Dummy Common Electrode for OLED Oxidation Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Organic light emitting diode displays are susceptible to degradation from external factors like moisture and oxygen, which affect the lifespan of the organic light emitting elements, and existing encapsulation technologies face challenges in preventing oxidation and physical damage during the formation of the thin film encapsulation layer.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a dummy common electrode with a thickness of 50 Å to 200 Å, made of materials like magnesium or silver, between the common electrode and the thin film encapsulation layer, along with an ultraviolet ray blocking layer and a buffer layer to reduce oxidation and physical damage, and forming oxidation reducing layers to prevent common electrode oxidation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a thin film encapsulation layer is formed directly on the common electrode, then the organic light emitting element is protected from external moisture and oxygen, but the common electrode undergoes oxidation and physical damage during the formation process
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a dummy common electrode as an intermediary layer between the common electrode and the thin film encapsulation layer. This dummy electrode absorbs the harmful effects during encapsulation formation, preventing direct damage to the functional common electrode while still enabling effective encapsulation protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The dummy common electrode is formed in advance before the thin film encapsulation layer deposition. It pre-positioned sacrificial layer that will undergo oxidation during the encapsulation process, thereby protecting the actual common electrode from oxidation and physical damage before the protective encapsulation is fully established.
2Device complexity
If the common electrode is directly exposed during thin film encapsulation formation, then the encapsulation process can be simplified, but high-energy particles and byproducts cause oxidation and degradation of the common electrode
Solution Approach 1:
The dummy common electrode serves as a mediator that allows the encapsulation process to proceed without excessive complexity while protecting the functional electrode. It absorbs the high-energy particle bombardment and chemical byproducts during sputtering or deposition, maintaining common electrode integrity without requiring complex in-situ protection mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The dummy common electrode acts as a disposable sacrificial layer that is intentionally designed to undergo degradation during the encapsulation process. This inexpensive, temporary component protects the valuable functional common electrode, allowing the encapsulation to be formed using standard processes without compromising electrode reliability.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If materials reactive with oxygen are used in the encapsulation process, then oxidation of the common electrode can be reduced, but additional layers and process steps are required
Solution Approach 1:
The dummy common electrode made from oxygen-reactive materials serves as an intermediary that preferentially reacts with oxygen during encapsulation formation. This sacrificial reaction protects the functional common electrode from oxidation, and the resulting oxide layer can actually provide additional protection, making the added structural complexity worthwhile for achieving reliable electrode protection.
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
The solution effectively minimizes the impact of byproducts and high-energy particles on the common electrode, reducing oxidation and physical damage, thereby enhancing the longevity and performance of the organic light emitting diode display.
Implementation Method 1
the dummy common electrode may include a material that is configured to react with oxygen to form a transparent oxide
Implementation Method 2
An ultraviolet ray (UV) blocking layer may be between the dummy common electrode and the thin film encapsulation layer
Data Source
AI summary
An organic light emitting diode display according to an exemplary embodiment includes a substrate, a pixel electrode on the substrate, an organic emission layer on the pixel electrode, a common electrode on the organic emission layer, a cover layer on the common electrode, an oxidation reducing layer on the cover layer, and a thin film encapsulation layer covering the oxidation reducing layer, the oxidation reducing layer being configured to reduce oxidation of the common electrode, the oxidation reducing layer being separated from the common electrode. The oxidation reducing layer may include at least one of a dummy common electrode, an ultraviolet ray (UV) blocking layer, and a buffer layer.