40 patents in this list

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Flexible micro-LED displays face significant mechanical and electrical challenges when subjected to repeated bending. Current designs must maintain stable electrical connections and uniform light emission while accommodating bend radii as small as 1-2mm, with typical micro-LED sizes ranging from 3-10 micrometers and interconnect traces measuring just 5-15 micrometers in width.

The fundamental challenge lies in preserving electrical connectivity and LED performance while allowing for substrate deformation that can strain both the semiconductor junctions and their interconnecting traces.

This page brings together solutions from recent research—including stacked substrate architectures with protected wiring layers, stretchable conductive interfaces between LED modules and substrates, integrated driver IC approaches, and elastomeric transfer techniques. These and other approaches focus on achieving reliable flexible displays while maintaining manufacturing yield and display performance.

1. Flexible MicroLED Display with Transferred MicroLEDs on Flexible Substrate and Integrated Touch Sensing

KONKA GROUP CO LTD, 2023

Flexible MicroLED display for wearable devices that provides thin, lightweight, and conformable displays for wearables. The display uses microLED technology to pack many LEDs on a chip. The display is made by transferring microLEDs onto a flexible substrate with pixel circuitry. This allows bending and conforming the display to fit the wearer's body. The flexible display can have touch sensing integrated on the flexible substrate. It improves wearability and comfort of wearable devices by reducing thickness and weight compared to rigid displays.

CN116052548A-patent-drawing

2. Stacked Structure Flexible Display Substrate with Sandwiched Wiring Layer and Via Hole Connectivity

Chengdu BOE Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd., 2023

Flexible display substrate that has improved durability for bending and reducing the likelihood of wire breakage when flexed. The substrate uses a stacked structure with a wiring layer sandwiched between two sub-substrates. The pixel array layer is electrically connected to the wiring layer through via holes in the second sub-substrate. This avoids having the pixel array layer directly extend into the bending region.

US11563033B2-patent-drawing

3. Flexible Micro-LED Lighting Device with Overlapping Circuit Board Interconnections

LUMENS CO., LTD., 2022

A flexible LED lighting device that can be shaped to fit curved surfaces and objects. The device uses small, unpackaged micro-LED chips mounted on flexible circuit boards covered with a flexible light-transmitting resin. The circuit boards are arranged in overlapping configurations that can expand and contract. This allows the device to flex and bend while still maintaining electrical connections between boards. The overlapping interconnections prevent gaps or dark spots when the device is flexed. The flexible micro-LED panel can be covered with a light-transmitting sheet and used as a flexible surface lighting device or display panel.

4. Flexible Micro-LED Display Panel with CPI Substrates and Polymer Encapsulation

Shenzhen China Star Optoelectronics Semiconductor Display Technology Co., Ltd., 2022

A flexible micro-LED display panel that is easy to bend and has a reduced risk of wire disconnection. The panel is made using flexible materials like CPI substrates and polymer encapsulation. The flexible materials allow the panel to bend without damaging the micro-LEDs or connections. The use of flexible materials improves yield compared to previous methods using rigid materials.

5. Stretchable Display Device with Integrated MicroLED Modules and Conductive Material

GENERAL INTERFACE SOLUTION LTD, INTERFACE OPTOELECTRONICS CO LTD, INTERFACE OPTOELECTRONICS SHENZHEN CO LTD, 2022

Display device with stretchable microLED modules that can be applied to non-planar electronic devices like flexible displays without risk of component damage during stretching. The display has a flexible substrate with microLED modules arranged using stretchable conductive material. Each module integrates a microLED, driving IC, and circuitry on a substrate. This allows the entire display to be stretched without breaking connections. The stretchable conductive material connects the modules to the substrate and each other.

TW202226580A-patent-drawing

6. Integrated Micro-LED and Driver IC Module on Flexible Substrate with Stretchable Conductive Interconnects for Non-Planar Displays

INTERFACE TECHNOLOGY (CHENGDU) CO., LTD., INTERFACE OPTOELECTRONICS (SHENZHEN) CO., LTD, GENERAL INTERFACE SOLUTION LIMITED, 2022

Display devise for non-planar displays that integrates driver ICs and micro-LEDs into micro-LED modules on a flexible substrate. The micro-LEDs are mounted on the driver ICs to form an integrated module that can be attached to a flexible substrate using a stretchable conductive material. This allows the display to be stretched without damaging the delicate micro-LED connections. The integrated micro-LED/driver modules provide a flexible display suitable for non-planar devices like curved displays.

US20220199597A1-patent-drawing

7. Flexible Display Screen with Grooved Substrate and Disconnected Protective Films for LED Stabilization

HUNAN YINPENG SCIENCE AND TECH DEVELOPMENT LIMITED CO, HUNAN YINPENG SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT LIMITED CO, 2022

Flexible display screen that prevents LEDs from loosening when the display is bent. The screen has an array of LEDs on a flexible transparent substrate. Between adjacent LED array units, the substrate has grooves. Above the arrays, disconnected transparent protective films cover the LEDs. This prevents tension on the substrate and protective film from pulling on the LEDs when the display bends. The LEDs are separately connected to the substrate through optical adhesive layers between the protective films.

8. Flexible Display Substrate with Multi-Island Configuration and Sloped Junction Buffer Layers

BOE Technology Group Co., Ltd., 2022

Flexible display substrate design that reduces cracking and breakage during the laser lift-off process to improve yield. The substrate has multiple island regions with openings between them. The islands have stacked layers of flexible substrate material separated by buffer layers. The buffer layer facing the flexible substrate has a larger projection than the other side. This creates a sloped junction between the layers. The sloped junctions protect the stacked layers during laser lift-off as the side wall structure of the lower flexible substrate is sacrificed instead.

9. Layering and Patterning Method for Inorganic and Flexible Substrate Assemblies

Chengdu BOE Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd., 2022

Manufacturing method for a flexible substrate with improved yield and avoiding process defects during fabrication of flexible displays. The method involves layering and patterning inorganic and flexible substrate layers in a specific order and projection arrangement. The inorganic layers are sandwiched between flexible substrate layers, and their projections are contained within the adjacent flexible layer. This prevents the flexible layer from sticking to the rigid substrate during detachment, avoiding damage and defects.

10. Flexible Substrate LED Lighting Device with Multidirectional Emission Capability

FEIT ELECTRIC COMPANY, INC., 2022

A flexible LED lighting device for omnidirectional light emission. It uses a flexible substrate that can be twisted and rotated around its axis. The substrate has multiple LED packages on one side that emit light outwards, allowing the twisted substrate to emit light in all directions and providing omnidirectional lighting.

US20220037237A1-patent-drawing

11. Multi-Layer Transparent LED Display Film with Integrated Heat Dissipation Holes and Nano Silver Wire Conductors

ZHEJIANG SMTTING INFORMATION TECH CO LTD, ZHEJIANG SMTTING INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY CO LTD, 2021

Flexible transparent LED display film with improved heat dissipation and flexibility compared to traditional displays. The display film has a multi-layer structure with an upper packaging film, LED layer, circuit layer, bottom layer, and lower packaging film. The layers are connected in sequence. This allows the display to be cut and shaped flexibly. The design includes heat dissipation holes to prevent internal temperature buildup. The display uses transparent nano silver wires for high transparency and brightness. The layered structure and heat dissipation holes enable flexible, transparent, high-performance LED displays.

CN215118143U-patent-drawing

12. Multilayered Flexible Display Substrate with Alternating Metal Layers for Enhanced Bendability

CHENGDU BOE OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD., BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD., 2021

Flexible display substrate design and fabrication method to enable highly flexible displays with reduced stress on the bending areas. The substrate has a display layer on a flexible substrate with signal wiring that can bend without breaking. The wiring uses multiple alternating metal layers like gates and source-drain layers. When the display is bent, the layers flex and slide relative to each other, reducing stress.

US20210384277A1-patent-drawing

13. Flexible Microdisplay Panel with Dual-Path Trace Configuration and Conductive Via Interconnection

Kuan-Yung LIAO, Ying-Tsang LIU, 2021

Flexible microdisplay panel design that reduces the risk of damage to internal traces when bending the panel, improving yield. The panel has a display region with bending and non-bending areas. A primary trace line passes through the bending area. It is backed up by a secondary trace line that follows a different path through the non-bending area. A conductive via connects the two traces in the bending area. If the primary trace breaks when flexed, the signal can still be transmitted along the backup trace through the non-bending area. A flexible display that reduces the risk of internal conductor breakage when bending the panel.

