IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,242,440
Granted Patent B2
US 7,242,440 · App. 10/686,704 · Granted Jul 10, 2007

Electro-optical device and electronic apparatus having coating member coating an inner side wall of a contact hole

Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,242,440
App. No.
10/686,704
Granted
Jul 10, 2007
Kind
B2
Abstract

An electro-optical device includes, above a substrate: a data line extending in a first direction; a scanning line extending in a second direction and intersecting the data line; pixel electrode and thin film transistor disposed so as to correspond to intersection regions of the data line and the scanning line; a storage capacitor electrically connected to the thin film transistor and the pixel electrode; a shielding layer disposed between the data line and the pixel electrode; an interlayer insulating film disposed as the base of the pixel electrode; and a contact hole formed in the interlayer insulating film, to electrically connect the thin film transistor to the pixel electrode. Further, the entire region inside the contact hole is filled with a filler.

Claims (64)

1. An electro-optical device comprising:

a first substrate;

a second substrate;

a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first and second substrates;

a data line extending in a first direction;

a scanning line extending in a second direction and intersecting the data line;

a pixel electrode and switching element disposed so as to correspond to an intersection region of the data line and the scanning line, the pixel electrode being formed from an transparent material;

a storage capacitor electrically connected to the switching element and the pixel electrode;

a light shielding layer disposed between the data line and the pixel electrode;

an interlayer insulating film disposed as the base of the pixel electrode;

a contact hole formed in the interlayer insulating film;

a coating member coating an inner side wall of the contact hole, the coating member being made from a light shielding and electrically conductive material, the coating member being contained completely within the contact hole;

a filler completely filling an inner space within the coating member, the filler being made from a transparent material and having a substantially planar upper surface in direct contact with the liquid crystal layer; and

a relay layer formed below the interlayer insulating film and electrically connecting the pixel electrode to the switching element, the relay layer having a two-layered structure including two metal layers.

2. The electro-optical device according to claim 1 , the surface of the interlayer insulating film being planarized.

3. The electro-optical device according to claim 2 , the plurality of pixel electrodes being disposed in a plane and including a first pixel electrode group inversely driven in a first period and a second pixel electrode group inversely driven in a second period complementary to the first period,

the data lines including main line portions which extend above the scanning lines so as to intersect the scanning lines and overhanging portions which overhang from the main line portions along the scanning lines,

a counter electrode facing the plurality of pixel electrodes being formed on a counter substrate disposed to face the substrate, and

convex portions being formed in regions which are to be gaps between the pixel electrodes adjacent to each other by interposing the scanning lines in plan view due to the presence of the overhanging portions on the base surfaces of the pixel electrodes on the substrate,

the overhanging portions including a shielding layer, and

the convex portions including an insulating film.

4. The electro-optical device according to claim 2 , the plurality of pixel electrodes being disposed in a plane and including a first pixel electrode group inversely driven in a first period and a second pixel electrode group inversely driven in a second period complementary to the first period,

a counter electrode facing the plurality of pixel electrodes and convex portions formed in regions which are to be gaps between the pixel electrodes adjacent to each other in plan view are formed on a counter substrate disposed to face the substrate, and

the convex portions have gentle surface step differences caused by removing the planarized films formed on the convex portions by an etching process and causing the surface of the convex portion exposed after removing the planarized films to recede.

5. The electro-optical device according to claim 1 , another contact hole being formed in another interlayer insulating film, and

the entire region inside the other contact hole being filled with the filler.

6. The electro-optical device according to claim 1 , the filler being made of a transparent conductive material.

7. The electro-optical device according to claim 1 , the filler being formed on the coating member.

8. The electro-optical device according to claim 1 , the contact hole being formed in light-shielding regions corresponding to a position in which the scanning line and the data line is formed.

9. The electro-optical device according to claim 1 , the data line being formed of the same film as one of a pair of electrodes constituting the storage capacitor.

10. The electro-optical device according to claim 9 ,

the data line being a laminated structure of an aluminum film and a conductive polysilicon film.

11. The electro-optical device according to claim 1 , further comprising a relay layer being electrically connected between one of the pair of electrodes constituting the storage capacitor and the pixel electrode.

12. The electro-optical device according to claim 1 , one of the metal layers of the relay layer being formed from a light-absorbing material and the other of the metal layers being formed from a light-reflecting material.

13. An electro-optical device comprising:

a first substrate;

a second substrate;

a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first and second substrates;

a data line extending in a first direction;

a scanning line extending in a second direction and intersecting the data line;

a pixel electrode and a switching element disposed so as to correspond to intersection regions of the data line and the scanning line, the pixel electrode being formed from a transparent material;

a storage capacitor electrically connected to the switching element and the pixel electrode;

a light shielding layer disposed between the data line and the pixel electrode;

an interlayer insulating film disposed as the base of the pixel electrode;

a contact hole formed in the interlayer insulating film;

a coating member coating an inner side wall of the contact hole, the coating member being made from a light shielding and electrically conductive material, the coating member being contained completely within the contact hole;

a filler completely filling an inner space within the coating member, the filler being made from a transparent material and having a substantially planar upper surface in direct contact with the liquid crystal layer; and

a relay layer formed below the interlayer insulating film and electrically connecting the pixel electrode to the switching element, the relay layer having a two-layered structure including two metal layers,

one of the metal layers of the relay layer being formed from a light-absorbing material and the other of the metal layers being formed from a light-reflecting material, and

the surface of the interlayer insulating film being planarized.

14. An electronic apparatus with an electro-optical device, the electro-optical device comprising:

a first substrate;

a second substrate;

a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first and second substrates;

a data line extending in a first direction;

a scanning line extending in a second direction and intersecting the data line;

a pixel electrode and a switching element disposed so as to correspond to intersection regions of the data line and the scanning line, the pixel electrode being formed from a transparent material;

a storage capacitor electrically connected to the switching element and the pixel electrode;

a shielding layer disposed between the data line and the pixel electrode;

an interlayer insulating film disposed as the base of the pixel electrode;

a contact hole formed in the interlayer insulating film;

a coating member coating an inner side wall of the contact hole, the coating member being made from a light shielding and electrically conductive material, the coating member being contained completely within the contact hole;

a filler completely filling an inner space within the coating member, the filler being made from a transparent material and having a substantially planar upper surface in direct contact with the liquid crystal layer; and

a relay layer formed below the interlayer insulating film and electrically connecting the pixel electrode to the switching element, the relay layer having a two-layered structure including two metal layers.

Assignments (2)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE FIRST ASSIGNOS NAME ON AN ASSIGNMENT PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL 014450 FRAME 0101. ASSIGNORS HEREBY CONFIRM THE ASSIGNMENT OF THE ENTIRE INTEREST. Recorded May 11, 2004
From: KURASHINA, HISAKI; YAMASAKI, YASUJI; KAWATA, HIDENORI
To: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 014611/0590 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 22, 2004
From: KURASHIN, HISAKI; YAMASAKI, YASUJI; KAWATA, HIDENORI
To: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 014450/0101 →
Priority Claims (2)
JP 2002-318545 · Oct 31, 2002 · national
JP 2003-321787 · Sep 12, 2003 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20040135952A1 · Jul 15, 2004