Display Panel Groove Design for Ink Flow and Stress Relief

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Solution Overview

Problem

In OLED display panels, the stress concentration at the edge of the blocking structure in the peripheral area leads to a risk of metal line breakage when the panel is bent, due to ink not flowing to this edge during the inkjet printing process for planarization.

Innovation Solution

The display panel incorporates a first groove in the non-display area with a series of solid units and interconnected microgrooves, allowing the second refractive layer to fill the microgrooves and cover the solid units, enabling ink to flow to the edge of the groove by capillary action during inkjet printing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-generated harmful factors

If a blocking structure (groove) is provided in the peripheral area to prevent ink overflow during IJP, then ink overflow is prevented, but ink cannot flow to the edge of the blocking structure, causing stress concentration and risk of metal line breakage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveink overflowVSAvoidmetal line breakage risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The blocking structure is designed with a porous configuration comprising a plurality of through-holes formed in the groove. This allows the ink to penetrate through the blocking structure and reach the edge area during the inkjet printing process, eliminating the stress concentration that would otherwise occur at the blocked edge. The porous design maintains the ink containment function while enabling stress relief pathways.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

The blocking structure is segmented into multiple through-holes distributed across the groove area, rather than forming a continuous solid barrier. This segmentation allows selective permeability to ink while maintaining structural integrity, enabling ink to reach specific edge regions without causing overflow in other areas.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Object-generated harmful factors

If the blocking structure is made solid to prevent ink overflow, then ink containment is improved, but stress concentration occurs at the edge adjacent to the display area

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveink overflowVSAvoidstress concentration
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

The blocking structure transitions from a solid configuration to a porous one with multiple through-holes. This porous design reduces the continuous stress concentration at the edge by creating distributed stress pathways through the holes, while still maintaining sufficient ink containment capability through the collective effect of multiple barriers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

The through-holes in the blocking structure, which could potentially allow ink leakage, are instead utilized to enable beneficial ink flow to the edge area. This converts what would be a harmful leakage pathway into a useful channel for stress relief and ink distribution, eliminating the stress concentration problem.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

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

This design prevents stress concentration at the edge of the blocking structure, reduces the risk of metal line breakage when the panel is bent, and prolongs the service life of the display panel.

Implementation Method 1

allowing the second refractive layer to fill the microgrooves and cover the solid units, enabling ink to flow to the edge of the groove by capillary action during inkjet printing

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCapillary action: Capillary Action

Data Source

PatentUS20250081824A1Display panel and display device
Publication Date: 2025.03.06 WUHAN CHINA STAR OPTOELECTRONICS SEMICONDUCTOR DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY CO LTD
  • US20250081824A1 patent drawing
  • US20250081824A1 patent drawing
  • US20250081824A1 patent drawing

AI summary

A display panel and a display device are provided. The display panel includes a substrate, a light-emitting layer, a first refractive layer including openings and first grooves and a second refractive layer filling the openings. A refractive index of the second refractive layer is greater than a refractive index of the first refractive layer. The first groove comprises solid units spaced apart and interconnected microgrooves, each of the microgrooves is disposed between every adjacent two of the solid units, and the second refractive layer fills the microgrooves and covers the solid units.