Sacrificial Line for OLED Display Panel Corrosion Protection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing display panels face issues with electrochemical corrosion, particularly at the high-level power supply lines, which leads to moisture and oxygen intrusion, causing damage to OLEDs due to the lack of protection from the packaging material, resulting in package failure during reliability testing and normal use.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a sacrificial line with a higher voltage level than the signal lines, positioned adjacent to the first and second signal lines, to attract anions and prevent corrosion, thereby protecting the second signal line from electrochemical degradation, while ensuring the sacrificial line does not extend into the display area and is disposed on the same layer as the signal lines for efficient fabrication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If packaging material is disposed between display area and peripheral area, then moisture and oxygen intrusion is prevented, but electrochemical corrosion at high-level power supply lines occurs leading to package failure
Solution Approach 1:
A sacrificial line is introduced as an intermediary element between the high-level power supply line and the packaging material. This sacrificial line acts as a mediator that preferentially undergoes electrochemical corrosion, protecting the critical power supply line from corrosion while maintaining the packaging material's moisture and oxygen barrier function.
Solution Approach 2:
The harmful electrochemical corrosion effect is redirected from the critical power supply line to the sacrificial line. By designing the sacrificial line to be more susceptible to corrosion, the harmful corrosion process is converted into a protective mechanism that sacrifices one element to preserve the functional integrity of the power supply system.
2Reliability
If sacrificial line is added adjacent to signal lines, then electrochemical corrosion protection is improved, but device structure complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sacrificial line is merged with the existing signal line structure by disposing it adjacent to and on the same layer as the first and second signal lines. This integration approach adds corrosion protection functionality while minimizing structural complexity, as the sacrificial line follows the same routing pattern and can be fabricated using the same process steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The sacrificial line is strategically positioned only where electrochemical corrosion is most likely to occur - adjacent to the high-level power supply line and second signal line in the peripheral area. This localized approach provides targeted corrosion protection without unnecessarily complicating the entire device structure.
3Reliability
If sacrificial line extends into display area, then corrosion protection coverage is increased, but OLED device damage risk increases due to moisture and oxygen intrusion
Solution Approach 1:
The device is segmented into distinct functional zones: the display area containing OLEDs, the peripheral area containing driving circuits and signal lines, and the packaging material separating them. The sacrificial line is confined to the peripheral area, providing corrosion protection where needed without extending into the display area where it could compromise the packaging material's protective function.
Solution Approach 2:
The sacrificial line copies the routing pattern of the second signal line in the peripheral area, following the same path adjacent to the signal line. This copying approach ensures the sacrificial line provides protection where corrosion is most likely to occur without extending into areas where it would be harmful.
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 sacrificial line effectively reduces electrochemical corrosion of the second signal line, enhancing the display panel's resistance to moisture and oxygen intrusion, thereby preventing OLED device failure and improving reliability and longevity.
Implementation Method 1
the sacrificial line is electrically connected to a voltage supply element... the sacrificial line effectively reduces electrochemical corrosion of the second signal line
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure proposes a display panel, a fabrication method, a driving method thereof, and a display device. The display panel comprises a display area comprising a plurality of OLEDs; a peripheral area located in the periphery of the display area and having a driving circuit configured to provide driving signals to the plurality of OLEDs; a packaging material disposed between the display area and the peripheral area; a first signal line passing through the packaging material to provide a first signal from the driving circuit to the plurality of OLEDs; a second signal line passing through the packaging material to provide a second signal from the driving circuit to the plurality of OLEDs; and a sacrificial line being configured adjacent to the first signal line and the second signal line, where the sacrificial line is connected to a voltage supply element.