Detailed Description
When using a light emitting device, the contrast ratio is greatly affected by the ambient light. For example, if the light emitting device is used in indoor mild ambient light, less light enters the light emitting device than when used in outdoor sunlight. Light emitting devices employ some highly reflective embedded structures (e.g., electrodes, metal films) to reflect light entering the light emitting device from the outside, and such reflected ambient light competes with light emitted by the light emitting device itself. When the light emitting device is used in bright sunlight, the contrast ratio thereof is lowered, and the user may even see that the display screen is blackened.
Some of the prior art has adopted different solutions including the addition of optical materials such as color filters, polarizers or photochromic materials to the light emitting device to reduce the effects of incoming ambient light. In some cases, such optical materials are provided in areas that are not intended to receive light-emitting pixels, for example, patterns or pixel-defined layers or (PDL). This solution may partially reduce the ambient light entering the device, however, the light emitting pixels that normally contribute the most reflection due to the unavoidable highly reflective electrodes are surrounded. In other examples, the optical material is disposed in a non-selective manner throughout the area. Thus, the reflection from the highly reflective embedded structure can be effectively reduced, but the light-emitting efficiency of the light-emitting device is sacrificed.
The present disclosure proposes a solution to form a window for a corresponding light emitting pixel in a light emitting device. The window is located in the light emitting device and can be disposed in various positions in the device. The window is provided with at least two blocks, and the transmittance of each block to ambient light is different. In some embodiments, the window comprises an optical material. In some embodiments, the window is disposed at a predetermined location through which ambient light may pass. In some implementations, the window is defined as a region. In some embodiments, the window is disposed at a predetermined position, and the light emitted from the light-emitting pixels can pass through the predetermined position.
In the present disclosure, the term "light-emitting pixel" refers to a light-emitting unit configured to emit a monochromatic (monochrome) light. In some embodiments, a light-emitting pixel is a "single" light-emitting pixel. In some embodiments, a light emitting pixel includes a plurality of sub-pixels arranged in a group in a range. The sub-pixels are designed to emit the same monochromatic light, but are physically separated from each other on the light emitting layer. The range of the above-mentioned grouping arrangement can be less than 50um, and when observed by human eyes, the sub-pixels can be regarded as a light-emitting pixel. However, these clustered sub-pixels can be identified with the aid of a device such as an Optical Microscope (OM). In the present disclosure, monochromatic light may be referred to as light comprising several wavelengths, but the light is converged such that the user can observe the monochromatic color with the naked eye.
Fig. 1 is a simplified schematic diagram of a light-emitting device 10 including a representative light-emitting pixel 100. The light emitting pixels 100 may be located in a light emitting pixel array of the light emitting device 10. Light rays coming from the surroundings and entering the light emitting device 10 are indicated by dashed arrows. A window 200 is disposed in the path of ambient light. A mask 300 may be used as desired to space the structures located in light-emitting device 10 from the surroundings. Light from the surroundings enters the light emitting device 10 after passing through the window 200. In some embodiments, window 200 is a thin film formed in situ in light-emitting device 10. The light reflection efficiency of the light-emitting pixel 100 to incident ambient light is adjusted by the window having at least two regions. One region has less transmittance to incident ambient light than the other region.
The light-emitting pixel 100 includes a first electrode 102 and a second electrode 104. The pixel 100 also has a light-emitting layer 103 disposed between the first electrode 102 and the second electrode 104. In some embodiments, the light emitting layer 103 comprises an organic light emitting material. In some examples, the first electrode 102 comprises a metallic material. In some examples, the second electrode 104 comprises a metal material, such as Cu, al, ag, au, and the like. In some examples, the second electrode 104 includes a transparent conductive material. In some embodiments, the first electrode 102 is a cathode and the second electrode 104 is an anode.
In the present embodiment, the window 200 is disposed above the light emitting pixel 100. The window 200 has a first block 202 and a second block 204. In some embodiments, a thin film is disposed over the light emitting pixels 100, and then the window 200 is patterned to form different blocks, thereby forming the window 200. In some embodiments, a photolithography or etching process may be used to pattern the thin film to form different regions. The film thickness of the first block 202 and the second block 204 may be different. In some embodiments, a portion of the film is removed to form the second block 204, such that the second block 204 is thinner than the first block. In some embodiments, the film thickness of the second block 204 is about 0.
