Flexible Inorganic Display Structure Without Mesa Etching

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current flexible display technologies, particularly OLED displays, face challenges in achieving high resolution and luminance comparable to inorganic LED displays, with limitations in pixel integration density and light efficiency due to alignment errors and mesa etching processes.

Innovation Solution

A flexible high-resolution display apparatus is developed with a monolithic integration structure of a driving layer and a light emitting unit, using an organic transparent substrate and inorganic materials, featuring a thin film structure with isolated subpixel emission and color conversion layers, which enhances light efficiency and resolution without the need for mesa etching.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If OLED displays are used for flexible applications, then flexibility is achieved, but luminance and light efficiency are reduced compared to inorganic LED displays

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveluminanceVSAvoidflexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines organic materials (flexible substrate, organic driving layer) with inorganic materials (inorganic light emitting unit) to create a hybrid display structure that achieves both flexibility and high luminance. The inorganic light emitting unit provides high light efficiency while the organic substrate maintains flexibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Manufacturing precision

If conventional OLED manufacturing processes are used, then organic substrate flexibility is maintained, but pixel integration density and resolution are limited due to alignment errors and mesa etching

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepixel integration densityVSAvoidalignment errors and mesa etching processes
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the mesa etching process from the manufacturing workflow. The isolated structure is formed through selective growth and deposition techniques rather than etching, eliminating the alignment errors and process complexity associated with traditional mesa etching while achieving high pixel integration density.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Productivity

If inorganic light emitting units are integrated with organic substrates, then light efficiency and resolution are improved, but manufacturing process complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight efficiencyVSAvoidmanufacturing process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary actions by pre-forming the inorganic light emitting unit with its isolated structure on a separate substrate before integration with the organic substrate. This preliminary preparation simplifies the final integration process and reduces manufacturing complexity while maintaining high light efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent divides the display into separate functional modules: an organic substrate with driving layer and an inorganic light emitting unit with isolated structure. This segmentation allows each module to be optimized and manufactured independently, then integrated together, reducing overall manufacturing process complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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

The solution achieves high-resolution, flexible displays with improved light efficiency and reduced pixel size, enabling applications in wearable and rollable devices while maintaining flexibility and high luminance.

Implementation Method 1

an active layer, and a second semiconductor layer. The active layer may include an inorganic material and may emit light, for example, in the blue region

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectroluminescence: Electroluminescence

Implementation Method 2

an organic transparent substrate. The organic transparent substrate may include at least one of polyimide, polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), plexiglass, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), transparent polypropylene, polycarbonate, polyethylene naphthalate, polyarylate (PAR), polyetherimide

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPolymer elasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP4481818A1Display apparatus and method of manufacturing the same
Publication Date: 2024.12.25 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP4481818A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4481818A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4481818A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Provided are a display apparatus and a method of manufacturing the display apparatus. The display apparatus includes a pixel electrode configured to supply power to a subpixel; a common electrode; an organic transparent substrate; a driving layer provided on the organic transparent substrate and electrically connected to the pixel electrode, the driving layer including a driving device configured to control power on-off of the subpixel; and a light emitting unit provided on the driving layer and including an inorganic material, the light emitting unit including a first semiconductor layer, an active layer, and a second semiconductor layer.