OLED Mirror Reflection Member with Inverted Taper Opening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Organic light-emitting display apparatuses face issues with diffuse reflection of incident light due to inclined surfaces in pixels, leading to unclear and dim images when used as a mirror, as they require clear and uniform specular reflection.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves a reflection member with an opening portion that has an inverted taper shape, covering the light-emitting areas and extending to cover the non-light-emitting areas, formed on the encapsulation member to restrict diffuse reflection and enhance specular reflection, using materials like nickel, chromium, tungsten, vanadium, or molybdenum for improved reflectivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If pixels are disposed everywhere in the screen to enable display function, then light-emitting capability is improved, but diffuse reflection of incident light occurs leading to unclear mirror images
Solution Approach 1:
The screen is segmented into light-emitting areas (pixels) and non-light-emitting areas (black matrix regions). The reflection member is selectively disposed only in the non-light-emitting areas, allowing display pixels to function normally while preventing diffuse reflection from those specific segments that would otherwise degrade mirror image quality.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the screen are given different optical properties. The non-light-emitting areas are equipped with reflection members to provide specular reflection for mirror function, while the light-emitting areas maintain their original diffuse emission characteristics for display functionality. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by applying the reflection control only where it is needed.
2Reliability
If reflection member is added to provide mirror function, then reflective efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The reflection member is merged with the existing black matrix structure that is already present in the display apparatus. By utilizing the non-light-emitting areas that are inherently part of the pixel structure, the invention adds mirror functionality without requiring separate, complex additional components or structures beyond what is already manufactured in the display process.
Solution Approach 2:
The non-light-emitting areas (black matrix regions) serve dual purposes: they maintain their original function of defining pixel boundaries and preventing light leakage, while simultaneously serving as the substrate for the reflection member to provide mirror functionality. This multi-functionality reduces overall device complexity by making existing structures serve multiple roles.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If opening portion size is reduced to cover light-emitting area edges, then diffuse reflection is restricted, but light transmission may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The opening portion is precisely sized and positioned to cover only the critical edge regions of the light-emitting areas where diffuse reflection most significantly degrades mirror images. The opening is not oversized to block unnecessary light, nor undersized to fail at restricting diffuse reflection. This precise local optimization balances both requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The opening portion covers slightly more than the minimal necessary area by extending to cover the edges of light-emitting areas, providing sufficient restriction of diffuse reflection without excessively blocking light transmission. The inverted taper shape further optimizes this balance by providing reflection control at the edges while maintaining light transmission through the central opening area.
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 design significantly improves the reflective efficiency of external light, allowing the organic light-emitting display apparatus to function effectively as a mirror with clear and uniform reflection, maintaining high image quality when not in use.
Implementation Method 1
specular reflection, that is, clear and uniform reflection of incident light by a screen, is needed
Implementation Method 2
The inclined surface may diffusely reflect externally incident light
Data Source
AI summary
An organic light-emitting display apparatus may include a substrate, a display portion formed on the substrate and including a light-emitting area and a non-light-emitting area surrounding the light-emitting area, an encapsulation member arranged to face the substrate with the display portion interposed therebetween, and a reflection member provided on the encapsulation member and including an opening portion aligned with the light-emitting area and a reflection portion surrounding the opening portion and extending to cover the non-light-emitting area, the opening portion comprising an opening. The size of the opening may be smaller than that of the light-emitting area and thus an edge of the light-emitting area may be covered by the reflection portion. The opening portion may have an inverted taper shape, the size of the opening gradually increasing toward the display portion.