Transparent LED Display Metal Mesh Electrodes

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current transparent LED displays using indium tin oxide (ITO) electrodes face limitations due to high production costs, limited indium reserves, and inconsistent resistance, which restrict their performance and economic feasibility, while alternative materials like metal meshes offer better conductivity and cost-effectiveness but require optimization for improved resistance and visibility.

Innovation Solution

The use of metal mesh patterns with consistent line width, height, and pitch for common and signal electrode wiring portions on a transparent substrate, maximizing the area coverage and minimizing disconnected portions to enhance conductivity and reduce wiring recognition, thereby improving the resistance and visibility of the transparent light emitting element display.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If ITO transparent electrode material is used, then transparency is achieved, but production cost increases and resistance becomes inconsistent

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovetransparencyVSAvoidresistance consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the material parameter from ITO to metal mesh, fundamentally altering the electrical and optical properties. This substitution resolves the contradiction by providing both high transparency and consistent low resistance through the metallic structure, eliminating the variability inherent in ITO materials.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs a composite structure combining metal mesh with transparent substrate and encapsulation layers. This composite approach maintains transparency while introducing the superior electrical conductivity and resistance consistency of metal, thereby resolving the trade-off between transparency and resistance reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Illumination intensity

If ITO transparent electrode material is used, then transparency is achieved, but production cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovetransparencyVSAvoidproduction cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces expensive ITO materials with cheaper metal mesh alternatives. This substitution directly addresses the cost issue while maintaining the necessary transparency and electrical performance, making the manufacturing process more economically viable without sacrificing functional requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

By changing the material parameter from costly ITO to more economical metal mesh, the patent achieves the same transparency function at lower production cost, resolving the contradiction between transparency and manufacturing cost.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If metal mesh pattern is used with large area coverage, then resistance is reduced, but wiring recognition increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveresistanceVSAvoidwiring recognition
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different metal mesh patterns selectively in different regions: using larger mesh patterns in common electrode areas where low resistance is critical, and finer patterns in signal electrode areas where visibility must be minimized. This localized differentiation resolves the contradiction by optimizing each region for its specific function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the electrode structure into different functional zones with distinct metal mesh characteristics. By dividing the electrode system into common electrode regions (prioritizing conductivity) and signal electrode regions (prioritizing invisibility), the patent resolves the contradiction between resistance reduction and wiring recognition.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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

This configuration reduces wiring recognition and maximizes the area of common electrode wiring portions, achieving improved resistance and visibility, making the transparent LED display more efficient and cost-effective, with the metal mesh patterns covering 80% or more of the substrate area.

Implementation Method 1

the metal mesh patterns, which have the same line width, the same line height, and the same pitch, are applied to the first common electrode wiring portion, the second common electrode wiring portion, and the signal electrode wiring portion

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrical conduction: Conduction (electrical)

Data Source

PatentEP3660903B1Transparent light emitting element display
Publication Date: 2022.02.09 LG CHEM LTD
  • EP3660903B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3660903B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3660903B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

A transparent light emitting element display according to an exemplary embodiment of the present application comprises: a transparent substrate; at least one light emitting element which is provided on the transparent substrate; and a first common electrode wiring portion, a second common electrode wiring portion, and a signal electrode wiring portion which are provided on the transparent substrate, in which all of the first common electrode wiring portion, the second common electrode wiring portion, and the signal electrode wiring portion comprise metal mesh patterns, respectively, each of the metal mesh patterns, which constitute the first common electrode wiring portion, the second common electrode wiring portion, and the signal electrode wiring portion, has a standard deviation of a line width which is 20% or less, a standard deviation of a pitch which is 10% or less, and a standard deviation of a line height which is 10% or less, and the metal mesh patterns are provided in a region having an area of 80% or more of an overall area on the transparent substrate.