Display Device Alignment Mark Reduction via Contact Pad Groove
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Solution Overview
Problem
In borderless display devices, the alignment marks on the data driver are visible at the display surface, limiting their size and reducing visibility, making it difficult to apply them in aesthetically focused designs.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves forming an accommodating groove in the contact pad connected to the organic light emitting diode, allowing for precise alignment without the need for separate alignment marks on the substrate, thereby minimizing the size of the alignment marks on the data and gate drivers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If alignment marks are provided on both the substrate and the driver for alignment, then alignment precision is improved, but the size of alignment marks visible at the display surface increases, reducing aesthetics
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the alignment function from the substrate and relocates it to the contact pad. The accommodating groove on the contact pad serves as the alignment reference, eliminating the need for separate alignment marks on the substrate. This reduces the visible alignment mark size at the display surface while maintaining alignment precision through the groove's geometric constraints.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the alignment function with the contact pad structure itself. The accommodating groove is integrated into the contact pad, combining the electrical contact function and the alignment reference function into a single component. This eliminates redundant alignment marks and reduces the overall visible size of alignment features at the display surface.
2Reliability
If separate alignment marks are provided on the substrate and driver, then alignment function is ensured, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The contact pad is designed to serve multiple functions: electrical contact and alignment reference. The accommodating groove integrated into the contact pad structure provides alignment functionality without requiring separate alignment marks. This multi-functional design reduces the total number of components and simplifies the overall device structure while ensuring reliable alignment.
3Shape
If alignment marks are minimized in size for aesthetics, then aesthetics are improved, but alignment precision may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The accommodating groove is positioned at a specific location on the contact pad where it can provide effective alignment constraints without being visible at the display surface. The groove's local geometric features (shape, size, orientation) are optimized to provide sufficient alignment precision for the driver placement while maintaining an aesthetically pleasing appearance by minimizing visible mark size.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3
AI summary
A display device including a substrate (100) having a display area and a non-display area. The non-display area is outside of the display area. A plurality of drivers (200, 300) are on the non-display area of the substrate (100). Each of the drivers having a first alignment mark (600a) on a first side of the driver and a second alignment mark (600b) on a second side of the driver. A first contact pad (500a) having a third alignment mark (512) on a first portion of the non-display area of the substrate. A second contact pad (500b) having a fourth alignment mark (511) on a second portion of the non-display area of the substrate (100). The third alignment mark (512) of the first contact pad (500a) corresponds to the first alignment mark (600a) of the driver and the fourth alignment mark (511) of the second contact pad (500b) corresponds to the second alignment mark (600b) of the driver.