Flat Panel Display Sealing Barrier and Composite Layers
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Flat panel display devices, particularly organic light-emitting display devices, are vulnerable to external elements like oxygen and moisture due to their sealing structure, which requires multiple masks and increases processing and cost, and are prone to infiltration from boundary sides when formed as a film type.
Innovation Solution
A flat panel display device with a substrate divided into regions, featuring a display unit, a barrier with an inorganic material, and a sealing structure comprising alternating layers of inorganic and organic materials that contact the barrier, providing enhanced sealing without covering the entire substrate, thus preventing moisture and oxygen infiltration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a sealing structure is formed as a film type, then the manufacturing process is simplified, but the device becomes vulnerable to oxygen and moisture infiltrating from boundary sides
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing structure employs a composite design combining an inorganic barrier layer and an organic sealing layer. The inorganic layer provides superior moisture and oxygen blocking properties, while the organic layer ensures good adhesion and seals the boundary sides effectively. This composite approach resolves the contradiction by achieving both ease of manufacture and reliable protection against infiltration.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing structure is divided into functionally distinct layers: an inorganic barrier layer for blocking oxygen and moisture, and an organic sealing layer for adhesion and boundary sealing. This segmentation allows each layer to optimize its specific function, preventing infiltration while maintaining manufacturing simplicity.
2Reliability
If the sealing structure covers the entire substrate including the second region, then sealing is enhanced, but the device complexity and processing steps increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing structure is strategically positioned only in the first region where the display unit is located, rather than covering the entire substrate. The inorganic barrier layer extends to the boundary of the first region to provide adequate sealing, while the second region remains exposed. This local quality approach enhances sealing effectiveness where needed without increasing overall device complexity.
3Reliability
If a barrier is disposed adjacent to the second region, then sealing characteristics are improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The inorganic barrier layer serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a moisture and oxygen barrier, defines the boundary between the first and second regions, and provides structural support for the organic sealing layer. This multi-functionality improves sealing characteristics without significantly increasing device complexity, as the barrier layer integrates several roles into a single component.
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 solution effectively seals the display unit from external elements, reducing the risk of damage during processing and enhancing the sealing characteristics by using inorganic materials for the barrier and organic materials for the sealing structure, which contact each other to improve adhesion and block moisture/oxygen infiltration.
Implementation Method 1
at least one first layer which includes an inorganic material and at least one second layer which includes an organic material, and contacting the barrier
Implementation Method 2
at least one second layer which includes an organic material, and contacting the barrier
Data Source
AI summary
A flat panel display device provides a sealing structure for comprising and sealing a display unit disposed in a first region on a substrate. The display unit includes the first region and a second region, and a barrier is disposed in the first region on the substrate, on an outer side of the display unit, and adjacent to the second region. The sealing structure contacts the barrier, and includes at least one first layer of an inorganic material and at least one second layer of an organic material. A method of manufacturing the flat panel display device is also disclosed.