Displays with data lines that accommodate openings
To minimize the width of a non-light-emitting border region around an opening in the active area, data lines may be stacked in the border region. Data line portions may be formed using three metal layers in three different planes within the border region. A metal layer that forms a positive power signal distribution path in the active area may serve as a data line portion in the border region. A metal layer may be added in the border region to serve as a data line portion in the border region. Data line signals may also be provided to pixels on both sides of an opening in the active area using supplemental data line paths. A supplemental data line path may be routed through the active area of the display to electrically connect data line segments on opposing sides of an opening within the display.
1. A display comprising:
a substrate having an active area that includes an array of pixels and an opening within the active area, wherein the opening is surrounded by a border region;
a plurality of signal lines coupled to the array of pixels, wherein a subset of the plurality of signal lines are rerouted within the border region and wherein the subset of the plurality of signal lines has portions in the border region that are formed from a first metal layer that is formed in a first plane, a second metal layer that is formed in a second plane that is different than the first plane, and a third metal layer that is formed in a third plane that is different than the first and second planes;
a first conductive via that electrically connects the third metal layer to a first portion of the second metal layer; and
a second conductive via that electrically connects the first metal layer to a second portion of the second metal layer.
2. The display defined in claim 1 , wherein the plurality of signal lines is a plurality of data lines.
3. The display defined in claim 2 , further comprising:
a plurality of gate lines that are at least partially formed from a fourth metal layer that is formed in a fourth plane that is different than the first, second, and third planes.
4. The display defined in claim 3 , wherein the plurality of gate lines are at least partially formed from a fifth metal layer that is formed in a fifth plane that is different than the first, second, third, and fourth planes.
5. The display defined in claim 4 , wherein the fourth and fifth planes are interposed between the first and third planes.
6. The display defined in claim 1 , further comprising:
at least a first dielectric layer interposed between the first metal layer and the second metal layer; and
at least a second dielectric layer interposed between the second metal layer and the third metal layer.
7. The display defined in claim 6 , wherein the at least first dielectric layer comprises an organic planarization layer and an inorganic passivation layer.
8. The display defined in claim 6 , wherein the at least second dielectric layer comprises an interlayer dielectric layer and a gate insulator layer.
9. The display defined in claim 6 , further comprising:
a buffer layer interposed between the third metal layer and the substrate.
10. A display comprising:
a substrate having an active area that includes an array of pixels and an opening within the active area, wherein the opening is surrounded by a border region; and
a plurality of signal lines coupled to the array of pixels, wherein a subset of the plurality of signal lines are rerouted within the border region, wherein the subset of the plurality of signal lines has portions in the border region that are formed from a first metal layer that is formed in a first plane and a second metal layer that is formed in a second plane that is different than the first plane, wherein the first metal layer has a first portion formed in the border region and a second portion that is not electrically connected to the first portion, wherein the first portion of the first metal layer forms some of the subset of the plurality of signal lines, and wherein the second portion of the first metal layer forms at least a portion of a power supply distribution line.
11. The display defined in claim 10 , wherein the second metal layer has a first portion formed in the border region and a second portion formed in the active area, wherein the first portion of the second metal layer forms some of the subset of the plurality of signal lines, and wherein the second portion of the second metal layer forms portions of the plurality of signal lines that are in the active area.
12. The display defined in claim 10 , further comprising:
a third metal layer that forms some of the subset of the plurality of signal lines in the border region and that is not present in the active area.
13. The display defined in claim 12 , further comprising:
an inorganic buffer layer formed on the substrate; and
a gate insulator layer formed on the inorganic buffer layer, wherein the third metal layer is interposed between the gate insulator layer and the inorganic buffer layer.
14. The display defined in claim 13 , further comprising:
first and second interlayer dielectric layers;
a fourth metal layer covered by the first interlayer dielectric layer; and
a fifth metal layer covered by the second interlayer dielectric layer.
15. The display defined in claim 14 , further comprising:
an inorganic passivation layer formed on the second interlayer dielectric layer, wherein the second metal layer is interposed between the inorganic passivation layer and the second interlayer dielectric layer;
a first organic planarization layer formed on the inorganic passivation layer; and
a second organic planarization layer formed on the first organic planarization layer, wherein the third metal layer is interposed between the first and second organic planarization layers.
16. A display comprising:
a substrate having an active area that includes an array of pixels and an opening within the active area, wherein the opening is surrounded by a border region;
a plurality of gate lines coupled to the array of pixels, wherein a subset of the plurality of gate lines are rerouted within the border region and wherein the subset of the plurality of gate lines includes portions in the border region that are formed from a first metal layer that is formed in a first plane and a second metal layer that is formed in a second plane that is different than the first plane; and
a plurality of data lines coupled to the array of pixels, wherein a subset of the plurality of data lines are rerouted within the border region and wherein the subset of the plurality of data lines includes portions in the border region that are formed from a third metal layer that is formed in a third plane that is different than the first and second planes and a fourth metal layer that is formed in a fourth plane that is different than the first, second, and third planes.
17. The display defined in claim 16 , wherein the first plane is interposed between the third and fourth planes and wherein the second plane is interposed between the third and fourth planes.
18. The display defined in claim 16 , further comprising:
at least a first dielectric layer interposed between the first metal layer and the second metal layer; and
at least a second dielectric layer interposed between the second metal layer and the third metal layer.
19. The display defined in claim 16 , wherein one of the subset of the plurality of gate lines overlaps one of the subset of the plurality of data lines in the border region.
20. The display defined in claim 16 , wherein a first data line of the subset of the plurality of data lines overlaps one of the subset of the plurality of gate lines and a second data line of the subset of the plurality of data lines in the border region.