Grooved Pixel Insulation Layout for Foldable Shock-Resistant Displays
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current foldable display devices face challenges in achieving high resolution and robustness against external shocks while maintaining flexibility and functionality.
Innovation Solution
A display device design featuring a substrate with adjacent pixel areas, an inorganic insulating layer with grooves, and organic material layers, along with thin film transistors and electrode layers, which includes a specific configuration of connecting lines and voltage applications to enhance structural integrity and display performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the display device uses a continuous inorganic insulating layer, then the manufacturing process is simpler, but the device is more susceptible to external shocks and has reduced flexibility
Solution Approach 1:
The inorganic insulating layer is divided into multiple discrete inorganic patterns rather than forming a continuous layer. These segmented patterns are separated by grooves, allowing the structure to absorb external shocks independently while maintaining insulation functionality. Each inorganic pattern acts as an isolated protective element that can withstand impact without transmitting stress across the entire display area.
Solution Approach 2:
An organic material layer is introduced to fill the grooves between the inorganic patterns. This organic layer acts as a flexible buffer that can deform under external shock, absorbing impact energy while maintaining the structural integrity of the rigid inorganic patterns. The combination of rigid inorganic patterns and flexible organic material creates a composite structure that is both shock-resistant and flexible.
2Ease of manufacture
If the display device uses a continuous inorganic insulating layer, then the manufacturing process is simpler, but the display resolution is reduced due to larger pixel area requirements
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the inorganic insulating layer into discrete patterns, the pixel area can be minimized while maintaining adequate insulation. The grooves between patterns provide the necessary insulation without requiring large spacing between pixels, enabling higher display resolution. The segmented structure allows for more efficient space utilization compared to a continuous layer approach.
Solution Approach 2:
The inorganic insulating structures are localized to specific patterns positioned at critical locations rather than covering the entire pixel area continuously. This localized approach reduces the overall area consumed by insulating structures, leaving more space for active pixel elements and improving display resolution while maintaining manufacturing simplicity.
3Strength
If the display device uses a continuous inorganic insulating layer, then the structural integrity is maintained, but the flexibility and foldability are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The inorganic insulating layer is segmented into discrete patterns separated by grooves, creating a structure that can flex and fold without maintaining continuous rigid support. The gaps between patterns allow the flexible substrate to bend and deform while the inorganic patterns provide localized structural reinforcement where needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The organic material layer filling the grooves provides flexibility and enables folding by acting as a compliant buffer between the rigid inorganic patterns. This layered composite structure maintains structural integrity through the rigid inorganic patterns while allowing flexibility and foldability through the organic material and groove regions.
4Manufacturing precision
If the display device reduces pixel area to increase resolution, then the display quality improves, but the robustness against external shocks deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The segmented inorganic patterns provide shock absorption functionality independent of pixel area size. Even when pixels are small and closely spaced, each inorganic pattern maintains its shock-absorbing capability through the groove structure, allowing high resolution displays to remain robust against external shocks.
Solution Approach 2:
The organic material layer in the grooves provides a flexible cushioning effect that protects the small, high-resolution pixel structures from external shocks. This flexible buffer allows the display to maintain both high resolution with small pixel areas and robustness against impact through the organic material's shock-absorbing properties.
Data Source
AI summary
A display device includes an inorganic insulating layer having a groove surrounding pixel areas, a first thin film transistor in a first pixel area of a substrate, a second thin film transistor in a second pixel area of the substrate, a first electrode layer overlapping a first gate electrode of the first thin film transistor and a second gate electrode of the second thin film transistor, an organic material layer disposed in the groove, a data line extending over the organic material layer in a second direction, and a first connecting line extending across the organic material layer in a first direction, disposed between the first electrode layer and the data line, and overlapping the first electrode layer.