Array Substrate Power Line Layout for Lower OLED IR Drop

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Solution Overview

Problem

As pixel resolutions of OLED display panels increase, metal wiring resistance increases, leading to IR drops and display unevenness due to higher resistances in signal lines, particularly power signal lines.

Innovation Solution

The array substrate design includes a first and second signal line connected through a via hole, forming a first power signal line with reduced resistance by parallel connection, and additional power signal lines connected through block electrodes and via holes, reducing IR drops and improving display uniformity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If metal wiring is made thinner and more refined to accommodate higher pixel resolutions, then the area occupied by wiring is reduced, but the resistance of metal wires increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewiring areaVSAvoidsignal transmission quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from planar wiring to three-dimensional stacked wiring structures. Multiple signal lines are arranged in different layers (first source-drain metal layer, second source-drain metal layer, gate metal layer) and connected through vertical via holes, effectively utilizing the third dimension to reduce resistance while maintaining compact area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines multiple signal lines in parallel to form composite signal lines. Specifically, the first signal line and second signal line are electrically connected through via holes to form a first power signal line, and the first power signal line is further connected to the second power signal line through block electrodes, creating a merged low-resistance path.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If the resistance of power signal lines is reduced through parallel connections, then IR drops are minimized, but the device structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower signal transmission qualityVSAvoidwiring structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The via holes and block electrodes serve multiple functions: they electrically connect signal lines in parallel to reduce resistance, while also forming storage capacitors when combined with gate electrodes. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components and mitigates structural complexity.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a nested structure where the first signal line and second signal line are positioned in different layers, with via holes penetrating through insulating layers to connect them. The block electrodes are nested within the wiring structure to provide both connection and capacitance functions, creating a compact nested architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentEP3989288B1Array substrate, display panel and display apparatus
Publication Date: 2025.11.26 BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO LTD
  • EP3989288B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3989288B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B
  • EP3989288B1 patent drawingFigure 3C

AI summary

The disclosure discloses an array substrate, a display panel, and a display device. A first power signal line is configured to be formed by electrically connecting a first signal line located in a first source-drain metal layer and a second signal line located in a second source-drain metal layer through a via hole, which is equivalent to that the first power signal line is composed of the first signal line and the second signal line connected in parallel, and the equivalent resistance of the parallel-connected first signal line and second signal line included in the first power signal line is smaller than the resistance of any of the signal lines. Thus, the resistance of the first power signal line may be effectively reduced, so that an IR drop of a display panel with an array substrate may be reduced, and the display uniformity of the display panel is improved.