14. Grooved Stretchable Display Substrate with Multidirectional Signal Line Integration

CHENGDU BOE OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD., 2021

A stretchable display substrate that can be bent, folded, rolled, and stretched for flexible display applications. The display substrate has a stretchable surface with grooves. Signal lines like gate and data lines are formed on the substrate surface, with parts inside the grooves. The grooves allow the substrate to stretch in different directions, enriching the stretching capability. The grooved signal lines can stretch parallel to the substrate and perpendicular to it.

US11195899B2-patent-drawing

15. Notched Flexible Substrate with Controlled Deformation for Display Elements

BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD., 2021

Flexible display technology with improved resolution and reliability. The flexible substrate has notches that expand and crack when stretched, providing deformation while preventing strain on display elements. The notches are arranged in groups that crack between notches to form holes when stretched. This allows controlled stretching without affecting functional elements.

16. Manufacturing Process for Flexible Display Substrates with Removable Process Film Lamination

SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO., LTD., 2021

A process for manufacturing flexible display substrates that improves convenience and reliability compared to conventional methods. The process uses a removable process film that is temporarily laminated to the base layer of the display. The process involves preparing the base layer on a glass substrate, forming the display cells, covering the base layer with the process film, separating the base layer from the glass, cutting it into individual displays, and opening the terminal portion.

17. Curved Support Board for Seamless Splicing of Flexible Micro-LED Display Panels

SHENZHEN CHINA STAR OPTOELECTRONICS SEMICONDUCTOR DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD., 2021

Flexible micro-LED display assembly that allows seamless splicing of multiple small display panels to create a larger display with foldable screens. The assembly involves mounting flexible micro-LED display panels on a curved supporting board that matches the curvature of the folded display. This allows the panels to be folded and spliced together without any gaps or misalignment.

18. Micro-LED Display Panel with Flexible Circuit Board and Support Plate Integration

SHENZHEN CHINA STAR OPTOELECTRONICS SEMICONDUCTOR DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD., 2021

A micro-LED display panel, module, and device design that overcomes the size limitations of micro-LEDs to enable large and flexible micro-LED displays. It involves removing the glass substrate from a micro-LED display panel, attaching a support plate to the flexible circuit board within the display region, bending the circuit board and attaching it to the support plate, and joining multiple modules together with narrow gaps between them.

19. Bifacial Flexible Display Panel with Integrated OLED and Micro-LED Arrays on Opposing Sides

BOE Technology Group Co., Ltd., 2021

Flexible OLED display panels with a full-screen display on one side and micro-LEDs on the other are made by forming the driving circuitry on one side of a flexible substrate and then fixing micro-LEDs to the other.

20. Flexible Lighting Device with Bare Micro-LED Chips on Deformable Substrate

LUMENS CO., LTD., 2021

A flexible lighting device that is deformable into various shapes and can be used on non-planar surfaces. The device uses bare micro-LED chips mounted on flexible substrates. The micro-LEDs are arranged on the substrate in a pattern that allows the substrate to flex without breaking the LED connections. A light-transmitting cover over the micro-LEDs provides protection. This arrangement makes the lighting device flexible and conforms to non-planar surfaces.

21. Batch Process for Fabricating Flexible Micro-LED Display Substrates Using Process Film

22. Semiconductor Device with Rounded-Corner Conductive Pad for Flexible Display Attachment

23. Parallelogram-Patterned Stretchable Display Substrate with Pixel Islands and Interconnecting Bridges

24. Multistructured Stretchable Film with Patterned Regions for Conformal Adherence to Curved Surfaces

25. Stretchable Display with Protrusion-Mounted LEDs on Inclined Surfaces and Light Crosstalk Barriers

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Flexible micro-LEDs are now possible thanks to innovative technology, which also includes stress-reducing multi-layer wire designs, perfect substrates, and laser lift-off durability. This makes micro-LED displays incredibly versatile and has enormous potential, which will drive greater use of this technology. ⁤