公开(公告)号：US09317151B2

公开(公告)日：2016-04-19

申请号：US13747872

申请日：2013-01-23

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Abbas Jamshidi-Roudbari ,  Cheng-Ho Yu ,  Shih Chang Chang ,  Ting-Kuo Chang

IPC: G06F3/041 ,  G06F3/044

CPC classification number: G06F3/0412 ,  G06F3/0416 ,  G06F3/044

Abstract: Gate driver circuitry that controls an array of display elements is described. The gate driver circuitry has gate drivers that apply a control pulse to each of a number of gate lines in sequence, from a previous gate line to a current gate line, during a frame interval in which the array of display elements is filled with pixel values. Each gate driver has a latch stage followed by an output stage. The output stage is coupled to drive a current gate line, and the latch stage is coupled to drive a) a first hold circuit that holds the current gate line at a predetermined voltage, and b) a second hold circuit that holds a previous gate line at a predetermined voltage. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract translation: 描述了控制显示元件阵列的栅极驱动器电路。 栅极驱动器电路具有栅极驱动器，该栅极驱动器在其中显示元件阵列被填充有像素值的帧间隔期间，将序列中的每一条栅极线上的控制脉冲从先前的栅极线施加到当前栅极线 。 每个门驱动器都有一个锁存级，后跟一个输出级。 输出级耦合以驱动电流栅极线，并且锁存级耦合以驱动a）将电流栅极线保持在预定电压的第一保持电路，以及b）保持先前栅极线的第二保持电路 在预定电压下。 还描述和要求保护其他实施例。

公开(公告)号：US20160103349A1

公开(公告)日：2016-04-14

申请号：US14512677

申请日：2014-10-13

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Kwang Soon Park ,  Byung Duk Yang ,  Christopher L. Boitnott ,  Chun-Yao Huang ,  Kuan-Ying Lin ,  Kyung-Wook Kim ,  Mohd Fadzli A. Hassan ,  Shih Chang Chang ,  Supriya Goyal ,  Yong Kwan Kim ,  Yu-Cheng Chen

IPC: G02F1/1368 ,  G02F1/1335

CPC classification number: G02F1/133512 ,  G02F1/1309 ,  G02F1/13452 ,  G02F1/13458

Abstract: A display may have a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between a thin-film transistor layer and a color filter layer. An upper polarizer may be placed on top of the thin-film transistor layer. A lower polarizer may be placed under the color filter layer. Components may be bonded to bond pads on the inner surface of the thin-film transistor layer using anisotropic conductive film. Bond quality may be assessed by probing probe pads that are coupled to the bond pads or by visually inspecting the bond pads through the thin-film transistor layer. Opaque masking material in the inactive area may be provided with openings to accommodate the bond pads. Additional opaque masking material may be placed on the underside of the upper polarizer and on the upper surface of the thin-film transistor layer to block the openings from view following visual inspection.

Abstract translation: 显示器可以具有夹在薄膜晶体管层和滤色器层之间的液晶层。 上偏振器可以放置在薄膜晶体管层的顶部。 下偏振器可以放置在滤色器层下方。 可以使用各向异性导电膜将部件结合到薄膜晶体管层的内表面上的接合焊盘。 可以通过探测耦合到接合焊盘的探针焊盘或通过目视检查通过薄膜晶体管层的焊盘来评估焊盘质量。 在不活动区域中的不透明掩模材料可以设置有开口以容纳接合焊盘。 附加的不透明掩模材料可以放置在上偏振器的下侧和薄膜晶体管层的上表面上，以在视觉检查之后阻挡开口。

公开(公告)号：US09293102B1

公开(公告)日：2016-03-22

申请号：US14504215

申请日：2014-10-01

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Hao-Lin Chiu ,  Byung Duk Yang ,  Chun-Yao Huang ,  Kyung Wook Kim ,  Shih Chang Chang ,  Szu-Hsien Lee

IPC: G09G3/36 ,  H01L27/12 ,  H01L23/522 ,  H01L23/528 ,  G02F1/1368 ,  G02F1/1362

CPC classification number: G09G3/3648 ,  G02F1/13338 ,  G02F1/134309 ,  G02F1/1345 ,  G02F1/136286 ,  G02F1/1368 ,  G02F2001/13456 ,  G06F3/0412 ,  G06F3/0416 ,  G06F3/044 ,  G06F2203/04103 ,  G06F2203/04104 ,  G06F2203/04112 ,  G09F9/30 ,  G09G3/3666 ,  G09G3/3677 ,  G09G3/3688 ,  G09G2300/0413 ,  G09G2300/0426 ,  G09G2310/0281 ,  H01L23/5226 ,  H01L23/528 ,  H01L27/124 ,  H01L2924/0002 ,  H01L2924/00

