Two-layered conductive film having transmitting and expanding electrical signal functions Number:7,151,578 from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) owispatent A wiring structure includes: a plurality of linear conductors extending generally parallel to one another; a first input terminal for inputting an electrical signal to a first group of linear conductors selected from among the plurality of linear conductors; and a second input terminal for inputting an electrical signal to a second group of linear conductors, different conductors, selected from among the plurality of linear conductors, the second input terminal being adjacent to the first input terminal. A plurality of the linear conductors are present between the first group of linear conductors and the second group of linear conductors.<H transmitting, electrical, Two, layered, con, 7151578.html, Patent, pto, 7151578

Title: Two-layered conductive film having transmitting and expanding electrical signal functions

Abstract: A wiring structure includes: a plurality of linear conductors extending generally parallel to one another; a first input terminal for inputting an electrical signal to a first group of linear conductors selected from among the plurality of linear conductors; and a second input terminal for inputting an electrical signal to a second group of linear conductors, different conductors, selected from among the plurality of linear conductors, the second input terminal being adjacent to the first input terminal. A plurality of the linear conductors are present between the first group of linear conductors and the second group of linear conductors.

Patent Number: 7,151,578 Issued on 12/19/2006 to Uchida

Inventors: Uchida; Hideki (Nara, JP)
Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Osaka, JP)

Appl. No.: 10/488,749

Filed: July 4, 2003

PCT Filed: July 04, 2003

PCT No.: PCT/JP03/08566

371(c)(1),(2),(4) Date: March 09, 2004

PCT Pub. No.: WO20/04/008423

PCT Pub. Date: January 22, 2004

Foreign Application Priority Data


Jul 12, 2002 [JP]			2002-203979
Jul 12, 2002 [JP]			2002-204155

Current U.S. Class: 349/49 ; 349/147; 349/41; 349/45; 349/48; 349/50; 349/51; 349/52; 349/53

Current International Class: G02F 1/135 (20060101)

Field of Search: 349/49-53

References Cited [Referenced By]

U.S. Patent Documents


2818531	December 1957	Peek, Jr.
3235938	February 1966	Greene
4255474	March 1981	Smith, Jr.
4695856	September 1987	Warabisako et al.
5715026	February 1998	Shannon

Foreign Patent Documents


224243	Jun., 1987	EP
62-131225	Jun., 1987	JP
63-017430	Jan., 1988	JP
2002-139743	May., 2002	JP

Other References

"Handbook of Optical/Electronic Functional Organic Material", edited by Kazuyuki Horie, published Oct. 15, 1997 (second edition) by Kabushiki Kaisha Asakurashoten, pp. 91-93 and partial English translation. cited by other .
Supplementary European Search Report dated Nov. 10, 2005. cited by other.

Primary Examiner: Schechter; Andrew
Assistant Examiner: Chien; Lucy
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Nixon & Vanderhye P.C.

Claims

The invention claimed is:

1. An active device substrate, comprising: active devices formed on a substrate; a conductive film formed over the active devices, wherein the conductive film is electrically connected to the active devices and transmits an electrical signal output from each active device within a finite range, wherein the conductive film is continuous so as to be provided over a plurality of the active devices; wherein the conductive film has a two-layer structure, including an upper layer and a lower layer; and wherein the lower layer has a function of transmitting an electrical signal from each active device to the upper layer, and the upper layer has a function of expanding the electrical signal.

2. An active device substrate, comprising: active devices formed on a substrate; and a conductive film formed over the active devices, wherein the conductive film is electrically connected to the active devices, and wherein the conductive film is continuous so as to be provided over a plurality of the active devices, wherein the conductive film has a function of transmitting an electrical signal output from each active device across a predetermined area, and a proportion of an area across which the electrical signal is transmitted with respect to a total area of an upper surface of the conductive film varies depending on an arrangement of the active devices.

3. The active device substrate of claim 1, wherein the conductive film comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of a metal nanoparticle, a metal microparticle, a metal-coated nanoparticle, a conductive polymer, a carbon nanotube and a deoxyribonucleic acid.

4. The active device substrate of claim 1, wherein: the active devices are three-terminal devices connected to upper electrode lines and lower electrode lines; and the upper electrode lines and the lower electrode lines each include: a plurality of linear conductors extending generally parallel to one another; a first input terminal for inputting an electrical signal to a first group of linear conductors selected from among the plurality of linear conductors; and a second input terminal for inputting an electrical signal to a second group of linear conductors, different from the first group of linear conductors, selected from among the plurality of linear conductors, the second input terminal being adjacent to the first input terminal, wherein a plurality of the linear conductors are present between the first group of linear conductors and the second group of linear conductors, and wherein the upper electrode lines and the lower electrode lines are arranged so that the plurality of linear conductors of the upper electrode lines cross the plurality of linear conductors of the lower electrode lines.

5. The active device substrate of claim 4, wherein the active devices are arranged randomly on the substrate.

6. The active device substrate of claim 1, wherein the active devices are each a system active device having a switching function and at least one other function.

7. The active device substrate of claim 4, wherein: the active devices each include an elliptical upper electrode terminal connected to the upper electrode lines, an elliptical lower electrode terminal connected to the lower electrode lines, and a main body connected to the upper electrode terminal and the lower electrode terminal; and d1>d2, d3>d4, d3>>P1 and d4<P2, where P1 is a pitch of linear conductors of the upper electrode lines, P2 is a pitch of linear conductors of the lower electrode lines, d1 is a length of a long side of the upper electrode terminal, d2 is a length of a short side thereof, d3 is a length of a long side of the lower electrode terminal, and d4 is a length of a short side thereof.

