OLED Display Segmentation for External Light Transmittance

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional OLED displays face challenges in achieving high transmittance of external light while maintaining image visibility, due to the presence of thin-film transistors, capacitors, and OLEDs in the light transmission region, which can distort external background images and reduce overall transmittance.

Innovation Solution

The OLED display design includes a substrate with pixels having distinct emission and transmission regions, where the transmission region features an inorganic insulating film, a transparent conductive film, and an organic insulating film, with pixel circuit units and electrodes positioned in the emission region, and a second electrode facing the first electrodes, forming an organic emission layer between them, allowing for increased external light transmittance without interference from the pixel components.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If pixel circuit units, capacitors, and OLEDs are placed in the light transmission region, then the display can function as a complete device, but external light transmittance is reduced and external background images are distorted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice functionalityVSAvoidexternal light transmittance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The display is divided into two distinct regions: a first region dedicated to light emission containing pixel circuit units, capacitors, and OLEDs, and a second region dedicated to light transmission that is substantially free of these components. This spatial segmentation allows each region to optimize its specific function without interfering with the other, thereby achieving both device functionality and high external light transmittance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the display are assigned different structural characteristics: the first region contains all necessary electronic components for light emission and control, while the second region is designed with minimal components to maximize light transmission. This local differentiation of structural quality enables the display to simultaneously achieve functional completeness and optical transparency where needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Device complexity

If pixel components are placed in the light transmission region, then the display structure is simplified, but external background images are distorted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisplay structureVSAvoidexternal background image quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The display is divided into two distinct regions: a first region dedicated to light emission containing pixel circuit units, capacitors, and OLEDs, and a second region dedicated to light transmission that is substantially free of these components. This spatial segmentation allows each region to optimize its specific function without interfering with the other, thereby achieving both device functionality and high external light transmittance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Illumination intensity

If all components are concentrated in the emission region, then external light transmittance is improved, but the emission region area must be increased

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveexternal light transmittanceVSAvoidemission region area

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The display is divided into two distinct regions: a first region dedicated to light emission containing pixel circuit units, capacitors, and OLEDs, and a second region dedicated to light transmission that is substantially free of these components. This spatial segmentation allows each region to optimize its specific function without interfering with the other, thereby achieving both device functionality and high external light transmittance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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 configuration enhances external light transmittance and prevents distortion of external background images, resulting in improved see-through capabilities for OLED displays.

Implementation Method 1

OLED displays are self-emissive and emit light as excitons, generated as holes injected from the hole injection electrode and electrons injected from the electron injection electrode, combine in the organic emission layer

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectroluminescence: Electroluminescence

Data Source

PatentUS9859351B2Organic light-emitting diode display

Publication Date: 2018.01.02 SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO LTD

AI summary

An organic light-emitting diode display is disclosed. In one aspect, the display includes a substrate and a plurality of pixels formed over the substrate, each pixel including a first region from which light is emitted and a second region through which external light is transmitted. The display also includes a plurality of pixel circuit units each formed in the first region and including at least one thin-film transistor, an inorganic insulating film formed in the second region, a transparent conductive film formed over at least a portion of the inorganic insulating film, and an organic insulating film covering the pixel circuit units and at least a portion of the transparent conductive film. The display further includes a plurality of first electrodes formed over the organic insulating film and in the first regions of the pixels.