OLED Pixel Electrode Protection Against Foreign Material Defects

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Solution Overview

Problem

Dark or bright spots can occur in organic light-emitting displays due to foreign materials penetrating into the electrodes, leading to adverse effects on display quality.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating inorganic protective layers between the electrodes to prevent short circuits and electrode contact, using inorganic materials to reduce manufacturing costs and enhance durability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If no protective layer is used between transistor electrodes and organic light-emitting device, then device complexity is reduced, but foreign materials can penetrate into electrodes causing dark or bright spots

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay qualityVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

An inorganic protective layer is introduced as an intermediary between the transistor electrodes and the organic light-emitting device. This protective layer acts as a barrier that prevents foreign materials from penetrating into the electrodes, thereby eliminating dark or bright spot defects without significantly complicating the overall device structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The inorganic protective layer is formed in advance during the manufacturing process, before the organic light-emitting device is assembled. This preliminary protective measure ensures that foreign materials are blocked from entering the electrodes during subsequent handling and assembly operations, preventing quality defects before they occur.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Manufacturing precision

If inorganic protective layers are added to prevent foreign material penetration, then manufacturing precision is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveyield rateVSAvoidlayer structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The inorganic protective layer serves as a mediator that simplifies the manufacturing process by providing a reliable barrier against foreign material contamination. This single protective layer prevents multiple potential defect sources, thereby improving yield rate without requiring complex multi-layer protective structures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If protective layers are used to block foreign material intrusion, then reliability is improved, but ease of manufacture decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay integrityVSAvoidmanufacturing process
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The inorganic protective layer is integrated into the early stages of the manufacturing process, forming a protective barrier before the organic light-emitting device components are assembled. This preliminary protective measure ensures that foreign materials are blocked during subsequent handling, assembly, and testing operations, maintaining display integrity without requiring complex post-assembly protective measures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS12615923B2Organic light-emitting display apparatus and method of manufacturing the same
Publication Date: 2026.04.28 SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO LTD
  • US12615923B2 patent drawing
  • US12615923B2 patent drawing
  • US12615923B2 patent drawing

AI summary

An organic light-emitting display apparatus includes a transistor on a substrate. The transistor includes a gate electrode, a first electrode, and a second electrode. The apparatus also includes a protective layer over the first electrode and including a first portion that contacts the second electrode, and an organic light-emitting device having a pixel electrode electrically connected to the second electrode.