OLED Leakage Current Compensation via Temperature Sensing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Organic light emitting display apparatuses face deteriorated image quality due to leakage current variations caused by temperature changes, which are difficult to suppress and affect contrast ratio, color gamut, and white balance.

Innovation Solution

An organic light emitting display apparatus with a temperature-sensing controller that supplies compensation signals to sub-pixels to minimize leakage current through a common layer, maintaining image quality across varying temperatures.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a common layer is formed to cover the overall pixel area by a whole surface deposition method, then manufacturing convenience is improved, but leakage current between adjacent sub-pixels increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing convenienceVSAvoidleakage current
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

An insulation layer is introduced as an intermediary between the common layer and adjacent sub-pixels to block leakage current. The insulation layer acts as a mediator that prevents harmful electrical current from spreading while maintaining the beneficial common layer structure for manufacturing convenience.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The common layer is segmented into separate regions corresponding to individual sub-pixels, with insulation layers positioned between them. This segmentation maintains the manufacturing advantages of a common layer while preventing leakage current by dividing the continuous conductive path into isolated sections.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If the common layer is made more conductive to improve OLED performance, then device performance is improved, but temperature-dependent leakage current increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveOLED performanceVSAvoidtemperature-dependent leakage current
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The insulation layer serves as a temperature-stable intermediary that blocks leakage current regardless of temperature changes. While the common layer's conductivity varies with temperature, the insulation layer maintains its blocking function, decoupling the performance optimization from the leakage current problem.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the device are given different electrical properties: the common layer is made highly conductive in areas where it should conduct (within sub-pixels), while insulation layers are placed in areas where current blocking is needed (between sub-pixels). This local differentiation allows simultaneous optimization of performance and leakage prevention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Object-generated harmful factors

If insulation layers are added to block leakage current, then leakage current is reduced, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveleakage current reductionVSAvoidlayer structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The insulation layer is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: blocking leakage current between sub-pixels, maintaining electrical isolation, and serving as part of the overall device architecture. This multi-functionality justifies the added structural element by providing multiple benefits from a single component.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The insulation layer is merged with the common layer formation process, where both layers are deposited in sequence during the same manufacturing stage. This integration reduces process complexity despite adding a layer, as it eliminates the need for separate processing steps and aligns with existing manufacturing workflows.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Manufacturing precision

If compensation signals are supplied to minimize leakage current, then image quality is maintained, but control circuit complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage qualityVSAvoidcontrol circuit complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A feedback mechanism is implemented where the controller monitors temperature changes and automatically adjusts compensation signals to sub-pixels affected by leakage current. This feedback loop maintains image quality by dynamically counteracting temperature-induced leakage variations without requiring manual intervention or complex external control systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The controller changes electrical parameters (compensation signal voltage or current) based on temperature conditions to counteract leakage current effects. By adjusting these electrical parameters dynamically, the system maintains consistent image quality across different operating temperatures without adding mechanical or structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 compensates for leakage current variations, maintaining image quality and brightness across different temperatures, thereby improving contrast ratio and color accuracy.

Implementation Method 1

a sensor configured to sense a temperature and provide thermal information about a display apparatus to the controller

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTemperature sensing:

Implementation Method 2

a controller...supplied a first compensation signal to a plurality of sub-pixels based on the sensed temperature...and supplied a second compensation signal which is different from the first compensation signal

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrical compensation:

Data Source

PatentEP3113164B1Organic light emitting display apparatus and driving method thereof
Publication Date: 2020.11.18 LG DISPLAY CO LTD
  • EP3113164B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3113164B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3113164B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An organic light emitting display apparatus comprises a thermal sensor configured to sense temperature and a controller including a first leakage current compensation unit configured to supply a first compensation signal to a plurality of sub-pixels based on the sensed temperature from the thermal sensor and a second leakage current compensation unit configured to supply a second compensation signal, which is different from the first compensation signal, wherein an amount of leakage current of the plurality of sub-pixels is compensated according to the sensed temperature, by the controller.