Abstract: A display may have an array of pixels arranged in rows and columns. Each pixel may have a transistor for controlling the amount of output light associated with that pixel. The transistors may be thin-film transistors having active areas, first and second source-drain terminals, and gates. Gate lines may be used to distribute gate control signals to the gates of the transistors in each row. Data lines that run perpendicular to the gate lines may be used to distribute image data along columns of pixels. The gate lines may be connected to gate line extensions that run parallel to the data lines. The data lines may each overlap a respective one of the gate line extensions. Vias may be used to connect the gate line extensions to the gate lines. The gate line extensions may all have the same length.

Abstract translation: 显示器可以具有排列成行和列的像素阵列。 每个像素可以具有用于控制与该像素相关联的输出光量的晶体管。 晶体管可以是具有有源区的薄膜晶体管，第一和第二源极 - 漏极端子和栅极。 栅极线可用于将栅极控制信号分配到每行中的晶体管的栅极。 垂直于栅极线延伸的数据线可用于沿像素列分布图像数据。 栅极线可以连接到平行于数据线延伸的栅极线扩展。 数据线可以各自重叠相应的一个栅极线延伸。 通孔可用于将栅极线延伸部分连接到栅极线。 门线扩展可能都具有相同的长度。

公开(公告)号：US20160079281A1

公开(公告)日：2016-03-17

申请号：US14954805

申请日：2015-11-30

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Young Bae Park ,  Shih Chang Chang ,  Vasudha Gupta

IPC: H01L27/12

CPC classification number: H01L27/124 ,  H01L27/1218 ,  H01L27/1259 ,  H01L27/3276 ,  H01L51/0097 ,  H01L2251/5338 ,  Y02E10/549

Abstract: An electronic device may have a flexible display with portions that are bent along a bend axis. The display may have display circuitry such as an array of display pixels in an active area. Contact pads may be formed in an inactive area of the display. Signal lines may couple the display pixels to the contact pads. The signal lines may overlap the bend axis in the inactive area of the display. During fabrication, an etch stop may be formed on the display that overlaps the bend axis. The etch stop may prevent over etching of dielectric such as a buffer layer on a polymer flexible display substrate. A layer of polymer that serves as a neutral stress plane adjustment layer may be formed over the signal lines in the inactive area of the display. Upon bending, the neutral stress plane adjustment layer helps prevent stress in the signal lines.

Abstract translation: 电子设备可以具有柔性显示器，其具有沿着弯曲轴线弯曲的部分。 显示器可以具有诸如有源区域中的显示像素阵列的显示电路。 接触焊盘可以形成在显示器的无效区域中。 信号线可将显示像素耦合到接触垫。 信号线可能与显示器的非活动区域中的弯曲轴重叠。 在制造期间，可以在显示器上形成与弯曲轴线重叠的蚀刻停止。 蚀刻停止可以防止在聚合物柔性显示基板上的诸如缓冲层之类的电介质的过度蚀刻。 用作中性应力平面调整层的聚合物层可以形成在显示器的无效区域中的信号线上。 弯曲时，中性应力平面调整层有助于防止信号线中的应力。

公开(公告)号：US09111757B2

公开(公告)日：2015-08-18

申请号：US13870567

申请日：2013-04-25

Applicant: APPLE INC.

Inventor： Yu Cheng Chen ,  Hiroshi Osawa ,  Shih Chang Chang

IPC: H01L29/04 ,  H01L21/336 ,  H01L21/02 ,  H01L27/32

CPC classification number: H01L29/04 ,  H01L21/02532 ,  H01L21/02675 ,  H01L21/02691 ,  H01L27/1285 ,  H01L27/3244

Abstract: Systems including and methods for forming a backplane for an electronic display are presented. The backplane includes interlaced crystallized regions, and the interlaced crystallized regions include at least a left column of crystallized regions and a right column of crystallized regions. The left and right columns include rows of crystallized regions with gaps disposed between each of the rows. Furthermore, each crystallized region in the left column extends into a corresponding gap in the right column, and each crystallized region in the right column extends into a corresponding gap in the left column.

