Bendable Display Organic Layer Island Pattern

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Solution Overview

Problem

Flexible display apparatuses face issues with proper bending and exfoliation between components due to their flexibility, leading to defects and reduced user convenience.

Innovation Solution

A display apparatus with a substrate, a display layer, and an encapsulation layer comprising a first inorganic layer, a second inorganic layer, and an organic layer, where the organic layer is patterned with islands and filled gaps, using materials with varying moduli to enhance bendability and prevent exfoliation, and includes a boundary layer between the organic layers for improved encapsulation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a flexible display apparatus is made bendable, then mobility and user convenience are improved, but exfoliation between components occurs and bending defects arise

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovebendabilityVSAvoidexfoliation resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The encapsulation layer is segmented into multiple inorganic layers and organic layers with different moduli. The first organic layer patterned as islands and the second organic layer filling gaps create a segmented structure that allows differential stress distribution during bending, preventing exfoliation while maintaining bendability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the encapsulation layer have different material properties. The first organic layer (islands) and second organic layer (gaps) have different moduli, with the boundary layer having intermediate properties. This local quality variation allows the structure to handle bending stresses differently in different regions, preventing exfoliation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Ease of manufacture

If a single-layer organic encapsulation is used, then manufacturing is simple, but stress management during bending is insufficient leading to defects

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveencapsulation layer fabricationVSAvoidbending defect resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The encapsulation layer uses a composite structure with multiple inorganic layers and organic layers having different moduli. This composite material approach provides superior stress management during bending compared to single-layer organic encapsulation, while the systematic layering maintains manufacturing feasibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The boundary layer acts as an intermediary between the first organic layer (islands) and second organic layer (gaps). This intermediate layer with modulus between the two organic layers mediates the stress transfer, preventing stress concentration and bending defects.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS10847750B2Bendable display apparatus utilizing an organic layer

Publication Date: 2020.11.24 SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO LTD

AI summary

A display apparatus includes a substrate, a display layer on the substrate and including a plurality of display devices, and an encapsulation layer on the substrate and including a first inorganic layer, a second inorganic layer, and an organic layer between the first inorganic layer and the second inorganic layer, wherein the organic layer includes a first organic layer patterned to have a plurality of islands and a second organic layer filling gaps between the plurality of islands.