OLED Common Electrode Closed Curve Cut for Bright Spot Repair

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Solution Overview

Problem

Bright spot failures in OLED displays, where pixels continuously emit light regardless of data and gate signals, reduce display quality and conventional repair methods can damage peripheral components.

Innovation Solution

The formation of a closed curve electrode cut around the pixel defining layer, which includes a channel that overlaps with the electrode cut, allows for the deactivation of defective OLEDs by electrically isolating the common electrode and organic emission layer, preventing light emission.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of repair

If a laser is used to deactivate a pixel with bright spot failure, then the defective pixel can be repaired, but peripheral data lines, common lines, and electrodes may be damaged

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverepair of bright spot failureVSAvoiddamage to peripheral components
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of repairVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The electrode cut divides the common electrode into separate segments, creating an isolated region around the defective pixel. This segmentation allows the laser repair process to be confined to a specific area, preventing damage to peripheral data lines, common lines, and other electrodes while still effectively deactivating the defective OLED.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The electrode cut creates a localized modification in the electrode structure, forming a closed curve that encloses only the defective pixel area. This local structural change enables targeted repair without affecting the overall integrity and functionality of surrounding components, achieving precise control over the repair zone.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Ease of manufacture

If the electrode cut does not form a closed curve, then the manufacturing process is simpler, but the defective pixel cannot be reliably isolated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesimplicity of electrode cut formationVSAvoidisolation of defective OLED
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The electrode cut extracts or removes a portion of the common electrode to form a closed curve structure. This extraction creates a complete isolation barrier around the defective pixel, ensuring reliable electrical separation between the defective region and the rest of the display, which cannot be achieved with open or incomplete cuts.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Ease of manufacture

If the pixel defining layer is flat, then the manufacturing process is simpler, but the electrode cut cannot effectively isolate the defective region from surrounding structures

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesimplicity of pixel defining layer structureVSAvoidisolation effectiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The pixel defining layer is given a three-dimensional stepped structure with different elevation levels. This dimensional change creates a physical barrier that enhances the isolation effect of the electrode cut, preventing lateral spread of defects and improving the effectiveness of the closed curve in separating the defective pixel from surrounding structures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP2157610B1Organic light emitting diode display and method for manufacturing the same
Publication Date: 2014.01.29 SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO LTD
  • EP2157610B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2157610B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2157610B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Aspects of the present invention relate to an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display and a manufacturing method thereof. The OLED display includes: a substrate ; pixel electrodes disposed on the substrate; a pixel defining layer disposed on the substrate, having a plurality of openings that expose the pixel electrodes; an organic emission layer formed on the pixel electrodes; and a common electrode formed on the organic emission layer and the pixel defining layer. An electrode cut is formed in the common electrode, around one of the openings of the pixel defining layer, to electrically isolate a portion of the common electrode.