OLED Pixel Defining Structure with Intercommunicated Zones

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing OLED display manufacturing process faces challenges in achieving high resolution and uniform thin film thickness due to the limitations of printing technology, requiring high alignment accuracy and increased equipment investment, which affects the quality of the display back panel.

Innovation Solution

The OLED pixel defining structure incorporates sub-pixel defining zones of different colors that are intercommunicated, allowing for improved flowability of liquid droplets and easier formation of a uniform thin film, reducing the need for precise droplet control and equipment accuracy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If the pixel defining zone is made finer and denser to increase resolution, then the resolution of the product is improved, but the control precision of droplets and uniformity of thin film thickness deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveresolutionVSAvoiddroplet placement precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The pixel defining zone is divided into multiple sub-pixel defining zones (first sub-pixel defining zone and second sub-pixel defining zone) that are intercommunicated. This segmentation allows droplets to be deposited in a more distributed manner while maintaining overall uniformity, resolving the contradiction between finer resolution and droplet control precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple sub-pixel defining zones of the same color are merged through intercommunication channels, creating a unified liquid flow path. This merging ensures uniform thin film formation across the entire pixel defining zone even as individual zones become smaller and denser for higher resolution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Manufacturing precision

If the pixel defining zone is made finer and denser to increase resolution, then the resolution of the product is improved, but the uniformity of thin film thickness deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveresolutionVSAvoidthin film uniformity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The pixel defining zone is segmented into multiple intercommunicated sub-zones, which allows the liquid to distribute more evenly across the entire area. This segmentation prevents localized thickness variations that would occur in uniformly fine structures, maintaining thin film uniformity while achieving high resolution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions within the pixel defining zone are given different local characteristics through the sub-zone structure. Each sub-zone can optimize its local liquid distribution while the intercommunication ensures global uniformity, resolving the contradiction between fine resolution and thin film uniformity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If high alignment accuracy is required for precise droplet control, then the quality of emission is improved, but the equipment investment and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveemission qualityVSAvoidequipment complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The pixel defining zone is divided into multiple sub-zones that can accommodate droplets with less precise placement. The intercommunication between sub-zones ensures that even if droplet placement varies, the overall liquid distribution remains uniform, reducing the need for high alignment accuracy and simplifying equipment requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The intercommunicated sub-pixel defining zones create a self-regulating system where liquid automatically distributes itself uniformly across the zones through capillary action and surface tension, without requiring precise external control. This self-service mechanism improves emission quality while reducing equipment complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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

This approach enhances the quality of the display back panel by facilitating the formation of uniform sub-pixel light emitting layers, improving light emission quality and reducing equipment costs.

Implementation Method 1

droplets fall into the intercommunicated sub-pixel defining zones, the intercommunicated sub-pixel defining zones are full of liquid with the aid of the flowability of liquid

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFlowability of liquid:

Data Source

PatentUS10446622B2OLED pixel defining structure with at least two intercommunicated sub-pixel defining zones of same color, manufacturing method thereof and array substrate

Publication Date: 2019.10.15 BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO LTD

AI summary

There are provided an OLED pixel defining structure, a manufacturing method thereof and an array substrate. The OLED pixel defining structure includes a pixel defining layer, with a plurality of openings corresponding to sub-pixels of different colors being included in the pixel defining layer, each of the openings forming a sub-pixel defining zone of a corresponding color, wherein at least two sub-pixel defining zones of the same color are intercommunicated.