Display Device Spacer Layer for Flat Surface Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Organic electro-luminescence displays are vulnerable to water and suffer from uneven sealing film surfaces, leading to distorted attachment of external films like polarizer plates due to height differences between the display and peripheral areas, resulting in a defective external appearance.
Innovation Solution
A display device with a substrate having a display area and peripheral area, featuring a sealing layer with an organic film sandwiched by inorganic films, and a spacer layer in the peripheral area to create a continuous flat surface for attaching films uniformly across both areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the organic film is formed thick by ink-jet method or print method to improve barrier capacity, then the sealing performance is improved, but the surface unevenness increases causing distorted film attachment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a planarization layer as an intermediary between the uneven sealing film and the external film (polarizer plate). This planarization layer has a lower surface that contacts the uneven sealing film and an upper surface that provides a flat attachment surface, thereby mediating the contradiction between maintaining thick sealing film for barrier performance and providing a flat surface for external film attachment.
2Shape
If the sealing film surface is made flat to improve external appearance, then the film attachment quality is improved, but the barrier capacity against water may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the sealing structure into multiple functional layers: the sealing film layer (with inorganic and organic films providing barrier capacity) and the planarization layer (providing surface flatness). This segmentation allows each layer to independently fulfill its specific function without compromising the other, resolving the contradiction between surface flatness and barrier capacity.
3Area of stationary object
If the organic film is spread to peripheral edge to improve sealing coverage, then the sealing area is increased, but the height difference between display area and peripheral area increases
Solution Approach 1:
The planarization layer acts as a mediator that compensates for the height difference created by the organic film spreading to the peripheral edge. By forming this intermediate layer, the patent enables the organic film to extend to the periphery for improved sealing coverage while simultaneously providing a flat upper surface for external film attachment.
Data Source
AI summary
A display device includes a substrate including a display area and a peripheral area outside the display area; a plurality of light emitting elements formed in the display area; a sealing layer formed in the display area and the peripheral area so as to seal the plurality of light emitting elements and having an upper surface positioned lower in the peripheral area than in the area; a spacer layer laminated on the sealing layer at least in the peripheral area to contribute to form a continuous flat surface extending from the display area to the peripheral area; and a film attached to the flat surface in the area including the display area and the peripheral area.