OLED Light Extraction via Discontinuous Insulating Layers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional organic light-emitting display apparatuses have low light efficiency due to about 40% of the generated light being absorbed by the display layers rather than emitted externally, resulting in reduced brightness and increased heat loss.
Innovation Solution
The organic light-emitting display apparatus incorporates a substrate with a pixel electrode, a first insulating layer having a discontinuous region, an intermediate layer with an emission layer, and an opposite electrode that covers the intermediate layer and the discontinuous region, where the shortest distance between the opposite electrode and the substrate is shorter than between the pixel electrode and the substrate, allowing light to be reflected and emitted towards the exterior.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a conventional organic light-emitting device structure is used with continuous insulating layers, then the device structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but light extraction efficiency is low causing reduced brightness and increased heat loss
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the continuous insulating layers into discontinuous regions with gaps, creating multiple interfaces that facilitate light extraction. The first and second insulating layers are patterned with discontinuous regions that expose different portions of the substrate, enabling light to escape through multiple paths rather than being trapped by continuous layers.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces vertical dimension variations by creating gaps and discontinuous regions at different heights in the insulating layers. The opposite electrode is positioned at varying distances from the substrate across different regions, creating a three-dimensional structure that enhances light extraction efficiency by providing multiple extraction paths.
2Loss of energy
If discontinuous regions are created in insulating layers to improve light extraction, then light extraction efficiency increases, but device structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the continuous insulating layers into discontinuous regions with gaps, creating multiple interfaces that facilitate light extraction. The first and second insulating layers are patterned with discontinuous regions that expose different portions of the substrate, enabling light to escape through multiple paths rather than being trapped by continuous layers.
3Device complexity
If light is emitted towards the substrate through continuous insulating layers, then the device structure is simple, but about 40% of generated light is absorbed by display layers instead of being emitted externally
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the continuous insulating layers into discontinuous regions with gaps, creating multiple interfaces that facilitate light extraction. The first and second insulating layers are patterned with discontinuous regions that expose different portions of the substrate, enabling light to escape through multiple paths rather than being trapped by continuous layers.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful light absorption by insulating layers into a beneficial effect by creating discontinuous regions that redirect light towards the substrate. The gaps in the insulating layers cause light to be reflected or extracted through the substrate rather than being absorbed, turning the insulating layers from light-trapping elements into light-extraction facilitators.
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 design enhances light extraction efficiency, increasing the brightness of the display while reducing blurring and heat loss, effectively addressing the low light efficiency issue of conventional organic light-emitting display apparatuses.
Implementation Method 1
an opposite electrode that covers the intermediate layer and at least a portion of the first discontinuous region, so that a shortest distance to the substrate in at least a portion of the first discontinuous region is shorter than a shortest distance between the pixel electrode and the substrate
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are an organic light-emitting display apparatus having superior light efficiency and ease of manufacture, as well as a method of manufacturing the same. The organic light-emitting display apparatus includes: a substrate; a pixel electrode disposed on a pixel region of the substrate; a first insulating layer that is interposed between the substrate and the pixel electrode and that has a first discontinuous region extending along at least a portion of an edge of the pixel electrode; an intermediate layer that is disposed on the pixel electrode and that includes an emission layer; and an opposite electrode that covers the intermediate layer and at least a portion of the first discontinuous region, so that a shortest distance to the substrate in at least a portion of the first discontinuous region is shorter than a shortest distance between the pixel electrode and the substrate.