Organic Light Emitting Display with Desiccant and Edge Seal

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Solution Overview

Problem

Organic light emitting displays face challenges with narrow viewing angles due to increased cell gaps from face seal schemes, water and oxygen penetration, and light distortion from refractive index differences, which hinder high resolution and visibility.

Innovation Solution

The use of a desiccant in an edge seal scheme to minimize cell gaps, combined with a medium layer for refractive index matching between substrates, enhances the viewing angle and reduces the bezel area, while the desiccant and encapsulation unit prevent water and oxygen ingress.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a face seal scheme is used to bond upper and lower substrates, then sealing performance is improved, but cell gap increases due to face seal thickness, narrowing viewing angle

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing performanceVSAvoidcell gap
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing structure is divided into two parts: an edge seal that bonds the periphery of upper and lower substrates, and a desiccant filling the internal space. This segmentation allows the edge seal to provide sealing without increasing cell gap, while the desiccant protects internal elements from humidity penetration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A desiccant is introduced as an intermediary substance filling the space between substrates. It serves dual functions: preventing humidity penetration to organic light emitting elements and maintaining a minimal cell gap for enhanced viewing angle, while the edge seal provides structural bonding.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If encapsulation layers are added to prevent water and oxygen penetration, then reliability is improved, but device complexity and bezel area increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection from water and oxygenVSAvoidnumber of encapsulation layers
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The desiccant acts as an intermediary protective medium filling the cavity between substrates, preventing water and oxygen from reaching organic light emitting elements. This eliminates the need for multiple alternating organic and inorganic encapsulation layers, reducing device complexity and bezel area while maintaining protection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The desiccant creates a humidity-free inert environment within the display device, protecting sensitive organic components from degradation by water and oxygen without requiring complex multi-layer encapsulation structures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #39Inert atmosphere (Inert environment)

3Ease of manufacture

If different refractive index materials are used in substrates and encapsulation, then manufacturing ease is improved, but light distortion occurs, reducing visibility

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvematerial selection flexibilityVSAvoidlight distortion
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The desiccant is selected to have a refractive index matching that of the upper and lower substrates (approximately 1.5). This homogeneity in refractive index across different layers eliminates light distortion and visibility issues while maintaining manufacturing flexibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #33Homogeneity

4Length of moving object

If edge seal scheme with desiccant is used, then cell gap is minimized for better viewing angle, but sealing performance must be maintained

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecell gapVSAvoidsealing performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing function is segmented between the edge seal that provides mechanical bonding and sealing at the periphery, and the desiccant that fills the internal space to prevent humidity penetration. This allows minimal cell gap for viewing angle enhancement while maintaining comprehensive sealing performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The desiccant serves as an intermediary protective medium that fills the cavity space, providing humidity barrier protection without requiring thick sealing layers, thus enabling minimal cell gap while maintaining sealing integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

This approach improves the viewing angle, aperture ratio, and visibility by reducing cell gaps and minimizing water and oxygen penetration, thereby enabling a high resolution display with enhanced optical performance.

Implementation Method 1

a desiccant fills a space between the lower substrate and the upper substrate

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAbsorption (physical): Absorption (physical)

Implementation Method 2

The medium layer has a refractive index substantially identical to a refractive index of the upper substrate

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRefraction: Refraction

Data Source

PatentEP2939285B1Organic light emitting display
Publication Date: 2020.10.14 LG DISPLAY CO LTD
  • EP2939285B1 patent drawingFigure 1a
  • EP2939285B1 patent drawingFigure 1b~1c
  • EP2939285B1 patent drawingFigure 1d

AI summary

There are provided an organic light emitting display and a method of manufacturing the organic light emitting display. The organic light emitting display includes a lower substrate including a plurality of subpixel regions, a thin film transistor formed on the lower substrate, an organic light emitting element formed on the thin film transistor, an encapsulation unit for covering the organic light emitting element, a spacer formed on the encapsulation unit, an upper substrate disposed to face the lower substrate, and a desiccant between the lower substrate and the upper substrate. Various embodiments of the invention provide an organic light emitting display that enhances a viewing angle by minimizing a cell gap and minimizing a distortion of light, minimizes penetration of water or oxygen from the outside, and realizes a high resolution display by enhancing an aperture ratio, and a method of manufacturing the organic light emitting display.