Integrated OLED and Thin-Film Solar Cell Sharing Layers
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Solution Overview
Problem
The manufacturing process for organic light-emitting display devices integrated with thin-film solar cells is complex and costly due to separate fabrication and combination of these components.
Innovation Solution
An integrated organic light-emitting display device with a thin-film solar cell is fabricated using a flexible substrate, where the same thin-film layers serve both display and solar cell functions, simplifying the manufacturing process by overlapping and folding the layers for compactness and shared functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If organic light-emitting display device and thin-film solar cell are separately fabricated and combined, then both functions are achieved, but manufacturing process becomes highly complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the organic light-emitting display device and thin-film solar cell into a single integrated structure where both components share common thin-film layers. The emission layer of the display and the active layer of the solar cell are formed using the same thin-film deposition process, eliminating the need for separate fabrication and combination steps. This merging approach maintains multifunctionality while dramatically simplifying the manufacturing process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements universality by designing the thin-film layers to serve dual purposes: the same organic thin-film layers function as both the emission layer for light generation in the display and the active layer for photovoltaic conversion in the solar cell. This multi-functional design allows a single set of layers to fulfill multiple roles, reducing manufacturing complexity while achieving both display and power generation functions.
2Reliability
If separate fabrication and combination is used, then both components are functional, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
By combining the fabrication of the display and solar cell into a single integrated process using shared thin-film layers, the patent reduces material waste, minimizes the number of processing steps, and eliminates the need for separate assembly operations. This merging strategy maintains component functionality while significantly reducing manufacturing costs through process integration and material efficiency.
3Reliability
If separate fabrication is used, then component performance is optimized, but overall device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the nesting principle by placing the thin-film solar cell structure within and alongside the display structure, sharing common layers and substrates. The solar cell's active layer is integrated with the display's emission layer, allowing both components to occupy overlapping or adjacent spatial volumes. This nesting approach reduces the overall device footprint while maintaining the performance of both the display and solar cell functions.
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 approach simplifies the manufacturing process, reduces costs, and results in a compact, multifunctional device with improved productivity by integrating the display and solar cell functions within the same thin-film layers.
Implementation Method 1
a thin-film solar cell disposed in a second area on the substrate to receive sunlight and generate electricity to drive the display
Implementation Method 2
an organic light-emitting display device displays images by recombining holes and electrons injected from a positive electrode and a negative electrode in an emission layer
Data Source
AI summary
An organic light-emitting display device having an integrated thin-film solar cell includes a substrate, a display disposed in a first area on the substrate to display images and including a first thin-film layer, and a thin-film solar cell disposed in a second area on the substrate to receive sunlight and generate electricity to drive the display and including a second thin-film layer, in which the first thin-film layer and the second thin-film layer include the same thin-film layer extending from the first area to the second area.