Display Panel Passivation Protrusion for Sealant Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional display panels face issues with oxygen and moisture permeation through the porous and defective sealant layers, which deteriorate the electronic properties and reduce the lifespan of the display components.

Innovation Solution

A display panel design featuring a passivation layer with a protruding portion in the peripheral area, reducing the amount of sealant material needed and enhancing hermeticity, where the sealant layer is minimized and the protruding portion acts as a primary barrier against external environment exposure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a conventional sealant layer is used to seal the array substrate and counter substrate, then the substrates are sealed together, but oxygen and moisture permeate through the porous and defective sealant layer, deteriorating electronic properties and reducing lifespan

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovehermeticityVSAvoidoxygen and moisture permeation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing structure is divided into two functional parts: a protruding portion that provides mechanical support and spacing, and a minimized sealant layer that provides hermetic sealing. This segmentation allows each part to optimize its specific function, with the sealant layer focusing solely on moisture and oxygen barrier properties.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The sealant layer is strategically positioned only where hermetic sealing is most critical - at the interface between the protruding portion and the counter substrate. This localized application maximizes the sealing effectiveness while minimizing the total amount of sealant material and its exposure to the external environment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If a thick sealant layer is used to ensure sealing, then sealing is achieved, but the amount of sealant material increases and more area is exposed to the external environment, increasing permeation risk

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing effectivenessVSAvoidsealant layer exposure area
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing function is transitioned from a two-dimensional broad sealant layer to a three-dimensional structure where the protruding portion provides vertical support and spacing, allowing the sealant layer to be minimized to a thin interface layer. This dimensional change reduces the sealant's exposure area while maintaining sealing effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Reliability

If the protruding portion is formed to enclose the display area, then hermeticity is enhanced and sealant material is reduced, but the manufacturing process complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovehermeticityVSAvoidpassivation layer structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The protruding portion is integrated directly into the passivation layer formed during the existing manufacturing process, combining the protective function of the passivation layer with the structural support function of the protruding portion. This merging avoids adding separate manufacturing steps while achieving enhanced hermeticity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3488478B1Method of fabricating display panel
Publication Date: 2023.04.19 BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO LTD
  • EP3488478B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3488478B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3488478B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

A display panel is provided. The display panel includes a first substrate (S1) and a second substrate (S2) facing the first substrate. The first substrate includes a base substrate (1) and a passivation layer (4) on the base substrate. The passivation layer includes a base portion (42) and a protruding portion (41) on a side of the base portion distal to the base substrate. The protruding portion is in a peripheral area (B) of the display panel and encloses a display area (A) of the display panel.