Variable Thickness Encapsulation for OLED Water Permeation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Organic light emitting display devices face issues with water permeation through the adhesive layer, leading to degradation of the organic light emitting diode layer and increased likelihood of cracks due to physical damage, as well as delamination between the organic light emitting layer and the cathode electrode, particularly in flexible displays.

Innovation Solution

The solution involves an organic light emitting display device design where the encapsulation substrate is formed to be thicker outside the active area than within, and the adhesive layer is made thicker within the active area, with a cover layer added to prevent water permeation and distribute tensile forces more evenly, thereby reducing the risk of delamination and enhancing stability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If the adhesive layer is made thinner to prevent water permeation, then water resistance is improved, but crack resistance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewater permeationVSAvoidcrack resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The adhesive layer is designed with different thicknesses in different regions: thinner in the active area to prevent water permeation, and thicker in the non-active area to prevent cracks from external impacts. This local variation in thickness allows simultaneous optimization of both water resistance and mechanical strength.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the encapsulation substrate is made thicker to prevent water permeation, then water resistance is improved, but delamination risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewater permeationVSAvoiddelamination resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The encapsulation substrate is designed with different thicknesses in different regions: thicker in the non-active area to prevent water permeation, and thinner in the active area to reduce tensile force and prevent delamination. This local variation allows simultaneous optimization of water resistance and delamination resistance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The encapsulation substrate is divided into two distinct regions with different thicknesses: a first region (active area) and a second region (non-active area). This segmentation allows each region to be optimized for its specific function while working together as a unified structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Strength

If the adhesive layer is made thicker to prevent cracks, then crack resistance is improved, but water permeation increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecrack resistanceVSAvoidwater permeation
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The adhesive layer is designed with different thicknesses in different regions: thicker in the non-active area to prevent cracks from external impacts, and thinner in the active area to prevent water permeation. This local variation in thickness allows simultaneous optimization of both mechanical strength and water resistance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

4Reliability

If the encapsulation substrate is made thinner to prevent delamination, then delamination resistance is improved, but water permeation increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedelamination resistanceVSAvoidwater permeation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The encapsulation substrate is designed with different thicknesses in different regions: thinner in the active area to reduce tensile force and prevent delamination, and thicker in the non-active area to prevent water permeation. This local variation allows simultaneous optimization of both delamination resistance and water resistance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3182476B1Organic light emitting display device
Publication Date: 2022.06.15 LG DISPLAY CO LTD
  • EP3182476B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3182476B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3182476B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

An organic light emitting display device is discussed. The organic light emitting display device according to an embodiment includes an organic light emitting diode layer provided at an active area of a base substrate; an encapsulation layer encapsulating the organic light emitting diode layer to protect the organic light emitting diode layer; an adhesive layer in the encapsulation layer and provided on the organic light emitting diode layer to cover upper and side surfaces of the organic light emitting diode layer; and an encapsulation substrate in the encapsulation layer and provided on the adhesive layer. The encapsulation substrate is provided to have different thicknesses at the active area and outside the active area.