8. A method for manufacturing the active device substrate of claim 4, wherein the active devices each include an elliptical upper electrode terminal connected to the upper electrode lines, an elliptical lower electrode terminal connected to the lower electrode lines, and a main body connected to the upper electrode terminal and the lower electrode terminal, the method comprising the steps of: forming the lower electrode lines; forming the lower electrode terminal on the lower electrode lines; forming the upper electrode lines after forming the lower electrode terminal; and forming the upper electrode terminal on the upper electrode lines.

9. An active functional device, comprising: the active device substrate of claim 1; a counter electrode opposing the active device substrate; and a functional layer provided between the active device substrate and the counter electrode.

10. The active functional device of claim 9, wherein the functional layer is a display function layer.

11. The active functional device of claim 10, wherein the display function layer is a light modulating layer or a light emitting layer.

12. The active functional device of claim 11, wherein the display function layer is one of a liquid crystal layer, an inorganic or organic electroluminescence layer, a light emitting gas layer, an electrophoretic layer and an electrochromic layer.

13. A multi-color display apparatus, comprising at least two active functional devices of claim 9 stacked on one another, wherein the at least two active functional devices display hues that are different from one another.

14. The multi-color display apparatus of claim 13, wherein input terminals for inputting electrical signals respectively to the at least two active functional devices are shifted from one another as viewed from above.

15. A display module, comprising: the active functional device of claim 9; a control section for driving and controlling the active functional device; and an input terminal connecting the active functional device and the control section with each other, wherein the control section and the input terminal are formed along one edge of the active functional device.

16. A display module, comprising: the active functional device of claim 9; a control section for driving and controlling the active functional device; and an input terminal connecting the active functional device and the control section with each other, wherein the control section and the input terminal are formed under the active functional device.

17. The active functional device of claim 9, which is formed by a plurality of printing systems integrated into a single unit.

18. The display module of claim 15, which is formed by a plurality of printing systems integrated into a single unit.

19. An active functional device, comprising: the active device substrate of claim 2; a counter electrode opposing the active device substrate; and a functional layer provided between the active device substrate and the counter electrode.

20. A multi-color display apparatus, comprising at least two active functional devices of claim 19 stacked on one another, wherein the at least two active functional devices display hues that are different from one another.

21. A display module, comprising: the active functional device of claim 19; a control section for driving and controlling the active functional device; and an input terminal connecting the active functional device and the control section with each other, wherein the control section and the input terminal are formed along one edge of the active functional device.

Description

This application is the US national phase of international application PCT/JP03/08566 filed 4 Jul. 2003 which designated the U.S. and claims benefit of JP's 2002-203979 and 2002-204155, dated 12 Jul. 2002, respectively, the entire content of each of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a wiring structure used for electrode lines, and the like, and to an active device substrate such as an active matrix substrate.

BACKGROUND ART

A display apparatus such as a liquid crystal display apparatus displays an image typically by controlling a display medium such as a liquid crystal material by using a substrate on which a plurality of electrode lines are provided in a stripe pattern or a matrix pattern. Examples of liquid crystal display apparatuses include those of a passive matrix type and those of an active matrix type.

In a passive matrix liquid crystal display apparatus, each pixel is defined by one of column electrodes arranged in a stripe pattern on one substrate and one of row electrodes arranged in a stripe pattern on the other substrate so as to extend perpendicular to the column electrodes, and the optical transmittance of the liquid crystal layer is modulated for each pixel, thereby displaying an image.

Electrode lines including the column electrodes and the row electrodes are produced through the following steps, for example. A transparent conductive film such as an ITO film is deposited on a substrate by a sputtering method, or the like. A photoresist is applied on the transparent conductive film and is prebaked. The photoresist is exposed to UV light via a mask having a stripe pattern. The photoresist is developed, and unnecessary portions thereof are removed. The exposed transparent conductive film is etched, and the remaining photoresist is peeled off.

Next, an active matrix liquid crystal display apparatus using an active matrix substrate will be described. FIG. 39 is a plan view schematically illustrating a conventional active matrix substrate. The active matrix substrate includes a plurality of pixel electrodes arranged in a matrix pattern, and a plurality of active devices associated respectively with the plurality of pixel electrodes for performing a switching control. In a liquid crystal display apparatus using an active matrix substrate, the optical transmittance of the liquid crystal layer between the pixel electrodes of the active matrix substrate and the opposing counter substrate is modulated for each pixel, thereby displaying an image.

The pixel electrodes are formed by patterning, through a photolithography process, an ITO (indium tin oxide) film or a metal film deposited across the entire surface of the substrate. Therefore, some of the metal material, etc., is wasted. In recent years, there is a strong demand for conserving energy and resources in a display device manufacturing process from an environmental point of view. By eliminating patterning processes as much as possible, it is possible to shorten the process for manufacturing a display device, reduce the number of pieces of manufacturing equipment and reduce the floor area required for installing the manufacturing equipment, thereby reducing the cost for the manufacturing process, and to reduce the amount of contaminant or hazardous substance used or produced in the patterning process, thereby achieving a cleaner process.

On the other hand, there are various image resolutions in terms of definition such as VGA (video graphics array) and XGA (extended video graphics array), and the pixel pitch varies for different resolutions. With the conventional process, it is necessary to provide a suitable photolithography mask and an optimal resist material according to the pixel pitch.

Moreover, some display apparatuses use a pixel division method for realizing a gray scale display. In the pixel division method, each electrode is patterned, or divided into portions, according to the gray scale. For example, when each electrode is patterned into two portions with an area ratio of 1:2, only a gray scale of 1:2:3 is realized, and when it is patterned into three portions with an area ratio of 1:2:4, only a gray scale of 1:2:3:4:5:6:7 can be realized. Thus, the pixel division gray scale display is limited by the initial division of each electrode and the area ratio among the portions thereof.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a wiring structure capable of accommodating various resolutions and various gray scales. Another object of the present invention is to provide an active device substrate that does not require a patterning process, in other words, a "patterning-free" active device substrate. Still another object of the present invention is to provide an active device substrate capable of accommodating various resolutions and various gray scales.

