Pulse Laser Sealing for Display Substrate Structural Integrity

The patent replaces the traditional screen printing mechanical process with a laser-based deposition and hardening system. A laser beam is used to deposit sealing material (glass frit) onto the substrate edge and then harden it in situ, eliminating the need for screen printing masks and subsequent thermal processing steps. This substitution maintains manufacturing simplicity while dramatically improving sealing portion strength and reliability through precise laser control and direct hardening.

The patent changes the physical and chemical parameters of the sealing material by using laser irradiation to induce rapid heating and hardening of glass frit at controlled temperatures (40°C or less). By adjusting laser power, scanning speed, and pulse duration, the process achieves optimal hardening parameters that enhance sealing portion reliability while maintaining process simplicity through automated laser control.

The patent segments the hardening process into localized laser irradiation zones along the sealing portion edge. Instead of applying uniform high temperature across the entire display unit, the laser beam is scanned along specific paths to harden only the sealing material at the substrate edge. This segmentation achieves uniform hardening where needed while preventing thermal damage to the sensitive display unit and organic light-emitting device.

The patent employs periodic pulsed laser irradiation to harden the sealing portion. By using short laser pulses with controlled duty cycles, the process achieves cumulative hardening effect through multiple passes while allowing heat dissipation between pulses. This periodic action maintains hardening uniformity while preventing excessive heat accumulation that would damage the display unit components.

The patent merges the deposition and hardening operations into a single integrated laser process. The laser beam first deposits glass frit material onto the substrate edge, then immediately hardens it in situ without requiring separate thermal processing steps. This merging of operations achieves strong bonding through direct laser-induced hardening while eliminating multiple process steps, thereby reducing overall process complexity and cycle time.

The laser beam performs multiple functions sequentially: it deposits the sealing material, positions it precisely, and then hardens it all in one continuous operation. The laser process is self-sufficient, requiring no external heating apparatus or separate curing steps. This self-service capability achieves strong bonding strength while minimizing process complexity by consolidating multiple functions into a single automated laser system.