Embedded Optical Sensors in Micro-LED Displays for Integrated Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Micro-LED displays lack integrated optical sensing capabilities, limiting their applications in ambient light sensing, fingerprint recognition, and proximity sensing, as they do not inherently possess the high contrast and response time of true emissive display technologies like OLEDs.
Innovation Solution
Embedding optical sensors within the micro-LED display panel, either at the same plane as the RGB pixels or integrated inside the panel with micro-drivers, utilizing silicon-based p-i-n semiconductor photodetectors or organic photodetectors, to enable ambient light sensing, fingerprint sensing, and proximity sensing, with spectral response covering visible, near-infrared, and short-wave infrared wavelengths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If micro-LED displays use traditional InGaN-based LEDs, then brightness and durability are improved, but integrated optical sensing capabilities are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines micro-LEDs and optical sensors into a single integrated display panel structure. The optical sensors are embedded within the same panel as the micro-LEDs, allowing the display to simultaneously provide high-brightness visual output and optical sensing functions for applications like ambient light sensing, fingerprint recognition, and proximity detection.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated panel serves multiple functions: it acts as both a high-brightness display device using InGaN micro-LEDs and an optical sensing device using embedded photodetectors. This multi-functionality allows a single component to replace what would traditionally require separate display and sensor modules.
2Adaptability or versatility
If optical sensors are embedded in the micro-LED display panel, then sensing applications are enabled, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the integrated panel into distinct functional regions: micro-LED regions for display output and photodetector regions for optical sensing. This segmentation allows each component type to be optimized independently while maintaining overall integration, simplifying the manufacturing process by enabling specialized fabrication techniques for each segment.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical sensors are nested within the micro-LED display panel structure itself. The photodetectors are embedded in the same substrate as the micro-LEDs, with both components sharing common structural elements and interconnection layers, thereby reducing overall device complexity compared to separate modules.
3Length of stationary object
If optical sensors are integrated at the same plane as RGB pixels, then thinness is maintained, but optical interference increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different optical properties to different regions of the panel. The photodetector regions are designed with specific spectral sensitivity characteristics that differ from the micro-LED regions. This local differentiation allows the sensors to detect optical signals while the display pixels emit light, minimizing mutual interference through spectral and spatial separation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediate structural layers between the micro-LEDs and photodetectors. These intermediate layers serve as optical filters or isolators that prevent harmful optical interference between the emitting LEDs and the sensing photodetectors, while still allowing the integrated thin structure to function properly.
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 the micro-LED display to perform various sensing applications with enhanced optical characteristics and reduced electrical shielding, while maintaining the display's thinness and high contrast, by using a shared driver circuit to manage both micro-LEDs and optical sensors efficiently.
Implementation Method 1
utilizing silicon-based p-i-n semiconductor photodetectors or organic photodetectors, to enable ambient light sensing, fingerprint sensing, and proximity sensing, with spectral response covering visible, near-infrared, and short-wave infrared wavelengths
Data Source
AI summary
A micro-light-emitting diode (LED) display includes a number of micro-LED pixel elements and multiple optical sensors integrated with the micro-LED pixel elements. A transparent conductor layer is disposed over the micro-LED pixel elements and optical sensors.