Systems for displaying images and manufacturing methods for display panels

This application claims the benefit of Taiwan application Serial No. 97131559 filed Aug. 19, 2008, the subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference.

1. Technical Field

The disclosure relates to a system for displaying images, and more particularly to a display panel applied in systems for displaying images and a manufacturing method thereof.

2. Description of the Related Art

Static electricity effect occurs in display panels due to high temperature processes. Especially, edges of display areas within display panels are easily damaged by electrostatic discharge, resulting in generation of bright points. In conventional display panels, to prevent the display areas from being damaged by electrostatic discharge, dummy pixels are disposed on the periphery of the display areas to sustain electrostatic discharge.

As shown in FIG. 1 , a display panel 1 comprises data lines D 1 -Dn, scan lines S 1 -Sm, dummy lines DL and DR, and a display area 10 . The data lines D 1 -Dn are interlaced with the scan lines S 1 -Sm. The display area 10 comprises a plurality of display pixels, and each display pixel corresponds to one interlaced data line and scan line. The dummy lines DL and DR are interlaced with the scan lines S 1 -Sm. The interlaced dummy line and scan line correspond to one dummy pixel. Thus, the dummy pixels are disposed at two relative sides of the display area 10 for sustaining electrostatic discharge. If two of the dummy pixels on the same dummy line are damaged by electrostatic discharge, the two scan lines corresponding to the damaged dummy pixels are conducted through the dummy line. For example, the interlaced dummy line DL and scan line S 1 correspond to a dummy pixel DP 10 , and the interlaced dummy line DL and scan line S 3 correspond to a dummy pixel DP 11 . When the dummy pixels DP 10 and DP 11 are damaged by electrostatic discharge, the scan lines S 1 and S 3 are conducted through the dummy line DL, resulting in incorrect display of images in a display mode.

An exemplary embodiment of a system for displaying images comprises a plurality of first signal lines, a plurality of second signal lines, a display area, and a first dummy line. The second signal lines are interlaced with the first signal lines. The display area comprises a plurality of display pixels. Each of the display pixels corresponds to the interlaced first signal line and second signal line. The first dummy line is disposed on a first side of the display area and interlaced with the second signal lines. A section of the first dummy line between every two adjacent second signal lines among the second signal lines has an opening.

An exemplary embodiment of a manufacturing method for a display panel comprises steps of: providing a substrate; forming a plurality of first signal lines and a plurality of second signal lines on the substrate, wherein the second signal lines are interlaced with the first signal lines; forming a display area on the substrate, wherein the display area comprises a plurality of display pixels, wherein each of the display pixels corresponds to the interlaced first signal line and second signal line; forming a first dummy line on a first side of the display area and on the substrate, wherein the first dummy line is interlaced with the second signal lines; and forming an opening on a section of the first dummy line between every two adjacent second signal lines among the second signal lines.

A detailed description is given in the following embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The invention can be more fully understood by reading the subsequent detailed description and examples with references made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a conventional display panel with dummy pixels;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing an exemplary embodiment of a display panel;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing another exemplary embodiment of a display panel;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing another exemplary embodiment of a display panel;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing another exemplary embodiment of a display panel; and

FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing an exemplary embodiment of a system for displaying images.

The following description is of the best-contemplated mode of carrying out the invention. This description is made for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention and should not be taken in a limiting sense. The scope of the invention is best determined by reference to the appended claims.

Display panels are provided. In an exemplary embodiment of a display panel in FIG. 2 , a display panel 2 comprises a plurality of data lines D 1 -Dn, a plurality of scan line S 1 -Sm, a display area 20 , and at least one dummy line, which are disposed on a substrate (not shown in FIG. 2 ). Referring to FIG. 2 , the data lines D 1 -Dn are interlaced with the scan lines S 1 -Sm. The display area 20 comprises a plurality of display pixels. One pixel corresponds to the interlaced data line and scan line. For example, a display pixel 200 corresponds to the interlaced data line D 1 and scan line S 1 . The scan lines S 1 -Sm are arranged for providing scan signals to the display area 20 to turn on switching elements (not shown in FIG. 2 ) within the display pixels. When the switching elements are turned on, the data line D 1 -Dn provides image signals to the display pixels.

In the embodiment, two dummy lines DL and DR, which are respectively disposed at two opposite sides of the display area 20 , are given as an example. The dummy line DL is interlaced with the scan lines S 1 -Sm, and each of the interlaced dummy line DL and scan line correspond to one dummy pixel. For example, the interlaced dummy line DL and scan line S 2 correspond to a dummy pixel DP 2 , and the interlaced dummy line DL and scan line S 4 correspond to a dummy pixel DP 4 . Similarly, the dummy line DR is interlaced with the scan lines S 1 -Sm, and the interlaced dummy line DR and scan line correspond to one dummy pixel.

