Foldable Display Control-Line Protection in the Bending Area
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
As the number of sub-pixel areas increases for high definition or scaling up in display devices, the non-display area components increase, leading to a larger visual reduction of the display area due to bending stress, which can cause disconnection defects in connection lines due to moisture ingress through organic insulating layers.
Innovation Solution
The display device incorporates a first hole protection layer formed on the same layer as sensor electrodes, blocking moisture from reaching contact holes in the bending area, thereby preventing disconnection or poor connections in control signal lines.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If insulating layers made of organic material are stacked in the bending area, then the electrical insulation is improved, but moisture generated by these layers flows into contact holes causing disconnection defects
Solution Approach 1:
A hole protection layer is introduced as an intermediary element between the organic insulating layers and the contact holes. This layer serves as a barrier that prevents moisture generated by the organic insulating layers from flowing into the contact holes, thereby maintaining electrical connection reliability while preserving the insulation benefits of the organic layers.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful moisture generation by organic insulating layers into a controlled scenario by adding the hole protection layer. Instead of removing the organic insulating layers (which would compromise electrical insulation), the solution acknowledges the moisture generation issue and addresses it through the protective barrier, transforming a potential failure mode into a managed design consideration.
2Quantity of substance
If the ratio of non-display area increases to accommodate more components, then the display area width is visually reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the third dimension (vertical stacking) to accommodate additional components and routing. By stacking insulating layers and routing connection lines through multiple layers with contact holes, the design can include more components in the non-display area without proportionally increasing its planar area, thereby preserving the display area width while accommodating necessary components.
3Adaptability or versatility
If connection lines are arranged in the bending area, then the flexibility is improved, but disconnection defects occur due to bending stress
Solution Approach 1:
The hole protection layer is applied beforehand to cushion and protect the contact holes from moisture ingress that would be exacerbated by bending stress. This preventive measure addresses the reliability issue before the bending stress occurs, allowing the connection lines to maintain both flexibility and connection integrity through the bending area.
Data Source
AI summary
A display device is disclosed. The display device comprises a substrate comprising a main region and a sub-region, the main region comprising a display area and a non-display area, the display area in which a plurality of sub-pixel areas configured to emit light for displaying an image are arranged, the non-display area disposed around the display area, and the sub-region protruding from one side of the main region and comprising a bending area which is deformed to be bent, a thin film transistor layer disposed on the substrate, a scan driver configured to output a scan signal to scan lines of the thin film transistor layer, a light emitting element layer disposed on the thin film transistor layer, a sensor electrode layer comprising a first sensor insulating layer and a second sensor insulating layer, control signal lines electrically connected to the scan driver and disposed in the non-display area and a first sub-region of the sub-region, control connection lines disposed in the bending area and electrically connected to the control signal lines through first control line contact holes, respectively, and a first hole protection layer disposed between the second sensor insulating layer and the control connection lines and corresponding to the first control line contact holes.