Asymmetric Spacer Design for Display Gap Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Display devices, particularly mobile devices, face degradation of display properties due to external impacts, such as drops, which can lead to durability issues and degradation of display quality.
Innovation Solution
A display device design featuring a first substrate with pixel regions and non-pixel regions, where spacers are strategically placed between the substrates to maintain a gap, with the area occupied by spacers varying between non-pixel regions to minimize the impact of foreign matter on pixel regions, thereby reducing light emission limitations and color distortion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If spacers are placed between substrates to maintain gap, then substrate spacing is maintained, but foreign matter accumulates on pixel regions causing display degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The spacer is designed with different width portions at different locations: a first width portion over the first pixel region and a second width portion over the second pixel region, where the second width is greater than the first width. This local variation in spacer geometry selectively controls foreign matter accumulation areas, protecting the first pixel region while allowing controlled accumulation in the second pixel region.
Solution Approach 2:
The spacer exhibits asymmetric geometry with respect to the pixel regions it spans. The width of the spacer varies across its length, creating an asymmetric profile that directs foreign matter accumulation away from critical pixel regions. This asymmetric design breaks the symmetry of foreign matter distribution that would otherwise occur with a uniform spacer.
2Adaptability or versatility
If mobile devices are used in diverse environments, then device functionality increases, but external impacts such as drops cause display degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The spacer structure is designed in advance to cushion against foreign matter accumulation before it can damage the display. By creating designated areas with greater spacer width that attract and contain foreign matter, the design provides preemptive protection to pixel regions against impact-related contamination that may occur during drops or external impacts.
3Ease of manufacture
If uniform spacer width is used, then manufacturing is simplified, but foreign matter distribution is uniform causing pixel region degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The spacer incorporates local quality variations through different width portions at different locations. The first width portion and second width portion create distinct functional zones that control foreign matter distribution, transitioning from uniform manufacturing to localized functional differentiation.
Data Source
AI summary
A display device includes a first substrate having a plurality of pixel regions separated by a non-pixel region; a second substrate facing the first substrate; and a spacer disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate to maintain a gap between the first substrate and the second substrate. The pixel regions include a first pixel region and a second pixel region which neighbor each other, the non-pixel region between the first pixel region and the second pixel region is bisected into a first non-pixel region adjacent to the first pixel region and a second non-pixel region adjacent to the second pixel region, and the spacer is formed on the non-pixel region between the first pixel region and the second pixel region. An area of the first non-pixel region occupied by the spacer is smaller than an area of the second non-pixel region occupied by the spacer.