Organic EL Conductor Portion for Temperature Detection

Solution Overview

Problem

Organic EL illumination devices face issues with uneven luminance due to temperature variations, as existing temperature detection methods are costly and inefficient, particularly because they require additional components like metal wires and switches.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a conductor portion made of conductive material, such as Molybdenum, that overlaps the luminescent section to detect temperature changes by measuring resistance, allowing for direct or indirect temperature detection without additional switches, and using this data to adjust the drive waveform for consistent luminance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If additional temperature detection components (metal wires, switches) are added to detect temperature, then temperature detection accuracy is improved, but device cost and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetemperature detection accuracyVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The conductor portion is designed to serve dual functions: it acts as both a wiring element for current supply and a temperature detection element. By measuring the resistance of this existing conductor, the system obtains temperature information without requiring separate detection components, thus resolving the contradiction between detection accuracy and device complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The conductor portion performs self-diagnosis by utilizing its own resistance property to indicate temperature. The resistance value of the conductor changes with temperature, allowing the system to detect temperature through the conductor's inherent electrical characteristic rather than through external sensing mechanisms, thereby reducing overall device complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Measurement precision

If additional temperature detection components (metal wires, switches) are added to detect temperature, then temperature detection capability is improved, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetemperature detection capabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The conductor portion is designed to serve dual functions: it acts as both a wiring element for current supply and a temperature detection element. By measuring the resistance of this existing conductor, the system obtains temperature information without requiring separate detection components, thus resolving the contradiction between detection accuracy and device complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The conductor portion performs self-diagnosis by utilizing its own resistance property to indicate temperature. The resistance value of the conductor changes with temperature, allowing the system to detect temperature through the conductor's inherent electrical characteristic rather than through external sensing mechanisms, thereby reducing overall device complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Device complexity

If the conductor portion is placed only at the center of the luminescent section, then temperature detection is simplified, but temperature detection accuracy deteriorates due to inability to detect peripheral temperature variations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection structure simplicityVSAvoidtemperature detection accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The temperature detection is divided into multiple measurement points: the center region and the periphery region of the luminescent section. By placing conductor portions at both locations, the system segments the temperature monitoring task to capture spatial temperature variations, thereby improving overall temperature detection accuracy while maintaining reasonable structural simplicity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the luminescent section are monitored with appropriate conductor placement. The center and periphery regions, which have different thermal characteristics, are each equipped with conductor portions optimized for their local temperature detection needs, ensuring accurate temperature measurement across the entire luminescent section

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 configuration enables low-cost, effective temperature detection and luminance control, reducing variations in emitted light by applying corrected currents based on detected temperatures, thereby maintaining high-quality image display.

Implementation Method 1

The conductor portion includes a conductive material and detects a temperature of the luminescent section

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical resistance temperature dependence: Electrical Resistance

Data Source

PatentUS8809878B2Illumination device

Publication Date: 2014.08.19 SHIHENG CREATION LTD

AI summary

An organic EL device as an illumination device includes a device substrate as a first substrate having a first surface and a second surface, and a conductor portion provided on the first surface of the device substrate and overlapping the periphery of a luminescent section or at least a part of a region where the luminescent section is provided, when seen in a plan view. The conductor portion includes a conductive material and detects the temperature of the luminescent section.