Magnetic OLED Electrodes for Flexible Mounting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing thin film solid state lighting devices face challenges with bulky and rigid mounting and electrical interconnect technologies, which compromise the thin and flexible nature of these devices, leading to reduced light emission area and susceptibility to moisture and oxygen damage.
Innovation Solution
The use of magnetically conductive electrodes that allow for simultaneous magnetic and electrical connection, enabling a hermetically sealed, planar, and flexible OLED device with reduced complexity and bulk, using a combination of materials like nickel and aluminum for the electrodes and transparent or translucent confinement layers to minimize moisture ingress.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If edge connectors are used for electrical input, then electrical connectivity is achieved, but the light emission area is reduced and hermetic seal is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the electrical connection function from the edge of the device by using transparent electrodes that extend through the confinement layers to exposed surfaces. This removes the need for edge connectors that would otherwise reduce light emission area and compromise hermetic sealing, allowing the edges to be fully sealed while electrical connections are made through the transparent substrate.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of making electrical connections at the edges (lateral dimension), the patent transitions to making connections through the thickness dimension by extending electrodes through the confinement layers to exposed surfaces on the front or back of the device. This dimensional shift allows edge connectors to be eliminated while maintaining both hermetic sealing and light emission area.
2Adaptability or versatility
If on-board inductive power transmission components are added, then wireless power reception is enabled, but device complexity, bulk, and thickness increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical and electronic wireless power reception components (inductive coils, power conditioning electronics) with a simpler magnetic attachment system. The magnetic electrodes provide both mechanical mounting and electrical connection through direct contact, eliminating the need for onboard power conversion circuitry while maintaining adaptability through magnetic coupling with external power sources.
Solution Approach 2:
The magnetic electrodes serve multiple functions simultaneously: they provide mechanical mounting through magnetic attraction, establish electrical connections through conductive contact, and enable flexible positioning. This multi-functionality replaces what would otherwise require separate components for mounting, wiring, and power management.
3Strength
If mounting clamps, screws, or magnets are added, then mechanical mounting is achieved, but complexity, bulk, and thickness increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the electrical connection function with the mechanical mounting function by making the electrodes themselves magnetic. This allows the same component that provides electrical connectivity to also provide mechanical attachment through magnetic attraction, eliminating the need for separate mounting hardware such as clamps, screws, or external magnets.
Solution Approach 2:
The magnetic electrodes serve as both electrical conductors and mechanical mounting elements. By incorporating magnetic properties into the electrodes, they simultaneously provide electrical connectivity and mechanical attachment, reducing overall device complexity and eliminating the need for separate mounting components.
4Volume of moving object
If the device is made thin and flexible, then space efficiency is improved, but mounting and electrical interconnection becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The magnetic electrodes enable the thin flexible device to self-mount and self-connect. When brought near a surface with opposing magnetic polarity, the device automatically attaches through magnetic attraction while simultaneously establishing electrical connections, eliminating the need for manual wiring or complex mounting procedures despite the device's thin and flexible nature.
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 allows for a thin, flexible, and efficient lighting solution with enhanced hermetic sealing and reduced bulk, maintaining the large-area illumination advantage while ensuring electrical connectivity and mechanical mounting, thus protecting the OLED device from environmental damage.
Implementation Method 1
Each electrode includes a magnetic material
Implementation Method 2
the electrodes include a magnetic material... simultaneously magnetic and electrical connection
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
An article of manufacture comprises a thin film solid state lighting device (10), such as an organic light emitting diode (OLED) device, having a planar light emitting side and an opposite planar mounting side (22) and including electrodes (40,42) disposed on the planar mounting side of the thin film solid state lighting device (10), the electrodes including a magnetic material configured to conductively convey electrical drive current to drive the thin film solid state lighting device (10) to emit light at the planar light emitting principal side. The article of manufacture may further comprise a fixture having a planar surface with magnets (80,82) arranged to mate with the electrodes to magnetically secure the thin film solid state lighting device (10) with the fixture (70) and to concurrently form electrically conductive paths including the magnetic material of the electrodes (40,42) configured to conductively convey electrical drive current. Thus this magnetic connection provides both mechanical support and electrical conduction path.