Transparent Display Spacer Suppressing Substrate Misalignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing transparent display devices face misalignment issues during substrate bonding, leading to optical property degradation, sagging of the second substrate, and element degradation due to filler layer outgassing, which affects the emission and transmission areas.

Innovation Solution

A transparent display device design featuring a display panel with first and second areas, where the second substrate includes a transparent spacer with an open hole that penetrates the insulating layer, allowing for alignment and maintaining a stable cell gap without a filler layer, thus minimizing misalignment and sagging, and enhancing optical properties.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If a filler layer is used to maintain cell gap between substrates, then the cell gap stability is improved, but element degradation occurs due to outgassing from the filler layer

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecell gap stabilityVSAvoidelement degradation from outgassing
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the filler layer entirely and replaces it with transparent spacers that are integrated directly into the substrate structure. The spacers are formed as protrusions on the first substrate that extend into the second substrate, eliminating the need for separate filler materials that would outgas and cause element degradation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses transparent spacer materials that are integrated with the substrate materials (such as frit glass or transparent resins) to form a composite structure. This composite approach maintains cell gap stability while avoiding the outgassing issues associated with traditional filler layers, as the spacer material is chemically bonded to the substrates.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Ease of manufacture

If traditional substrate bonding is used, then manufacturing is simpler, but misalignment occurs leading to optical property degradation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebonding process simplicityVSAvoidsubstrate alignment precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The transparent spacers act as intermediary elements between the first and second substrates. These spacers provide physical guidance and positioning features that ensure precise alignment during the bonding process, while still allowing for a relatively simple manufacturing procedure. The spacers are formed with specific geometries that guide substrate placement and prevent misalignment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The transparent spacers are formed on the first substrate before the bonding process. This preliminary formation of alignment features allows the substrates to be precisely positioned during bonding, ensuring optimal alignment without requiring complex real-time adjustment mechanisms during the assembly process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Illumination intensity

If the second substrate is made transparent for display functionality, then optical properties are improved, but the substrate sags due to lack of structural support

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission area transparencyVSAvoidsubstrate sagging
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different properties to different parts of the substrate system. The second substrate is made transparent in the display areas where optical performance is critical, while the transparent spacers provide localized structural support at specific positions. This local differentiation allows the substrate to maintain transparency where needed while receiving mechanical support where required.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs composite material structures where transparent spacer materials (such as frit glass or transparent resins) are integrated with the substrate materials. These composite structures provide both the optical transparency required for display functionality and the mechanical strength needed to prevent substrate sagging, combining the benefits of both transparent and structurally robust materials.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentUS11575106B2Transparent display device effectively suppressing misalignment in bonding substrates
Publication Date: 2023.02.07 LG DISPLAY CO LTD
  • US11575106B2 patent drawing
  • US11575106B2 patent drawing
  • US11575106B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A transparent display device includes a display panel including first areas which are emission areas and second areas which are transmission areas, the display panel includes a first substrate and a second substrate facing each other, the first substrate includes an insulating layer having an open hole that is prepared by removing the insulating layer by at least a partial thickness in the second area, and the second substrate includes a transparent spacer located in the second area and pulled into the open hole.