Abstract: A thin film transistor structure for use in driving liquid crystal display elements has a semiconductor active layer, a control electrode layer underlying the active layer with an insulating layer interposed therebetween and first and second main electrode layers formed on or above the active layer in a spaced relation with each other to define a channel in the active layer in cooperation with the control electrode layer between the main electrode layers. The active layer has a first peripheral edge portion generally perpendicular to the direction of the channel and a second peripheral edge portion generally not perpendicular to the direction of the channel. The first and/or second main electrode layer extends over the first and/or second peripheral edge portion of the active layer such that at least a part of the first peripheral edge portion and/or at least part of the second peripheral edge portion of the active layer has its side face directly covered with the main electrode layer.

Abstract: A thin film transistor structure for use in driving liquid crystal display elements has a semiconductor active layer, a control electrode layer underlying the active layer with an insulating layer interposed therebetween and first and second main electrode layers formed on or above the active layer in a spaced relation with each other to define a channel in the active layer in cooperation with the control electrode layer between the main electrode layers. The active layer has a first peripheral edge portion generally perpendicular to the direction of the channel and a second peripheral edge portion generally not perpendicular to the direction of the channel. The first and/or second main electrode layer extends over the first and/or second peripheral edge portion of the active layer such that at least a part of the first peripheral edge portion and/or at least part of the second peripheral edge portion of the active layer has its side face directly covered with the main electrode layer.

Abstract: A thin film transistor structure for use in driving liquid crystal display elements has a semiconductor active layer, a control electrode layer underlying the active layer with an insulating layer interposed therebetween and first and second main electrode layers formed on or above the active layer in a spaced relation with each other to define a channel in the active layer in cooperation with the control electrode layer between the main electrode layers. The active layer has a first peripheral edge portion generally perpendicular to the direction of the channel and a second peripheral edge portion generally not perpendicular to the direction of the channel. The first and/or second main electrode layer extends over the first and/or second peripheral edge portion of the active layer such that at least a part of the first peripheral edge portion and/or at least part of the second peripheral edge portion of the active layer has its side face directly covered with the main electrode layer.

Abstract: Disclosed are a thin film transistor comprising a first electrode pattern formed on an insulating substrate as a gate electrode, a first insulating film formed as a gate insulating film and covering at least the electrode pattern, a semiconductor thin film pattern mainly composed of silicon formed on the insulating film, the semiconductor thin film pattern overlapping the first electrode pattern and the existing region thereof being limited, second and third electrodes formed on the semiconductor thin film pattern as a drain electrode and a source electrode, the second and third electrodes covering a portion of the semiconductor thin film pattern and being spaced apart each other, and a thin film containing silicon oxide formed over the semiconductor film, the second and third electrodes being formed upon the silicon oxide film, a method of manufacturing the thin film transistor, an active matrix circuit board using the thin film transistors, and an image display device using the active matrix circuit board.

Abstract: A sputtering method and apparatus for use in forming thin films on a substrate. The power output of a sputtering power source is periodically changed to a high level power and a low level power, and each film is deposited to a thickness corresponding to the integrated value of the high level power, whereby a desired thickness can be obtained in any of multilayer films having mutually different film thickness ratios.