Flexible Display Crack Prevention via Segmented Encapsulation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Flexible display devices, such as OLEDs, are prone to cracks at the edges or outer layers due to external impacts, which can propagate and damage internal electric devices like thin film transistors, reducing their lifespan and efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A display device design that includes a pattern layer with a crack preventing portion on the encapsulating portion, featuring alternating insulating and conductive layers, and a buffer layer to protect internal devices from crack propagation, with the crack preventing portion positioned in the peripheral area to block crack transfer from the edges to the active area.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a flexible substrate is used to enable flexibility, then adaptability is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to increased crack occurrence

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveflexibilityVSAvoidcrack resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The encapsulating portion is divided into a first encapsulating portion covering the active area and a second encapsulating portion covering the peripheral area, with different structural configurations optimized for their respective functions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The first encapsulating portion has a different structure (with pixel electrodes and emission layers) compared to the second encapsulating portion (providing edge protection), with each part having optimized properties for its specific location and function

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If the encapsulating portion covers the entire lower substrate, then reliability is improved by preventing impurity penetration, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to crack propagation risk

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimpurity isolationVSAvoidcrack control

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The encapsulating portion is segmented into two distinct regions: the first encapsulating portion for active area coverage and the second encapsulating portion for peripheral area coverage, allowing different structural approaches for each region

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The second encapsulating portion acts as an intermediary protective layer at the periphery, absorbing and blocking crack propagation before it can reach the active area and internal electric devices

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If additional patterns and layers are formed on the encapsulating portion for touch sensitivity, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetouch sensitivityVSAvoidlayer structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The touch sensor functionality is merged with the encapsulating portion structure, forming patterns and layers directly on the encapsulating portion rather than as separate components, thereby integrating multiple functions into a unified structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS9991465B2Display device having crack prevention portion

Publication Date: 2018.06.05 SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO LTD

AI summary

A display device includes: a lower substrate comprising an active area, and a peripheral area outside the active area; a thin film transistor layer on the lower substrate; a plurality of pixel electrodes on the thin film transistor layer and in the active area; an encapsulating portion on the pixel electrode and encapsulating the pixel electrode; and a pattern layer comprising a plurality of patterns on the encapsulating portion, wherein the encapsulating portion covers a first area of the lower substrate and exposes a second area outside the first area, and the pattern layer comprises a crack preventing portion at the peripheral area.