Display device configured to prevent propagation of cracks, and method of repairing same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12324346-B2
Application number	US-202418741440-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 12, 2024
Priority date	Dec 24, 2020
Publication date	Jun 3, 2025
Grant date	Jun 3, 2025

Abstract

A display device includes: a substrate on which circuit elements constituting a pixel are arranged; a repair pattern arranged overlying the substrate; a buffer layer covering the repair pattern; an active layer arranged overlying the buffer layer; a conductive layer which is arranged overlying the active layer and on which electrodes of the circuit elements are arranged; an overcoat layer covering the conductive layer, and a light emitting element arranged overlying the overcoat layer. The repair pattern is arranged in such a manner that one region thereof overlaps the active layer.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method of repairing a display device, the display device including a substrate on which circuit elements constituting a pixel are arranged, a repair pattern arranged overlying the substrate, a buffer layer covering the repair pattern, an active layer arranged on top of the buffer layer, a region of the active layer overlapping the repair pattern, a conductive layer overlying the active layer and including electrodes of the circuit elements, an overcoat layer covering the conductive layer, and a light emitting element overlying the overcoat layer, the method comprising:
inspecting a malfunctioning pixel in the display device; and
emitting a laser beam to the repair pattern in the malfunctioning pixel, wherein the emitting the laser beam to the repair pattern cuts the active layer into a first region, a second region, and a first cut-off region between the first region and the second region.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein when the emitting the laser beam cuts the repair pattern, a crack occurs in the buffer layer and the active layer, and the active layer is cut.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the active layer is cut at the vicinity of opposite ends of the repair pattern.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the first cut-off region forms a step in the active layer.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the laser beam is in an infrared band.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein a region of the repair pattern overlaps the active layer.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the repair pattern is an electrode in an isolated form, the electrode being formed of a metal material.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first region of the active layer overlaps the repair pattern; and
the active layer further comprises:
a second cut-off region at an end portion of the first region opposite the first cut-off region; and
another second region with the second cut-off region between the first region and the another second region.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the first region, the second region, and the another second region are separated from each other.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the first and second cutoff regions form a step between the first region and each of the two second regions, respectively.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the circuit elements each comprise:
a storage capacitor;
a switching transistor storing a voltage corresponding to a data signal in the storage capacitor, in response to a first gate signal;
a drive transistor configured to control an amount of drive electric current to be applied to the light emitting element in a manner that corresponds to the voltage stored in the storage capacitor; and
a sensing transistor configured to sense features of the circuit elements in response to a second gate signal,
wherein the active layer overlapping the repair pattern is an active layer constituting the sensing transistor.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the display device further comprises:
a light blocking layer arranged on a layer that is the same as the repair pattern and arranged in a manner that overlaps the drive transistor.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the display device further comprises:
a lower polarizer arranged underneath the substrate.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the active layer is formed of indium-gallium-zinc-oxide, and the repair pattern is formed of copper.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the active layer is formed in such a manner to have a thickness of about 300 Å.

Assignees

• Lg Display Co Ltd

Inventors

• Kim Juhyuk
• JO Yongsun
• JUNG DeukSoo
• Lee Junggil

Classifications

• H10P74/232

  comprising connection or disconnection of parts of a device in response to a measurement · CPC title

• H10P74/20

  characterised by the properties tested or measured, e.g. structural or electrical properties · CPC title

• H10K59/131 Primary

  Interconnections, e.g. wiring lines or terminals · CPC title

• H10K59/8791

  Arrangements for improving contrast, e.g. preventing reflection of ambient light · CPC title

• H10K71/861

  Repairing · CPC title