Electrochromic Layer for Thinner OLED Displays
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display panels require a color filter to achieve standard color gamut, which increases thickness and hinders the development of thinner, lighter displays.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an electrochromic layer electrically connected to the electrodes of the pixel units, allowing for controlled electric fields to adjust transmittance and filter outgoing light, thereby replacing the color filter and reducing panel thickness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a color filter is used to achieve standard color gamut, then color coordinates meet standard requirements, but panel thickness increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the traditional color filter layer from the display structure. Instead of using a color filter to achieve standard color gamut, the invention uses an electrochromic layer that can dynamically adjust its optical properties. This extraction eliminates the thickness contribution of the color filter while maintaining color accuracy through electrical control of the electrochromic material's transmittance characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the optical parameters of the display panel by introducing an electrochromic layer whose transmittance can be dynamically adjusted through applied voltage. By controlling the electrochromic layer's optical parameters (transmittance, absorption) in response to driving signals, the system achieves standard color coordinates without requiring a fixed color filter, thereby reducing panel thickness.
2Manufacturing precision
If a color filter is used to filter outgoing light, then color gamut is controlled, but panel structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The electrochromic layer serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as both the color control mechanism and the light filtering element. By integrating these functions into a single dynamic layer rather than requiring separate color filter and control structures, the patent simplifies the overall panel structure while maintaining precise color gamut control through electrical actuation of the electrochromic material.
3Illumination intensity
If electrochromic layer transmittance is increased for better visibility, then light output improves, but reflection blocking decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic control of the electrochromic layer's transmittance through applied voltage. The layer can switch between different optical states (transparent, partially transparent, reflective) in response to driving signals. This dynamic capability allows the system to adapt to different viewing conditions, maximizing light output when needed while providing reflection blocking when external light interference is present, thereby resolving the contradiction between these two opposing requirements.
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 solution enables better control over color coordinates, eliminates the need for a color filter, reduces panel thickness, and improves visibility by blocking unwanted reflections, enhancing the display's aesthetic and functional capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
an electrochromic layer... electrically connected to the second electrode and the fourth electrode separately... a first electric field is controlled to be generated between a second electrode and a fourth electrode... so that the electrochromic layer has a first transmittance
Implementation Method 2
the OLED element can emit light through carrier injection and recombination under the driving of an electric field
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are a display panel, a driving method thereof and a display device. The display panel includes a substrate, a pixel unit layer and an electrochromic layer. The pixel unit layer includes multiple pixel units arranged in an array and each pixel unit includes a main pixel region and a sub-pixel region. Along a direction facing away from the substrate, the main pixel region includes a first electrode, an organic light-emitting layer and a second electrode, and the sub-pixel region includes a third electrode and a fourth electrode. The first electrode is disposed in the same layer as the third electrode, the second electrode is disposed in the same layer as the fourth electrode, and the main pixel region is insulated from the sub-pixel region. The electrochromic layer is disposed on one side of the pixel unit layer facing away from the substrate.