Thin-Film Encapsulation With Transparent Coverage for Moisture Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Display elements in organic light-emitting display apparatuses are vulnerable to external moisture transmission, which compromises their reliability.
Innovation Solution
A display apparatus with a structure that includes a display area and a non-display area, featuring an inorganic insulating layer, a thin-film encapsulation layer with multiple inorganic and organic encapsulation layers, a dam surrounding the display area, and a power supply line covered by a transparent conductive material layer, enhancing moisture resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a simple encapsulation structure is used, then manufacturing complexity is reduced, but moisture resistance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by creating a multi-layer encapsulation structure consisting of alternating inorganic and organic layers. The inorganic layers (such as silicon oxide, silicon nitride) provide barrier properties against moisture, while the organic layers (such as polyimide, acrylic) provide flexibility and stress relief. This composite structure achieves superior moisture resistance compared to single-material encapsulation, directly resolving the contradiction between reliability and structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The encapsulation structure is segmented into multiple distinct layers with different material compositions and functions. Each layer serves a specific purpose: inorganic layers for moisture barrier, organic layers for mechanical flexibility. This segmentation allows each layer to optimize its specific function, achieving high overall moisture resistance without requiring an excessively thick or complex single-layer structure.
2Reliability
If the encapsulation layer extends to the non-display area, then moisture protection is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The encapsulation layer is extended from the two-dimensional display area into the third spatial dimension by covering the side surfaces and edges of the display elements. This dimensional extension ensures that moisture cannot penetrate from the edges, providing three-dimensional protection. The layer wraps around the display elements, creating a continuous barrier that protects against moisture from all directions, not just the top surface.
3Reliability
If power supply lines are exposed, then manufacturing is simplified, but moisture transmission increases
Solution Approach 1:
An additional transparent conductive material layer is introduced as an intermediary between the power supply lines and the encapsulation structure. This intermediate layer serves multiple functions: it provides an extra barrier against moisture transmission, maintains electrical conductivity for the power supply lines, and is transparent to allow visual access to the underlying structures. This mediator resolves the contradiction by adding protection without completely obscuring or complicating the power supply line configuration.
Data Source
AI summary
A display apparatus includes a display area and a non-display area, an inorganic insulating layer, display elements in the display area, an encapsulation layer including a first inorganic encapsulation layer, a second inorganic encapsulation layer, and an organic encapsulation layer between the first inorganic encapsulation layer and the second inorganic encapsulation layer, a dam in the non-display area, and a power supply line on the inorganic insulating layer in the non-display area, and a portion of the power supply line intersects the dam, an edge of the portion of the power supply line is covered by at least one transparent conductive material layer, a portion of the first inorganic encapsulation layer is on the portion of the power supply line covered by the at least one transparent conductive material layer.