Abstract translation: 提出了用于形成电子显示器背板的系统和方法。 背板包括隔行结晶区域，并且交错结晶区域至少包括左列结晶区域和右列结晶区域。 左列和右列包括具有布置在每行之间的间隙的结晶区域行。 此外，左列中的每个结晶区域延伸到右列中的对应间隙中，并且右列中的每个结晶区域延伸到左列中的对应间隙中。

公开(公告)号：US09086774B2

公开(公告)日：2015-07-21

申请号：US14312489

申请日：2014-06-23

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Steven Porter Hotelling ,  Marduke Yousefpor ,  Shih Chang Chang

IPC: G06F3/045 ,  G06F3/044 ,  G06F3/041 ,  G09G3/36

CPC classification number: G06F3/044 ,  G06F3/0412 ,  G06F2203/04107 ,  G09G3/3648 ,  G09G3/3696 ,  G09G2310/0297

Abstract: A display having data lines that can be configured between a display mode and a touch mode is disclosed. The display can have sense regions for sensing a touch or near touch on the display during the touch mode. These same regions can display graphics or data on the display during the display mode. During display mode, the data lines in the sense regions can be configured to couple to display circuitry in order to receive data signals from the circuitry for displaying. During touch mode, the data lines in the sense regions can be configured to couple to corresponding sense lines in the regions, which in turn can couple to touch circuitry, in order to transmit touch signals to the circuitry for sensing a touch or near touch. Alternatively, during touch mode, the data lines in the sense regions can be configured to couple to ground in order to transmit residual data signals to ground for discarding.

Abstract translation: 公开了一种具有能够在显示模式和触摸模式之间配置的数据线的显示器。 显示器可以具有用于在触摸模式期间感测显示器上的触摸或接近触摸的感测区域。 这些相同的区域可以在显示模式期间在显示器上显示图形或数据。 在显示模式期间，感测区域中的数据线可被配置为耦合到显示电路，以便从用于显示的电路接收数据信号。 在触摸模式期间，感测区域中的数据线可以被配置为耦合到区域中的对应感测线，该区域又可以耦合到触摸电路，以便将触摸信号发送到用于感测触摸或接近触摸的电路。 或者，在触摸模式期间，感测区域中的数据线可以被配置为耦合到地，以便将剩余数据信号发送到地面以进行丢弃。

公开(公告)号：US20150015559A1

公开(公告)日：2015-01-15

申请号：US13937825

申请日：2013-07-09

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Abbas Jamshidi-Roudbari ,  Cheng-Ho Yu ,  Hopil Bae ,  Shih Chang Chang ,  Ting-Kuo Chang

IPC: G09G3/36

CPC classification number: G09G3/3696 ,  G09G3/3688 ,  G09G2310/0245 ,  G09G2310/0297 ,  G09G2320/0204 ,  G09G2320/0266 ,  G09G2330/027

Abstract: Methods and devices employing charge removal circuitry are provided to reduce or eliminate artifacts due to a bias voltage remaining on an electronic display after the display is turned off. In one example, a method may include connecting a pixel electrode of a display to ground through charge removal circuitry while the display is off (e.g., using depletion-mode transistors that are active when gates of the depletion-mode transistors are provided a ground voltage). When a corresponding common electrode is also connected to ground, a voltage difference between the pixel electrode and common electrode may be reduced or eliminated, preventing a bias voltage from causing display artifacts in the pixel.

Abstract translation: 提供了使用电荷去除电路的方法和装置，以减少或消除由于在显示器关闭之后电子显示器上剩余的偏置电压引起的伪影。 在一个示例中，方法可以包括通过电荷去除电路将显示器的像素电极连接到显示器关闭时（例如，使用在耗尽型晶体管的栅极被提供接地电压时有效的耗尽型晶体管） ）。 当相应的公共电极也接地时，可以减小或消除像素电极和公共电极之间的电压差，从而防止偏压在像素中引起显示伪影。

公开(公告)号：US08866787B2

公开(公告)日：2014-10-21

申请号：US14268911

申请日：2014-05-02

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Shih Chang Chang ,  John Z. Zhong

IPC: G06F3/041 ,  G09G3/36 ,  G06F3/044

CPC classification number: G06F3/044 ,  G02F1/13338 ,  G02F1/134363 ,  G02F2001/13312 ,  G06F3/0412 ,  G06F3/0416

Abstract: This relates to displays for which the use of dual function capacitive elements does not result in any decreases of the aperture of the display. Thus, touch sensitive displays that have aperture ratios that are no worse than similar non-touch sensing displays can be manufactured. More specifically, this relates to placing touch sensing opaque elements so as to ensure that they are substantially overlapped by display related opaque elements, thus ensuring that the addition of the touch sensing elements does not substantially reduce the aperture ratio. The touch sensing display elements can be, for example, common lines that connect various capacitive elements that are configured to operate collectively as an element of the touch sensing system.

