OLED Insulating Layer Concave Reflective Surfaces Light Extraction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Organic light emitting diode displays suffer from low light extraction efficiency and color differences when viewed from different angles due to internal resonance and total internal reflection, leading to reduced luminance and visibility.

Innovation Solution

The display features a substrate with an insulating layer having concave portions with inclined reflective surfaces for each pixel type (red, green, and blue), which enhances light extraction by reflecting light back towards the substrate, reducing color shifts and improving visibility.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If an internal resonance environment is created to improve light efficiency, then light extraction efficiency is improved, but color difference (WAD) according to viewing angle is generated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight extraction efficiencyVSAvoidcolor uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by creating different micro-cavity structures at different locations within the encapsulation resin layer. Specifically, first micro cavities are formed in a first region and second micro cavities are formed in a second region, allowing each region to have optimized optical properties for its specific function - one region for extracting blue light and another for extracting red light, thereby maintaining color uniformity while improving overall light extraction efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the encapsulation resin layer into multiple functional regions with different micro-cavity structures. By dividing the layer into a first region with first micro cavities and a second region with second micro cavities, the system can independently optimize light extraction for different wavelengths (colors) without causing viewing angle-dependent color shifts, thus resolving the contradiction between light extraction efficiency and color uniformity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Illumination intensity

If light extraction efficiency is improved by creating micro cavities, then luminance is increased, but device structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveluminanceVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the optical enhancement function into the encapsulation resin layer itself by forming micro cavities within it. This integration eliminates the need for separate optical extraction layers or additional components, as the encapsulation resin simultaneously serves both its protective function and its light extraction enhancement function through the embedded micro-cavity structures

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The encapsulation resin layer performs self-service by incorporating micro cavities that automatically enhance light extraction efficiency without requiring external control or additional active components. The micro cavities are passively formed within the resin material, allowing the structure to self-optimize optical performance while maintaining structural integrity and simplifying the overall device architecture

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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 solution increases light efficiency and reduces color differences when viewed from various angles, enhancing the overall luminance and visibility of the organic light emitting diode display.

Implementation Method 1

a reflective surface is on at least one of the inclined portions

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Implementation Method 2

because a large part of the light emitted from the organic emission layer is guided in a direction parallel to a laminated surface due to total reflection (e.g., total internal reflection) and is lost

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTotal internal reflection: Total Internal Reflection

Data Source

PatentUS8922115B2Organic light emitting diode display and manufacturing method thereof
Publication Date: 2014.12.30 SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO LTD
  • US8922115B2 patent drawing
  • US8922115B2 patent drawing
  • US8922115B2 patent drawing

AI summary

An organic light emitting diode display includes: a substrate, an insulating layer on the substrate; a plurality of pixel electrodes on the insulating layer; a pixel defining layer on the insulating layer overlapping with an end of at least one of the pixel electrodes and defining an emission region and a non-emission region; an organic emission layer on the pixel electrodes; and a common electrode on the organic emission layer, wherein the insulating layer has a plurality of concave portions in the non-emission region adjacent corresponding ones of the pixel electrodes, wherein each of the concave portions has a bottom portion and an inclined portion, and wherein a reflective surface is on at least one of the inclined portions.