Display Panel Grooves with Undercut Structure for Moisture Protection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Display devices with openings are prone to contamination by moisture, which can damage surrounding display elements, as existing technologies fail to effectively prevent moisture ingress through lateral sides.
Innovation Solution
A display panel design featuring a substrate with an opening area surrounded by a display area, incorporating a thin-film encapsulation layer and grooves with an undercut structure and partition walls made of organic insulating material, along with an inorganic layer interposed between the substrate and partition walls, to prevent moisture passage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If an opening is provided in the display area to add various functions, then the versatility of the display device is improved, but moisture can penetrate through the lateral side of the opening and damage display elements
Solution Approach 1:
The opening is divided into multiple segments by forming grooves that extend from the opening toward the display area. These grooves create separate compartments that prevent continuous moisture pathways, effectively segmenting the potential contamination route while preserving the opening's functional purpose.
Solution Approach 2:
A partition wall structure is introduced as an intermediary element between the opening and the display elements. This partition wall, formed by the grooves and filling material, acts as a mediator that blocks moisture penetration while allowing the opening to maintain its intended function, thus protecting display elements without compromising versatility.
2Reliability
If grooves are formed to prevent moisture penetration, then the moisture resistance is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases due to the undercut structure and partition wall formation
Solution Approach 1:
The grooves are formed with an undercut structure that extends in the depth direction of the substrate, utilizing the third dimension to create effective moisture barriers. This vertical dimensionality allows the grooves to block moisture pathways without requiring excessive horizontal space or complex lateral structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The partition wall structure combines multiple materials including the groove substrate, inorganic layers, and organic filling materials to create a composite barrier system. This composite approach enhances moisture resistance by leveraging the complementary properties of different materials while distributing structural complexity across multiple functional layers.
3Reliability
If the grooves extend close to the display area to effectively block moisture, then the moisture protection is improved, but the display area is reduced due to the groove occupation
Solution Approach 1:
The grooves are strategically positioned and dimensioned to provide localized moisture protection only where needed near the opening, rather than uniformly across the entire display area. This allows the grooves to extend close enough to effectively block moisture while minimizing their footprint and preserving the maximum display area.
Solution Approach 2:
The grooves extend partially toward the display area rather than fully reaching it, providing sufficient moisture protection through the undercut structure and partition wall formation without excessively encroaching on the display area. This partial extension achieves the necessary protection while maintaining optimal display real estate.
Data Source
AI summary
A display panel including: a substrate including an opening area and a display area surrounding the opening area; a plurality of display elements, each including a pixel electrode, an emission layer, and an opposite electrode, the plurality of display elements being located in the display area; a thin-film encapsulation layer covering the plurality of display elements and including an organic encapsulation layer and an inorganic encapsulation layer; a plurality of grooves located between the opening area and the display area, the plurality of grooves being concave in a depth direction of the substrate and having an undercut structure; and a partition wall located between neighboring grooves among the plurality of grooves.