Electro-Optical Device With Concave Sealing Interface for Front Luminance

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electro-optical devices face challenges in increasing luminance in the front direction and improving light use efficiency while reducing power consumption and extending the life of the light-emitting layer, particularly in devices with small pixel sizes.

Innovation Solution

The electro-optical device incorporates a configuration with a first electrode, a second electrode, a light-emitting layer, a partition wall, a first insulating layer, a second insulating layer with transparency and a higher refractive index, and a third insulating layer with a concave surface, where the first electrode and light-emitting layer are in contact, and the second insulating layer's surface facing the third insulating layer is concave, enhancing light collection and reducing light diffusion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If a conventional flat insulating layer configuration is used, then the device structure is simple, but light use efficiency and front direction luminance are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelight use efficiencyVSAvoidinsulating layer structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The second insulating layer is configured with a concave surface in the opening region, creating a curved interface that acts as a light-collecting structure. This curvature redirects oblique light toward the front direction, improving light use efficiency without adding complex external optical components

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The insulating layers have different refractive indices (third layer has higher refractive index than second layer), creating localized optical property variations. The concave surface is specifically positioned in the opening region where light extraction is most critical, applying quality changes locally rather than uniformly across the entire device

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Productivity

If pixel size is reduced, then device integration increases, but luminance in front direction decreases and power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice integrationVSAvoidfront direction luminance

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The concave surface of the second insulating layer serves as an integrated light-collecting structure within the pixel, redirecting light that would otherwise escape at oblique angles toward the front direction. This maintains high luminance even as pixel size decreases and integration increases

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The refractive index parameter is strategically varied between insulating layers, with the third layer having a higher refractive index than the second. This parameter change at the concave interface enhances light redirection efficiency, maintaining luminance in smaller, more integrated 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

This configuration improves light use efficiency and luminance in the front direction, reducing power consumption and extending the life of the light-emitting layer by effectively collecting and directing light towards the viewer.

Implementation Method 1

a third insulating layer having an insulating property and transparency, configured to cover the second insulating layer, and having a higher refractive index than the second insulating layer

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRefraction: Refraction

Implementation Method 2

a surface of the second insulating layer in the opening region facing the third insulating layer is a concave surface in plan view

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight collection through concave surface geometry: Focusing

Data Source

PatentUS20250301860A1Electro-optical device and electronic apparatus

Publication Date: 2025.09.25 SEIKO EPSON CORP

AI summary

The electro-optical device includes a light-emitting element having a light-emitting layer sandwiched between a pixel electrode and a common electrode and being in contact with the light-emitting layer in an opening region of a pixel separation layer, a partition wall surrounding the light-emitting element and the common electrode in plan view, an insulating sealing layer having an insulating property and transparency and covering the light-emitting element and the partition wall, and a planarization layer having an insulating property and transparency, covering the sealing layer, and having a higher refractive index than the sealing layer, in which a surface facing the planarization layer of the sealing layer in the opening region in plan view is a concave surface in cross-sectional view.