OLED Display Microlens Electrode Structure for Light Extraction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Organic light emitting diode (OLED) display devices suffer from low light extraction efficiency, resulting in significant light loss and increased power consumption when attempting to enhance brightness, which also reduces the device's lifespan.
Innovation Solution
The OLED display device incorporates a first electrode with multiple holes, an insulating material protruding from these holes, and an organic light-emitting layer and second electrode that conform to the electrode and insulating material surfaces, forming a microlens structure to improve light extraction efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If more current is applied to the organic light-emitting layer to increase brightness, then brightness is improved, but power consumption is increased and lifetime is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curvature to the interface between the organic light-emitting layer and the electrode by forming protrusions on the electrode surface and having the organic layer conformally cover these protrusions. This curved interface structure acts as a microlens that extracts more light from the OLED, improving brightness without requiring increased current and thus reducing power consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameter of the electrode interface by creating protrusions with specific dimensions (width and height ratios) and adjusting the refractive index contrast between materials. This parameter optimization enables more efficient light extraction, allowing higher brightness at lower power consumption levels
2Illumination intensity
If more current is applied to the organic light-emitting layer to increase brightness, then brightness is improved, but lifetime is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The curved microlens structure formed by protrusions on the electrode surface improves light extraction efficiency, enabling the OLED to achieve higher brightness at lower current levels. This reduced operational stress extends the lifetime of the organic light-emitting layer
3Ease of manufacture
If a conventional flat electrode structure is used, then manufacturing is simple, but light extraction efficiency is low resulting in significant light loss
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the previously flat electrode surface into multiple protrusions with specific geometric characteristics. This segmentation creates multiple light extraction interfaces that collectively improve light extraction efficiency while maintaining compatibility with existing manufacturing processes through conformal deposition
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes specific parameters of the protrusions (width-to-height ratio between 2:1 and 10:1, and height between 100nm and 1000nm) to maximize light extraction efficiency. These parameter changes enable better light extraction without fundamentally altering the manufacturing approach
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 enhances light extraction efficiency, increasing brightness while reducing power consumption and prolonging the OLED display's lifespan by minimizing the interface between the insulating material and the electrode, allowing more light to be emitted externally.
Implementation Method 1
both of the organic light-emitting layer and the second electrode have a shape that conforms to the upper surfaces of the first electrode and the insulating material
Implementation Method 2
light emitted from an organic light-emitting layer passes through various components and is emitted to the outside
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display, and more particularly, to an OLED display having improved light extraction efficiency. According to the present disclosure, since a plurality of holes are formed in a first electrode of a light-emitting diode and a insulating material is disposed in each of the holes, an organic light-emitting layer and a second electrode constitute a microlens, thereby improving light extraction efficiency of the OLED display. As a result, brightness may be improved, and power consumption may be reduced. In particular, since the plurality of holes are formed in the first electrode and the insulating material is disposed in each of the plurality of holes, an interface between the insulating material and the first electrode is decreased, thereby further improving light extraction efficiency.