Metal Line Routing for Leakage Current Reduction in Display Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
As the distance between pixels in display devices is narrowed, a leakage current through the common layer of adjacent pixels can occur, affecting the performance and reliability of the display.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a display device design that includes a substrate with non-display and display areas, featuring sub-pixels and metal lines that traverse both areas. The metal lines are arranged to not overlap with the emission areas of the sub-pixels and include metal patterns protruding in a direction crossing the main direction between the emission areas, effectively preventing or reducing leakage currents.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the distance between pixels is narrowed to increase pixel density, then the display resolution and pixel density are improved, but leakage current through the common layer between adjacent pixels occurs
Solution Approach 1:
A common layer pattern is introduced as an intermediary element between adjacent sub-pixels. This patterned common layer acts as a mediator that maintains electrical connectivity while preventing direct current leakage between neighboring pixels, thus resolving the contradiction between high pixel density and leakage current prevention
Solution Approach 2:
The common layer is segmented into discrete patterns rather than forming a continuous layer. This segmentation creates isolated conductive regions that prevent current paths between adjacent pixels while maintaining necessary electrical connections within each pixel structure
2Reliability
If metal lines are placed to connect pads through the display area, then electrical connectivity is improved, but overlap with emission areas causes interference and potential leakage
Solution Approach 1:
Metal lines are routed through the non-display area, utilizing the spatial dimension outside the active display region. This dimensional routing strategy allows electrical connectivity to be established without interfering with the emission areas, as the metal lines exist in a separate spatial zone
Solution Approach 2:
The metal line routing is extracted from the display area and relocated to the non-display area. This extraction separates the electrical connection function from the light emission function, eliminating interference between metal lines and emission areas while maintaining electrical connectivity
Data Source
AI summary
A display device includes: a substrate including a non-display area and a display area; sub-pixels in the display area; and metal lines traversing the non-display area and the display area in a first direction. Each of the metal lines extends in the first direction to not overlap with emission areas of the sub-pixels, and includes metal patterns protruding in a direction crossing the first direction between the emission areas.