AC Electroluminescence Fingerprint Sensor Structure

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional OLED sensors require additional sensor films for sensing, leading to complex device structures and increased manufacturing costs, necessitating the development of a new AC electroluminescence device with a simplified structure and lower production costs.

Innovation Solution

An AC electroluminescence device with a novel structure featuring a bottom electrode, electron injecting layer, emission layer, dielectric layer, and top electrode, where AC power is applied between the electrodes, allowing for alternating light emission in defined regions, and enabling a fingerprint recognizing sensor platform with a conductive external object functioning as a top electrode.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional OLED sensors use additional sensor films for sensing, then sensing function is achieved, but device structure becomes complex and manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesensing functionVSAvoiddevice structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the sensing function with the OLED structure by using the OLED's own components (electrodes, emission layer, dielectric layer) to perform both light emission and sensing functions. The bottom electrode and top electrode serve dual purposes as both OLED electrodes and sensing electrodes, eliminating the need for separate sensor films.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The OLED device is designed to perform multiple functions: light emission and sensing. The emission layer and dielectric layer serve both as OLED functional layers and as sensing elements that detect touch or proximity, allowing a single device to replace multiple specialized components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If conventional OLED sensors use additional sensor films for sensing, then sensing function is achieved, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesensing functionVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts and eliminates the unnecessary sensor film component from the conventional OLED sensor structure. By removing the separate sensor film and using only the essential OLED layers for both emission and sensing, the manufacturing process is simplified and costs are reduced.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Ease of operation

If AC power is applied between first and second electrodes, then alternating light emission occurs in defined regions, but device structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvealternating light emission controlVSAvoiddevice structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the OLED into two distinct emission regions (first and second emission regions) corresponding to the first and second electrodes. By applying AC power alternately to these segmented regions, independent control of light emission in each region is achieved, enabling flexible display and sensing patterns.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The AC electroluminescence device achieves a highly integrated and cost-effective structure with efficient light emission, suitable for a fingerprint recognizing sensor platform, eliminating the need for additional sensing films and simplifying the manufacturing process.

Implementation Method 1

AC electroluminescence device including a bottom electrode including a first electrode and a second electrode apart from each other, wherein AC power is applied between the first electrode and the second electrode

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectroluminescence: Electroluminescence

Data Source

PatentUS10292234B2AC electroluminescence device and finger scan sensor platform using the same

Publication Date: 2019.05.14 IND ACADEMIC COOP FOUND YONSEI UNIV

AI summary

Provided are an AC electroluminescence device includes a bottom electrode including a first electrode and a second electrode apart from each other, wherein AC power is applied between the first electrode and the second electrode; an electron injecting layer disposed on the bottom electrode; an emission layer disposed on the electron injecting layer; a dielectric layer disposed on the emission layer; a top electrode, which is disposed on the dielectric layer and includes a first portion opposing the first electrode and a second portion opposing the second electrode; a first emission region defined by a first overlapping region of the emission layer between the first portion of the top electrode and the first electrode of the bottom electrode; and a second emission region defined by a second overlapping region of the emission layer between the second portion of the top electrode and the second electrode of the bottom electrode.