IP Library Granted Patent US 8,304,778
Granted Patent B2
US 8,304,778 · App. 13/180,555 · Granted Nov 6, 2012

Thin film transistor and pixel structure having the thin film transistor

Assignee: Au Optronics Corporation
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,304,778
App. No.
13/180,555
Granted
Nov 6, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

A thin film transistor (TFT) and a pixel structure having the TFT are provided. The TFT is configured on a substrate. Besides, the TFT includes a gate, a gate insulation layer, a source, a channel layer, and a drain. The gate insulation layer covers the gate and the substrate. The source is configured on a portion of the gate insulation layer. The channel layer is configured on the gate insulation layer and covers a portion of the source located above the gate. The drain is configured on and electrically connected to the channel layer.

Claims (27)

1. A thin film transistor configured on a substrate, the thin film transistor comprising:

a gate;

a gate insulation layer covering the gate and the substrate;

a source configured on a portion of the gate insulation layer;

a channel layer configured on the gate insulation layer and covering a portion of the source located above the gate; and

a drain configured on and electrically connected to the channel layer.

2. The thin film transistor as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a buffer layer between the source and the channel layer, and between the drain and the channel layer for lower contact resistance.

3. The thin film transistor as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a passivation layer covering the source, the channel layer, and the gate insulation layer, the passivation layer having at least one hole exposing a portion of the channel layer.

4. The thin film transistor as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a passivation layer covering the source, the channel layer, and the drain.

5. The thin film transistor as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the source contacts the channel layer at a source contact region, the drain contacts the channel layer at a drain contact region, a horizontal distance from the source contact region to the drain contact region is parallel to the substrate, and the horizontal distance is greater than or equal to zero.

6. The thin film transistor as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the source contacts the channel layer at a source contact region, the drain contacts the channel layer at a drain contact region, a horizontal distance from the source contact region to the drain contact region is parallel to the substrate, and the horizontal distance is smaller than 3 μm.

7. The thin film transistor as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a material of the channel layer comprises a metal oxide semiconductor or an amorphous silicon semiconductor.

8. The thin film transistor as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a material of the drain comprises a transparent conductive material.

9. The thin film transistor as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a material of the drain comprises metal.

10. The thin film transistor as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a material of the source and a material of the drain are the same.

11. A pixel structure comprising:

the thin film transistor as claimed in claim 1 ; and

a pixel electrode electrically connected to the drain.

12. A circuit structure comprising the thin film transistor as claimed in claim 1 .

13. The thin film transistor as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the drain is electrically connected to the channel layer through the at least one hole.

14. The thin film transistor as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the drain further comprising an extension portion configured right above the gate and the channel layer.

15. The thin film transistor as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the at least one hole is located right above the gate and the channel layer.

16. The thin film transistor as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the passivation layer is located between the extension portion and the channel layer.

17. The thin film transistor as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the channel layer further covers the gate insulation layer.

18. The thin film transistor as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the drain further covers the gate insulation layer.

19. The thin film transistor as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the metal oxide semiconductor comprises indium-gallium-zinc oxide.

20. The pixel structure as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the pixel electrode and the drain are in a same layer.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 21, 2023
From: AUO CORPORATION
To: OPTRONIC SCIENCES LLC
Reel/Frame 064658/0572 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded May 25, 2023
From: AU OPTRONICS CORPORATION
To: AUO CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 063785/0830 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 15, 2011
From: WU, CHEN-YI; KAO, YIH-CHYUN; HUANG, CHUN-YAO
To: AU OPTRONICS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 026594/0887 →
Priority Claims (2)
TW 99136001 A · Oct 21, 2010 · national
TW 100116496 A · May 11, 2011 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20120097955A1 · Apr 26, 2012