Staggered OLED Pixel Structure for High PPI and Aperture Ratio
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional OLED display panels with a side-by-side RGB pixel arrangement face limitations in achieving high Pixel Per Inch (PPI) due to the need for multiple evaporation processes, which reduces aperture ratio and makes it difficult to achieve high resolution displays.
Innovation Solution
A pixel structure with adjacent pixels arranged in a staggered manner, allowing sub-pixels of different colors to share space and overlap, thereby increasing PPI and reducing spacing between pixels, while maintaining a full-color display effect.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a side-by-side RGB pixel arrangement is used with conventional evaporation technology, then the manufacturing process is relatively mature and can be mass-produced, but the aperture ratio is reduced and it is difficult to achieve high resolution displays
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a conventional side-by-side 2D pixel arrangement to a stacked 3D pixel arrangement where sub-pixels are vertically stacked above each other. This dimensional change allows sub-pixels to share the same planar footprint, significantly increasing the aperture ratio while maintaining full-color display capability. The stacked configuration enables higher resolution displays without requiring multiple evaporation processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple sub-pixels (R, G, B) into a single vertical stack, allowing them to share common structural elements such as the cathode and electroluminescent layer. This merging reduces the number of separate evaporation processes needed and increases the effective aperture area by eliminating redundant spacing between adjacent sub-pixels.
2Ease of manufacture
If multiple evaporation processes are performed to form electroluminescent layers of different colors, then full-color display is achieved, but the manufacturing complexity increases and aperture ratio is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple color sub-pixels into a single vertical stack that shares common evaporation processes. The cathode and electroluminescent layer are formed once for the entire stack rather than separately for each sub-pixel, reducing the number of evaporation processes from three (one per color) to one or two, thereby simplifying manufacturing and increasing aperture ratio.
Solution Approach 2:
The stacked pixel structure serves multiple functions within a single configuration: it generates multiple colors (R, G, B) through a single or reduced number of evaporation processes, maintains full-color display capability, and increases aperture ratio. The shared cathode and electroluminescent layer structure enables one structure to perform the function of multiple separate sub-pixel structures.
3Ease of manufacture
If sub-pixels are arranged in a straight line with sufficient spacing to avoid shielding effect, then evaporation can be performed without interference, but the vertical length of sub-pixels is reduced and PPI is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent moves sub-pixels from a horizontal side-by-side arrangement to a vertical stacked arrangement. This dimensional change eliminates the need for horizontal spacing to prevent shielding effects during evaporation, as sub-pixels are positioned above each other rather than adjacent horizontally. Consequently, the full pixel area can be utilized, increasing PPI while maintaining evaporation process feasibility.
Solution Approach 2:
By merging multiple sub-pixels into a single vertical stack, the patent eliminates the need for spacing between adjacent sub-pixels that would be required in a side-by-side arrangement to prevent shielding effects. The stacked configuration allows sub-pixels to occupy the same planar footprint without interfering with each other during evaporation, maximizing the use of available pixel area.
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 enhances display resolution, improves manufacturing yield, and simplifies the evaporation mask manufacturing and evaporation processes, allowing for higher PPI and more compact pixel arrangements.
Implementation Method 1
When a current passes through, the organic material film layer emits light
Implementation Method 2
An organic light-emitting device is formed at a corresponding pixel position on an array substrate through a Fine Metal Mask (FMM) by using an evaporation film-forming
Data Source
AI summary
A pixel structure and an Organic Light-Emitting Diode (OLED) display panel. The pixel structure includes a number of pixel groups. Each of the pixel groups includes a first pixel and a second pixel adjacent in a first direction and disposed in a staggered manner in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. Each of the first pixel and the second pixel includes sub-pixels of three different colors arranged along the second direction. A distance between two sub-pixels of a same color respectively of the first pixel and the second pixel in the first direction is equal to that in the second direction.