Flexible Substrate Layout for High-Density Stretchable Pixel Circuits

Solution Overview

Problem

Flexible devices, such as high-resolution display panels and sensor arrays, face a challenge in increasing the number of pixels per unit area while maintaining flexibility and stretchability, as the area occupied by pixels is limited by the need for a substrate region to provide these characteristics.

Innovation Solution

A flexible device with a substrate having distinct regions of different elastic moduli, where a high elastic modulus region supports non-stretchable thin film transistors and a low elastic modulus region supports stretchable transistors, allowing for a reduced pixel size and increased pixel density by distributing transistor components across the substrate.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the number of pixels per unit area is increased to improve display performance, then the resolution is improved, but the area available for flexibility/stretchability substrate region is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepixel densityVSAvoidflexibility region area

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The substrate is divided into two distinct regions: a first region with high elastic modulus for supporting pixel circuits and transistors, and a second region with low elastic modulus for providing flexibility and stretchability. This segmentation allows each region to be optimized for its specific function without compromising the other.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the substrate are assigned different elastic moduli tailored to their specific requirements. The first region has high elastic modulus to maintain structural integrity and support dense transistor arrangements, while the second region has low elastic modulus to enable flexibility and stretching, allowing each local area to have the quality needed for its function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Measurement precision

If the pixel size is reduced to increase pixel density, then the resolution is improved, but the area occupied by each pixel circuit is reduced making manufacturing more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepixel densityVSAvoidpixel circuit fabrication

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The substrate is divided into two distinct regions: a first region with high elastic modulus for supporting pixel circuits and transistors, and a second region with low elastic modulus for providing flexibility and stretchability. This segmentation allows each region to be optimized for its specific function without compromising the other.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the substrate are assigned different elastic moduli tailored to their specific requirements. The first region has high elastic modulus to maintain structural integrity and support dense transistor arrangements, while the second region has low elastic modulus to enable flexibility and stretching, allowing each local area to have the quality needed for its function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Strength

If a uniform high elastic modulus substrate is used to support transistor structures, then the structural integrity is maintained, but the flexibility and stretchability of the device is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesubstrate structural integrityVSAvoiddevice flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The substrate is divided into two distinct regions: a first region with high elastic modulus for supporting pixel circuits and transistors, and a second region with low elastic modulus for providing flexibility and stretchability. This segmentation allows each region to be optimized for its specific function without compromising the other.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the substrate are assigned different elastic moduli tailored to their specific requirements. The first region has high elastic modulus to maintain structural integrity and support dense transistor arrangements, while the second region has low elastic modulus to enable flexibility and stretching, allowing each local area to have the quality needed for its function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS12167650B2Flexible device and electronic device

Publication Date: 2024.12.10 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

A flexible device includes a substrate including a first region having a first elastic modulus and a second region having a second elastic modulus that is lower than the first elastic modulus, a pixel circuit on the substrate, and a unit device electrically connected to the pixel circuit, wherein the pixel circuit includes a plurality of thin film transistors, a first portion of the plurality of thin film transistors is on the first region of the substrate, and a second portion of the plurality of thin film transistors is on the second region of the substrate.