One of the main differences between the first block 202 and the second block 204 is the difference in optical response to incoming ambient light. The first block 202 is arranged such that its transmittance for incoming ambient light is lower than the second block 204. From a top view, the optical performance of the light-emitting pixel 100 is divided into two parts, as shown in fig. 2. The light-emitting area of the light-emitting pixel 100 is covered by the first block 202, and the optical performance of the covered area is affected by the first block 202. Similarly, the light emitting area of the light emitting pixel 100 is under the second block 204, and the optical performance of the covered area is affected by the second block 204.
For example, if the first block 202 includes a filter having an absorption of about 70% of a predetermined wavelength spectrum, the second block 204 is configured to be substantially transparent to visible light. When the light emitting device 10 is operated outdoors, light entering the light emitting device 10 may encounter the window 200 before reaching the light emitting pixels 100. The light passing through the first block 202 is greatly absorbed and only the light of a predetermined wavelength spectrum passes through the first block 202, so the reflection from the pixel area covered by the first block 202 is much lower than that of the pixel area covered by the second block 204. Although the reflection from the side covered by the second block 204 is unchanged, the reflection of the pixel 100 is reduced by using the window 200. Although most of the light-emitting pixels are covered by the window 200, the anti-reflection and contrast of the light-emitting device 10 can be improved. In some embodiments, the first block 202 includes a color filter corresponding to the light emitting pixel 100. For example, the light emitting pixels 100 are red pixels, and the first block 202 includes a red color filter.
In some embodiments, the first region 202 includes a photochromic material. The photochromic material is colorless in the dark, and the molecular structure of the photochromic material is changed and the color is revealed when it is irradiated by sunlight or ultraviolet light. The color also disappears when the associated light source is removed. If the light-emitting device 10 is used under sunlight, a part of the incoming sunlight is blocked by the first block 202 before reaching the light-emitting pixel 100. Therefore, reflection from the light emitting pixel 100 can be reduced. In some embodiments, the first block includes a polarizer.
In some embodiments, the second block 204 is a blank area of the window 200, as shown in FIG. 3. The second block 204 is drawn with a dashed line to indicate that no solid material exists in the area in the cross-sectional view. The total area of the first block 202 is smaller than the total area of the light-emitting areas of the light-emitting pixels 100. The light-emitting pixel 100 is partially controlled by the first block 202. Fig. 4 is a top view of fig. 3, and shows that a portion of the light-emitting pixel 100 is exposed by the dummy second block 204.
In some embodiments, the window 200 is in contact with the first electrode 102 of the emissive pixel 100. In some embodiments, the window 200 is located above the first electrode 102 of the light emitting pixel 100, and a dielectric is disposed between the window 200 and the first electrode 102 along a vertical direction. In some embodiments, an encapsulation material comprising oxide or nitride is disposed between the window 200 and the first electrode 102 along the vertical direction. In some embodiments, a polymer material is disposed between the window 200 and the first electrode 102 along the vertical direction. The vertical direction herein refers to a direction along which the light emitting pixels 100 and the window 200 are stacked.
In fig. 6A, the window 200 is in contact with the light emitting pixel 100. Window 200 is also located between a dielectric 250 and pixel 100. In some examples, window 200 contacts emissive pixel 100 on a first side and contacts dielectric 250 on a side opposite the first side.
In fig. 6B, window 200 is positioned over emissive pixel 100, but surrounded by dielectric 250. In some embodiments, window 200 contacts pixel 100 on a first side and dielectric 250 on a side opposite the first side. In some embodiments, window 200 is completely surrounded by dielectric 250 without any contact with emissive pixel 100.
In fig. 6C, the window 200 is located above the light emitting pixel 100, but is surrounded by a material layer 270. In some embodiments, the layer of material is another dielectric than dielectric 250. In certain embodiments, the material layer comprises an oxide. In some embodiments, the material layer is provided as a mask layer for a light emitting device. In certain embodiments, the material layer comprises a polymeric material.
In some embodiments, window 200 contacts dielectric 250 on a first side and contacts material layer 270 on an opposite side from the first side. In some embodiments, window 200 is completely surrounded by the material layers without any contact with dielectric 250.
