Shared Second Electrode Structure for Display Device Line Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current display devices face challenges in reducing the number of lines required for sub-pixels, particularly in applying a consistent second source voltage across adjacent sub-pixels, which affects efficiency and complexity.
Innovation Solution
The display device design includes sub-pixels with a light emitting part, a first electrode, and a second electrode extending in a specific direction, with a bank layer and insulating layers to separate adjacent sub-pixels, allowing the same second source voltage to be applied across adjacent sub-pixels through the second electrode, reducing the number of lines needed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If separate second electrodes are used for each sub-pixel, then voltage application is precise for each sub-pixel, but the number of lines increases and device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the second electrodes of adjacent sub-pixels into a single shared electrode structure. This single second electrode extends across multiple sub-pixels and is connected to a common second voltage line, thereby reducing the total number of lines while maintaining consistent voltage application across all connected sub-pixels.
Solution Approach 2:
The single second electrode serves multiple functions by simultaneously acting as the second electrode for multiple adjacent sub-pixels. This multi-functional design allows one electrode structure to replace what would traditionally require multiple separate electrodes, reducing complexity without compromising voltage application reliability.
2Ease of manufacture
If more lines are used for each sub-pixel, then voltage control is more precise, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
By combining multiple second electrodes into a single shared electrode that spans multiple sub-pixels, the patent reduces the number of manufacturing steps required for electrode deposition and patterning. This merging approach simplifies the manufacturing process while maintaining the electrical functionality needed for each sub-pixel.
3Device complexity
If the second electrode structure is simplified, then device complexity decreases, but voltage distribution uniformity may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The single second electrode is designed with local variations in its structure to ensure uniform voltage distribution. The electrode includes electrode stems positioned at specific locations and electrode branches that extend toward adjacent sub-pixels, creating localized electric field distributions that maintain voltage uniformity across different regions despite the simplified overall structure.
Data Source
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AI summary
A display device includes sub-pixels including a light emitting part, and sub-areas on respective sides of the light emitting part in a first direction, a first electrode in the light emitting part and extending in the first direction, and a second electrode extending in the first direction and spaced apart from the first electrode in a second direction crossing the first direction, a first insulating layer on the first electrode and the second electrode, and a light emitting element on the first electrode and the second electrode in the light emitting part, wherein the second electrode includes an electrode stem part extending in the first direction, and electrode branch parts branched from the electrode stem part.