The present invention relates to a display device.
Patent Literature 1 discloses a touch panel that includes a sensing electrode and a shield electrode.
Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2014-164327 (published on Sep. 8, 2014)
In a touch panel layer, when two adjacent upper electrodes (a first upper electrode and a second upper electrode) overlap a lower electrode with an insulating film interposed therebetween, the insulating film at its stepped portion has residues on the upper layer (metal layer). The residues can establish a short circuit between the two upper electrodes.
A display device according to one aspect of the present invention includes the following: a thin-film transistor layer; a light emitter including a first electrode, a function layer and a second electrode; a sealing layer; and a touch panel layer including a lower electrode and a plurality of upper electrodes. The lower electrode is composed of a plurality of transparent wires. The plurality of upper electrodes are composed of a plurality of upper wires. Each of the plurality of upper electrodes overlaps the lower electrode with an insulating film interposed between each of the plurality of upper electrodes and the lower electrode. Each of the plurality of transparent wires is wider than each of the plurality of upper wires.
The aspect of the present invention can avoid a short circuit between the plurality of upper electrodes.
The base 12 may be a glass substrate or a flexible substrate including a resin film of, for instance, polyimide. Two resin films and an inorganic insulating film sandwiched therebetween can also constitute a flexible substrate. The base 12 may have a lower surface on which a film of PET or other materials is attached.
The barrier layer 3 protects the TFT layer 4 and light emitter layer 5 from intrusion of foreign substances, such as water and oxygen. The barrier layer 3 can be a silicon oxide film, a silicon nitride film or a silicon oxide nitride, all formed through CVD, or can be a stack of these films.
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The semiconductor film 15 is made of, for instance, amorphous silicon, low-temperature polysilicon (LTPS) or oxide semiconductor. The semiconductor film 15 together with the gate electrode GE constitutes a thin-film transistor TR. The thin-film transistor TR, although having a bottom-gate structure in the drawing, may be of any structure.
The display region DA is provided with a light emitter X and a pixel circuit, both are provided for each sub-pixel SP, and the thin-film transistor layer 4 includes the pixel circuit and a wire connected to the pixel circuit. Examples of the wire connected to the pixel circuit include a scan signal line GL and an light-emission control line EM, both included in the first metal layer, the initialization power-source line IL, included in the second metal layer, and the data signal line DL and a high-voltage power-source line PL, both included in the third metal layer. The pixel circuit includes the following: a drive transistor that regulates a current flowing through the light emitter X; a write transistor connected to the scan signal line GL; a light-emission control transistor connected to the light-emission control line; and other components.
The first to third metal layers are each a monolayer film of metal including at least one of; for instance, aluminum, tungsten, molybdenum, tantalum, chromium, titanium and copper, or the first to third metal layers are each a multilayer film of these metals.
The inorganic insulating films 16, 18 and 20 each can be a silicon oxide (SiOx) film or a silicon nitride (SiNx) film both formed through CVD, or the inorganic insulating films 16, 18 and 20 each can be a laminated film of these materials. The flattening film 21 can be made of an organic material that can be applied, such as polyimide or acrylic resin.
The light emitter layer 5 includes the following components on the flattening film 21: a first electrode (anode) 22; an edge cover film 23 insulating and covering the edge of the first electrode 22; a function layer 24 disposed in a higher position than the edge cover film 23; and a second electrode cathode)) 25 in a higher position than the function layer 24. The edge cover film 23 is formed by applying an organic material, such as polyimide or acrylic resin, followed by patterning through photolithography.
The light emitter layer 5 includes a plurality of light emitters X that emit a plurality colors of light, and each light emitter includes the first electrode 22, the function layer 24 and the second electrode 25, all provided in the form of an island. The second electrode 25 is a flat common electrode shared among the plurality of light emitters.
Each light emitter X may be an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) including an organic layer as a luminous layer, or the light emitter X may be a quantum-dot light-emitting diode (QLED) including a quantum dot layer as a luminous layer.
The function layer 24 has a stack of, in sequence from the bottom, a hole injection layer, a hole transport layer, a luminous layer EK, an electron transport layer and an electron injection layer for instance. The luminous layer is provided in the form of an island in an opening (for each sub-pixel) of the edge cover film 23 through evaporation, ink jetting or photolithography. The other layers are provided in the form of an island or in a flat manner (i.e., common layer). In some embodiments, one or more of the hole injection layer, hole transport layer, electron transport layer and electron injection layer can be omitted.
