OLED Encapsulation Structure for Moisture and Oxygen Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) in lighting devices and display apparatuses are vulnerable to moisture and oxygen, which can penetrate and cause damage, especially in harsh environments like vehicles.
Innovation Solution
A lighting device and display apparatus design featuring a substrate with a light emitting area and a non-light emitting area, including a light emitting part with a first and second inorganic layer, an organic layer, a protruding part with a moisture absorbent, and a cover layer, which effectively blocks moisture and oxygen penetration through a stacked encapsulation structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If organic light emitting diode is used as light source in lighting device, then power consumption is reduced and various colors are represented, but moisture and oxygen penetration causes damage to the organic light emitting diode
Solution Approach 1:
The encapsulation layer is divided into multiple inorganic layers (first inorganic layer, second inorganic layer) and organic layers (first organic layer, second organic layer) stacked in sequence. This segmented multi-layer structure provides enhanced moisture and oxygen barrier properties while protecting the organic light emitting diode, resolving the contradiction between using OLEDs for low power consumption and protecting them from environmental damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a composite encapsulation structure combining multiple inorganic and organic layers. The inorganic layers provide excellent moisture and oxygen blocking properties, while the organic layers provide flexibility and additional protection. This composite material approach enables effective protection of the OLED against moisture and oxygen penetration while maintaining the low power consumption advantage.
2Adaptability or versatility
If lighting device is exposed to severe conditions in vehicle, then various lighting functions are achieved, but moisture and oxygen penetrate into the lighting device
Solution Approach 1:
The encapsulation structure with multiple inorganic and organic layers is formed in advance before the lighting device is exposed to severe vehicle conditions. This preliminary protective action prevents moisture and oxygen from penetrating into the device during operation, allowing the lighting device to maintain various lighting functions while resisting environmental harmful factors.
Solution Approach 2:
The stacked inorganic and organic layers create an inert protective environment around the organic light emitting diode, isolating it from the external harsh conditions in vehicle applications. This inert barrier prevents moisture and oxygen from reaching the sensitive OLED components, enabling reliable operation across various lighting functions despite exposure to severe conditions.
3Reliability
If encapsulation structure is added to protect OLED, then moisture and oxygen blocking ability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The encapsulation structure is segmented into alternating inorganic and organic layers, where each layer has a specific function. The inorganic layers provide moisture and oxygen blocking, while the organic layers provide flexibility and structural support. This segmentation achieves effective protection without excessive complexity by assigning specific roles to each layer.
Solution Approach 2:
The organic layers in the encapsulation structure serve as flexible thin films that provide structural integrity and additional protection. These flexible shells allow the encapsulation structure to conform to the device geometry while maintaining protection against moisture and oxygen, balancing reliability improvement with manageable structural complexity.
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 solution effectively prevents moisture and oxygen from reaching the OLEDs, ensuring their protection and maintaining performance even in adverse conditions, making it suitable for outdoor applications such as vehicle lighting and displays.
Implementation Method 1
a first inorganic layer on the light emitting part and the non-light emitting area, a first organic layer on the first inorganic layer overlapping the light emitting part, a second inorganic layer on the first organic layer
Implementation Method 2
a protruding part on the first inorganic layer of the non-light emitting area
Data Source
AI summary
A lighting device includes a substrate having a light emitting area and a non-light emitting area surrounding the light emitting area, a light emitting part in the light emitting area, a first inorganic layer on the light emitting part and the non-light emitting area, a first organic layer on the first inorganic layer overlapping the light emitting part, a second inorganic layer on the first organic layer, a protruding part on the first inorganic layer of the non-light emitting area, and a cover layer on the protruding part.