Flexible OLED Panel Peeling Reduction Layer Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

Flexible organic light emitting diode display panels face peeling issues with the organic light emitting layer and encapsulation layer when bent due to compressive and tensile stresses, which compromise their reliability.

Innovation Solution

A flexible organic light emitting diode display panel design incorporating a substrate with defined opening and non-opening regions, featuring a bank layer and a peeling reduction layer with a reverse-tapered shape, which increases the contact area between components and the encapsulation layer, thereby minimizing stress-induced peeling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the display panel is made flexible with thin film encapsulation, then flexibility is improved, but peeling occurs when bent

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveflexibilityVSAvoidpeeling resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The encapsulation structure is divided into multiple inorganic layers and organic layers arranged in sequence. The organic layers serve as buffer zones that can accommodate bending stresses, while the inorganic layers provide barrier functions. This segmented structure prevents peeling by distributing stress across multiple interfaces rather than concentrating it at a single layer.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different layers are assigned different material properties and functions: inorganic layers (such as aluminum oxide) provide excellent barrier properties against moisture and oxygen, while organic layers provide flexibility and stress absorption. This local differentiation of material qualities allows the encapsulation structure to simultaneously achieve both flexibility and peeling resistance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Adaptability or versatility

If the encapsulation layer thickness is decreased to improve flexibility, then flexibility is improved, but adhesion strength decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveflexibilityVSAvoidadhesion strength
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The encapsulation layer is constructed as a composite structure alternating between inorganic material layers and organic material layers. This composite design combines the advantages of both material types: inorganic layers provide thin-film barrier properties for flexibility, while organic layers provide strong adhesion and stress tolerance. The synergistic combination resolves the contradiction between thinness and adhesion strength.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The encapsulation structure is designed to accommodate curved bending configurations. The alternating layer structure with appropriate thickness ratios allows the encapsulation to maintain integrity when bent to small radii, effectively treating the stress distribution in a curved geometry to prevent peeling while maintaining thin overall thickness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Data Source

PatentUS9570524B2Flexible organic light emitting diode display panel
Publication Date: 2017.02.14 LG DISPLAY CO LTD
  • US9570524B2 patent drawing
  • US9570524B2 patent drawing
  • US9570524B2 patent drawing

AI summary

Provided is a flexible organic light emitting diode display panel including: a substrate in which an opening region and a non-opening region are defined; an organic light emitting diode disposed on the substrate; a bank layer disposed in the non-opening region; and a peeling reduction layer having a reverse-tapered shape disposed in the non-opening region.