Mask Device Clamping Portions for OLED Evaporation Gap Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
In the process of thin film evaporation for organic light emitting diode (OLED) display panel manufacturing, the existing mask devices face challenges with irregularly shaped panels, leading to gaps between the mask plate and the frame, causing particle pollution and encapsulation film defects due to the deposition of evaporation material on the mask plate and glass substrate edges.
Innovation Solution
A mask device design featuring a frame with mounting grooves and a mask plate with clamping portions that gradually decrease in width, allowing the mask plate to be tightly mounted on the frame, reducing the gap between the mask plate and the frame, and accommodating chamfers, thus preventing particle pollution and encapsulation failures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional mask plate with straight clamping portions is used, then the mask plate can be easily manufactured, but gaps form between the mask plate and frame during mounting, causing particle pollution and encapsulation defects
Solution Approach 1:
The clamping portions are designed with arc-shaped cross-sections that match the curved inner edge of the frame. This curvature allows the clamping portions to conform to the frame's geometry, eliminating gaps between the mask plate and frame while maintaining a tight seal during the evaporation process.
Solution Approach 2:
The clamping portions have non-uniform cross-sectional areas along their length, with the cross-sectional area decreasing from the base toward the tip. This gradient design allows the clamping portions to progressively engage with the frame's mounting grooves, ensuring complete gap closure while distributing mounting stresses appropriately.
2Reliability
If the clamping portions have large cross-sectional area throughout, then they provide strong clamping force, but they cannot fully enter the mounting grooves to close gaps
Solution Approach 1:
The cross-sectional area of the clamping portions varies along their length, transitioning from a larger base area to a smaller tip area. This parameter change allows the clamping portions to maintain sufficient clamping force at the base while enabling the tips to fully enter the mounting grooves and close gaps effectively.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the mask plate is tightly mounted to eliminate gaps, then particle pollution is prevented, but the mounting structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The arc-shaped cross-section of the clamping portions naturally conforms to the curved inner edge of the frame, allowing tight mounting without requiring additional sealing components or complex adjustment mechanisms. The curved geometry itself provides the gap-closing function.
Solution Approach 2:
The varying cross-sectional area of the clamping portions provides localized engagement with the frame's mounting grooves, ensuring tight gap closure at critical locations while maintaining overall structural simplicity.
Data Source
AI summary
A mask device, a mask plate and frame are provided. The mask device includes a frame and a first mask plate. The frame includes an inner edge, an outer edge, and a plurality of mounting grooves. A first mask plate includes a substrate, at least one first mask opening on the substrate, and a plurality of clamping portions protruding and extending outward from at least part of a periphery of the substrate. The plurality of clamping portions are mounted in the plurality of mounting grooves, respectively, so that the substrate is mounted on the inner edge of the frame. A direction along which the clamping portion extends from the substrate to a direction away from the substrate is a first direction, a direction perpendicular to the first direction is a second direction.