OLED Frit Seal Design for Infrared Curing and Line Protection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Organic light emitting display devices face challenges in sealing the space between substrates effectively, leading to exposure to moisture and oxygen, which shortens their lifespan, and existing sealing methods using inorganic materials can damage components when irradiated with infrared rays.

Innovation Solution

An organic light emitting display device is designed with a frit seal made of inorganic materials between the substrates, where the frit seal is irradiated with infrared rays to cure and create a hermetic seal, while minimizing overlap with power supply lines to prevent damage, and a reinforcing member is used to enhance structural integrity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the frit seal is made wider to improve sealing reliability, then the sealing effectiveness improves, but the overlap with power supply lines increases causing damage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing reliabilityVSAvoiddamage to power supply lines
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The power supply line is designed with differentiated local properties: the first portion has properties suitable for infrared irradiation (wider, more robust), while the second portion has properties optimized for electrical function (narrower, positioned away from seal). This local differentiation allows the seal to be wide for reliability while minimizing damage to critical components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The power supply line is segmented into two distinct portions: a first portion that overlaps with the frit seal and a second portion that extends outside the sealed area. This segmentation allows each portion to serve different functions - the first provides structural support and withstands sealing processes, while the second provides electrical connectivity without exposure to sealing hazards.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of manufacture

If infrared rays are used to cure the frit seal, then the sealing process is effective, but components exposed to the rays are damaged

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing process effectivenessVSAvoidcomponent damage during sealing
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Different portions of the power supply line have different properties: the first portion is designed to withstand infrared irradiation during sealing, while the second portion is positioned outside the irradiation zone to avoid damage. This local quality differentiation resolves the contradiction between effective sealing and component protection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The frit seal acts as an intermediary element that is selectively irradiated by infrared rays. The seal material is chosen to be transparent or responsive to infrared wavelengths, allowing the curing process to be effective at the seal location while the power supply line portions outside this zone remain protected from harmful radiation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Area of stationary object

If the power supply line is positioned closer to the frit seal for compact design, then device compactness improves, but the risk of damage during sealing increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice compactnessVSAvoidcomponent integrity during sealing
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The power supply line is divided into two segments with distinct positioning strategies: the first portion is positioned close to the frit seal within the sealed area, while the second portion extends outside the sealed area. This segmentation allows compact integration where needed while protecting critical functions from sealing-related damage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different portions of the power supply line have different positioning and design characteristics optimized for their specific functions. The first portion near the seal is designed for compactness and structural stability, while the second portion outside the seal is optimized for electrical connectivity and protection from environmental factors.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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

The solution effectively seals the space between substrates, preventing moisture and oxygen ingress, while minimizing damage to components during the sealing process, thereby extending the lifespan of the organic light emitting diodes and ensuring reliable operation.

Implementation Method 1

the frit seal is irradiated with infrared rays to cure and create a hermetic seal

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectInfrared radiation: Infrared Radiation

Implementation Method 2

electrons injected from one electrode and holes injected from the other electrode recombine in the organic emitting layer. In the organic emitting layer, organic molecules are excited by the recombination of the holes and electrons, and then emit light while returning to a ground state

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectroluminescence: Electroluminescence

Data Source

PatentEP1895592B1Organic light emitting display device
Publication Date: 2018.10.17 SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO LTD
  • EP1895592B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP1895592B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP1895592B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

An organic light emitting display device capable of hermetically sealing a space between a deposition substrate and an encapsulation substrate with inorganic sealing materials is disclosed. One embodiment of the organic light emitting display device includes a first substrate (10) including power supply lines (32,37) formed on an array, and a circumference of the array, of organic light emitting diodes, and connected to a pad unit (40) through the power pad line (36) to supply a power source to each of the organic light emitting diodes (26); a second substrate (50) arranged on at least the array of the first substrate; and an inorganic sealing material (60) for sealing an inner space between the first substrate (10) and the second substrate (50) while forming a closed boundary, wherein the inorganic sealing material is not overlapped with a region in which the power supply line is formed.