Conductive Light-Blocking Display Panel for Fingerprint Sensing

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Solution Overview

Problem

The extensive formation of light transmission holes in the circuit-element layer of a display panel with an integrated fingerprint sensor increases load on lines, leading to higher power consumption and crosstalk with elements, deteriorating display quality.

Innovation Solution

A display device with a conductive light-blocking layer electrically coupled to the circuit-element layer, allowing power transfer to light-emitting elements for enhanced light emission and improved fingerprint sensing accuracy, and selectively blocking specific wavelengths using an insulating layer.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If light transmission holes are extensively formed over a wide area in the circuit-element layer, then fingerprint sensing function is enabled, but power consumption increases and display quality deteriorates due to increased load and crosstalk

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefingerprint sensing functionVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the light transmission function by providing separate light transmission holes in the circuit-element layer and additional light transmission holes in the touch electrode layer, allowing optical paths to be divided and managed independently for different functional layers

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent adds a vertical dimension to light transmission by creating holes in multiple stacked layers (circuit-element layer and touch electrode layer), enabling light to pass through the entire display structure without requiring extensive holes in a single layer

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

2Adaptability or versatility

If light transmission holes are extensively formed over a wide area in the circuit-element layer, then fingerprint sensing function is enabled, but display quality deteriorates due to crosstalk with pixel elements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefingerprint sensing functionVSAvoiddisplay quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the optical transmission path across different layers, with the circuit-element layer providing structural support and the touch electrode layer providing optical transmission, reducing interference with pixel elements in either layer

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The touch electrode layer acts as an intermediary layer that provides light transmission holes without requiring extensive modifications to the circuit-element layer, thereby mediating between fingerprint sensing requirements and display quality maintenance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution enhances light sensing and fingerprint detection accuracy and efficiency by reducing power consumption and minimizing crosstalk, while maintaining display quality.

Implementation Method 1

a light-blocking layer disposed on a first surface of the substrate and including light transmissive areas to allow incident light to pass therethrough

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight blocking: Absorption (EM radiation)

Implementation Method 2

a sensor layer disposed on a second surface of the substrate opposing the first surface to sense the light passing through the light transmissive areas

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight sensing: Photoelectric Effect

Implementation Method 3

a light-emitting element layer disposed on the circuit-element layer and including light-emitting elements

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight emission: Electroluminescence

Data Source

PatentEP3751620B1Display device
Publication Date: 2026.03.04 SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO LTD
  • EP3751620B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP3751620B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP3751620B1 patent drawingFigure 1C

AI summary

A display device includes: a substrate including a display area having a plurality of pixel areas and a non-display area surrounding at least one side of the display area; a light-blocking layer disposed on a first surface of the substrate and including light transmissive areas to allow incident light to pass therethrough; a circuit-element layer disposed on the light-blocking layer and including a plurality of conductive layers; a light-emitting element layer disposed on the circuit-element layer and including light-emitting elements; and a sensor layer disposed on a second surface of the substrate opposing the first surface to sense the light passing through the light transmissive areas. The light-blocking layer is electrically coupled to at least one of the plurality of conductive layers.