OLED Pad Extension Line Crossing Signal Lines
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Solution Overview
Problem
The cutting process of removing shorting bars in OLED display device manufacturing can lead to impurities or moisture causing short circuits or leakage currents between signal lines, affecting the reliability and accuracy of signal inspections.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a thin-film transistor (TFT) in the pad area with an active layer overlapping signal lines, including an extension line and reference voltage lines, to prevent short circuits and ensure accurate signal inspections by maintaining the TFT in an OFF-state during the cutting process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If shorting bars are removed through cutting process, then signal inspection can be performed, but impurities or moisture cause short circuits or leakage currents between signal lines
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by forming an extension line that crosses the second signal lines before the cutting process. This extension line is positioned to bridge potential gaps created during cutting, preventing short circuits or leakage currents that might occur when shorting bars are removed. The extension line acts as a pre-established protective structure that anticipates and prevents the harmful effects of the cutting process.
2Reliability
If extension line crosses second signal lines, then short circuits are prevented, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The extension line serves multiple functions: it acts as a signal transmission path and simultaneously functions as a protective bridge preventing short circuits between second signal lines during the cutting process. By making the extension line multi-functional, the patent prevents short circuits without requiring additional separate protective structures, thereby minimizing the increase in device complexity.
3Reliability
If TFT active layer overlaps signal lines, then signal integrity is maintained, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The TFT active layer acts as an intermediary structure that overlaps the signal lines, including the extension line, to provide electrical isolation and maintain signal integrity. The active layer serves as a mediating element that prevents direct exposure of signal lines to impurities and moisture during cutting, while the overlapping configuration ensures continuous protection without requiring precise alignment to sub-micron tolerances.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a display device having a display panel that includes a plurality of pixels in a display area, each pixel including a first thin film transistor (TFT); a plurality of pads in a non-display area outside the display area that provide operating signals to the plurality of pixels in the display area, each pad including a first signal line running toward the display area and a second signal line running toward an outer edge of the display panel, with each pad disposed between the first and second signal lines; and an extension line crossing one or more of second signal lines of the plurality of pads, two ends of the extension line running toward the outer edge of the display panel, wherein each of the one or more of second signal lines of the plurality of pads includes an active layer of a second TFT.