Flexible Array Substrate Groove Structure to Prevent Wire Crosstalk

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing flexible display devices face issues of metal wire etching residue and line crosstalk due to overflow of organic materials at taper angles, which are exacerbated by narrow etching spaces required for high resolution displays.

Innovation Solution

The solution involves forming protrusions at the edges of grooves on the array substrate where metal wires overlap, staggering overflow portions to prevent metal wire crosstalk caused by metal etching residue at excessively small spaces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If grooves are filled with organic materials to enhance bendability, then flexibility is improved, but metal wire etching residue and line crosstalk occur due to overflow at taper angles

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovebendabilityVSAvoiddisplay abnormality
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by forming protrusions at the groove edges before filling with organic materials. These protrusions pre-establish boundaries that prevent material overflow and taper angle formation during the subsequent filling process, thereby eliminating the root cause of etching residue and line crosstalk while maintaining the bendability enhancement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The protrusions formed at the groove edges create a preliminary anti-action by opposing the natural overflow tendency of organic materials. This preventive structure counteracts the harmful effect of material spreading beyond groove boundaries, thereby preventing the formation of taper angles that would otherwise cause metal wire etching residue and display abnormalities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

2Measurement precision

If etching space is reduced to ensure high resolution, then resolution is improved, but metal wire etching residue and line crosstalk become more likely

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveresolutionVSAvoiddisplay abnormality
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the groove structure into distinct regions: the groove body for material filling and the protrusions at the edges as separate boundary elements. This segmentation allows the etching space to be minimized for high resolution while the protrusions provide additional space prevention, thereby eliminating etching residue issues even in narrow spacing conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by providing enhanced structural features (protrusions) only at specific locations where grooves intersect with metal wires, rather than uniformly increasing etching space throughout. This localized approach maintains high resolution in non-critical areas while preventing etching residue at critical wire crossing points.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS12527086B2Array substrate and display panel
Publication Date: 2026.01.13 WUHAN CHINA STAR OPTOELECTRONICS SEMICONDUCTOR DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY CO LTD
  • US12527086B2 patent drawing
  • US12527086B2 patent drawing
  • US12527086B2 patent drawing

AI summary

The present application discloses an array substrate and a display panel. The array substrate comprises a flexible substrate, a thin-film transistor layer, a planarization layer, and a pixel electrode layer, wherein the thin-film transistor layer comprises driving circuit units and metal wires, a groove is defined between adjacent driving circuit units, and a plurality of protrusions are formed at positions where the groove overlaps the metal wires. The array substrate according to the present application improves stability of the array substrate.