Photo-masking method for fabricating TFT array substrate
First Claim
1. A method for fabricating a thin film transistor (TFT) array substrate, the method comprising:
- providing an insulating substrate;
coating a gate metal layer on the substrate;
forming a plurality of gate electrodes using a first photo-mask process;
forming a gate insulating layer, a semiconducting layer, and a source/drain metal layer on the substrate having the gate electrodes;
forming a plurality of source electrodes and a plurality of drain electrodes using a second photo-mask process, each of pairs of one source electrode and one drain electrode defining a channel therebetween;
forming a passivation layer and a photo-resist layer on the gate insulating layer, the source electrodes and the drain electrodes;
exposing the photo-resist layer using a third photo-mask process, thereby forming a photo-resist pattern, the photo-resist pattern exposing portions of the passivation layer, wherein each exposed portion of the passivation layer is above both a respective drain electrode and a portion of the gate insulating layer adjacent to the drain electrode;
etching away the exposed portions of the passivation layer, thereby forming a patterned passivation layer, the patterned passivation layer being on the semiconducting layer, the gate insulating layer and the source electrodes and leaving the drain electrodes and the portions of the gate insulating layer exposed;
forming a transparent conductive metal layer on the photo-resist pattern, the drain electrodes and the gate insulating layer; and
forming a plurality of pixel electrodes through removing the photo-resist pattern and the transparent conductive metal layer on the photo-resist pattern.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An exemplary method for fabricating a TFT array substrate includes providing an insulating substrate (201); coating a gate metal layer (202) on the substrate; forming a plurality of gate electrodes (212) using a first photo-mask process; forming a gate insulating layer (203), a semiconducting layer (205), and a source/drain metal layer (206) on the substrate having the gate electrodes; forming a plurality of source electrodes (217) and a plurality of drain electrodes (218) using a second photo-mask process; forming a passivation material layer (209) and a photo resist layer on the gate insulating layer, the source electrodes and the drain electrodes; forming a passivation layer (219) and the photo resist pattern (234) using a third photo-mask process; forming a transparent conductive metal layer (204) on the photo resist pattern, the drain electrode and the gate insulating layer; and forming a pixel electrode (214) through removing the photo resist pattern.
7 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method for fabricating a thin film transistor (TFT) array substrate, the method comprising:
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providing an insulating substrate; coating a gate metal layer on the substrate; forming a plurality of gate electrodes using a first photo-mask process; forming a gate insulating layer, a semiconducting layer, and a source/drain metal layer on the substrate having the gate electrodes; forming a plurality of source electrodes and a plurality of drain electrodes using a second photo-mask process, each of pairs of one source electrode and one drain electrode defining a channel therebetween; forming a passivation layer and a photo-resist layer on the gate insulating layer, the source electrodes and the drain electrodes; exposing the photo-resist layer using a third photo-mask process, thereby forming a photo-resist pattern, the photo-resist pattern exposing portions of the passivation layer, wherein each exposed portion of the passivation layer is above both a respective drain electrode and a portion of the gate insulating layer adjacent to the drain electrode; etching away the exposed portions of the passivation layer, thereby forming a patterned passivation layer, the patterned passivation layer being on the semiconducting layer, the gate insulating layer and the source electrodes and leaving the drain electrodes and the portions of the gate insulating layer exposed; forming a transparent conductive metal layer on the photo-resist pattern, the drain electrodes and the gate insulating layer; and forming a plurality of pixel electrodes through removing the photo-resist pattern and the transparent conductive metal layer on the photo-resist pattern. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for fabricating a thin film transistor (TFT) array substrate, the method comprising:
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providing an insulating substrate; coating a gate metal layer and a first photo-resist layer on the substrate; exposing the first photo-resist layer using a first photo-mask process, thereby forming a first photo-resist pattern; using the first photo-resist pattern as a mask, and etching the gate metal layer, thereby forming a plurality of gate electrodes; forming a gate insulating layer, a semiconducting layer, and a source/drain metal layer on the substrate having the gate electrodes; coating a second photo-resist layer on the source/drain metal layer; exposing the second photo-resist layer using a second photo-mask process, thereby forming a plurality of second photo-resist patterns, wherein each second photo-resist pattern has a groove, and a thickness of the second photo-resist pattern beneath the groove is less than a thickness of other portions of the second photo-resist pattern; using the plurality of second photo-resist patterns as a mask, and etching portions of the gate insulating layer, the semiconducting layer and the source/drain metal layer not covered by the plurality of second photo-resist patterns, thereby forming a source/drain metal layer pattern; etching each second photo-resist pattern beneath the groove, thereby exposing the source/drain metal layer pattern corresponding to the grooves; etching the source/drain metal layer and a part of the semiconducting layer pattern beneath the grooves, thereby forming a plurality of source electrodes, a plurality of drain electrodes, and a plurality of channels, each channel defined between a respective pair of one source electrode and one drain electrode; forming a passivation layer and a third photo-resist layer on the gate insulating layer, the source electrodes and the drain electrodes; exposing the third photo-resist layer using a third photo-mask process, thereby forming a third photo-resist pattern, the third photoresist pattern exposing portions of the passivation layer, wherein each exposed portion of the passivation layer is above both a respective drain electrode and a portion of the gate insulating layer adjacent to the drain electrode; etching away the exposed portions of the passivation layer, thereby forming a patterned passivation layer, the patterned passivation layer being on the semiconducting layer, the gate insulating layer and the source electrodes and leaving the drain electrodes and the portions of the gate insulating layer exposed; forming a transparent conductive metal layer on the third photo-resist pattern, the drain electrodes and the gate insulating layer; and forming a plurality of pixel electrodes through removing the third photo-resist pattern and the transparent conductive metal layer on the third photo-resist pattern.
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Specification