A wiring structure of the present invention includes: a plurality of linear conductors extending generally parallel to one another; a first input terminal for inputting an electrical signal to a first group of linear conductors selected from among the plurality of linear conductors; and a second input terminal for inputting an electrical signal to a second group of linear conductors, different from the first group of linear conductors, selected from among the plurality of linear conductors, the second input terminal being adjacent to the first input terminal, wherein a plurality of the linear conductors are present between the first group of linear conductors and the second group of linear conductors.

The wiring structure may further include an expansion section provided between the plurality of linear conductors and the first and second input terminals for transmitting the electrical signal from the first input section or the second input section to the first group of linear conductors or the second group of linear conductors while expanding the electrical signal in a width direction.

A width of the first group of linear conductors or the second group of linear conductors may be changed according to a magnitude of the electrical signal input from the first group of linear conductors or the second group of linear conductors.

A display apparatus of the present invention includes: a pair of substrates on each of which the wiring structure of the present invention is formed; and a display medium layer provided between the pair of substrates, wherein the wiring structures formed on the pair of substrates oppose each other so that the plurality of linear conductors of one wiring structure cross the plurality of linear conductors of the other wiring structure.

An active device substrate according to a first aspect of the present invention includes: active devices formed on a substrate; and a conductive film formed over the active devices, wherein the conductive film transmits an electrical signal output from each active device within a finite range.

An active device substrate according to a second aspect of the present invention includes: active devices formed on a substrate; and a conductive film formed over the active devices, wherein the conductive film controls expansion of the electrical signal output from each active device within a predetermined period of time.

An active device substrate according to a third aspect of the present invention includes: active devices formed on a substrate; and a conductive film formed over the active devices, wherein the conductive film is not patterned.

An active device substrate according to a fourth aspect of the present invention includes: active devices formed on a substrate; and a conductive film formed over the active devices, wherein the conductive film controls a range within which an electrical signal output from each active device is transmitted according to a magnitude of the electrical signal.

An active device substrate according to a fifth aspect of the present invention includes: active devices formed on a substrate; and a conductive film formed over the active devices, wherein the conductive film defines a direction in which an electrical signal is transmitted according to an orientational order of a material of the conductive film.

An active device substrate according to a sixth aspect of the present invention includes: active devices formed on a substrate; and a conductive film formed over the active devices, wherein the conductive film has a function of transmitting an electrical signal output from each active device across a predetermined area, and a proportion of an area across which the electrical signal is transmitted with respect to a total area of an upper surface of the conductive film varies depending on an arrangement of the active devices.

The conductive film may have a two-layer structure, including an upper layer and a lower layer, the lower layer having a function of transmitting an electrical signal from each active device to the upper layer, and the upper layer having a function of expanding the electrical signal.

It is preferred that the conductive film comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of a metal nanoparticle, a metal microparticle, a metal-coated nanoparticle, a conductive polymer, a carbon nanotube and a deoxyribonucleic acid.

An active device substrate according to a seventh aspect of the present invention is one of the active device substrates according to the first to sixth aspects of the present invention, wherein: the active devices are three-terminal devices connected to upper electrode lines and lower electrode lines; and the upper electrode lines and the lower electrode lines each include: a plurality of linear conductors extending generally parallel to one another, a first input terminal for inputting an electrical signal to a first group of linear conductors selected from among the plurality of linear conductors; and a second input terminal for inputting an electrical signal to a second group of linear conductors, different from the first group of linear conductors, selected from among the plurality of linear conductors, the second input terminal being adjacent to the first input terminal, wherein a plurality of the linear conductors are present between the first group of linear conductors and the second group of linear conductors, and wherein the upper electrode lines and the lower electrode lines are arranged so that the plurality of linear conductors of the upper electrode lines cross the plurality of linear conductors of the lower electrode lines.

The active devices may be arranged randomly on the substrate. The active devices may each be a system active device having a switching function and at least one other function.

It is preferred that the active devices each include an elliptical upper electrode terminal connected to the upper electrode lines, an elliptical lower electrode terminal connected to the lower electrode lines, and a main body connected to the upper electrode terminal and the lower electrode terminal; and d1>d2, d3>d4, d3>>P1 and d4<P2, where P1 is a pitch of linear conductors of the upper electrode lines, P2 is a pitch of linear conductors of the lower electrode lines, d1 is a length of a long side of the upper electrode terminal, d2 is a length of a short side thereof, d3 is a length of a long side of the lower electrode terminal, and d4 is a length of a short side thereof.

A method for manufacturing the active device substrate according to the seventh aspect of the present invention is a method for manufacturing an active device substrate, wherein the active devices each include an elliptical upper electrode terminal connected to the upper electrode lines, an elliptical lower electrode terminal connected to the lower electrode lines, and a main body connected to the upper electrode terminal and the lower electrode terminal, the method including the steps of: forming the lower electrode lines; forming the lower electrode terminal on the lower electrode lines; forming the upper electrode lines after forming the lower electrode terminal; and forming the upper electrode terminal on the upper electrode lines.

An active functional device of the present invention includes: the active device substrate of the present invention; a counter electrode opposing the active device substrate; and a functional layer provided between the active device substrate and the counter electrode.

The functional layer may be a display function layer. The display function layer may be a light modulating layer or a light emitting layer. The display function layer may be one of a liquid crystal layer, an inorganic or organic electroluminescence layer, a light emitting gas layer, an electrophoretic layer and an electrochromic layer.