In some embodiments, a light emitting pixel may comprise a plurality of sub-pixels, as shown in FIG. 7. The light emitting pixel 100 has at least two sub-pixels 110 and 120. The sub-pixels 110 and 120 are respectively configured to emit light having the same wavelength spectrum. In some embodiments, the carrier transport layer and the carrier injection layer of the sub-pixels 110 and 120 are the same. In some embodiments, the horizontal spacing S between subpixels 110 and 120 is so small that it is indistinguishable to the unaided human eye. Thus, from a user perspective, the sub-pixels 110 and 120 operate as "single" monochrome pixels.
In certain embodiments, the spacing S is less than about 50um. In certain embodiments, the spacing S is less than about 30um. In certain embodiments, the spacing S is less than about 20um. In certain embodiments, the spacing S is less than about 10um. In certain embodiments, the spacing S is less than about 8um. In certain embodiments, the spacing S is less than about 5um. In certain embodiments, the spacing S is 0. In some embodiments, the separation is less than the resolution of the human eye when viewed from a distance of 25 centimeters.
Window 200 for use in a multi-subpixel configuration is similar to window 200 used in the embodiment of fig. 1-6. The optical window 200 here also has two blocks. A first block 202 is arranged substantially perpendicular to the sub-pixels 110, and a second block 204 is arranged substantially perpendicular to the sub-pixels 120 (as shown in fig. 7 and 8). The first block 202 has a different transmittance from the second block 204. In some embodiments, the reflection of light by the sub-pixel 110 is much less than the reflection of light from the sub-pixel 120 because the first block 202 includes at least one filter, polarizer, photochromic material, or other optical material.
Although the first section 202 of window 200 reduces the reflection of incident ambient light from sub-pixel 110, the intensity of light emitted by sub-pixel 110 to the user is also reduced. For the second block 204, more ambient light enters the sub-pixel 120 and is reflected (compared to the sub-pixel 110), however, the luminous intensity of the sub-pixel 120 is decreased (luminance intensity drop) much lower than that of the sub-pixel 110.
In a multi-subpixel configuration, the reflectance and luminance intensity of each light-emitting pixel can be adjusted for each user according to their preference pattern. In the present disclosure, there are various ways to balance the reflection and the light emission intensity of each pixel.
In some embodiments, the total light-emitting area of sub-pixel 110 and the total light-emitting area of sub-pixel 120 are different. Fig. 8 is a top view of fig. 7, and fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in fig. 8. As can be seen from the top view, the first block 202 of the window 200 is substantially disposed above the sub-pixel 110, and the second block 204 is substantially disposed above the sub-pixel 120. The total effective light-emitting area of each sub-pixel is indicated by solid line rectangular squares. In some embodiments, the total effective light-emitting area of the sub-pixel is the total area of the light-emitting layer 103 covered by the first electrode 102 in fig. 1. In some embodiments, the total effective light-emitting area of the sub-pixel 110 is greater than the total effective light-emitting area of the sub-pixel 120.
In some embodiments, the total effective light-emitting area of the sub-pixel 110 is greater than the total effective light-emitting area of the sub-pixel 120. In some embodiments, the total effective light emitting area of the sub-pixel 110 is two times higher than the total effective light emitting area of the sub-pixel 120. In some embodiments, the total effective light emitting area of the sub-pixel 110 is four times higher than the total effective light emitting area of the sub-pixel 120. In some embodiments, the total effective light emitting area of the sub-pixel 110 is six times higher than the total effective light emitting area of the sub-pixel 120.
