Display Partition Walls Prevent Cover Layer Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
The encapsulation unit in organic light emitting display apparatuses can be damaged by moisture or external foreign materials, leading to degraded display quality due to refractive issues and contamination risks during the formation of the cover layer, which flows outside and compromises the surface flatness.
Innovation Solution
A plurality of partition walls are formed in the non-active area to prevent the cover layer from flowing outside and to gently slope the surface, with a partition wall fixing unit enhancing the adhesive force to maintain the partition walls' position, ensuring the display quality is preserved.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the encapsulation unit is formed to be thick to planarize a step, then the surface flatness is improved, but the end area of the encapsulation unit has a high slope downwardly slanted causing refractive issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a separate cover layer that covers the encapsulation unit, effectively segmenting the optical path. This cover layer has a thickness of 1 to 10 micrometers, which is sufficient to provide optical compensation without creating the steep slopes that cause refraction problems. The segmentation allows each layer to be optimized independently for its specific function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the thickness parameter of the cover layer to a specific range (1-10 micrometers) that balances two requirements: it is thick enough to provide optical compensation and protect the encapsulation unit, but not so thick as to create significant refraction at the edges. This parameter optimization resolves the contradiction between surface flatness and display quality.
2Reliability
If the cover layer is formed to protect the display panel, then the protection is improved, but the cover layer flows to the outside during formation causing contamination and surface flatness degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces partition walls in the non-active area that segment the cover layer formation process. These partition walls prevent the cover layer material from flowing outside the display panel boundaries during the forming process, while still allowing the cover layer to be formed continuously for protection. The partition walls create contained regions that guide the material flow.
Solution Approach 2:
The partition walls act as intermediary structures between the cover layer material and the external environment. These walls are formed in the non-active area and serve as barriers that prevent direct contact and flow of the cover layer material outside the panel, while not interfering with the protective function of the cover layer itself.
3Manufacturing precision
If partition walls are formed to prevent cover layer flow, then the contamination is reduced, but the adhesive force to the partition walls may be insufficient causing detachment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a composite structure where the partition walls are formed using the same material as the touch protection layer, creating a homogeneous composite that ensures strong adhesion. This material matching approach eliminates the bonding issues that would arise from using dissimilar materials, while still providing the necessary contamination prevention function.
Solution Approach 2:
The partition walls are made from the same material composition as the touch protection layer, creating homogeneity in the structure. This homogeneity ensures strong adhesive force and prevents detachment, as there are no material interfaces that would create bonding weaknesses. The uniform material composition throughout resolves the adhesion problem while maintaining contamination prevention.
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
The partition walls effectively prevent cover layer flow and contamination, maintaining the display's surface flatness and image quality by improving the adhesive force and structural integrity.
Implementation Method 1
a partition wall fixing unit configured to be in contact with bottom surfaces of the plurality of partition walls... to improve the adhesive force
Implementation Method 2
Light emitted from the light emitting diode is refracted by an end slope area of the encapsulation unit
Data Source
AI summary
In one aspect, a display apparatus includes a display substrate including an active area configured to display an image and a non-active area enclosing the active area; a thin film transistor on the display substrate that includes a semiconductor layer, a gate electrode, a source electrode, and a drain electrode; a light emitting diode on the thin film transistor of the active area that includes a first electrode, an emission layer, and a second electrode; an encapsulation unit on the light emitting diode; a touch sensor on the encapsulation unit that includes a plurality of touch electrodes; a touch protection layer configured to cover the touch sensor; a dam on the encapsulation unit; a crack detection unit configured to detect at least one crack in the display apparatus; and a data line configured to supply common voltage to the light emitting diode.