Electrochromic See-Through Display Layout for Adjustable Transparency

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing display devices lack the ability to adjust transparency while providing both image visibility and background visibility, limiting their versatility and functionality.

Innovation Solution

A display device with a substrate having light emitting areas and transmissive areas, incorporating pixel electrodes and intermediate layers with light emitting and electrochromic materials, allowing for adjustable transparency and simultaneous image and background visibility.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If a display device uses light emitting areas for image display, then image visibility is improved, but transparency is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage visibilityVSAvoidtransparency

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The display device is divided into distinct light emitting areas and transmissive areas. The light emitting areas contain light emitting layers for displaying images, while the transmissive areas allow background visibility. This segmentation enables the device to simultaneously provide both image display functionality and transparency functionality without one compromising the other.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If a display device provides both image visibility and background visibility, then versatility is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovefunctionalityVSAvoidstructure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The display device achieves multi-functionality by integrating both light emitting areas for image display and transmissive areas for background visibility within a single device structure. This universal design allows the device to adapt to different usage scenarios, providing either image display or background visibility or both simultaneously, thereby improving versatility without requiring multiple separate devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

Enables adjustable transparency, enhancing the device's versatility and functionality by allowing users to see both displayed images and objects behind the device.

Implementation Method 1

a third intermediate layer disposed in the transmissive area on the pixel electrode and including an organic layer including an electrochromic material

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrochromism: Electrochromism

Implementation Method 2

a first intermediate layer disposed in the first light emitting area on the pixel electrode and including a first light emitting layer that emits a first light

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectroluminescence: Electroluminescence

Data Source

PatentUS20260020468A1Display device, vehicle including the same, and electronic device including the same

Publication Date: 2026.01.15 SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO LTD

AI summary

A display device includes a substrate, a pixel electrode disposed in a first light emitting area, a second light emitting area, and a transmissive area, a first intermediate layer disposed in the first light emitting area and including a first light emitting layer that emits a first light, a second intermediate layer disposed in the second light emitting area and including a second light emitting layer that emits a second light and a third light emitting layer that emits a third light, a third intermediate layer disposed in the transmissive area and including an organic layer including an electrochromic material, and a common electrode.