Transparent Region in OLED Display Panel for Camera Integration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Laser hole-drilling for camera and infrared sensor placement in OLED display panels causes damage, reduces product reliability, and complicates thin film encapsulation, especially for irregular shapes.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a transparent region in the display panel where the camera and infrared sensor can be placed without laser drilling, allowing the encapsulation layer to cover this area completely, thus avoiding processing damage and simplifying encapsulation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If laser hole-drilling treatment is performed on OLED display panel to reserve space for camera and infrared sensor, then space for camera and sensor is created, but processing damage occurs including edge cracks and thermal burns

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespace for camera and sensorVSAvoidproduct reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The display panel is segmented into a display region and a transparent region, with the transparent region specifically designed to accommodate camera and sensor components without requiring laser drilling through the entire panel structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from a two-dimensional display surface to a three-dimensional structure by creating a transparent region that extends through multiple layers (substrate, encapsulation layers, functional layers), allowing camera and sensor placement without compromising panel integrity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Area of stationary object

If laser hole-drilling treatment is performed on OLED display panel, then space for camera and sensor is created, but thin film encapsulation becomes difficult with poor encapsulation reliability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespace for camera and sensorVSAvoidthin film encapsulation
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The transparent region is designed and prepared in advance during the panel fabrication process, with encapsulation layers extended to cover the transparent region boundaries before camera and sensor components are installed, eliminating the need for post-drilling encapsulation repairs

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The encapsulation structure is designed with different properties in different regions: the display region receives standard encapsulation while the transparent region receives extended encapsulation coverage to specifically address the unique requirements of the camera/sensor area

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Area of stationary object

If laser hole-drilling is performed on panels with irregular shape, then space for camera and sensor is created, but problems occur on OLED backplane circuit and thin film encapsulation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespace for camera and sensorVSAvoidOLED backplane circuit and thin film encapsulation
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the panel into distinct functional regions (display region with pixel circuits and transparent region for sensors), allowing independent optimization of each region's structure and fabrication process

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of drilling holes through the completed panel structure, the patent inverts the approach by designing the transparent region into the panel structure from the beginning, allowing camera and sensor placement without disrupting the OLED backplane circuit or encapsulation layers

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentEP4235282B1Display panel and display device
Publication Date: 2024.11.20 BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO LTD
  • EP4235282B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4235282B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4235282B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

Embodiments of the present disclosure disclose a display panel and a display device. The display panel (8) includes: a base substrate (7) and a plurality of pixels (6) located on the base substrate (7), and an encapsulation layer (5) located on the plurality of pixels (6). The display panel (8) includes at least one transparent region (T) and a display region (9) outside the at least one transparent region (T). The plurality of pixels (6) is located in the display region (9). The transparent region (T) of the display panel (8) is configured to allow non-polarized radiation passing therethrough without substantially polarized. In a direction parallel with the base substrate (7), a width of the transparent region (T) is substantially greater than a distance between adjacent two of the pixels (6) on the same side of the transparent region (T). In a plan view, the transparent region (T) is completely located within at least one of the base substrate (7) and the encapsulation layer (5).