OLED Display Panel Auxiliary Cathode Groove Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
OLED display panels with bottom-emitting structures have limited aperture ratios due to shielding by underlying wires, and in top-emitting structures, high cathode resistance hinders image display despite high transmittance requirements.
Innovation Solution
A display panel design featuring a transparent cathode layer with auxiliary cathodes in grooves on a planarization layer, made of opaque conductive adhesive with dispersed conductive particles, which reduces cathode resistance while maintaining high transmittance and aperture ratio.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a transparent cathode layer is used in top-emitting OLED structures, then transmittance is improved, but cathode resistance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cathode is segmented into two functional parts: a transparent cathode layer (first cathode) for maintaining transmittance and an auxiliary cathode (second cathode) with higher conductivity for reducing resistance. These two cathode structures work together to resolve the contradiction between transmittance and resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the cathode structure have different properties: the transparent cathode layer provides high transmittance in the pixel area, while the auxiliary cathode provides low resistance in the groove regions. This local differentiation allows each part to optimize its specific function.
2Productivity
If bottom-emitting OLED structures are used, then aperture ratio is limited due to shielding by underlying wires
Solution Approach 1:
The invention inverts the traditional bottom-emitting structure to a top-emitting structure. By emitting light from the top surface rather than the bottom, the underlying wire shielding problem is eliminated, allowing for higher aperture ratios.
3Device complexity
If pixel definition layer is removed to simplify fabrication, then manufacturing complexity is reduced, but risk of damage to transparent cathode increases
Solution Approach 1:
The planarization layer is formed in advance with pre-designed groove structures before the transparent cathode layer is deposited. This preliminary preparation of the substrate structure allows the transparent cathode to be laid down without requiring subsequent pixel definition layer removal, thus preventing damage while maintaining process simplicity.
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 solution lowers cathode resistance, improves transmittance, and simplifies the fabrication process by eliminating the need for a pixel definition layer, avoiding potential damage to the transparent cathode and maintaining the aperture ratio, thus facilitating effective image display.
Implementation Method 1
a material of the auxiliary cathodes is an opaque conductive adhesive with conductive particles dispersed therein
Implementation Method 2
an Organic Light-Emitting Diode (OLED) display panel
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure discloses a display panel and a display device, and the display panel includes: a base substrate, a drive wire layer on the base substrate, a planarization layer on a side of the drive wire layer facing away from the base substrate, a plurality of anodes in a form of an array on a side of the planarization layer facing away from the drive wire layer, a light-emitting layer on sides of respective anodes and the planarization layer facing away from the drive wire layer, and a transparent cathode layer on a side of the light-emitting layer facing away from the respective anodes, where the planarization layer includes grooves between the respective anodes, and auxiliary cathodes on a surface of the transparent cathode layer on a side thereof facing away from the light-emitting layer are arranged in the grooves.