Contact structure
View Patent ↗There is disclosed a contact structure for electrically connecting conducting lines formed on a first substrate of an electrooptical device such as a liquid crystal display with conducting lines formed on a second substrate via conducting spacers while assuring a uniform cell gap among different cells if the interlayer dielectric film thickness is nonuniform across the cell or among different cells. A first conducting film and a dielectric film are deposited on the first substrate. Openings are formed in the dielectric film. A second conducting film covers the dielectric film left and the openings. The conducting spacers electrically connect the second conducting film over the first substrate with a third conducting film on the second substrate. The cell gap depends only on the size of the spacers, which maintain the cell gap.
1. An active matrix display comprising:
a first substrate having a pixel region and a common contact portion;
a second substrate having a counter electrode opposed to the pixel region and the common contact portion; and
a plurality of conductive spacers,
the pixel region comprising:
a thin film transistor;
an insulating film formed over the thin film transistor;
a pixel electrode formed over the insulating film; and
a plurality of spacers formed over the pixel electrode for maintaining a gap between the first and second substrates,
the common contact portion comprising:
a first conductive film;
the insulating film formed over the first conductive film; and
a second conductive film formed over the insulating film and electrically connected to the first conductive film;
wherein the plurality of conductive spacers are formed over the second conductive film and the insulating film, and
wherein at least one of the conductive spacers is in contact with both the counter electrode and the second conductive film.
2. An active matrix display comprising:
a first substrate having a pixel region and a common contact portion;
a second substrate having a counter electrode opposed to the pixel region and the common contact portion; and
a plurality of conductive spacers,
the pixel region comprising:
a thin film transistor,
source and drain electrodes connected to the thin film transistor;
an insulating film formed over the thin film transistor;
a pixel electrode formed over the insulating film; and
a plurality of spacers formed over the pixel electrode for maintaining a gap between the first and second substrates,
the common contact portion comprising:
a first conductive film;
the insulating film formed over the first conductive film; and
a second conductive film formed over the insulating film and electrically connected to the first conductive film;
wherein the plurality of conductive spacers are formed over the second conductive film and the insulating film,
wherein at least one of the conductive spacers is in contact with both the counter electrode and the second conductive film, and
wherein each of the source and drain electrodes comprises the same material as the first conductive film.
3. An active matrix display comprising:
a first substrate having a pixel region and a common contact portion;
a second substrate having a counter electrode opposed to the pixel region and the common contact portion; and
a plurality of conductive spacers, the pixel region comprising:
a thin film transistor;
an insulating film comprising organic resin formed over the thin film transistor;
a pixel electrode formed over the insulating film; and
a plurality of spacers formed over the pixel electrode for maintaining a gap between the first and second substrates,
the common contact portion comprising:
a first conductive film;
the insulating film formed over the first conductive film;
a second conductive film formed over the insulating film and electrically connected to the first conductive film;
wherein the plurality of conductive spacers are formed over the second conductive film and the insulating film,
wherein at least one of the conductive spacers is in contact with both the counter electrode and the second conductive film.
4. An active matrix display comprising:
a first substrate having a pixel region and a common contact portion;
a second substrate having a counter electrode opposed to the pixel region and the common contact portion; and
a plurality of conductive spacers,
the pixel region comprising:
a thin film transistor;
an insulating film formed over the thin film transistor;
a pixel electrode formed over the insulating film; and
a plurality of spacers formed over the pixel electrode for maintaining a gap between the first and second substrates,
the common contact portion comprising:
a first conductive film;
the insulating film formed over the first conductive film; and
a second conductive film formed over the insulating film and electrically connected to the first conductive film;
wherein the plurality of conductive spacers are formed over the second conductive film and the insulating film,
wherein at least one of the conductive spacers is in contact with both the counter electrode and the second conductive film, and
wherein a diameter of the conductive spacers is greater than a diameter of the spacers.
