OLED Display Repair via Dummy Pixel Signal Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
OLED displays face challenges in manufacturing due to complex pixel circuits, leading to defective pixels, which reduce product yield and require a repair process to reuse defective pixels as normal pixels.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a repair system in OLED displays that includes dummy pixels and repair lines, allowing for the connection of dummy pixels to defective light-emitting pixels, enabling the reuse of defective pixels by transferring data signals through dummy data drivers and controllers, thereby restoring functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If complex pixel circuits are used in OLED displays, then display functionality is improved, but manufacturing defect rate increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring dummy pixels and repair lines during the manufacturing process before defects occur. The dummy pixels are prepared in advance with identical circuit structures to functional pixels, and repair lines are pre-routed to connect dummy pixels with functional pixels, enabling immediate defect compensation without requiring complex post-manufacturing analysis or reconfiguration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses dummy pixels as intermediaries to transfer driving signals from functional pixel circuits to defective pixels. The repair lines serve as intermediary conduits that carry the driving signals through the dummy pixel circuit structure, allowing the defective pixel to be driven indirectly through the healthy dummy pixel, thus compensating for the defect without altering the original pixel circuit design.
2Adaptability or versatility
If complex pixel circuits are used in OLED displays, then display functionality is improved, but product yield decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies discarding and recovering by designating certain pixels as dummy pixels that are discarded from the functional display area but recovered for defect compensation purposes. These dummy pixels, which would otherwise reduce the effective display area, are instead utilized as backup elements to compensate for defective functional pixels, thereby recovering the lost productivity and improving overall product yield.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent improves product yield through preliminary action by pre-establishing the defect compensation mechanism during manufacturing. The dummy pixels and repair lines are configured in advance, allowing defective pixels to be quickly identified and compensated during or immediately after manufacturing, reducing the need for complete product rejection and improving overall production efficiency and yield.
3Ease of repair
If dummy pixels and repair lines are added, then defect compensation capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies homogeneity by designing dummy pixels with identical circuit structures to functional pixels. This uniformity allows the dummy pixels to be seamlessly integrated into the existing pixel array without requiring different circuit designs or additional complex control logic. The homogeneous structure simplifies the repair mechanism while maintaining ease of defect compensation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses universality by designing the dummy pixels with the same circuit structure as functional pixels, allowing them to serve multiple purposes: they can function as regular display pixels when healthy and as compensation elements when defects are present. The repair lines also serve dual purposes by acting as both signal transmission paths and defect compensation conduits, reducing the need for separate dedicated repair structures.
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 solution effectively repairs defective pixels, increasing product yield by allowing defective pixels to function normally, thus enhancing the manufacturing efficiency and quality of OLED displays.
Implementation Method 1
Electrons that are injected from the cathode and holes that are injected from the anode are recombined in the light emitting layer to form excitons, and light is emitted by releasing energy of the excitons.
Data Source
AI summary
An organic light-emitting diode display is disclosed. In one aspect, the display includes a plurality of light emitting pixels disposed in a display region and including a first light emitting pixel and a second light emitting pixel, and a plurality of dummy pixels disposed in a dummy region and including a first dummy pixel and a second dummy pixel. The display also includes a plurality of repair lines including i) a first repair line configured to connect the first dummy pixel and the first and second light emitting pixels and ii) a second repair line configured to connect the second dummy pixel and the first and second light emitting pixels. A connection line is configured to connect the first and second repair lines, the first and second dummy pixel having layouts that are symmetrical.