Flexible OLED Panel Upper Substrate Water Barrier Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Flexible organic light emitting display panels face challenges such as water penetration, compromised flexibility, manufacturing complexity, and increased costs due to thin resin coatings, thermal expansion issues, and complex alignment processes in existing manufacturing methods.
Innovation Solution
A flexible organic light emitting display panel design featuring a larger upper substrate with a multi-buffer coating and pad electrodes connected to data lines, where the upper substrate covers the active area and pad area, reducing water penetration and simplifying the manufacturing process by eliminating the need for additional protective films and alignment processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a thin resin coating is used on the pad area of flexible OLE display panel, then flexibility is maintained, but water penetration resistance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The upper substrate is divided into three distinct functional areas: an inactive area surrounding the active area, a cover area corresponding to the active area, and a connection area covering the pad area. This segmentation allows each area to be optimized independently - the connection area provides water protection while the overall thin structure maintains flexibility
Solution Approach 2:
The upper substrate serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a structural support, a water barrier through its multi-buffer coating in the connection area, and a protective cover for the active area. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate protective films while maintaining both protection and flexibility
2Reliability
If the thickness of flexible OLE display panel is increased to prevent water penetration, then water penetration resistance improves, but flexibility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The upper substrate has different functional characteristics in different areas: the connection area has enhanced water barrier properties through multi-buffer coating to prevent water penetration, while the cover area maintains thinness for flexibility and light transmission. This local differentiation allows the panel to achieve both water protection and flexibility without increasing overall thickness
3Reliability
If resin is coated on pad area to protect bonding part, then protection function improves, but manufacturing complexity increases due to alignment processes
Solution Approach 1:
The protective function for the bonding part is merged into the upper substrate structure itself through the connection area with multi-buffer coating. This eliminates the need for separate protective films and complex alignment processes, as the upper substrate serves both as a structural component and a protective barrier in one integrated element
4Reliability
If additional protective films are added to prevent water penetration, then water penetration resistance improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The upper substrate is designed to perform multiple functions: structural support, water barrier protection through multi-buffer coating in the connection area, and coverage for the active area. This multi-functionality consolidates what would otherwise require multiple separate protective films into a single integrated component, reducing structural complexity while maintaining water penetration resistance
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a flexible organic light emitting display panel in which an upper substrate is larger in size than a lower substrate including a pad area. The flexible organic light emitting display panel includes, for example, a lower substrate, including a flexible lower base film and an organic light emitting diode (OLED) included in the flexible lower base film, and an upper substrate including a flexible upper base film and a multi-buffer which is coated on the flexible upper base film for preventing penetration of water.