5. An active matrix display comprising:
a first substrate having a pixel region and a common contact portion;
a second substrate having a counter electrode opposed to the pixel region and the common contact portion; and
a plurality of conductive spacers,
the pixel region comprising:
a thin film transistor;
an insulating film formed over the thin film transistor;
a pixel electrode comprising indium tin oxide formed over the insulating film; and
a plurality of spacers formed over the pixel electrode for maintaining a gap between the first and second substrates,
the common contact portion comprising:
a first conductive film;
the insulating film formed over the first conductive film; and
a second conductive film formed over the insulating film and electrically connected to the first conductive film;
wherein the plurality of conductive spacers are formed over the second conductive film and the insulating film, and
wherein at least one of the conductive spacers is in contact with both the counter electrode and the second conductive film.
6. An active matrix display comprising:
a first substrate having a pixel region and a common contact portion;
a second substrate having a counter electrode comprising indium tin oxide opposed to the pixel region and the common contact portion; and
a plurality of conductive spacers,
the pixel region comprising:
a thin film transistor;
an insulating film formed over the thin film transistor;
a pixel electrode comprising indium tin oxide formed over the insulating film; and
a plurality of spacers formed over the pixel electrode for maintaining a gap between the first and second substrates,
the common contact portion comprising:
a first conductive film;
the insulating film formed over the first conductive film; and
a second conductive film formed over the insulating film and electrically connected to the first conductive film;
wherein the plurality of conductive spacers are formed over the second conductive film and the insulating film, and
wherein at least one of the conductive spacers is in contact with both the counter electrode and the second conductive film.
7. An active matrix display according to any one of claims 1 and 2 to 6 , wherein each of the conductive spacers is a sphere coated with gold.
8. An active matrix display according to any one of claims 1 and 2 to 6 , wherein the active matrix display is a liquid crystal display.
9. An active matrix display according to any one of claims 1 and 2 to 6 , wherein the first substrate further has an extractor terminal and the counter electrode is connected with the extractor terminal via the common contact portion.
10. An active matrix display according to any one of claims 1 and 2 to 6 , wherein the counter electrode is clamped at a common potential by the common contact portion.
11. An active matrix display according to claim 3 , wherein the organic resin is selected from the group consisting of polyimide, polyamide, polyimideamide and acrylic resin.
12. An active matrix display comprising:
a first substrate having a pixel region and a common contact portion;
a second substrate having a counter electrode opposed to the pixel region and the common contact portion; and
a plurality of conductive spacers,
the pixel region comprising:
a thin film transistor;
a first insulating film formed over the thin film transistor;
at least one of source and drain electrodes formed over the first insulating film and electrically connected to the thin film transistor;
a second insulating film formed over the one of the source and drain electrodes;
a pixel electrode formed over the second insulating film; and
a plurality of spacers formed over the pixel electrode for maintaining a gap between the first and second substrates,
the common contact portion comprising:
a first conductive film formed over the first insulating film;
the second insulating film formed over the first conductive film; and
a second conductive film formed over the second insulating film and electrically connected to the first conductive film;
wherein the plurality of conductive spacers are formed over the second conductive film and the second insulating film, and
wherein at least one of the conductive spacers is in contact with both the counter electrode and the second conductive film.
13. An active matrix display comprising:
a first substrate having a pixel region and a common contact portion;
a second substrate having a counter electrode opposed to the pixel region and the common contact portion; and
a plurality of conductive spacers,
the pixel region comprising:
a thin film transistor;
a first insulating film formed over the thin film transistor;
at least one of source and drain electrodes formed over the first insulating film and electrically connected to the thin film transistor;
a second insulating film formed over the one of the source and drain electrodes;
a pixel electrode formed over the second insulating film; and
a plurality of spacers formed over the pixel electrode for maintaining a gap between the first and second substrates,
the common contact portion comprising:
a first conductive film formed over the first insulating film;
the second insulating film formed over the first conductive film; and
a second conductive film formed over the second insulating film and electrically connected to the first conductive film;
wherein the plurality of conductive spacers are formed over the second conductive film and the second insulating film,
wherein at least one of the conductive spacers is in contact with both the counter electrode and the second conductive film, and
wherein each of the source and drain electrodes comprises the same material as the first conductive film.
