Get to know OLED in five minutes - Organic Light-Emitting Diodes

Get to know OLED in five minutes - Organic Light-Emitting Diodes

 OLEds, i.e. organic light-emitting diodes, seem to radically change the way we watch TV. But before this change, let's find out what OLED is and what benefits it will bring to our lives.

WHAT IS LED (LIGHT EMITTING DYED)?

Light-emitting diode are tiny devices that produce light when current passes over it. They use energy much more efficiently and are much more durable than bulbs. Moreover, they do not produce much heat and do not need lamp wire to work. They also consume much less power than liquid crystal displays (LCD), which need continuous black light to create images by polishing pixels. LEDs, however we may not realize, have already entered our daily lives: acetylene lamps, digital clocks, remote controls are some of them.

WHERE DOES THIS "O" COME FROM?

Oled's O means organic. An organic, carbon-based layer is compressed between two conductors (anodes and cathode) and supported by a main substance called an enzyme. When the electric current passes, the light source produces. In a non-organic LED, the layer compressed between two conductors is inflexible; this is why the organic carbon-based LED is superior. Because the organic layer in OLED's is razor-thin, very light, super bright and flexible. This means that OLEds can be used on many incredible devices, from bendable screens to TVs or transparent screens that are bright and crystal clear.

HOW DOES AN OLED TV CREATE LIGHT AND IMAGE?

"An OLED screen produces its own light by using individual pixels or elements on the screen," says Peter Hainsworth, director of Sony's audio technologies department. "OLED consumes enough power to generate as much energy as the light or color that will appear on the screen needs. That is, while maximum power is used to achieve an all-white image, no power is used for a black image. On an LCD, the black light is always on."

There are many different types of OLED, each designed for a specific application. Sony tends to use OLEds that emit the highest level of light and produce very bright images. In these OLED's, light hits and bounces back into reflective enzymes compressed between two conductors, resulting in a very bright image. If it is a transparent type of OLED, it allows light to pass through the entire device, allowing transparent images to be displayed.

WHAT IS THE LIKENESS OF OLED IN NATURE?

Creatures such as fireflies produce their own light thanks to a biochemical reaction (chemical oxidation). OLED, on the other hand, produces its own light after the electric current passes. "So they come to the same conclusion in different ways. But OLED has its roots firmly in the natural world," Hainsworth said.

WHAT ELSE CAN BE DONE WITH OLED'S?

This list is too long. Transparent OLED prototypes produced by companies like Samsung make you feel like you're watching a window with images appearing on it when you're looking at the screen. This technology allows the navigation system used in cars to be projected onto the windshield. In this way, the driver can easily access the path he will take and the route he will take. Hainsworth also states that this system can be used in storefronts, and advertisements projected on the window window can allow the customer to see the products sold in the store.

Sony and Samsung have already started showing off their bendable screen prototypes at many trade shows (the Consumer Electronics Show is one of them).

The flexible display feature is extremely encouraging in terms of creativity and innovation. For example, these screens can be used in clothing, so that television screens can reach a whole new level of portability. It can be folded, rolled up, tucked into a bag and go on holiday with you. General Electrics (GE) is already inspired by newspaper production lines for the production of OLED rolls. "Imagine illuminated wallpapers," suggests General Electric Research.

DOES OLED HAVE ANY OTHER ADVANTAGES?

OLEds are capable of producing light with much greater brightness than other screens. The contrast ratio of a typical flat-screen TV is around 50,000:1. This is the measure of dynamism between the dark and bright parts of the screen. However, sony's 11" OLED TV Bravia XEL-1 has a contrast ratio of 1,000,000:1. "It's just a number, but when you look at the photo that appears on the screen, reality is extremely extraordinary," Hainsworth claims.

OLED screens are also incredibly light: sony's television weighs only 2 kg. It also has a much wider viewing angle than the LCD (about 170 degrees). This is the measure of the furthest distance you can get away from the screen circularly, achieving a clean image.

WHAT ARE THE DISADVANTAGES OF OLED?

For now, the biggest drawback of OLEds is that they cost a lot of money to manufacture. Because mass production hasn't started yet. The good news is that this price will fall rapidly once the ways of rapid and adequate production of screens are determined. Although this speed depends on the initial demands, it is worth the wait.

OLED DEVICES ON SALE NOW

The production costs of OLEds are very high, so for now they are limited in the market. However, thanks to their very small power consumption, it is clearly extremely useful for mobile phones, digital cameras, MP3 players and other portable devices.