Flexible Display Device with Grooved Planarization Layer for Moisture Barrier

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing flexible display devices face challenges in achieving a good overall encapsulation effect due to the poor water-oxygen barrier properties of organic materials used in planarization layers, which affect the service life of the devices.

Innovation Solution

A display device design featuring a light-emitting display layer, a planarization layer with closed circular grooves, and an encapsulation layer, where the groove projections ensure that the encapsulation layer completely surrounds the display layer, preventing moisture and oxygen ingress, and combining inorganic and organic layers for enhanced blocking performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If an organic planarization layer is used for encapsulation, then the device flexibility is improved, but the water-oxygen barrier performance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice flexibilityVSAvoidwater-oxygen barrier performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a composite encapsulation structure combining an organic planarization layer with an inorganic encapsulation layer. The organic layer provides flexibility while the inorganic layer provides superior moisture and oxygen barrier properties. This composite approach allows the device to simultaneously achieve both flexibility and reliable protection against water and oxygen ingress.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Ease of manufacture

If the planarization layer completely covers the light-emitting display layer, then the manufacturing simplicity is improved, but the encapsulation effectiveness deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidencapsulation effectiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The planarization layer is segmented with grooves that divide it into separate regions. These grooves create discontinuities in the organic layer, preventing continuous pathways for moisture and oxygen to reach the light-emitting display layer. The segmentation maintains manufacturing simplicity while dramatically improving encapsulation effectiveness by blocking diffusion paths.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If grooves are added to the planarization layer to improve encapsulation, then the moisture-blocking performance is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemoisture-blocking performanceVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Rather than making the entire planarization layer complex, grooves are introduced only in specific locations where encapsulation is most critical. The grooves are strategically positioned to block moisture and oxygen pathways without requiring complex overall structural changes. This localized modification improves moisture-blocking performance while minimizing increases in device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3637470B1Display device
Publication Date: 2022.11.30 KUNSHAN GO VISIONOX OPTO ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP3637470B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3637470B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5

AI summary

A display device whose whole packaging effect is good comprises a light-emitting and display layer (10), a planarization layer (20), and a packaging layer (30). At least one circle of closed groove (40) is formed in the planarization layer (20). A projection of the closed circle formed by the groove (40) on a plane where the light-emitting and display layer (10) is completely located beyond the light-emitting and display layer (10) and surrounds the light-emitting and display layer (10). In the display device, by forming a at least one circle of closed groove (40) in the planarization layer (20) to surround the light-emitting and display layer (10), the planarization layer (20) is prevented from continuously extending to the light-emitting and display layer (10) from the boundary of the packaging layer (30), and water and oxygen are prevented from entering the packaging layer (30) through the planarization layer (20), thereby improving the packaging effect of the display device and prolonging the service life of the display device.