Light sensor and display apparatus having the same

• US 8,698,167 B2
• Filed: 09/07/2011
• Issued: 04/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Display Company Limited (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Display Company Limited (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Inventors: Kim, Woongkwon, Kim, Daecheol, Jeong, Ki-Hun, Yang, SungHoon, Yeo, Yunjong, Han, Sang Youn, Kim, Sungryul, Jung, Suk Won, Cho, Byeonghoon, Kim, HeeJoon, Chin, Hong-Kee, Jeon, Kyung-Sook, Park, Kyung-ho, Bang, Jung suk, Han, Kun-Wook, Seo, Mi-Seon, Seo, Seungmi
• Primary Examiner(s): TORNOW, MARK W
• Application Number:
  US13/226,980
• Publication Number:
  US 20120138960A1
• Time in Patent Office: 951 Days
• Field of Search: 257/59, 257/72, 257 80- 85, 136/244, 349/1
• US Class Current: 257/80
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13312 Circuits comprising photodetectors for purposes other than feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13338 Input devices, e.g. touch panels
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/042 by opto-electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/14621 Colour filter arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/14632 Wafer-level processed structures

Abstract

In a display apparatus, a light sensor of a display includes a light sensing layer, a source electrode, a drain electrode, an insulating layer, and a gate electrode to sense light from an external source. The light sensing layer is disposed on the substrate to sense light, and the source and drain electrodes are disposed on the light sensing layer and are covered by the insulating layer. The gate electrode is disposed on the insulating layer. An edge of the gate electrode is disposed on the light sensing layer at least in an area where the light sensing layer is overlapped with the source and drain electrodes.

Claims

1. A light sensor disposed on a substrate to sense light, the light sensor comprising:

a light sensing layer disposed on the substrate to receive a light;

a source electrode disposed on the light sensing layer;

a drain electrode disposed on the light sensing layer and spaced apart from the source electrode;

an insulating layer disposed on the source electrode and the drain electrode; and

a gate electrode disposed on the insulating layer to face the light sensing layer,

wherein an edge of the gate electrode directly overlaps with the light sensing layer at least in an area where the light sensing layer is overlapped with the source electrode and the drain electrode,

wherein the source electrode comprises a plurality of first branch electrodes disposed in a first direction and a first body electrode connecting the first branch electrodes, the drain electrode comprises a plurality of second branch electrodes disposed in the first direction and a second body electrode connecting the second branch electrodes, and the first branch electrodes are alternately disposed with the second branch electrodes,

wherein the gate electrode comprises;

a contact portion disposed perpendicular to the first direction;

a first end extending in the first direction and crossing the first branch electrodes; and

a second end disposed parallel to the first end and crossing the second branch electrodes, and

wherein the light sensing layer comprises a third end and a fourth end that are disposed substantially parallel to the first end and the second end, respectively.

2. The light sensor of claim 1, wherein a distance between the first end and the second end is shorter than a distance between the third end and the fourth end.

3. The light sensor of claim 1, wherein the third end of the light sensing layer is recessed toward the fourth end in an area between two adjacent first branch electrodes, and the fourth end of the light sensing layer is recessed toward the third end in an area between two adjacent second branch electrodes.

4. The light sensor of claim 1, wherein the gate electrode is disposed on a side of the insulating layer facing away from the substrate.

5. The light sensor of claim 1, further comprising:

an infrared filter disposed under the light sensing layer and configured to filter light propagating toward the light sensing layer.

