Rugged display device architecture
Described herein are display devices having architectures with a reduced number of external connections from the display to the external electronics, which allows for an increase in the pitch of the external connections, thereby improving reliability and flexibility, and reducing costs. The architecture of these devices is based on using multiplexers to connect external source lines to the individual display column lines. Accordingly, data signals can come into the display on a reduced number of external source lines as compared to the number of display column lines. The architecture allows for high-reliability, rugged contacts to a small-sized display by avoiding the need for high resolution interconnects.
1. An OLED display device, comprising:
a flexible display element having:
a plurality of data lines connected to a plurality of pixel electrodes;
a plurality of external source connections and control lines; and
an analog multiplexer comprising a plurality of transistors positioned internal to the flexible display element; and
a digital data driver positioned external to the flexible display element, connected to the analog multiplexer via the plurality of external source connections and control lines;
wherein the display element dimensions are less than or equal to 2″×2″;
wherein the data lines directly connect the plurality of pixel electrodes to the analog multiplexer; and
wherein the number of external source connections to the display is less than one quarter the number of data lines on the display element.
2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the external source connections to the device are heat seal bonded.
3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the transistors are organic thin film transistors.
4. The device of claim 1 , wherein a display frame rate is less than or equal to 30 Hz.
5. The device of claim 1 , wherein a connection area for all external source connections is on one edge of the display element.
6. The device of claim 5 , wherein the width of the connection area is less than the width of the display element.
7. The device of claim 1 , wherein a connection area for all interconnects is on one edge of the display element.
8. The device of claim 1 , wherein the transistors have an ON resistance of less than 88 kOhms.
9. The device of claim 1 , wherein the external source connection pitch is double the pitch of the data lines in the display element.
10. The device of claim 1 , wherein the external source connection pitch is greater than or equal to 200 μm.
11. The device of claim 1 , wherein the display element has a resolution of at least 300 dpi.
12. The device of claim 1 , wherein the display element has a plurality of pixels and each pixel comprises emissive regions having exactly two colors.
13. The device of claim 1 , comprising no more than one digital data driver.
14. A method of manufacturing a high resolution OLED display device, comprising:
connecting a plurality of data lines to a plurality of pixel electrodes on a flexible display element;
connecting a plurality of external source connections to the display element data lines via an analog multiplexer internal to the flexible display element and having a plurality of transistors; and
connecting the plurality of external source connections to a digital data driver external to the flexible display element;
wherein the display element dimensions are less than or equal to 2″×2″;
wherein the data lines directly connect the plurality of pixel electrodes to the analog multiplexer;
wherein the external source connection pitch is at least double the pitch of the data lines in the display element; and
wherein the number of external source connections to the display is less than one quarter the number of data lines on the display element.
15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising connecting all the plurality of external source connections to one edge of the OLED display device.
16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the external source connections are heat seal bonded.
17. The method of claim 14 , wherein the external source connection pitch is double the pitch of the data lines in the display element.
18. The method of claim 14 , comprising no more than one digital data driver.