Sensor-Area Display Layout With Inverse-Tapered Light-Blocking Layer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Display devices with integrated sensor areas face challenges in maintaining high light transmittance and protecting internal components from external light interference, especially during manufacturing processes like laser processing, which can damage the wirings and transistors.
Innovation Solution
The display device incorporates a metal layer with an inverse-tapered shape beneath the wirings and transistors, and an inorganic insulating layer with a transmissive hole for the sensor area, allowing for improved light transmittance and protection from external light, including laser processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a sensor area is integrated inside the display area, then the functionality and versatility of the display device is improved, but the light transmittance in the sensor area may be compromised and internal components become vulnerable to external light interference
Solution Approach 1:
The display device is divided into a display area and a sensor area, with the sensor area further segmented into a transmissive area for light passage and a non-transmissive area for component placement. This segmentation allows different regions to serve different functions while maintaining overall system versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the sensor area are assigned different optical properties: the transmissive area allows light to pass through for sensor operation, while the non-transmissive area blocks light to protect internal components. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between functionality and light transmittance.
2Productivity
If laser processing is used during manufacturing, then the productivity and manufacturing precision is improved, but the wirings and transistors in the sensor area are damaged by external light
Solution Approach 1:
A metal layer is deposited in the non-transmissive area before laser processing to create a light-blocking barrier. This preliminary protective action prevents laser light from damaging the wirings and transistors during subsequent manufacturing steps, allowing high-productivity laser processing to proceed safely.
Solution Approach 2:
The metal layer is formed in advance of the laser processing step, establishing a protective structure that will be present during all subsequent manufacturing operations. This preliminary action ensures component protection without interfering with the efficiency of later processes.
3Reliability
If a metal layer is added to protect internal components from light, then the reliability is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The metal layer in the non-transmissive area serves multiple functions simultaneously: it blocks external light to protect internal components, provides a reflective surface to enhance display performance, and acts as an electrical connection layer. This multi-functionality improves reliability without proportionally increasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective light-blocking function is merged with the existing metal layer structure used for electrical connections and reflectivity enhancement. By combining multiple functions into a single structural element, the patent avoids adding separate protective components that would increase complexity.
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
This configuration enhances light transmittance in the sensor area while preventing damage to internal components during manufacturing, ensuring the display device's functionality and reliability.
Implementation Method 1
a metal layer overlapping the wiring, the first metal layer being below the wiring... preventing damage to internal components during manufacturing
Implementation Method 2
an inorganic insulating layer with a transmissive hole for the sensor area, allowing for improved light transmittance
Data Source
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AI summary
A display device includes: a substrate on which a pixel and a transmissive area are located, the pixel including a display element; a plurality of wirings on the substrate, the wirings being on one side of the transmissive area; a pixel electrode and an emission layer each included in the pixel; an opposite electrode on the emission layer and including an opening corresponding to the transmissive area; and a first metal layer overlapping the wirings, the first metal layer being below the wirings, wherein a lateral surface of the first metal layer has an inverse-tapered shape with respect to a top surface of the substrate.