OLED Display Panel Metal Structure ESD Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
The electrostatic discharge (ESD) during the evaporation process in OLED display panel manufacturing damages the substrate, leading to reliability issues and reduced package lifetime.
Innovation Solution
A display panel design featuring a substrate with a metal structure and a first insulating layer in the non-display region, where the first insulating layer has a hollow region and the metal structure includes a first portion overlapping the hollow region and a second portion overlapping the first insulating layer, with the first portion being taller than the second portion to increase capacitance and reduce ESD damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a metal structure is added to the non-display region to increase capacitance and reduce ESD damage, then the reliability of the display panel is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The metal structure is divided into a first portion and a second portion, where the first portion overlaps with the hollow region and the second portion overlaps with the first insulating layer. This segmentation allows the metal structure to be integrated into the existing layer structure without requiring a completely separate complex system, thereby improving reliability while controlling the increase in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The metal structure is nested within the existing layer configuration of the display panel. The first portion is positioned within the hollow region of the first insulating layer, and the second portion extends into the first insulating layer. This nesting approach allows the ESD protection function to be embedded within the existing device architecture, minimizing the additional complexity.
2Quantity of substance
If the first portion of the metal structure is made taller to increase capacitance, then the charge storage capability is improved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The metal structure has different portions with different heights and positions. The first portion is taller and positioned to overlap with the hollow region, while the second portion is shorter and overlaps with the first insulating layer. This local differentiation allows the capacitance to be increased at the critical first portion without requiring the entire metal structure to be excessively tall, thereby reducing the overall manufacturing precision requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of uniformly increasing the height of the entire metal structure, the invention utilizes the vertical dimension selectively by creating a stepped configuration. The first portion extends higher to intersect with the hollow region, while the second portion remains shorter. This dimensional differentiation achieves increased capacitance through strategic vertical positioning rather than uniform height increase, reducing manufacturing precision demands.
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
The increased capacitance due to the taller first portion of the metal structure effectively stores more charges, reducing the risk of ESD damage and improving the reliability of the display panel by preventing cracks and extending its lifetime.
Implementation Method 1
The increased capacitance due to the taller first portion of the metal structure effectively stores more charges, reducing the risk of ESD damage
Data Source
AI summary
A display panel including a substrate, a metal structure at side of substrate, and first insulating layer, the metal structure and the first insulating layer located on a non-display region, the first insulating layer has hollow region, the hollow region extends through the first insulating layer in direction perpendicular to plane of substrate, where the metal structure includes first portion and second portion that are connected to each other. the first portion overlaps a hollow region and the second portion overlaps first insulating layer. The maximum distance between a part of a surface of a side of first portion away from substrate and substrate is a first distance, the maximum distance between a surface of a side of second portion away from the substrate and the substrate is a second distance, and the first distance is greater than the second distance.