Flexible Display ; Low Temperature Processes for Plastic LCDs

Flexible displays such as plastic based LCDs and organic light-emitting diodes for mobile communication devices have been researched and developed at KETI in KOREA since 1997. The Plastic film substrate has so poor thermal tolerance and non-rigidness that the fabrication of active devices and panel assembly have to perform at low temperature and pressure. In addition, high thermal expansion of the substrate is also a serious problem for reliable metallic film deposition. In this paper, we investigated particularly on the fundamental characteristics of various plastic substrates and then, suggested novel methods that improve the fabrication processes of plastic LCD panel. In order to maintain stable substrate surface and uniform cell gap during panel assembly, we utilized newly-invented iii and vacuum chuck. Electro-optical characteristics of fabricated plastic LCD are better than or equivalent to those of typical glass based LCDs though it is thinner, lighter-weight and more robust.