Grooved Display Electrode Interconnects for Narrow-Bezel Reliability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing display devices face challenges in reducing non-display areas while ensuring reliable electrical connections and durability, particularly in foldable electronic devices where misalignment and short-circuiting can occur.
Innovation Solution
A display device design featuring a base layer with grooves exposing bump electrodes, connected by metal patterns within these grooves, which maintain alignment and insulation, preventing short-circuiting and improving stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of moving object
If the non-display area is reduced to increase display area, then the display area increases, but the risk of misalignment and short-circuiting between electrodes increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the base layer into multiple sub-base layers (first sub-base layer, second sub-base layer, third sub-base layer) with grooves and recessed parts at different levels. This segmentation allows electrodes to be positioned at different depths, preventing short-circuiting while enabling reduced non-display area for increased display area.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the vertical dimension by creating grooves and recessed parts at different depths in stacked sub-base layers. This multi-level vertical arrangement allows horizontal reduction of non-display area while maintaining electrical connection reliability through depth-based electrode separation and alignment features.
2Manufacturing precision
If grooves are created in the base layer to expose bump electrodes, then alignment and insulation are improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The base layer is segmented into multiple sub-base layers, each with specific grooves or recessed parts. This segmentation distributes the complexity across layers while achieving precise electrode alignment through the cumulative effect of multiple simpler structural features.
Solution Approach 2:
The grooves and recessed parts are pre-formed in the sub-base layers before electrode assembly. This preliminary action establishes precise alignment paths and insulation barriers in advance, simplifying the overall manufacturing process despite the multi-layer structure.
3Reliability
If metal patterns are disposed in grooves to connect electrodes, then electrical connection reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The metal patterns are divided into multiple segments disposed in grooves across different sub-base layers. Each metal pattern segment connects specific electrodes at its level, and the segmented structure provides both electrical connection and insulation, reducing overall device complexity while improving reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The metal patterns disposed in grooves serve multiple functions: electrical connection between electrodes, insulation between adjacent conductors, and structural alignment guidance. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, simplifying the overall device structure while improving electrical connection reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
A display device includes a base layer including a plurality of pad electrodes exposed through a surface of the base layer, a circuit board including a plurality of bump electrodes disposed on the base layer, and a base film in which a plurality of first grooves that expose the plurality of bump electrodes through the surface of the base layer are defined. The display device further includes a plurality of metal patterns electrically connecting the plurality of pad electrodes and the plurality of bump electrodes. Each of the plurality of metal patterns includes a first part disposed in the plurality of first grooves, and a second part disposed on the plurality of pad electrodes.