Abstract translation: 这涉及使用双功能电容元件的显示器不会导致显示器的孔径的任何减小。 因此，可以制造具有不比类似的非触摸感测显示器更差的孔径比的触敏显示器。 更具体地，这涉及放置触摸感测不透明元件以确保它们基本上与显示器相关的不透明元件重叠，从而确保添加触摸感测元件基本上不会降低开口率。 触摸感测显示元件可以是例如连接各种电容元件的公共线，其被配置为集体地作为触摸感测系统的元件进行操作。

公开(公告)号：US08823003B2

公开(公告)日：2014-09-02

申请号：US13629537

申请日：2012-09-27

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Ming-Chin Hung ,  Kyung Wook Kim ,  Young Bae Park ,  Hao-Lin Chiu ,  Chun-Yao Huang ,  Shih Chang Chang

IPC: H01L29/10 ,  H01L29/786

CPC classification number: H01L29/66742 ,  H01L27/1225 ,  H01L29/42364 ,  H01L29/42384 ,  H01L29/786 ,  H01L29/7869

Abstract: A method is provided for fabricating a thin-film transistor (TFT). The method includes forming a semiconductor layer over a gate insulator that covers a gate electrode, and depositing an insulator layer over the semiconductor layer, as well as etching the insulator layer to form a patterned etch-stop without losing the gate insulator. The method also includes forming a source electrode and a drain electrode over the semiconductor layer and the patterned etch-stop. The method further includes removing a portion of the semiconductor layer beyond the source electrode and the drain electrode such that a remaining portion of the semiconductor layer covers the gate insulator in a first overlapping area of the source electrode and the gate electrode and a second overlapping area of the drain electrode and gate electrode.

Abstract translation: 提供了制造薄膜晶体管（TFT）的方法。 该方法包括在覆盖栅电极的栅极绝缘体上形成半导体层，以及在半导体层上沉积绝缘体层，以及蚀刻绝缘体层以形成图案化蚀刻停止件，而不会失去栅极绝缘体。 该方法还包括在半导体层和图案化蚀刻停止物上形成源电极和漏电极。 该方法还包括：除了源电极和漏电极之外的半导体层的一部分，使得半导体层的剩余部分在源电极和栅电极的第一重叠区域和第二重叠区域中覆盖栅极绝缘体 的漏电极和栅电极。

公开(公告)号：US20140240985A1

公开(公告)日：2014-08-28

申请号：US13778932

申请日：2013-02-27

Applicant: APPLE INC.

Inventor： Kyung Wook Kim ,  Young Bae Park ,  Shih Chang Chang ,  Byung Duk Yang

IPC: H01L27/32 ,  H05K1/02 ,  H01L51/56

CPC classification number: H05K1/028 ,  G06F1/1652 ,  H01L27/3244 ,  H01L51/0097 ,  H01L2251/5338 ,  H05K1/0278 ,  Y02E10/549

Abstract: An electronic device may have a flexible display. The display may have portions that are bent along a bend axis. The display may have display circuitry such as an array of display pixels in an active area and signal lines, thin-film transistor support circuitry and other display circuitry in an inactive area of the display surrounding the active area. The display circuitry may be formed on a substrate such as a flexible polymer substrate. The flexible polymer substrate may be formed by depositing polymer on a support structure that has raised portions.The raised portions may create locally thinned regions in the flexible polymer substrate. The reduced thickness of the flexible polymer substrate in the thinned regions may help ensure that a neutral stress plane that is associated with bending the display along the bend axis is aligned with the display circuitry, thereby minimizing stress in the display circuitry.

Abstract translation: 电子设备可以具有灵活的显示器。 显示器可以具有沿着弯曲轴线弯曲的部分。 显示器可以具有诸如有源区域中的显示像素阵列和信号线，薄膜晶体管支持电路和围绕有源区域的显示器的非活动区域中的其他显示电路的显示电路。 显示电路可以形成在诸如柔性聚合物基底的基底上。 柔性聚合物基材可以通过将聚合物沉积在具有凸起部分的支撑结构上而形成。 凸起部分可以在柔性聚合物基底中产生局部变薄的区域。 柔性聚合物基材在减薄区域中的减小的厚度可以有助于确保与显示器沿着弯曲轴弯曲相关联的中性应力平面与显示电路对准，从而使显示电路中的应力最小化。