OLED Substrate Recessed Hole for Hardware Installation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Flexible OLED display devices are prone to a significant reduction in lifespan due to water vapor and oxygen ingress through installation holes, as the packaging film breaks, leaving the OLED unprotected.

Innovation Solution

An organic electroluminescent display substrate is designed with a recessed portion that includes a first and second opening, where the second opening is smaller than the first, allowing a redundant layer to block water and oxygen, and a packing film covers the substrate to prevent ingress, with a through hole formed using laser drilling that extends through the redundant layer.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If an installation hole is formed in the display region to accommodate hardware components, then hardware installation is enabled, but the packaging film breaks and water vapor and oxygen ingress, causing serious shortening of product life

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehardware installation capabilityVSAvoidproduct life
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The installation hole is divided into two parts: a first hole portion passing through the substrate and a second hole portion extending into the packaging film. The packaging film is segmented into a first region covering the organic electroluminescent component and a second region covering the first electrode, allowing the hole to pass through without breaking the protective packaging structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The second hole portion is nested within the second region of the packaging film, creating a hierarchical structure where the hole passes through the substrate first, then extends into the packaging film region, allowing hardware installation while maintaining packaging integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Reliability

If the packaging film is made continuous to protect the OLED, then protection against water vapor and oxygen is improved, but hardware installation becomes impossible

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection against water vapor and oxygenVSAvoidhardware installation capability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The packaging film is designed with different properties in different regions: the first region has high protective quality covering the organic electroluminescent component, while the second region allows the hole to pass through for hardware installation. This local differentiation enables both protection and adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Ease of manufacture

If a through hole is formed directly through the packaging film, then hardware installation is simplified, but water vapor and oxygen easily enter the OLED, causing serious shortening of product life

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehardware installation simplicityVSAvoidproduct life
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The hole structure is segmented into a first hole portion and a second hole portion, with the packaging film also segmented into protective regions. This segmentation allows the hole to pass through without compromising the protective function of the packaging film in critical areas.

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 configuration effectively extends the lifespan of the OLED by preventing water and oxygen from reaching the light-emitting area, while allowing hardware installation, such as cameras or receivers, without compromising the packaging film integrity.

Implementation Method 1

a through hole is formed that extends through the whole organic electroluminescent display substrate in a region where the recessed portion is located

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLaser ablation: Laser Ablation

Data Source

PatentEP3678206B1Organic electroluminescent display substrate and manufacturing method thereof, and display device
Publication Date: 2024.02.14 BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO LTD
  • EP3678206B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3678206B1 patent drawingFigure 4
  • EP3678206B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The present disclosure provides an organic electroluminescent display substrate including: a substrate; a display region; a transitional region; a packing film that extends from the display region to the transitional region and a through hole. The display region includes an insulating layer on the substrate and an organic electroluminescent component on the insulating layer. The transitional region includes: a recessed portion extending through the insulating layer and a redundant layer on the substrate and in the recessed portion. An opening size of one side of at least one part of the recessed portion away from the substrate is not greater than an opening size of another side of the at least one part of the recessed portion adjacent the substrate. The redundant layer and at least one layer of the organic electroluminescent component are made of the same material, and the redundant layer is disconnected with the organic electroluminescent component. The packing film covers the organic electroluminescent component and at least one part of the recessed portion. The through hole extends through the packing film, the redundant layer and the substrate in a region where the recessed portion is located.