AMOLED Common Semiconductor Layers to Reduce Pixel Cross Talk

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Solution Overview

Problem

Active-matrix OLED displays suffer from cross talk between neighbor pixels due to the high electrical conductivity of shared hole transport layers, which affects display performance.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a common semiconductor layer structure with specific organic p-dopants in the OLED pixels, including a common hole injection layer and electron blocking layer, to maintain low sheet resistance and reduce cross talk.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a common hole transport layer is used across multiple OLED pixels, then device complexity is reduced and manufacturing is simplified, but electrical cross talk between adjacent pixels increases due to high electrical conductivity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure complexityVSAvoidelectrical cross talk
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The common hole transport layer is segmented into multiple sub-layers: a first common hole transport layer extending over at least two pixels, and a second common hole transport layer extending over at least three pixels. This spatial segmentation reduces electrical cross talk by creating intermediate regions that limit charge carrier leakage between adjacent pixels while maintaining the overall common structure benefit.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the hole transport layer are assigned different properties through the sub-layer structure. The first and second common hole transport layers have different extension patterns across the pixel array, creating local variations in electrical conductivity and charge carrier distribution that prevent cross talk while maintaining efficient hole transport where needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Ease of operation

If organic p-dopants are used in the hole transport layer to enhance hole injection, then hole injection efficiency improves, but free charge carrier concentration increases which may worsen cross talk

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehole injection efficiencyVSAvoidfree charge carrier concentration
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The concentration and distribution of organic p-dopants are carefully controlled and optimized in the common hole transport layer. By adjusting dopant parameters (concentration, spatial distribution, and temporal characteristics), the system achieves sufficient hole injection efficiency while preventing excessive free charge carrier concentration that would cause cross talk between pixels.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 solution effectively minimizes electrical cross talk between pixels, enhancing the display's performance by maintaining high operational stability and reducing color mixing, while using organic p-dopants to enhance hole injection without increasing free charge carrier concentration.

Implementation Method 1

the common first semiconductor layer comprises at least one organic p-dopant

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCharge transfer: Redox Reactions

Implementation Method 2

light is produced and emitted by the light-emitting diode through the injection of charge carriers (electrons from one side, holes from another side) from the contacts into adjacent organic layers as a result of an externally applied voltage, subsequent formation of excitons (electron-hole pairs) in an active zone, and radiative recombination of these excitons

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRadiative recombination: Electroluminescence

Data Source

PatentEP4106027B1Active-matrix OLED display
Publication Date: 2025.12.31 NOVALED GMBH
  • EP4106027B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4106027B1 patent drawingFigure 2~4
  • EP4106027B1 patent drawing

AI summary

The present invention relates to an active-matrix OLED display, comprising a plurality of OLED pixels, wherein each pixel itself comprises a stack of organic layers and each layer of the stack of organic layers can form a common semiconductor layer, wherein - at least a first OLED pixel and a second OLED pixel comprising - an anode layer, - a common cathode layer, - at least one emission layer, which is optional a common emission layer, - at least a stack of organic layers.