Display Device Non-Display Area Minimization via Inorganic Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Display devices face challenges in minimizing the non-display area while maintaining high image quality, as existing designs often compromise on the ratio of display area to non-display area, leading to inefficiencies in space utilization and potential damage to voltage lines during pixel electrode patterning.
Innovation Solution
The display device incorporates a substrate with a thin-film transistor, an organic insulating layer, and an inorganic protective layer, along with power supply voltage lines and a dam portion, which are strategically arranged to minimize the non-display area and protect voltage lines from damage, ensuring efficient image display and reduced resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the non-display area is minimized to increase display area ratio, then the display area ratio is improved, but the voltage lines become vulnerable to damage during pixel electrode patterning
Solution Approach 1:
An inorganic protective layer is formed to cover the voltage lines in the non-display area before the pixel electrode patterning process. This preliminary protective action prevents damage to the voltage lines during subsequent etching or patterning steps, allowing the non-display area to be minimized without compromising voltage line integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The inorganic protective layer acts as an intermediary between the voltage lines and the pixel electrode patterning process. It serves as a protective barrier that shields the voltage lines from damage while allowing the overall structure to maintain a minimized non-display area for improved display area ratio.
2Area of stationary object
If the non-display area is reduced to improve space utilization, then space utilization is improved, but the complexity of layer structure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The inorganic protective layer is selectively applied only to specific regions where voltage lines are located in the non-display area, rather than covering the entire device. This localized approach provides necessary protection while minimizing the increase in overall layer structure complexity and maintaining space utilization efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a display device including a substrate including a display area and a non-display area; a thin-film transistor and a display element on the display area; an organic insulating layer between the thin-film transistor and the display element; a first power supply voltage line arranged to correspond to one side of the display area in the non-display area; a second power supply voltage line spaced apart from the first power supply voltage line; and an inorganic protective layer that covers at least a portion of the second power supply voltage line. The second power supply voltage line includes a first region and a second region. The first region has a stack of a first conductive layer, a second conductive layer, and the organic insulating layer. The second region has a stack of the first conductive layer and the inorganic protective layer.