Back-Side Contact OLED Metal Layer for Thermal Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing organic light emitting diode (OLED) devices face issues with deformation under high temperature and pressure due to wax layers, and have inactive areas that hinder efficient light emission and power supply.
Innovation Solution
The use of a metal layer with electrically isolated parts, where one part is coupled to the first electrode layer and the other to the second electrode layer, allows for improved thermal management and reduced inactive areas by enabling power supply through the back side, and a combiner for combining OLED devices to emit light in opposite directions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a wax layer is used in OLED devices, then the device structure is simplified, but the device deforms under high temperature and pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from wax to metal, fundamentally altering the thermal and mechanical properties. The metal layer maintains structural integrity at high temperatures and pressures where wax would deform, while still providing the necessary electrical isolation when divided into separate parts.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a composite structure combining metal layers with electrically isolating sections, creating a material system that integrates both mechanical strength and electrical isolation properties. This composite approach allows the back side to provide structural support while maintaining electrical functionality.
2Ease of manufacture
If power supply contacts are placed on the front side of OLED devices, then the electrical connection is simple, but inactive areas increase reducing light emission efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional approach by placing power supply contacts on the back side of the OLED device instead of the front side. This inversion eliminates the inactive areas on the light-emitting surface while maintaining electrical connection functionality through the metal layer structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent moves the electrical connection from the two-dimensional front surface to the three-dimensional back side structure. By utilizing the back side metal layer, the power supply contacts are positioned in a different spatial dimension, allowing full front surface utilization for light emission.
3Adaptability or versatility
If OLED devices are combined back-to-back via a combiner, then light emission in opposite directions is achieved, but thermal management becomes more challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The metal layers on the back sides of the OLED devices serve dual functions: providing electrical isolation and acting as heat sinks. The metal's high thermal conductivity enables passive heat dissipation from the organic layers, allowing the combined device structure to manage its own thermal load without additional active cooling systems.
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
The metal layer enhances stability and heat dissipation, reduces inactive areas, and allows for efficient light emission in opposite directions, improving the overall performance of OLED devices.
Implementation Method 1
an organic light emitting device having a front side and a back side, each organic light emitting device comprising organic layers and first and second electrode layers
Implementation Method 2
a metal layer forming the back side of the device... The metal layer enhances stability and heat dissipation
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
Organic light emitting diode devices (1-9) comprise substrate layers (1) at their front sides for emitting light (10), first electrode layers (2), organic layers (3-5), second electrode layers (6), encapsulation layers (7), and metal layers (8, 9) at their back sides. The metal layers (8, 9) comprise first and second parts (8, 9) coupled to the first and second electrode layers (2, 6) to allow contacting at the back sides. The parts (8, 9) are electrically isolated from each other. The metal layers (8, 9) may be configured to spread heat and to provide stability. Lamps may comprise two of these devices (41, 42) coupled back-to-back via a combiner (21, 22) such as for example an isolating separator (22) and may emit light (10, 20) in opposite directions. Halogen or two-conductor environments can be introduced for lamps comprising organic light emitting diode devices (1-9).