Wire Grid Polarization Structure for Flexible OLED Displays

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional polarization structures for OLED displays are thick and inflexible, making them unsuitable for use in flexible displays and lacking optimal optical characteristics.

Innovation Solution

A wire grid type polarization structure comprising a retardation layer and nanowires with metal nanoparticles or dye embedded in their cores, which absorb visible light effectively, allowing for a thinner and more flexible design while maintaining improved optical characteristics.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If conventional polarization structures are used in OLED displays, then they can prevent external light reflection, but they increase display thickness and reduce flexibility

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveexternal light reflectionVSAvoiddisplay thickness

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces conventional thick polarization structures with thin film nanowire arrays that are only a quarter wavelength or less in thickness. These nanowires are formed as thin film structures on the OLED display surface, providing the necessary polarization function while enabling display flexibility and reducing overall thickness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the physical parameters of the polarization structure by using nanowire dimensions at the quarter-wavelength scale or smaller, compared to conventional thick polarization films. This parameter change allows the structure to maintain polarization effectiveness while achieving the required thinness and flexibility for modern displays.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If conventional polarization structures are used in OLED displays, then they can prevent external light reflection, but they fail to provide optimal optical characteristics

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveexternal light reflectionVSAvoidoptical characteristic performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs composite material structures consisting of nanowire arrays with specific geometric arrangements combined with thin film layers. These composite structures provide superior optical characteristics by controlling light interaction at multiple levels, achieving both effective polarization and optimal display optical performance that conventional single-material structures cannot provide.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Object-affected harmful factors

If conventional polarization structures are used in OLED displays, then they can prevent external light reflection, but they are unsuitable for flexible displays

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveexternal light reflectionVSAvoidflexibility for flexible displays

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses thin film nanowire arrays that can be deposited on flexible substrates, enabling the polarization structure to bend and flex with the display. These thin film structures lack the rigidity of conventional polarization films, allowing them to conform to flexible display geometries while maintaining their polarization function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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 structure achieves enhanced polarization characteristics and flexibility, reducing reflection and improving image quality in OLED displays without the need for a protective cellulose triacetate layer.

Implementation Method 1

The wire cores include metal nanoparticles embedded therein... the metal nanoparticles may absorb the visible lights which have wavelengths in a range of about 370 nm to about 1000 nm

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLocalized surface plasmon resonance: Absorption (EM radiation)

Implementation Method 2

The retardation layer may cause a phase difference between two polarization components of an incident light, and the phase difference may correspond to a quarter wavelength of the incident light

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBirefringence: Birefringence

Data Source

PatentUS8896921B2Wire grid type polarization structures, methods of manufacturing wire grid type polarization structures, and organic light emitting diode (OLED) displays having wire grid type polarization structures

Publication Date: 2014.11.25 SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO LTD

AI summary

A wire grid type polarization structure is disclosed. In one aspect, the polarization structure includes a retardation layer and a plurality of nanowires formed on the retardation layer. Each of the nanowires includes a wire core and a shell enclosing the wire core. The wire cores include metal nanoparticles embedded therein. The metal nanoparticles may absorb the visible lights effectively, so that the wire grid type polarization structure may have a desired polarization characteristic.