OLED (Organic Light-emitting Diode)

by **Lennie** Sat Dec 29, 2007 10:59 am

What is OLED?
An organic light-emitting diode (OLED), also Light Emitting Polymer (LEP) and Organic Electro-Luminescence (OEL), is any light-emitting diode (LED) whose emissive electroluminescent layer is composed of a film of organic compounds. The layer usually contains a polymer substance that allows suitable organic compounds to be deposited. They are deposited in rows and columns onto a flat carrier by a simple "printing" process. The resulting matrix of pixels can emit light of different colors.

Such systems can be used in television screens, computer displays, portable system screens, advertising, information and indication. OLEDs can also be used in light sources for general space illumination, and large-area light-emitting elements. OLEDs typically emit less light per area than inorganic solid-state based LEDs which are usually designed for use as point-light sources.

A great benefit of OLED displays over traditional liquid crystal displays (LCDs) is that OLEDs do not require a backlight to function. Thus they draw far less power and, when powered from a battery, can operate longer on the same charge. OLED-based display devices also can be more effectively manufactured than LCDs and plasma displays. But degradation of OLED materials has limited the use of these materials.

OLED到底为何物？
OLED的中文是有机发光二极管，OLED的关键优势在于每一图点可自行发光，摆脱液晶需要背光模块的架构。不仅减少电源成本，更让屏幕轻薄，成功把重量减为LCD的一半。在多年的研发之后，目前的OLED可显现比LCD更明亮及真实的色彩，甚至与阴极映像管 (CRT)相比有过之而无不及。业内预测：这项技术将在5年时间里，应用于电视、移动电话和计算机的屏幕、甚至采用于照明市场。

5 年的时间听起来貌似很久，但实际上，OLED的生产牵涉到了温度化学，所以它的量产难度相当大，成品通过率不高，但到目前为此，已经有许多厂家纷纷加入了研发的队伍。追其原因，就因为此项技术能够大幅度提升画质的亮度、色彩饱合度等，甚至节省用电、使屏幕的轻薄化变为现实。在它的诱惑下，会忍不住想了解它的价格，目前它的售价远远高于LCD液晶显示器，但随着技术的日渐成熟和生产效率的提升，它的成本终究会降至LCD之下。

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