Ring-Shaped Wiring for Flexible Display Bending Reliability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing display devices face challenges in maintaining high-resolution functionality while achieving a narrow bezel design, as bending substrates can lead to wiring cutoff issues, making it difficult to apply flexible and high-resolution displays effectively.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a display device with dual wirings in the bending region, where a first wiring and a second wiring are arranged in a ring-shaped pattern with a central empty region to prevent complete cutoff, allowing for reduced wiring width and maintaining signal transmission even if cracks occur, and incorporating touch electrodes for high-resolution touch detection capabilities.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Length of stationary object

If the substrate is bent to reduce bezel width, then the bezel width is reduced, but the wiring may be cut off

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebezel widthVSAvoidwiring continuity
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The wiring is divided into multiple segments arranged in a ring shape with spacing between them. This segmentation allows the wiring to flex during substrate bending without creating continuous stress that would cause cutoff, while still providing electrical connectivity through the distributed segments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The wiring is arranged in a ring shape around a central empty region, transitioning from linear to circular geometry. This dimensional change allows the wiring to accommodate substrate bending by distributing stress around the ring rather than along a straight line, preventing cutoff while maintaining connectivity.

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

2Reliability

If the wiring width is widened to prevent cutoff, then wiring reliability is improved, but high-resolution application becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewiring continuityVSAvoidwiring width
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The wiring is segmented into multiple discrete regions arranged in a ring, allowing each segment to be narrow while the collective ring structure provides redundancy. If one segment is compromised during bending, other segments maintain electrical connectivity, achieving reliability without requiring wide individual wiring.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The ring-shaped wiring concentrates conductive material where needed (in the ring segments) while leaving the central region empty. This local quality optimization allows narrow wiring segments to provide sufficient reliability through their distributed arrangement, without requiring overall wide wiring that would compromise resolution.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If dual wirings are implemented in ring shape, then wiring cutoff is prevented, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewiring continuityVSAvoidwiring structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The ring-shaped wiring structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides electrical connectivity, accommodates substrate bending through its circular geometry, and prevents cutoff through distributed segmentation. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional protective structures, offsetting the apparent complexity with functional consolidation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3410272B1Display device including touch electrode and method for maunufacturing the same
Publication Date: 2023.10.11 LG DISPLAY CO LTD
  • EP3410272B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3410272B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3410272B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A display device includes: a display region formed in a first region on a substrate and including a plurality of pixels arranged therein; a touch electrode disposed on the display region and configured to sense a touch; and a non-display region disposed in a second region on the substrate. The non-display region includes a first pad portion, a second pad portion, a link portion, and a wiring portion in which a wiring is disposed so as to interconnect the first and second pad portions and the link portion. The wiring portion is disposed in a bending region where the substrate is bent, and the wiring includes a first wiring and a second wiring formed above the first wiring and having at least one point connected to the first wiring in the bending region.