Flexible OLED Sealing with Crystalline ITO Electrostatic Layer
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing manufacturing processes for flexible organic light-emitting display devices often result in damage to the display unit due to electrostatic charges when a glass substrate is separated from a thin film layer, as high electrostaticity can occur during this process, which is not adequately addressed by traditional sealing structures.
Innovation Solution
A flexible organic light-emitting display device is designed with a thin film sealing structure that includes a first flexible substrate with a polymer layer and a barrier layer, a display unit, and a second flexible substrate with a barrier layer and polymer layer, along with an electrostaticity prevention layer made of a crystalline ITO layer that absorbs light to prevent electrostatic damage during the separation of the carrier substrate.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a glass substrate is separated from a thin film layer during manufacturing, then the display unit can be sealed with a thin film sealing structure, but high electrostaticity occurs on the separation surface causing damage to the display unit
Solution Approach 1:
An electrostaticity prevention layer is introduced as an intermediary between the glass substrate and the thin film layer. This layer serves as a mediator that prevents direct electrostatic discharge during separation, thereby protecting the display unit while enabling the thin film sealing structure to be formed
Solution Approach 2:
The electrostaticity prevention layer is applied in advance before the separation process. It preliminarily counteracts the harmful electrostatic effects that would otherwise occur during substrate separation, preventing damage to the display unit before it can happen
2Strength
If thick and strong glass substrates are used for sealing, then the sealing structure is strong and reliable, but the device cannot achieve flexible bending characteristics
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces thick glass substrates with thin film layers that can be formed into flexible sealing structures. These thin films maintain adequate sealing functionality while enabling the device to achieve flexible bending characteristics required for modern display applications
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the sealing structure by transitioning from thick glass substrates to thin film layers. This parameter change reduces the thickness and rigidity of the sealing structure, thereby enabling flexible bending while maintaining sealing effectiveness
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 use of a crystalline ITO electrostaticity prevention layer effectively reduces damage from electrostatic charges during the separation process, ensuring the display unit's integrity and providing a flexible, water-repellent sealing structure that prevents external water molecule permeation.
Implementation Method 1
an electrostaticity prevention layer made of a crystalline ITO layer that absorbs light to prevent electrostatic damage during the separation of the carrier substrate
Data Source
AI summary
In a flexible organic light-emitting display device and a method of manufacturing the same, a photolysis layer and an electrostaticity prevention layer are sequentially formed on a carrier substrate, a first flexible substrate is formed on the electrostaticity prevention layer, a display unit is formed on the first flexible substrate, the display unit is covered with the second flexible substrate, and light is irradiated so as to decompose the photolysis layer and to remove the carrier substrate. The formed flexible organic light-emitting display device may have improved flexibility because a flexible substrate is used instead of a typical strong and thick glass substrate. In addition, occurrence of electrostaticity during the separation of the carrier substrate is suppressed by the electrostaticity prevention layer, and thus, damage of the display unit due to electrical impacts is also reduced.