14. An active matrix display comprising:
a first substrate having a pixel region and a common contact portion;
a second substrate having a counter electrode opposed to the pixel region and the common contact portion; and
a plurality of conductive spacers,
the pixel region comprising:
a thin film transistor;
a first insulating film comprising organic resin formed over the thin film transistor;
at least one of source and drain electrodes formed over the first insulating film and electrically connected to the thin film transistor;
a second insulating film formed over the one of the source and drain electrodes;
a pixel electrode formed over the second insulating film; and
a plurality of spacers formed over the pixel electrode for maintaining a gap between the first and second substrates,
the common contact portion comprising:
a first conductive film formed over the first insulating film;
the second insulating film formed over the first conductive film; and
a second conductive film formed over the second insulating film and electrically connected to the first conductive film;
wherein the plurality of conductive spacers are formed over the second conductive film and the second insulating film, and
wherein at least one of the conductive spacers is in contact with both the counter electrode and the second conductive film.
15. An active matrix display comprising:
a first substrate having a pixel region and a common contact portion;
a second substrate having a counter electrode opposed to the pixel region and the common contact portion; and
a plurality of conductive spacers,
the pixel region comprising:
a thin film transistor;
a first insulating film formed over the thin film transistor;
at least one of source and drain electrodes formed over the first insulating film and electrically connected to the thin film transistor;
a second insulating film formed over the one of the source and drain electrodes;
a pixel electrode formed over the second insulating film; and
a plurality of spacers formed over the pixel electrode for maintaining a gap between the first and second substrates,
the common contact portion comprising:
a first conductive film formed over the first insulating film;
the second insulating film formed over the first conductive film; and
a second conductive film formed over the second insulating film and electrically connected to the first conductive film;
wherein the plurality of conductive spacers are formed over the second conductive film and the second insulating film, and
wherein at least one of the conductive spacers is in contact with both the counter electrode and the second conductive film, and
wherein a diameter of the conductive spacers is greater than a diameter of the spacers.
16. An active matrix display comprising:
a first substrate having a pixel region and a common contact portion;
a second substrate having a counter electrode opposed to the pixel region and the common contact portion; and
a plurality of conductive spacers,
the pixel region comprising:
a thin film transistor;
a first insulating film formed over the thin film transistor;
at least one of source and drain electrodes formed over the first insulating film and electrically connected to the thin film transistor;
a second insulating film formed over the one of the source and drain electrodes;
a pixel electrode comprising indium tin oxide formed over the second insulating film; and
a plurality of spacers formed over the pixel electrode for maintaining a gap between the first and second substrates,
the common contact portion comprising:
a first conductive film formed over the first insulating film;
the second insulating film formed over the first conductive film; and
a second conductive film, formed over the second insulating film and electrically connected to the first conductive film;
wherein the plurality of conductive spacers are formed over the second conductive film and the second insulating film, and
wherein at least one of the conductive spacers is in contact with both the counter electrode and the second conductive film.
17. An active matrix display comprising:
a first substrate having a pixel region and a common contact portion;
a second substrate having a counter electrode comprising indium tin oxide opposed to the pixel region and the common contact portion; and
a plurality of conductive spacers,
the pixel region comprising:
a thin film transistor;
a first insulating film formed over the thin film transistor;
at least one of source and drain electrodes formed over the first insulating film and electrically connected to the thin film transistor;
a second insulating film formed over the one of the source and drain electrodes;
a pixel electrode formed over the second insulating film; and
a plurality of spacers formed over the pixel electrode for maintaining a gap between the first and second substrates,
the common contact portion comprising:
a first conductive film formed over the first insulating film;
the second insulating film formed over the first conductive film; and
a second conductive film formed over the second insulating film and electrically connected to the first conductive film;
wherein the plurality of conductive spacers are formed over the second conductive film and the second insulating film, and
wherein at least one of the conductive spacers is in contact with both the counter electrode and the second conductive film.
18. An active matrix display according to any one of claims 12 and 13 to 17 , wherein each of the conductive spacers is a sphere coated with gold.
