Thin film transistor array panel and method for repairing liquid crystal display including the same

Abstract

A thin film transistor (TFT) array panel, a liquid crystal display (LCD), and a method of repairing a TFT array panel with a defective pixel is disclosed. When a white defect occurs such that a pixel is always in a white state, a corresponding pixel electrode is supplied with the predetermined voltage applied to a corresponding storage electrode line so that the pixel becomes permanently dark, which may not be easily detected. The connection between the pixel electrode and the storage electrode line is provided by illuminating a laser beam from a common electrode panel through a contact hole in the TFT array panel to electrically couple the storage electrode and the pixel electrode. Advantageously, a backlight unit or chassis does not need to be separated or disassembled from the LCD when repairing the defect. Furthermore, the color filter stripes and the light blocking member are not damaged, thereby improving the reliability of the repair.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A thin film transistor array panel, comprising: 
 a first insulating substrate;    a storage electrode over the first insulating substrate;    an insulating layer over the storage electrode;    a drain electrode of a transistor over the insulating layer;    a color filter stripe over the drain electrode; and    a pixel electrode over the color filter stripe, the pixel electrode being operably coupled to the drain electrode via an aperture through the color filter stripe, wherein the aperture is directly over the storage electrode.    
     
     
         2 . The panel of  claim 1 , wherein the insulating substrate comprises transparent glass.  
     
     
         3 . The panel of  claim 1 , wherein the pixel electrode is comprised of transparent conductive material.  
     
     
         4 . The panel of  claim 3 , wherein the transparent conductive material is selected from the group consisting of indium tin oxide and indium zinc oxide.  
     
     
         5 . The panel of  claim 1 , wherein the color stripe is selected from the group consisting of a blue color stripe, a red color stripe, and a green color stripe.  
     
     
         6 . The panel of  claim 1 , wherein the pixel electrode is separated from the color filter stripe by a passivation layer having an aperture aligned with the aperture through the color filter stripe.  
     
     
         7 . The panel of  claim 1 , further comprising an ohmic contact between the drain electrode and the storage electrode.  
     
     
         8 . The panel of  claim 1 , further comprising a semiconductor stripe between the drain electrode and the storage electrode.  
     
     
         9 . A liquid crystal display (LCD), comprising: 
 a first panel including: 
 a first insulating substrate,  
 a storage electrode over the first insulating substrate,  
 an insulating layer over the storage electrode,  
 a drain electrode of a transistor over the insulating layer,  
 a color filter stripe over the drain electrode, and  
 a pixel electrode over the color filter stripe, the pixel electrode being operably coupled to the drain electrode via an aperture through the color filter stripe, wherein the aperture is directly over the storage electrode;  
   a second panel including: 
 a second insulating substrate,  
 a light blocking member not overlapping the aperture, and  
 a common electrode over the light blocking member and the second insulating substrate; and  
   a liquid crystal layer between the first panel and the second panel.    
     
     
         10 . The LCD of  claim 9 , wherein the color stripe is selected from the group consisting of a blue color stripe, a red color stripe, and a green color stripe.  
     
     
         11 . The LCD of  claim 9 , wherein the pixel electrode and the common electrode are comprised of transparent conductive material.  
     
     
         12 . The LCD of  claim 11 , wherein the transparent conductive material is selected from the group consisting of indium tin oxide and indium zinc oxide.  
     
     
         13 . The LCD of  claim 9 , wherein the pixel electrode is separated from the color filter stripe by a passivation layer having an aperture aligned with the aperture through the color filter stripe.  
     
     
         14 . The LCD of  claim 9 , further comprising an ohmic contact between the drain electrode and the storage electrode.  
     
     
         15 . The LCD of  claim 9 , further comprising a semiconductor stripe between the drain electrode and the storage electrode.  
     
     
         16 . A method for repairing a liquid crystal display (LCD) having a thin film transistor (TFT) array panel with a defective pixel, the TFT array panel including a storage electrode, an insulating layer over the storage electrode, a drain electrode of a transistor over the insulating layer, a color filter stripe over the drain electrode, and a pixel electrode over the color filter stripe, the pixel electrode being operably coupled to the drain electrode via an aperture through the color filter stripe, the method for repairing comprising: 
 providing a laser beam through the aperture until the pixel electrode is electrically coupled to the storage electrode; and    electrically isolating the drain electrode from the transistor.    
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the laser beam is provided from a common electrode panel opposite the TFT array panel.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the laser beam is directed through the pixel electrode, through the aperture, through the drain electrode, through the insulating layer, and to the storage electrode.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the drain electrode is separated from the transistor by the laser beam.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the pixel electrode is separated from the color filter stripe by a passivation layer having an aperture aligned with the aperture through the color filter stripe.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising providing an ohmic contact between the drain electrode and the storage electrode.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising providing a semiconductor stripe between the drain electrode and the storage electrode.