The first electrode 22 is composed of a stack of indium tin oxide (ITO) and silver (Ag) or a stack of ITO and Ag-containing alloy for instance. The first electrode 22 reflects light. The second electrode 25 (cathode) is composed of a metal thin film of, for instance, alloy of magnesium and silver. The second electrode 25 transmits light.
When each light emitter X is an OLED, a drive current between the first electrode 22 and second electrode 25 causes holes and electrons to rejoin within the luminous layer EK, thus generating excitons. These excitons emit light in the process of transition to a ground state. When each light emitter X is a QLED, a drive current between the first electrode 22 and second electrode 25 causes holes and electrons to rejoin within the luminous layer EK, thus generating excitons. These excitons emit light in the process of transition from a conduction band level of the quantum dots to a valence band level of the quantum dots.
The interlayer insulating film 37 can be composed of, but not limited to, a silicon nitride film, a silicon oxide film or an organic film.
The sealing layer 6 prevents foreign substances, such as water and oxygen, from penetrating the light emitter layer 5 and can be composed of, for instance, two inorganic sealing films and an organic film sandwiched therebetween.
The touch panel layer 7 includes, in sequence, a lower electrode KE, an insulating film 38, a plurality of upper electrodes SE, and an insulating film 39. Each upper electrode JE is composed of, for instance, a laminated film of titanium and aluminum, a molybdenum monolayer film or a titanium monolayer film. The lower electrode KE is composed of an ITO film or an IZO film for instance. The lower electrode KE has a larger sheet resistance than the upper electrode.
The function film 40 functions as, but not limited to, an optical element and a protector.
In the light emitter layer 5, the edge cover film 23, covering the edge of the first electrode 22, has an opening 23k from which the upper surface of the first electrode 22 is exposed. The plurality of upper electrodes JE do not overlap the opening 23k. This is because that above the opening 23k is a region where the light emitters X emit light, and that the efficiency of light use lowers if the upper electrodes JE, which block light, overlaps the opening 23k.
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The transparent lattice wire wk has a width Ws greater than the width, Wu, of the upper lattice wire wj and overlaps, in a plan view, the entire first protrusion Jx1, the entire second protrusion Jx2, the entire first wire and the entire second wire JL2. Thus, metal residues Jz that remain between the first wire JL1 and second wire JL2 when the first upper electrode JE1 and second upper electrode JE2 are formed are separated from the first protrusion Jx1, second protrusion Jx2, first wire JL1 and first wire ml and are thus never coupled. This can avoid a short circuit in the first upper electrode JE1 and second upper electrode JE2.
In
The transparent lattice wire wk has a width Ws greater than the width Wu of the upper lattice wire wj and overlaps, in a plan view, the entire first protrusion Jx1, the entire second protrusion Jx2, the entire first wire JL1 and the entire second wire JL2. Thus, metal residues that remain between the first wire JL1 and second wire JL2 when the first upper electrode JE1 and second upper electrode JE2 are formed are separated from the first protrusion Jx1, second protrusion Jx2, first wire JL1 and first wire JL1 and are thus never coupled. This can avoid a short circuit between the first upper electrode JE1 and second upper electrode JE2, both of which are sensing electrodes.
In
The transparent lattice wire wk has a width Ws greater than the width Wu of the upper lattice wire wj and overlaps, in a plan view, the entire first protrusion Jx1, the entire second protrusion Jx2, the entire first wire JL1 and the entire second wire JL2. Thus, metal residues that remain between the first wire JL1 and second wire JL2 when the first upper electrode JE1 and second upper electrode JE2 are formed are separated from the first protrusion Jx1, second protrusion Jx2, first wire JL1 and first wire JL1 and are thus never coupled. This can avoid a short circuit between the first upper electrode JE1, which is a sensing electrode, and the second upper electrode JE2, which is a routed electrode.
The transparent lattice wire wk has a width Ws greater than the width Wu of the upper lattice wire wj and overlaps, in a plan view, the entire first protrusion Jx1, the entire second protrusion Jx2, the entire first wire JL1 and the entire second wire JL2. Thus, metal residues that remain between the first wire JL1 and second wire JL2 when the first upper electrode JE1 and second upper electrode JE2 are formed are separated from the first protrusion Jx1, second protrusion Jx2, first wire JE1 and second wire JL2 and are thus never coupled. This can avoid a short circuit between the first upper electrode JE1 and second upper electrode JE2, both of which are routed electrodes.
