Helical Liquid Crystal Phase Retardation Device for OLED Displays
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Solution Overview
Problem
The preparation of phase retardation devices for OLED display panels is hindered by low efficiency and poor yield due to the complexity of aligning multiple wave plates, specifically the half-wave and quarter-wave plates, required for wide band performance.
Innovation Solution
A phase retardation device comprising a linear polarization layer, a first alignment layer, a first liquid crystal layer, and a second liquid crystal layer, where the second liquid crystal layer includes a helical structure to convert linear or elliptical polarized light into circular polarized light, reducing the need for multiple alignments and improving efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple wave plates (half-wave plate and quarter-wave plate) are superimposed to achieve wide band performance, then the phase retardation device can convert light effectively across a broad spectrum, but the alignment process becomes complex requiring at least 2 separate alignments, leading to low preparation efficiency and poor device yield
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functions of the half-wave plate and quarter-wave plate into a single liquid crystal layer with a helical structure. This liquid crystal layer simultaneously provides both half-wave and quarter-wave retardation effects across different wavelengths, eliminating the need for separate wave plates and their individual alignment processes. The helical structure enables the layer to function as both wave plates at once, achieving wide band performance while simplifying the alignment to a single process.
Solution Approach 2:
The liquid crystal layer with helical structure serves multiple functions that were previously required separate components: it acts as both the half-wave plate and quarter-wave plate, and also provides the alignment function. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate alignment layers for each wave plate, reducing the total number of alignment operations from at least 2 to just 1, thereby improving preparation efficiency while maintaining wide band performance.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple wave plates are superimposed with different fast axis angles to achieve wide band performance, then the phase retardation device can control light reflection effectively across different wavelengths, but the device complexity and alignment difficulty increase, resulting in poor device yield
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple wave plate functions into a single liquid crystal layer with helical structure. This unified structure eliminates the interfaces between multiple separate wave plates, reducing potential failure points and alignment errors. The single-layer design with integrated helical structure improves manufacturing reliability and device yield by avoiding the complexities of aligning multiple separate components with different fast axis angles.
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 configuration allows for the conversion of natural light into circular polarized light with only one alignment operation, enhancing preparation efficiency and device yield by simplifying the alignment process.
Implementation Method 1
the linear polarization layer is located on one side of a light source and is configured to convert received light into linear polarized light
Implementation Method 2
the first liquid crystal layer is located on a side of the first alignment layer away from the light source and is configured to convert the linear polarized light into elliptical polarized light
Implementation Method 3
the second subpart is a helical structure having a preset helical angle... the second liquid crystal layer is configured to convert the elliptical polarized light to circular polarized light via the helical structure of the second subpart
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are a phase retardation device, a preparation method therefor, and a display apparatus. The phase retardation device includes: a linear polarization layer, a first alignment layer, a first liquid crystal layer and a second liquid crystal layer; the linear polarization layer is located on one side of a light source; the first alignment layer is located on a side of the linear polarization layer away from the light source; the first liquid crystal layer is located on a side of the first alignment layer away from the light source; the second liquid crystal layer is located on a side of the first liquid crystal layer away from the first alignment layer, the second liquid crystal layer comprises a first subpart adjacent to the first liquid crystal layer, a second subpart and a third subpart.