Varying Width Crack Sensing Line for Flexible Display Substrate
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Solution Overview
Problem
Flexible display devices are prone to failure due to moisture penetration through cracks formed during manufacturing, which existing technologies struggle to accurately detect and prevent.
Innovation Solution
A display device design that includes a substrate with a crack sensing line featuring varying widths and angles, overlapping sections, and test signal lines to detect cracks by altering the voltage applied to data lines, thereby preventing failure by easily disconnecting at cracked areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a uniform width crack sensing line is used, then the manufacturing process is simple, but the crack detection precision is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The crack sensing line employs varying width sections (first section with width W1, second section with width W2 where W1 > W2) to create different detection sensitivities in different regions. The narrower second section provides higher detection precision for cracks in that area, while the wider first section maintains structural integrity and provides lower sensitivity detection. This local differentiation of the sensing line width allows precise crack detection without requiring the entire line to be complex.
2Measurement precision
If the crack sensing line is made very narrow to improve crack detection, then the detection precision improves, but the line becomes more susceptible to manufacturing defects and disconnections
Solution Approach 1:
The sensing line is divided into sections with different widths: a wider first section (width W1) that provides structural robustness and resistance to manufacturing defects, and a narrower second section (width W2) that provides high detection precision. This local quality differentiation allows the line to be reliable overall while having specific high-precision detection zones.
Solution Approach 2:
The crack sensing line is segmented into multiple sections with different widths rather than using a uniform design. This segmentation allows each section to serve a specific function: the wider sections provide structural reliability and the narrower sections provide detection precision, thereby resolving the contradiction between reliability and precision.
3Reliability
If crack sensing lines are added to detect cracks, then the reliability improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The crack sensing lines are merged with the existing data lines in the display device. The sensing lines share the same substrate and are integrated into the existing signal line architecture, allowing crack detection functionality to be added without significantly increasing overall device complexity. The sensing lines are formed using similar manufacturing processes as the data lines.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensing lines serve multiple functions: they act as both crack detection sensors and signal transmission lines. By making the sensing lines multi-functional, the patent avoids adding separate dedicated sensing structures, thereby improving reliability through crack detection while minimizing increases in device complexity.
4Measurement precision
If the crack sensing line uses varying widths with overlapping sections, then the crack detection capability improves, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The varying width sections are designed with specific width ratios (W1 > W2) that provide different detection sensitivities. The overlapping sections are designed to connect these width variations smoothly. This local quality approach allows the manufacturing process to focus on achieving precise widths only in critical detection zones rather than requiring ultra-precise manufacturing throughout the entire sensing line structure.
Data Source
AI summary
A display device is disclosed. In one aspect, the display device includes a substrate, a plurality of pixels formed over the substrate and a plurality of signal lines formed over the substrate and connected to the pixels. The signal lines include a plurality of data lines formed over the substrate and a first crack sensing line connected to a first data line. The first crack sensing line is divided into first and second sections and the first section has a width that is greater than that of the second section.