Display Overlap Layer for Transistor Leakage Control

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing display devices lack sufficient design freedom in the pixel area, which affects display characteristics such as leakage current and transistor performance.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating an overlap layer that overlaps transistors and extends into a peripheral area, with contact holes and insulating layers designed to manage bending areas, ensuring stable voltage transmission and reduced leakage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If an overlap layer is added to improve transistor performance and prevent leakage current, then display characteristics are improved, but device complexity increases due to additional layers and contact holes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransistor performanceVSAvoidlayer structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The overlap layer is divided into a first portion in the display area and a second portion in the peripheral area, allowing independent optimization of each segment's function and reducing overall complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The overlap layer extends in the third direction (vertical stacking) to overlap the driving voltage transmission line, utilizing the vertical dimension to achieve electrical connection without adding horizontal complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the overlap layer extends into the peripheral area to contact the driving voltage transmission line, then design freedom is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase due to alignment of contact holes through multiple insulating layers

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedesign freedomVSAvoidcontact hole alignment

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The second portion of the overlap layer is positioned to overlap the driving voltage transmission line before final assembly, pre-establishing the alignment path for contact holes through multiple insulating layers

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple insulating layers with contact holes serve as intermediaries to facilitate electrical connection between the overlap layer and driving voltage transmission line while maintaining design flexibility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If contact holes are provided through multiple insulating layers to connect the overlap layer to the driving voltage transmission line, then electrical connection is achieved, but the number of manufacturing steps increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrical connectionVSAvoidmanufacturing steps

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple contact holes through different insulating layers are merged into a single vertical alignment path, allowing simultaneous formation of all contact holes in one manufacturing step rather than sequential steps

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS12406623B2Display device with overlap layer

Publication Date: 2025.09.02 SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO LTD

AI summary

A display device includes a substrate including a display area including a plurality of pixels, a peripheral area around the display area, and a bending area disposed in the peripheral area. A plurality of transistors is disposed in each pixel; a driving voltage line is disposed in the display area and transmits a driving voltage; a driving voltage transmission line is disposed in the peripheral area and is connected to the driving voltage line; and a conductive overlap layer overlaps at least one of the plurality of transistors.