19. An active matrix display according to any one of claims 12 and 13 to 17 , wherein the active matrix display is a liquid crystal display.
20. An active matrix display according to any one of claims 12 and 13 to 17 , wherein the first substrate further has an extractor terminal and the counter electrode is connected with the extractor terminal via the common contact portion.
21. An active matrix display device according to any one of claims 12 and 13 to 17 , wherein the counter electrode is clamped at a common potential by the common contact portion.
22. An active matrix display according to claim 14 , wherein the organic resin is selected from the group consisting of polyimide, polyamide, polyimideamide and acrylic resin.
23. An active matrix display comprising:
a first substrate having a pixel region and a common contact portion;
a second substrate having a counter electrode opposed to the pixel region and the common contact portion; and
a plurality of conductive spacers,
the pixel region comprising:
a bottom-gate type thin film transistor;
an insulating film formed over the bottom-gate type thin film transistor;
a pixel electrode formed over the insulating film; and
a plurality of spacers formed over the pixel electrode for maintaining a gap between the first and second substrates,
the common contact portion comprising:
a first conductive film;
the insulating film formed over the first conductive film; and
a second conductive film formed over the insulating film and electrically connected to the first conductive film;
wherein the plurality of conductive spacers are formed over the second conductive film and the insulating film, and
wherein at least one of the conductive spacers is in contact with both the counter electrode and the second conductive film.
24. An active matrix display comprising:
a first substrate having a pixel region and a common contact portion;
a second substrate having a counter electrode opposed to the pixel region and the common contact portion; and
a plurality of conductive spacers,
the pixel region comprising:
a bottom-gate type thin film transistor;
source and drain electrodes connected to the bottom-gate type thin film transistor;
an insulating film formed over the bottom-gate type thin film transistor;
a pixel electrode formed over the insulating film; and
a plurality of spacers formed over the pixel electrode for maintaining a gap between the first and second substrates,
the common contact portion comprising:
a first conductive film;
the insulating film formed over the first conductive film; and
a second conductive film formed over the insulating film and electrically connected to the first conductive film;
wherein the plurality of conductive spacers are formed over the second conductive film and the insulating film,
wherein at least one of the conductive spacers is in contact with both the counter electrode and the second conductive film, and
wherein each of the source and drain electrodes comprises the same material as the first conductive film.
25. An active matrix display comprising:
a first substrate having a pixel region and a common contact portion;
a second substrate having a counter electrode opposed to the pixel region and the common contact portion; and
a plurality of conductive spacers,
the pixel region comprising:
a bottom-gate type thin film transistor;
an insulating film comprising organic resin formed over the bottom-gate type thin film transistor
a pixel electrode formed over the insulating film; and
a plurality of spacers formed over the pixel electrode for maintaining a gap between the first and second substrates,
the common contact portion comprising:
a first conductive film;
the insulating film formed over the first conductive film; and
a second conductive film formed over the insulating film and electrically connected to the first conductive film;
wherein the plurality of conductive spacers are formed over the second conductive film and the insulating film, and
wherein at least one of the conductive spacers is in contact with both the counter electrode and the second conductive film.
26. An active matrix display comprising:
a first substrate having a pixel region and a common contact portion;
a second substrate having a counter electrode opposed to the pixel region and the common contact portion; and
a plurality of conductive spacers,
the pixel region comprising:
a bottom-gate type thin film transistor;
an insulating film formed over the bottom-gate type thin film transistor;
a pixel electrode formed over the insulating film; and
a plurality of spacers formed over the pixel electrode for maintaining a gap between the first and second substrates,
the common contact portion comprising:
a first conductive film;
the insulating film formed over the first conductive film; and
a second conductive film formed over the insulating film and electrically connected to the first conductive film;
wherein the plurality of conductive spacers are formed over the second conductive film and the insulating film,
wherein at least one of the conductive spacers is in contact with both the counter electrode and the second conductive film, and
wherein a diameter of the conductive spacers is greater than a diameter of the spacers.
