Flexible Pixel Structure with Scattered Contact Holes for Impact Endurance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flexible displays with pixel structures on plastic substrates are prone to cracking and damage under external impact, leading to poor impact endurance and reliability.
Innovation Solution
A pixel structure design featuring a flexible substrate with an active device, conductive pattern, insulation layers, and a pixel electrode, where the conductive pattern is electrically connected to the active device through scattered contact holes, allowing sub-pixel electrodes to remain functional even if broken, by connecting through the conductive pattern.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a flexible substrate is used to enable flexibility and impact endurance, then the display can be bent and withstand external forces, but the pixel structures are easily broken under impact causing cracking and damage
Solution Approach 1:
The pixel electrode is divided into multiple sub-pixel electrodes (first sub-pixel electrode, second sub-pixel electrode, third sub-pixel electrode, fourth sub-pixel electrode) that are spatially separated. This segmentation ensures that if one sub-pixel electrode is damaged during impact, the other sub-pixel electrodes can still maintain electrical connection through the conductive pattern, preventing complete pixel failure and improving impact endurance while maintaining flexibility
Solution Approach 2:
A conductive pattern is introduced as an intermediary element between the sub-pixel electrodes and the active device. This conductive pattern acts as a mediator that can accommodate mechanical stress and deformation, maintaining electrical connection even when the flexible substrate is bent or impacted, thus resolving the contradiction between flexibility and reliability
2Device complexity
If the pixel electrode is directly connected to the active device, then the electrical connection is simple, but the connection is easily broken under external impact causing malfunction
Solution Approach 1:
The direct connection between pixel electrode and active device is segmented into multiple indirect connections through the conductive pattern. The pixel electrode connects to the conductive pattern first, which then connects to the active device. This multi-stage connection provides mechanical compliance and stress distribution, preventing connection breakage under impact while maintaining electrical functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The conductive pattern is designed with sufficient area and appropriate material properties to serve as a cushioning layer before impact forces reach the critical connection points. This beforehand cushioning absorbs and distributes mechanical stress, protecting the electrical connection from breakage during external impact events
Data Source
AI summary
A pixel structure includes a flexible substrate, an active device, a conductive pattern, a first insulation layer, and a pixel electrode. The active device is disposed on the flexible substrate and includes a gate, a channel, a source, and a drain. The source and the drain are connected to the channel and are separated from each other. The channel and the gate are stacked in a thickness direction. The active device is disposed between the conductive pattern and the flexible substrate. The conductive pattern is electrically connected to the drain of the active device. The first insulation layer covers the conductive pattern and has first contact holes separated from one another, and the first contact holes expose the conductive pattern. The first insulation layer is disposed between the pixel electrode and the conductive pattern. The pixel electrode is electrically connected to the conductive pattern through the first contact holes.