Display Cathode Segmentation for Leakage Current Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing display apparatuses face issues with leakage current, leading to unintended light emission from some light emitting diodes, which affects color reproduction and image quality, especially at low gray scales.

Innovation Solution

The display apparatus incorporates a design where the first patterns are disposed to overlap the DC lines, increasing the path length for leakage current and forming capacitors to trap carriers, thereby reducing leakage current and improving image quality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a common layer is used in light emitting diodes, then manufacturing complexity is reduced and production efficiency is improved, but leakage current increases causing unintended light emission

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction efficiencyVSAvoidleakage current
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The common layer is segmented into multiple portions by introducing first patterns (trenches) that divide the continuous common layer into separate segments. This segmentation increases the resistance of the common layer, thereby reducing leakage current while maintaining the manufacturing advantages of using a common layer across multiple light emitting diodes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If the path length for leakage current is increased, then leakage current is reduced, but device structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveleakage currentVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The first patterns extend in the thickness direction (vertical dimension) to create trenches that increase the path length for leakage current. This dimensional approach allows increasing resistance without significantly increasing planar complexity, as the patterns are formed vertically between the anode and cathode.

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

3Reliability

If capacitors are formed to trap carriers, then leakage current is reduced, but manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveleakage currentVSAvoidpattern formation precision
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The capacitors are formed self-service by utilizing the existing DC lines and the geometric configuration of the first patterns. The capacitors form automatically where the first patterns overlap with DC lines, eliminating the need for separate capacitor formation steps and reducing manufacturing precision requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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

This solution effectively minimizes leakage current, reduces unintended light emission, and enhances color reproduction and image quality, particularly at low gray scales, by increasing the resistance of the common layer and trapping leakage current carriers.

Implementation Method 1

increasing the resistance of the common layer and trapping leakage current carriers

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrical Resistance: Electrical Resistance

Implementation Method 2

forming capacitors to trap carriers

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCapacitance: Capacitance

Data Source

PatentEP3910682B1Display apparatus
Publication Date: 2025.04.16 LG DISPLAY CO LTD
  • EP3910682B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3910682B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3910682B1 patent drawingFigure 3A

AI summary

Provided is a display apparatus. The display apparatus includes: a substrate in which a plurality of sub pixels is defined; a plurality of light emitting diodes which is disposed in the plurality of sub pixels and shares an organic layer and a cathode; a bank which is disposed below the cathode between the plurality of light emitting diodes; a plurality of wiring lines disposed between the bank and the substrate; and a first pattern which is disposed in the bank and overlaps at least one of the plurality of wiring lines, and the cathode is disposed in the first pattern. Accordingly, the length of the cathode and the organic layer in the first pattern is increased so that the length of the path through which the leakage current flows is increased, which may minimize the degradation of the display quality due to the leakage current.