Partition Wall Layout for Full Contact Hole Coverage in Displays

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing display devices face issues with incomplete filling of inkjet materials in contact holes due to exposure, leading to reduced display quality and production yield, as conventional partition walls fail to adequately cover these areas.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of partition walls, including a first and/or second partition wall design that covers the entirety of the contact holes, with specific configurations such as horizontal and vertical portions, protrusions, and varying opening sizes, ensures uniform application of inkjet materials.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If conventional partition walls are used, then the structure is simple, but the contact holes are not completely covered leading to incomplete filling of inkjet materials

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoverage of contact holesVSAvoidpartition wall structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The partition wall is divided into multiple segments: a first partition wall extending from the substrate and a second partition wall extending from the first partition wall. This segmentation allows each segment to cover different portions of the contact hole, achieving complete coverage while maintaining manageable structural complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The partition wall structure is extended into the vertical dimension with the second partition wall rising from the first partition wall. This multi-level vertical arrangement enables complete coverage of contact holes that extend deep into the substrate, transforming a two-dimensional coverage problem into a three-dimensional solution

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Reliability

If the partition wall structure is extended to cover all contact holes, then inkjet material filling is improved, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuniformity of inkjet material applicationVSAvoidpartition wall fabrication

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The first and second partition walls are formed in advance before the inkjet material deposition process. This preliminary formation of the partition wall structure creates ready-made molds that guide the inkjet material filling, ensuring uniform application without requiring complex real-time control during material deposition

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The partition wall structure serves as an intermediary element between the inkjet material deposition system and the contact holes. It acts as a physical guide and containment structure that simplifies the material filling process by pre-defining the boundaries and pathways for material flow

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS12527152B2Display device including partition wall covering entirety of contact hole

Publication Date: 2026.01.13 SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO LTD

AI summary

A display device includes a substrate, a plurality of transistors disposed on the substrate, a light-emitting device connected to the transistors, a first partition wall disposed above the light-emitting device to partition an emission area, and a second partition wall overlapping the first partition wall. The transistor and the light-emitting device are connected to each other through a contact hole, and an entirety of an area of the contact hole overlaps the first partition wall.