Rotating Clamp Contact for OLED Mask Wave Suppression
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing clamps used to apply tension to unit masks in OLED display manufacturing often cause waves in the unit mask along the width direction due to the tensile force applied in the length direction, leading to uneven deposition and patterning issues.
Innovation Solution
A clamp design that includes a rotation contact portion rotatably supported by a clamp main body, with elastic restoring forces generated between the rotation contact portion and the clamp main body, and stoppers to limit rotation, minimizing tension differences and preventing wave generation in the unit mask.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a clamp applies tensile force to a unit mask in the length direction, then the unit mask is held and supported, but waves are generated in the unit mask along the width direction causing uneven deposition
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp incorporates a rotation contact portion that can rotate relative to the clamp main body, allowing the contact point to dynamically adjust to the mask's wave patterns. This dynamic adjustment prevents the fixed clamping point from exacerbating mask waves, thereby maintaining deposition uniformity while preserving clamping stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotation contact portion acts as an intermediary between the clamp main body and the unit mask. It mediates the force transmission by allowing rotational movement, which prevents direct rigid contact that would cause mask waves, thus ensuring both reliable clamping and uniform deposition.
2Force
If a clamp directly contacts the unit mask end to apply tension, then the clamping force is concentrated, but this causes waves and patterning issues
Solution Approach 1:
The rotation contact portion enables dynamic force application by rotating to follow the mask's surface contours. This prevents concentrated static pressure points that cause waves, while still maintaining effective tension application for secure clamping.
Solution Approach 2:
The clamp changes the contact parameter from a fixed point to a rotatable contact point. This parameter change allows the contact location to adapt to mask variations, distributing the clamping force more evenly and preventing wave formation while maintaining adequate tension.
3Device complexity
If the clamp uses a fixed contact point, then the structure is simple, but it cannot adapt to mask wave patterns causing deposition issues
Solution Approach 1:
The rotation contact portion adds minimal rotational capability to the clamp structure. This simple dynamic feature allows the clamp to adapt to mask wave patterns without requiring complex multi-component systems, maintaining structural simplicity while improving deposition uniformity.
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 clamp effectively suppresses wave formation in the unit mask, ensuring consistent tension application and improving the reliability of the clamping process, thereby enhancing the precision and quality of the OLED display manufacturing process.
Implementation Method 1
An elastic restoring force may be generated between the rotation contact portion and the clamp main body. The clamp may further include a restoring spring connecting the rotation contact portion and the clamp main body and generating the elastic restoring force.
Data Source
AI summary
A clamp configured to clamp an end of a unit mask supported while a tensile force is applied to the unit mask includes a clamp main body, and a rotation contact portion rotatably supported by the clamp main body and directly contacting the end of the unit mask.