OLED Repair via Third Electrode Extension
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Organic electroluminescent devices face defects such as bright and dark spots due to faulty TFTs, which are difficult to repair, leading to increased production costs and reduced display quality, especially in high-resolution displays where minimal defects are required.
Innovation Solution
The device incorporates a unique electrode structure with a third portion of the first electrode extending to neighboring pixels, allowing for electrical connection and repair of defective pixels by overlapping with the drain electrode of the neighboring driving TFT, enabling normal operation of defective pixels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a pixel with a bright spot defect is repaired by disconnecting the driving TFT, then the bright spot defect is eliminated, but the pixel becomes a dark spot and remains difficult to repair
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring the first electrode with a third portion that extends into the neighboring pixel region before any defect occurs. This advance preparation enables subsequent repair of dark spot defects by allowing the electrode to be connected to neighboring pixels, thereby resolving the repairability issue without requiring complex post-defect modifications
2Ease of repair
If the first electrode is extended to neighboring pixels, then defective pixels can be repaired by electrical connection, but the device structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements universality by designing the first electrode's third portion to serve multiple functions: it acts as a standard electrode component during normal operation and simultaneously serves as a repair conduit when defects occur. This multi-functionality enables the same structure to support both normal display operations and defect repair, reducing the need for separate repair mechanisms and thereby limiting complexity increase
3Manufacturing precision
If high-resolution displays with minimal defect tolerance are manufactured, then display quality is improved, but production costs increase due to higher failure rates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring the first electrode with a third portion that extends into the neighboring pixel region before any defect occurs. This advance preparation enables subsequent repair of dark spot defects by allowing the electrode to be connected to neighboring pixels, thereby resolving the repairability issue without requiring complex post-defect modifications
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements discarding and recovering by enabling the recovery of previously defective pixels through electrical connection to neighboring pixels. Instead of discarding defective pixels as waste, the system recovers their functionality by rerouting electrical connections, thereby reducing the number of pixels that need to be replaced and lowering production costs
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
An organic electroluminescent device (101) includes a substrate (110) including a plurality of pixel regions (P1, P2) each having a light emission region (EA) and an element region (DA); a plurality of thin film transistors (TFTs) including at least one switching TFT (Tr1) and at least one driving TFT (Tr2) in each element region (DA); a planarization layer (150) on the plurality of TFTs; a first electrode (160) on the planarization layer (150) and including first to third portions (160a - c)connected to one another, wherein the first (160a) and second portions (160b) are at each pixel region, and the third portion (160c) is at a neighboring pixel region; an organic light emitting layer (165) on the first electrode (160); and a second electrode (168) on the organic light emitting layer (165), wherein an end of the third portion (160c) overlaps the driving TFT (Tr2) of the neighboring pixel region.