Micro LED Pixel Electrode Layout Without Oxide Removal

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Solution Overview

Problem

In micro light-emitting diode display devices, there is a need to reduce the resistance of the pixel electrode while avoiding additional processing steps, such as removing an oxide layer, to enhance the display performance.

Innovation Solution

A display device is fabricated using a pixel electrode made of high reflectance material, where the pixel electrode is in contact with the side surface of the light-emitting element, and the method involves forming a substrate, a thin-film transistor, and light-emitting elements without requiring the removal of an oxide layer, allowing for efficient integration and reduced resistance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the pixel electrode is made of conventional material and requires oxide layer removal, then the resistance can be reduced, but additional processing steps are required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisplay performanceVSAvoidprocessing steps

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and eliminates the oxide layer removal step from the fabrication process by using a pixel electrode material (aluminum alloy) that does not form problematic oxide layers, thereby simplifying the overall manufacturing process while maintaining low resistance and high reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the material parameter of the pixel electrode from conventional materials to an aluminum alloy with specific composition (Al0.95M0.05 where M is a metal element), which fundamentally alters the oxidation behavior and eliminates the need for oxide layer removal processing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If additional processing steps are performed to reduce resistance, then the display performance is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisplay performanceVSAvoidfabrication process

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention removes the oxide layer removal step from the manufacturing sequence by selecting a material that inherently resists oxidation, thereby easing the fabrication process while achieving the desired low-resistance performance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention performs preliminary material selection to choose an aluminum alloy composition that prevents oxide layer formation from the outset, eliminating the need for subsequent oxide removal processing and simplifying the overall manufacturing workflow

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS20230411577A1Display device and method of fabricating the same

Publication Date: 2023.12.21 SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO LTD

AI summary

The display device includes a substrate, a thin-film transistor on the substrate and including a first electrode, a second electrode and a semiconductor layer, a first insulating layer on the thin-film transistor, an organic layer on the first insulating layer, at least one light-emitting element on the organic layer, a pixel electrode on the organic layer and in contact with a side surface of the at least one light-emitting element, a planarization layer on the side surface of the at least one light-emitting element and a common electrode on the at least one light-emitting element and the planarization layer.