IP Library Granted Patent US 8,502,226
Granted Patent B2
US 8,502,226 · App. 13/029,151 · Granted Aug 6, 2013

Liquid crystal display device

Inventors: Toshikazu Kondo (Atsugi, JP); Jun Koyama (Sagamihara, JP); Shunpei Yamazaki (Setagaya, JP)
Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
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 8,502,226
App. No.
13/029,151
Granted
Aug 6, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

An object is to reduce parasitic capacitance of a signal line included in a liquid crystal display device. A transistor including an oxide semiconductor layer is used as a transistor provided in each pixel. Note that the oxide semiconductor layer is an oxide semiconductor layer which is highly purified by thoroughly removing impurities (hydrogen, water, or the like) which become electron suppliers (donors). Thus, the amount of leakage current (off-state current) can be reduced when the transistor is off. Therefore, a voltage applied to a liquid crystal element can be held without providing a capacitor in each pixel. In addition, a capacitor wiring extending to a pixel portion of the liquid crystal display device can be eliminated. Therefore, parasitic capacitance in a region where the signal line and the capacitor wiring intersect with each other can be eliminated.

Claims (65)

1. A liquid crystal display device comprising:

a first scan line and a second scan line arranged in parallel or substantially parallel to each other;

a first signal line and a second signal line arranged in parallel or substantially parallel to each other;

a liquid crystal element and a transistor which are surrounded by the first scan line, the second scan line, the first signal line, and the second signal line, the transistor comprising a gate, a first insulating layer, and a semiconductor layer; and

a second insulating layer over the first insulating layer and under the first signal line,

wherein the first signal line intersects with the first scan line so that a first step is formed in the first signal line due to the first scan line,

wherein the first signal line intersects with the second scan line so that a second step is formed in the first signal line due to the second scan line,

wherein the whole of an upper surface of the first signal line exists coplanarly or substantially coplanarly in a region which is interposed between the first step and the second step, and

wherein the second insulating layer is in direct contact with the first signal line in the region.

2. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the semiconductor layer includes an oxide semiconductor.

3. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 2 ,

wherein the oxide semiconductor comprises gallium, zinc, and indium.

4. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the gate is electrically connected to the first scan line.

5. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the transistor further comprises a source and a drain,

wherein one of the source and the drain is electrically connected to the first signal line, and

wherein the other of the source and the drain is electrically connected to the liquid crystal element.

6. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the second insulating layer is in direct contact with the first signal line in the whole of the region.

7. A liquid crystal display device comprising:

a first scan line and a second scan line arranged in parallel or substantially parallel to each other;

a first signal line and a second signal line arranged in parallel or substantially parallel to each other;

a transistor including a gate, a first insulating layer, a semiconductor layer, a source, and a drain, the transistor being electrically connected to the first scan line and the first signal line;

a liquid crystal element electrically connected to the transistor; and

a second insulating layer over the first insulating layer and under the first signal line,

wherein the first signal line intersects with the first scan line so that a first step is formed in the first signal line due to the first scan line,

wherein the first signal line intersects with the second scan line so that a second step is formed in the first signal line due to the second scan line,

wherein the whole of an upper surface of the first signal line exists coplanarly or substantially coplanarly in a region which is interposed between the first step and the second step, and

wherein the second insulating layer is in direct contact with the first signal line in the region.

8. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 7 ,

wherein the second insulating layer is sandwiched between the first signal line and the first scan line and between the first signal line and the second scan line.

9. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 7 ,

wherein the first insulating layer and the second insulating layer are sandwiched between the first signal line and the first scan line and between the first signal line and the second scan line.

10. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 9 ,

wherein the second insulating layer is sandwiched between the first insulating layer and the first signal line in the region.

11. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 7 ,

wherein the semiconductor layer comprises an oxide semiconductor.

12. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 7 ,

wherein the semiconductor layer comprises gallium, zinc, and indium.

13. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 7 ,

wherein the second insulating layer is in direct contact with the signal line in the whole of the region.

14. A liquid crystal display device comprising a plurality of pixels, at least one of the plurality of pixels comprising:

a scan line;

a signal line;

a transistor comprising a gate, a first insulating layer, a source, and a drain, wherein the gate is electrically connected to the scan line, and one of the source and the drain is electrically connected to the signal line;

a liquid crystal element electrically connected to the other of the source and the drain; and

a second insulating layer over the first insulating layer and under the signal line,

wherein the signal line intersects with the scan line so that a step is formed in the signal line due to the scan line,

wherein the whole of an upper surface of the signal line exists coplanarly or substantially coplanarly in a region between the step and the step which is located in a neighboring pixel, and

wherein the second insulating layer is in direct contact with the signal line in the region.

15. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 14 ,

wherein the first insulating layer is in contact with the gate, and

wherein the first insulating layer is sandwiched between the signal line and the scan line.

16. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 14 ,

wherein the first insulating layer and the second insulating layer are sandwiched between the signal line and the scan line.

17. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 14 ,

wherein the signal line is in direct contact with the second insulating layer in the whole of the region.

18. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 14 ,

wherein the first insulating layer is in contact with the second insulating layer.

19. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 14 ,

wherein the transistor comprises an oxide semiconductor layer.

20. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 14 ,

wherein the transistor comprises an oxide semiconductor layer comprising gallium, zinc, and indium.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 17, 2011
From: KONDO, TOSHIKAZU; KOYAMA, JUN; YAMAZAKI, SHUNPEI
To: SEMICONDUCTOR ENERGY LABORATORY CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 025823/0350 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2010-042584 · Feb 26, 2010 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20110210327A1 · Sep 1, 2011