Open gate line repair in an LCD

1. A method for repairing an open gate line in an LCD, the LCD including a plurality of gate lines arranged on a substrate, a plurality of data lines that intersect with the gate lines to delineate a plurality of pixel areas, thin film switching transistors disposed proximate to gate line and data line intersections, and pixel electrodes disposed at the pixel areas, the method comprising the steps of:

when a gate line has a gate open at an intersection with a data line, connecting the gate line with a pixel electrode overlapping a portion of the gate line;

connecting adjacent first and second pixel electrodes together across the gate open; and

electrically insulating the pixel electrode connected with the gate line from the data line.

2. The repair method of claim 1 , where the portion of the gate line and the pixel electrode overlap to form a storage capacitor, and wherein the gate line and the pixel electrode are electrically insulated by an insulating layer interposed between the gate line and the pixel electrode.

3. The repair method of claim 1 , where the gate line includes a first side overlapped with the first pixel electrode and a second side overlapped with a second pixel electrode, and where the step of connecting the gate line comprises the step of laser welding the first side to the first pixel electrode and laser welding the second side to the second pixel electrode.

4. The repair method of claim 3 , where the first pixel electrode and the second pixel electrode are adjacent, and where the data line is disposed between the first pixel electrode and the second pixel electrode.

5. The repair method of claim 1 , where the step of electrically insulating comprises the step of disconnecting a drain electrode connected to the second pixel electrode.

6. A method for repairing an open gate line in an LCD, the LCD including a plurality of gate lines arranged on a substrate, a plurality of data lines that intersect perpendicular to the gate lines to delineate a plurality of pixel areas, thin film switching transistors disposed proximate to gate line and data line intersections, and pixel electrodes disposed at the pixel areas, the method comprising the steps of:

when a gate line has a gate open at a stepped intersection with a first data line, connecting together a first pixel electrode overlapped with a first predetermined portion of the gate line on a first side of the gate line;

connecting together a second pixel electrode overlapped with a second predetermined portion of the gate line on a second side of the gate line;

connecting the first and second pixel electrodes; and

where the data line is associated with the second pixel electrode, and where a second data line is associated with the first pixel electrode, and further comprising the step of electrically insulating the first data line from the second pixel electrode and electrically insulating the second data line from the first pixel electrode.

7. The repair method of claim 6 , where the first and second pixel electrodes overlap with the first and second predetermined portions to form storage capacitors.

8. The repair method of claim 6 , where the step of connecting the first and second sides of the opened gate line comprises the step of welding the first and second sides.

9. The repair method of claim 6 , where the first pixel electrode and the second pixel electrode are adjacent, and where the first date line is disposed between the first pixel electrode and the second pixel electrode.

10. The repair method of claim 6 , where step of connecting the first and second pixel electrodes comprises the step of depositing metal between predetermined portions of the first and second pixel electrodes.

11. The repair method of claim 10 , where the step of depositing metal comprises the step of depositing the metal by laser chemical vapor deposition.

12. The repair method of claim 6 , wherein the step of electrically insulating comprises the step of disconnecting a first drain electrode connected to the first pixel electrode and disconnecting a second drain electrode connected to the second pixel electrode.

13. A method for repairing a signal line with an open in an LCD, the method comprising the steps of:

connecting a first pixel electrode to a first side of the signal line;

connecting a second pixel electrode to a second side of the signal line; and

connecting the first pixel electrode to the second pixel electrode to establish a current path across the open;

disconnecting a first data line from the first pixel electrode; and

disconnecting a second data line from the second pixel electrode.

14. The method of claim 13 , where:

the step of connecting the first pixel electrode comprises the step of connecting a first pixel electrode that overlaps the signal line; and

the step of connecting the second pixel electrode comprises the step of connecting a second pixel electrode that overlaps the signal line.

15. The method of claim 13 , where:

the step of connecting the first pixel electrode comprises the step of laser connecting; and

the step of connecting the second pixel electrode comprises the step of laser connecting.

16. The method of claim 13 , where the step of connecting the first electrode to the second pixel electrode comprises the step of connecting adjacent first and second pixel electrodes.

17. The method of claim 13 , where the step of connecting the first electrode to the second pixel electrode comprises the step of depositing metal between the first and second pixel electrodes.

18. The method of claim 13 , further comprising the steps of:

disconnecting a first transistor drain electrode, associated with a first data line, from the first pixel electrode; and

disconnecting a second transistor drain electrode, associated with a second data line, from the second pixel electrode.