Flexible OLED with Integrated Touch Sensor and Broad-Spectrum Emission
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing organic light-emitting diodes lack versatility and effectiveness in emitting a wide range of electromagnetic radiation, including infrared and UV, while also being unable to efficiently manage environmental influences and provide directional emission profiles.
Innovation Solution
The development of an organic light-emitting diode with a structured radiation exit area and encapsulation, featuring a radiation-emitting region that generates electromagnetic radiation from infrared to UV, and includes a charge carrier transport layer sequence with p- and n-doped matrix materials for directional emission and environmental sealing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If organic light-emitting diodes use a wide spectral range from infrared to UV, then the versatility and applicability are improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The organic light-emitting diode is designed with a universal emission capability covering infrared, visible, and UV spectral ranges through the use of broad-band emitting organic materials. This multi-functional design allows a single device structure to serve multiple lighting applications without requiring separate specialized devices for each spectral range.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs parameter changes by adjusting the HOMO-LUMO energy levels of the organic materials to control the emission spectrum. By selecting materials with appropriate energy level differences, the device can emit across different spectral ranges while maintaining a consistent device architecture, thus managing complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the radiation exit area is structured for directional emission, then the emission control and application versatility are improved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The radiation exit area is structured with microlens arrays or curved surface geometries that redirect light in specific directions. These curved optical elements focus or collimate the emitted radiation, providing directional control while using established manufacturing techniques for curved surfaces and lens arrays.
Solution Approach 2:
The radiation exit area is divided into multiple discrete microlens elements or segmented zones, each responsible for directing light in a specific direction. This segmentation allows for modular manufacturing and assembly, reducing the overall manufacturing precision requirements compared to creating a single complex directional structure.
3Reliability
If encapsulation is implemented to seal against environmental influences, then the reliability and durability are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The organic light-emitting diode is encapsulated with thin-film barrier layers deposited directly onto the substrate and device layers. These thin film encapsulation layers provide effective environmental protection against moisture and oxygen while adding minimal structural complexity and maintaining device flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The encapsulation function is merged with the substrate and electrode structures. The encapsulation layers are integrated into the existing device architecture rather than being added as separate external components, thus providing environmental protection without significantly increasing overall device complexity.
4Productivity
If charge carrier transport layers with p- and n-doped materials are used, then the emission efficiency and spectral control are improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The charge carrier transport layers are designed with local quality variations, where p-doped and n-doped regions are positioned specifically at the anode and cathode interfaces respectively. This localized doping strategy optimizes charge injection and transport efficiency at critical interfaces while keeping the overall layer structure relatively simple and manageable.
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 organic light-emitting diodes to emit a diverse range of electromagnetic radiation, including directional emission, while providing robustness against environmental influences, enhancing their applicability in various lighting applications.
Implementation Method 1
The organic layer sequence comprises at least one radiation-emitting region which generates electromagnetic radiation in the spectral range from infrared radiation to UV radiation during operation
Data Source
AI summary
A device comprising an organic light-emitting diode comprising an organic layer sequence, a radiation exit area and an encapsulation, wherein the organic layer sequence comprises at least one radiation-emitting region which generates electromagnetic radiation in the spectral range from infrared radiation to UV radiation during operation, and wherein the encapsulation forms a seal of the organic layer sequence against environmental influences, at least one touch-sensitive operating element, wherein the at least one touch-sensitive operating element comprises at least one touch sensor, wherein the device is flexible.