Irregular Electrode Edge Around Display Opening for Moisture Blocking

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Display apparatuses with openings are prone to moisture and contaminant penetration through their lateral surfaces, which can damage the display elements, necessitating a solution to prevent or reduce moisture transmission.

Innovation Solution

A display apparatus design featuring a substrate with a display area, a non-display area, and an opening area, where the second electrode and functional layers extend from the display area to the non-display area, forming holes around the opening area, and an encapsulation layer overlaps these holes, with a laser lift-off process used to remove organic materials and prevent moisture ingress.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If an opening is provided in the display area to expand functional applications, then the versatility of the display apparatus is improved, but moisture and contaminants can penetrate through the lateral surface of the opening and damage display elements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefunctional applicationsVSAvoidmoisture penetration

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

An encapsulation layer is formed to cover the lateral surface of the opening, creating a protective barrier that prevents moisture and contaminant penetration while allowing the opening to maintain its functional purpose. The encapsulation layer acts as a flexible shield that conforms to the opening's geometry.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The encapsulation layer serves as an intermediary element between the external environment and the display elements. It mediates the interaction by blocking harmful substances (moisture and contaminants) from reaching the display elements through the opening's lateral surface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the second electrode and functional layers extend from the display area to the non-display area forming holes around the opening, then moisture transmission is prevented, but the device structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemoisture protectionVSAvoidstructure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The second electrode and functional layers are segmented to extend from the display area into the non-display area, creating distinct regions that form holes around the opening. This segmentation allows the structure to provide moisture protection while maintaining functional separation between display and non-display areas.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The electrode and functional layers extend in the lateral dimension from the display area to the non-display area, creating a three-dimensional structure that forms protective holes around the opening. This dimensional extension provides moisture protection without requiring additional vertical layers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Manufacturing precision

If a laser lift-off process is used to remove organic material around the opening, then manufacturing precision is improved, but the manufacturing process becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveorganic material removalVSAvoidmanufacturing process

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The laser lift-off process replaces traditional mechanical or chemical methods for removing organic material. The laser provides precise, contactless ablation of organic materials around the opening, achieving high manufacturing precision without the complexity of mechanical masking or chemical etching processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The laser lift-off process utilizes controlled changes in energy parameters (laser power, duration, wavelength) to selectively remove organic material around the opening. By adjusting these parameters, the process achieves precise material removal while minimizing damage to surrounding structures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 effectively prevents or reduces moisture and contaminant penetration through the opening, protecting the display elements by creating a barrier and removing organic materials using a laser lift-off process.

Implementation Method 1

an organic material around an opening is removed through a laser lift-off process

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLaser ablation: Laser Ablation

Data Source

PatentUS12069884B2Display apparatus with substrate opening surrounded by irregularly shaped edge of electrode

Publication Date: 2024.08.20 SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO LTD

AI summary

A display apparatus includes: a substrate including an opening area, a display area, and a non-display area, the display area surrounding the opening area, and the non-display area being between the opening area and the display area; and a display element in the display area and including a first electrode, an emission layer, and a second electrode that are sequentially stacked, wherein the second electrode extends from the display area to the non-display area and includes a second electrode hole defined by an edge of the second electrode that faces and surrounds the opening area, and a first distance from a center of the opening area to a first portion of the edge of the second electrode is different from a second distance from the center of the opening area to a second portion of the edge of the second electrode.