A multi-color display apparatus of the present invention includes at least two active functional devices of the present invention stacked on one another, wherein the at least two active functional devices display hues that are different from one another.

Input terminals for inputting electrical signals respectively to the at least two active functional devices may be shifted from one another as viewed from above.

A display module of the present invention includes: the active functional device of the present invention; a control section for driving and controlling the active functional device; and an input terminal connecting the active functional device and the control section with each other. The control section and the input terminal are formed along one edge of the active functional device, or under the active functional device.

The active functional device and the display module of the present invention may be formed by a plurality of printing systems integrated into a single unit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a plan view schematically illustrating a wiring structure of Embodiment 1, and FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view taken along line 1B 1B' of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating linear conductors 101 protected by a binder resin 102.

FIG. 3 is a plan view illustrating the linear conductors 101 having a bent or curved pattern.

FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B are plan views schematically illustrating the relationship between the width of each input terminal and the width of each group of linear conductors.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged plan view schematically illustrating a portion of a wiring structure of Embodiment 2 in the vicinity of input terminals.

FIG. 6A is a plan view schematically illustrating a display apparatus of Embodiment 3, and FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6B 6B' of FIG. 6A.

FIG. 7A is a plan view illustrating an active device substrate of Embodiment 4, and FIG. 7B and FIG. 7C are cross-sectional views thereof.

FIG. 8A and FIG. 8B are plan views illustrating control areas 3.

FIG. 9A is a plan view illustrating the relationship between the magnitude of an electrical signal from an active device 1 and the extent of the control area 3, and FIG. 9B is a graph illustrating the relationship between the magnitude of an electrical signal and the distance from the active device 1.

FIG. 10A is a graph illustrating the voltage-luminance characteristics of a light emitting device, and FIG. 10B is a graph illustrating the relationship between the voltage and the distance.

FIG. 11 is a graph illustrating the voltage-luminance characteristics of a light emitting device.

FIG. 12A is a plan view schematically illustrating one pixel of a conventional organic EL device, and FIG. 12B is a graph illustrating the luminance per pixel.

FIG. 13A is a plan view schematically illustrating one pixel of an organic EL device of the present invention, and FIG. 13B is a graph illustrating the luminance per pixel.

FIG. 14A is a plan view illustrating the relationship between the magnitude of an electrical signal sent to the active device 1 and the extent of the control area 3, FIG. 14B is a graph illustrating the relationship between the distance from the active device 1 and the characteristic value of a functional material, and FIG. 14C is a graph illustrating the relationship between the distance from the active device 1 and the characteristic value of the functional material in a case where the magnitude of the electrical signal is increased to such a degree that the characteristic value of the functional material is saturated.

FIG. 15A to FIG. 15D are plan views each illustrating the control area 3 of the active device 1 and a controllable area of the conductive film 2.

FIG. 16A is a plan view of a display device of Embodiment 5, and FIG. 16B is a cross-sectional view taken along line 16B 16B' of FIG. 16A.

FIG. 17A is a plan view schematically illustrating upper electrode lines 4, and FIG. 17B is a cross-sectional view taken along line 17B 17B' of FIG. 17A.

FIG. 18 is a plan view illustrating the relationship between the width of an input terminal and the width of a linear conductor group.

FIG. 19 is a plan view illustrating the relationship between the width of an input terminal and the width of a linear conductor group.

FIG. 20A is a plan view illustrating an area where a second linear conductor group 20C of the upper electrode lines 4 intersects with a linear conductor group 11R of lower electrode lines 5, and FIG. 20B is a plan view of the active device 1.

FIG. 21 is a plan view illustrating the active device 1 such as an FET.

FIG. 22 is a plan view schematically illustrating a system active device 1 with a built-in circuit.

FIG. 23A is a plan view illustrating the arrangement of the active device 1 according to Embodiment 5, FIG. 23B is a plan view illustrating an arrangement where the active devices 1 are arranged randomly in an intersection area, and FIG. 23C is a plan view illustrating the control areas 3 in an arrangement of FIG. 23B where the magnitude of the input signal to each active device 1 is reduced.

FIG. 24 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a display device of Embodiment 6.

FIG. 25A to FIG. 25D are cross-sectional views illustrating steps for manufacturing an active device substrate 10 of Embodiment 6.

FIG. 26 is a perspective view illustrating a lower electrode terminal 1b.

FIG. 27A and FIG. 27B are cross-sectional views illustrating steps for applying a resin solution on the upper electrode lines 4 to form an insulating layer 6.

FIG. 28A to FIG. 28D are cross-sectional views schematically illustrating steps for manufacturing the main body of the active device 1.

FIG. 29 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating an organic EL device of Embodiment 7.

FIG. 30 is a plan view illustrating a configuration of the active device 1 used in Embodiment 7.

FIG. 31 is a diagram illustrating an equivalent circuit of the active device 1 of Embodiment 7.

FIG. 32 is a plan view illustrating an arrangement of the active devices 1.

FIG. 33 is a plan view schematically illustrating a terminal section of the upper electrode lines 4 of Embodiment 7.

FIG. 34 is a plan view schematically illustrating another embodiment of the terminal section

FIG. 35 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a color display device of Embodiment 8.

FIG. 36 is a plan view illustrating how the upper electrode lines 4 of each of display devices 16R, 16G and 16B are connected with input terminal sections according to Embodiment 8.

FIG. 37A is a plan view illustrating a display module in which the display device of Embodiment 5 is provided with signal control sections, and FIG. 37B is a simplified cross-sectional view taken along line 37B 37B' of FIG. 37A.

