OLED Lighting Module FPCB Coupling Stepped Glass

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing technologies face difficulties in stably coupling a power supply to the stepped glass surface of an OLED illumination plate, where a transparent electrode is formed, due to the surface's geometry, which complicates the assembly of OLED lighting modules.

Innovation Solution

The use of a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB) and an anisotropic conductive film (ACF) to securely connect the power terminal to the OLED illumination plate, ensuring a stable electrical connection and assembly process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a power supply terminal is directly coupled to the stepped glass surface of an OLED illumination plate, then the assembly process is simplified, but the connection stability deteriorates due to the stepped surface geometry

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly processVSAvoidconnection stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB) as an intermediary component between the power supply terminal and the stepped glass surface. The FPCB includes a flat lower surface that contacts the stepped surface through a recess, distributing the contact area and providing stable mechanical support. This mediator resolves the contradiction by enabling both easy assembly (through the flat contact surface) and reliable connection (through distributed contact area and reinforcement structure).

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from direct point-to-point contact on the stepped surface to a distributed areal contact through the FPCB's lower surface. By adding the dimensional aspect of a flat contact plane that spans multiple levels of the stepped surface, the solution achieves both assembly ease and connection stability simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Reliability

If a rigid circuit board is used to supply power to the OLED illumination plate, then the electrical connection is stable, but the adaptability to the stepped surface geometry deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrical connectionVSAvoidadaptability to stepped surface
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a flexible printed circuit board that can dynamically adapt to the stepped surface geometry. The FPCB's flexibility allows it to conform to the recess and stepped features while maintaining stable electrical connections, resolving the contradiction between rigidity for stable connection and flexibility for geometric adaptation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The FPCB acts as a flexible thin film structure that can bend and conform to the stepped surface geometry. This flexible substrate maintains electrical connectivity while adapting to the complex three-dimensional surface, enabling both reliable electrical connection and geometric adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Illumination intensity

If the transparent electrode is formed on the stepped border surface, then the OLED illumination function is achieved, but the difficulty in stable power coupling increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveOLED illumination functionVSAvoidpower coupling difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The FPCB serves as a mediator that bridges the power supply terminal and the transparent electrode on the stepped surface. By providing a flat lower surface that contacts the recess and distributing the connection load, the FPCB simplifies the power coupling process while maintaining the necessary illumination function of the OLED.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the power coupling function into two distinct interfaces: the FPCB's lower surface that contacts the stepped structure, and the upper surface that connects to the power terminal. This segmentation allows each interface to be optimized independently, reducing overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 solution stabilizes the quality of the OLED lighting module, enabling mass production by effectively addressing the challenge of connecting power to the stepped surface, thereby enhancing the module's reliability and manufacturing efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

an anisotropic conductive film which couples and electrically conducts the transparent electrode and the connection terminal

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAnisotropic conduction: Anisotropy

Data Source

PatentEP2887415B1OLED lighting module
Publication Date: 2024.10.30 LG DISPLAY CO LTD
  • EP2887415B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2887415B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2887415B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention discloses a lighting module using an organic light emitting device (OLED) and particularly, a lighting module using the OLED which stably couples a power supply terminal to an electrode pad which is formed on a glass substrate of an OLED illumination plate.