Seamless OLED Strip Integration via Transparent Adhesive
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional lighting systems, including LEDs and OLEDs, face challenges in providing seamless, optically continuous light without interruptions, especially in applications requiring flexible and compact designs, where multiple OLED arrays need to be combined to meet size and shape requirements, while maintaining energy efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
A seamless connection system for OLEDs, where flexible OLED strips with illuminated and non-illuminated portions are connected using an optically clear adhesive, ensuring optical continuity and scalability, allowing for the formation of optically continuous arrays without visible interruptions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If multiple OLED arrays are combined to meet size and shape requirements, then the lighting system can achieve flexible configurations and larger coverage areas, but optical interruptions and visible seams appear between the arrays
Solution Approach 1:
A transparent adhesive layer is introduced as an intermediary between adjacent OLED arrays. This adhesive layer has optical properties that match the OLED substrate, allowing light to pass through seamlessly. The adhesive bonds the arrays together while maintaining optical continuity, eliminating visible seams and interruptions between the arrays.
Solution Approach 2:
The adhesive layer is designed with specific optical properties including transparency and refractive index matching. By controlling the optical characteristics of the adhesive (its 'color' in the broad sense of optical properties), the system achieves seamless visual integration between arrays, making the transitions imperceptible to the human eye.
2Strength
If traditional adhesive methods are used to connect OLED arrays, then the arrays can be bonded together, but optical interruptions and visible seams appear
Solution Approach 1:
The adhesive's optical parameters (refractive index, transparency, thickness) are specifically adjusted to match the OLED substrate properties. By changing these parameters, the adhesive becomes optically invisible while maintaining sufficient mechanical bond strength. The thickness is controlled to be minimal, and the refractive index is matched to eliminate optical discontinuities.
3Ease of manufacture
If OLED arrays are connected with visible seams or interruptions, then the connection structure is simple, but the aesthetic quality and visual continuity are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The transparent adhesive serves as a mediator that maintains both structural simplicity and visual uniformity. It allows the arrays to be connected in a straightforward manner while its optical transparency ensures that the connection is visually imperceptible, maintaining uniform illumination appearance across the entire array.
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
The system enables the creation of energy-efficient, cost-effective, and aesthetically appealing optically continuous lighting solutions that can be easily scaled and applied in various applications, such as motor vehicle interiors, by ensuring seamless integration of OLED strips without optical breaks.
Implementation Method 1
an optically clear adhesive (OCA) layer, the first OCA layer disposed overtop a first protection film
Implementation Method 2
a light extraction film disposed overtop a first optically clear adhesive (OCA) layer
Implementation Method 3
an illumination layer, the illumination layer disposed overtop a third OCA layer
Data Source
AI summary
A seamless connection system for organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) includes a first OLED strip in electrical communication with a power source via an electrical connector. The first OLED strip includes a first illuminated portion, and a first non-illuminated portion. The seamless connection system for OLEDS further includes a second OLED strip in electrical communication with a power source or the first OLED strip via an electrical connector. The second OLED strip includes a second illuminated portion, and a second non-illuminated portion. The first and second non-illuminated portions are substantially transparent, the first non-illuminated portion is adhered to the second illuminated portion, and the second non-illuminated portion is adhered to the first illuminated portion.