Active matrix liquid crystal display and related method

Abstract

A method of manufacturing an active matrix LCD is disclosed whereby gate bus lines, gate electrodes and source bus line segments are patterned from the same vacuum deposited first metal layer. An insulating layer, semiconductor layer, extrinsic semiconductor layer and second metal layer are then successively deposited on the substrate. A TFT channel region is formed by etching each of these layers in a second patterning process. During this step, storage capacitors may be formed by patterning the second metal layer so that it overlaps part of the gate bus lines. A transparent conductive layer is next deposited on the substrate. Pixel electrodes are then formed by patterning the transparent conductive layer in a third patterning process. Further, using a portion of the transparent conductive layer as a mask, the second metal layer and part of the extrinsic semiconductor layer are etched to form source and drain electrodes. Additionally, the transparent conductive layer can be patterned to provide an electrical connection between adjacent bus line segments to form a plurality of electrically continuous source bus lines.