FIG. 38A is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a display device of Embodiment 10, and FIG. 38B is a plan view thereof

FIG. 39 is a plan view schematically illustrating a conventional active matrix substrate.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Embodiment 1

FIG. 1A is a plan view schematically illustrating a wiring structure of Embodiment 1, and FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view taken along line 1B 1B' of FIG. 1A. The wiring structure includes at least a first linear conductor group 1G and a second linear conductor group 2G, different from the first linear conductor group 1G. The wiring structure of the present embodiment further includes a third linear conductor group 3G, different from the first linear conductor group 1G and the second linear conductor group 2G. The first linear conductor group 1G, the second linear conductor group 2G and the third linear conductor group 3G each include a plurality of linear conductors 101. No linear conductor 101 belongs to more than one of the first linear conductor group 1G, the second linear conductor group 2G and the third linear conductor group 3G. Some of the linear conductors 101 of the wiring structure do not belong to any of the linear conductor groups. The linear conductors 101 extend generally parallel to one another.

The wiring structure includes at least a first input terminal 110 for inputting an electrical signal to the first linear conductor group 1G, and a second input terminal 120 for inputting an electrical signal to the second linear conductor group 2G. The wiring structure of the present embodiment further includes a third input terminal 130 for inputting an electrical signal to the third linear conductor group 3G.

The linear conductors 101 are each made of a conductive material, and each line of the linear conductor 101 is electrically conductive. Each linear conductor 101 is not in contact with an adjacent linear conductor 101. The interval between adjacent linear conductors 101 is about some tens of nm, and is preferably 10 nm or more and 50 nm or less. The thickness of the linear conductor 101 is about 10 nm or more and is some .mu.m or less.

The width of each of the input terminals 110, 120 and 130 (the dimension thereof in a direction generally perpendicular to the direction in which the linear conductors 101 extend) is significantly larger than the interval between the linear conductors 101. Specifically, the width is 10 .mu.m or more and 100 .mu.m or less, and is 300 .mu.m or less in view of a pixel pitch of 70 ppi. Moreover, the interval between adjacent input terminals is about some .mu.m to some tens of .mu.m.

For example, in a case where the pitch of the input terminals (the sum of the width of an input terminal and the interval between two adjacent input terminals) is 100 .mu.m and the interval between the input terminals is 20 .mu.m, some hundreds of linear conductors 101, which are arranged at intervals of some tens of nm, are present between two adjacent input terminals.

By joining the input terminals 110, 120 and 130 with some linear conductors 101, an electrical signal can be input to the linear conductors 101 that are joined with the input terminals 110, 120 and 130. Moreover, by increasing the magnitude of the electrical signal input to the input terminals 110, 120 and 130, the electrical signal can be input not only to the linear conductors 101 that are joined with the input terminals 110, 120 and 130, but also to other adjacent linear conductors 101. When the linear conductors 101 are arranged at a nano-order pitch, a leak current may occur between adjacent linear conductors 101 depending on the magnitude of the electrical signal. Thus, the total width D1 of a group of linear conductors 101 (the first linear conductor group 1G) to which an electrical signal is input from the first input terminal 110, for example, can be larger than the total width of the group of linear conductors 101 that are joined with the first input terminal 110. In other words, the extent of an input terminal in the width direction is dependent on the magnitude of the input signal to the input terminal, whereby the line width of a linear conductor group can be controlled by adjusting the magnitude of the potential signal to be supplied thereto. Note that the term "width direction" as used herein refers to the direction that is generally perpendicular to the direction in which the linear conductors extend.

Similarly, the total width D2 of the second linear conductor group 2G to which an electrical signal is input from the second input terminal 120, and the total width D3 of the third linear conductor group 3G to which an electrical signal is input from the third input terminal 130, can be adjusted, as necessary, by adjusting the magnitude of the electrical signal to be input to the input terminals 120 and 130, respectively.

Conductive materials that can be used for the linear conductors 101 include metal (nano) particles, metal-coated nanoparticles, conductive polymers, carbon nanotubes, deoxyribonucleic acids, and the like. The conductivity of metal (nano) particles can be increased by arranging the particles so that they are in contact with one another. The conductivity of a conductive polymer, or the like, can be increased by higher-order arrangement and efficient doping.

Next, the process of manufacturing the wiring structure of the present embodiment will be described. First, a plurality of linear conductors 101 are formed on an insulative substrate such as a glass substrate or a plastic substrate. The linear conductors 101 can be formed by arranging material particles in a nano-order or near-nano-order arrangement. Methods for realizing a nano-order or near-nano-order arrangement include a gas deposition method, a laser transfer method, a micromesopic pattern method using an application method, and the like. Moreover, in a case where a conductive polymer is used, a nano-pattern of a conductive polymer can be produced by a nano-line photopolymerization method by irradiating monomers arranged in a high order with laser light.

The linear conductors 101 may be uncovered as illustrated in FIG. 1B, or may be protected by a binder resin 102, or the like, as illustrated in FIG. 2. The binder resin 102 may be formed simultaneously with, before, or after, the formation of the linear conductors 101. Moreover, the linear conductors 101 may be formed not only in a straight pattern, but also in any pattern such as a bent or curved pattern, as illustrated in FIG. 3, with some methods, particularly a laser transfer method. Thus, the first linear conductor group 1G to which an electrical signal is input from the first input terminal 110 can be formed in any pattern.

After forming a plurality of linear conductors 101 on an insulative substrate, input terminals to be joined with the linear conductors 101 are formed. The input terminals joined with the linear conductors 101 connect the terminals of a driver IC (integrated circuit) for driving a display device, or the like, with the linear conductors 101. The terminals of the driver IC may be connected directly with the input terminals, or via terminals of a flexible printed circuit. The input terminals and the terminals of the driver IC or the flexible printed circuit may be electrically connected with each other by thermo-compression bonding via an anisotropic conductive film therebetween.

