Introduction To Optical Bonding For Electronics And Automotive Displays

Introducing Optical Bonding For Electronics And Automotive Displays

With the rapid development of display technologies, consumers are increasingly demanding more vivid and larger screens. As a result, the demand for large-sized display panels is growing rapidly. The electronics and automotive industries are both facing challenges in meeting this demand.

In response to this situation, a cutting-edge new technology called optical bonding for electronics and automotive displays is being developed for large-sized display panels in order to meet these challenges. Through this technique of optical bonding for electronics and automotive displays, the substrate of an electronic device(touchscreens, displays, sensors, etc) and its components are directly bonded to one another.

No air gaps or other materials are used in the process. Using this method, the device’s touch screen and display operate more effectively and are shielded from environmental elements, including moisture, dust, and filth. This procedure significantly improves the readability of the display in harsh settings, making it perfect for a range of applications, including industrial instrumentation and aviation equipment. 

Optical bonding can be used for many applications including:

• Semiconductor devices such as LEDs and photodiodes
• Electro-optical components such as light valves and liquid crystal displays
• Miniature electro-acoustic transducers (microphones)

Technology In Optical Bonding For Electronics And Automotive Displays

Optical bonding is a technique used to join different materials such as glass and plastic. It uses the same principles as optical waveguides, but on a much smaller scale. The joining process involves heating the surfaces of two or more substrates to the melting point. A layer of bonding material is then spread across the surfaces before they are pressed together under pressure at ambient temperature. The glass-to-glass bond strength can be greater than 1N/mm2 (0.1MPa), which is higher than that achievable by conventional gluing methods such as epoxy resin or hot melt adhesive.

By filling up any minute gaps between the LCD and the cover glass, this method creates a display far less prone to produce air bubbles or other flaws. The ability to dramatically increase a display’s readability in direct sunshine is one of the main advantages of optical bonding. 

Bonded displays are significantly easier to see in strong lighting since the LCD surface’s reflections are eliminated. Additionally, since optical bonding forms a barrier that prevents moisture from penetrating the device, it can aid in protecting against water damage. When readability in direct sunlight is crucial, optical bonding is frequently employed in industrial applications and portable electronics like GPS units and smartphones.

This method can improve the optical performance of the display by reducing reflections off the display surface and providing environmental protection for the display. Before choosing a screen for any project, consider the setting and usage demand the glass cover will be put through. This bonding lessens reflection inside these parts, boosting contrast and the panel’s visibility outside or in extremely bright situations without augmenting the glass glare.

The Advantages Of Optical Bonding For Electronics And Automotive Displays:

With an optically bonded display, the internal reflection in the glass is removed. As a result, there is more contrast, which improves the visibility of the display in light environments. Additionally, reducing internal reflection widens the viewing angle, enhancing the display’s clarity in more prominent places.

1. Refraction Is Reduced Through Optical Bonding:

When light from an external source beam onto the screen, the same strategy is employed to decrease refraction through optical bonding. The space between the glass and LCD module of a non-bonded screen offers refraction possibilities, which result in glare by reflecting outside light back onto the panel. When the layers are linked together, light passes through and is minimally absorbed by the screen. Optical bonding is, therefore, essential for making displays sunlight viewable.

2. Screens Are Made More Physically Robust Through Optical Bonding:

Through optical bonding for Electronics and Automotive Displays, screens are given a physical boost by the additional resin layer’s ability to absorb shock. This provides remarkable endurance for use in harsh environments like factories, public access places, or other scenarios.

3. Optical Bonding Boosts Durability: 

In actuality, adding a resin bonding layer physically prevents moisture, and the layer’s most obvious benefit is that it prevents dust from entering between the glass and LCD module. Screens usually don’t have much issue with water and dust because of the excellent manufacturing quality. However, condensation between the glass and LCD panel may be a problem in environments with significant temperature changes or fluctuating humidity levels. Due to condensation from moisture entering the air gap, screens may get foggy. Once more, this problem is avoided by really filling the area. As a result, optical bonding must be considered for indoor and outdoor applications where steady temperatures are not maintained.

