Opening-Pattern Inorganic Layer for Foldable Display Crack Blocking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing display devices face reliability issues due to crack propagation from the peripheral areas into the display areas, which can damage organic light-emitting diodes and other components.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an inorganic layer with an opening pattern, such as a slit or grating structure, in the peripheral areas and covering it with an organic material layer to prevent crack propagation, while also including thin-film transistors and encapsulation layers for protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the inorganic layer is made continuous and complete in the peripheral area, then the protection and stability of the display device are improved, but crack propagation from the peripheral area to the display area cannot be prevented
Solution Approach 1:
The inorganic layer in the peripheral area is segmented into multiple separate patterns instead of being continuous. These inorganic layer patterns are distributed across the peripheral area and are separated by organic material layers, creating a segmented structure that prevents crack propagation while maintaining protection functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The organic material layer acts as an intermediary between the inorganic layer patterns. This intermediate organic layer absorbs and isolates cracks, preventing them from propagating from the peripheral area through the inorganic layer to the display area, while still providing protective coverage.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the inorganic layer is removed completely from the peripheral area, then crack propagation is prevented, but the protection and stability of the display device are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The inorganic layer is selectively present only in specific patterns within the peripheral area rather than being uniformly distributed. This local quality approach places inorganic protection exactly where needed while leaving other areas with organic material to absorb cracks, achieving both protection and crack prevention.
Solution Approach 2:
The peripheral area uses a composite structure combining both inorganic layer patterns and organic material layers. This composite approach leverages the protective properties of inorganic materials while utilizing the crack-absorbing properties of organic materials, achieving both protection and crack propagation prevention.
3Ease of manufacture
If the display device structure is simplified without the opening pattern, then the manufacturing process is easier, but crack propagation cannot be prevented and reliability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The inorganic layer is divided into multiple simple patterns rather than requiring complex continuous structures. This segmentation into discrete patterns simplifies the manufacturing process while effectively preventing crack propagation through the distributed pattern structure.
Data Source
AI summary
A display device having improved reliability includes a substrate including a display area and a peripheral area outside the display area. The display area includes a central display area, a first bending display area contacting the central display area and bent about a first bending axis, and a second bending display area bent about a second bending axis intersecting the first bending axis. The peripheral area includes a corner area rounded and adjacent to the first bending display area and the second bending display area. This display device includes an inorganic layer disposed at the display area and the peripheral area, an opening pattern formed in the inorganic layer and corresponding to the corner area, and a first organic material layer covering the opening pattern.