Flexible OLED Display Narrow Bezel via Substrate Bending

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current flexible OLED display devices have a large electrode binding region, resulting in a wide outer frame that reduces the display region and prevents the achievement of a narrow frame.

Innovation Solution

A flexible OLED display device design where the thin film encapsulation layer and flexible substrate are bent in the non-display regions, reducing the thickness of the encapsulation layer and substrate in these areas, allowing for a greater bending angle and thus a narrower frame.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the electrode binding region is made large to ensure proper electrical connection, then the reliability of electrical connection is improved, but the width of the outer frame increases and the display region decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrical connection reliabilityVSAvoiddisplay region area
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent resolves the contradiction by transitioning from a planar electrode binding approach to a three-dimensional folded structure. The flexible substrate is bent such that the electrode binding region extends along the folding line, utilizing the vertical dimension created by the fold angle (90-180 degrees) to accommodate the binding region without increasing the horizontal frame width. This dimensional change allows the display region to be enlarged while maintaining sufficient electrode binding area for reliable electrical connection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Area of stationary object

If the electrode binding region is reduced to achieve a narrow frame, then the width of the outer frame decreases and the display region increases, but the electrical connection reliability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay region areaVSAvoidelectrical connection reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies curvature by introducing a folding line that creates a bent or curved configuration in the flexible substrate. This curvature allows the electrode binding region to be distributed along the folded structure, enabling narrow frame dimensions while maintaining adequate binding area. The folded geometry effectively packs the binding region into a compact space that does not compromise electrical connection reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

3Area of stationary object

If the flexible substrate and thin film encapsulation layer are folded with a bending angle of 90-180 degrees, then the frame width is reduced and display region is enlarged, but the structural complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay region areaVSAvoidstructural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes the inherent flexibility of the flexible substrate and thin film encapsulation layer to create the folded structure. By selecting materials that can be bent to angles of 90-180 degrees without cracking or delamination, the design achieves narrow frame dimensions through a relatively simple folding operation rather than complex mechanical assemblies. The thin film nature of the encapsulation layer allows it to conform to the folded geometry without adding significant structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Data Source

PatentUS11101445B2Flexible OLED display device having a bending angle
Publication Date: 2021.08.24 WUHAN CHINA STAR OPTOELECTRONICS SEMICONDUCTOR DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY CO LTD
  • US11101445B2 patent drawing
  • US11101445B2 patent drawing
  • US11101445B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A flexible OLED display device includes: a flexible substrate, a buffer layer, an OLED light emitting layer, and a thin film encapsulation layer; wherein a portion of the thin film encapsulation layer located in the non-display area has a thickness from a position close to the display area to a position away from the display area The flexible substrate and a portion of the thin film encapsulation layer located in the first bezel area and the second bezel area are bent along a direction away from the display surface.