Spacer Placement in OLED Display Substrates to Reduce Light Reflection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Organic light-emitting display apparatuses face challenges in maintaining display characteristics against external shocks and reducing light reflection, which can lead to image quality degradation due to the size and arrangement of spacers in the non-pixel areas.
Innovation Solution
The use of spacers between pixel areas, specifically between the first, second, and third pixels, with a virtual quadrangle arrangement and a pixel-defining layer, where the spacers are formed of the same material and extend from the pixel-defining layer to maintain space and reduce reflow phenomena, thereby enhancing rigidity and minimizing light reflection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If spacers are used in the non-pixel area to maintain space between substrates, then the rigidity against external shocks is improved, but light reflection increases causing image quality degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The spacer is positioned specifically in the non-pixel area rather than uniformly across the entire display, providing local structural support where rigidity is needed while minimizing light reflection in the pixel areas where image quality is critical. This localized placement allows the system to gain the mechanical benefits of spacers without the optical drawbacks.
2Strength
If the spacer size is increased to improve rigidity, then resistance to external shocks is enhanced, but the aperture ratio decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The display area is segmented into pixel areas and non-pixel areas, with spacers placed exclusively in the non-pixel areas. This segmentation allows the spacer structure to provide rigidity without encroaching on the pixel areas that contribute to the aperture ratio, thus resolving the contradiction between structural strength and light-emitting area.
3Reliability
If spacers are placed to reduce deterioration from external shocks, then reliability is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases due to precise positioning requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The spacer arrangement is designed in advance with predetermined positions in the non-pixel areas, allowing for systematic placement that ensures reliable protection against external shocks while maintaining manufacturability. The pre-planned positioning strategy simplifies the manufacturing process by providing clear guidelines for spacer placement.
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 arrangement improves the rigidity of the display against external shocks, reduces light reflection, and enhances the aperture ratio, leading to improved image quality and manufacturing efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a spacer in the non-pixel area of the display substrate to maintain a space between the display substrate and the encapsulation substrate
Implementation Method 2
A sloped surface of the spacer may extend from a sloped surface of one of the openings of the pixel-defining layer
Implementation Method 3
excitons, which are generated by holes injected from the hole injection electrode and electrons injected from the electron injection electrode being united in the organic emission layer, emit light by falling from an excited state to a ground state
Data Source
AI summary
An organic light-emitting display apparatus is provided. The organic light-emitting display apparatus includes: a display substrate including a non-pixel area and a plurality of pixel areas including a first pixel and a second pixel having a shortest distance from the first pixel among pixels of the plurality of pixel areas; an encapsulation substrate facing the display substrate; and a spacer in the non-pixel area of the display substrate to maintain a space between the display substrate and the encapsulation substrate, wherein the spacer is between the first pixel and the second pixel.