Display Panel Groove Design for Foldable Adhesion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Delamination defects occur between stacked components of rollable or foldable display devices due to bending, which reduces the reliability of these devices.
Innovation Solution
A display panel design featuring a light emitting element layer with a pixel definition layer and a first inorganic layer that covers the light emitting element layer, where the inorganic layer has an uneven upper surface with grooves and varying thickness, and an organic layer is in contact with the inorganic layer to fill these grooves, enhancing adhesion between layers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the display panel is bent for rollable or foldable functionality, then user convenience and portability are improved, but delamination defects occur between stacked components
Solution Approach 1:
The pixel definition layer is designed with different structural characteristics in different regions: barrier portions with lateral surfaces in spaces between light emitting elements, and different groove configurations in first and second spaces. This local differentiation allows the structure to provide enhanced adhesion where needed while maintaining flexibility overall, resolving the contradiction between flexibility and adhesion reliability
Solution Approach 2:
Grooves with curved or bent lateral surfaces are formed in the pixel definition layer, particularly in the first space between barrier portions. These curved structures follow the bending trajectory of the display panel, allowing the layer to deform without creating stress concentrations that would cause delamination, thus maintaining both flexibility and adhesion
2Reliability
If barrier portions are added to the pixel definition layer to prevent delamination, then adhesion is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pixel definition layer serves multiple functions simultaneously: it defines pixel boundaries, provides barrier portions to prevent delamination, creates grooves for stress management, and maintains the overall flexibility of the display panel. By making the pixel definition layer multi-functional rather than adding separate components, the solution improves adhesion without proportionally increasing device complexity
Data Source
AI summary
A display panel includes a light emitting element layer comprising a pixel definition layer having an opening defined therethrough and a light emitting element disposed in the opening. The pixel definition layer includes a first barrier portion and a second barrier portion spaced apart from each other in a first direction to define a first space having a first length in the first direction. A first inorganic layer covers the light emitting element layer. The first inorganic layer includes an uneven upper surface corresponding to the first space. An organic layer is in contact with an upper surface of the first in layer. A first groove is defined by the upper surface of the first inorganic layer overlapping the first space. A thickness of the first inorganic layer overlapping the first space varies. The organic layer is filled in the first groove.