Organic Light-Emitting Display Encapsulation with Grooved Inorganic Layers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional organic light-emitting display apparatuses face challenges in protecting the intermediate layer from contamination by external substances, moisture, and gas, which can degrade the durability and electrical characteristics of the device.

Innovation Solution

The organic light-emitting display apparatus incorporates a layered structure with a substrate, a first electrode, an intermediate layer with protrusions, a second electrode, and multiple inorganic and organic encapsulating layers. The encapsulating layers are strategically positioned to prevent contact between the intermediate layer and external contaminants, ensuring effective protection and maintaining the integrity of the organic light-emitting layer.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional encapsulating structures are used, then the device structure is simple, but the intermediate layer is vulnerable to contamination by external substances, moisture, and gas

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection of intermediate layerVSAvoidencapsulating layer structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The encapsulating layer is divided into multiple inorganic encapsulating layers and organic encapsulating layers arranged in sequence. The inorganic layers provide barrier properties against moisture and gas, while the organic layers fill grooves and provide additional protection, creating a segmented multi-functional encapsulation system that enhances reliability without excessive complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The encapsulating structure employs a nested configuration where organic encapsulating layers are positioned within grooves formed by inorganic encapsulating layers. Each layer is embedded within the structure of the previous layer, creating a nested doll-like arrangement that maximizes protection while maintaining structural integrity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Reliability

If the encapsulating layers completely cover the intermediate layer protrusions, then contamination is prevented, but manufacturing precision becomes difficult to achieve

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontamination preventionVSAvoidencapsulating layer alignment
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The encapsulating layers are designed with local variations in coverage. The inorganic encapsulating layers form grooves that expose certain portions of the intermediate layer protrusions, while organic encapsulating layers selectively fill these grooves. This local differentiation allows the structure to achieve contamination prevention through strategic coverage rather than complete coverage, reducing manufacturing precision requirements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of requiring complete coverage of all intermediate layer protrusions, the design employs partial coverage where specific portions are exposed. The organic encapsulating layers fill the grooves created by inorganic layers, providing sufficient protection against contamination without requiring precise alignment for complete coverage, thus reducing manufacturing complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP2608288B1Organic light-emitting display apparatus and method of manufacturing the same
Publication Date: 2017.06.21 SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO LTD
  • EP2608288B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2608288B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2608288B1 patent drawingFigure 5A~5B

AI summary

An organic light-emitting display apparatus (100) includes a substrate (101), a first electrode (110) on the substrate (101); an intermediate layer (112) on the first electrode (110), the intermediate layer (112) including an organic light-emitting layer; a second electrode (113) on the intermediate layer (112), a first inorganic encapsulating layer (121) on the second electrode (113), the first inorganic encapsulating layer (121) defining a first groove (121g) formed therein; a first organic encapsulating layer (131) that is in the first groove (121g) defined by the first inorganic encapsulating layer (121), the first organic encapsulating layer (131) not extending beyond the first groove (121g), and a second inorganic encapsulating layer (122) on the first organic encapsulating layer (131).