OLED Display Touch Electrodes with Light Absorbing Member
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Solution Overview
Problem
OLED displays with touch sensing functionality face challenges in reducing thickness while preventing light leakage due to external reflection, which affects contrast ratio and visibility, and the use of thick polarizers and touch electrode layers complicates the implementation of flexible displays.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a multi-layered thin film structure with conductive layers acting as both touch electrodes and anti-reflection layers, utilizing a light absorbing member in non-pixel areas to minimize external light reflection, replaces the need for thick polarizers and enhances visibility by patterning touch electrodes to reduce light leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a polarizer is attached to reduce external light reflection, then visibility and contrast ratio are improved, but the thickness of the display device increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the anti-reflection function and touch electrode function into a single multi-layered thin film structure. The conductive layers serve dual purposes: as touch electrodes for sensing and as anti-reflection layers for reducing external light reflection, eliminating the need for separate polarizer and touch electrode layers.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a multi-layered thin film structure with conductive layers and dielectric layers that are much thinner than conventional polarizers. This thin film approach maintains the anti-reflection functionality while significantly reducing the overall thickness of the display device, enabling flexible display implementations.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a touch electrode layer is formed to enable touch sensing, then touch sensing function is achieved, but the thickness of the display device increases
Solution Approach 1:
The conductive layers in the multi-layered thin film structure serve multiple functions simultaneously: they act as touch electrodes for capacitive touch sensing, as anti-reflection layers for reducing external light reflection, and as part of the overall display structure. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated touch electrode layers.
3Adaptability or versatility
If conductive layers are patterned as touch electrodes, then touch sensing capability is achieved, but light leakage due to reflection in non-pixel areas increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different properties to different areas: in pixel areas, the conductive layers are patterned to allow light emission; in non-pixel areas, a light absorbing member is introduced to prevent light leakage while maintaining touch sensing capability. This localized differentiation solves the light leakage problem without compromising touch functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potentially harmful light reflection in non-pixel areas into a benefit by introducing a light absorbing member. This member absorbs the reflected light that would otherwise cause glare, transforming the harmful reflection into useful light absorption while maintaining the anti-reflection function in pixel areas.
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 reduces the thickness of OLED displays, maintains anti-reflection functionality, and improves visibility by minimizing light leakage, enabling the development of more flexible and thinner display devices with integrated touch sensing capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
a light absorbing member formed to overlap the non-pixel area without overlapping the pixel area
Implementation Method 2
an upper thin layer formed on the display layer and including at least two conductive layers and a dielectric layer therebetween, a first conductive layer of the at least two conductive layers and a second conductive layer formed below the first conductive layer being patterned as a touch electrode
Implementation Method 3
The OLED display combines electrons injected from the cathode electrode with holes injected from the anode electrode in the light-emitting layer to form excitons, and emits light while the excitons emits energy
Data Source
AI summary
An organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display is disclosed. In one aspect, the display includes a substrate and a display layer formed over the substrate and including a pixel area and a non-pixel area. The display also includes an upper thin layer formed over the display layer, wherein the upper thin layer comprises at least first and second conductive layers and a dielectric layer formed between the first and second conductive layers, wherein the second conductive layer is closer to the substrate than the first conductive layer, and wherein the first and second conductive layers are patterned as a touch electrode. The display further includes a light absorbing member at least partially overlapping the non-pixel area and not overlapping the pixel area.