27. An active matrix display comprising:
a first substrate having a pixel region and a common contact portion;
a second substrate having a counter electrode opposed to the pixel region and the common contact portion; and
a plurality of conductive spacers,
the pixel region comprising:
a bottom-gate type thin film transistor;
an insulating film formed over the bottom-gate type thin film transistor;
a pixel electrode comprising indium tin oxide formed over the insulating film; and
a plurality of spacers formed over the pixel electrode for maintaining a gap between the first and second substrates,
the common contact portion comprising:
a first conductive film
the insulating film formed over the first conductive film; and
a second conductive film formed over the insulating film and electrically connected to the first conductive film;
wherein the plurality of conductive spacers are formed over the second conductive film and the insulating film, and
wherein at least one of the conductive spacers is in contact with both the counter electrode and the second conductive film.
28. An active matrix display comprising:
a first substrate having a pixel region and a common contact portion;
a second substrate having a counter electrode comprising indium tin oxide opposed to the pixel region and the common contact portion; and
a plurality of conductive spacers,
the pixel region comprising:
a bottom-gate type thin film transistor;
an insulating film formed over the bottom-gate type thin film transistor;
a pixel electrode formed over the insulating film; and
a plurality of spacers formed over the pixel electrode for maintaining a gap between the first and second substrates,
the common contact portion comprising:
a first conductive film;
the insulating film formed over the first conductive film; and
a second conductive film formed over the insulating film and electrically connected to the first conductive film;
wherein the plurality of conductive spacers are formed over the second conductive film and the insulating film, and
wherein at least one of the conductive spacers is in contact with both the counter electrode and the second conductive film.
29. An active matrix display according to any one of claims 23 and 24 to 28 , wherein each of the conductive spacers is a sphere coated with gold.
30. An active matrix display according to any one of claims 23 and 24 to 28 , wherein the active matrix display is a liquid crystal display.
31. An active matrix display according to any one of claims 23 and 24 to 28 , wherein the first substrate further has an extractor terminal and the counter electrode is connected with the extractor terminal via the common contact portion.
32. An active matrix display according to any one of claims 23 and 24 to 28 , wherein the counter electrode is clamped at a common potential by the common contact portion.
33. An active matrix display according to claim 25 , wherein the organic resin is selected from the group consisting of polyimide, polyamide, polyimideamide and acrylic resin.
34. An active matrix display comprising:
a first substrate having a pixel region and a common contact portion;
a second substrate having a counter electrode opposed to the pixel region and the common contact portion; and
a plurality of conductive spacers,
the pixel region comprising:
a bottom-gate type thin film transistor;
an insulating film formed over the bottom-gate type thin film transistor;
a pixel electrode formed over the insulating film; and
a plurality of spacers formed over the pixel electrode for maintaining a gap between the first and second substrates,
the common contact portion comprising:
a first conductive film;
the insulating film formed over the first conductive film; and
a second conductive film formed over the insulating film and electrically connected to the first conductive film in at least one opening formed in the insulating film;
wherein the plurality of conductive spacers are formed over the second conductive film and the insulating film, and
wherein at least one of the conductive spacers is in contact with both the counter electrode and the second conductive film.
35. An active matrix display comprising:
a first substrate having a pixel region and a common contact portion;
a second substrate having a counter electrode opposed to the pixel region and the common contact portion; and
a plurality of conductive spacers,
the pixel region comprising:
a bottom-gate type thin film transistor;
source and drain electrodes connected to the bottom-gate type thin film transistor;
an insulating film formed over the bottom-gate type thin film transistor;
a pixel electrode formed over the insulating film; and
a plurality of spacers formed over the pixel electrode for maintaining a gap between the first and second substrates,
the common contact portion comprising:
a first conductive film;
the insulating film formed over the first conductive film; and
a second conductive film formed over the insulating film and electrically connected to the first conductive film in at least one opening formed in the insulating film;
wherein the plurality of conductive spacers are formed over the second conductive film and the insulating film,
wherein at least one of the conductive spacers is in contact with both the counter electrode and the second conductive film, and
wherein each of the source and drain electrodes comprises the same material as the first conductive film.