With the wiring structure of the present invention, the width of a linear conductor group, to which an electrical signal is input from an input terminal, can be changed only by changing the width of the input terminal. For example, the widths D1 to D4 of linear conductor groups 1G to 4G can be varied from one another by forming input terminals 110 to 140 having different widths, as illustrated in FIG. 4A. Moreover, the widths D1 to D7 of linear conductor groups 1G to 7G can be reduced, thereby realizing a higher definition, by reducing the widths of input terminals 110 to 170, as illustrated in FIG. 4B.

With the conventional wiring technique, in order to obtain pixel electrodes of a liquid crystal display device, for example, it is necessary to pattern an electrode material such as ITO by a photolithography process according to the definition of the display device. With the wiring structure of the present invention, the width of pixel electrodes can be changed only by changing the width of an input terminal. Therefore, the wiring structure can be commonly used in display devices of various definitions. As a result, with any pattern of an input terminal, e.g., a pattern with a VGA pitch or a pattern with an XGA pitch, the definition can be accommodated. With the conventional process, it is necessary to provide a suitable photolithography mask and an optimal resist material according to the pitch. In contrast, the wiring structure of the present invention can be commonly used for various pitches, and is thus very effective in shortening the process and reducing the cost.

Moreover, the definition can be changed easily. For example, the definition of FIG. 4A can be changed to that of FIG. 4B simply by replacing the input terminals. In the prior art, it is necessary to replace the whole display panel to change the definition of a display device. In contrast, with the wiring structure of the present invention, the definition of the display device can be changed only by replacing the input terminals.

With the wiring structure of the present invention, electrode lines having a constant width can be obtained without a patterning process such as a photolithography process. Moreover, lines of any pitch can be provided simply by adjusting the pitch of the input terminals.

In the present embodiment, the linear conductors are formed in a nano-order or near-nano-order arrangement and the input terminals are formed in a micron-order arrangement. However, the wiring structure of the present invention is not limited to this as long as the pitch of the linear conductors is smaller than that of the input terminals. For example, the linear conductors and the input terminals may both be formed in a nano-order arrangement, or may both be formed in a micron-order arrangement. Thus, either a nano-order pattern or a micron-order pattern may suitably be selected as necessary.

Embodiment 2

FIG. 5 is an enlarged plan view schematically illustrating a portion of a wiring structure of Embodiment 2 in the vicinity of input terminals. In Embodiment 2, an expansion section 103 is provided between the linear conductor 101 and the input terminals 110, 120 and 130, in addition to the elements of Embodiment 1. The expansion section 103 is made of a conductive material, and expands the electrical signals input from the input terminals 110, 120 and 130 in a direction generally perpendicular to the direction in which the linear conductors 101 extend. The conductive material of the expansion section 103 may be a metal or any other suitable material with which the expansion of the electrical signal can be controlled. Such materials include metal nanoparticles, metal microparticles, metal-coated nanoparticles, conductive polymers, carbon nanotubes, deoxyribonucleic acids, and composite materials thereof.

The electrical signals input from the input terminals 110, 120 and 130 are passed to the linear conductors 101 while being expanded beyond the widths of the input terminals 110, 120 and 130. Moreover, the expansion of an electrical signal at the expansion section 103 is dependent on the magnitude of the electrical signal input to the input terminals 110, 120 and 130, whereby the widths D1 to D3 of the linear conductor groups 1G to 3G can be changed by the intensities of the electrical signals input to the input terminals 110, 120 and 130, respectively.

For example, some display apparatuses use a pixel division method for realizing a gray scale display. In the pixel division method, each electrode is patterned, or divided into portions, according to the gray scale. For example, when each electrode is patterned into two portions with an area ratio of 1:2, only a gray scale of 1:2:3 is realized, and when it is patterned into three portions with an area ratio of 1:2:4, only a gray scale of 1:2:3:4:5:6:7 can be realized. Thus, the pixel division gray scale display is limited by the initial division of each electrode and the area ratio among the portions thereof

With the wiring structure of the present invention, any pixel division gray scale display can be realized since the pixel width can be changed by changing the magnitude of the input electrical signal, as necessary.

Embodiment 3

The wiring structure of the present invention can be used for pixel electrodes of display apparatuses. FIG. 6A is a plan view schematically illustrating a display apparatus of Embodiment 3, and FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6B 6B' of FIG. 6A.

The display apparatus of the present embodiment includes a pair of substrates on each of which the wiring structure of Embodiment 1 is formed, and a display medium layer 104 provided between the pair of substrates. The pair of substrates are arranged so that the wiring structures formed thereon oppose each other with the linear conductors 101 of one substrate crossing (typically being generally perpendicular to) those of the other substrate.

The display medium layer 104 is a layer whose optical transmittance is modulated by the potential difference between the opposing electrodes, or a layer that itself emits light by a current flowing between the opposing electrodes. Examples of the display medium layer 104 include, but not limited to, a liquid crystal layer, an inorganic or organic light emitting layer, an electrochromic layer, a light emitting gas layer, an electrophoretic layer, and the like. In the present embodiment, a passive matrix liquid crystal display apparatus using a nematic liquid crystal layer will be described.

The liquid crystal display apparatus can be produced through the following steps, for example. First, a polyimide film is provided on a substrate with a wiring structure formed thereon and is subjected to a rubbing treatment for aligning liquid crystal molecules. A pair of substrates are attached to each other via a sealant therebetween so that the linear conductors 101 formed on the substrates cross each other. A nematic liquid crystal material is injected into a gap between the pair of substrates, thereby forming the nematic liquid crystal layer 104. A polarizing plate is provided on one side of each substrate that is away from the liquid crystal layer 104. Thus, the liquid crystal display apparatus is produced.

The linear conductors 101 themselves may be made of a transparent material, or may be made of a non-transparent material having a nano-order shape so as to maintain transparency to visible light. Thus, with the liquid crystal layer 104 interposed between the substrates, a display apparatus of either a transmission type or a reflection type can be provided.

The definition of the liquid crystal display apparatus of the present embodiment can be changed only by changing the size of the input terminals. For example, when the input terminal 110 of a VGA level is connected, the display apparatus becomes a VGA display apparatus. When a terminal of an. XGA level having a higher definition is connected, the display apparatus becomes an XGA display apparatus. Thus, display apparatuses of various definitions can be easily provided only by replacing the terminal section without replacing the entire display apparatus.

With the conventional process, it is necessary to pattern electrodes differently for each definition by performing a photolithography process using a mask suitable for the definition. With the present invention, it is possible to provide a display apparatus at a low cost without requiring such a process. Moreover, when the user wishes to change the definition after using the display apparatus, the user can obtain a display apparatus of a different definition only by replacing the terminal section without having to purchase another display apparatus.

Furthermore, the width of a linear conductor group can be changed by using the expansion section 103 illustrated in Embodiment 2 or by increasing the magnitude of the electrical signal supplied to the input terminals. This can be used to realize a gray scale display, as will be described in greater detail referring to FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B.

Among a plurality of linear conductors 101a extending in the column direction, those that receive an electrical signal from the first input terminal 110 are referred to as the first linear conductor group 1G. Similarly, those of the linear conductors 101a that receive an electrical signal from the second input terminal 120 are referred to as the second linear conductor group 2G, and those that receive an electrical signal from the third input terminal 130 are referred to as the third linear conductor group 3G. On the other hand, among a plurality of linear conductors 101b extending in the row direction, those that receive an electrical signal from a fourth input terminal 111 are referred to as a fourth linear conductor group 11G.

A pixel region is formed at each area where one of column electrodes provided in a stripe pattern intersects with one of row electrodes generally perpendicular to the column electrodes. In the present embodiment, a pixel region is formed in each area where one of the first linear conductor group 1G, the second linear conductor group 2G and the third linear conductor group 3G, which function as column electrodes, intersects with the fourth linear conductor group 11G, which functions as a row electrode. Specifically, a first pixel region P1 is formed in the intersection area between the first linear conductor group 1G and the fourth linear conductor group 11G, a second pixel region P2 is formed in the intersection area between the second linear conductor group 2G and the fourth linear conductor group 11G, and a third pixel region P3 is formed in the intersection area between the third linear conductor group 3G and the fourth linear conductor group 11G.

By controlling one or both of the magnitude of the electrical signal for the row direction and that for the column direction, the size of a pixel can be varied as illustrated in FIG. 6A, whereby each pixel can be divided into portions of any size for gray scale display. This is a very effective gray scale display method that can be used of course with an ordinary nematic liquid crystal display apparatus, and also with a ferroelectric liquid crystal display device in which a pixel basically takes one of only two states, a bright state and a dark state, i.e., an ON state and an OFF state. Thus, with the passive liquid crystal display apparatus using the wiring structure of the present invention, the definition can be changed arbitrarily. Moreover, it is possible to provide, at a low cost, a display device capable of producing a pixel division gray scale display. Particularly, even with a display medium that can only take two, i.e., ON and OFF, states, or a display medium with which it is difficult to produce a gray scale display by controlling the strength of an electric field, it is possible to provide a display device capable of producing a gray scale display by dividing each pixel arbitrarily.

The present embodiment is directed to a liquid crystal display apparatus in which the display medium layer 104 is provided between the opposing electrodes. Alternatively, a passive functional device can be produced by providing a layer of a functional material, other than the display medium layer 104, to replace the display medium layer 104.

Embodiment 4

FIG. 7A is a plan view illustrating an active device substrate of Embodiment 4, and FIG. 7B is a cross-sectional view thereof. The active device substrate of the present embodiment includes active devices 1 formed on a substrate, and a conductive film 2 formed over the active devices 1.

The active device 1 may be a three-terminal device such as a TFT (Thin Film Transistor), or a two-terminal device such as an MIM (Metal Insulator Metal) or a TFD (Thin Film Diode). The active devices 1 are connected to electrode lines (not shown) formed on the substrate. For example, in a case where the active devices 1 are FETs (Field Effect Transistors), a plurality of scanning lines extending in parallel to one another and a plurality of signal lines extending generally perpendicular to the scanning lines are formed on the substrate. The scanning lines are connected to the gate electrodes of the FETs, and the signal lines are connected to the source lines of the FETs. An electrical signal supplied to the active device 1 diffuses and expands through the conductive film 2. The transmission range (expansion) of the electrical signal within a certain period of time can be controlled by controlling the conductivity and the retention (capacity) of the conductive film 2. Hereinafter, the area across which an electrical signal expands from one active device 1 within a certain period of time will be referred to as "a control area 3".

In a case where the conductive film 2 is a metal film or a transparent electrode (ITO), even if one attempts to control an electrical signal of a particular area with one active device, the electrical signal from the active device merges with another electrical signal from another adjacent active device because of the high conductivity of the conductive film 2, thereby failing to control an electrical signal of a particular area. Therefore, the conductive film is normally patterned to limit the area of the conductive film to be controlled by one active device, as illustrated in FIG. 39. To do so, it is typical that a metal film is formed across the entire surface and the metal film is then patterned by a photolithography process. Therefore, there are areas on the substrate where the metal film does not exist, i.e., a so-called "voids".

