OLED Transistor Leakage Current Management via IR Sensor Discharge

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Solution Overview

Problem

As electronic devices with larger displays incorporate more components on their front surface, infrared light sources for proximity or iris sensors can cause leakage currents, leading to uneven light emission and flickering, potentially damaging user sight and causing fatigue.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a control circuit in the electronic device to manage the transistor connected to the organic light emitting diode, allowing the leakage current from the infrared light to flow through the transistor, thereby reducing the impact on the display pixels and preventing erroneous light emission or deterioration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If an infrared light source is disposed inside the electronic device for proximity or iris sensor function, then the sensor function is enabled, but the infrared light causes leakage current in the transistor, leading to uneven light emission and flickering

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesensor functionVSAvoiddisplay stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the harmful effect (leakage current) from the system by introducing a dedicated discharge path through a specific transistor. The transistor connected to the anode of the organic light emitting diode is used to discharge the leakage current generated by the infrared light source, separating the harmful current path from the normal display operation paths.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a mediator (the transistor connected to the anode of the OLED) that handles the harmful leakage current. This intermediary component allows the leakage current to be discharged safely without affecting the normal operation of the display pixels, acting as a buffer between the infrared light source and the display elements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Area of stationary object

If the display area is increased to provide larger screen, then the display size is enlarged, but more components are disposed inside causing increased leakage current and potential display defects

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisplay areaVSAvoidleakage current

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the current paths in the display system by dedicating specific transistors for different functions. The transistor connected to the anode of the OLED is specifically assigned to handle leakage current discharge, while other transistors maintain their normal display functions. This segmentation allows the display to accommodate more components without compromising display quality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If leakage current flows through the organic light emitting diode, then the diode may emit light unevenly or deteriorate, but turning off the display to prevent this affects user experience

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisplay qualityVSAvoiduser experience

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful leakage current into a beneficial discharge path by routing it through a dedicated transistor. Instead of allowing the leakage current to damage the OLED or cause display defects, the system uses the same current path to actively discharge the leakage current, thereby protecting the display while maintaining continuous operation and good user experience.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

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 solution effectively reduces leakage currents, preventing display pixels from emitting light unevenly or deteriorating, thus enhancing user experience by minimizing visual strain and fatigue.

Implementation Method 1

the infrared ray output from the light source allows a transistor, which is included in the display, to cause the photoelectric effect, thereby causing the leakage current

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhotoelectric effect: Photoelectric Effect

Data Source

PatentUS11217166B2Electronic device and display for reducing leakage current

Publication Date: 2022.01.04 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, an electronic device may include a display including at least one pixel including an organic light emitting diode and a transistor connected to an anode of the organic light emitting diode, a light emitting device to output light in an infrared band, and at least one control circuit configured to turn on the transistor included in at least some of the at least one pixel included in the display such that a leakage current, which is applied to the organic light emitting diode by the light in the infrared band, flows through the transistor, when the light in the infrared band is output through the light emitting device.