The second electrode of the light emitting pixel may be provided in various patterns based on design requirements of the window 200. As shown in fig. 9, the second electrode 104 has a non-uniform thickness. In a region vertically arranged with the first block 202, the second electrode is disposed to have at least two vertically stacked layers. The layer 104a is stacked on the layer 104b. In some embodiments, the layer 104a comprises a transparent conductive material such as ITO, IZO, etc., and the layer 104b is a metal conductive film. In some embodiments, the layer 104a has a higher transmittance for visible light than the layer 104b. In some embodiments, the sheet resistance (sheet resistance) of layer 104a is higher than the sheet resistance of layer 104b. In the region vertically arranged with the second block 204, the second electrode is provided with one layer, i.e., the layer 104a. In some embodiments, layer 104a is a transparent conductive material. In some embodiments, the effective sheet resistance of the second electrode 104, measured in the horizontal direction, can be roughly divided into a high-resistance portion (vertically aligned with the second section 204 of the window 200) and a low-resistance portion (vertically aligned with the first section 202 of the window 200). Fig. 10 is an enlarged view of the second electrode 104 of fig. 9. The layer 104b extends continuously along the horizontal direction and is conformally disposed on the layer 104a. A portion of layer 104b has a bottom surface that is coplanar with the bottom surface of layer 104a.
In embodiments employing a multi-subpixel configuration, the second electrode 104 of each subpixel can be divided into a plurality of segments, as shown in fig. 11. The sections are separated from each other by a polymeric material 150. In some embodiments, the polymer material 150 is provided as a pixel/sub-Pixel Definition Layer (PDL). In certain embodiments, the polymeric material 150 is photosensitive. In certain embodiments, the polymeric material 150 comprises a black Body (BM). The total area of the different sections is different. In some embodiments, the total area of each segment is proportional to the total effective light-emitting area of the corresponding sub-pixel. In some embodiments, the total area of each segment is greater than the total effective light-emitting area of the corresponding sub-pixel.
In some embodiments, a section of the second electrode 104 is disposed under the light-emitting sub-pixel 110, and the section under the sub-pixel 110 has a transparent conductive layer 104a and a metal conductive layer 104b. The first section 202 of the window 200 is arranged substantially alongside the sub-pixel 110 and the electrode segment 104 a/b. Light entering the light emitting device may pass through layer 104a but may be reflected by layer 104b. However, the reflected light is reduced by the first block 202 before entering the user's eyes. Another section of the second electrode 104 is disposed below the light emitting sub-pixel 120. The electrode segment located under the sub-pixel 120 has only the transparent conductive layer 104a, and does not have the highly reflective layer 104b. In some embodiments, the second block 204 may comprise a high transmittance material due to lower reflection from the side of the sub-pixel 120 than the sub-pixel 110. In some embodiments, the second block 204 may actually be removed from the window 200.
In some embodiments, each electrode segment is connected to a conductive pin. Electrode segments of subpixel 110 contact conductive plugs 142 and electrode segments of subpixel 120 contact conductive plugs 144. In some embodiments, the conductive plug 142 is electrically connected to the conductive plug 144. In some embodiments, conductive plug 142 and conductive plug 144 are designed to have the same electrical potential.
The conductive plug is disposed in a dielectric material 50. The dielectric material 50 is located under the second electrode 104 and the sub-pixels. In some embodiments, the dielectric material 50 comprises a light absorbing material that absorbs light entering the device. In some embodiments, the dielectric material 50 comprises a black Body (BM). In some embodiments, dielectric material 50 is provided as a planarization layer for a Thin Film Transistor (TFT) array. An array of TFTs (not shown) is located beneath the material 50. In some embodiments, the dielectric material 50 is located between the interconnect of the thin film transistor array and the second electrode 104. In some embodiments, the dielectric material 50 is located between the interconnection capacitor and the second electrode 104.
FIG. 12 shows an RGB light-emitting unit in a light-emitting device, which has three light-emitting pixels, and each light-emitting pixel has at least two sub-pixels. The red emitting pixel 100R has a sub-pixel 110R and a sub-pixel 120R. The green emitting pixel 100G has a sub-pixel 110G and a sub-pixel 120G. The blue emitting pixel 100B has a sub-pixel 110B and a sub-pixel 120B. Optionally, an optical window is disposed over each pixel. The optical window block 202R is vertically aligned with the sub-pixel 110R to reduce reflection from the lower electrode of the sub-pixel 110R. The optical window block 202G is vertically aligned with the sub-pixel 110G to reduce the reflection from the bottom electrode of the sub-pixel 110G. The optical window block 202B is vertically aligned with the sub-pixel 110B to reduce reflection from the lower electrode of the sub-pixel 110B.
