Gel-State Upper Electrode Sealing for Display Flatness

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing display devices face challenges in achieving superior surface flatness and sealing effects, particularly with the insertion of a barrier end into a gel-state upper electrode, which affects the display's image quality and contrast ratio.

Innovation Solution

A display device is designed with a second electrode composition in a gel state, including conductive materials like conductive polymers, carbon nanotubes, or graphene, and a UV or heat curing agent, where the second electrode is transparent and flexible, allowing for improved sealing and surface flatness by inserting the barrier end into the gel-state upper electrode.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the barrier end is inserted into the upper electrode to improve sealing effects, then sealing performance is improved, but surface flatness deteriorates due to potential irregularities in the electrode structure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing effectsVSAvoidsurface flatness
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical state parameter of the upper electrode from solid to gel-state, enabling the barrier end to be inserted while maintaining surface flatness. The gel-state allows deformability for sealing insertion, and upon curing, provides structural stability for flatness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies preliminary action by inserting the barrier end into the upper electrode while it is in gel-state before final curing. This timing allows the barrier to be positioned accurately and achieve sealing before the electrode hardens, ensuring both sealing effects and surface flatness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Manufacturing precision

If a rigid upper electrode structure is used to maintain surface flatness, then manufacturing precision is improved, but sealing effects deteriorate due to inability to accommodate barrier insertion

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesurface flatnessVSAvoidsealing effects
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by using a gel-state upper electrode that transitions from a deformable state (during barrier insertion) to a fixed state (after curing). This dynamic state change allows the electrode to accommodate barrier insertion for sealing while maintaining surface flatness after hardening.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the physical state parameter of the upper electrode from solid to gel-state, enabling the barrier end to be inserted while maintaining surface flatness. The gel-state allows deformability for sealing insertion, and upon curing, provides structural stability for flatness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Device complexity

If traditional sealing methods are used without barrier insertion, then manufacturing complexity is reduced, but display quality deteriorates due to light mura and poor contrast ratio

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing process complexityVSAvoidlight mura and contrast ratio
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a gel-state upper electrode that can be molded to precisely copy the barrier shape and position. This copying ensures accurate sealing contact, eliminating light leakage that causes mura and poor contrast ratio, while the gel-to-solid transition simplifies the overall sealing process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

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 solution provides superior surface flatness and excellent sealing effects, inhibiting light mura and enhancing the contrast ratio, while allowing for flexible and thin display devices that can be bent or designed variably.

Implementation Method 1

the second electrode includes a second electrode composition, and the second electrode composition includes a conductive material present in a gel state

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGel state: Gel

Implementation Method 2

The second electrode composition may further include a UV curing agent or a heat curing agent

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectUV curing: Photopolymerisation

Implementation Method 3

The secondary curing may include emitting UV light or heat to the second electrode composition-applied second substrate

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat curing: Heat Treatment

Data Source

PatentEP3115833B1Display device and method for manufacturing same
Publication Date: 2019.06.19 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP3115833B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3115833B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3115833B1 patent drawingFigure 3A

AI summary

Disclosed herein are a display device which exhibits superior surface flatness of an upper electrode substrate and excellent sealing effects by performing sealing such that an end of a barrier formed in a front electrode is inserted into the upper electrode having a gel-state, and a method of producing the same. The display device includes a first electrode module comprising a first electrode, a second electrode module including a second electrode, the second electrode module facing the first electrode module, a plurality of barriers formed on the first electrode module, each barrier having an end inserted into the second electrode, a plurality of cavities formed by the first electrode module and the barriers, and an electric field-dependent layer formed in each of the cavities, the electric field-dependent layer having properties changed by an electric field applied between the first electrode module and the second electrode module.