4. Condensation Is Prevented Through Optical Bonding:

Because the pressure is maintained through the substrate rather than being delayed by a gap, a touch display with optical bonding maintains a more accurate touch response.

5. Reduced Refraction: 

When light from an external source lights the screen, the same theory is at play. An unbounded screen features a cavity between the crystal and another component that permits refraction, which reflects incoming light onto the panel and the spectator as glare. Light passes through the sheets and is somewhat absorbed by the display when the sheets are linked together. Optical bonding is essential for making displays sunlight readable.

6. Greater Accuracy: 

A touch screen with bonding maintains a more accurate touch response since the density is kept through the substrate suitably rather than being delayed by a cavity. Bonding boosts resistance to impacts, vibrations, dampness, heat, and humidity by a factor of five while increasing durability by up to 800%. It also increases sunlight readability by up to 400%.

Why Use Optical Bonding For Electronics And Automotive Displays?

Lightweighting is an important trend in electronics and automotive displays because consumers want thinner devices that are also more durable. Optical bonding provides a way to achieve both goals by using fewer layers of materials while still providing strength and durability that can’t be matched by other processes such as riveting or welding.

Optical bonding can also enable new designs that would otherwise be impossible due to weight constraints. For example, optical bonding enables thinner backplanes for flat panel displays that can be made from fewer layers of materials than traditional backplanes made from rigid substrates with multiple wiring layers. This results in smaller thicknesses for LCDs.

Optical bonding is a good option for joining parts that have different thermal expansion coefficients because it minimizes the residual stress that can cause cracking or delamination. In electronics applications, optical bonding can be used to bond metal or ceramic substrates onto silicon wafers to create flat panel displays. In automotive applications, it can be used to bond glass substrates to plastic substrates.

Micron Optical Bonding Solutions: Optical Bonding For Electronics And Automotive Displays

Optical bonding is an adhesion process that uses light to join materials together. It can be used to bond a wide range of materials and can be used on many different substrates.

Micron offers a full range of optical bonding solutions for use in high-performance electronics applications such as electronics and automotive displays, mobile phones, tablets, and computer monitors. Micron has developed a broad portfolio of optical bonding solutions for the microelectronics and automotive display industries, including:

Soft-To-Soft Lamination（FF）

Paste the OCA film on the sensor function sheet, commonly known as Soft-To-Soft Lamination(FF). The OCA film acts as an adhesive between two materials that are not normally compatible with each other. For example, a glass substrate can be bonded with a silicon substrate or silicon nitride substrate.

Hard-To-Hard Full Lamination（TP+OC）

Full lamination is to completely glue the glass cover, display panel, and touch screen together in a seamless manner with water glue or optical glue material. In this process, the touch screen is first glued to the TFT LCD panel by using optical adhesive materials. The main advantage of hard-to-hard full lamination is that it can enhance the rigidity of devices and improve their drop resistance capability. It also allows manufacturers to make thinner devices since there are no gaps between different components.

Micron also has other Optical Bonding Solutions such as Soft-to-Hard Lamination and Hard-to-Hard Zero Lamination. If you need more information, please check the Micron Website for free.

Conclusion

Optical bonding is an important process in the production of many modern electronic devices, including smartphones, tablets, notebooks, and automotive displays. Micron’s optical bonding solutions are used to bond different materials together with light to form thin films that can be applied to displays.

Micron is a leading provider of optical bonding solutions for electronics and automotive displays. Micron’s products are used in a wide range of applications, including OLED displays and automotive head-up displays. With a broad range of Micron products, Micron can provide you with the best solution for your application. Micron’s core competencies include optical design, photomask production, wafer bonding, assembly, and testing.