Curved Reference Voltage Routing for OLED Luminance Uniformity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Display devices, particularly OLED displays, face challenges in maintaining luminance uniformity due to incomplete extension of reference voltage supply lines to all pixels, leading to potential luminance deterioration of some pixels.

Innovation Solution

The display device incorporates a substrate with a curved reference voltage supply line extending into the display area, ensuring all pixels receive the necessary reference voltage, with additional voltage supply lines and transistors configured to maintain luminance uniformity and improve display quality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the reference voltage supply line is extended to all pixels in the display area, then luminance uniformity is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase due to the curved configuration and additional layers required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveluminance uniformityVSAvoidvoltage supply line configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The reference voltage supply line is configured to extend into the display area by utilizing the non-display area and bending through additional spatial dimensions. The line includes a first section in the non-display area, a second section extending into the display area, and a third section connecting to pixels, effectively using multi-dimensional routing to reach all pixels without increasing planar complexity

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

Solution Approach 2:

The reference voltage supply line is divided into multiple sections: a first section disposed in the non-display area, a second section extending into the display area, and a third section extending to pixels. This segmentation allows the voltage supply line to navigate complex spatial requirements while maintaining manufacturing feasibility and electrical performance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If the reference voltage supply line is configured with a curved path to reach all pixels, then all pixels receive the required voltage, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase due to the complex routing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevoltage delivery to all pixelsVSAvoidcurved line alignment
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The curved reference voltage supply line is implemented by routing the conductor through multiple layers and utilizing the non-display area as an intermediate zone. The first section in the non-display area, second section entering the display area, and third section connecting to pixels create a three-dimensional path that reduces the impact of planar alignment precision requirements

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

Solution Approach 2:

The non-display area serves as an intermediary zone that accommodates the curved configuration of the reference voltage supply line. By placing the first section of the curved line in the non-display area, the design provides a buffer zone that simplifies manufacturing alignment while ensuring voltage delivery to all pixels in the display area

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS11798955B2Display device
Publication Date: 2023.10.24 SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO LTD
  • US11798955B2 patent drawing
  • US11798955B2 patent drawing
  • US11798955B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A display device includes a substrate including a display area and a non-display area, a reference voltage supply line disposed in the non-display area and transmitting a reference voltage, and a driving voltage supply line disposed in the non-display area and transmitting a driving voltage. The reference voltage supply line includes a straight line part extending in a first direction and a curved line part extending from the straight line part to be bent, and the curved line part of the reference voltage supply line is disposed along a periphery of the display area.