Flexible Display Screen With Black Matrices To Reduce Reflections

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current display screens with polarizers suffer from high light loss and reflection issues, particularly under strong light, which increases power consumption and is unsuitable for flexible displays due to thickness and brittleness, and while using a color filter reduces thickness, it still experiences significant reflections affecting the display effect.

Innovation Solution

A display screen design featuring a flexible substrate with a switch array layer, an anode, pixel definition layer, organic light-emitting layer, and a multiplexed cathode functioning as a touch control electrode, along with a second touch control electrode and strategically positioned black matrices to reduce reflections.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a polarizer is used to minimize reflections under strong light, then reflection reduction is achieved, but light loss increases significantly (nearly 58% of light emitted is lost)

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelight reflectionVSAvoidlight loss

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the polarizer from the display screen structure entirely, replacing it with a color filter layer that achieves both reflection minimization and light transmission. The polarizer is extracted from the system and its functions are redistributed to other components (color filter for reflection control, OLED for light emission).

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the optical parameters of the display by replacing the polarizer with a color filter having different optical properties. The color filter has higher light transmission efficiency while maintaining reflection minimization capabilities, fundamentally changing how light interacts with the display layers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a polarizer is used to minimize reflections, then reflection control is improved, but the thickness increases (close to 100 μm) and brittleness increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelight reflectionVSAvoidthickness

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The thick polarizer layer is extracted and removed from the display structure. Its reflection control function is transferred to a much thinner color filter layer that is integrated into the OLED structure, eliminating the need for the 100 μm thick polarizer.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs thin film structures (color filter layer) instead of thick rigid polarizer sheets. The thin film approach enables flexibility and reduces thickness while maintaining the necessary optical control functions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Length of stationary object

If a color filter is used to replace the polarizer, then thickness is reduced (from 100 μm to below 5 μm) and light extraction efficiency is improved, but reflections to OLED self-illumination and ambient light increase

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovethicknessVSAvoidlight reflection

Core Design Contradiction:

Length of stationary objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the color filter layer with the touch control electrode structure. The color filter is manufactured on the touch control electrode, integrating two previously separate functions into a single integrated layer, thereby reducing total thickness while controlling reflections.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent positions black matrices at the locations of second touch control units, converting what would be reflective metal electrode surfaces into reflection-minimizing structures. The black matrices absorb light rather than reflect it, turning a potential harmful reflection source into a beneficial reflection control element.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

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 effectively minimizes light reflections and improves display quality by utilizing black matrices to shield touch control units, enhancing light extraction efficiency and reducing power consumption.

Implementation Method 1

an organic light-emitting layer positioned in the opening areas

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectroluminescence: Electroluminescence

Implementation Method 2

a plurality of black matrices disposed on the second touch control electrode, wherein positions of the black matrices correspond to positions of the second touch control units

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight absorption: Absorption (EM radiation)

Data Source

PatentUS11456341B2Display screen, manufacturing method thereof, and electronic device

Publication Date: 2022.09.27 WUHAN CHINA STAR OPTOELECTRONICS SEMICONDUCTOR DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY CO LTD

AI summary

A display screen, a manufacturing method thereof, and an electronic device are provided. The display screen includes a cathode disposed on an organic light-emitting layer and a pixel definition layer and multiplexed as a first touch control electrode; a second touch control electrode disposed on the cathode; and a plurality of black matrices disposed on the second touch control electrode. Positions of the black matrices correspond to positions of second touch control units.