Electrochromic Display Device with Integrated Reflective Electrodes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing display devices face challenges in achieving a minimized volume/thickness while providing a mirror function and light transmittance control, as they often require additional components for reflectance and transmittance, leading to increased complexity and size.
Innovation Solution
A display device design incorporating a reflective unit with a first electrode of transparent conductive oxide, a second electrode of metal, and an electrochromic unit between them, where the second electrode's thickness is optimized between 40 angstroms and 500 angstroms to reflect and transmit light, and an electrochromic material with an electrolyte layer for light transmittance control, allowing for a mirror function without additional components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If additional components are added to achieve mirror function and light transmittance control, then the display device can provide reflectance and transmittance control, but the volume and thickness of the display device increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the mirror function and light transmittance control function into a single integrated reflective unit. The reflective unit includes a first electrode, second electrode, and electrochromic unit that work together to provide both mirror reflection and controllable light transmittance, eliminating the need for separate components and thereby reducing the overall volume and thickness of the display device.
Solution Approach 2:
The reflective unit serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a mirror for reflection, an electrochromic unit for light transmittance control, and an integrated component for display device structure. This multi-functionality allows the display device to achieve adaptability for both mirror mode and transparent mode without requiring additional separate components.
2Adaptability or versatility
If additional components are added to achieve mirror function and light transmittance control, then the display device can provide reflectance and transmittance control, but the structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the mirror function and electrochromic light transmittance control function into a single reflective unit structure. By combining these functions in one integrated unit rather than using separate components, the structural complexity is reduced while maintaining the adaptability for both mirror and transparent modes.
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 design achieves a minimized volume/thickness with controllable reflectance and transmittance, integrating the mirror function into the display device, reducing overall size and complexity by utilizing the electrochromic unit and electrodes for reflectance control.
Implementation Method 1
an electrochromic unit disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, the electrochromic unit having light transmittance changed/controlled based on an electric field formed between the first electrode and the second electrode
Implementation Method 2
The second electrode may reflect some rays of the external light and, may transmit other rays of the external light
Data Source
AI summary
A display device may include a first substrate, an encapsulation substrate overlapping the substrate, a display unit disposed between the first substrate and the encapsulation substrate, a first electrode disposed between the display unit and the encapsulation substrate and having a first reflectance, a second electrode overlapping the first electrode and having a second reflectance greater than the first reflectance, and an electrochromic unit disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode.