OLED Display Substrate Thickness Gradient and Protection Member
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional OLED displays face challenges in achieving a slim and impact-resistant design due to the need for balancing thickness and strength, as reducing panel thickness can compromise structural integrity and increase vulnerability to external impacts.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a protection member disposed only in the display area of the lower substrate, with a non-display area being thicker, and optionally a reinforcement member made of aluminum alloy or stainless steel, to enhance impact resistance while maintaining a slim profile.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If the thickness of panel assembly members is reduced to achieve a slim profile, then the overall thickness of the OLED display is reduced, but the impact resistance and structural strength deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a thickness gradient in the lower substrate, where the display area maintains a thin first thickness for slimness, while the non-display area has a greater second thickness for strength. This localized variation in thickness allows the structure to be slim where needed while maintaining impact resistance in areas requiring structural support.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a protection member disposed at the lower side of the lower substrate in the display area, adding a protective layer in the vertical dimension. This protection member compensates for the reduced thickness by providing additional impact resistance without increasing the overall footprint or compromising the slim profile.
2Length of moving object
If the thickness of the lower substrate is reduced in the display area, then the OLED display achieves a slim form factor, but the durability under external forces deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The lower substrate is designed with different thicknesses in different areas: the display area has a first thickness optimized for slimness, while the non-display area has a greater second thickness for enhanced durability. This local differentiation allows the structure to meet both slimness and durability requirements in their respective zones.
Solution Approach 2:
The protection member is pre-installed at the lower side of the lower substrate in the display area to provide beforehand cushioning against external forces. This protective layer is positioned in advance to absorb and disperse impact forces before they reach the thin lower substrate, ensuring durability without compromising the slim display area thickness.
3Strength
If a protection member is added to improve impact resistance, then the strength and durability are enhanced, but the overall thickness increases
Solution Approach 1:
The protection member is strategically placed only in the display area where impact resistance is most needed, rather than uniformly across the entire substrate. This localized protection provides enhanced durability in the critical display region while minimizing the overall thickness increase, as the non-display area relies on the thicker lower substrate for protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies protection selectively rather than comprehensively - the protection member is added only in the display area, and the lower substrate itself provides partial protection through its increased thickness in the non-display area. This partial protection approach achieves sufficient impact resistance without the excessive thickness that would result from uniform protection across the entire structure.
Data Source
AI summary
An organic light emitting diode (OLED) display includes a lower substrate having a display area displaying an image and a non-display area formed along an edge of the display area, the display area having a first thickness, at least a part of the non-display area having a second thickness that is greater than the first thickness; and a protection member disposed at the lower side of the lower substrate, the protection member being disposed in the display area of the lower substrate.