Electrochromic Active Lighting Layer for OLED Ambient Light Blocking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional transmissive OLED displays face challenges in achieving true black display due to ambient light transmission, and existing solutions like photochromic layers require bright ambient light and have slow color change speeds, making them impractical for effective black expression.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating an active lighting layer with electrochromic materials that reversibly change light transmittance in response to an electric field, allowing for a normally black or normally white mode to block or transmit light, enabling local control of light transmittance for improved black display performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a photochromic layer is used on the rear surface to block ambient light, then light blocking is achieved, but the color change speed is too slow for practical applications

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveambient light transmissionVSAvoidcolor change speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the material parameter from photochromic material to electrochromic material, which allows control of light transmittance through electric field application rather than relying on slow chemical photochromic reactions. This enables rapid switching between transparent and opaque states on demand.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the passive photochromic chemical reaction system with an active electrochromic system controlled by electric fields. This substitution enables rapid, controllable switching of light transmittance properties without relying on slow photochemical reactions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a photochromic layer is used to block ambient light, then light blocking is achieved, but bright ambient light is required to generate the light blocking state

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveambient light transmissionVSAvoidambient light condition dependency

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the passive photochromic system that requires specific ambient light conditions with an active electrochromic system controlled by electric fields. This enables light blocking functionality to operate independently of ambient light intensity, providing adaptability across various viewing conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The electrochromic layer actively controls its own light transmittance state through applied voltage, rather than passively responding to ambient light conditions. This self-control mechanism eliminates dependency on bright ambient light to achieve the desired light blocking effect.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the entire rear surface is used for light blocking, then ambient light is blocked, but local control of light transmittance is not achieved

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveambient light transmissionVSAvoidlight blocking area control

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the rear surface into multiple independently controllable pixel regions, each with its own electrochromic layer. This segmentation enables selective light blocking in specific areas while maintaining transparency in others, allowing precise local control of light transmittance for accurate black display.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different light transmittance properties to different regions of the display by independently controlling each pixel's electrochromic layer. This local quality control enables accurate black expression in specific pixels without affecting the entire display surface.

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 active lighting layer effectively reduces ambient light influence, allowing for accurate and local black display without the need for bright ambient light, enhancing contrast and image reproduction in OLED displays.

Implementation Method 1

an active lighting layer with electrochromic materials that reversibly change light transmittance in response to an electric field

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrochromism: Electrochromism

Implementation Method 2

light is generated by a light-emitting organic electro-luminescence material

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectroluminescence: Electroluminescence

Data Source

PatentUS9099665B2Organic electro-luminescence display device

Publication Date: 2015.08.04 SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO LTD

AI summary

An organic light emitting diode (OLED) display is disclosed. The display has high contrast and displays good black color by removing or decreasing influence of ambient light. The display includes an organic electro-luminescence emission layer and a plurality of pixels respectively including an active lighting layer disposed on the organic electro-luminescence emission layer. In the pixels, when the organic electro-luminescence emission layer emits light, light transmittance of the active lighting layer is decreased.