Rollable OLED Display with Rigid Driver Bands
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional rollable OLED displays face challenges with cracking and delamination due to stresses and strains from temperature changes and flexing, especially at small radii of curvature, which complicates their manufacturing, mounting, and shipping, particularly for large area televisions.
Innovation Solution
A rollable display architecture featuring a flexible substrate with a thin film transistor array and at least one rigid band of drivers positioned along the edge, where the flexible substrate has a glass transition temperature less than 200 degrees Celsius, and the rigid band has a higher rigidity than the substrate, allowing the display to be rolled to a small diameter while minimizing stress and strain.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the display is made flexible and rollable, then ease of shipping and deployment is improved, but cracking and delamination occur due to stress and strain
Solution Approach 1:
The display is divided into modular components: a flexible substrate containing OLED pixels, a separate backplane with TFT array, and distinct driver bands. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the flexible substrate can be rolled without compromising the integrity of rigid driver components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a flexible substrate made of thin film materials that can be rolled to small radii. The OLED pixels are fabricated as thin films on this flexible substrate, enabling the display to be bent and rolled without breaking the pixel structure, while rigid driver bands are positioned on the periphery to maintain structural integrity during rolling.
2Adaptability or versatility
If rigid driver bands are added to improve functionality, then device performance is improved, but stress and strain during rolling increase
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the display have different mechanical properties optimized for their specific functions. The central area contains flexible OLED pixels that can bend easily, while the peripheral regions contain rigid driver bands that provide structural support and electrical connectivity. This local differentiation allows the display to roll without compromising driver functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The driver bands are positioned in the peripheral dimension rather than occupying the central display area. This spatial arrangement allows the rigid drivers to be located where they cause minimal interference with the rolling action, while still providing necessary electrical connections to the flexible pixel array.
3Ease of manufacture
If the flexible substrate has low glass transition temperature for ease of fabrication, then manufacturing is improved, but structural stability at temperature changes deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent specifies a flexible substrate with glass transition temperature below 200°C, which enables low-temperature fabrication processes compatible with organic OLED materials. This parameter selection allows the substrate to remain flexible during manufacturing while maintaining sufficient structural stability during operation through proper material selection and layered construction.
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 solution enables a lightweight, easy-to-use rollable OLED display that reduces shipping costs and minimizes cracking and delamination, allowing for larger active areas and more flexible deployment options, such as flat or curved configurations, while maintaining high resolution and reliability.
Implementation Method 1
the flexible substrate has a glass transition temperature less than 200 degrees Celsius
Implementation Method 2
OLEDs make use of thin organic films that emit light when voltage is applied across the device
Data Source
AI summary
A rollable display includes a frontplane having multiple OLED pixels and a backplane having a flexible substrate. The flexible substrate has a perimeter and a thin film transistor array operably connected to the OLED pixels. At least one rigid band of drivers is operably connected to the backplane and positioned along an edge of the substrate perimeter. The flexible substrate includes a material having a glass transition temperature of less than 200 degrees Celsius. A method of fabricating a rollable display is also disclosed.