Hybrid OLED and Micro LED Display for Narrow-Bezel Screens

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing AMOLED displays have a non-display region due to the bezel region, which cannot display content and poses a challenge in reducing this area effectively, especially since the organic light-emitting material is sensitive to oxygen and water vapor, requiring a package layer that prevents water and oxygen ingress but cannot accommodate OLED pixels.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating micro LED components in the bezel region to replace the dam structure, allowing for content display and utilizing a thin film package layer to isolate water vapor and oxygen, while also simplifying the fabrication process by using existing AMOLED fabrication techniques and reducing the quantity of micro LED components needed.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a bezel region is provided around the AMOLED display to protect organic light-emitting materials from oxygen and water vapor, then the reliability of the display is improved, but the area of the non-display region increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection from oxidationVSAvoidnon-display region area
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the material parameter in the bezel region from organic light-emitting material to micro LED material, which has different protection requirements. This parameter change allows the bezel region to be smaller since micro LEDs are less sensitive to oxygen and water vapor, thus reducing the non-display area while maintaining reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different light-emitting materials to different regions: organic light-emitting material in the central display region and micro LED material in the bezel region. This local differentiation allows each region to have optimal protection characteristics, reducing the overall bezel size needed for protection

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Area of stationary object

If the micro LED component area is reduced to minimize non-display region, then the area of the display region increases, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay region areaVSAvoidmicro LED placement precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the display into a central region with organic OLEDs and a surrounding bezel region with micro LEDs. This segmentation allows different manufacturing approaches for each region, with the micro LED region using standardized components that can be precisely placed using established transfer technologies

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a driver circuit backplane as an intermediary structure that receives both organic OLEDs and micro LEDs. This backplane provides a standardized interface and placement platform, reducing the direct precision requirements between different component types and facilitating integrated manufacturing

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

This approach effectively narrows down the non-display region of the AMOLED display, enabling content display in previously non-display areas and overcoming the challenge of transferring and placing a large quantity of micro LED components, while maintaining the sealing requirements of OLEDs.

Implementation Method 1

each subpixel of the first pixel layer includes one organic light-emitting diode OLED component

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOrganic light-emitting diode: Organic Light-emitting Diode

Implementation Method 2

each subpixel of the second pixel layer includes one micro light-emitting diode micro LED component

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMicro light-emitting diode: Light Emitting Diode

Data Source

PatentEP3905226B1display
Publication Date: 2023.10.18 HONOR DEVICE CO LTD
  • EP3905226B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP3905226B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP3905226B1 patent drawingFigure 1C

AI summary

This application provides a display, an electronic device, and a display fabrication method. The display includes a substrate; a driver circuit backplane, including a plurality of driver circuit units, where the driver circuit backplane is disposed above the substrate; a first pixel layer, including a plurality of pixels, where each pixel of the first pixel layer includes a plurality of subpixels, each subpixel of the first pixel layer includes one organic light-emitting diode OLED component, the first pixel layer is disposed above the driver circuit backplane, and the OLED component of each subpixel of the first pixel layer is connected to at least one driver circuit unit in the driver circuit backplane; and a second pixel layer, including a first electrode layer, a second electrode layer, and a plurality of pixels disposed between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer, where each pixel of the second pixel layer includes a plurality of subpixels, each subpixel of the second pixel layer includes one micro light-emitting diode micro LED component, the second pixel layer is disposed above the substrate and surrounds the first pixel layer. The display has a narrower bezel.