OLED Display Panel Electrode Layout With Fewer Photomasks
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing OLED display panel manufacturing process is lengthy and costly due to the need for multiple layers of photomasks and inorganic films, which increases production cycle and cost.
Innovation Solution
A display panel structure and manufacturing method that reduces the number of source/drain metal layers by patterning a first electrode layer with a single photomask, thereby minimizing the number of photomasks required, and includes a substrate with a first electrode layer, buffer layer, second electrode layer with a conductive channel, and a gate electrode, connected via various electrodes and insulating layers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple photomasks and multi-layered inorganic films are used during manufacturing, then the OLED display panel achieves required functional performance, but the production cycle becomes long and cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple electrode layers (drain electrode, source electrode, and metal trace electrode) into a single first electrode layer, and merges the conductive channel and gate electrode into a second electrode layer. This consolidation reduces the number of separate photomask layers required during manufacturing, directly shortening the production cycle while maintaining the necessary electrical functions of the TFT driving circuit
Solution Approach 2:
The first electrode layer serves multiple functions simultaneously by forming the drain electrode, source electrode, and metal trace electrode in a single layer structure. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate dedicated layers for each electrode type, reducing manufacturing steps and cost while ensuring reliable electrical connections for the OLED display panel
2Reliability
If multiple photomasks and multi-layered inorganic films are used during manufacturing, then the OLED display panel achieves required functional performance, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple electrode structures into two main electrode layers, significantly reducing the number of photomask layers required from the conventional 10 layers to just 2 layers. This consolidation directly reduces material costs, processing costs, and manufacturing complexity while maintaining the electrical performance requirements of the OLED display panel
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and eliminates redundant intermediate electrode layers and associated photomask steps from the conventional manufacturing process. By removing these unnecessary layers while retaining the essential drain, source, and gate electrode functions, the manufacturing cost is reduced without compromising the functional performance of the display panel
Data Source
AI summary
The present application discloses a display panel and a method of manufacturing the display panel. In the present application, by disposing the drain electrode, the source electrode, and the metal trace electrode on the first electrode layer, the present application reduces at least one source/drain metal layer compared with the prior art, so that the present application can reduce a number of layers of photomasks during the manufacturing process of the display panel, which can effectively reduce the production cycle and production cost of the display panel.