IP Library Granted Patent US 8,654,271
Granted Patent B2
US 8,654,271 · App. 12/577,693 · Granted Feb 18, 2014

Liquid crystal display

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,654,271
App. No.
12/577,693
Granted
Feb 18, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a liquid crystal display. According to an embodiment, a liquid crystal display including a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes: a plurality of pixel electrodes respectively including a first sub-pixel electrode and a second sub-pixel electrode; a plurality of first thin film transistors connected to the first sub-pixel electrodes; a plurality of second thin film transistors connected to the second sub-pixel electrodes; a plurality of third thin film transistors connected to the second sub-pixel electrodes; a plurality of first gate lines connected to the first and second thin film transistors; a plurality of data lines connected to the first and second thin film transistors; a plurality of second gate lines connected to the third thin film transistors; and a step-down capacitor connected between the drain electrode of the third thin film transistor and the first gate line.

Claims (70)

1. A liquid crystal display including a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix, the liquid crystal display comprising:

a pixel electrode respectively including a first sub-pixel electrode and a second sub-pixel electrode;

a first thin film transistor connected to the first sub-pixel electrode;

a second thin film transistor connected to the second sub-pixel electrode;

a third thin film transistor connected to the second sub-pixel electrode;

a first gate line connected to the first and second thin film transistors;

a data line connected to the first and second thin film transistors;

a second gate line connected to the third thin film transistor; and

a step-down capacitor electrically connected to both a drain electrode of the third thin film transistor and the first gate line.

2. The liquid crystal display of claim 1 , wherein

the step-down capacitor is formed by overlapping the first gate line and an electrode member via a first insulating layer, and

the electrode member is formed with the same layer as the data line.

3. The liquid crystal display of claim 2 , wherein

the electrode member is connected to the drain electrode of the third thin film transistor.

4. The liquid crystal display of claim 2 , wherein

the step-down capacitor further includes a semiconductor layer disposed under the electrode member, and

the electrode member has substantially the same plane shape as the semiconductor layer.

5. The liquid crystal display of claim 1 , further comprising

a second insulating layer formed between the first, second, and third thin film transistors, and the first and second sub-pixel electrodes,

wherein the second insulating layer has a first contact hole to connect the first thin film transistor to the first pixel electrode and a second contact hole to connect the second thin film transistor to the second pixel electrode, and

wherein the first contact hole is disposed in the region enclosed by the source electrode of the first thin film transistor, and the second contact hole is disposed in a region enclosed by the source electrode of the second thin film transistor.

6. The liquid crystal display of claim 1 , wherein

the step-down capacitor is formed by overlapping the first gate line and the electrode member via the insulating layer, and

the electrode member is formed with the same layer as the pixel electrode.

7. The liquid crystal display of claim 6 , further comprising

semiconductor layers formed under the first thin film transistor, the second thin film transistor, the drain electrode of the third thin film transistor, and the data line,

wherein the semiconductor layers have substantially the same plane shape as the first thin film transistor, the second thin film transistor, the drain electrode of the third thin film transistor, and the data line except for the channel of the first, second, and third thin film transistors.

8. The liquid crystal display of claim 6 , wherein

the insulating layer has a contact hole, and

the electrode member is connected to the drain electrode of the third thin film transistor through the contact hole.

9. The liquid crystal display of claim 1 , wherein

the first sub-pixel electrode and the second sub-pixel electrode are adjacent to each other according to a pixel column of the pixels.

10. The liquid crystal display of claim 1 , further comprising

a common electrode facing the pixel electrode,

wherein at least one of the first sub-pixel electrode and the second sub-pixel electrode has a first cutout, and

the common electrode has a second cutout.

11. A liquid crystal display including a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix, the liquid crystal display comprising:

a pixel electrode respectively including a first sub-pixel electrode and a second sub-pixel electrode;

a first thin film transistor connected to the first sub-pixel electrode;

a second thin film transistor connected to the second sub-pixel electrode;

a third thin film transistor connected to the second sub-pixel electrode;

a first gate line connected to the first and second thin film transistors;

a data line connected to the first and second thin film transistors;

a second gate line connected to the third thin film transistor; and

a step-down capacitor electrically connected to both a drain electrode of the third thin film transistor and a third gate line.

12. The liquid crystal display of claim 11 , wherein

the step-down capacitor is formed by overlapping the third gate line and an electrode member via a first insulating layer, and

the electrode member is formed with the same layer as the data line.

13. The liquid crystal display of claim 12 , wherein

the electrode member is connected to the drain electrode of the third thin film transistor.

14. The liquid crystal display of claim 12 , wherein

the step-down capacitor further includes a semiconductor layer disposed under the electrode member, and

the electrode member has substantially the same plane shape as the semiconductor layer.

15. The liquid crystal display of claim 11 , wherein

the step-down capacitor is formed by overlapping the third gate line and the electrode member via the first insulating layer, and

the electrode member is formed with the same layer as the pixel electrode.

16. The liquid crystal display of claim 15 , further comprising

semiconductor layers formed under the first thin film transistor, the second thin film transistor, the drain electrode of the third thin film transistor, and the data line,

wherein the semiconductor layers have substantially the same plane shape as the first thin film transistor, the second thin film transistor, the drain electrode of the third thin film transistor, and the data line except for the channel of the first, second, and third thin film transistors.

17. The liquid crystal display of claim 15 , wherein

the insulating layer has a first contact hole, and

the electrode member is connected to the drain electrode of the third thin film transistor through the first contact hole.

18. The liquid crystal display of claim 11 , wherein

the second sub-pixel electrode encloses the first sub-pixel electrode.

19. The liquid crystal display of claim 18 , wherein

the area of the first sub-pixel electrode is smaller than the area of the second sub-pixel electrode.

20. The liquid crystal display of claim 18 , further comprising

a common electrode facing the pixel electrode,

wherein at least one of the first sub-pixel electrode and the second sub-pixel electrode has a first cutout, and

the common electrode has a second cutout.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 23, 2012
From: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
To: SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 029008/0876 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 12, 2009
From: LEE, YUN-SEOK; CHO, YOUNG-JE
To: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 023359/0618 →