Display Device Outer Dam for Overflow and Touch Routing Protection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing display devices face challenges in preventing organic films from overflowing and protecting touch routing lines during the manufacturing process, which affects process efficiency.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating an outer dam structure with a touch interlayer insulating film having a thicker upper surface and multiple encapsulation layers to prevent organic film overflow and protect touch routing lines, utilizing materials like acrylic resin, epoxy resin, polyimide, polyethylene, or silicon oxycarbon for the encapsulation layers, and forming them through an inkjet process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a dam is disposed in the non-display area to prevent organic film overflow, then organic film overflow is prevented, but the touch routing line is exposed and vulnerable to damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveorganic film overflow preventionVSAvoidtouch routing line vulnerability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent embeds the touch routing line within the dam structure by forming the dam to include the touch routing line inside its boundary. This nesting approach allows the touch routing line to be protected by the dam's physical barrier while maintaining its electrical connection function, resolving the contradiction between preventing organic film overflow and protecting the routing line from exposure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an insulating film as an intermediary layer between the touch routing line and the external environment. This insulating film acts as a protective mediator that shields the routing line from potential damage while allowing the dam to maintain its overflow prevention function, thus protecting the routing line without compromising the dam's primary purpose.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of manufacture

If the touch routing line is exposed in the dam area, then manufacturing is simplified, but the routing line is susceptible to organic film overflow and damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidrouting line protection

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the dam structure with the touch routing line by forming the dam to include the routing line within its boundaries. This merging combines the overflow prevention function and the routing line protection into a single integrated structure, achieving both manufacturing simplicity and reliability without requiring separate protective components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs composite material structures combining the dam material with insulating films and conductive layers to create a multi-functional component. This composite approach allows the dam to simultaneously provide mechanical protection, electrical insulation, and routing line protection, maintaining manufacturing simplicity while enhancing reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Reliability

If multiple encapsulation layers are added to protect the touch routing line, then routing line protection is improved, but the device structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetouch routing line protectionVSAvoidencapsulation layer structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent designs the dam structure to serve multiple functions simultaneously: preventing organic film overflow, protecting the touch routing line, and providing structural support. By making the dam multi-functional, the patent reduces the need for separate protective encapsulation layers, thereby improving routing line protection without significantly increasing device structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies enhanced protective measures (additional encapsulation layers or insulating films) specifically at the locations where the touch routing line is most vulnerable within the dam area, rather than uniformly across the entire device. This localized approach provides targeted protection where needed while minimizing overall structural complexity and material usage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS20250275414A1Display device

Publication Date: 2025.08.28 LG DISPLAY CO LTD

AI summary

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a display device. A display device may include a planarization layer disposed on a substrate, a bank disposed on the planarization layer, a first encapsulation layer disposed on the bank, a first bridge metal disposed on the first encapsulation layer, a lower touch routing line disposed in a dam area, a touch interlayer insulating film disposed on the first bridge metal and the lower touch routing line, and a second encapsulation layer disposed on the inner side of the touch interlayer insulating film disposed in the dam area, thereby protecting the touch routing line while preventing the organic film from overflowing.