Flexible Display Protrusion Pattern Prevents Short Circuits

Solution Overview

Problem

Flexible display devices face defects due to short circuits between the display panel and the drive circuit when the panel is bent, leading to overcurrent flow and degradation of display quality.

Innovation Solution

The flexible display device incorporates a protrusion pattern on an insulating layer between the second data pads and pads, which prevents conductive balls from aggregating and penetrating through the insulating layer, thereby preventing short circuits and overcurrent flow, even when the panel is bent.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the display panel is bent during drive circuit mounting, then the display panel can be brought into contact with the drive circuit ends, but short circuits occur between the display panel and drive circuit ends

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemounting processVSAvoidshort circuit prevention

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The protrusion pattern is formed in advance on the insulating layer at the position where short circuits may occur. This preliminary structural feature prevents conductive balls from aggregating and penetrating through the insulating layer during the bending process, thereby preventing short circuits between the display panel and drive circuit ends before they can happen.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Solution Approach 2:

The protrusion pattern acts as an intermediary barrier between the conductive balls and the insulating layer. It physically blocks the conductive balls from penetrating through the insulating layer, serving as a mediator that prevents direct contact and potential short circuits while allowing the bending process to proceed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Volume of moving object

If the insulating layer is thin to reduce device thickness, then device compactness is improved, but conductive balls can easily penetrate through causing short circuits

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice thicknessVSAvoidshort circuit prevention

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of uniformly increasing the insulating layer thickness throughout the entire device, the protrusion pattern is locally formed only at the specific position where short circuits may occur. This localized approach maintains the overall thin device profile while providing enhanced protection against conductive ball penetration at the critical area.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The protrusion pattern is formed in advance during the manufacturing process on the insulating layer. This preliminary structural feature is prepared before the device is assembled, ensuring that the thin insulating layer is already protected at critical positions before conductive balls are introduced during the mounting process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of manufacture

If conductive balls aggregate and penetrate through the insulating layer, then device assembly is simplified, but short circuits and overcurrent flow occur causing display quality degradation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassembly processVSAvoiddisplay quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The protrusion pattern is formed in advance on the insulating layer at the position where short circuits may occur. This preliminary structural feature prevents conductive balls from aggregating and penetrating through the insulating layer during the bending process, thereby preventing short circuits between the display panel and drive circuit ends before they can happen.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Solution Approach 2:

The protrusion pattern acts as an intermediary barrier between the conductive balls and the insulating layer. It physically blocks the conductive balls from penetrating through the insulating layer, serving as a mediator that prevents direct contact and potential short circuits while allowing the bending process to proceed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS12130991B2Flexible display device having protrusion pattern in data pads

Publication Date: 2024.10.29 LG DISPLAY CO LTD

AI summary

A flexible display device includes a display panel having an active area including a plurality of pixels displaying an image and a non-active area surrounding the active area, first data pads disposed in the non-active area adjacent to the active area of the display panel and electrically connected with the plurality of pixels, pads disposed in a direction away from the first data pads and the active area, second data pads disposed between the first data pads and the pads, and a protrusion pattern located between the second data pads and the third data pads and disposed on an upper part of the insulating layer.