IP Library Granted Patent US 7,981,737
Granted Patent B2
US 7,981,737 · App. 12/474,116 · Granted Jul 19, 2011

Thin film transistor array panel and method for manufacturing the same

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,981,737
App. No.
12/474,116
Granted
Jul 19, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

A thin film transistor array panel according to the present invention includes: a gate line formed on a substrate and including a gate electrode; a gate insulating layer formed on the gate electrode; a mold layer formed on the gate insulating layer and having an opening overlapping the gate electrode; a semiconductor layer filled in the opening; a data line formed on the mold layer and including a source electrode contacted with the semiconductor layer; a drain electrode contacted with the semiconductor layer on the mold layer and facing the source electrode; a passivation layer formed on the data line and the drain electrode; and a pixel electrode formed on the passivation layer and connected to the drain electrode, wherein the passivation layer, the source electrode, and the drain electrode have at least one through-hole connected to the opening.

Claims (32)

1. A method for manufacturing a thin film transistor array panel, comprising:

forming a gate line including a gate electrode on a substrate;

forming a gate insulating layer, a buffer layer, and a metal layer on the gate line;

patterning the metal layer and the buffer layer by photolithography to form a data line including a source electrode and a drain electrode, and a mold layer pattern;

forming a passivation layer having a contact hole exposing the drain electrode on the data line and the drain electrode;

forming a transparent conductive layer connected to the drain electrode through the contact hole on the passivation layer;

patterning the transparent conductive layer, the passivation layer, the source electrode, and the drain electrode by photolithography to form a pixel electrode and a through-hole exposing the mold layer pattern;

etching the exposed mold layer pattern through the through-hole to form a mold layer having an opening connected to the through-hole; and

filling a semiconductor in the opening through the through-hole.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein

the gate insulating layer and the buffer layer are made of materials having large etch rate difference.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein

the gate insulating layer and the buffer layer are made of the same material, and

the gate insulating layer is formed at a higher temperature than the buffer layer.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein:

the gate insulating layer is formed at a temperature higher than 220° C., and

the buffer layer is formed at a temperature lower than 130° C.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein,

in the forming of the mold layer,

the mold layer pattern is over-etched after exposing the gate insulating layer.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein

the through-hole includes a first through-hole passing through the source electrode and a second through-hole passing through the drain electrode.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein

the neighboring first through-hole or the neighboring second through-hole are connected by the opening through the over-etching.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein

the patterning of the transparent conductive layer, the passivation layer, the source electrode, and the drain electrode by photolithography to form the pixel electrode and the through-hole exposing the mold layer pattern comprises:

forming a first photosensitive film pattern including a first portion and a second portion thicker the first portion on the transparent conductive layer;

etching the transparent conductive layer, the passivation layer, the source electrode, and the drain electrode by using the first photosensitive film pattern as a mask to form the through-hole;

ashing the first photosensitive film pattern to remove the first portion; and

etching the transparent conductive layer to form the pixel electrode.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein

the first photosensitive film pattern exposes the transparent conductive layer corresponding to the through-hole, and the second portion is disposed corresponding to the pixel electrode.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 23, 2012
From: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
To: SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 029009/0076 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 28, 2009
From: BAE, JU-HAN; KIM, KYU-YOUNG
To: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 022750/0207 →