Display Substrate Stopper Layers for Crack Propagation Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Display devices using light-emitting elements face challenges in reliability and yield due to issues such as crack propagation during manufacturing processes, particularly in the non-display regions where pixel driving circuits and wires are located.
Innovation Solution
Incorporation of stopper layers in the non-display regions to prevent crack propagation, including multiple stopper layers with stopper regions, and a crack stopper to block cracks from reaching the display area, combined with flexible link wires and conductive materials to reduce stress.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If light-emitting elements are used to improve brightness and emission efficiency, then display performance is enhanced, but reliability and yield deteriorate due to crack propagation during manufacturing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the inorganic layer into multiple segments by forming crack stopper layers with through-holes at specific intervals. These segmented structures prevent cracks from propagating continuously across the pixel driving circuit, thereby maintaining reliability while preserving the brightness enhancement benefits of light-emitting elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The crack stopper layers act as intermediary structures between the pixel driving circuit and the light-emitting elements. By positioning these protective layers with through-holes strategically, the patent mediates the stress distribution and prevents crack propagation from affecting the display performance and reliability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If pixel driving circuits are disposed on the substrate to enable device operation, then functionality is achieved, but crack propagation occurs during manufacturing processes
Solution Approach 1:
The inorganic layer is segmented into multiple regions by forming crack stopper layers with through-holes. This segmentation prevents continuous crack propagation across the pixel driving circuit during manufacturing, thereby improving manufacturing yield while maintaining circuit functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The crack stopper layers are formed preliminarily before completing the pixel driving circuit fabrication. This preliminary protective action prevents crack propagation during subsequent manufacturing processes, ensuring both functionality and manufacturing precision are achieved.
3Reliability
If multiple stopper layers are added to prevent crack propagation, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The protective structure is segmented into discrete crack stopper layers with through-holes rather than continuous layers. This segmentation approach improves reliability by blocking crack propagation paths while maintaining relatively simple fabrication processes, thus balancing reliability improvement with acceptable device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A display device can include a substrate including a display region and a non-display region, a plurality of light-emitting elements disposed on the substrate, and a plurality of stopper layers disposed under or on the light-emitting elements. At least one of the plurality of stopper layers includes a stopper region disposed in the non-display region. The display device can further include a pixel driving circuit disposed on the substrate and electrically connected to the light-emitting elements. The stopper layers are further disposed under or on the pixel driving circuit.