Optical Unit Thickness Reduction via Decoration Layer Merging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional display devices with windows increase overall thickness, compromising the flexible characteristics of OLED display devices despite their self-emission advantages.
Innovation Solution
An optical unit comprising a polarizing plate, phase retardation plate, and decoration layer, positioned on a display panel to enhance flexibility by reducing thickness and blocking external light in non-display areas, eliminating the need for a separate window.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a window is added to protect the optical unit and block light, then light blocking performance is improved, but the overall thickness of the display device increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the window's light blocking function with the decoration layer that is already present in the display device structure. The decoration layer is positioned to extend into the non-display area and perform the light blocking function previously requiring a separate window component, thereby merging multiple functions into a single integrated layer.
Solution Approach 2:
The decoration layer is designed to serve multiple purposes: it provides aesthetic decoration for the display device while simultaneously functioning as a light blocking element in the non-display area. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for a separate window component, reducing overall device thickness while maintaining light blocking performance.
2Reliability
If a window is added to protect the optical unit, then protection performance is improved, but flexible characteristics are degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The protective function previously requiring a separate window is merged into the existing decoration layer and optical unit structure. The decoration layer is configured to extend over the non-display area, providing protection without requiring an additional window component that would compromise flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes thin film structures for the decoration layer and optical unit components, allowing the display device to maintain flexible characteristics. These thin film structures provide adequate protection while being sufficiently flexible to allow the display device to bend and conform to different shapes.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The optical unit reduces the overall thickness of the display device, enhances flexible characteristics, and improves display quality by minimizing light reflection and visibility of internal components, thereby maintaining high image quality and flexibility.
Implementation Method 1
a polarizing plate positioned on the display panel so as to correspond to the display area and the non-display area and polarizing light passing therethrough
Implementation Method 2
the phase retardation plate may retard the phase of light by λ/4
Data Source
AI summary
An optical unit is positioned on a display panel which includes a display area displaying an image and a non-display area adjacent to the display area. The optical unit includes: a polarizing plate, positioned on the display panel so as to correspond to the display area and the non-display area, for polarizing light passing therethrough; and a decoration layer positioned adjacent to the polarizing plate so as to correspond to the non-display area for blocking light.