OLED Sealant Micro-lens Light Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Organic electro-luminescent display (OLED) devices face issues with light efficiency and lifespan due to external moisture and oxygen exposure, leading to deterioration of the organic light emission layer and increased drive voltage requirements.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a micro-lens portion on a sealant layer to protect the organic light emission diodes from external moisture and oxygen, while improving light efficiency through converging emitted light and reducing the thickness of the OLED device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional sealant layer is used to protect OLED devices from moisture and oxygen, then reliability is improved, but light efficiency deteriorates due to total internal reflection at the boundary surface
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies spherical microlens structures on the sealant layer to convert total internal reflection into useful light output. The curved spherical surfaces refract light at different angles, allowing light that would normally be totally reflected to escape through the sealant layer, thereby improving light efficiency while maintaining the protective sealing function
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the optical parameters of the sealant layer by introducing microlens structures with specific refractive indices and curvature radii. This parameter modification allows the sealant layer to simultaneously maintain its moisture and oxygen barrier properties while optimizing light extraction efficiency through controlled refraction angles
2Illumination intensity
If drive voltage is increased to compensate for lowered brightness, then brightness is improved, but the organic light emission layer deteriorates faster shortening device lifespan
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful effect of total internal reflection into a beneficial light extraction mechanism. By using spherical microlenses to refract trapped light into usable output, the system improves brightness without requiring increased drive voltage, thereby avoiding accelerated degradation of the organic light emission layer and extending device lifespan
3Adaptability or versatility
If light is allowed to radiate above critical angle for wide viewing, then viewing angle is improved, but optical reproductivity deteriorates due to total reflection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different optical properties to different regions of the sealant layer through the microlens array. Each microlens is positioned to control light extraction in its specific region, allowing wide viewing angles while maintaining consistent optical quality and color reproduction across the entire display surface
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 enhances the lifespan and reliability of OLED devices by shielding them from moisture and oxygen, improving light efficiency by converging light and reducing out-gases during the manufacturing process, thus minimizing damage to the organic light emission diodes and environmental pollution.
Implementation Method 1
improving light efficiency through converging emitted light
Implementation Method 2
a sealant layer covering the substrate, which has the second electrode, and including a micro-lens portion
Data Source
AI summary
An OLED device and a manufacturing method thereof, which can secure the life span and reliability and can improve light efficiency, is disclosed.To this end, the device and method disposes organic light emission diode elements on a substrate. On the substrate with the organic light emission diode elements, a sealant layer having a micro-lens portion is disposed, thereby shielding the organic light emission diode elements from external moisture and/or oxygen.