Since the dummy line DL is interlaced with the scan lines S 1 -Sm, the dummy line DL is divided into a plurality of sections by the scan lines S 1 -Sm. Each section of the dummy line DL between every two adjacent scan lines has at least one opening. In the embodiment of FIG. 2 , one opening is given as an example for each section of the dummy line DL between every two adjacent scan lines. For example, a section SE 1 of the dummy line DL between the two adjacent scan lines S 1 and S 2 has an opening OR 1 . According to circuitry design, each section of the dummy line DL can have more than one opening.

Referring to FIG. 2 , each section of the dummy line DL between every two adjacent scan lines has an opening. If two dummy pixels on the dummy line DL are damaged by electrostatic discharge simultaneously, the scan lines corresponding to the two damaged dummy pixels are not conducted through the dummy line DL due to the existence of the openings. For example, when the dummy pixels DP 2 and DP 4 are damaged by electrostatic discharge simultaneously, the scan lines S 2 and S 4 are not conducted through the dummy line DL because the section between the scan lines S 2 and S 3 has the opening OR 2 and the section between the scan lines S 3 and S 4 has the opening OR 3 .

Similarly, since the dummy line DR is interlaced with the scan lines S 1 -Sm, the dummy line DR is divided into a plurality of sections by the scan lines S 1 -Sm. Each section of the dummy line DR between two adjacent scan lines has at least one opening. In the embodiment, one opening is given as an example.

Accordingly, the embodiment of FIG. 2 provides a plurality of dummy pixels to sustain electrostatic discharge. Moreover, when at least two dummy pixels on the same dummy line are damaged by electrostatic discharge, the display area can display correct images, without being effected by the damaged dummy pixels.

In some embodiments, each of two opposite sides of the display area 20 has a plurality of dummy lines, as shown in FIG. 3 . Referring to FIG. 3 , dummy lines DL 1 -DL 3 are disposed in a first side of the display area 20 and interlaced with the scan lines S 1 -Sm, while dummy lines DR 1 -DR 3 are disposed on a second side of the display area 20 and interlaced with the scan lines S 1 -Sm, wherein the first side and second side of the display area 20 are opposite. Since each of the dummy lines DL 1 -DL 3 and DR 1 -DR 3 is interlaced with the scan lines S 1 -Sm, each dummy line is divided into a plurality of sections. Each section of the dummy lines DL 1 -DL 3 and DR 1 -DR 3 between every two adjacent scan lines has at least one opening. In the embodiment of FIG. 3 , one opening is given as an example for each section of the dummy lines DL 1 -DL 3 and DR 1 -DR 3 between every two adjacent scan lines.

FIG. 4 shows another exemplary embodiment of a display panel. Referring to FIG. 4 , except for the disposition of dummy lines, the display panel 4 of FIG. 4 is similar to the display panel 2 of FIG. 2 . The display panel 4 comprises at least one dummy line disposed in one side of the display area 20 and interlaced with the data line D 1 -Dn. In the embodiment, six dummy lines DU 1 -DU 3 and DD 1 -DD 3 are given as an example. The dummy lines DU 1 -DU 3 are disposed on a first side of the display area 20 and interlaced with the data lines D 1 -Dn, while the dummy lines DD 1 -DD 3 are disposed on a second side of the display area 20 and interlaced with the data lines D 1 -Dn, wherein the first side and second side of the display area 20 are opposite. The interlaced dummy and data line correspond to one dummy pixel. Each dummy line is divided into a plurality of sections by the interlaced data line D 1 -Dn, and each section of the dummy lines DU 1 -DU 3 and DD 1 -DD 3 between every two adjacent data lines has at least one opening. In the embodiment of FIG. 4 , one opening is given as an example for each section of the dummy lines between every two adjacent data lines.

In the embodiment of FIG. 4 , each section of the dummy lines DU 1 -DU 3 and DD 1 -DD 3 between every two adjacent data lines has an opening. When at least two dummy pixels on the same dummy line are damaged by electrostatic discharge, the display area can display correct images, without being effected by the damaged dummy pixels.

