Flexible OLED Substrate Grooves for Lateral Moisture Blocking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing organic light emitting display devices face challenges in preventing moisture and oxygen penetration through plastic substrates, which can degrade the organic light emitting layer, reducing device lifespan.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a flexible substrate with grooves that are undercut, a common layer disconnected by these grooves, and an encapsulation member that covers the common layer, utilizing plastic and inorganic layers with varying laser absorption rates to form the grooves, thereby preventing lateral infiltration of impurities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a plastic substrate is used for flexibility, then device flexibility is improved, but moisture and oxygen penetration increases
Solution Approach 1:
The substrate is constructed as a composite structure with a plastic layer providing flexibility and an inorganic layer providing moisture and oxygen barrier properties. This composite approach allows the device to simultaneously achieve flexibility from the plastic component and protection from penetration by moisture and oxygen through the inorganic layer.
Solution Approach 2:
The substrate is divided into multiple functional layers: a plastic layer for flexibility and an inorganic layer for barrier protection. This segmentation allows each layer to perform its specific function independently, with the plastic layer providing mechanical flexibility and the inorganic layer blocking moisture and oxygen penetration.
2Strength
If the common layer is continuous for structural integrity, then mechanical strength is improved, but lateral infiltration of impurities increases
Solution Approach 1:
The common layer is divided into multiple disconnected segments by the grooves formed in the substrate. This segmentation prevents continuous lateral pathways for impurity infiltration while each segment maintains its structural integrity independently, blocking the lateral movement of moisture and oxygen.
Solution Approach 2:
The grooves extend vertically through the substrate thickness, creating a three-dimensional barrier structure. This vertical dimension blocks lateral infiltration pathways by forcing any potential impurity movement to navigate around the grooves, effectively preventing horizontal penetration while maintaining layer continuity in the vertical direction.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If grooves are formed to block impurity infiltration, then protection against moisture and oxygen is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The grooves are formed using laser irradiation instead of traditional mechanical machining or etching methods. This substitution simplifies the manufacturing process by replacing complex mechanical systems with a more straightforward laser-based approach, reducing overall device complexity while achieving effective impurity blocking.
Solution Approach 2:
The grooves are formed by changing the physical state of the substrate material through laser irradiation, transforming the material locally to create the barrier structure. This parameter change approach allows for precise control of groove formation without requiring complex multi-step manufacturing processes.
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 effectively blocks moisture and oxygen ingress, enhancing the lifespan of the organic light emitting elements by disconnecting the common layer and using an encapsulation member to cover the exposed surfaces, ensuring durability and performance.
Implementation Method 1
a laser absorption rate of the first plastic layer may be greater than a laser absorption rate of the first barrier layer
Implementation Method 2
a laser absorption rate of the first plastic layer may be greater than a laser absorption rate of the first barrier layer
Data Source
AI summary
An organic light emitting display device may include a flexible substrate, a common layer, and an encapsulation member. An undercut groove may be formed on the flexible substrate. The common layer may be disposed on the flexible substrate, may include an organic light emitting layer, and may be disconnected by the groove. The encapsulation member may be disposed on the common layer, and may cover the common layer.