Evaporation Mask Shielding for Bezel-less Display Integration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current "full screen" designs in mobile devices feature a "notch" due to the placement of components like the earpiece and front camera, which obstructs the display and limits the screen-to-body ratio, making it difficult to achieve a true bezel-less design.

Innovation Solution

A mask with a substrate, shielding part, and connecting part is used during the evaporation process to shield components like the earpiece and front camera, allowing for normal display in their areas by preventing evaporation material from depositing on them, and the connecting part has a grid structure to ensure proper film layer connection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If components (earpiece, front camera, sensors) are placed on the front of the display screen, then these components can be integrated into the device, but the display area is blocked and screen-to-body ratio is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomponent integrationVSAvoiddisplay area

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The mask is divided into multiple functional regions: a substrate with openings corresponding to the display area, shielding parts positioned at specific locations to block evaporation material from reaching components, and connecting parts that link shielding parts to the substrate. This segmentation allows selective shielding of component areas while preserving display functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The mask serves as an intermediary tool during the evaporation process. It mediates between the evaporation source and the display screen by allowing evaporation material to pass through openings (forming display pixels) while blocking material from reaching component areas through the shielding parts, thus enabling both component integration and display area preservation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If a shielding structure is added to block evaporation material from components, then component protection is achieved, but the mask structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomponent protectionVSAvoidmask structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The mask integrates multiple functions into a single structure: the substrate provides the base framework, shielding parts block evaporation material from components, and connecting parts link shielding parts to the substrate. This merging of functions into one integrated mask structure avoids the need for multiple separate components, thereby reducing overall complexity while achieving reliable component protection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The mask structure is designed to be multi-functional: it serves as both a support structure for the evaporation process and a shielding mechanism for protecting components. The same mask simultaneously defines the display area through its openings and protects components through its shielding parts, eliminating the need for separate shielding structures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Ease of manufacture

If the mask structure is simplified to reduce complexity, then manufacturing becomes easier, but the ability to shield specific components is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemask fabricationVSAvoidshielding accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The mask employs local quality by providing different structural characteristics in different regions: the substrate has openings for display pixel formation, specific regions have shielding parts for component protection, and connecting parts link these regions. This localized differentiation allows the mask to perform multiple functions with a single structure, maintaining manufacturing simplicity while achieving precise shielding of specific components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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

This solution enables a higher screen-to-body ratio by allowing the display area around components to be used for normal display, effectively eliminating the notch and achieving a true full screen design.

Implementation Method 1

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhysical Vapour Deposition: Physical Vapour Deposition

Data Source

PatentUS11355707B2Mask having shielding part within opening and manufacturing method thereof, evaporation method and display screen with active area surrounding functional component area

Publication Date: 2022.06.07 BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO LTD

AI summary

The present disclosure provides a mask and a manufacturing method thereof, an evaporation method and a display screen, to achieve normal display of an area around such components as an earpiece, a front camera, and sensors on the front of a display screen, and increase the screen-to-body ratio. The mask comprises a substrate provided with at least one opening, an orthographic projection of the opening on a display plane of a display screen to be fabricated coinciding with a display area of the display screen to be fabricated; a shielding part arranged inside the opening, an orthographic projection of the shielding part on the display plane coinciding with an orthographic projection of a component to be shielded in the display screen to be fabricated on the display plane; and a connecting part located between the shielding part and a side wall of the opening.