OLED Sealing Structure for UV Blocking Without Out-Gas Defects
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Solution Overview
Problem
UV light in sunlight can damage OLED display devices by generating out-gases from the light blocking layer, leading to defects such as pixel shrinkage, and existing display devices lack sufficient coupling force between substrates.
Innovation Solution
A display device design featuring a sealing unit with composite inorganic layers having different refractive indices, including TiO2, SiNx, Al2O3, and SiOx, to enhance UV light blocking and substrate coupling, with a total thickness of 0.5-1 µm, and a concavo-convex pattern for improved light blocking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a light blocking layer including organic material is used, then UV light blocking ability is improved, but out-gas is generated from the light blocking layer when exposed to UV light, causing pixel defects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the organic material from the light blocking layer, replacing it entirely with inorganic materials. This eliminates the source of out-gas generation while maintaining the UV light blocking function through the inorganic layers, directly resolving the contradiction between UV blocking ability and out-gas generation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the material composition parameter from organic to inorganic, fundamentally altering the chemical properties of the light blocking layer. This parameter change eliminates the photodegradation and out-gas issues associated with organic materials while preserving the optical blocking function through carefully selected inorganic materials with appropriate bandgap energies.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If sealing unit is added to block UV light, then UV light blocking ability is improved, but coupling force between substrates deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a composite inorganic layer structure with multiple layers having different refractive indices. This composite structure achieves UV light blocking through the combined optical properties of the layers while the specific material composition and interface design maintain or enhance the coupling force between substrates, resolving the contradiction between UV blocking and substrate coupling.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different inorganic materials with specific local properties (different refractive indices) at different positions within the sealing unit. This local differentiation of material properties enables the structure to simultaneously achieve UV light blocking through refractive index mismatches and maintain substrate coupling through appropriate material selection and interface design.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If composite inorganic layers with different refractive indices are used, then UV light blocking ability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the light blocking function into multiple discrete inorganic layers, each with a specific refractive index. This segmentation approach achieves superior UV blocking through the cumulative effect of multiple interfaces while organizing the complexity into a systematic, manufacturable structure with clear fabrication processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite inorganic layers with different refractive indices to achieve UV light blocking. The complexity is managed by selecting materials from a limited set of inorganic compounds and organizing them in a systematic multi-layer structure that can be fabricated using standard thin-film deposition techniques, balancing performance enhancement with manufacturing feasibility.
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
The solution effectively blocks UV light and enhances the coupling force between substrates, preventing out-gas generation and reducing pixel defects, thereby improving the reliability of OLED display devices.
Implementation Method 1
The first inorganic layer and the second inorganic layer have refractive indices different from each other and contact each other. A difference between the refractive index of the first inorganic layer and the refractive index of the second inorganic layer is equal to or more than about 0.4
Implementation Method 2
UV light that is contained in sunlight is applied to a light blocking layer of the organic light emitting diode ("OLED") display device, and an out-gas may be generated from the light blocking layer including an organic material
Data Source
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AI summary
A display device includes a substrate, a pixel circuit unit which is disposed on the substrate and having a first hole, a light blocking layer which is disposed on the pixel circuit unit and having a second hole corresponding to the first hole, a light emitting layer disposed on the pixel circuit unit, and a sealing unit on the light blocking layer. The substrate includes a first layer having a depression corresponding to the first hole, and a second layer which is disposed between the first layer and the pixel circuit unit and having a third hole between the depression and the second hole. The sealing unit includes a cover portion on the light blocking layer, and an extension portion extending from the cover portion. The depression has a width larger than a width of the third hole.