Moisture-Transmission Delay Trenches for Display Device Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing structure of protective layers in organic light emitting devices requires a large area to prevent moisture and oxygen ingress, limiting design flexibility and increasing the non-display area, which is not efficient in terms of outdoor air barrier properties.
Innovation Solution
A substrate with a moisture-transmission delay part featuring trenches and a multi-layered protective layer structure, including inorganic and organic layers, is used to cover the display and non-display areas, with the trenches having a wider lower portion to extend the penetration path of outdoor air and reduce the protective layer's area.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a protective layer is formed to cover the organic light emitting device and extend sufficiently toward the lateral surface to prevent moisture transmission, then outdoor air barrier properties are improved, but the area of the protective layer increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces trenches with a specific cross-sectional shape (wider at the bottom than at the top) into the protective layer structure. This dimensional change creates a stepped configuration that extends the penetration path of outdoor air vertically and laterally, improving barrier properties without requiring a larger overall protective layer area. The trenches add a depth dimension to the barrier function.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective layer is segmented into multiple regions by the trenches, creating distinct zones with different barrier functions. The trenches divide the protective layer into separated sections that collectively provide enhanced moisture and oxygen barrier properties through the extended penetration path, while allowing the overall protective layer area to be reduced.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the protective layer area is reduced to improve design freedom, then the non-display area is minimized, but outdoor air barrier properties deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
By creating trenches with wider bottom portions, the patent adds vertical complexity to the protective layer structure. This dimensional change allows the barrier to be more effective per unit area, enabling reduction of the overall protective layer area while maintaining or improving outdoor air barrier properties, thus enhancing design freedom.
Solution Approach 2:
The trenches create local variations in the protective layer structure, with wider bottom portions providing enhanced barrier properties in specific regions. This local quality enhancement allows the overall protective layer area to be reduced while maintaining effective barrier performance where it is most needed.
3Ease of manufacture
If a conventional flattened protective layer structure is used, then manufacturing is simple, but the protective layer cannot effectively prevent moisture penetration without extending large area
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the conventional flattened protective layer by introducing trenches with wider bottom portions, adding vertical and lateral complexity to the structure. This dimensional change creates an extended penetration path for moisture and oxygen, improving barrier properties while maintaining manufacturability through standard deposition and etching processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective layer is segmented by trenches into multiple functional zones, creating a more effective barrier structure. This segmentation improves moisture transmission prevention by forcing outdoor air to travel along a longer, more complex path, while the structure can still be manufactured using conventional semiconductor fabrication techniques.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure includes a substrate, a moisture-transmission delay part, and a protective layer. The substrate includes a display area, and a non-display area disposed outside the display area. The moisture-transmission delay part includes a trench which is formed to surround the display area and which has a cross section in which a lower portion has a width greater than a width of an upper portion. The protective layer covers the display area and the non-display area in which the moisture-transmission delay part is formed.