Dual Sealant Display Device Frame Narrowing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional display devices face reliability issues due to water ingress through the sealant, leading to malfunction and degradation of the display element and transistor, and have a wide frame that reduces the display area.

Innovation Solution

A display device design where a first sealant surrounds the liquid crystal layer and a second sealant closes the gap between the substrates, extending to the side surfaces, thereby reducing the frame size and preventing impurity entry.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a single sealant is used to surround the liquid crystal layer, then the structure is simple, but water and impurities can penetrate through the sealant causing malfunction

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprevention of water ingressVSAvoidsealant structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing function is divided into two independent sealants: a first sealant that surrounds the liquid crystal layer, and a second sealant that closes the gap between substrates and extends to side surfaces. This segmentation allows each sealant to perform its specific sealing function, preventing water ingress through multiple barriers while maintaining structural clarity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If the frame region is made wide to accommodate sealants, then sealing performance is improved, but the display area is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing performanceVSAvoiddisplay area

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The second sealant extends not only in the planar direction to close the gap between substrates but also in the vertical direction to reach the side surfaces of the substrates. This three-dimensional sealing approach provides comprehensive protection against water ingress while minimizing the lateral extension into the display area, thus preserving screen real estate.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Reliability

If the second sealant extends to side surfaces of substrates, then water penetration is prevented, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection against impurity entryVSAvoidsealant application process

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The gap between substrates is designed and controlled in advance during the assembly process, allowing the second sealant to be applied in a predetermined path that naturally reaches the side surfaces. This preliminary design of the gap structure simplifies the sealant application process by providing a clear route for the sealant to follow, reducing manufacturing complexity while ensuring comprehensive sealing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS10317736B2Display device and electronic device

Publication Date: 2019.06.11 SEMICON ENERGY LAB CO LTD

AI summary

A display device having high reliability is provided. A frame of a display device is narrowed. A display device such as a liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate, a second substrate overlapping with the first substrate, a liquid crystal layer between the first substrate and the second substrate, a first sealant surrounding the liquid crystal layer between the first substrate and the second substrate, and a second sealant surrounding the first sealant, closing a gap between the first substrate and the second substrate, and extending to at least a side surface of the second substrate.