Bending Area Crack Prevention in Flexible Display Apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
In display apparatuses, particularly organic light-emitting display apparatuses, the bending area is prone to cracking, which can damage the wirings arranged at or near this area.
Innovation Solution
A display apparatus is designed with a specific structure that includes a substrate with defined areas such as a display area, peripheral area, pad area, and bending area. This structure incorporates a first organic insulating layer at the bending area, a first conductive line on this layer, and subsequent organic insulating layers and a metal pattern that overlaps with the conductive line, providing protection and reducing the likelihood of cracking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the display apparatus is bent to improve visibility or reduce peripheral area, then the display apparatus achieves better viewing angles or compact form factor, but the bending area becomes prone to cracking which damages wirings
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies beforehand cushioning by introducing a buffer layer between the substrate and the wiring structure in the bending area. This buffer layer is designed to absorb and distribute the stress generated during bending, preventing crack propagation before it can reach the wirings. The buffer layer acts as a protective cushion that mitigates the harmful mechanical stress in advance, thereby maintaining wiring integrity while enabling the display to be bent.
2Reliability
If multiple layers are added to protect wirings in the bending area, then crack resistance improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing the buffer layer to serve multiple functions simultaneously. The buffer layer not only provides mechanical stress distribution to prevent cracking, but also maintains electrical insulation properties and supports the overall layer structure. By making the buffer layer multi-functional, the patent achieves improved crack resistance without proportionally increasing device complexity, as a single layer performs multiple protective and structural roles.
Data Source
AI summary
A display apparatus includes: a substrate including a display area, a peripheral area, a pad area, and a bending area, the peripheral area being outside the display area, the pad area being within the peripheral area, and the bending area being between the display area and the pad area; a first organic insulating layer at the bending area; a first conductive line on the first organic insulating layer; a second organic insulating layer on the first conductive line; a third organic insulating layer on the second organic insulating layer; and a metal pattern on the third organic insulating layer, and overlapping with at least a portion of the first conductive line.