Under-Display Optical Sensor Encapsulation for Transmissivity and Flatness

Solution Overview

Problem

In electronic devices with under-display cameras, the removal of some pixels and drive circuits to enhance transmissivity leads to thickness deviations and air gaps, degrading camera performance and making it difficult to form a touch or a touch panel.

Innovation Solution

The solution involves using an encapsulation layer with a pixel area encapsulation portion and a non-pixel area encapsulation portion, which includes a pixel area and a non-pixel area encapsulation portion, with the non-pixel area having a transmissivity enhancing portion to smooth the surface and enhance camera performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If some pixels and drive circuits are removed from the under display camera area to enhance transmissivity, then camera photographing quality is improved, but thickness deviation occurs and air gaps are formed which degrade transmissivity and make it difficult to form touch patterns

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovetransmissivityVSAvoidthickness uniformity

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The encapsulation layer is designed with different structures in different regions: the first encapsulation portion maintains the full encapsulation structure (including organic and inorganic layers) over pixel areas, while the second encapsulation portion has a modified structure over non-pixel areas where pixels and drive circuits are removed. This local differentiation allows the patent to maintain protection where needed while enabling enhanced transmissivity and uniform thickness where components are removed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The encapsulation layer is segmented into two distinct portions: the first encapsulation portion covering pixel areas and the second encapsulation portion covering non-pixel areas. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each region's structure and properties, enabling the patent to address both protection and transmissivity requirements simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Illumination intensity

If some components of the encapsulation portion are removed from the under display camera area to enhance transmissivity, then camera performance is improved, but a step is formed and touch pattern formation becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovetransmissivityVSAvoidtouch pattern formation

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The encapsulation layer is designed with different structures in different regions: the first encapsulation portion maintains the full encapsulation structure (including organic and inorganic layers) over pixel areas, while the second encapsulation portion has a modified structure over non-pixel areas where pixels and drive circuits are removed. This local differentiation allows the patent to maintain protection where needed while enabling enhanced transmissivity and uniform thickness where components are removed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The encapsulation layer is segmented into two distinct portions: the first encapsulation portion covering pixel areas and the second encapsulation portion covering non-pixel areas. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each region's structure and properties, enabling the patent to address both protection and transmissivity requirements simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If the encapsulation layer is made uniform across the entire display area, then protection is maintained, but transmissivity of the under display camera area is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveencapsulation protectionVSAvoidtransmissivity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The encapsulation layer is designed with different structures in different regions: the first encapsulation portion maintains the full encapsulation structure (including organic and inorganic layers) over pixel areas, while the second encapsulation portion has a modified structure over non-pixel areas where pixels and drive circuits are removed. This local differentiation allows the patent to maintain protection where needed while enabling enhanced transmissivity and uniform thickness where components are removed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The encapsulation layer is segmented into two distinct portions: the first encapsulation portion covering pixel areas and the second encapsulation portion covering non-pixel areas. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each region's structure and properties, enabling the patent to address both protection and transmissivity requirements simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4141529B1Electronic device comprising optical sensor

Publication Date: 2025.12.17 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

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AI summary

An electronic device may comprise a display panel and at least one optical sensor. The display panel is disposed in an internal space of a housing so as to be visible from the outside and may comprise a display region and a sensor region. The at least one optical sensor may correspond, below the display panel, to the sensor region. The display panel may comprise: a plurality of pixels disposed on a substrate; a plurality of driving circuit units for driving the plurality of pixels; a first encapsulation unit for encapsulating the sensor region; and a second encapsulation unit for encapsulating the display region. The first encapsulation unit and the second encapsulation unit may be different in terms of the stacked structure of layers.