Bendable Display Wiring Protection Against Tensile-Stress Cracks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Bendable display devices face challenges in maintaining structural integrity and preventing damage to conductive layers during the bending process, particularly due to tensile stress, which can lead to cracks and disconnections in the inorganic insulating layers and conductive layers.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an inorganic protective layer covering at least a portion of the conductive layer, combined with a design that includes an organic layer overlapping the bending area and specific wiring configurations, helps to prevent cracks and disconnections by distributing stress and enhancing the durability of the display device during bending.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the display device is made bendable to achieve flexible shapes, then adaptability and versatility are improved, but the structural integrity and reliability deteriorate due to tensile stress causing cracks and disconnections in conductive and insulating layers
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into a bending area and non-bending areas, with the bending area specifically designed to accommodate flexing while the non-bending areas maintain structural rigidity. This segmentation allows the device to be bendable without compromising the integrity of critical components.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the display device have different structural properties: the bending area has a configuration optimized for flexibility, while the non-bending areas have enhanced structural support. The inorganic protective layer is selectively positioned to provide reinforcement where tensile stress is most likely to cause damage.
2Ease of manufacture
If the display device structure is simplified to reduce manufacturing complexity, then ease of manufacture is improved, but the ability to prevent cracks and disconnections during bending deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The display device employs a composite structure combining organic and inorganic layers. The inorganic protective layer provides crack prevention and structural reinforcement, while the organic layers maintain flexibility. This composite approach enhances reliability without significantly complicating the manufacturing process.
3Reliability
If the inorganic protective layer is extended to cover the entire conductive layer, then reliability is improved by preventing cracks, but device complexity increases due to additional manufacturing steps
Solution Approach 1:
The inorganic protective layer is positioned to cover specific critical areas of the conductive layer where tensile stress during bending is most likely to cause cracks and disconnections, rather than providing uniform coverage across the entire conductive layer. This targeted approach enhances reliability while minimizing additional manufacturing complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A display device includes a substrate having a first area, a second area, and a bending area disposed between the first area and the second area. An inner wiring is disposed in the first area. An outer wiring is disposed in the second area. An interlayer insulating layer covers the inner wiring and the outer wiring, and includes a first contact hole. A conductive layer is disposed on the interlayer insulating layer, and is connected to the inner wiring or the outer wiring through the first contact hole. An inorganic protective layer covers at least a portion of the conductive layer and includes an inorganic insulating material.