Flexible OLED Spacer Wall Stress Release Mechanism
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Flexible OLED display panels face challenges in stress release when bent, which affects their durability and performance.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a spacer wall made of organic materials, integrally formed with the water-oxygen barrier layer, between pixel units, which extends into the thin-film encapsulation layer, to manage stress and improve bending performance while enhancing moisture and oxygen barrier properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If the flexible OLED display panel is made thinner and lighter, then the portability and flexibility are improved, but the stress resistance when bent is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs flexible thin-film encapsulation layers (organic and inorganic alternating layers) and a flexible substrate to create a lightweight structure that maintains flexibility. The thin-film encapsulation provides protection while keeping the overall structure thin and light, enabling portability without sacrificing essential protective functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the encapsulation structure into multiple alternating organic and inorganic thin-film layers, creating a segmented barrier structure. This segmentation allows each layer to contribute specific properties (flexibility from organic layers, barrier performance from inorganic layers) while collectively providing stress distribution and protection during bending.
2Length of stationary object
If the flexible OLED display panel is made thinner, then the thickness is reduced, but the stress release capability when bent is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The thin-film encapsulation structure with alternating organic and inorganic layers provides a flexible yet protective barrier that maintains reliability during bending despite the reduced overall thickness. The organic layers provide flexibility and stress absorption, while inorganic layers provide barrier protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a vertical stacking dimension with alternating organic and inorganic layers, creating a multilayer encapsulation structure. This dimensional approach allows the thin panel to maintain stress release capability through the layered architecture, where each layer contributes to stress distribution in the thickness direction.
3Area of stationary object
If the pixel units are arranged closely to increase display area, then the area utilization is improved, but the stress concentration between adjacent pixel units is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different material properties at different locations: organic materials with flexible and stress-absorbing characteristics are used in the spacer wall regions between pixel units, while the pixel unit areas maintain their functional materials. This local differentiation allows stress management at critical interfaces without compromising display performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The spacer wall acts as an intermediary structure between adjacent pixel units, made of organic material that can absorb and distribute stress. This intermediary layer prevents direct stress concentration between pixel units while maintaining close spacing for high area utilization.
4Reliability
If the spacer wall is made taller to improve stress release, then the stress release capability is improved, but the manufacturing precision requirement is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The spacer wall is formed integrally with the water-oxygen barrier layer using the same organic material and formation process. This merging of functions and materials simplifies the manufacturing process, reducing the number of separate fabrication steps and associated precision requirements while maintaining effective stress release capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent specifies a controlled height range for the spacer wall (5-20 micrometers) and controls the slope angle within specific ranges (80°≤α≤85° or 60°≤α≤70°). By optimizing these parameters, the spacer wall achieves effective stress release while remaining compatible with standard manufacturing capabilities.
Data Source
AI summary
A flexible OLED display panel is disclosed. The panel includes a flexible substrate, multiple pixel units disposed on the flexible substrate and arranged as a matrix, and a thin-film encapsulation covering on the multiple pixel units, wherein the flexible substrate is provided with a water-oxygen barrier layer, the multiple pixel units are located on the water-oxygen barrier layer, a spacer wall is disposed between any two adjacent pixel units, the spacer wall is integrally formed with the water-oxygen barrier layer, in a thickness direction of a flexible OLED display panel, and the spacer wall is extended to the thin-film encapsulation layer from the water-oxygen barrier layer. The present invention also discloses a manufacturing method for flexible OLED display panel and a display device including the flexible OLED display panel as described above. The invention can improve the stress release capability of the flexible OLED display panel when being bent.