In some embodiments, there are dummy lines disposed around a display area, as shown in FIG. 5 . A display panel 5 comprises dummy lines DL 1 -DL 3 , DR 1 -DR 3 , DU 1 -DU 3 , and DD 1 -DD 3 . The dummy lines DL 1 -DL 3 are disposed in a first side of the display 20 and interlaced with the scan lines S 1 -Sm, while the dummy lines DR 1 -DR 3 are disposed in a second side opposite to the first side of the display 20 and interlaced with the scan lines S 1 -Sm. The interlaced dummy line and scan line correspond to one dummy pixel. For the dummy lines DL 1 -DL 3 and DR 1 -DR 3 , each dummy line is divided into a plurality of sections by the interlaced scan lines S 1 -Sm, and each section of the dummy lines DL 1 -DL 3 and DR 1 -DR 3 between every two adjacent scan lines has at least one opening. In the embodiment of FIG. 5 , one opening is given as an example for each section of the dummy lines between every two adjacent scan lines.

The dummy lines DU 1 -DU 3 are disposed in a third side of the display 20 and interlaced with the data lines D 1 -Dn, while the dummy lines DD 1 -DD 3 are disposed in a fourth side opposite to the third side of the display 20 and interlaced with the data lines D 1 -Dn. The interlaced dummy line and data line correspond to one dummy pixel. For the dummy lines DU 1 -DU 3 and DD 1 -DD 3 , each dummy line is divided into a plurality of sections by the interlaced data lines D 1 -Dn, and each section of the dummy lines DU 1 -DU 3 and DD 1 -DD 3 between every two adjacent data lines has at least one opening. In the embodiment of FIG. 5 , one opening is given as an example for each section of the dummy lines between every two adjacent data lines.

Moreover, referring to FIG. 5 , the dummy lines DL 1 -DL 3 and DR 1 -DR 3 are interlaced with the dummy lines DU 1 -DU 3 and DD 1 -DD 3 . For each of the dummy lines DL 1 -DL 3 , the section between the dummy line DU 1 and the scan line S 1 which is closest to the third side of the display area 20 has an opening. For each of the dummy lines DL 1 -DL 3 , the section between the dummy lines DU 1 and DU 2 has an opening, and the section between the dummy lines DU 2 and DU 3 has an opening. Similarly, for each of the dummy lines DL 1 -DL 3 , the section between the dummy line DD 1 and the scan line Sm which is closest to the fourth side of the display area 20 has an opening, the section between the dummy lines DD 1 and DD 2 has an opening, and the section between the dummy lines DD 2 and DD 3 has an opening.

According to the same rule described above, for each of the dummy lines DR 1 -DR 3 , each of the sections between the dummy line DU 1 and the scan line S 1 , between the dummy lines DU 1 and DU 2 , between the dummy lines DU 2 and DU 3 , between the dummy line DD 1 and the scan line Sm, between the dummy lines DD 1 and DD 2 , and between the dummy lines DD 2 and DD 3 has an opening.

For each of the dummy lines DU 1 -DU 3 , each of the sections between the dummy line DL 1 and the data line D 1 , between the dummy lines DL 1 and DL 2 , between the dummy lines DL 2 and DL 3 , between the dummy line DR 1 and the data line Dn, between the dummy lines DR 1 and DR 2 , and between the dummy lines DR 2 and DR 3 has an opening.

For each of the dummy lines DD 1 -DD 3 , each of the sections between the dummy line DL 1 and the data line D 1 , between the dummy lines DL 1 and DL 2 , between the dummy lines DL 2 and DL 3 , between the dummy line DR 1 and the data line Dn, between the dummy lines DR 1 and DR 2 , and between the dummy lines DR 2 and DR 3 has an opening.

Accordingly, the embodiment of FIG. 5 provides a plurality of dummy pixels to sustain electrostatic discharge. Moreover, when at least two dummy pixels on the same dummy line are damaged by electrostatic discharge, the display area can display correct images, without being effected by the damaged dummy pixels.

FIG. 6 shows an exemplary embodiment of a system for displaying images. The system for displaying images is implemented by an electronic device 6 . As shown in FIG. 5 , the electronic device 6 comprises any one of the display panels of FIGS. 2-5 and an input unit 60 . In the embodiment of FIG. 6 , the display panel 2 is given as an example for description. The input unit is coupled to the display panel 2 and receives image data for displaying in the display panel 2 . For example, the electronic device 6 can be a digital camera, a portable DVD displayer, a television, an automotive displayer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a display monitor, a notebook computer, a tablet computer, or a cellular phone.

While the invention has been described by way of example and in terms of the preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. To the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements (as would be apparent to those skilled in the art). Therefore, the scope of the appended claims should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements.