阅读说明：本技术 显示装置及其缺陷像素修复方法 (Display device and defective pixel repairing method thereof ) 是由 北角英人 于 2018-03-29 设计创作，主要内容包括：显示装置具有其中分别包含驱动晶体管与电光学元件的多个像素。缺陷像素修复方法包括如下步骤：通过对形成于不同配线层且具有隔着绝缘膜在俯视时彼此重叠的部分的两条配线的重叠部分照射激光,使两条配线短路,从而将缺陷像素内的电光学元件的阳极电极与邻接的相同颜色的正常像素内的电光学元件的阳极电极电性连接的步骤；以及在缺陷像素中,将驱动晶体管与电光学元件电性切断的步骤。由此,能够容易地修复缺陷像素。(The display device has a plurality of pixels each including a driving transistor and an electro-optical element. The defective pixel repairing method comprises the following steps: a step of irradiating a laser beam onto an overlapping portion of two wirings formed on different wiring layers and having portions overlapping each other in a plan view via an insulating film to short-circuit the two wirings, thereby electrically connecting an anode electrode of the electro-optical element in the defective pixel and an anode electrode of the electro-optical element in an adjacent normal pixel of the same color; and electrically disconnecting the driving transistor and the electro-optical element in the defective pixel. This makes it possible to easily repair the defective pixel.)

1. A defective pixel repairing method of a display device having a plurality of pixels each including a driving transistor and an electro-optical element, the method comprising:

a step of electrically connecting an anode electrode of the electro-optical element in a defective pixel to an anode electrode of the electro-optical element in an adjacent normal pixel of the same color by irradiating an overlapping portion of two wirings formed in different wiring layers and having portions overlapping each other in a plan view via an insulating film with a laser beam to short-circuit the two wirings; and

and electrically disconnecting the driving transistor and the electro-optical element in the defective pixel.

2. The defective pixel repair method according to claim 1,

the pixel further includes a connection wiring having one end connected to the anode electrode of the electro-optical element,

the connection wiring in the pixel and the connection wiring in the adjacent pixel of the same color are formed in different wiring layers and have portions overlapping each other in a plan view via the insulating film,

in the connecting, the laser beam is irradiated to a portion where the connection wiring in the defective pixel and the connection wiring in the normal pixel overlap each other.

3. The defective pixel repair method according to claim 1,

the pixel further includes a first connection wiring having one end connected to the anode electrode of the electro-optical element,

the display device further includes a second connection wiring provided in correspondence with and electrically independent of a pixel group including two or more pixels in different colors,

the second connection wiring is formed in a wiring layer different from the first connection wiring, and has a portion overlapping the first connection wiring in a plan view for each of the pixels in the pixel group via the insulating film,

in the connecting, the laser beam is irradiated to a portion where the first connecting wiring and the second connecting wiring overlap each other in the defective pixel and a portion where the first connecting wiring and the second connecting wiring overlap each other in the normal pixel.

4. The defective pixel repairing method according to any one of claims 1 to 3,

a conducting terminal of the driving transistor is electrically connected to the anode electrode of the electro-optical element,

in the step of cutting off, in the defective pixel, one of the conduction terminals of the driving transistor is electrically cut off from the anode electrode of the electro-optical element.

5. The defective pixel repair method according to claim 3,

the pixel group includes: a first color pixel in which two or more pixels are arranged in the same column; a second color pixel in which two or more pixels are arranged in the same column,

the second connection wiring has a portion overlapping the first connection wiring in a plan view with respect to each of the first color pixels via the insulating film, and a portion overlapping the first connection wiring in a plan view with respect to each of the second color pixels via the insulating film.

6. The defective pixel repair method according to claim 3,

the second connection wiring is shared by a plurality of pixels included in the pixel group.

7. The defective pixel repair method according to claim 3,

the pixel group includes two red pixels and two green pixels.

8. The defective pixel repair method according to claim 7,

the second connection wiring has a portion overlapping with the anode electrode of the electro-optical element in the blue pixel in a plan view through the insulating film.

9. The defective pixel repair method according to claim 7,

the second connection wiring is formed so as not to overlap with the anode electrode of the electro-optical element in the blue pixel in a plan view.

10. The defective pixel repair method according to claim 3,

the pixel group includes two red pixels, four green pixels, and two blue pixels.

11. The defective pixel repair method according to claim 3,

the first connecting wires have the same shape.

12. A display device, comprising:

a plurality of scan lines;

a plurality of data lines; and

a plurality of pixels respectively including: a drive transistor; an electro-optical element; and a connection wiring having one end connected to the anode electrode of the electro-optical element,

the connection wiring in the pixel and the connection wiring in an adjacent pixel of the same color are formed in different wiring layers and have portions overlapping each other in a plan view with an insulating film interposed therebetween.

13. The display device according to claim 12,

the defective pixel corresponds to an adjacent normal pixel of the same color,

electrically connecting the anode electrode of the electro-optical element in the defective pixel and the anode electrode of the electro-optical element in the normal pixel so that the connection wiring in the defective pixel and the connection wiring in the normal pixel are short-circuited at a portion where they overlap each other,

in the defective pixel, the driving transistor is electrically disconnected from the electro-optical element.

14. A display device, comprising:

a plurality of scan lines;

a plurality of data lines; and

a plurality of pixels respectively including: a drive transistor; an electro-optical element; a first connection wiring having one end connected to the anode electrode of the electro-optical element; and a second connection wiring provided corresponding to a pixel group including two or more pixels of different colors and electrically independent from each other,

the second connection wiring is formed in a wiring layer different from the connection wiring and has a portion overlapping the first connection wiring in a plan view for each of the pixels in the pixel group with the insulating film interposed therebetween.

15. The display device according to claim 14,

the defective pixels correspond to normal pixels of the same color included in the same pixel group,

electrically connecting an anode electrode of the electro-optical element in the defective pixel and an anode electrode of the electro-optical element in the normal pixel so as to short-circuit a portion where the first connection wiring and the second connection wiring overlap each other in the defective pixel and to short-circuit a portion where the first connection wiring and the second connection wiring overlap each other in the normal pixel,

in the defective pixel, the driving transistor is electrically disconnected from the electro-optical element.

16. The display device according to claim 13 or 15,

in the defective pixel, one conductive terminal of the driving transistor is electrically disconnected from an anode electrode of the electro-optical element,

in the normal pixel, one conduction terminal of the driving transistor is electrically connected to an anode electrode electrically connected to the electro-optical element.

17. The display device according to claim 13 or 15, further comprising:

a driving circuit which drives the scan lines and the data lines;

the drive circuit writes a voltage to the normal pixel, the voltage being 1 to 2 times as large as a current amount when the current amount flowing through the drive transistor in the normal pixel is not electrically connected to the anode electrode of the electro-optical element in the defective pixel.

18. The display device according to claim 14,

the pixel group includes: a first color pixel in which two or more pixels are arranged in the same column; a second color pixel in which two or more pixels are arranged in the same column,

the second connection wiring has a portion overlapping the first connection wiring in a plan view with respect to each of the first color pixels via the insulating film, and a portion overlapping the first connection wiring in a plan view with respect to each of the second color pixels via the insulating film.

19. The display device according to claim 14,

the second connection wiring is shared by a plurality of pixels included in the pixel group.

20. The display device according to claim 14,

the pixel group includes two red pixels and two green pixels.

21. The display device according to claim 20,

the second connection wiring has a portion overlapping with the anode electrode of the electro-optical element in the blue pixel in a plan view through the insulating film.

22. The display device according to claim 20,

the second connection wiring is formed so as not to overlap with the anode electrode of the electro-optical element in the blue pixel in a plan view.

23. The display device according to claim 14,

the pixel group includes two red pixels, four green pixels, and two blue pixels.

24. The display device according to claim 14,

the first connecting wires have the same shape.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a display device, and more particularly, to a display device having pixels including electro-optical elements and a defective pixel repairing method thereof.

Background

In recent years, organic EL display devices having pixels including organic electroluminescence (hereinafter, referred to as EL) elements have been put into practical use. A pixel of an organic EL display device includes an organic EL element and a driving transistor. The organic EL element is one of electro-optical elements, which emits light with a luminance corresponding to the amount of current flowing. The driving transistor is provided in series with the organic EL element, and controls the amount of current flowing through the organic EL element. A Thin Film Transistor (hereinafter referred to as a TFT) is used as a Transistor in a pixel.

In a manufacturing process of an organic EL display device, a defect occurs in a pixel. The luminance of the defective pixel is different from that of the normal pixel. Therefore, in the inspection process of the organic EL display device, for example, a process of detecting a defective pixel based on a display image when the inspection pattern is applied is performed. In order to make the defective pixel less noticeable, a process of fixing the color of the defective pixel to black (hereinafter referred to as a black dot formation) may be performed. The blackening is performed by, for example, a method of separating a light-emitting region of an organic EL element from a pixel electrode or a method of disconnecting the light-emitting region of the organic EL element from a driving transistor.

In a small organic EL display device, the number of defective pixels is small because of the small number of pixels. Therefore, the defective pixels are made less noticeable by the blackening, and the organic EL display device can be shipped as a good product. On the other hand, in a medium-or large-sized organic EL display device, the number of defective pixels is large because of the large number of pixels. Therefore, even if defective pixels are made less noticeable by blackening, there is a possibility that the organic EL display device cannot be shipped as a good product. Thus, in a medium-or large-sized organic EL display device, it is preferable to repair a defective pixel.

Various methods have been known for repairing defective pixels. Patent document 1 describes a method of manufacturing a display device in which, when a failure of a switching transistor is detected before a display element is formed, a current path from a power supply line to the defective switching transistor is disconnected, a passivation film is formed on a substrate so as to cover a pixel, and a second electrode of the disconnected switching transistor and a second electrode of a driving transistor of an adjacent pixel are connected using the passivation film. Patent document 2 describes a method of repairing an image display device in which, when forming a drive circuit layer, an opening portion is formed in a surface of a gate terminal of a drive transistor in a defective pixel and a surface of a gate terminal of a drive transistor in a normal pixel, and a jumper wire directly connecting the gate terminals of the two drive transistors is formed via the two opening portions.

Disclosure of Invention

Technical problem to be solved by the invention

However, the conventional defective pixel repairing method has problems of difficulty in implementation, high cost, and the like because the defective pixel is detected and a passivation film or a jumper wire is formed while the pixel is formed.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a defective pixel repairing method for a display device which can be easily implemented.

Means for solving the problems

The above-described problem can be solved by a defective pixel repairing method of a display device having a plurality of pixels each including a driving transistor and an electro-optical element, for example, the defective pixel repairing method including the steps of: a step of irradiating a laser beam onto an overlapping portion of two wirings formed on different wiring layers and having portions overlapping each other in a plan view via an insulating film to short-circuit the two wirings, thereby electrically connecting an anode electrode of the electro-optical element in the defective pixel and an anode electrode of the electro-optical element in an adjacent normal pixel of the same color; and electrically disconnecting the driving transistor and the electro-optical element in the defective pixel.

Effects of the invention

According to the defective pixel repairing method, the anode electrode of the electro-optical element in the defective pixel is electrically connected to the anode electrode of the electro-optical element in the normal pixel, and the driving transistor is electrically disconnected from the electro-optical element in the defective pixel, whereby the amount of current flowing through the electro-optical element in the defective pixel is almost the same as the amount of current flowing through the electro-optical element in the normal pixel sharing the driving transistor, and the luminance of the defective pixel is almost the same as the luminance of the normal pixel sharing the driving transistor. In addition, the luminance of the defective pixel is obtained as described above by irradiating only the overlapping portion of the two wirings with laser light and electrically disconnecting the driving transistor and the electro-optical element. This makes it possible to easily repair the defective pixel.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an organic EL display device according to a first embodiment.

Fig. 2 is a circuit diagram of a pixel of the organic EL display device shown in fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a timing diagram of the organic EL display device shown in fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a diagram showing an end portion of a connection wiring in the pixel shown in fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a diagram for explaining a defective pixel repairing method of the organic EL display device shown in fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a circuit diagram of a pixel after repair of the organic EL display device shown in fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a layout diagram of a display portion of an organic EL display device according to a first example of the second embodiment.

Fig. 8 is a layout diagram of a display portion of an organic EL display device according to a second example of the second embodiment.

Fig. 9 is a layout diagram of a display portion of an organic EL display device according to a third example of the second embodiment.

Fig. 10 is a layout diagram of a display portion of an organic EL display device according to a first example of the third embodiment.

Fig. 11 is a layout diagram of a display portion of an organic EL display device according to a second example of the third embodiment.

Detailed Description

(first embodiment)

Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an organic EL display device according to a first embodiment. The organic EL display device 10 shown in fig. 1 includes a display section 11, a display control circuit 12, a scanning line drive circuit 13, a data line drive circuit 14, a control line drive circuit 15, and a current measurement circuit 16. In the following, m is an even number, n is an integer of 2 or more, i is an integer of 1 to m, and j is an integer of 1 to n. The horizontal direction of the drawing is referred to as a row direction, and the vertical direction of the drawing is referred to as a column direction.

The display unit 11 includes m scan lines G1 to Gm, n data lines S1 to Sn, m control lines P1 to Pm, n monitor lines Q1 to Qn, and (m × n) pixels 20. The scan lines G1 to Gm and the control lines P1 to Pm extend in the row direction and are arranged in parallel to each other. The data lines S1 to Sn and the monitor lines Q1 to Qn extend in the column direction and are arranged in parallel to each other so as to be orthogonal to the scanning lines G1 to Gm. The scanning lines G1 to Gm intersect the data lines S1 to Sn at (m × n) positions. The (m × n) pixels 20 are two-dimensionally arranged corresponding to intersections of the scanning lines G1 to Gm and the data lines S1 to Sn. The high-level power supply voltage ELVDD and the low-level power supply voltage ELVSS are supplied to the pixels 20 using not-shown wirings or electrodes.

The display control circuit 12 outputs a control signal CS1 to the scan line drive circuit 13, and outputs a control signal CS2 and a video signal VS to the data line drive circuit 14. The scanning line driving circuit 13 drives the scanning lines G1 to Gm based on the control signal CS 1. More specifically, the scanning line driving circuit 13 sequentially selects one scanning line from among the scanning lines G1 to Gm based on the control signal CS1, and applies a high-level voltage to the selected scanning line. Thereby, the n pixels 20 connected to the selected scanning line are collectively selected. The data line driving circuit 14 drives the data lines S1 to Sn based on the control signal CS2 and the video signal VS. More specifically, the data line drive circuit 14 applies n voltages (hereinafter referred to as data voltages) corresponding to the video signal VS to the data lines S1 to Sn, respectively, based on the control signal CS 2. Thereby, n data voltages are written in the n pixels connected to the selected scanning line, respectively. The luminance of the pixel 20 varies according to the data voltage written into the pixel 20.

The control line drive circuit 15 drives the control lines P1 to Pm. More specifically, the control line driving circuit 15 selects one control line from among the control lines P1 to Pm in a non-display period such as a blanking period, and applies a high-level voltage to the selected control line. Thereby, the n pixels 20 connected to the selected control line are collectively selected. The current measuring circuit 16 measures n currents flowing through the selected n pixels 20 and the monitor lines Q1 to Qn. The measured current is used to correct the video signal VS, etc. Further, instead of the current measuring circuit 16, a signal supply circuit may be provided, and the monitor lines Q1 to Qn may be used as signal supply lines to supply an initialization signal or the like to the pixels 20.

Fig. 2 is a circuit diagram of the pixel 20. Fig. 2 shows a pixel 20 in the ith row and the jth column and a pixel 20 in the (i +1) th row and the jth column. Hereinafter, the former is referred to as PX1, and the latter is referred to as PX 2. The pixels PX1 and PX2 are adjacent to each other in the extending direction of the data lines S1 to Sn. The pixel PX1 includes TFTs 21-23, an organic EL element 24, and a capacitor 25. The TFTs 21-23 are N-channel type TFTs.

The high-level power supply voltage ELVDD is applied to the drain terminal of the TFT 21. A source terminal of the TFT21 is connected to an anode electrode of the organic EL element 24 and one on terminal (left terminal in fig. 2) of the TFT 23. The low-level power supply voltage ELVSS is applied to the cathode electrode of the organic EL element 24. One on terminal (left terminal in fig. 2) of the TFT22 is connected to the data line Sj, and the other on terminal of the TFT22 is connected to the gate terminal of the TFT 21. The gate terminal of the TFT22 is connected to the scan line Gi. The other on terminal of the TFT23 is connected to the monitor line Qj, and the gate terminal of the TFT23 is connected to the control line Pi. The capacitor 25 is provided between the gate terminal and the source terminal of the TFT 21. The TFT21 functions as a drive transistor that controls the amount of current flowing through the organic EL element 24.

The pixel PX2 has the same configuration as the pixel PX 1. Elements within the pixel PX2 are connected in the same manner as the elements in the pixel PX 1. However, in the pixel PX2, the gate terminal of the TFT22 is connected to the scanning line Gi +1, and the gate terminal of the TFT23 is connected to the control line Pi + 1. The pixel PX2 has a configuration almost line-symmetric to the pixel PX1 with the boundary line Z between the pixels PX1 and PX2 as a symmetric axis. Further, almost line symmetry includes complete line symmetry.

The organic EL element 24 emits light of any one color of red, green, and blue. The pixel 20 functions as any one of a red pixel, a green pixel, and a blue pixel depending on the emission color of the organic EL element 24. In the organic EL display device 10, the organic EL elements 24 in the pixels 20 arranged in the same column emit the same color. Therefore, the color of the pixel PX1 is the same as the color of the pixel PX 2. In the organic EL display device 10, the pixels 20 have an almost line-symmetric configuration with adjacent pixels of the same color.

Further, the TFT included in the pixel 20 may be an amorphous silicon transistor having a channel layer formed of amorphous silicon, may be a low-temperature polysilicon transistor having a channel layer formed of low-temperature polysilicon, or may be an oxide semiconductor transistor having a channel layer formed of an oxide semiconductor. For the Oxide semiconductor, for example, Indium Gallium Zinc Oxide (referred to as IGZO) may also be used. The TFT included in the pixel 20 may be of a top gate type or a bottom gate type.

Fig. 3 is a timing chart of the organic EL display device 10. In the organic EL display device 10, m horizontal periods are set within one frame period. In the ith horizontal period, the scanning line driving circuit 13 applies a high-level voltage to the scanning line Gi, and the data line driving circuit 14 applies n data voltages to the data lines S1 to Sn, respectively. At this time, in the pixel 20 of the i-th row, the TFT22 is turned on, and a data voltage is written into the gate terminal of the TFT 21.

At the end of the ith horizontal period, the scanning line driving circuit 13 applies a low-level voltage to the scanning line Gi. Therefore, in the pixel 20 of the ith row, the TFT22 is turned off. Even after the TFT22 is turned off, the gate-source voltage of the TFT21 is held at the level at the time of writing by the action of the capacitor 25. A current of an amount corresponding to the gate-source voltage of the TFT21 flows through the TFT21 and the organic EL element 24. The organic EL element 24 emits light with a luminance corresponding to the gate-source voltage of the TFT 21. The luminance of the pixel 20 (the luminance of the organic EL element 24) varies according to the data voltage.

The data voltage is written to the gate terminal of the TFT21 in the pixels 20 in the other rows in the same manner. The brightness of the other rows 20 also changes according to the data voltage. The organic EL display device 10 displays an image according to the video signal VS by driving the scanning lines G1 to Gm and the data lines S1 to Sn using the scanning line driving circuit 13 and the data line driving circuit 14.

The organic EL display device 10 is subjected to a defective pixel detection step and a defective pixel repair step after the display unit 11 is formed and before shipment. In the defective pixel detection step, a defective pixel is detected by a predetermined method. For example, the defective pixel is detected by analyzing the display image when the inspection pattern is applied. As described below, in the defective pixel repairing step, the anode electrode of the organic EL element 24 in the defective pixel and the anode electrode of the organic EL element 24 in the normal pixel are electrically connected to each other by a connection wiring provided in advance, whereby the TFT21 (drive transistor) in the defective pixel and the organic EL element 24 are electrically disconnected from each other.

The pixel 20 includes a connection wiring. Hereinafter, the connection wirings in the pixels PX1 and PX2 are referred to as wirings 26a and 26b, respectively (see fig. 2). The wirings 26a and 26b are formed in different wiring layers. One end (upper end in fig. 2) of the wiring 26a is connected to the anode electrode of the organic EL element 24 within the pixel PX 1. One end (lower end in fig. 2) of the wiring 26b is connected to the anode electrode of the organic EL element 24 within the pixel PX 2. The other ends of the wirings 26a and 26b are not connected to other elements before the defective pixel repairing process is performed. Like other elements, the wirings 26a and 26b are formed almost line-symmetrically with the boundary line Z as a symmetry axis.

Fig. 4 is a diagram showing the ends of the wirings 26a and 26 b. In fig. 4, the wirings 26a and 26b near the boundary line Z are shown. The wiring 26a extends downward in the drawing from a node connected to the anode electrode of the organic EL element 24 within the pixel PX1, and reaches the vicinity of the boundary line Z. The wiring 26b extends upward in the drawing from a node connected to the anode electrode of the organic EL element 24 within the pixel PX2, and reaches the vicinity of the boundary line Z. The other ends of the wires 26a and 26b are formed to overlap each other in a plan view with an insulating film (not shown) interposed therebetween. The intersecting hatching shown in fig. 4 indicates the overlapping portion of the wirings 26a and 26 b. In addition, for example, an organic insulating film is used for the insulating film.

Fig. 5 is a diagram for explaining a defective pixel repairing method of the organic EL display device 10. Here, it is assumed that the pixel PX1 is a defective pixel, and the pixel PX2 is a normal pixel. In the defective pixel repairing process, first, laser LS is applied to the overlapping portion of the wirings 26a and 26b to short-circuit the wirings 26a and 26b ((a) of fig. 5). Thereby, the anode electrode of the organic EL element 24 in the defective pixel PX1 and the anode electrode of the organic EL element 24 in the normal pixel PX2 are electrically connected. Next, in the defective pixel PX1, the TFT21 and the organic EL element 24 are electrically disconnected ((b) of fig. 5). Specifically, the source terminal of the TFT21 in the defective pixel PX1 is electrically disconnected from the anode electrode of the organic EL element 24.

Fig. 6 is a circuit diagram of the repaired pixels PX1 and PX 2. In the pixels PX1 and PX2 before repair, the current flowing through the TFT21 and the organic EL element 24 flows from the power supply node having the high-level power supply voltage ELVDD to the power supply node having the low-level power supply voltage ELVSS. In the repaired pixels PX1 and PX2, the current Ia flowing through the TFT21 in the pixel PX2, the wiring 26b, the wiring 26a, and the organic EL element 24 in the pixel PX1, and the current Ib flowing through the TFT21 in the pixel PX2 and the organic EL element 24 in the pixel PX2 flow from the former power supply node to the latter power supply node. When the characteristics of the organic EL element 24 are the same between the pixels 20, the amount of the current Ia and the amount of the current Ib are almost the same.

The above-described currents Ia and Ib are currents flowing through the organic EL element 24 in the pixels PX1 and PX2 when writing the data voltage corresponding to the gradation G at which the pixel PX2 after repair is located. At this time, a current Iq which merges the currents Ia and Ib flows through the TFT21 in the pixel PX 2. A current flowing through the TFT21 in the pixel PX2 when a data voltage corresponding to the same gray scale G as that of the pixel PX2 before repair is written is set to Ip. The current Ip is a current when the anode electrode of the organic EL element 24 in the pixel PX1 and the anode electrode of the organic EL element 24 in the pixel PX2 are not electrically connected. The scanning line drive circuit 13 and the data line drive circuit 14 write a data voltage at which the amount of the current Iq becomes 1 to 2 times the current Ip in the normal pixel PX 2.

Generally, the luminance of an organic EL element is proportional to the amount of current flowing through the organic EL element. When the amount of the current Iq is k times the amount of the current Ip, the amounts of the currents Ia and Ib become almost k/2 times the amount of the current Ip. Therefore, the luminance of the pixels PX1 and PX2 after repair (the luminance of the organic EL elements 24 in the pixels PX1 and PX2 after repair) becomes almost k/2 times (1/2 to 1 times) the luminance of the pixel PX2 before repair (the luminance of the organic EL elements 24 in the pixels PX2 before repair).

In this way, when the pixel PX1 is a defective pixel and the pixel PX2 is a normal pixel, by irradiating laser light to the overlapping portion of the two wirings 26a and 26b to electrically cut off the TFT21 from the organic EL element 24 in the defective pixel PX1, the luminance of the defective pixel PX1 becomes almost the same as the luminance of the normal pixel PX2 that shares the driving transistor. Thus, according to the defective pixel repairing method of the present embodiment, the defective pixel can be easily repaired.

As described above, the defective pixel repairing method according to the present embodiment is implemented for a display device including a plurality of pixels 20 each including a driving transistor (TFT21) and an electro-optical element (organic EL element 24), and includes the steps of: a step (fig. 5 (a)) of irradiating an overlapping portion of two wirings 26b and 26b formed on different wiring layers and having portions overlapping each other in a plan view via an insulating film, with laser light, and electrically connecting an anode electrode of an electro-optical element in a defective pixel (pixel PX1) and an anode electrode of an electro-optical element in an adjacent normal pixel (pixel PX2) of the same color by short-circuiting the two wirings 26b and 26 b; and a step of electrically disconnecting the driving transistor and the electro-optical element in the defective pixel (fig. 5 (b)).

According to the defective pixel repairing method of the present embodiment, the anode electrode of the electro-optical element in the defective pixel is electrically connected to the anode electrode of the electro-optical element in the normal pixel, and the driving transistor is electrically disconnected from the electro-optical element in the defective pixel, whereby the amount of current flowing through the electro-optical element in the defective pixel is almost the same as the amount of current flowing through the electro-optical element in the normal pixel sharing the driving transistor, and the luminance of the defective pixel is almost the same as the luminance of the normal pixel sharing the driving transistor. In addition, the luminance of the defective pixel is obtained as described above by irradiating only the overlapping portion of the two wirings with laser light and electrically disconnecting the driving transistor and the electro-optical element. This makes it possible to easily repair the defective pixel.

The pixel 20 includes a connection wiring (wiring 26) having one end connected to the anode electrode of the electro-optical element, and the connection wiring in the pixel 20 and the connection wiring in the adjacent pixel are formed in different wiring layers and have portions overlapping each other in a plan view with an insulating film interposed therebetween. In the connection step, the laser LS is irradiated to the overlapping portion of the connection wiring (wiring 26a) in the defective pixel and the connection wiring (wiring 26b) in the adjacent normal pixel. One on terminal of the driving transistor (source terminal of the TFT21) is electrically connected to the anode electrode of the electro-optical element. In the step of cutting off, in the defective pixel, one of the conductive terminals of the driving transistor is electrically cut off from the anode electrode of the electro-optical element. When the adjacent pixels are pixels of the same color, the pixels including the connection wiring can be easily laid out by making the pixels and the adjacent pixels substantially line-symmetrical.

The display device (organic EL display device 10) according to the present embodiment includes a plurality of scanning lines G1 to Gm, a plurality of data lines S1 to Sn, and a plurality of pixels 20, and each of the plurality of pixels 20 includes a driving transistor (TFT21) and an electro-optical element (organic EL element 24). In this display device, the connection wiring (wiring 26) in the pixel 20 and the connection wiring in the adjacent pixel of the same color are formed in different wiring layers, and have portions overlapping each other in a plan view with an insulating film interposed therebetween. This makes it possible to easily repair the defective pixel.

The defective pixel (pixel PX1) corresponds to an adjacent normal pixel (pixel PX2) of the same color, and the anode electrode of the electro-optical element in the defective pixel and the anode electrode of the electro-optical element in the normal pixel are electrically connected so that the connecting wiring (wiring 26a) in the defective pixel and the connecting wiring (wiring 26b) in the normal pixel are short-circuited at a portion where they overlap each other, and the driving transistor and the electro-optical element are electrically disconnected in the defective pixel. In the defective pixel, one conductive terminal of the driving transistor is electrically disconnected from the anode electrode of the electro-optical element, and in the normal pixel, one conductive terminal of the driving transistor is electrically connected to the anode electrode of the electro-optical element. This makes it possible to construct a display device in which defective pixels can be easily repaired.

The display device includes a drive circuit (a scan line drive circuit 13 and a data line drive circuit 14) for driving the scan lines G1 to Gm and the data lines S1 to Sn, and the drive circuit writes a voltage to the normal pixel, the voltage being a voltage at which the amount of current (current Iq) flowing through the drive transistor in the normal pixel becomes 1 to 2 times the amount of current (current Ip) when the anode electrode of the electro-optical element in the defective pixel and the anode electrode of the electro-optical element in the normal pixel are not electrically connected. Thus, the luminance of the defective pixel and the luminance of the normal pixel can be set to almost 1/2 to 1 times the luminance of the normal pixel before the repair.

The defective pixel repairing method described above can be carried out not only for an organic EL display apparatus including pixels having the configuration shown in fig. 2 but also for an organic EL display apparatus including a plurality of pixels each having a driving transistor and an organic EL element therein. The entire configuration of the organic EL display device may be arbitrary, and the configuration of the pixel may also be arbitrary as long as it includes the driving transistor and the organic EL element. Therefore, in the embodiments described below, the entire configuration of the organic EL display device and the configuration of the pixels are not described, and the layout of the connection wiring and the method of repairing the defective pixel are described.

(second embodiment)

In a second embodiment, a method of repairing a defective pixel in an organic EL display device having display portions arranged in an S-bar shape will be described. Fig. 7 to 9 are layout views of the display section of the organic EL display device according to the first to third examples of the present embodiment, respectively. In the layout diagram shown below, only elements necessary for understanding the characteristics of the defective pixel repairing method are described. When two wirings are formed in different wiring layers and overlapped in a plan view via an insulating film, the two wirings are described as being spaced apart in parallel at a narrow pitch.

In fig. 7, the element with reference numeral 31 indicates an anode electrode of the organic EL element, and the element with reference numeral 32 indicates a light-emitting region of the organic EL element. The red light emitting regions 32r and the green light emitting regions 32g are alternately arranged in the row direction. In the drawings of the red light-emitting region 32r and the green light-emitting region 32g, the blue light-emitting region 32b is arranged below. Anode electrodes 31r, 31g, and 31b are formed so as to surround light-emitting regions 32r, 32g, and 32b, respectively. In the display portion shown in fig. 7, when attention is paid only to the red pixel, the red pixel including the red light-emitting region 32r is adjacent to four red pixels in the periphery. The same applies to a green pixel including the green light emitting region 32 g.

As a pixel group including two or more pixels in different colors, a pixel group including two red pixels arranged in the same column and two green pixels arranged in the same column is considered. In the display portion shown in fig. 7, each pixel includes a wiring 33 having one end connected to the anode electrode 31 in addition to a driving transistor (not shown) and an organic EL element (not shown). The display section shown in fig. 7 has wiring 34, and the wiring 34 is provided corresponding to the pixel group and is electrically independent. The wiring 34 is formed in a wiring layer different from the anode electrode 31 and the wiring 33.

In fig. 7, the anode electrodes to which reference numerals a1 to a4 are attached are referred to as first to fourth anode electrodes, and pixels including the first to fourth anode electrodes are referred to as first to fourth pixels, respectively. The wiring 34 has a first portion and a second portion extending in the row direction, and a third portion extending in the column direction. The first portion has a portion overlapping with the wiring 33 connected to the first anode electrode in a plan view via an insulating film (not shown), and a portion overlapping with the wiring 33 connected to the second anode electrode in a plan view via an insulating film. The second portion has a portion overlapping with the wiring 33 connected to the third anode electrode via the insulating film in a plan view, and a portion overlapping with the wiring 33 connected to the fourth anode electrode via the insulating film in a plan view. The third portion connects the first portion and the second portion and has a portion overlapping with the anode electrode 31b in a plan view via an insulating film. Thus, the wiring 34 is formed in a wiring layer different from the wiring 33, and has a portion overlapping the wiring 33 in a plan view for each of the pixels in the pixel group with an insulating film interposed therebetween. The wiring 34 has a portion overlapping the anode electrode 31b of the organic EL element in the blue pixel in a plan view with an insulating film interposed therebetween.

In the organic EL display device according to the first example, the defective pixel detection step and the repair step are also performed after the display unit is formed and before shipment. When the defective pixel is the first pixel, laser light is irradiated to a portion X1 where the wiring 33 and the wiring 34 connected to the first anode electrode overlap each other and a portion X3 where the wiring 33 and the wiring 34 connected to the third anode electrode overlap each other. Thereby, the first anode electrode and the third anode electrode are electrically connected. In addition, in the first pixel, the driving transistor (not shown) and the organic EL element are electrically disconnected.

When the defective pixel is the second pixel, laser light is irradiated to a portion X2 where the wiring 33 connected to the second anode electrode overlaps the wiring 34 and a portion X4 where the wiring 33 connected to the fourth anode electrode overlaps the wiring 34. Therefore, the second anode electrode is electrically connected with the fourth anode electrode. In addition, in the second pixel, the driving transistor (not shown) and the organic EL element are electrically disconnected. When the defective pixel is the third pixel or the fourth pixel, the same processing is performed.

The display portion shown in fig. 8 has a wiring 35 instead of the wiring 34. The wiring 35 is formed in the same wiring layer as the anode electrode 31 and in a wiring layer different from the wiring 33. The wiring 35 has first to third portions, like the wiring 34. However, the third portion of the wiring 35 does not overlap the anode electrode 31b in a plan view. Thus, the wiring 35 is formed so as not to overlap the anode electrode 31b of the organic EL element in the blue pixel. The organic EL display device according to the second example is similar to the organic EL display device according to the first example except for the above-described directions. The same defective pixel repairing process as that of the organic EL display device according to the first example was performed on the organic EL display device according to the second example.

The display section shown in fig. 9 has wirings 36r and 36g instead of the wirings 33 and 34. The wiring 36r is provided to electrically connect the anode electrodes 31r in the red pixels adjacent in the column direction. The wiring 36g is provided to electrically connect the anode electrodes 31g in the green pixels adjacent in the column direction. However, when the wiring for connection is provided for each color in this way, the wiring area becomes large.

In contrast, in the organic EL display devices according to the first and second examples of the present embodiment, the wirings 34 and 35 are provided as connection wirings shared by the red pixel and the green pixel. This can reduce the wiring area. Further, since routing of the wiring for connection can be easily achieved, as in the second example, the wiring 35 is made of the same material as the anode electrode 31 of the uppermost layer, and the wirings 33 and 35 are connected using laser CVD (Chemical vapor deposition). Thereby, generation of particles caused by film jumping when laser light is irradiated to connect wirings of different layers can be suppressed.

The defective pixel repairing methods according to the first and second examples of the present embodiment are applied to a display device (organic EL display element) having a plurality of pixels each including a driving transistor and an electro-optical element (organic EL element). The pixel includes a first connection wiring (wiring 33) having one end connected to the anode electrode 31 of the electro-optical element. The display device has second connection wirings (wirings 34 and 35) which are provided so as to correspond to pixel groups each including two or more pixels (pixel groups including two red pixels and two green pixels) of different colors and are electrically independent from each other. The second connection wiring is formed in a wiring layer different from the first connection wiring, and has a portion (overlapping portions X1 to X4) overlapping the first connection wiring in a plan view for each of the pixels in the pixel group with an insulating film interposed therebetween. In the step of connecting, laser light is irradiated to a portion where the first connecting wiring and the second connecting wiring within the defective pixel overlap each other and a portion where the first connecting wiring and the second connecting wiring within the normal pixel overlap each other (for example, overlapping portions X1, X3). By using the second connection wiring shared by the pixels of a plurality of colors, the wiring area can be reduced.

The defective pixels correspond to normal pixels of the same color included in the same pixel group. The defective pixel corresponds to a normal pixel of the same color included in the same pixel group, and an anode electrode of the electro-optical element in the defective pixel and an anode electrode of the electro-optical element in the normal pixel are electrically connected to each other, so that the first connection wiring and the second connection wiring in the defective pixel are short-circuited at a portion where they overlap each other and the first connection wiring and the second connection wiring in the normal pixel are short-circuited at a portion where they overlap each other, and the driving transistor and the electro-optical element are electrically disconnected in the defective pixel. In the defective pixel, one conductive terminal of the driving transistor is electrically disconnected from the anode electrode of the electro-optical element, and in the normal pixel, one conductive terminal of the driving transistor is electrically connected to the anode electrode of the electro-optical element.

