Undercut Grooves for Moisture Blocking in Display Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Display devices face challenges in increasing the size of the display area while preventing external moisture intrusion through the through portions formed for components like cameras.
Innovation Solution
The display device incorporates a substrate with a circuit layer and a display layer, featuring at least one hole in the display area that penetrates through all layers, surrounded by grooves with undercut structures. These grooves are designed to prevent moisture intrusion, with an encapsulation layer covering the display layer to enhance protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a through portion is formed in the display area to position a separate member such as a camera, then the display area can accommodate additional components, but external moisture can intrude through the through portion into the display area
Solution Approach 1:
The groove structure is divided into multiple segments including a first groove closest to the through portion, a second groove surrounding the first groove, and optionally a third groove surrounding the second groove. These segmented grooves work together to block moisture intrusion while accommodating the through portion for camera integration
Solution Approach 2:
The grooves are arranged in a nested configuration where the second groove surrounds the first groove, and a third groove surrounds the second groove. This nested structure creates multiple protective barriers against moisture while maintaining space for the through portion
2Area of stationary object
If the display area is increased in size while physical buttons are removed, then the display area becomes larger, but separate members such as cameras must be positioned within the display area requiring through portions
Solution Approach 1:
The solution moves from a two-dimensional surface problem to a three-dimensional structure by creating grooves that extend vertically into the substrate. The grooves have depth and width dimensions, forming undercut structures that block moisture intrusion paths while allowing the through portion to maintain its function
3Reliability
If grooves are formed to prevent moisture intrusion, then moisture protection is improved, but the structural complexity of the substrate increases
Solution Approach 1:
The grooves are positioned locally around the through portion rather than throughout the entire substrate. The first groove is closest to the through portion, with subsequent grooves at increasing distances, creating localized protection zones that block moisture intrusion paths with minimal structural disruption
Data Source
AI summary
A display device includes a substrate, a circuit layer on the substrate, a display layer on the circuit layer, at least one hole in a display area of the substrate that penetrates the substrate, the circuit layer, and the display layer, and at least two grooves that surround the at least one hole, where each of the at least two grooves has an undercut structure. The substrate includes a first substrate, a first inorganic layer, a second substrate, and a second inorganic layer, which are sequentially stacked, and each of the at least two grooves extends down from the display layer into the second substrate.