The invention claimed is:
1. A composite roof bow comprising a first portion and a second portion, the portions being elongated in a substantially parallel manner, the bow being made in a process including:
forming the first portion to engage at least part of the second portion, the first portion being made from a material different than that of the second portion; and
rigidifying at least one of the portions to affix the portions together in a substantially permanent manner;
wherein the second portion reduces fracture of the first portion and the first portion resists bending.
2. The roof bow of claim 1 wherein the first portion is a reinforced polymeric material and the second portion is metallic.
3. The roof bow of claim 1 wherein the first portion has a substantially I cross sectional shape.
4. The roof bow of claim 1 wherein the first portion is injection molded from a fiber filled polymeric material and the second portion is formed from a substantially unreinforced polymeric material.
5. The roof bow of claim 1 wherein the second portion is relatively deformable while the first portion is relatively brittle.
6. An automotive vehicle roof bow for use with a roof, the roof bow comprising:
a relatively fracture resistant member elongated in a first direction; and
a relatively rigid member elongated in the first direction and having side rail fastening ends, a portion of the rigid member attaching to and surrounding at least a portion of the fracture resistant member between the ends;
wherein at least an elongated portion of the fracture resistant member is exposed outside of the rigid member prior to attachment of the roof bow to the roof.
7. The roof bow of claim 6 wherein the fracture resistant member has a rectangular cross sectional shape.
8. The roof bow of claim 6 wherein the rigid member has a middle segment bordered by the ends, and the fracture resistant member is locally attached to only a minority of the middle segment and spaced away from the ends.
9. The roof bow of claim 6 wherein the fracture resistant member is continuously secured to the rigid member along substantially the entire elongated length of the fracture resistant member.
10. The roof bow of claim 6 wherein the fracture resistant member is metal.
11. The roof bow of claim 6 wherein the rigid member is a filler reinforced polymer.
12. The roof bow of claim 6 wherein the fracture resistant member is an unreinforced polymer.
13. An automotive vehicle roof bow comprising:
an elongated polymeric member having pivotable fastening segments and an intermediate segment spanning between the fastening segments, the intermediate segment having a substantially I-cross sectional shape; and
at least one metallic member secured to the intermediate segment of the polymeric member.
14. The roof bow of claim 13 further comprising a reinforcing filler material compounded as part of the polymeric member.
15. The roof bow of claim 14 wherein the filler material includes chopped glass fibers.
16. The roof bow of claim 13 wherein at least a majority of the metallic member is located inside the polymeric member.
17. The roof bow of claim 13 wherein the metallic member has a rectangular cross sectional shape.
18. The roof bow of claim 13 wherein the metallic member is continuously secured to the polymeric member along a majority of an elongated length of the polymeric member.
19. The roof bow of claim 13 wherein the metallic member has a substantially circular cross sectional shape.
20. A convertible vehicle roof bow comprising:
a first elongated polymeric member; and
a second elongated polymeric member attached to the first member, a majority of the members being elongated in a substantially parallel manner;
the first member being more rigid than the second member; and
the second member being more flexible than the first member.
21. The roof bow of claim 20 wherein the members are permanently secured together.
22. The roof bow of claim 21 wherein at least one of the members is injection molded.
23. The roof bow of claim 22 wherein one of the members is extruded.
24. The roof bow of claim 23 wherein the injection molded member at least partially encapsulates the extruded member.
25. The roof bow of claim 20 wherein the first member includes a fibrous material.
26. The roof bow of claim 25 wherein the first member is a chopped fiber filled material.
27. The roof bow of claim 20 wherein the first member is more brittle than the second member.
28. The roof bow of claim 20 further comprising enlarged ends formed from at least one of the members.
29. A convertible roof assembly for an automotive vehicle, the roof assembly comprising:
rails extending in a substantially fore and aft direction;
a roof bow made of an elongated reinforced polymeric portion and an elongated unreinforced second portion, segments of the roof bow being coupled to the rails, the portions extending in a substantially horizontally curved and cross-car manner between the segments of the bow connected to the rails; and
a soft top roof substantially spanning between the rails and fastening to the bow.
30. The roof assembly of claim 29 wherein the second portion is an unfilled polymer and the reinforced polymeric section is a fiber filled polymer.
31. The roof assembly of claim 29 wherein one of the portions has a substantially I cross sectional shape.
32. The roof assembly of claim 29 wherein the second portion is continuously secured to the reinforced polymeric portion along a majority of an elongated length of the reinforced polymeric portion.
33. The roof assembly of claim 29 wherein the second portion is metal.
34. The roof assembly of claim 29 further comprising mechanical fasteners operably securing the roof to the roof bow, wherein the fasteners are insertable into the second portion.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A display panel comprising:
a gate line extending substantially in a first direction;
a first data line extending in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction; and
a first switching element comprising a first electrode, a second electrode and a channel layer;
wherein an end portion of the first electrode has a first edge oriented substantially perpendicular to a direction of extension of the first electrode, the second electrode extends in a direction substantially opposite to the first electrode, an end portion of the second electrode has a second edge oriented substantially perpendicular to a direction of extension of the second electrode, and the channel layer substantially entirely covers both a lower surface of the first electrode and a lower surface of the second electrode.
