Light-Emitting Display Pixel Layout With Valley Openings for Foldability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional light emitting display devices face challenges in achieving high resolution while maintaining resistance to external impacts, such as bending or folding, due to the limitations in their structural design and material usage.

Innovation Solution

A light emitting display device is designed with a valley portion within the display area, formed of organic material, which surrounds pixel circuit portions and includes openings or grooves to reduce the pixel area and enhance impact resistance. This structure incorporates conductive layers, semiconductor layers, and insulating layers, with specific wiring connections through the valley portion openings to facilitate flexible and durable display functionality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If pixel circuits are arranged closely to increase pixel density, then display resolution is improved, but manufacturing defects occur more frequently and yield decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay resolutionVSAvoidmanufacturing yield
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The pixel array is divided into multiple blocks by valley portions that extend from the edge toward the center. Each block contains pixel circuits that can be independently manufactured and tested. This segmentation allows defective blocks to be identified and excluded without affecting the entire array, thereby maintaining high yield even with high pixel density.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Valley portions act as intermediary structures between adjacent pixel blocks. These valley portions include opening regions that facilitate signal routing and electrical connection between blocks while providing physical separation. This intermediary structure enables independent manufacturing and testing of each block, resolving the contradiction between high density and manufacturing reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If valley portions are added to partition pixel circuits into blocks, then manufacturing yield is improved through defect isolation, but device structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing yieldVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The valley portions serve multiple functions simultaneously: they partition pixel circuits into manufacturable blocks, provide opening regions for signal routing, enable electrical connection between blocks, and facilitate independent testing. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate structures, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while achieving defect isolation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Ease of operation

If valley portion openings are provided for signal routing, then ease of operation is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignal routingVSAvoidopening positioning
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The valley portion opening regions are pre-defined during the pixel circuit layout design stage with precise positional relationships to pixel electrodes and signal lines. This preliminary positioning allows subsequent manufacturing processes to follow established patterns, reducing the actual manufacturing precision requirements while maintaining ease of signal routing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4429439A2Light emitting display device
Publication Date: 2024.09.11 SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO LTD
  • EP4429439A2 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4429439A2 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4429439A2 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A light emitting display device according to an embodiment includes a display area (DA) that includes a plurality of pixel circuit portions (PC), a plurality of light emitting diodes (LED) electrically connected to the plurality of pixel circuit portions (PC), respectively, and a valley portion (VLY) that is disposed in the display area (DA), surrounds at least one of the plurality of pixel circuit portions (PC) to partition the plurality of pixel circuit portions (PC) into a plurality of regions, and includes at least one valley portion opening (VLYo).