Fig. 13 is a cross-sectional view of an intermediate product of another light-emitting device. The light emitting device 10 may further comprise a collimating element 400. Collimating element 400 is disposed in a path that light generated by light emitting pixel 100 can travel. The collimating element 400 is used to collimate large angle diverging light from the light emitting pixel 100 into small angle collimated light. Light from the emissive pixel 100 passes through the collimating element 400 before entering the environment. The collimating element 400 can assist in the progression of light in a particular direction to the extent of near-parallel progression. After the light from the light emitting pixels 100 passes through the collimating element 400, the light becomes collimated light, and thus the light can be spread to a minimum extent while propagating.
As shown in fig. 13, the collimating element 400 may be disposed above the light emitting pixel 100 and above the viewing window 200. Collimating element 400 may be disposed in vertical alignment with viewing window 200. Light from the emissive pixel 100 enters the collimating element 400 after passing through the viewing window 200. After the light from the light emitting pixel 100 passes through the collimating element 400, the light becomes collimated light. Collimating element 400 may partially or completely overlap viewing window 200.
Fig. 14 is a sectional view of an intermediate product of another light-emitting device. As shown in fig. 14, the collimating element 400 may be disposed above the light emitting pixel 100 and below the window 200. Collimating element 400 may be disposed in vertical alignment with viewing window 200. Light from the emissive pixel 100 enters the viewing window 200 after passing through the collimating element 400. Thus, collimated light enters window 200. Collimating element 400 may partially or completely overlap viewing window 200.
The collimating element 400 may include a patterned optical film, an optical collimating lens, an optical fiber, or a combination thereof. As shown in fig. 15, the collimating element 400 may include an optical collimating lens and is disposed on the light emitting pixel 100. The distance between the collimating element 400 and the light emitting pixel 100 can be adjusted to be similar or equal to the focal length of the collimating element 400 so that the light emitting pixel 100 is located at the focal point of the collimating element 400. Thus, a collimated beam can be produced. In some embodiments, the light emitting device 10 may further include a black body 450 (black material) disposed between adjacent pixels or sub-pixels and adjacent to the collimating element 400.
As shown in fig. 16, collimating element 400 may comprise a patterned optical film and be disposed over light-emitting pixel 100. The collimating element 400 may be formed by disposing a film over the light emitting pixels 100. The collimating element 400 may comprise a high refractive index material compared to the reference medium. For example, the refractive index of the collimating element 400 may be higher than that of vacuum or air. Refraction is usually accompanied by partial reflection. When light enters a medium of lower refractive index (optically thinner medium) from a medium of higher refractive index (optically denser medium), its angle of refraction is larger than the angle of incidence. When the angle of incidence increases above the critical angle, the partial reflection becomes total. Therefore, light from the light emitting pixel 100 may be reflected in the collimating element 400 when passing through the collimating element 400. Thus, a collimated beam can be produced.
As shown in fig. 17, the collimating element 400 may comprise an optical fiber and be disposed on the light emitting pixel 100. The collimating element 400 may be in contact with the light emitting pixel 100, but is not limited thereto. Light from the emissive pixel 100 is transmitted between the two ends of the collimating element 400. The collimating element 400 may act as a waveguide and the light may be retained in its core by the phenomenon of total internal reflection. Therefore, the light emitted from the light emitting pixel 100 becomes collimated light. In some embodiments, black body 450 may laterally surround collimating element 400.
In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 18, the light emitting device 10 may include a plurality of collimating elements. Collimating element 400 may include a first collimating element 400A and a second collimating element 400B. A first collimating element 400A and a second collimating element 400B may be disposed on the light emitting pixel 100. The first collimating element 400A and the second collimating element 400B may comprise the same material or different materials. In some embodiments, the first collimating element 400A may comprise a patterned optical film, while the second collimating element 400B may comprise an optical collimating lens. Therefore, the degree of collimation of light emitted from the light-emitting pixel 100 can be further enhanced.
The arrangement of the plurality of collimating elements 400 may vary according to design considerations. In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 2, a first collimating element 400A and a second collimating element 400B may be separated by a viewing window 200. In some embodiments, a first collimating element 400A and a second collimating element 400B may be disposed over the viewing window 200. Optionally, a first collimating element 400A and a second collimating element 400B may be disposed below the viewing window 200.
