to form a passivation film,

forming a contact hole which penetrates said passivation film and said insulating film on the region in which said reflective layer is removed, the region corresponding to the active layer of said thin film transistor;

exposing said active layer with use of said passivation film as a protective film for said reflective layer during slight etching to expose said active layer at a bottom of said contact hole when forming said contact hole, and

covering said passivation film and said active layer exposed with transparent conductive material to form said first electrode which is then connected to said active layer through said contact hole, wherein said reflective layer is insulated from both said active layer and said first electrode.

6. A method for manufacturing a display apparatus according to claim 5, wherein

a hole is formed through the insulating layer before the reflective layer is formed to expose the active layer of the thin film transistor,

the passivation film is formed covering the hole and the reflective layer after the reflective layer is patterned into a predetermined shape excluding the region of formation of the contact hole, and

the contact hole is formed overlapping the region of formation of the hole with a smaller size than that of the hole to expose the active layer.

7. A method for manufacturing a display apparatus according to claim 5, wherein a silicon oxide is used for said passivation film.

8. A method for manufacturing a display apparatus according to claim 5, wherein a silicon material is used for said active layer.