Flexible OLED Encapsulation with Lateral Barrier Layers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Flexible OLED devices face challenges in effectively blocking water vapor and oxygen at their lateral sides, which affects their lifespan due to the limited barrier capabilities of existing flexible thin film encapsulating layers.
Innovation Solution
An encapsulating structure is proposed with one or more trapezoidal-shaped barrier layers made from negative photoresist, positioned on the lateral sides of the OLED device, covered by a second flexible thin film encapsulating layer, comprising inorganic barrier and organic buffer layers, to enhance water vapor and oxygen blocking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If flexible thin film encapsulating layers are used to maintain flexibility and light weight, then the device achieves bendability and portability, but the blocking capability against water vapor and oxygen at lateral sides becomes insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different materials to different regions of the device. The top and bottom surfaces use flexible thin film encapsulating layers for flexibility, while the lateral sides use barrier layers with superior blocking properties. This local differentiation allows each region to optimize its function without compromising the whole device's flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite material structures: the flexible thin film encapsulating layers consist of multiple alternating inorganic and organic layers, and the barrier layers are made from materials with excellent blocking properties. This composite approach combines the advantages of different materials to achieve both flexibility and superior blocking capability.
2Reliability
If multiple structural layers are added to lateral sides to improve blocking capability, then the lifespan is extended, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different materials to different regions of the device. The top and bottom surfaces use flexible thin film encapsulating layers for flexibility, while the lateral sides use barrier layers with superior blocking properties. This local differentiation allows each region to optimize its function without compromising the whole device's flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite material structures: the flexible thin film encapsulating layers consist of multiple alternating inorganic and organic layers, and the barrier layers are made from materials with excellent blocking properties. This composite approach combines the advantages of different materials to achieve both flexibility and superior blocking capability.
3Weight of moving object
If flexible material is substituted for glass substrates and encapsulating covers, then the device becomes lightweight and portable, but the problem of blocking off water vapor and oxygen becomes more difficult to resolve
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different materials to different regions of the device. The top and bottom surfaces use flexible thin film encapsulating layers for flexibility, while the lateral sides use barrier layers with superior blocking properties. This local differentiation allows each region to optimize its function without compromising the whole device's flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite material structures: the flexible thin film encapsulating layers consist of multiple alternating inorganic and organic layers, and the barrier layers are made from materials with excellent blocking properties. This composite approach combines the advantages of different materials to achieve both flexibility and superior blocking capability.
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 configuration significantly improves the blocking of water vapor and oxygen at the lateral sides, thereby prolonging the lifespan of flexible OLED devices.
Implementation Method 1
one or more barrier layers are arranged on the TFT array disposed on lateral sides of the OLED device... effective for improving the encapsulating structure of the lateral sides of the flexible OLED device. The feature of the present encapsulating structure is to block off water vapor and oxygen
Implementation Method 2
Flexible OLED devices have been thrown to the market. Flexible thin film encapsulating is adopted by flexible OLED devices... adoption of bendable, lightweight, and portable flexible display devices fabricated from flexible substrates
Data Source
AI summary
An encapsulating structure for encapsulating a flexible OLED device includes a flexible substrate, a first flexible thin film encapsulating layer, a TFT array, an OLED device, a second flexible thin film encapsulating layer, an adhesion layer, a third flexible thin film encapsulating layer, and a polarizer layered in order. One or more barrier layers are arranged on the TFT array disposed on lateral sides of the OLED device, and the second flexible thin film encapsulating layer covers the OLED device and the one or more barrier layers. The present invention also proposes a display device having the encapsulating structure.