OLED Display with Integrated Oxide Sensor for Thin Touch Input
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing OLED displays face challenges in integrating touch input functionality without increasing thickness or complexity, which affects image quality and manufacturing productivity.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a substrate with oxide semiconductor layers and photoelectric conversion layers in both light emitting and sensor units, along with a simplified structure that includes disconnection units and shared material layers for the gate, data, and power lines, to enable both display and input functions while maintaining a reduced thickness and simplified manufacturing process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a touch panel is manufactured separately and coupled to the display panel, then the touch input function is achieved, but the overall thickness is increased and image quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the touch sensor function directly into the OLED display panel by forming sensor units in the same pixel areas as the light emitting units. The sensor units include photosensors that detect light from the OLED, enabling touch input functionality without requiring a separate touch panel layer, thus reducing overall thickness while maintaining both display and input functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The display panel is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: the OLED light emitting units provide display functionality while the integrated sensor units in the same pixel areas provide touch sensing functionality. This multi-functional integration eliminates the need for separate components and reduces overall device thickness.
2Length of stationary object
If a sensor is formed directly inside the display panel, then the thickness is reduced, but the structure becomes complicated and manufacturing productivity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by forming sensor units in specific pixel areas rather than uniformly across the entire display panel. The sensor units are strategically placed in alternating pixel areas, allowing the display panel to have different functional characteristics in different regions - some areas for display only, others for both display and sensing - thereby reducing overall structural complexity while maintaining thin profile.
Solution Approach 2:
The display panel is segmented into light emitting units and sensor units that are formed in alternating pixel areas. This segmentation allows the complex sensor functionality to be distributed and integrated at the pixel level rather than requiring a complex overall structure, simplifying the manufacturing process while maintaining reduced thickness.
3Length of stationary object
If a sensor is formed directly inside the display panel, then the thickness is reduced, but the manufacturing process complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The manufacturing process merges the formation of light emitting units and sensor units into a single integrated process. Both types of units are formed in alternating pixel areas using the same pixel defining layer and electrode structures, eliminating the need for separate manufacturing processes and reducing overall process complexity while achieving reduced thickness.
Solution Approach 2:
The same manufacturing structures and processes are used to create both light emitting units and sensor units, making the manufacturing process universal and multi-functional. The pixel defining layers, electrodes, and other structural elements serve dual purposes for both display and sensing functions, simplifying the manufacturing process while enabling thin profile integration.
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 allows for a more compact and efficient OLED display with improved performance and simplified manufacturing, enabling simultaneous display and input functions with enhanced image quality and reduced thickness.
Implementation Method 1
the photosensor includes an oxide photoelectric conversion layer
Implementation Method 2
a light emitting unit in each of the plurality of pixel areas, the fight emitting unit including an organic light emitting diode
Data Source
AI summary
An organic light emitting diode (OLED) display and a method for manufacturing the same are described. An exemplary embodiment provides an OLED display including: a substrate including a plurality of pixel areas; a light emitting unit including an organic light emitting diode and a plurality of first thin film transistors, the light emitting unit being formed in each of the plurality of pixel areas; and a sensor unit including a photosensor and a plurality of second thin film transistors, the sensor unit being formed in at least some of the plurality of pixel areas. Each of the plurality of first thin film transistors and the plurality of second thin film transistors includes an oxide semiconductor layer, and the photosensor includes an oxide photoelectric conversion layer that are made of a same material on a same layer as the oxide semiconductor layer.