Flexible Array Substrate With Stress Relief Openings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Flexible display panels experience stress defects when bent, affecting the normal operation of thin-film transistors (TFTs) and light-emitting elements due to the bending of inorganic layers.
Innovation Solution
An array substrate with a flexible substrate, thin film transistor, and a stacked structure that includes multiple inorganic layers with openings at display areas to reduce stress accumulation and prevent external water and oxygen exposure, ensuring the TFT and light-emitting elements operate correctly when the panel is bent.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the inorganic layer is bent when the flexible display panel is bent, then the flexibility of the display panel is improved, but stress defects occur affecting the normal operation of TFT and light-emitting element
Solution Approach 1:
The inorganic layer is segmented into multiple separate inorganic layers (first inorganic layer, second inorganic layer, third inorganic layer) stacked on the flexible substrate. This segmentation allows each layer to independently manage stress during bending, preventing the continuous stress accumulation that occurs in a single bent inorganic layer, thereby maintaining both flexibility and device reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a composite structure consisting of multiple inorganic layers with different functional properties (buffer layer, gate insulating layer, isolating layer) stacked together. This composite material approach enables the structure to simultaneously provide mechanical flexibility, electrical insulation, and stress distribution, resolving the contradiction between flexibility and operational reliability.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the stacked structure completely covers the flexible substrate surface, then protection from water and oxygen is improved, but stress accumulation during bending increases
Solution Approach 1:
Each inorganic layer in the stacked structure is divided into multiple regions: a first region that completely covers the flexible substrate surface to provide environmental protection, and a second region that extends beyond the first region. This segmentation allows the covered areas to protect from water and oxygen while the extended regions provide stress relief pathways during bending.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent resolves the stress accumulation problem by extending the inorganic layers in the vertical dimension (second direction) beyond the horizontal coverage area. This dimensional extension allows the layers to accommodate bending stresses without compromising the protective coverage function, as the extended portions can deform independently to relieve stress.
Data Source
AI summary
An array substrate and a flexible display panel are provided. The array substrate includes a flexible substrate, a thin film transistor, a first metal layer, a second metal layer and a stacked structure including multiple inorganic layers. The thin film transistor includes a source, a drain, a channel and a gate. The gate of the thin film transistor is insulated from the source, the channel and the drain. The multiple inorganic layers include one or more buffer layers between the flexible substrate and the thin film transistor, one or more gate insulating layers between a channel area and the gate, and a first isolating layer between the thin film transistor and the second metal layer. At least one inorganic layer of the multiple inorganic layers has multiple openings at a position corresponding to a display area.