Flexible Display Substrate Island Segmentation Stress Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing display apparatuses lack flexibility and durability, particularly when subjected to bending, rolling, or stretching, due to stress concentration at connection points, which can lead to abnormal deformation and reduced reliability.
Innovation Solution
A flexible display apparatus design featuring a substrate with islands and connection units, incorporating an inorganic pattern layer, organic material layers, and a multi-layer encapsulation structure with inorganic and organic encapsulation layers, along with recess patterns to distribute stress and prevent cracking, ensuring the display units remain undisturbed during deformation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional rigid display structure is used, then manufacturing and structural simplicity is maintained, but flexibility and durability under bending/stretching are poor due to stress concentration
Solution Approach 1:
The substrate is divided into multiple islands spaced apart from each other, with connection units connecting these islands. This segmentation allows the display to flex and stretch without creating stress concentration points, as the discrete island structure can move independently while remaining connected, thereby improving reliability under deformation.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the display structure are given different properties: the islands contain display units while the connection units between islands are designed to accommodate deformation. The pattern layer is strategically positioned on the edge of connection units rather than uniformly across the substrate, providing localized stress management where it is most needed.
2Adaptability or versatility
If connection units are made flexible to allow bending, then flexibility is improved, but stress concentration at connection points causes cracking and reduced reliability
Solution Approach 1:
An organic material layer is disposed between the pattern layer and the wires on the connection unit. This organic layer acts as a cushioning element that absorbs and distributes stress before it reaches the pattern layer and wires, preventing stress concentration and cracking at the connection points while allowing the structure to flex and stretch.
Solution Approach 2:
The encapsulation layer combines organic and inorganic materials in a multi-layer structure. The organic encapsulation layer provides flexibility and stress absorption, while the inorganic encapsulation layers provide barrier properties and structural support. This composite structure enables the display to be flexible and durable simultaneously.
3Reliability
If encapsulation layers are added to protect display units, then durability and stress distribution are improved, but device complexity and layer count increase
Solution Approach 1:
The encapsulation layer uses a composite structure with organic and inorganic materials. The organic encapsulation layer provides flexibility and stress absorption, while the inorganic encapsulation layers provide barrier properties. This composite approach achieves superior protection with a manageable layer count by leveraging the complementary properties of different materials.
Solution Approach 2:
The encapsulation layers are arranged in a multi-layer stack with specific positioning: the organic encapsulation layer is between the inorganic layers, and the inorganic layers contact each other on the connection unit. This three-dimensional arrangement provides comprehensive protection while managing complexity through strategic layer placement rather than simply increasing layer count.
Data Source
AI summary
A display apparatus includes a substrate, a first display unit, a second display unit, a conductive wire, and an insulating material member set. The substrate includes a first island, a connection unit, a second island spaced from the first island and connected through the connection unit to the first island, and an opening positioned between the connection unit and the first island. The first display unit overlaps the first islands. The second display unit overlaps the second island. The conductive wire overlaps the connection unit. The insulating material member set overlaps an edge region of the connection unit, is positioned closer to or farther from the connection unit than the conductive wire, and is spaced from the conductive wire in a plan view of the display apparatus.