6. A display apparatus, comprising:

a display panel comprising a first substrate and a second substrate facing the first substrate to display an image; and

a plurality of light sensors to sense light,

wherein each of the light sensors comprises;

a light sensing layer disposed on the first substrate or the second substrate to receive the light;

a source electrode disposed on the light sensing layer;

a drain electrode disposed on the light sensing layer and spaced apart from the source electrode;

an insulating layer disposed on the source electrode and the drain electrode; and

a gate electrode disposed on the insulating layer to face the light sensing layer, and

wherein an edge of the gate electrode directly overlaps with the light sensing layer at least in an area where the light sensing layer is overlapped with the source electrode and the drain electrode,

wherein the source electrode comprises a plurality of first branch electrodes disposed in a first direction and a first body electrode connecting the first branch electrodes, the drain electrode comprises a plurality of second branch electrodes disposed in the first direction and a second body electrode connecting the second branch electrodes, and the first branch electrodes are alternately disposed with the second branch electrodes,

wherein the gate electrode comprises;

a contact portion disposed perpendicular to the first direction;

a first end extending in the first direction and crossing the first branch electrodes; and

a second end disposed parallel to the first end and crossing the second branch electrodes, and

wherein the light sensing layer comprises a third end and a fourth end that are disposed substantially parallel to the first end and the second end, respectively.

7. The display apparatus of claim 6, wherein a plurality of pixels is disposed on the first substrate, and the plurality of sensors is disposed on the second substrate.

8. The display apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a backlight unit disposed adjacent to the first substrate,

wherein the backlight unit comprises:

a first light source configured to provide a first light to the first substrate; and

a second light source configured to provide a second light to the first substrate.

9. The display apparatus of claim 8, wherein the first light has an infrared wavelength, and the second light is a white light.

10. The display apparatus of claim 6, wherein a distance between the first end and the second end is shorter than a distance between the third end and the fourth end.

11. The display apparatus of claim 6, wherein the third end of the light sensing layer is recessed toward the fourth end in an area between two adjacent first branch electrodes, and the fourth end of the light sensing layer is recessed toward the third end in an area between two adjacent second branch electrodes.

12. The display apparatus of claim 6, wherein the light sensing layer comprises a silicon germanium.

13. The display apparatus of claim 6, wherein the gate electrode is disposed on a side of the insulating layer facing away from the substrate.

14. The display apparatus of claim 6 further comprising:

an infrared filter disposed under the light sensing layer and configured to filter light propagating toward the light sensing layer.

15. A display apparatus, comprising:

a display panel to display an image, the display panel comprising;

a first substrate comprising a plurality of pixels; and

a second substrate comprising;

a first sensor to sense a first light comprising an infrared wavelength; and

a second sensor to sense a second light comprising a visible wavelength; and

a backlight unit disposed adjacent to the display panel to provide a white light to the first substrate,

wherein each of the first sensors comprises;

a light sensing layer to receive the first light or the second light;

a source electrode disposed on the light sensing layer;

a drain electrode disposed on the light sensing layer and spaced apart from the source electrode;

an insulating layer disposed on the source electrode and the drain electrode; and

a gate electrode disposed on the insulating layer to face the light sensing layer, and

wherein an edge of the gate electrode is disposed on the light sensing layer at least in an area where the light sensing layer is overlapped with the source electrode and the drain electrode,

wherein the source electrode comprises a plurality of first branch electrodes disposed in a first direction and a first body electrode connecting the first branch electrodes, the drain electrode comprises a plurality of second branch electrodes disposed in the first direction and a second body electrode connecting the second branch electrodes, and the first branch electrodes are alternately disposed with the second branch electrodes,

wherein the gate electrode comprises;

a contact portion disposed perpendicular to the first direction;

a first end extending in the first direction and crossing the first branch electrodes; and

a second end disposed parallel to the first end and crossing the second branch electrodes, and

wherein the light sensing layer comprises a third end and a fourth end that are disposed substantially parallel to the first end and the second end, respectively.

16. The display apparatus of claim 15, wherein a distance between the first end and the second end is shorter than a distance between the third end and the fourth end.

17. The display apparatus of claim 15, wherein the third end of the light sensing layer is recessed toward the fourth end in an area between two adjacent first branch electrodes, and the fourth end of the light sensing layer is recessed toward the third end in an area between two adjacent second branch electrodes.

18. The display apparatus of claim 15, wherein the light sensing layer comprises a silicon germanium.