Bendable Display Wiring with Inorganic Crack Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bendable display devices face challenges in maintaining structural integrity and preventing damage to wiring and insulating layers during bending due to tensile stress, leading to potential cracks and disconnections.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an inorganic protective layer covering at least a portion of the conductive layer, along with an organic layer filling the opening in the inorganic insulating layer, ensures protection against cracks and enhances electrical connectivity across the bending area by using materials with different physical properties for the inner and outer wirings and conductive layer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the display device is bent to achieve flexibility, then adaptability is improved, but the wiring and insulating layers are subjected to tensile stress causing cracks and disconnections
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs flexible thin film structures for the wiring layers and insulating layers that can accommodate bending without cracking. The conductive layers are designed as thin films that maintain electrical connectivity during bending operations, allowing the display device to achieve flexibility while preserving wiring integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite material structures combining organic and inorganic insulating layers with conductive layers. This composite approach creates a multi-layered structure that distributes stress during bending, preventing crack propagation and maintaining reliability while enabling flexibility.
2Reliability
If protective layers are added to prevent wiring damage during bending, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The insulating layers serve multiple functions: they provide electrical insulation between conductive layers, act as protective barriers against mechanical damage during bending, and serve as structural support. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate protective layers, maintaining reliability while limiting complexity increase.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the protective function with the existing insulating layers rather than adding separate protective layers. The inorganic insulating layer is formed to simultaneously provide insulation and protection, consolidating functions and avoiding excessive 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.