OLED Panel Microlens Structure for Light Extraction and Color Purity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Organic light-emitting display panels face issues with light reflection and refraction, leading to reduced luminance and color mixing due to the multiple layers with different refractive indexes, which affects the efficiency and clarity of the display.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a microlens layer and a refractive index matching layer in the organic light-emitting display panel, where the microlens layer includes first and second microlenses that protrude to overlap with the light-emitting units, and the refractive index matching layer is stacked with the microlens layer to convert large-angle light into small-angle light, reducing total reflection and enhancing light output efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If multiple layers with different refractive indexes are used in the organic light-emitting display panel, then the device complexity is reduced and manufacturing is simplified, but light reflection and refraction occur causing reduced luminance and color mixing
Solution Approach 1:
A microlens layer is introduced as an intermediary component between the organic light-emitting layer and the external environment. This microlens layer focuses and guides the light emitted from the organic light-emitting layer, reducing light reflection and refraction at layer interfaces, thereby improving luminance without increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The refractive index parameters of the layers are optimized and matched. By adjusting and matching the refractive indexes of adjacent layers, light reflection and refraction are minimized, improving light extraction efficiency and luminance while maintaining the simplified multi-layer structure
2Device complexity
If multiple layers with different refractive indexes are used in the organic light-emitting display panel, then the device complexity is reduced and manufacturing is simplified, but color mixing occurs due to light reaching adjacent pixels
Solution Approach 1:
The microlens layer acts as an optical intermediary that confines and directs light from each pixel in a specific direction. This prevents light from spreading to adjacent pixels, eliminating color mixing while maintaining the simple multi-layer structure
Solution Approach 2:
The microlens layer introduces localized optical control at each pixel position. Each microlens is positioned and shaped to control light from its corresponding pixel independently, ensuring color accuracy without complicating the overall device structure
3Device complexity
If conventional light extraction is used without microlens layer, then the device complexity is low, but light-emitting efficiency is reduced due to total reflection
Solution Approach 1:
The microlens layer serves as an optical intermediary that modifies the light extraction path. It focuses light that would otherwise undergo total internal reflection, directing it toward the external environment and significantly improving light-emitting efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The microlens layer introduces curved optical surfaces instead of flat interfaces. The spherical or lens-shaped structures of the microlenses enable effective light focusing and extraction, improving light-emitting efficiency without substantially increasing device 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
This configuration improves light-emitting efficiency, reduces power consumption, and prevents color mixing by effectively managing light refraction and reflection, resulting in enhanced display performance and prolonged panel lifetime.
Implementation Method 1
the microlens layer includes first and second microlenses that protrude to overlap with the light-emitting units, and the refractive index matching layer is stacked with the microlens layer to convert large-angle light into small-angle light
Implementation Method 2
The organic light-emitting display panel includes a base substrate, an organic light-emitting layer, a pixel definition layer, a microlens layer, and a refractive index matching layer
Implementation Method 3
light emitted by a pixel to be reflected and refracted in many paths
Data Source
AI summary
An organic light-emitting display panel has a display area and a non-display area and includes a base substrate, an organic light-emitting layer arranged at a side of the base substrate and including a plurality of light-emitting units, a pixel definition layer including a plurality of first openings, a microlens layer arranged at a side of the pixel definition layer facing away from the base substrate, and a refractive index matching layer located on a side of the microlens layer facing away from the base substrate and including at least one second sub-microlens. The second sub-microlens protrudes along a direction from the pixel definition layer to the base substrate. An orthogonal projection of the second sub-microlens on the base substrate at least partially overlaps with an orthogonal projection of the light-emitting unit on the base substrate.