Multicolor Light-Emitting Pixel Layout With Fewer Sub-Pixels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing display technologies using semiconductor light-emitting elements face challenges in achieving high definition while reducing the number of sub-pixels, leading to increased cost and yield loss due to the need for multiple sub-pixels per pixel, especially in micro-LED displays where controlling multicolor light emission is difficult.
Innovation Solution
A light-emitting device configuration with a mix of first and second light-emitting elements arranged in a pattern, where the second elements can tune their emission color with a drive current, allowing for reduced sub-pixel count by sharing elements across adjacent pixels, and a lighting controller to manage the emission periods and colors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If three sub-pixels of RGB are arranged for one pixel, then full-color light emission is achieved, but the number of light-emitting elements increases leading to high cost and reduced yield
Solution Approach 1:
A single light-emitting element is designed to perform multiple functions by emitting different colors (R, G, B) through wavelength conversion using phosphors. The element can dynamically switch between color modes, replacing what would traditionally require three separate sub-pixels, thereby reducing the total number of light-emitting elements needed and improving manufacturing yield
Solution Approach 2:
The light emission color is changed by adjusting operational parameters such as drive current wavelength and phosphor selection rather than using separate physical elements for each color. By controlling the wavelength conversion process, a single element can emit different colors as needed, achieving full-color capability without increasing element count
2Productivity
If the number of sub-pixels is reduced, then manufacturing cost decreases and yield improves, but spatial definition is lowered
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses time-sequential activation of different color emissions from the same light-emitting element. By rapidly switching between R, G, and B emission modes in periodic cycles, the element maintains full-color capability while occupying the space of a single sub-pixel, thereby preserving spatial definition despite reduced element count
Solution Approach 2:
The solution transitions from spatial differentiation (multiple sub-pixels arranged side-by-side) to temporal differentiation (single element emitting different colors at different times). This adds a time dimension to color generation, allowing one element to replace multiple spatial elements without losing definition
3Productivity
If a single LED element emits multicolor light, then the number of sub-pixels is reduced, but control complexity increases for achieving all chromaticity ranges
Solution Approach 1:
The control system divides the chromaticity control task into manageable segments by using different phosphors for different color ranges. Each phosphor handles a specific wavelength conversion task, and the controller selectively activates appropriate phosphors based on the desired output color, simplifying the overall control complexity compared to managing a single multicolor element without segmentation
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 multicolor light emission with simplified control, reducing the number of sub-pixels, suppressing the decrease in spatial definition, and improving the spatial definition, and improving the manufacturing yield, while maintaining high definition, and improving the manufacturing yield, while maintaining high spatial definition, and improving the manufacturing yield.
Implementation Method 1
The second light emission color of a second light-emitting element of the plurality of second light-emitting elements is variable in accordance with a drive current
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of first light-emitting elements each capable of emitting light of a first light emission color and a plurality of second light-emitting elements each capable of emitting light of a second light emission color
Data Source
AI summary
A light-emitting device includes: a display comprising a plurality of pixels in which a plurality of first light-emitting elements each configured to emit light of a first light emission color and a plurality of second light-emitting elements each configured to emit light of a second light emission color different from the first light emission color are arranged in a predetermined pattern; and a lighting controller configured to supply a drive current to each of the plurality of first light-emitting elements and the plurality of second light-emitting elements and control a light emission period of each of the plurality of first light-emitting elements and the plurality of second light-emitting elements. The second light emission color of a second light-emitting element, of the plurality of second light-emitting elements, is variable in accordance with a drive current.