Transparent OLED Light Blocking Member for Reflection Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Transparent OLED devices face reduced visibility due to light reflection from their lower surfaces, which affects the visibility of images displayed through them, especially when used in closed states.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a light blocking member with openings on the lower surface of the display panel, extending from pixel regions to transparent regions, reduces external light reflection and improves transmissivity by using light blocking materials like carbon black or titanium nitride oxide within a resin, such as siloxane resin, to minimize light interference.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a transparent OLED device is used to transmit images, then transparency and image transmission are improved, but visibility is reduced due to light reflection from the lower surface

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovetransparencyVSAvoidlight reflection
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A light blocking member is introduced as an intermediary element on the lower surface of the transparent OLED device. This member selectively blocks reflected light while allowing the device to maintain its transparent appearance from the front, thereby mediating between the transparency requirement and the harmful reflection effect

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The light blocking member is applied locally only on the lower surface in specific regions, rather than making the entire device opaque. This localized application blocks reflected light from reaching viewers while preserving the overall transparency and aesthetic appearance of the display device

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Object-affected harmful factors

If light blocking materials are added to reduce reflection, then visibility is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovevisibilityVSAvoidstructure
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The light blocking member is implemented as a thin film or coating layer on the lower surface, rather than a bulky three-dimensional structure. This thin-film approach reduces reflection effectively while adding minimal structural complexity and maintaining the device's thin profile

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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 enhances visibility and transmissivity of the display panel by reducing external light reflection, allowing for clearer image transmission through the transparent regions, thereby improving the definition and visibility of images displayed through the panel.

Implementation Method 1

a light blocking member 120, which extends from a pixel region I into a transparent region II on the lower surface of the substrate 110

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight blocking: Absorption (EM radiation)

Data Source

PatentEP3032585B1Display panel and organic light emitting display device having a display panel
Publication Date: 2023.04.19 SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO LTD
  • EP3032585B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3032585B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3032585B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A display panel includes a substrate, light emitting structures disposed on an upper surface of the substrate in pixel regions, an encapsulation substrate disposed over the light emitting structures, and a light blocking member disposed on a lower surface of the substrate. The light blocking member has blocking portions corresponding to the pixel regions and openings corresponding to transparent regions.