Typically, a broken OLED screen needs replacing, especially when it comes to smartphone displays. Repairs are possible, but often time-consuming and costly. Now, a new machine out of China leverages the technology used in OLED panel manufacturing to quickly repair OLED screens with lasers. What’s more, the process can take place while the phone is still on.
Recently, the YouTube channel Strange Parts paid a visit to the machine’s creator and got a firsthand demonstration. In the video, the defective OLED screen is examined with a microscope to determine what flaws exist in the conductive wiring that acts as a network for the display’s pixels. Then, much as when they are manufactured, a laser is used to remedy the defects. The device being on allows the operator to see their progress in real-time. If this technology takes off, repairs for OLED screens may become more accessible, affordable, and quicker, not to mention a massive reduction in e-waste.
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