Display Panel Water Vapor Drainage via Electrowetting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Display panels are vulnerable to water vapor intrusion, which can lead to poor display performance and corrosion of metal wiring, especially in environments with high humidity.
Innovation Solution
A display panel design incorporating a rubber frame, hydrophobic structure, drainage structure, and one-way valve, where the hydrophobic structure and drainage structure work together to condense and drain water vapor, and the one-way valve prevents external water vapor from entering, using electrowetting technology to control the movement of water drops.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If water vapor intrusion prevention measures are implemented, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements nested protective structures where the hydrophobic coating is applied within the sealing frame, the drainage channel is embedded within the coating layer, and the one-way valve is integrated within the channel structure. This nested arrangement provides multiple layers of water vapor protection while maintaining a compact and integrated design, resolving the contradiction between reliability improvement and complexity increase.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a hydrophobic coating as a thin film layer that repels water vapor, and uses flexible sealing frames to create barriers. These thin film and shell structures provide effective water vapor intrusion prevention without adding substantial structural complexity, as they can be integrated into the existing display panel architecture.
2Reliability
If drainage structure is added to remove water vapor, then reliability is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The drainage channel structure is designed to utilize gravity and surface tension effects to automatically drain condensed water vapor without requiring complex active pumping mechanisms. The hydrophobic coating itself provides the driving force for water transport through its repulsive properties, eliminating the need for high-precision active control systems and reducing manufacturing precision requirements.
3Reliability
If one-way valve is implemented to block external water vapor, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the valve function from complex mechanical mechanisms and implements it through the inherent properties of the hydrophobic coating and drainage channel geometry. The one-way valve effect is achieved by designing the channel with specific hydrophobic characteristics that naturally allow outward water flow while blocking inward penetration, eliminating the need for complex moving valve parts and reducing overall 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 effectively prevents water vapor from entering the display panel, condenses it into droplets for drainage, and actively removes them, ensuring reliable operation in humid environments, such as bathrooms or rainforests.
Implementation Method 1
the water collecting layer has a superhydrophobic micro-surface, the water collecting layer is configured to condense water vapor entering the buffering space into a water drop
Implementation Method 2
the first electrode and the second electrode are configured to receive a control signal having a predetermined voltage difference to control the water drop to move toward the drain outlet
Implementation Method 3
The one-way valve is a Tesla one-way valve, a one-way film, or a pressure valve
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are a display panel and an electronic device. The display panel includes a first substrate and a second substrate. The display panel further includes a rubber frame, a hydrophobic structure, and a drainage structure. An outer peripheral side of the rubber frame, the first substrate, and the second substrate define an accommodation space. The hydrophobic structure is disposed in the accommodating space, and the hydrophobic structure defines a buffering space and a drain outlet communicating with the buffering space. The drainage structure includes a water collecting layer, a first electrode, and a second electrode. The water collecting layer is configured to condense water vapor entering the buffering space into a water drop. The first electrode and the second electrode are configured to receive a control signal having a predetermined voltage difference to control the water drop to move toward the drain outlet.