Flexible Display Packaging with Interlocking Protrusions

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Solution Overview

Problem

Flexible OLED display panels face issues with water and oxygen invasion due to separation of inorganic and organic thin films during bending, leading to packaging failure and reduced service life.

Innovation Solution

A packaging layer comprising alternately stacked inorganic and organic thin films with engaged protrusion structures between adjacent films, increasing the bite force and tightness to prevent separation and enhance sealing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If inorganic and organic thin films are stacked alternately to form a packaging layer, then the packaging effect is improved and water/oxygen blocking is enhanced, but the films are prone to separation during bending which reduces reliability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepackaging layer integrityVSAvoidfilm adhesion strength

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

Protrusion structures are pre-formed on the surface of at least one thin film before the stacking process. These protrusions create mechanical interlocking features that prevent film separation during subsequent bending operations, addressing the adhesion problem before the packaging layer is fully assembled.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The protrusion structures are localized at specific positions on the thin film surface rather than being uniform across the entire surface. This localized approach enhances adhesion at critical interfaces while maintaining the overall flexibility and packaging performance of the thin film structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Ease of operation

If the packaging layer is made thin to maintain flexibility, then ease of operation is improved, but the blocking capability against water and oxygen invasion deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveflexibilityVSAvoidwater and oxygen invasion

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The packaging layer uses a composite structure combining inorganic thin films (which provide excellent water and oxygen blocking properties) with organic thin films (which provide flexibility and stress relief). This composite approach allows the thin packaging layer to simultaneously achieve both flexibility and effective barrier performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

Protrusion structures are pre-formed on the thin film surfaces to create mechanical interlocking features. This preliminary structural preparation enhances the binding force between adjacent thin films, preventing delamination and maintaining the integrity of the thin packaging layer against water and oxygen penetration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS11444263B2Flexible display panel, and display device having thin film packaging layer with protrusions

Publication Date: 2022.09.13 BEIJING BOE TECH DEV CO LTD

AI summary

A flexible display panel. The flexible display panel includes: a flexible substrate; a display element arranged on the flexible substrate; and a packaging layer covering the display element, the packaging layer including an inorganic thin film and an organic thin film that are stacked alternately, in which two protrusion structures that are engaged with each other are arranged between at least two adjacent thin films of the packaging layer.