Static Electricity Dispersion Pattern for OLED ESD Protection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Organic electroluminescent display devices are susceptible to damage from electrostatic discharge (ESD) due to static electricity flowing through sheet unit wiring lines, especially when a one-step cutting process is used to separate adjacent devices on a mother substrate, leading to increased risk of damage during the manufacturing process.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a static electricity dispersion pattern in the non-display area of the organic light-emitting display device, which is separated from the sidewall of the substrate and formed as part of the same layer as dummy wires, helps to dissipate static electricity by intersecting with conductive and semiconductor patterns, reducing the risk of ESD damage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a one-step cutting process is used to cut the mother substrate once between adjacent display devices, then productivity is improved, but the number of sheet unit wiring lines remaining increases, making devices more susceptible to electrostatic discharge damage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing efficiencyVSAvoidresistance to electrostatic discharge
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A guard ring structure is introduced as an intermediary element between the sheet unit wiring lines and the display devices. This guard ring acts as a mediator that intercepts and redirects electrostatic discharge away from the vulnerable internal elements of the display devices, thereby protecting them while maintaining the one-step cutting process

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention converts the potentially harmful electrostatic discharge into a controlled path by designing the guard ring to attract and channel the static electricity along its perimeter. The harmful ESD is redirected to flow through the guard ring structure rather than damaging the display device internals, effectively transforming the harm into a controlled protective mechanism

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

2Productivity

If sheet unit wiring lines are used for testing panels in units of sheets, then test efficiency is improved, but static electricity can flow through these wiring lines and damage internal elements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetest efficiencyVSAvoidelectrostatic discharge damage
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The guard ring serves as a protective intermediary that stands between the sheet unit wiring lines and the display device internal elements. It intercepts electrostatic discharge from the wiring lines and redirects it along the guard ring perimeter, preventing the harmful static electricity from reaching and damaging the vulnerable internal components

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The guard ring is positioned and configured in advance to provide protective cushioning against potential electrostatic discharge. By pre-establishing this protective barrier around the perimeter of the non-display area, the system is prepared to absorb and redirect ESD before it can reach the display device internals

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

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 solution effectively reduces the impact of electrostatic discharge on the organic electroluminescent display devices by dispersing static electricity away from the display area, minimizing damage and ensuring the integrity of the devices even when using a one-step cutting process.

Implementation Method 1

Static electricity may flow into the organic electroluminescent display devices through the sheet unit wiring lines, thereby damaging internal elements of the organic electroluminescent display devices

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrostatic discharge: Electrostatic Discharge

Data Source

PatentEP2677542B1Organic light-emitting display device
Publication Date: 2020.01.08 SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO LTD
  • EP2677542B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2677542B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2677542B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

Organic light-emitting display devices (100) are provided. One organic light-emitting display device (100) includes a substrate (110), a first wire (122) on the substrate, a second wire (124) insulated from and crossing the first wire (122), and a static electricity dispersion pattern (126) insulated from and crossing the second wire(124). Another organic light-emitting display device (100) includes: a substrate (100); a gate line (121_1) and a data line (121_2)on the substrate (110), insulated from and crossing each other; a dummy wire (122, AW) that is part of a same layer as one of the gate line (121_1) or the data line (121_2), and having at least one end aligned with a sidewall (110S) of the substrate (110; a dummy intersection wire (124) insulated from and crossing the dummy wire(122, AW); and a static electricity dispersion pattern (126) insulated from and crossing the dummy intersection wire (124).