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intro_oled [2026/05/20 14:45] – [Applications] antoineintro_oled [2026/05/29 18:03] (current) – [Advantages and drawbacks of using OLEDs for screens] sophie
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-An **OLED** (Organic Light-Emitting Diode) is a type of LED whose **emissive layer** consists of an organic compound film that produces light when an electric current flows through it. This organic layer is sandwiched between two **electrodes,** at least one of which is typically transparent. The technology is widely found in everyday screens, including televisions, computer monitors, smartphones, and handheld game consoles. Additionally, the development of white OLEDs for solid-state lighting applications remains an active area of research.+An **OLED** (Organic Light-Emitting Diode) is a type of LED whose **emissive layer** consists of an organic compound film that produces light when an electric current flows through it. This organic layer is sandwiched between two **electrodes,** at least one of which is typically transparent. The technology is widely found in everyday screens, including televisions, computer monitors, smartphones, and handheld game consoles. Additionally, the development of white OLEDs for solid-state lighting applications remains an active area of research. This is imaged on {{ref>basic_structure_oled}}.
  
 <figure center blank|basic_structure_oled> <figure center blank|basic_structure_oled>
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 <caption> [[https://www.ijeast.com/papers/587-591%2CTesma411%2CIJEAST.pdf |Basic structure of OLED]]</caption> <caption> [[https://www.ijeast.com/papers/587-591%2CTesma411%2CIJEAST.pdf |Basic structure of OLED]]</caption>
 </figure> </figure>
 +
 +=====  Applications =====
 +
 +
 +OLED technology is used across a broad range of products and industries. In consumer electronics, it is commonly found in **smartphone screens**, **high-end televisions**, **computer monitors**, and **smartwatches**. Its structural properties — thin form factor, flexibility, and the absence of a backlight — also make it suitable for more specialized applications such as automotive dashboards and instrument clusters. \\
 +One notable area of development is the use of OLED in non-conventional display formats.** Transparent** OLED panels, which allow light to pass through when pixels are off, are used in applications such as retail signage and heads-up displays. **Curved and flexible** OLED screens have been integrated into various consumer devices, taking advantage of the technology's ability to be deposited on non-rigid substrates. **Foldable displays**, now present in a growing number of smartphones and tablets, also rely on flexible OLED panels to enable their form factor. \\
 +
 +To understand in more details what are the prevalent applications for screens, please check this page: [[screen_market|Screen market review]].
 +
 +<figure center|applications_OLED>
 + {{different_type_of_oled.png?direct&400 |https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/book/10.1002/9781119161387?msockid=20dd9b1e144063da2a798c3115306277}}
 + {{samsung_oled_foldable.png?direct&400 |https://www.sammobile.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Samsung-Flex-In-And-Out-Outward-Folding-Display.jpg}}
 + <caption>Applications of OLED</caption>
 +</figure>
 +
 +
 +
 +
  
 ===== Working principle ===== ===== Working principle =====
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 **AMOLEDs** include complete layers of cathode, organic components and anode. The layers of anode consist of **TFT (thin film transistors)** in parallel to form a matrix, which helps in switching each pixel to its on or off state as required hence, forming an image. When the pixels are not needed, they turn off or a black image on display occurs. This is least power consuming type and has quick refresh rates. They are best used in computer monitors, electronic signs or big TV screens.  **AMOLEDs** include complete layers of cathode, organic components and anode. The layers of anode consist of **TFT (thin film transistors)** in parallel to form a matrix, which helps in switching each pixel to its on or off state as required hence, forming an image. When the pixels are not needed, they turn off or a black image on display occurs. This is least power consuming type and has quick refresh rates. They are best used in computer monitors, electronic signs or big TV screens. 
-(([Q. Liu and T. Zhang, ‘Comparison between AMOLED and Traditional Display Technology and Application of AMOLED’, SID Symp. Dig. Tech. Pap., vol. 53, no. S1, pp. 1018–1021, 2022, doi: 10.1002/sdtp.16179.](https://www.researchgate.net/publication/364399984_P-1314_Comparison_between_AMOLED_and_Traditional_Display_Technology_and_Application_of_AMOLED)))+[([Q. Liu and T. Zhang, ‘Comparison between AMOLED and Traditional Display Technology and Application of AMOLED’, SID Symp. Dig. Tech. Pap., vol. 53, no. S1, pp. 1018–1021, 2022, doi: 10.1002/sdtp.16179.](https://www.researchgate.net/publication/364399984_P-1314_Comparison_between_AMOLED_and_Traditional_Display_Technology_and_Application_of_AMOLED))]
  
