Encapsulation Substrate Groove Pattern for Resin-Safe Display Holes

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electronic devices face issues with pixel defects due to resin leakage from holes in the display panel, which can affect the display unit and compromise the functionality of electronic modules.

Innovation Solution

A display device design featuring a signal transmission region, a display region, a peripheral region, a base layer, a circuit layer, a light emitting element layer, an encapsulation substrate with a groove pattern, and a light compensation layer to prevent resin leakage and enhance module functionality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a hole is provided in the display panel to expose the electronic module, then the functionality of the electronic module is improved, but resin may leak into the pixel and cause a pixel defect

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefunctionality of electronic moduleVSAvoidpixel defect prevention

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The encapsulation substrate is divided into a first region (overlapping the hole) and a second region (overlapping the display region), with the groove pattern creating a physical segmentation barrier between these regions. This segmentation prevents resin from the first region from leaking into the second region while maintaining electronic module functionality through the hole.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The groove pattern acts as an intermediary barrier structure between the hole region and the display region. It provides a physical obstruction that mediates the resin flow, allowing the hole to remain open for electronic module functionality while preventing harmful resin leakage into the pixel area.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Area of stationary object

If the display region is expanded and non-display region is narrowed, then user preference and display efficiency are improved, but resin leakage risk increases due to reduced buffer space

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisplay region areaVSAvoidresin leakage risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of relying solely on horizontal buffer space (2D perimeter distance), the groove pattern introduces a vertical dimension (depth into the encapsulation substrate) to create the barrier. This allows the display region to be expanded horizontally while the groove pattern provides resin containment in the vertical dimension, preventing leakage even with minimal horizontal buffer space.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The groove pattern is formed in advance during the encapsulation substrate fabrication process, creating a pre-established barrier structure. This preliminary action ensures that when resin is later introduced or applied, the barrier is already in place to prevent leakage, allowing for expanded display regions without increasing leakage risk.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Illumination intensity

If resin is used to fill the hole and adjust transmittance, then optical properties are improved, but resin may leak into the pixel and cause defects

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransmittance adjustmentVSAvoidpixel integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The groove pattern, which initially appears to add structural complexity, actually converts the potential harm of resin leakage into a controlled situation. By providing a defined barrier, it allows resin to be safely used for transmittance adjustment in the hole region while the groove ensures any excess or misplaced resin is contained and directed away from the pixel area, thus benefiting from resin's optical properties without suffering its leakage problems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Data Source

PatentUS12557522B2Display device and electronic device including encapsulation substrate and groove pattern

Publication Date: 2026.02.17 SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO LTD

AI summary

A display device includes a signal transmission region, a display region spaced apart from the signal transmission region, a peripheral region located between the signal transmission region and the display region, a base layer, a circuit layer disposed on the base layer, a light emitting element layer disposed on the circuit layer and that includes a light emitting element that overlaps the display region, an encapsulation substrate disposed on the light emitting element layer, a hole defined in the signal transmission region and that passes through at least a portion of each of the circuit layer and the light emitting element layer, and a groove pattern defined on one surface of the encapsulation substrate and that overlaps the peripheral region.