The pixel group includes: first color pixels (two red pixels) in which two or more pixels are arranged in the same column; and second color pixels (two green pixels) in which two or more of the second color pixels are arranged in the same column, wherein the second connection wiring has a portion overlapping the first connection wiring in a plan view with respect to each of the first color pixels through an insulating film, and a portion overlapping the first connection wiring in a plan view with respect to each of the second color pixels through an insulating film. The second connection wiring is shared by a plurality of pixels included in the pixel group.

In the display device according to the first example, the second connection wiring (wiring 34) has a portion overlapping the anode electrode 31b of the organic EL element in the blue pixel in a plan view with an insulating film interposed therebetween. In the display device according to the second example, the second connection wiring (wiring 34) is formed so as not to overlap the anode electrode 31b of the organic EL element in the blue pixel in a plan view with an insulating film interposed therebetween.

(third embodiment)

In the third embodiment, a method of repairing a defective pixel in an organic EL display device having a display portion using a diamond-shaped tile arrangement will be described. Fig. 10 and 11 are layout views of the display portions of the organic EL display devices according to the first example and the second example of the present embodiment, respectively. In fig. 10, an element with reference numeral 42 attached thereto indicates a light-emitting region of the organic EL element. In addition, in the layout diagrams described below, the anode electrode of the organic EL element is omitted. The anode electrode of the organic EL element is formed in a manner including a light-emitting region and a black circle in the drawing.

The green light emitting regions 42g are arranged in the row direction and the column direction. The red light-emitting regions 42r and the blue light-emitting regions 42b are alternately arranged in the vicinity of the centers of the (2 × 2) green light-emitting regions 42 g. As a pixel group including two or more pixels in different colors, a pixel group including two red pixels, four green pixels, and two blue pixels is considered. In the display portion shown in fig. 10, each pixel includes a wiring 43 having one end connected to an anode electrode (not shown) of the organic EL element. The wirings 43 have the same shape. The display section shown in fig. 10 has wiring 44, and the wiring 34 is provided corresponding to the pixel group and is electrically independent. The wiring 44 is formed in a wiring layer different from the anode electrode of the organic EL element and the wiring 43. The wiring 44 extends in the row direction, and has a portion overlapping with the wiring 43 in a plan view for each of the pixels in the pixel group via an insulating film.

In the organic EL display device according to the present embodiment, the defective pixel detection step and the repair step are also performed after the display portion is formed and before shipment. When the defective pixel is a red pixel, laser light is irradiated to a portion where the wiring 43 connected to the anode electrode of the organic EL element in the red pixel having the defect overlaps the wiring 44 and a portion where the wiring 43 connected to the anode electrode of the organic EL element in the normal red pixel overlaps the wiring 44. Thereby, the anode electrode of the organic EL element in the red pixel having the defect and the anode electrode of the organic EL element in the normal red pixel are electrically connected. In addition, in the red pixel having a defect, the driving transistor (not shown) and the organic EL element are electrically disconnected. The same processing is performed when the defective pixel is a green pixel or a blue pixel.

In the display portion shown in fig. 11, each pixel includes a wiring 45 having one end connected to an anode electrode (not shown) of the organic EL element. The wiring 45r is provided to electrically connect anode electrodes (not shown) of the organic EL elements in the two red pixels. The wiring 45g is provided to electrically connect anode electrodes (not shown) of the organic EL elements in the two green pixels. The wiring 45b is provided to electrically connect anode electrodes (not shown) of the organic EL elements in the two blue pixels. However, when the wiring for connection is provided for each color in this way, the wiring area becomes large.

In contrast, in the organic EL display device according to the first example of the present embodiment, the wiring 44 is provided as the second connection wiring shared among the red pixel, the green pixel, and the blue pixel. This can reduce the wiring area. The first connecting wires (wires 43) have the same shape. Therefore, the layout of the display portion including the wiring 43 can be easily set. In addition to this, since the load capacitance becomes the same between the pixels of the same color, the induced voltage becomes the same between the pixels of the same color due to the load capacitance. Therefore, variation in the driving voltage of the organic EL element can be suppressed.

In the first to third embodiments, the organic EL display device including the pixel including the organic EL element (organic Light Emitting Diode) has been described as an example of the display device including the pixel including the driving transistor and the electro-optical element, but an inorganic EL display device including the pixel including the inorganic Light Emitting Diode, and a QLED (Quantum-dot Light Emitting Diode) display device including the pixel including the Quantum-dot Light Emitting Diode may be configured in the same manner.

In the above defective pixel repairing method, in the step of electrically connecting the anode electrode of the electro-optical element, the overlapping portion of the two wirings formed in different wiring layers and having portions overlapping each other in a plan view through the insulating film is irradiated with laser light to short-circuit the two wirings. Instead, in the step of electrically connecting the anode electrode of the electro-optical element without providing a wiring in advance, a wiring for electrically connecting the anode electrode of the electro-optical element in the defective pixel and the anode electrode of the electro-optical element in the normal pixel of the same color may be newly formed by laser CVD using a material such as tungsten.

Description of the reference numerals

An organic EL display device

A display section

12

Scanning line driving circuit

14

A pixel

21～23...TFT

An organic EL element

A capacitor

26. 33-36, 43-45

An anode electrode

32. A light emitting area

LS.. laser