Transparent OLED Display with Sensing Pixels for Privacy and Black

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Solution Overview

Problem

Transparent organic light emitting diode displays face challenges in expressing black and maintaining privacy, as the self-luminous nature of these displays allows the background to be visible through openings, leading to issues with background coverage and potential privacy concerns.

Innovation Solution

A display device incorporating a color conversion element layer with quantum dots and a color filter, along with a photorefractive layer and micro lenses, which includes sensing pixels that absorb light and convert it into electrical signals, allowing for improved black representation and the ability to view behind the display without physical openings.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If a transparent display device is used to allow viewing behind the display, then transparency and visibility through the display are improved, but the ability to express black and maintain privacy deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovetransparencyVSAvoidblack expression capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The display is divided into two functional sides: a display surface with light emitting elements for showing images, and a sensing surface with photoelectric conversion elements for capturing images behind the display. This segmentation allows each surface to have specialized functionality, enabling the display to show perfect black on the front while maintaining transparency to view behind on the back surface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention transitions from a single-sided transparent display to a dual-sided display structure. By adding the sensing surface opposite to the display surface, the system creates a new dimension for image viewing, allowing users to see behind the display through the sensing pixels while the display pixels maintain perfect black capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Illumination intensity

If openings are included in the display to enable viewing behind, then transparency is improved, but background coverage and privacy protection worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveviewing capability behind displayVSAvoidprivacy exposure

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention replaces the mechanical approach of physical openings with a photoelectric conversion system. Instead of creating actual holes or transparent windows, the sensing pixels convert light from behind the display into electrical signals, allowing digital viewing of the background without physical gaps that would compromise privacy or background coverage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The photoelectric conversion elements act as an intermediary between the background scene and the user's view. Rather than directly transmitting light through openings, the sensing pixels capture the background image and convert it into electrical signals that can be processed and displayed, providing controlled access to background information while maintaining privacy protection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If self-luminous organic light emitting diodes are used, then fast response speed and low power consumption are improved, but the ability to cover background and express black deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresponse speedVSAvoidblack expression capability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention merges two different technologies into a single display device: organic light emitting diodes for the display surface and photoelectric conversion elements for the sensing surface. This combination allows the OLED portion to maintain its advantages of fast response and low power consumption while the photoelectric portion compensates for the inability to express perfect black by capturing and displaying background images.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

Enables perfect black representation and maintains privacy by converting light into electrical signals, allowing the display to function without physical openings, thus addressing the visibility and privacy issues of transparent displays.

Implementation Method 1

the color conversion element layer includes a wavelength conversion pattern including a quantum dot

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhotoluminescence: Photoluminescence

Implementation Method 2

the sensing pixels may include a photo diode

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhotoelectric effect: Photoelectric Effect

Data Source

PatentEP3772101B1Display device

Publication Date: 2023.03.01 SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO LTD

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AI summary

A display device includes a display substrate, a light emitting element layer disposed on a surface of the display substrate and including display pixels, a sensing substrate having a surface attached to another surface of the display substrate, a sensing element layer disposed on another surface of the sensing substrate and including sending pixels that each sense light of a color, and a photorefractive layer disposed on the sensing element layer and including micro lenses.