OLED Meander Edge Structure for Liquid Material Confinement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing voltage-light conversion devices, such as OLEDs, face challenges in locally confining liquid materials during manufacturing, leading to unwanted spreading and reduced spatial accuracy of layer edges due to straight structure edges perpendicular to the layer edges.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a meander-type edge structure in the electrically conducting layer, where at least a part of the structure edge is not perpendicular to the layer edge, effectively redirects the flow of liquid materials, ensuring better confinement within the desired edge region during the manufacturing process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a straight structure edge perpendicular to the layer edge is used, then the manufacturing process is simple, but the liquid material spreads out and cannot be locally confined within the edge region
Solution Approach 1:
The structure edge is designed with a meander-type geometry featuring curved segments instead of straight lines. The curved edge portions redirect the flow of liquid material along the edge, preventing it from spreading perpendicular to the desired layer edge and improving local confinement within the edge region.
Solution Approach 2:
The structure edge is segmented into multiple portions with different orientations relative to the layer edge. By dividing the edge into segments that are not perpendicular to the layer edge, the liquid material flow is redirected at each segment, enhancing confinement effectiveness compared to a single straight edge.
2Manufacturing precision
If the structure edge is made non-perpendicular to redirect liquid flow, then local confinement improves, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The meander-type edge incorporates curved portions that naturally redirect liquid flow without requiring complex angular joints or sharp corners. The curved geometry simplifies fabrication compared to sharpangled structures while maintaining the flow redirection effect needed for precise layer edge formation.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a voltage-light conversion device (1) like an OLED comprising a structured electrically conducting layer (3) on a substrate (2) and a further layer (60) that is part of an encapsulation and which comprises a layer edge (63). The electrically conducting layer comprises in an edge region (70) close to the layer edge a structure edge (10), wherein at least a part of the structure edge is not perpendicular to the layer edge. Since in the edge region at least a part of the structure edge is not perpendicular to the layer edge, during the production process for producing the further layer a possible flow of initially liquid layer material along the structure edge can be directed such that the liquid material remains relatively close to the desired layer edge, i.e. the liquid material can be better locally confined.