Display Device Metal-Line Structure to Reduce Adjacent-Pixel Leakage

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Solution Overview

Problem

The challenge of leakage current through the common layer between adjacent pixels in display devices, particularly in high-pixel-density applications for augmented, virtual, and mixed reality, is not adequately addressed by existing technologies.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of metal lines with protruding metal and dummy patterns that do not overlap with light-emitting areas, where the dummy patterns have widths smaller or equal to the metal patterns and are arranged to face opposite directions, reducing the likelihood of current leakage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If the gap between pixels is narrowed to increase pixel density, then the display surface area is reduced, but leakage current through the common layer between adjacent pixels increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepixel densityVSAvoidleakage current

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A metal line is introduced as an intermediary structure between adjacent pixels. This metal line includes protruding portions that extend toward adjacent pixels and dummy patterns that fill gaps, serving as a mediator to block leakage current paths while maintaining the narrow pixel gap structure for high pixel density

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The metal line is segmented into multiple portions including protruding portions and dummy patterns. The protruding portions are positioned at specific locations to block current paths, while dummy patterns fill gaps between these portions, creating a segmented but continuous barrier against leakage current

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If metal lines are added to prevent leakage current, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveleakage current preventionVSAvoidmetal line structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The metal line structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it blocks leakage current paths between adjacent pixels, provides structural support in the thin-film transistor layers, and the dummy patterns fill gaps to maintain planarity. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate structures

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The metal line's geometry is optimized by adjusting the height and position of protruding portions, as well as the width and position of dummy patterns. These parameter changes allow the structure to effectively block leakage current while minimizing impact on pixel performance and maintaining manufacturing feasibility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS20250338732A1Display device and wearable device

Publication Date: 2025.10.30 SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO LTD

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 crossing the non-display area and the display area in a first direction, wherein each of the metal lines does not overlap, in a plan view, light emitting areas of the sub-pixels, each of the metal lines includes metal patterns protruding in a direction crossing the first direction, and each of the metal lines further includes dummy patterns protruding from the metal patterns.