Array substrate comprising a pixel electrode including concave patterns having convex patterns in central portions of the concave pattern, method of manufacturing the same, and display panel having the same
View Patent ↗An array substrate for enhancing reflectivity, a method for manufacturing the same and display panel having the same are presented. The array substrate includes a plurality of gate lines, a plurality of source lines, a plurality of pixel portions, a plurality of switching elements and a plurality of pixel electrodes. The gate lines extend in a first direction. The source lines extend in a second direction across the first direction. The pixel portions are defined by the gate lines and the source lines. Each switching element is formed on a respective pixel electrode and is electrically connected to one of the gate lines and one of the source lines. Each pixel electrode is electrically connected to a respective switching electrode, and includes a concave pattern having a convex pattern in a central portion. The concave pattern having the convex pattern in the central portion enhances the reflectivity of the array substrate.
1. An array substrate comprising:
a plurality of gate lines extending in a first direction;
a plurality of source lines extending in a second direction across the first direction;
a plurality of pixel portions defined by the gate lines and the source lines;
a switching element formed on each pixel portion, the switching element electrically connected to one of the gate lines and one of the source lines; and
a pixel electrode formed on the switching element and electrically connected to the switching element, the pixel electrode including concave patterns respectively having convex patterns in central portions of the concave pattern with respect to a reference surface of the pixel electrode most distal from the switching element on the basis of height,
wherein a height of a boundary portion between the concave patterns substantially identical to a height of the reference surface.
2. The array substrate of claim 1 , further comprising an organic insulating layer formed between the switching element and the pixel electrode, wherein the concave pattern is formed on an upper surface of the organic insulating layer.
3. The array substrate of claim 2 , wherein the pixel electrode is a reflective electrode that reflects a first light.
4. The array substrate of claim 1 , wherein the pixel electrode comprises a reflective electrode that reflects a first light, and a transmissive electrode that transmits a second light in a same direction of the reflected first light, wherein the concave pattern is formed on the reflective electrode.
5. A method for manufacturing an array substrate, comprising:
forming a switching element on a base substrate, the switching element electrically connected to a gate line extending in a first direction and a source line extending in a second direction across the first direction;
forming an organic insulating layer on the base substrate having the switching element;
patterning the organic insulating layer to have concave patterns with respect to a reference surface most distal from the base substrate on the basis of height, and to respectively have convex patterns with respect to interfacial surfaces of the concave patterns in central portion of the concave patterns; and
forming a pixel electrode contacting the switching element on the organic insulating layer having the concave patterns formed thereon,
wherein a height of a boundary portion between the concave patterns substantially identical to a height of the reference surface.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the organic insulating layer is patterned using a mask, the mask including:
a blocking portion which blocks light in a portion corresponding to the reference surface;
an opening portion which transmits the light in a portion corresponding to the concave pattern; and
a partial opening portion which partially transmits the light in a portion corresponding to the convex pattern.
7. The method of claim 5 , wherein patterning the organic insulating layer further comprises forming a contact hole contacting the switching element with the pixel electrode.
8. The method of claim 5 , wherein the patterning of the organic insulating layer comprises forming the concave pattern and the convex pattern corresponding to a portion having the reflective electrode formed thereon.
9. The method of claim 5 , wherein forming of the pixel electrode comprises:
forming a transmissive electrode which contacts the switching element on the organic insulating layer having the concave pattern formed thereon; and
forming a reflective electrode in a small portion of the transmissive electrode.
10. The method of claim 5 , wherein the pixel electrode is a reflective electrode including a reflective metallic material.
11. A display panel comprising:
an array substrate including a plurality of pixel portions, each of the pixel portions including a switching element and a pixel electrode formed on the switching element, the pixel electrode having concave patterns which respectively include convex patterns in central portions of the concave patterns with respect to a reference surface of the pixel electrode most distal from the array substrate on the basis of height and electrically connected to the switching element;
a color filter substrate opposite to the array substrate; and
a liquid crystal layer disposed between the array and color filter substrates,
wherein a height of a boundary portion between the concave patterns substantially identical to a height of the reference surface.
12. The display panel of claim 11 , wherein the pixel electrode comprises a reflective metallic material and is a reflective electrode reflecting a first light.
13. The display panel of claim 12 , wherein the pixel electrode comprises the reflective electrode that reflects the first light, and a transmissive electrode that transmits a second light, and wherein the reflective electrode has the concave pattern formed thereon.
14. The display panel of claim 13 , wherein the liquid crystal layer comprises a different cell gap between a reflective area reflecting the first light from a transmissive area transmitting the second light.
15. The array substrate of claim 1 , wherein an interfacial inclination angle of the concave pattern is between about 0° and about 20°.
16. The array substrate of claim 15 , wherein the interfacial inclination angle of the convex pattern is between about 5° and about 15°.
17. The method of claim 5 , wherein an interfacial inclination angle of the concave pattern is between about 0° and about 20°.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the interfacial inclination angle of the convex pattern is between about 5° and about 15°.
19. The display panel of claim 11 , wherein an interfacial inclination angle of the concave pattern is between about 0° and about 20°.
20. The display panel of claim 19 , wherein the interfacial inclination angle of the convex pattern is between about 5° and about 15°.