Sensor Unit Crack Detection in Display Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
During the process of forming holes in display devices, such as LCD or OLED devices, fine cracks can occur in the substrate or stacked layers, allowing moisture to permeate and impair the device's functionality, leading to issues like non-emitting or incorrectly emitting pixels.
Innovation Solution
A sensor unit is integrated with a sensing area around the hole, equipped with sensors that detect cracks by comparing detected values with reference values and outputting a signal if the comparison exceeds an error range, allowing for efficient crack detection and determining defects in the display device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a hole is formed in the display device to accommodate sensors, then the display area is expanded and sensor functionality is added, but fine cracks occur in the substrate or stacked layers during the hole-forming process
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by forming a sensing area around the hole before final assembly, enabling crack detection capability to be prepared in advance. The sensing area is specifically positioned to detect cracks that may form during or after hole formation, allowing early detection and prevention of moisture ingress before it causes device failure.
2Reliability
If additional touch panels or structures are added to detect cracks, then crack detection capability is improved, but device thickness and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing the sensing area to serve multiple functions: it detects cracks in the substrate or stacked layers, detects user touch input, and monitors the integrity of the hole formation. This multi-functional sensing area eliminates the need for separate crack detection structures, maintaining device thinness while improving reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges crack detection functionality with the existing touch sensor structure. The sensing area is integrated into the same layer or structure that detects user touch, combining two detection functions into a single component. This reduces device complexity and thickness while maintaining both crack detection and touch sensitivity capabilities.
Data Source
AI summary
A sensor includes: a hole; a sensing area formed around the hole, wherein at least one sensor is in the sensing area; and a crack detector configured to output a first crack signal if a comparison value obtained by comparing a detected value from the at least one sensor with a reference value exceeds an error range.