Mother Substrate Conductive Ring Layout for Display Panel ESD Blocking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electrostatic discharge (ESD) during the manufacturing process of display panels can cause dielectric breakdown or short circuits, leading to defects in thin film layers.
Innovation Solution
A mother substrate design incorporating a conductive ring with an electrostatic blocking area, connected to a base voltage source, and a photoresist pattern with specific metal layer configurations to form a capacitor, preventing ESD by maintaining equi-potential and reducing spacing between metal layers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional substrate design is used during manufacturing, then the manufacturing process is simple, but electrostatic discharge causes dielectric breakdown or short circuits in thin film layers
Solution Approach 1:
The substrate is divided into a display area and a non-display area, with the non-display area containing a conductive ring structure that segments the electrostatic protection function from the display function. This segmentation allows ESD protection to be implemented without interfering with the display area's thin film layers.
Solution Approach 2:
A conductive ring acting as an intermediary element is introduced in the non-display area. This conductive ring serves as an electrostatic shield that intercepts and redirects ESD away from the thin film layers in the display area, preventing dielectric breakdown and short circuits without requiring modification of the display area structure.
2Reliability
If metal layers are spaced far apart in light-emitting areas, then light emission is not affected, but ESD protection is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Different spacing configurations are applied to different areas: in the electrostatic blocking area, metal layers are spaced closely to enhance ESD protection and reduce capacitor energy loss, while in the light-emitting areas, metal layers maintain larger spacing to avoid affecting light emission. This local differentiation optimizes both protection and energy efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrostatic blocking area is positioned in the non-display area, meaning the excessive ESD protection action is applied only where needed (in the non-display area) rather than throughout the entire substrate. This partial application prevents interference with light-emitting areas while providing sufficient protection.
3Productivity
If the conductive ring is electrically connected to pads, then ESD can be discharged, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The conductive ring is pre-configured in the non-display area with predetermined connection points to the pads. This preliminary arrangement of the electrostatic protection structure allows for standardized connection protocols that reduce alignment complexity during manufacturing, thereby improving yield without excessively increasing precision requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The conductive ring is electrically connected to the pads to establish an equipotential region that safely channels ESD. By creating this equipotential path in advance through the conductive ring design, the system simplifies the manufacturing process compared to requiring precise real-time alignment during assembly, thus improving productivity while maintaining reasonable precision standards.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The design effectively prevents ESD-induced defects, enhances yield, optimizes manufacturing processes, and reduces production energy consumption.
Implementation Method 1
the electrostatic blocking area includes a second metal layer that is spaced apart from the first metal layer with the photoresist pattern between the first metal layer and the second metal layer
Implementation Method 2
a first distance between the first metal layer and the second metal layer in the electrostatic blocking area is less than a second distance between the first metal layer and the third metal layer in the light-emitting area
Data Source
AI summary
A mother substrate for a display panel and a display panel using the same are disclosed. The mother substrate comprises a plurality of display area including a plurality of light-emitting areas configured to receive light-emitting elements, a plurality of wirings, and a plurality of pads connected to the plurality of wirings; a conductive ring in a non-display area that surrounds the display area such that each of the display areas is surrounded by the conductive ring and electrically connected to the pads; a photoresist pattern covering the plurality of display areas and the non-display area; and a first metal layer covering the photoresist pattern. The conductive ring includes an electrostatic blocking area.