OLED Subpixel Geometry for Tolerance and Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing organic light-emitting diode displays face challenges in optimizing display performance due to low pixel pitch, small pixel apertures, and poor light-emitting efficiency, primarily caused by manufacturing tolerances and misalignment issues leading to color mixing and reduced emissive area.
Innovation Solution
The use of non-rectangular subpixel shapes such as hexagons and diamond configurations, along with angled display pixel arrays, to improve manufacturing tolerances and reduce misalignment sensitivity, combined with sharing subpixels between adjacent pixels to enhance light emission efficiency and image quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If rectangular subpixels are used in conventional arrangements, then manufacturing is simple, but manufacturing tolerances are poor and misalignment occurs leading to color mixing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by using non-rectangular subpixel shapes (hexagons, diamonds, triangles) instead of conventional rectangular arrangements. These asymmetric geometric forms provide inherent alignment tolerance that reduces misalignment sensitivity during manufacturing, directly improving manufacturing precision while accepting increased geometric complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent rotates the entire array of display pixels by 45 degrees relative to the edges of the display substrate, changing the dimensional orientation from conventional horizontal/vertical alignment to diagonal alignment. This dimensional change allows subpixels to be positioned at angles that are less sensitive to standard manufacturing tolerances, improving alignment precision
2Measurement precision
If pixel pitch is reduced to increase resolution, then display density improves, but pixel apertures become small and light emitting efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments blue subpixels into pairs of diamond-shaped structures coupled together to form barbell-shaped subpixels. This segmentation allows for optimized light emission from multiple facets while maintaining compact size, improving light emitting efficiency without sacrificing display resolution
Solution Approach 2:
The patent positions green and red subpixels in alignment with coupling paths in the centers of blue barbell-shaped subpixels, creating a nested arrangement where smaller subpixels are strategically positioned relative to larger structural elements. This nesting optimizes space utilization and light emission efficiency within constrained pixel dimensions
3Use of energy by moving object
If subpixels are shared between adjacent pixels to improve efficiency, then light emitting efficiency improves, but color mixing may increase
Solution Approach 1:
The use of asymmetric diamond and barbell-shaped blue subpixels creates distinct geometric boundaries that reduce color mixing when subpixels are shared between adjacent pixels, while still allowing efficient light emission through the shared structures
Solution Approach 2:
The 45-degree rotation and diagonal arrangement of shared subpixels creates spatial separation in the diagonal dimension that reduces color mixing, while maintaining efficient light emission through the shared subpixel structures
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device may include a display having an array of organic light-emitting diode display pixels. The display pixels may have subpixels of different colors. The subpixels may include red subpixels, green subpixels, and blue subpixels. The subpixels may be provided with shapes and orientations that improve manufacturing tolerances. Subpixels such as green and red subpixels may have hexagonal shapes while blue subpixel structures may be provided with diamond shapes coupled in pairs to form barbell-shaped blue subpixels. Subpixels can also be angled at 45° relative to horizontal. Subpixels ma have shapes that overlap adjacent display pixels. For example, an array of display pixels that has been rotated by 45° relative to the edges of a display substrate may have blue subpixels and or red subpixels that are shared between pairs of adjacent display pixels in an at of display pixels.