Display Substrate Spacer Layout for Wide-Angle Color Shift Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

The reduction in pixel size and spacing in display devices leads to increased manufacturing difficulty and cost, and color shift under different viewing angles due to spacer interference with light emission.

Innovation Solution

A display substrate design with specific spacer arrangements between sub-pixels, including non-perpendicular extension directions and staggered pixel group configurations, reduces spacer shading and improves pixel density and uniformity, using transparent or modified materials to minimize color shift.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a simple ITO layer is used as the transparent electrode, then the manufacturing process is simple and cost-effective, but the electrode develops wrinkles and cracks during the bending process

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing process simplicityVSAvoidelectrode integrity during bending
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The transparent electrode is divided into multiple layers: a lower ITO layer deposited on the substrate, and an upper transparent conductive oxide layer deposited on the lower layer. This segmentation allows each layer to have optimized thickness and properties, preventing wrinkle formation while maintaining manufacturing simplicity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses a composite structure of multiple transparent conductive oxide layers (e.g., ITO and IZO) with different electrical and mechanical properties. This composite approach provides both flexibility for bending and electrical conductivity, resolving the contradiction between simple manufacturing and bending reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Adaptability or versatility

If the display device is designed to be flexible and bendable, then the adaptability and user experience are improved, but the existing rigid electrode structures develop wrinkles and cracks

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflexibility and bendabilityVSAvoidelectrode integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a dynamic multi-layer electrode structure where the upper transparent conductive oxide layer can deform independently from the substrate during bending. This dynamic design allows the electrode to accommodate flexion without developing permanent wrinkles or cracks, enabling both flexibility and reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If the ITO layer is made thinner to reduce stress during bending, then the flexibility is improved, but the electrical conductivity and transparency deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveflexibilityVSAvoidelectrical conductivity and transparency
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The electrode function is segmented across multiple layers: the lower ITO layer provides baseline conductivity and transparency, while the upper transparent conductive oxide layer compensates for any loss in electrical properties. This segmentation allows the use of thinner individual layers without sacrificing overall performance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the electrode structure have different properties optimized for specific functions: the lower layer is optimized for adhesion to the substrate, while the upper layer is optimized for electrical conductivity and flexibility. This local quality differentiation resolves the contradiction between thinness for flexibility and sufficient thickness for electrical performance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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

Enhances display quality by reducing color shift and manufacturing complexity while maintaining high pixel density and resolution.

Implementation Method 1

a lower transparent electrode layer that is deposited on the substrate

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrical conduction: Conduction (electrical)

Implementation Method 2

an upper transparent electrode layer that is deposited on the lower transparent electrode layer

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrical conduction: Conduction (electrical)

Data Source

PatentEP3751336B1Display substrate and display device
Publication Date: 2026.05.06 BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO LTD
  • EP3751336B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1C
  • EP3751336B1 patent drawingFigure 2A
  • EP3751336B1 patent drawingFigure 2B

AI summary

A display substrate and a display device. The display substrate comprises a first sub-pixel (111), a second sub-pixel (112), and a first spacer (0101). A line connecting the center (C1) of the first sub-pixel (111) and the center (C2) of the second sub-pixel (112) is a center line (CL1); the center line (CL1) is not perpendicular to a first direction (X); the first direction (X) is at least one of the row direction or the column direction. The first spacer (0101) is disposed between the first sub-pixel (111) and the second sub-pixel (112), and the extension direction (E01) of first spacer (0101) between the first sub-pixel (111) and the second sub-pixel (112) is not perpendicular to the first direction (X). Therefore, the display substrate can improve the different viewing angle color cast and improve the display quality.