Slim Border Display Panel Spacer Placement for Wiring Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional display panels with slim borders face the challenge of spacers damaging the multi-layer conductive wiring structure due to their placement within the sealant, which can lead to electrical connectivity issues and structural damage under external forces.
Innovation Solution
The spacers are strategically positioned at two opposite sides of the sealant, avoiding direct contact with the multi-layer conductive wiring structure, thereby preventing damage and ensuring the integrity of the wiring during assembly and operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If spacers are disposed inside the sealant to maintain gap between substrates, then the gap maintenance function is achieved, but the multi-layer conductive wiring structure may be damaged by the rigid spacers under external force
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the spacers from the sealant region and relocates them to the non-sealant region between the first and second substrates. This separation removes the harmful interaction between spacers and the multi-layer conductive wiring structure while preserving the gap maintenance function. The spacers are specifically positioned in areas where they do not contact the conductive wirings, thereby eliminating the damage risk.
2Area of stationary object
If the display panel is designed with slim border to reduce peripheral circuit area, then the overall area is reduced, but the layout space for conductive wiring structure becomes increasingly reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a single-layer conductive wiring structure to a multi-layer conductive wiring structure, utilizing the vertical dimension (z-axis) to accommodate more wiring routes. This allows the conductive wirings to be arranged in multiple layers with insulating layers in between, effectively increasing the layout space for wiring without increasing the planar area occupied by the peripheral circuit.
3Reliability
If insulating layer is disposed between spacers and conductive wiring structure to provide buffering effect, then the conductive wiring structure is protected from direct contact with sealant, but the rigid spacers can still damage the insulating layer and underlying wiring structure under excessive external force
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the spacers from the sealant region where they would contact the insulating layer and conductive wiring structure. By relocating spacers to the non-sealant region, the insulating layer no longer needs to serve as a protective barrier against spacer-induced damage, eliminating the source of the problem rather than relying on protective layers.
Data Source
AI summary
A display panel includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a sealant, a plurality of spacers, and a display medium layer. The first substrate has a pixel array and a peripheral circuit. The sealant, the spacers, and the display medium layer are disposed between the first and the second substrate. The pixel array is surrounded by the sealant and located on a portion of the peripheral circuit. A multi-layer conductive wiring structure is disposed in the region of the peripheral circuit covered with the sealant. The multi-layer conductive wiring structure includes first and second conductive wirings. The second conductive wirings are connected to the pixel array via the first conductive wirings. An extending direction of the first conductive wirings is substantially different from that of the second conductive wirings. The spacers are distributed at two opposite sides of the sealant and respectively located between two adjacent first conductive wirings.