Display Open-Area Metal Capping for Crack and Moisture Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge of forming an open area in a display device's display area for accommodating optical devices like cameras and sensors leads to substrate cracks, moisture penetration, and static-electricity issues, which can damage the display panel and reduce its lifespan.
Innovation Solution
A capping layer made of metal material is disposed on the intermediate area between the display and open areas, acting as a crack prevention structure, moisture barrier, and static-electricity discharge path, connected to a ground or constant voltage to prevent crack propagation and discharge static-electricity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a precise cutting process using laser is performed to form an open area in the substrate, then the open area can be accurately formed to accommodate optical devices, but a large amount of energy accumulates in a local area causing cracks to occur in the substrate
Solution Approach 1:
A capping layer is introduced as an intermediary component between the substrate and the open area. This capping layer absorbs and distributes the thermal energy from laser cutting, preventing excessive energy accumulation in the substrate that would cause cracks. The capping layer acts as a mediator that protects the substrate from direct thermal damage while still allowing the open area to be formed for optical device placement.
2Reliability
If crack propagation prevention structures are disposed to prevent crack extension, then crack propagation is blocked, but a step structure is formed causing seam-like defects in the inorganic insulating layer
Solution Approach 1:
The capping layer serves as a mediator that prevents crack propagation into the display area while maintaining a flat surface that avoids creating step structures. By positioning the capping layer to extend over the open area and connect to the substrate, it blocks crack paths without forcing subsequent insulating layers to form discontinuous step structures, thereby preventing seam-like defects.
3Reliability
If the capping layer is extended to surround the open area in a closed loop, then moisture penetration is prevented and crack propagation is blocked, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The capping layer is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a moisture barrier by surrounding the open area in a closed loop, serves as a crack propagation prevention structure, and provides a flat surface for subsequent layer deposition. This multi-functional design achieves reliable protection without requiring separate structures for each function, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
4Reliability
If static-electricity discharge paths are formed near the open area, then static-electricity damage is prevented, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The capping layer is designed to simultaneously serve as both a protective barrier (moisture and crack prevention) and a static-electricity discharge path. By incorporating conductive materials or grounding connections into the capping layer structure, it provides multiple protection functions without requiring separate dedicated discharge path structures, thereby achieving reliable static-electricity protection with minimal increase in device complexity.
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 the display device's robustness against cracks, prevents moisture infiltration, reduces pixel defects, and minimizes power consumption while reducing touch noise.
Implementation Method 1
A capping layer made of metal material is disposed on the intermediate area between the display and open areas, acting as a crack prevention structure, moisture barrier, and static-electricity discharge path
Implementation Method 2
A capping layer made of metal material is disposed on the intermediate area between the display and open areas, acting as a crack prevention structure, moisture barrier, and static-electricity discharge path, connected to a ground or constant voltage to prevent crack propagation and discharge static-electricity
Data Source
AI summary
A display device includes a capping layer surrounding an open area and a metal material is disposed on an intermediate area between a display area and the open area, thereby preventing moisture penetration from a position on top of an insulating layer through the insulating layer near the open area.