The foregoing embodiments are illustrative and descriptive and are thus not restrictive. One of ordinary skill in the art obviously understands that numerous modifications can be devised based on these illustrative and descriptive embodiments.
Summary
First Aspect
A display device includes the following: a thin-film transistor layer; a light emitter including a first electrode, a function layer and a second electrode; a sealing layer; and a touch panel layer including a lower electrode and a plurality of upper electrodes. The lower electrode is composed of a plurality of transparent wires. The plurality of upper electrodes are composed of a plurality of upper wires. Each of the plurality of upper electrodes overlaps the lower electrode with an insulating film interposed between each of the plurality of upper electrodes and the lower electrode. Each of the plurality of transparent wires is wider than each of the plurality of upper wires.
Second Aspect
In the display device according to the first aspect for instance, the lower electrode is shared among the plurality of upper electrodes electrically separated from each other.
Third Aspect
In the display device according to the first or second aspect for instance, the plurality of upper wires constitute an upper lattice wire, and the plurality of transparent wires constitute a transparent lattice wire overlapping the upper lattice wire.
Fourth Aspect
In the display device according to the third aspect for instance, the transparent lattice wire has one section corresponding to one sub-pixel.
Fifth Aspect
The display device according to any one of, for instance, the first to fourth aspects includes an edge cover film covering the edge of the first electrode. The edge cover film has an opening from which the upper surface of the first electrode is exposed. Each of the plurality of upper electrodes does not overlap the opening.
Sixth Aspect
In the display device according to any one of the first to fifth aspects for instance, each of the plurality of upper electrodes is shared among a plurality of sub-pixels.
Seventh Aspect
In the display device according to the fifth aspect for instance, each of the plurality of transparent wires has an end overlapping the opening.
Eighth Aspect
In the display device according to any one of the first to seventh aspects for instance, the lower electrode has a larger sheet resistance than each of the plurality of upper electrodes.
Ninth Aspect
In the display device according to any one of the first to eighth aspects for instance, the plurality of upper wires include first and second wires extending in an identical direction and facing each other, the first wire has a first protrusion protruding toward the second wire, and the second wire has a second protrusion protruding toward the first wire.
Tenth Aspect
In the display device according to any one of the first to ninth aspects for instance, the lower electrode functions as a shield electrode in the touch panel layer.
Eleventh Aspect
In the display device according to the tenth aspect for instance, the plurality of upper electrodes include a first upper electrode and a second upper electrode adjacent to each other and each functioning as a sensing electrode.
Twelfth Aspect
In the display device according to any one of the first to eleventh aspects for instance, each of the plurality of upper wires contains at least one of titanium, aluminum and molybdenum, and each of the plurality of transparent wires contains 1TO or IZO.
Thirteenth Aspect
The display device according to, for instance, the tenth aspect includes the following: a terminal section disposed in a frame region surrounding a display region; and a plurality of sensing electrodes connected to the terminal section via a plurality of routed electrodes. The plurality of upper electrodes include a first upper electrode and a second upper electrode adjacent to each other. One of the first and second upper electrodes functions as a sensing electrode, and the other of the first and second upper electrodes functions as a routed electrode.
Fourteenth Aspect
The display device according to, for instance, the tenth aspect includes the following: a terminal section disposed in a frame region surrounding a display region; and a plurality of sensing electrodes connected to the terminal section via a plurality of routed electrodes. The plurality of upper electrodes include a first upper electrode and a second upper electrode adjacent to each other and each functioning as a routed electrode.
Fifteenth Aspect
In the display device according to any one of the first to fourteenth aspects for instance, each of the plurality of upper wires entirely overlaps any of the plurality of transparent wires in a plan view.
3 barrier layer
4 thin-film transistor layer
5 light emitter layer
6 sealing layer
7 touch panel layer
12 base
21 flattening film
23 edge cover film
24 function layer
TA terminal section
JE1 first upper electrode
Jx1 first protrusion
JE2 second upper electrode
Jx2 second protrusion
Jz metal residue
KE lower electrode
Q space
upper lattice wire wj
transparent lattice wire wk
first wire JL1
second wire JL2
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/JP2019/016893 | 4/19/2019 | WO | 00 |