With the active device substrate of the present embodiment, the expansion of an electrical signal from one active device 1 is controlled by controlling the expansion of the electrical signal through the conductive film 2. The materials of the conductive film 2 include metal nanoparticles, metal microparticles, metal-coated nanoparticles, conductive polymers, carbon nanotubes, deoxyribonucleic acids, and composite materials thereof The conductivity of metal (nano or micro) particles can be increased by arranging the particles so that they are in contact with one another. The conductivity of a conductive polymer, or the like, can be increased by higher-order arrangement and efficient doping.

Typically, the magnitude of an electrical charge (electrical signal) attenuates as the charge travels over a greater distance due to the resistance of the conductive film through which the charge travels. With metal nanoparticles, a charge can freely travel across a molecule and between molecules through hopping conduction. If the movement of a charge is represented by an equivalent circuit, it will be a series or parallel combined circuit of the resistance component and the capacitance component. Moreover, when the molecules are arranged orderly or crystallized, a charge can travel freely across the crystal or between molecules, and travel between crystals through hopping conduction. This conduction is isotropic. Note that the general description of how an electrical charge spreads can be found in, for example, Horie and Taniguchi, ed., "Handbook of Optically and Electronically Functional Organic Materials", Asakura Shoten, Tokyo (1995), pp. 91 93.

Metal microparticles may be used while being dispersed in a binder resin, or the like. When metal microparticles are in contact with one another, an ohmic conduction is realized. Moreover, when metal microparticles are dispersed in a binder resin, or the like, a charge may travel through hopping conduction even if adjacent metal microparticles are apart from each other by a minute distance, depending on the resin material surrounding the metal microparticles. Also with metal-coated polymer particles, similar phenomena occur as with metal microparticles. However, since the inside is a polymer, the resistance value thereof is different from that of a metal microparticle of the same diameter. The resistance value of a conductive polymer may be adjusted by adjusting the orientation, the molecular length, or how it is doped. Moreover, it is possible to make the conduction direction anisotropic by adjusting the orientational order.

Conductive polymers exhibit a conductivity within individual molecules through conjugation in the molecules and a conductivity between molecules through hopping conduction. Carbon nanotubes and deoxyribonucleic acids also allow a charge to move around in the molecules, and thus can transmit electrical signals. By using these materials either alone or in combination, the area across which an electrical signal is transmitted is limited, and it is possible to limit the area to be controlled by a single active device. The present invention is not limited to those conductive materials set forth above. A film can be formed from any of these materials by applying a liquid containing the material over the active devices 1. In this way, the area across which an electrical signal from the active device 1 expands can be controlled, and it is not necessary to perform a patterning process. Of course, the method for forming the film is not limited to an application method, but may alternatively be any other suitable method such as a vapor deposition method or a spray method. The thickness of the conductive film 2 is about 10 nm or more and some .mu.m or less.

The conductive film 2 illustrated in FIG. 7B is a single layer that directly controls the control area 3 by having the function of transmitting an electrical signal from the active device 1 to the upper surface of the conductive film 2 and the function of suppressing the diffusion of the electrical signal. The conductive film 2 is not limited to this single-layer structure, but may alternatively have a multi-layer structure in which each layer has a different function. For example, the conductive film 2 may have a multi-layer structure including a layer 20 for upwardly transmitting an electrical signal from the active device 1, and another layer 21 for expanding the electrical signal from the layer 20, as illustrated in FIG. 7C.

FIG. 8A is a plan view illustrating the control areas 3, which are formed by regularly arranging the active device 1. When the material of the conductive film 2 has no orientational order, or the like, an electrical signal from the active device 1 spreads isotropically from the active device 1 in the plane of the conductive film 2, whereby each control area 3 has a circular shape, as illustrated in FIG. 8A. However, the direction in which an electrical signal is transmitted can be defined by the orientational order, or the like, of the material, particularly when a conductive polymer is used. Therefore, the control area 3 can be formed into other shapes such as an oval shape as illustrated in FIG. 8B. An orientational order can be provided by controlling the direction of application by a rubbing treatment or by using a bar coater.

Thus, an electric device can be formed by transmitting an electrical signal from the active device 1 to a specific area of the conductive film 2, and providing a layer of a functional material on the conductive film 2. In other words, the specific area of the conductive film 2 can function as an electrode for driving the electric device. For example, by forming an organic light emitting layer on the active device substrate of the present invention, and by further providing a counter electrode, it is possible to provide a light emitting device in which the light emission along the plane of the device can be controlled by the active devices. The device can be used not only as a light emitting device but also as a liquid crystal display device or other functional devices by using other functional materials.

The characteristics of the functional material and the control area of the active device 1 will be described. FIG. 9A is a plan view illustrating the relationship between the magnitude of an electrical signal from the active device 1 and the extent of the control area 3 (the distance from the signal output point of the active device 1), and FIG. 9B is a graph illustrating the relationship between the magnitude of the electrical signal and the distance from the active device 1. The "magnitude of an electrical signal" as used herein refers to, for example, a voltage level, an amount of electrical charge, or the like, depending on the type of the electric device.

The charge output from the active device 1 moves through the conductive film 2 by the conduction mechanism as described above. In a case where an electrical signal is transmitted from the active device 1 in a circular pattern, the magnitude of the electrical signal decreases as the distance from the active device 1 increases. In other words, the magnitude of the electrical signal attenuates as the charge travels over a greater distance. How an electrical signal attenuates varies depending on the equivalent circuit or the frequency. For example, referring to FIG. 9B, the signal (a) attenuates along an arc-like line, whereas the signal (b) attenuates along a straight line. This is also dependent on the material used, and on whether a DC power or an AC power is used for the same material. Moreover, for an AC power, the attenuation with a lower frequency is different from that with a higher frequency.

At the distance r.sub.1 in FIG. 9B, the signal (a) retains about 80% of the original magnitude, whereas the magnitude of the signal (b) is reduced to one half of the origina