2. The display panel of claim 1, further comprising:
a second data line spaced apart from the first data line in the first direction, and extending substantially in the second direction;
a high pixel electrode disposed between the first data line and the second data line, and disposed adjacent to the gate line;
a low pixel electrode disposed between the first data line and the second data line, and disposed opposite to the high pixel electrode with respect to the gate line;
a high storage line extending substantially in the second direction, and overlapping the high pixel electrode; and
a low storage line extending substantially in the second direction, and overlapping the low pixel electrode.
3. The display panel of claim 2, further comprising:
a second switching element electrically connected to the gate line, the first data line and the high pixel electrode; and
a third switching element electrically connected to the gate line and the low pixel electrode,
wherein the first electrode of the first switching element is electrically connected to the high storage line, and the second electrode of the first switching element is electrically connected to the third switching element.
4. The display panel of claim 2, wherein the high storage line comprises a first high storage line extending substantially in the first direction and a second high storage line extending substantially in the second direction, and
the low storage line comprises a first low storage line extending substantially in the first direction and a second low storage line extending substantially in the second direction.
5. The display panel of claim 4, wherein the high pixel electrode comprises a first stem extending substantially in the first direction, a second stem extending substantially in the second direction, and a plurality of branches extending from the first and second stems, the high pixel electrode further having a slit structure formed by the branches,
the low pixel electrode comprises a first stem extending substantially in the first direction, a second stem extending substantially in the second direction, and a plurality of branches extending from the first and second stems, the low pixel electrode further having a slit structure formed by the branches,
the second high storage line overlaps the second stem of the high pixel electrode, and
the second low storage line overlaps the second stem of the low pixel electrode.
6. The display panel of claim 2, further comprising a connecting electrode electrically connecting the high storage line to the low storage line.
7. The display panel of claim 2, further comprising:
a common electrode facing the high pixel electrode and the low pixel electrode; and
a liquid crystal layer disposed between the high and low pixel electrodes and the common electrode.
8. The display panel of claim 2, wherein the first electrode and the second electrode have a substantially rectangular shape in plan view.
9. The display panel of claim 2, wherein the first electrode and the second electrode have a substantially trapezoidal shape in plan view.
10. The display panel of claim 2, wherein a first side of at least one of the first and second electrodes is substantially parallel to the first data line and a second side of the at least one of the first and second electrodes, which is opposite to the first side, is not parallel to the first data line.
11. The display panel of claim 2, wherein a portion of the high pixel electrode overlaps the first and second data lines, and
a portion of the low pixel electrode overlaps the first and second data lines.
12. The display panel of claim 2, wherein the high storage line, the low storage line and the gate line are formed from a same layer.
13. A method of manufacturing a display panel comprising:
forming a gate pattern on a substrate, the gate pattern comprising a gate line, a high storage line and a low storage line;
forming a first insulation layer on the substrate;
forming a first data line, a second data line, a data pattern and an active pattern, wherein the data pattern comprises a first electrode and a second electrode, and an end portion of the first electrode has a first edge substantially perpendicular to a direction of extension of the first electrode, the second electrode extends in a direction substantially opposite to the first electrode, an end portion of the second electrode has a second edge substantially perpendicular to a direction of extension of the second electrode, and the active pattern is disposed under the data pattern to substantially entirely cover a lower surface of the data pattern;
forming a second insulation layer on the first insulation layer; and
forming a high pixel electrode, a low pixel electrode and a connecting electrode connecting the high storage line and the low storage line.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein:
the gate line extends substantially in a first direction, the first data line extends in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction, and the second data line is spaced apart from the first data line in the first direction, and extends substantially in the second direction,
the high pixel electrode is disposed between the first data line and the second data line and is disposed adjacent to the gate line,
the low pixel is electrode disposed between the first data line and the second data line and is disposed opposite to the high pixel electrode with respect to the gate line,
the high storage line extends substantially in the second direction, and overlaps the high pixel electrode, and
the low storage line extends substantially in the second direction, and overlaps the low pixel electrode.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein the gate line, the first data line and the high pixel electrode are electrically connected to a second switching element;
the gate line, the first data line and the low pixel electrode are electrically connected to a third switching element; and
the gate line, the third switching element and the high storage line are electrically connected to a first switching element.
16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:
forming a first contact hole through the first insulation layer to expose the high storage line before forming the data pattern,
wherein the high storage line is connected to a first electrode of the first switching element through the first contact hole.
17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:
forming a second contact hole through the second insulation layer to expose the first electrode of the first switching element, and forming a third contact hole through the second and first insulation layers to expose the low storage line before forming the connecting electrode,
wherein the connecting electrode is electrically connected to the high storage line and to a first source electrode of the first switching element through the first and second contact holes, and is electrically connected to the low storage line through the third contact hole.
18. The method of claim 13, wherein the first electrode and the second electrode have a substantially rectangular shape in plan view.
19. The method of claim 13, wherein the first electrode and the second electrode have a substantially trapezoidal shape in plan view.
20. The method of claim 13, wherein a first side of one of the first and second electrodes is substantially parallel to the first data line and a second side of the one of the first and second electrodes, which is opposite to the first side, is not parallel to the first data line.