Display Panel Outline Repair with Sequential Ink Curing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Display panels often suffer from damaged outlines during the cutting process, leading to defective portions that are typically discarded, reducing yield.

Innovation Solution

A panel repairing method involving the application of primary and secondary ink to defective areas, followed by controlled light curing, to restore the damaged edges.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the cutting process is performed on the mother panel to produce unit panels, then productivity is improved by mass production, but the outlines of the unit panels may be damaged during cutting, leading to defective portions that must be discarded

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemass production of unit panelsVSAvoidoutline integrity of unit panels
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by preparing a repairable state for defective outlines before final panel completion. The method involves detecting defective portions during or after cutting, then applying repair materials (ink) to restore the outlines. This preliminary repair process allows panels that would otherwise be discarded to be salvaged and used, thereby resolving the contradiction between mass production efficiency and outline integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Manufacturing precision

If defective portions with damaged outlines are discarded to maintain quality standards, then manufacturing precision is preserved, but yield is reduced due to loss of potentially usable panels

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoutline quality of display panelsVSAvoidpanel yield
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent directly applies the discarding and recovering principle by enabling the recovery of panels that would normally be discarded due to outline damage. The repair method uses ink application and curing processes to restore damaged outlines, allowing defective panels to be recovered and reused. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining quality standards while recovering panels that would otherwise be lost, thereby improving yield without compromising manufacturing precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the harm of damaged outlines into a benefit by providing a repair mechanism. Instead of viewing outline damage as a reason for discarding panels, the invention transforms this defect into an opportunity for recovery through ink-based repair processes. The damaged portions are treated as candidates for repair rather than automatic rejection, converting what would be waste into usable product and improving overall yield.

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

3Manufacturing precision

If a complex repair process is developed to restore damaged outlines, then manufacturing precision can be improved for defective panels, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoutline restoration qualityVSAvoidrepair process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex mechanical repair systems with a simplified chemical/photographic process. Instead of using mechanical methods to restore damaged outlines (which would require complex equipment and multiple steps), the invention uses ink application followed by UV curing. This substitution of mechanical repair with a chemical-photographic process significantly reduces device complexity while maintaining high outline restoration quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies parameter changes by utilizing the photopolymerization property of specific ink materials. By changing the state of the repair material from liquid ink to cured solid through UV light exposure, the process achieves precise outline restoration without complex mechanical systems. This parameter change (from liquid to solid state via light curing) simplifies the repair process while maintaining high manufacturing precision for outline restoration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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

Enhances panel yield by effectively repairing damaged outlines, allowing for the reuse of otherwise discarded panels.

Implementation Method 1

bringing the ink ejection pin into contact with the primary ink; moving the ink ejection pin in a direction parallel to a plane of the display panel to spread the primary ink

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCapillary action: Capillary Action

Implementation Method 2

temporarily curing the primary ink

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhotopolymerization: Photopolymerisation

Implementation Method 3

providing secondary ink, which is ejected from the ink ejection pin, to the defective portion; and curing the primary ink and the secondary ink

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Data Source

PatentEP4053618B1Display panel repairing method
Publication Date: 2025.07.16 SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO LTD
  • EP4053618B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4053618B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4053618B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A panel repairing method includes detecting a defective portion of a panel, providing primary ink, which is ejected from an ink ejection pin, onto a first portion of the defective portion, spreading the primary ink in a direction parallel to a plane of the panel, temporarily curing the primary ink, providing secondary ink, which is ejected from the ink ejection pin, onto a second portion of the defective portion disposed adjacent to the first portion, and curing the primary ink and the secondary ink.