OLED Display Inorganic Protective Layer for Sealant Hardening
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing OLED display manufacturing process faces challenges in reducing dead space and protecting the organic light emitting element and circuit unit from damage during the sealant hardening process, which increases the size of the OLED display and compromises adhesiveness between the substrates.
Innovation Solution
The OLED display incorporates an inorganic protective layer covering the circuit unit and common electrode, with a getter positioned closer to the display area than the sealing member, and a sealing member that overlaps the circuit unit, using materials like silicon nitride or epoxy to reduce dead space and prevent damage during the substrate adhering process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the sealant is applied to avoid the circuit unit or wire unit, then the circuit unit or wire unit is protected from damage during hardening, but the dead space at the outer side of the display substrate is increased
Solution Approach 1:
An inorganic protective layer is introduced as an intermediary between the sealant and the circuit unit. This protective layer allows the sealant to be applied continuously across the entire peripheral region including over the circuit unit, while the circuit unit remains protected from UV damage. The inorganic protective layer serves as the mediator that enables both continuous sealing and circuit protection simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The inorganic protective layer is formed in advance on the peripheral region of the display substrate before the sealant application. This preliminary protective coating ensures that when the sealant is subsequently applied and hardened by UV irradiation, the circuit unit is already protected from potential damage, allowing continuous sealant application without creating dead spaces.
2Strength
If the encapsulation substrate is adhered using a sealant that requires UV laser irradiation, then the sealant hardens effectively, but the circuit unit or wire unit may be damaged during the hardening process
Solution Approach 1:
The inorganic protective layer acts as a UV-filtering intermediary that blocks harmful UV radiation from reaching the circuit unit while allowing the sealant to cure. This protective barrier maintains the full UV irradiation process for strong sealant hardening while preventing circuit damage through selective UV blocking.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution converts the potentially harmful UV irradiation into a beneficial process by using the inorganic protective layer to selectively filter UV wavelengths. The UV light that would normally damage the circuit unit is blocked, while the sealant still receives sufficient UV energy to harden effectively, transforming a harmful exposure into a controlled beneficial curing process.
3Reliability
If a getter is additionally formed in the non-display area, then moisture and oxygen are further prevented, but the dead space is further increased
Solution Approach 1:
The inorganic protective layer serves multiple functions simultaneously: it protects the circuit unit from UV damage during sealant hardening, and it also provides a base layer upon which the getter can be formed. This merging of functions allows the getter to be integrated into the existing protective structure without requiring additional dedicated space, thereby reducing dead space while maintaining moisture and oxygen protection.
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 configuration effectively reduces dead space, protects the organic light emitting element and circuit unit from damage, and enhances adhesiveness between substrates, improving the reliability and efficiency of the OLED display manufacturing process.
Implementation Method 1
an inorganic protective layer covering the circuit unit and the common electrode of the organic light emitting diode
Implementation Method 2
the sealant is applied (or coated) between the display substrate and the encapsulation substrate, and hardened by an ultraviolet (UV) laser irradiated thereto
Implementation Method 3
when the OLED display is increased in size, a getter may be additionally formed in addition to the sealing member
Data Source
AI summary
An organic light emitting diode (OLED) display includes: a first substrate including a display area and a non-display area; a driving element on the display area of the first substrate, and including a driving thin film transistor, a switching thin film transistor, and a capacitor; a circuit unit on the non-display area of the first substrate; an organic light emitting element on the driving element, and including a pixel electrode, an organic emission layer, and a common electrode; an inorganic protective layer covering the circuit unit and the common electrode of the organic light emitting diode; a sealing member on the inorganic protective layer in the non-display area of the first substrate; and a second substrate on the sealing member.