Alignment Electrode Insulation Layout for Step-Free Display Pixels

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Solution Overview

Problem

Display devices face reliability issues due to step differences between alignment electrodes, leading to potential failures and reduced performance.

Innovation Solution

A display device with an insulating layer formed of an organic layer disposed on alignment electrodes to mitigate these step differences, enhancing reliability and preventing short-circuits.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If alignment electrodes are formed with different heights to achieve specific electrical or optical functions, then device functionality is improved, but step differences cause reliability issues and potential failures

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice functionalityVSAvoiddevice reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

An insulating layer is introduced as an intermediary component between alignment electrodes of different heights. This insulating layer fills the step differences and provides a planarized surface, preventing short-circuits while allowing the electrodes to maintain their functional height differences for electrical or optical operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The insulating layer acts as a sacrificial or temporary structure that resolves the step difference problem during device operation. It provides a low-cost solution to prevent failures caused by step differences without requiring modification of the alignment electrodes themselves.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Reliability

If a planarized surface is formed to prevent short-circuits between alignment electrodes, then reliability is improved, but additional manufacturing steps increase device complexity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveshort-circuit preventionVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The insulating layer serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides electrical insulation to prevent short-circuits, planarizes the surface for subsequent processing, and may serve as an alignment reference layer. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components or steps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The insulating layer modifies the surface topology parameter by filling step differences and creating a planarized surface. This parameter change resolves the short-circuit issue while maintaining compatibility with existing manufacturing processes for subsequent layers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4102562B1Display device
Publication Date: 2024.11.27 SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO LTD
  • EP4102562B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4102562B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4102562B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A display device may include pixels disposed on a substrate, each of the pixels including a via layer disposed on the substrate and formed of an organic layer; first and second alignment electrodes disposed on the via layer; a first insulating layer disposed on the first and second alignment electrodes; a first bank pattern disposed on the first insulating layer on the first alignment electrode, and a second bank pattern disposed on the first insulating layer on the second alignment electrode; a second insulating layer disposed on the first and second bank patterns and the first insulating layer; at least one light emitting element disposed on the second insulating layer; a first electrode electrically connected to the light emitting element and the first alignment electrode; and a second electrode electrically connected to the light emitting element and the second alignment electrode. The first insulating layer may include an organic layer.