Fig. 20 is a sectional view of an intermediate product of another light-emitting device. Collimating element 400 may have a first region 402 and a second region 404. In some embodiments, the collimating element 400 can be formed by disposing a film on the light emitting pixel 100 and then patterning the film to form different regions of the collimating element 400. The first region 402 and the second region 404 may include the same collimating elements or different collimating elements. In some embodiments, the first region 402 may include a patterned optical film, while the second region 404 may include an optical fiber.
The first region 402 and the second region 404 differ in the degree of collimation of the light from the emissive pixel 100. In some embodiments, the first region 402 is configured to have a higher degree of collimation for light rays from the light emitting pixel 100 than the second region 404. The refractive index of the collimating element 400 may be different in different regions. The refractive index of collimating element 400 at first region 402 may be greater than the refractive index of collimating element 400 at second region 404. The refractive index may be adjusted by selecting different materials or modifying the thickness of the collimating element 400 corresponding to different regions. In some embodiments, the focal length or radius of curvature of the optical collimating lens may be different in different regions. Alternatively, the radius of the optical fiber may be different in different regions.
In some embodiments, the second region 404 of the collimating element 400 may be a blank region, as shown in FIG. 16. The second zone 404 is drawn in phantom to indicate its absence of physical material. The total area of the first region 402 is smaller than the total light-emitting area of the light-emitting pixel 100. The emissive pixel 100 is partially conditioned by the first region 402.
In the embodiment, the first area 402 may be vertically arranged with the first block 202, and the second area 404 may be vertically arranged with the second block 204, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. In some embodiments, the second region 404 may be arranged perpendicular to the first zone 202, and the first region 402 may be arranged perpendicular to the second zone 204.
As shown in fig. 21, the light emitting pixel 100 may include a plurality of sub-pixels. The light emitting pixel 100 may be a monochrome pixel. The light emitting pixel 100 has at least two sub-pixels 110 and 120. As described in fig. 7, the sub-pixels 110 and 120 are respectively configured to emit light having the same wavelength spectrum. The collimating element 400 used in the multiple sub-pixel configuration may be similar to the collimating element 400 used in the embodiment shown in fig. 13-16.
In this embodiment, the collimating element 400 may be in contact with the light emitting pixel 100 and adjacent to the viewing window 200. The first region 402 of the collimating element 400 may be arranged in vertical alignment with the sub-pixel 110 and the second region 404 of the collimating element 400 may be arranged in vertical alignment with the sub-pixel 120. In some embodiments, the light emitted from subpixel 110 has a higher degree of collimation than the light emitted from subpixel 120. In other embodiments, the area of subpixel 110 is greater than the area of subpixel 120. Thus, a large portion of collimated light can be produced.
Fig. 22 is a sectional view of an intermediate product of another light-emitting device. As shown in FIG. 22, the optical window 200 may include a collimating element 400 as described above. The optical window 200 is located above the light emitting pixel 100. The optical window 200 may include at least one of a filter, a polarizer, a patterned optical film, an optical collimating lens, an optical fiber, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, optical window 200 may be configured to have a collimating effect on light emitted from light-emitting pixel 100. In other embodiments, optical window 200 may include first region 202 and second region 204 (not shown) as described above.
The foregoing description has set forth briefly the features of certain embodiments of the invention so that those skilled in the art may more fully appreciate the various aspects of the disclosure. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that they may readily use the present disclosure as a basis for designing or modifying other processes and structures for carrying out the same purposes and/or achieving the same advantages of the embodiments introduced herein. Those skilled in the art should understand that they can still make various changes, substitutions and alterations herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.
Description of the symbols:
10. light emitting device
50. Dielectric material
100. Light-emitting pixel
100B blue light-emitting pixel
100G green light-emitting pixel
100R red luminous pixel
102. A first electrode
103. Luminescent layer
104. A second electrode
104a, 104b layer
110. 110B, 110G, 110R, sub-pixel
120、120B、120G、120R
142. 144 conductive plug
150. Polymer material
200. Window, optical window
202. First block
204. Second block
250. Dielectric substance
270. Layer of material
300. Shade cover
400. Collimating element
400A first collimating element
400B second collimating element
402. First zone
404. Second region
450. Black body
S interval