Display Encapsulation Structure to Reduce Dead Space and Moisture Damage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing display apparatuses face challenges in minimizing the dead space or peripheral area, which affects the size of the display area and can lead to issues such as reduced lifespan and image quality defects due to moisture permeation and damage to conductive wires.

Innovation Solution

The display apparatus incorporates a conductive pattern with protrusion patterns and a dam portion in the peripheral area, along with multiple organic insulating layers and inorganic encapsulation layers, to enhance adhesion and protection, reducing dead space and improving reliability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If the peripheral area is reduced to increase display area, then the display area size is improved, but the reliability deteriorates due to moisture permeation and conductive wire damage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay areaVSAvoidconductive wire reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The conductive wire structure transitions from a planar two-dimensional layout to a three-dimensional configuration by adding upper and lower conductive layers that overlap vertically. This dimensional change allows the conductive wire to extend beyond the pixel electrode area in the vertical dimension, providing extended protection against moisture permeation while maintaining a compact peripheral area.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The conductive wire is constructed as a composite structure with multiple material layers including a lower conductive layer, an intermediate layer, and an upper conductive layer. This composite structure combines different materials to simultaneously achieve electrical conductivity, mechanical strength, and moisture barrier properties, resolving the contradiction between reduced peripheral area and improved reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Ease of manufacture

If the conductive wire structure is simplified, then the manufacturing process is improved, but the lifespan deteriorates due to increased moisture permeation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconductive wire manufacturingVSAvoidconductive wire lifespan
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The lower conductive layer is formed first as a preliminary structure before forming the pixel electrode and upper conductive layer. This preliminary action allows the conductive wire structure to be pre-positioned and extended beyond the pixel electrode area, providing advance protection against moisture permeation while maintaining a manageable manufacturing process through sequential layer formation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The conductive wire structure employs a nested configuration where the upper conductive layer is positioned to overlap and extend beyond the lower conductive layer in the vertical dimension. This nested arrangement creates a protective envelope around the pixel electrode connection, extending moisture protection without significantly complicating the manufacturing process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Reliability

If the conductive wire is extended beyond pixel electrode area, then the moisture protection is improved, but the dead space increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemoisture protectionVSAvoiddead space
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The conductive wire extension is achieved primarily in the vertical dimension through overlapping upper and lower layers rather than extensive horizontal expansion. This allows moisture protection to be enhanced by extending the conductive wire beyond the pixel electrode area in the vertical dimension while minimizing the increase in horizontal dead space.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The conductive wire structure applies different properties to different regions: the lower conductive layer provides base conductivity and protection, while the upper conductive layer specifically extends beyond the pixel electrode area in critical regions to provide enhanced moisture protection where needed, rather than uniformly increasing dead space across the entire display area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP4231805B1Display apparatus and method of manufacturing the same
Publication Date: 2025.08.06 SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO LTD
  • EP4231805B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4231805B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4231805B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A display apparatus includes a substrate (100) including a display area (DA) and a peripheral area (PA) outside the display area, the peripheral area including an adhesion area (AA), a conductive pattern (110) in the adhesion area, a cover layer (121) covering at least a portion of an upper surface (110u) of the conductive pattern and a side surface (110s) of the conductive pattern, and an encapsulation layer (300) in the display area and the peripheral area and including a first inorganic encapsulation layer (310), an organic encapsulation layer (320), and a second inorganic encapsulation layer (330), wherein the first inorganic encapsulation layer directly contacts the cover layer and the second inorganic encapsulation layer in the adhesion area.