Silicon-based OLED is a cutting-edge display technology that marries the wonders of OLED technology with silicon-based semiconductor processes. In plain English, it harnesses the driving and control capabilities of a silicon-based chip to make the OLEDs light up. So, let's get into the nitty-gritty of how this all happens.
1. Circuit Design and Control
At the heart of a silicon-based OLED lies a silicon-based chip. This chip is like a bustling city, packed with a ton of transistors and circuits. These circuits act as the traffic controllers, sending out control signals to precisely regulate the light emission of each OLED pixel.
In recent years, some forward-thinking research teams have adopted the advanced FinFET (Fin Field-Effect Transistor) technology. It's like giving the chip a turbo boost! This tech significantly slashes the chip's power consumption and cranks up the switching speed of the transistors. According to data from relevant research institutions, silicon-based chips using FinFET technology consume 30% less power than traditional planar transistor chips.
In a microdisplay, image signals are like passengers hopping onto a train. They're fed into the silicon-based chip, which processes these signals. Then, through its internal driving circuits, it allocates the right amount of current to each pixel, controlling the brightness and color with surgical precision.
2. Signal Processing and Conversion
Once the input signals make their way into the chip, what happens next? Let's find out.
When digital image signals from cameras, phones, or computers pour in, the silicon-based chip catches them. Inside the chip, there's a signal processing circuit that acts like a super translator. It converts these digital signals into analog signals that can drive the OLEDs, getting the lights to shine.
On top of that, this signal processing circuit also works its magic on color correction and contrast enhancement, giving the images a major quality upgrade. The latest research from European tech teams is all about using artificial intelligence algorithms to fine-tune this process.
For example, some research teams are exploring the use of deep learning algorithms in the chip's signal processing. It's like giving the translator an AI assistant that can automatically adjust the display parameters. Take the new product from a well-known tech company, for instance. After implementing a deep learning signal processing algorithm, the color accuracy of its silicon-based OLED display skyrocketed from the usual 95% to an amazing 98%—almost hitting the peak of what this technology has achieved in human history.
3. The Intermediate Insulating Layer
The silicon-based chip is a complex beast with a high circuit density. That's why there's an insulating layer between the circuits and the OLED light-emitting layer. This layer is like a security guard, preventing current leakage and ensuring that the electrical signals flow smoothly to the OLED pixels along the right path.
Recently, research teams have been zeroing in on developing new types of insulating materials to improve heat dissipation. One such material is based on boron nitride nanosheets. It has excellent thermal conductivity, giving the chip's performance a nice little nudge. Experimental data shows that silicon-based OLED devices using this new insulating material have a heat dissipation efficiency boost of about 30%.
4. The Connection Structure
Creating a connection between the driving circuits and the OLED pixels is no easy feat. It involves a super complex process (a closely guarded secret among major R & D companies) to form a metal connection structure on the insulating layer.
To make the connection more stable, researchers have turned to 3D interconnection technology. Picture creating vertical metal tunnels in the insulating layer to establish a 3D connection between the silicon-based chip and the OLED layer. The results from a research institution show that silicon-based OLED displays using this 3D interconnection technology have significantly reduced signal transmission delays, enhancing the display's lighting effects.
5. The Principle of Organic Material Light Emission
The top layer of a silicon-based OLED is made up of organic materials. When the silicon-based chip applies a voltage to the OLED pixels through the connection structure, electrons are generated. These electrons then team up with holes to form excitons. When the excitons decay, they release photons, creating light. It's like a magical light show happening at the microscopic level.
In recent years, the discovery of thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) materials has been a game-changer. TADF materials can use triplet excitons to emit light, theoretically achieving an internal quantum efficiency of 100%. This has bumped up the external quantum efficiency of the devices by at least 10%.
6. Pixel Structure and Color Control
Silicon-based OLEDs use the well-known RGB (red, green, blue) primary color pixel structure. By controlling the light emission intensity of the red, green, and blue OLEDs in each pixel, a vast spectrum of colors can be created.
For example, in virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) devices, silicon-based OLED displays can present high-resolution, high-contrast, and vividly colored AR scenes by precisely controlling the light emission of the primary color pixels.
The latest scientific research is focused on developing pixel structures with even higher resolutions, such as using microlens array technology. The silicon-based OLED display in a new model of AR glasses uses this technology, boosting the resolution from the traditional 2K to 4K. The visual impact is simply mind-blowing!
Establishment: Micro-OLED Technology Co., Limited，Founded in Hong Kong in 2020, it is a modern enterprise integrating research, development, production, and sales in the field of highresolution neareye displays. Currently, MOT has grown into a leading enterprise in the global siliconbased OLED industry.
Technical Strength: MOT's core technology R&D team is composed of 5 senior doctors in microelectronics and optoelectronics who graduated from top American universities. More than 60 top technologies developed by them have been applied for US patents, among which the technical patents of FSL have achieved disruptive breakthroughs in the industry.
Conclusion
In conclusion, silicon-based OLEDs achieve high-quality image display through the driving of the underlying silicon-based chip, the protection of the intermediate insulating layer, the stable connection structure, and the light emission of the upper organic layer.
Currently, silicon-based OLEDs have found widespread applications in various fields, including microdisplays, AR/VR devices, and high-end microscopes. And with the market value on a steady rise, we can expect even more amazing developments from this technology in the future. Stay tuned! More: Micro LED VS OLED: A Comparison of Their Application Scenarios, Prices, Advantages and Disadvantages
