OLED Encapsulation Unit for Narrow Bezel and Driving Film Protection

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Solution Overview

Problem

The challenge in organic light-emitting display devices is to achieve a narrow bezel while minimizing damage to the driving film caused by the metallic second substrate, which can lead to electrical shorts and reliability issues.

Innovation Solution

An encapsulation unit is formed to cover the side surface of the second substrate, preventing direct contact between the driving film and the metallic substrate, and is designed with varying thicknesses and angles to reduce damage and allow for a narrow bezel without increasing the distance between the substrates.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Length of moving object

If the second substrate is placed close to the driving film to achieve a narrow bezel, then the bezel width is reduced, but the driving film is damaged by the metallic substrate causing electrical shorts and reliability issues

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebezel widthVSAvoiddriving film integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an encapsulation unit as an intermediary component between the second substrate and the driving film. This encapsulation unit extends along the edge of the second substrate and physically separates it from the driving film, preventing direct contact and potential damage. This allows the second substrate to be positioned close to the driving film area (achieving narrow bezel) while maintaining driving film integrity through the protective intermediary layer.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the encapsulation unit is extended to cover the side surface of the second substrate, then damage to the driving film is reduced, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedriving film protectionVSAvoidencapsulation structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The encapsulation unit serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides protection for the driving film from the metallic substrate, acts as an insulating layer to prevent electrical shorts, and enables the narrow bezel design by allowing close positioning of components. By making the encapsulation unit multi-functional, the patent reduces the need for additional separate protective structures, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP2983226B1Organic light emitting display device and method for manufacturing the same
Publication Date: 2021.08.04 LG DISPLAY CO LTD
  • EP2983226B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP2983226B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP2983226B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

An organic light-emitting display device (100) includes an organic light-emitting element (120) on a substrate (110), a metal substrate (150), and an encapsulation unit (140) configured to seal the organic light-emitting element (120), and a structure in which a driving film (160) is connected so as not to be protruded further than the substrate (110). A portion of the encapsulation unit (140) is between the metal substrate (150) and the driving film (160), and the portion of the encapsulation unit (140) is configured to reduce damage to the driving film (160) caused by the metal substrate (150). Thus, the organic light-emitting display device (100) may realize a narrow bezel and also reduce a driving defect caused by damage to the driving film (160).