OLED (organic light-emitting diode) is a light-emitting diode that uses organic compounds to emit light. An OLED consists of a substrate, anode, organic layers, cathode. The organic layers emit light when electric current is applied. OLEDs have advantages over LCDs like being thinner, more flexible, requiring no backlight, and having wider viewing angles. However, blue OLEDs have shorter lifetimes currently. Future applications include transparent or flexible OLEDs in devices like phones, TVs, cars and clothing.

1. OLED Technology Prepared by: Joshua Jerome Salazar

2. What is OLED? An organic light emitting diode (OLED) is a light-emitting diode (LED) in which the emissive electroluminescent layer is a film of organic compounds which emit light in response to an electric current. This layer of organic semiconductor material is situated between two electrodes. Generally, at least one of these electrodes is transparent.

3. Sample Demonstration of OLED Device

5. Substrate (clear plastic, glass, foil) - The substrate supports the OLED.

6. Anode (transparent) - The anode removes electrons (adds electron "holes") when a current flows through the device.

7. Organic layers - These layers are made of organic molecules or polymers.

8. Conducting layer - This layer is made of organic plastic molecules that transport "holes" from the anode. One conducting polymer used in OLEDs is polyaniline.

9. Emissive layer - This layer is made of organic plastic molecules (different ones from the conducting layer) that transport electrons from the cathode; this is where light is made. One polymer used in the emissive layer is polyfluorene.

11. There are several types of OLEDs: Passive-matrix OLED Active-matrix OLED Transparent OLED Top-emitting OLED Foldable OLED White OLED

12. PMOLEDs are easy to make, but they consume more power than other types of OLED, mainly due to the power needed for the external circuitry. PMOLEDs are most efficient for text and icons and are best suited for small screens (2- to 3-inch diagonal) such as those you find in cell phones, PDAs and MP3 players. Even with the external circuitry, passive-matrix OLEDs consume less battery power than the LCDs that currently power these devices PMOLEDs

13. AMOLEDs consume less power than PMOLEDs because the TFT array requires less power than external circuitry, so they are efficient for large displays. AMOLEDs also have faster refresh rates suitable for video. The best uses for AMOLEDs are computer monitors, large-screen TVs and electronic signs or billboards. AMOLEDs

14. Transparent OLEDs have only transparent components (substrate, cathode and anode) and, when turned off, are up to 85 percent as transparent as their substrate. When a transparent OLED display is turned on, it allows light to pass in both directions. A transparent OLED display can be either active- or passive-matrix. This technology can be used for heads-up displays. Transparent OLEDs

15. Top-emitting OLEDs have a substrate that is either opaque or reflective. They are best suited to active-matrix design. Manufacturers may use top-emitting OLED displays in smart cards. Top-emitting OLED

16. Foldable OLEDs have substrates made of very flexible metallic foils or plastics. Foldable OLEDs are very lightweight and durable. Their use in devices such as cell phones and PDAs can reduce breakage, a major cause for return or repair. Potentially, foldable OLED displays can be attached to fabrics to create "smart" clothing, such as outdoor survival clothing with an integrated computer chip, cell phone, GPS receiver and OLED display sewn into it. Foldable OLEDs

17. White OLEDs emit white light that is brighter, more uniform and more energy efficient than that emitted by fluorescent lights. White OLEDs also have the true-color qualities of incandescent lighting. Because OLEDs can be made in large sheets, they can replace fluorescent lights that are currently used in homes and buildings. Their use could potentially reduce energy costs for lighting. White OLEDs

18. The plastic, organic layers of an OLED are thinner, lighter and more flexible than the crystalline layers in an LED or LCD. Because the light-emitting layers of an OLED are lighter, the substrate of an OLED can be flexible instead of rigid. OLED substrates can be plastic rather than the glass used for LEDs and LCDs. ADVANTAGES OF OLED

19. OLEDs are brighter than LEDs. Because the organic layers of an OLED are much thinner than the corresponding inorganic crystal layers of an LED, the conductive and emissive layers of an OLED can be multi-layered. Also, LEDs and LCDs require glass for support, and glass absorbs some light. OLEDs do not require glass. ADVANTAGES OF OLED

20. OLEDs do not require backlighting like LCDs. LCDs work by selectively blocking areas of the backlight to make the images that you see, while OLEDs generate light themselves. Because OLEDs do not require backlighting, they consume much less powerthan LCDs (most of the LCD power goes to the backlighting). This is especially important for battery-operated devices such as cell phones. ADVANTAGES OF OLED

21. OLEDs are easier to produce and can be made to larger sizes. Because OLEDs are essentially plastics, they can be made into large, thin sheets. It is much more difficult to grow and lay down so many liquid crystals. ADVANTAGES OF OLED

22. OLEDs have large fields of view, about 170 degrees. Because LCDs work by blocking light, they have an inherent viewing obstacle from certain angles. OLEDs produce their own light, so they have a much wider viewing range. ADVANTAGES OF OLED

23. Lifetime - While red and green OLED films have longer lifetimes (46,000 to 230,000 hours), blue organics currently have much shorter lifetimes (up to around 14,000 hours[source: OLED-Info.com]). Manufacturing - Manufacturing processes are expensive right now. Water - Water can easily damage OLEDs. DISADVANTAGES OF OLED

24. Future Tech: Transparent / Flexible OLEDs Curved OLED displays, placed on non-flat surfaces Wearable OLEDs Transparent OLEDs embedded in windows OLEDs in car windshields New designs for lamps And many more we cannot even imagine today...

25. Future Tech: Transparent / Flexible OLEDs Where will OLED be used in future cars? Even today, we can see several interesting usages for OLED displays/lighting in cars: Dashboard displays Windshield transparent OLEDs Internal lighting Extnernal lighting Back-window alerts and messaging (as seen on the EDAG prototype)

26. Samsung Mobile Display Senior Manager Kim SeongCheol show a 0.2 mm flexible AMOLED-Dipslay which can be bent at any level. With the current technology SMD can produce 0.1 mm thick Flexible Amoled Displays. Kim SeongCheol says we are able to commercialize a rolled up OLED-Tv in 2013 or 2014. Samsung is also developing a piece of paper which can be used like a newspaper. This digital OLED newspaper has a touchscreen and you can surf through the content. SMD expect to commercialize this product in 2015. Future Tech: Transparent / Flexible OLEDs

27. LATEST TREND AND ISSUES ABOUT OLED TECHNOLOGY http://www.geek.com/articles/mobile/tdk-demo-flexible-and-transparent-oled-displays-2010105/ http://www.geek.com/articles/mobile/samsung-continuum-android-phone-with-two-oled-displays-leaks-2010101/ http://www.geek.com/articles/chips/samsung-creates-19-oled-tv-using-inkjet-printing-tech-20101112/ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9OvTLg4i2_U

30. http://www.oled-info.com/oled-technology

31. www.youtube.comReferences