 - **PMOLED (Passive-Matrix OLED)** - **PMOLED (Passive-Matrix OLED)**
  
 In a **PMOLED** display, pixels are driven row by row through a passive grid of conductors, without any dedicated transistor per pixel. This simpler architecture comes with inherent limitations: as the number of rows increases, brightness decreases, and a high-current driver IC is required to compensate. As a result, PMOLEDs are generally restricted to **small screen sizes** and **lower resolutions**. However, their fabrication process is significantly simpler and less costly than that of AMOLEDs, since no complex TFT backplane is needed. They are commonly found in small devices such as MP3 players and secondary displays In a **PMOLED** display, pixels are driven row by row through a passive grid of conductors, without any dedicated transistor per pixel. This simpler architecture comes with inherent limitations: as the number of rows increases, brightness decreases, and a high-current driver IC is required to compensate. As a result, PMOLEDs are generally restricted to **small screen sizes** and **lower resolutions**. However, their fabrication process is significantly simpler and less costly than that of AMOLEDs, since no complex TFT backplane is needed. They are commonly found in small devices such as MP3 players and secondary displays
-(([Nikhil Sain and Deepesh Sharma, Priya Choudhary, ‘A Review Paper On: Organic Light-Emitting Diode (Oled) Technology and Applications’, International Journal of Engineering Applied Sciences and Technology, Vol. 4, Issue 11, ISSN No. 2455-2143, pp. 587–591, 202](https://www.ijeast.com/papers/587-591%2CTesma411%2CIJEAST.pdf))) +[([Nikhil Sain and Deepesh Sharma, Priya Choudhary, ‘A Review Paper On: Organic Light-Emitting Diode (Oled) Technology and Applications’, International Journal of Engineering Applied Sciences and Technology, Vol. 4, Issue 11, ISSN No. 2455-2143, pp. 587–591, 202](https://www.ijeast.com/papers/587-591%2CTesma411%2CIJEAST.pdf))] 
  
 <figure center |AMOLED_vs_PMOLED> <figure center |AMOLED_vs_PMOLED>
 {{ ::amoled-vs-pmoled.png?direct&600 |https://www.hongguangdisplay.com/blog/what-is-the-difference-between-pmoled-and-amoled/}} {{ ::amoled-vs-pmoled.png?direct&600 |https://www.hongguangdisplay.com/blog/what-is-the-difference-between-pmoled-and-amoled/}}
 <caption>  Active-matrix vs Passive-matrix OLED</caption> <caption>  Active-matrix vs Passive-matrix OLED</caption>
-</figure> 
- 
- 
-=====  Applications ===== 
- 
- 
-OLED technology is used across a broad range of products and industries. In consumer electronics, it is commonly found in **smartphone screens**, **high-end televisions**, **computer monitors**, and **smartwatches**. Its structural properties — thin form factor, flexibility, and the absence of a backlight — also make it suitable for more specialized applications such as automotive dashboards and instrument clusters. \\ 
-One notable area of development is the use of OLED in non-conventional display formats.** Transparent** OLED panels, which allow light to pass through when pixels are off, are used in applications such as retail signage and heads-up displays. **Curved and flexible** OLED screens have been integrated into various consumer devices, taking advantage of the technology's ability to be deposited on non-rigid substrates. **Foldable displays**, now present in a growing number of smartphones and tablets, also rely on flexible OLED panels to enable their form factor. \\ 
- 
-[[screen_market|Screen market review]] 
- 
-<figure center|applications_OLED> 
-   {{different_type_of_oled.png?direct&400 |https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/book/10.1002/9781119161387?msockid=20dd9b1e144063da2a798c3115306277}} 
-   {{samsung_oled_foldable.png?direct&400 |https://www.sammobile.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Samsung-Flex-In-And-Out-Outward-Folding-Display.jpg}} 
- <caption>Applications of OLED</caption> 
 </figure> </figure>
  
  
  
 +[comment]: <> (
  
 =====  Advantages and drawbacks of using OLEDs for screens ===== =====  Advantages and drawbacks of using OLEDs for screens =====
  
 TBA TBA
 +
 +)
  
 ===== Other topics ===== ===== Other topics =====
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 **Types of rigidity: flexible vs. rigid OLED screens ** **Types of rigidity: flexible vs. rigid OLED screens **
  
-Flexible OLED based products aren’t always bendable or foldable((P. Samorì and V. Palermo, [Flexible Carbon-based Electronics](https://books.google.fr/books?id=c_x0DwAAQBAJ). John Wiley & Sons, 2018)). Flexibility is used to provide the display with a non-traditional form factor, but it is then bonded to a rigid glass cover in the product. e.g.: some smartphones (Samsung Galaxy Note, LG G Flex), some smartwatches (Apple Watch, LG watch urbane). 1st smartphone using AMOLED flexible tehcnology = 2013. +Flexible OLED based products aren’t always bendable or foldable  
 +[(P. Samorì and V. Palermo, [Flexible Carbon-based Electronics](https://books.google.fr/books?id=c_x0DwAAQBAJ). John Wiley & Sons, 2018)]. Flexibility is used to provide the display with a non-traditional form factor, but it is then bonded to a rigid glass cover in the product. e.g.: some smartphones (Samsung Galaxy Note, LG G Flex), some smartwatches (Apple Watch, LG watch urbane). 1st smartphone using AMOLED flexible tehcnology = 2013. 
  
 The difference in the manufacturing of flexible and rigid OLEDs remains in two processes steps: substrate and encapsulation ([[screen_manufacturing|check this page]] for more information). The difference in the manufacturing of flexible and rigid OLEDs remains in two processes steps: substrate and encapsulation ([[screen_manufacturing|check this page]] for more information).
    
  
 +===== References =====
  
 +~~REFNOTES~~