36. An active matrix display comprising:
a first substrate having a pixel region and a common contact portion;
a second substrate having a counter electrode opposed to the pixel region and the common contact portion; and
a plurality of conductive spacers,
the pixel region comprising:
a bottom-gate type thin film transistor;
an insulating film comprising organic resin formed over the bottom-gate type thin film transistor;
a pixel electrode formed over the insulating film; and
a plurality of spacers formed over the pixel electrode for maintaining a gap between the first and second substrates,
the common contact portion comprising:
a first conductive film;
the insulating film formed over the first conductive film; and
a second conductive film formed over the insulating film and electrically connected to the first conductive film in at least one opening formed in the insulating film;
wherein the plurality of conductive spacers are formed over the second conductive film and the insulating film, and
wherein at least one of the conductive spacers is in contact with both the counter electrode and the second conductive film.
37. An active matrix display comprising:
a first substrate having a pixel region and a common contact portion;
a second substrate having a counter electrode opposed to the pixel region and the common contact portion; and
a plurality of conductive spacers,
the pixel region comprising:
a bottom-gate type thin film transistor;
an insulating film formed over the bottom-gate type thin film transistor;
a pixel electrode formed over the insulating film; and
a plurality of spacers formed over the pixel electrode for maintaining a gap between the first and second substrates,
the common contact portion comprising:
a first conductive film;
the insulating film formed over the first conductive film; and
a second conductive film formed over the insulating film and electrically connected to the first conductive film in at least one opening formed in the insulating film;
wherein the plurality of conductive spacers are formed over the second conductive film and the insulating film,
wherein at least one of the conductive spacers is in contact with both the counter electrode and the second conductive film, and
wherein a diameter of the conductive spacers is greater than a diameter of the spacers.
38. An active matrix display comprising:
a first substrate having a pixel region and a common contact portion;
a second substrate having a counter electrode opposed to the pixel region and the common contact portion; and
a plurality of conductive spacers,
the pixel region comprising:
a bottom-gate type thin film transistor;
an insulating film formed over the bottom-gate type thin film transistor;
a pixel electrode comprising indium tin oxide formed over the insulating film; and
a plurality of spacers formed over the pixel electrode for maintaining a gap between the first and second substrates,
the common contact portion comprising:
a first conductive film;
the insulating film formed over the first conductive film; and
a second conductive film formed over the insulating film and electrically connected to the first conductive film in at least one opening formed in the insulating film;
wherein the plurality of conductive spacers are formed over the second conductive film and the insulating film, and
wherein at least one of the conductive spacers is in contact with both the counter electrode and the second conductive film.
39. An active matrix display comprising:
a first substrate having a pixel region and a common contact portion;
a second substrate having a counter electrode comprising indium tin oxide opposed to the pixel region and the common contact portion; and
a plurality of conductive spacers,
the pixel region comprising:
a bottom-gate type thin film transistor;
an insulating film formed over the bottom-gate type thin film transistor;
a pixel electrode formed over the insulating film; and
a plurality of spacers formed over the pixel electrode for maintaining a gap between the first and second substrates,
the common contact portion comprising:
a first conductive film;
the insulating film formed over the first conductive film; and
a second conductive film formed over the insulating film and electrically connected to the first conductive film in at least one opening formed in the insulating film;
wherein the plurality of conductive spacers are formed over the second conductive film and the insulating film, and
wherein at least one of the conductive spacers is in contact with both the counter electrode and the second conductive film.
40. An active matrix display according to any one of claims 34 and 35 to 39 , wherein each of the conductive spacers is a sphere coated with gold.
41. An active matrix display according to any one of claims 34 and 35 to 39 , wherein the active matrix display is a liquid crystal display.
42. An active matrix display according to any one of claims 34 and 35 to 39 , wherein the first substrate further has an extractor terminal and the counter electrode is connected with the extractor terminal via the common contact portion.
43. An active matrix display according to any one of claims 34 and 35 to 39 , wherein the counter electrode is clamped at a common potential by the common contact portion.
44. An active matrix display according to claim 36 , wherein the organic resin is selected from the group consisting of polyimide, polyamide, polyimideamide and acrylic resin.