OLED Panel Dual Auxiliary Wiring Planarized Electrode

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current lighting technologies, such as fluorescent lamps and LED-based devices, face limitations in energy efficiency and color rendering due to the use of mercury in fluorescent lamps and inefficient emission spectra in LED devices, which also require complex and costly processes for nitride semiconductor growth and heat dissipation.

Innovation Solution

An OLED panel with a dual auxiliary wiring pattern and a planarized first electrode, formed using metal and transparent conductive oxide materials, enhances voltage uniformity and luminance uniformity, and reduces the passivation layer area, thereby increasing the light-emitting area and improving structural stability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If a blue emission diode and yellow phosphor are combined to output white light, then energy efficiency is improved by using only the blue emission diode having relatively high emission efficiency, but the phosphor substance for emitting a yellow light has poor emission efficiency which limits improvement of the lighting device

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveemission efficiencyVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the conventional LED structure with an OLED (organic light-emitting diode) structure, substituting the solid-state nitride semiconductor system with an organic electroluminescence system. This allows the device to achieve high emission efficiency without the limitations of phosphor down-conversion, as the OLED can directly emit light across the visible spectrum through electroluminescence of organic materials.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs composite material structures including organic light-emitting layers, transparent conductive oxides, and metal auxiliary wiring patterns. The OLED panel integrates multiple functional layers with distinct properties: organic compounds for light emission, transparent conductive materials for charge transport, and metal patterns for electrical connection, creating a composite system that overcomes the limitations of single-material LED approaches.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Use of energy by moving object

If nitride semiconductor LED is used, then high emission efficiency in blue wavelength range is achieved, but expensive sapphire substrate is required for high-quality growth of nitride semiconductor and heat dissipation device is required due to lot of heat generated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveemission efficiencyVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent substitutes the nitride semiconductor LED system with an OLED system, eliminating the need for sapphire substrates and complex heat dissipation structures. The organic light-emitting diode can be fabricated on flexible and inexpensive substrates, and generates significantly less heat due to higher electro-optical conversion efficiency and the ability to operate at lower currents.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the fundamental operating parameters of the light-emitting device by transitioning from inorganic LED to organic OLED. This enables operation at lower voltages and currents, reducing heat generation. The organic materials allow for tunable emission wavelengths and can be processed at lower temperatures, eliminating the need for high-temperature sapphire substrate growth processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Manufacturing precision

If dual auxiliary wiring pattern is used, then voltage uniformity and luminance uniformity are enhanced, but manufacturing process complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveluminance uniformityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements auxiliary wiring patterns designed to create equipotential regions across the OLED panel. The dual auxiliary wiring pattern (first and second auxiliary wiring patterns) distributes electrical potential uniformly across the device area, ensuring consistent voltage application to the organic light-emitting layer. This results in uniform current density and consequently uniform luminance output across the entire panel.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #12Equipotentiality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extends the wiring structure from simple planar patterns to multi-dimensional configurations with different orientation directions. The first auxiliary wiring pattern extends in a first orientation direction while the second auxiliary wiring pattern extends in a second orientation direction, creating a grid-like structure that provides comprehensive electrical distribution across the panel surface, enhancing uniformity in multiple spatial dimensions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

4Area of stationary object

If planarized first electrode is used, then passivation layer area is reduced increasing light-emitting area, but electrode fabrication complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight-emitting areaVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs planarization of the first electrode surface before depositing the organic light-emitting layer and passivation layer. This preliminary action creates a flat substrate surface that allows for more efficient use of the device area. By planarizing the electrode surface in advance, the subsequent layers can be deposited uniformly over a larger effective area, maximizing the light-emitting region without requiring additional device area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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 improves luminance uniformity and structural stability, enhances light-emitting area, and simplifies the manufacturing process by using a dual auxiliary wiring pattern and a planarized first electrode, addressing inefficiencies in existing lighting technologies.

Implementation Method 1

an organic light-emitting layer... disposed on the first electrode

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectroluminescence: Electroluminescence

Data Source

PatentEP3496175B1OLED panel for lighting device and method of manufacturing the same
Publication Date: 2023.02.08 LG DISPLAY CO LTD
  • EP3496175B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3496175B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3496175B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5B

AI summary

The present application relates to an OLED panel for a lighting device and a method of manufacturing the same. An OLED panel for a lighting device includes: a substrate (110); an auxiliary wiring pattern (120) disposed on the substrate; a first electrode (130) disposed on the substrate where the auxiliary wiring pattern is disposed, and having a planarized upper surface; a passivation layer (140) disposed on the first electrode and disposed at least in an area above the auxiliary wiring pattern ; an OLED emission structure (150) disposed on the first electrode; and a second electrode (160) disposed on the OLED emission structure. In the OLED panel for a lighting device, luminance uniformity may be improved through a dual auxiliary wiring pattern, and the upper surface of the first electrode is planarized. Accordingly, the area of the passivation layer is reduced, and thus a light-emitting area may be increased.