Display Optical Layer Structure for Near-Infrared Contrast Control

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional display apparatuses face challenges in reducing near-infrared transmittance, which affects image contrast and quality due to interactions with external light, leading to increased reflection and decreased contrast ratios.

Innovation Solution

A display apparatus structure comprising a light-emitting device layer emitting near-infrared light, a light control layer emitting visible light, and an optical functional layer that reduces near-infrared transmittance by absorbing near-infrared light and allowing only visible light to pass through, thereby minimizing external light interaction and enhancing contrast.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the optical functional layer allows near-infrared light to pass through, then the light-emitting device layer can emit near-infrared light for display functions, but the near-infrared transmittance increases causing increased reflection and decreased contrast ratio

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenear-infrared light emission capabilityVSAvoidcontrast ratio

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The optical functional layer is divided into multiple layers with different functions: a first optical functional layer that transmits near-infrared light for display operations, and a second optical functional layer that absorbs near-infrared light to reduce reflection. This segmentation allows the system to simultaneously achieve near-infrared light emission capability and maintain high contrast ratio by separating the transmission function from the absorption function into different layers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If the optical functional layer absorbs near-infrared light, then the contrast ratio improves, but the near-infrared light emission capability is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrast ratioVSAvoidnear-infrared light emission capability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Device complexity

If conventional display structures are used without specialized optical functional layers, then the device complexity is low, but the specular component reflectance is high and image quality deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoptical layer structureVSAvoidspecular component reflectance

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

An intermediary optical functional layer is introduced between the light-emitting device layer and the external environment. This intermediary layer selectively transmits near-infrared light while absorbing excess near-infrared radiation, thereby mediating between the light-emitting devices and the external light environment to reduce specular component reflectance and improve image quality without requiring complete structural redesign.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Illumination intensity

If the optical functional layer transmits all wavelengths including near-infrared, then the overall light transmission is high, but external light interaction increases causing image quality degradation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoverall light transmissionVSAvoidexternal light interaction

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The optical functional layer exhibits local quality by having different optical properties at different locations or for different wavelengths. The first optical functional layer is designed to transmit near-infrared light with high efficiency, while the second optical functional layer is designed to absorb near-infrared light. This local differentiation of optical properties allows the system to maintain high overall light transmission for visible light while selectively blocking harmful near-infrared interactions with external light.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 proposed solution significantly reduces specular component reflectance and improves the contrast ratio of the display apparatus, resulting in enhanced image quality by preventing near-infrared light from interfering with the visible light emission.

Implementation Method 1

an optical functional layer arranged on the light control layer and reduces near-infrared transmittance, wherein the light-emitting device layer emits a first-color light of (e.g., in) in a near-infrared region

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAbsorption (EM radiation): Absorption (EM radiation)

Data Source

PatentUS20230395763A1Display apparatus

Publication Date: 2023.12.07 SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO LTD

AI summary

A display apparatus includes: a light-emitting device layer including a first light-emitting device; a light control layer arranged on the light-emitting device layer and including a first light control unit; and an optical functional layer arranged on the light control layer and configured to reduce near-infrared transmittance, wherein the first light-emitting device is configured to emit first-color light of a near-infrared region and the light control layer is configured to emit second-color light of a visible region.