Patent Description:
Organic light emitting diode (OLED) display devices have merits of excellent luminance, driving voltage, and response speed characteristics and implementing color images, so they are being employed for (e.g., are included in) various display devices.

Meanwhile, recently, display devices have increasingly implemented biometric technologies via which certain biometric information or gesture information is extracted by an automatic device to authenticate a person in financial, health care, and mobile fields. Particularly, leading smartphone companies are focusing on adapting fingerprint and iris recognition technologies.

Since Apple took over AuthenTech, which was a manufacturer of semiconductive sensors for finger scans, they (Apple) have been consistently mounting fingerprint sensors in iPhones® and iPads®. <CIT> also discloses technology of forming a near-infrared sensor for fingerprint recognition on the same plane as an OLED emitter. However, since a near-infrared emitter and a near-infrared detector for fingerprint recognition are formed on the same plane as the conventional OLED emitter having no fingerprint sensor is decreased. The aperture ratio decrease of the OLED emitter may have a large influence on display characteristics of a mobile display device, particularly, a smart phone having a small display area.

Similarly, <CIT> discloses a screen in which a NIR sensor stack is disposed at the side of each OLED pixel.

In <CIT>, an OLED panel has an IR sensor stack disposed at the side of each OLED pixel, and the OLED pixel has an IR emitter under the light emitter in the same pixel stack.

<CIT> discloses a device including a display having an array of pixels, and light-based components that emit and/or detect light that passes through transparent windows in the display. The transparent windows are formed in regions located between pixels.

Some example embodiments provide an OLED panel embedded with a near-infrared organic photosensor configured to implement biometric recognition without an effect on an aperture ratio of an OLED emitter.

Some example embodiments provides a display device including an OLED panel embedded with a near-infrared organic photosensor for implementing biometric recognition without an effect on an aperture ratio of an OLED emitter.

According to some example embodiments, an OLED panel embedded with a near-infrared organic photosensor includes a substrate, an OLED stack disposed on the substrate and emitting visible light, and an NIR light sensor stack disposed between the substrate and the OLED stack and including an NIR emitter emitting NIR light and an NIR detector.

The OLED panel according to some example embodiments may maintain <NUM> % of an opening part of the OLED emitter by forming the near-infrared organic photosensor and the OLED emitter as a stack structure and thus display characteristics.

In addition, the near-infrared organic photosensor beneath the OLED emitter may effectively perform biometrics by using a near infrared ray.

Furthermore, the near-infrared organic photosensor is formed of an organic material and thus may be bent or elastic. Accordingly, the near-infrared organic photosensor may contribute to easily realizing a flexible display device and thus improve portability and versatility of a display device.

According to some example embodiments, an Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) panel embedded with a Near Infrared (NIR) light sensor includes a substrate, an OLED stack on the substrate, the OLED stack configured to emit visible light, and an NIR light sensor stack between the substrate and the OLED stack. The NIR light sensor stack includes an NIR emitter configured to emit NIR light and an NIR detector, such that the NIR light sensor includes the NIR emitter and the NIR detector.

In inventive example embodiments, the NIR emitter and the NIR detector are above or below a sub-pixel of the pixel of the OLED stack.

The NIR emitter and the NIR detector may be on a non-light-emitting portion of the pixel of the OLED stack, the non-light emitting portion between at least two proximate sub-pixels of the pixel of the OLED stack.

The OLED stack may be configured to emit light away from the NIR light sensor stack.

The OLED emitter of the OLED stack is an organic light emitting diode (OLED) including an organic emission layer and a plurality of electrodes on opposite surfaces of the organic emission layer, such that a first electrode of the plurality of electrodes is under the organic emission layer and a second electrode of the plurality of electrodes is over the organic emission layer. The second electrode may include a transparent electrode.

Both of the NIR emitter and the NIR detector may be on the sub-pixel of the OLED stack, and the first electrode may include a separate transparent electrode.

The NIR emitter and the NIR detector may be on the non-light-emitting portion between proximate sub-pixels of the OLED stack, and the first electrode may include a reflective electrode.

The OLED panel may further include a driver between the substrate and the NIR light sensor stack, the driver configured to input and output electrical signals of each of the NIR light sensor stack and the OLED stack.

A driver configured to input and output an electrical signal from the NIR light sensor stack and a driver configured to input and output an electrical signal from the OLED stack may be on a substantially common plane.

The NIR emitter may be an NIR organic photodiode that is configured to emit NIR light of a wavelength spectrum of about <NUM> to about <NUM>.

The NIR organic photodiode includes an organic emission layer configured to emit the NIR light and lower and upper electrodes on opposite surfaces of the organic emission layer, respectively, and the upper electrode may be a transparent electrode and the lower electrode is a reflective electrode.

The NIR detector may be an NIR organic photodiode that is configured to absorb NIR light of a wavelength spectrum of about <NUM> to about <NUM>.

The NIR organic photodiode may include an organic light-absorbing layer configured to absorb the NIR light and lower and upper electrodes on opposite surfaces of the organic light-absorbing layer, respectively. The upper electrode may be a transparent electrode having a transmittance equal to or greater than about <NUM>%, and the lower electrode is a reflective electrode.

The NIR light sensor stack may be configured to detect a fingerprint, an iris, or face image.

A display device may include the OLED panel embedded with the NIR light sensor.

According to some example embodiments, an Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) panel may include a substrate, an OLED stack on the substrate, the OLED stack configured to emit visible light, and an NIR light sensor stack on the OLED stack, the NIR light sensor stack including an NIR emitter configured to emit NIR light, and an NIR detector.

The NIR light sensor stack may be between the substrate and the OLED stack.

The OLED stack may be between the substrate and the NIR light sensor stack.

A pixel of the OLED stack may include at least one element of the NIR emitter and the NIR detector.

According to some example embodiments, an electronic device may include a memory, a processor, and a display device including an Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) panel. The OLED panel may include a substrate, an OLED stack on the substrate, the OLED stack configured to emit visible light, and an NIR light sensor stack between the substrate and the OLED stack, the NIR light sensor stack including an NIR emitter configured to emit NIR light and an NIR detector, such that the NIR light sensor includes the NIR emitter and the NIR detector.

The processor may be configured to execute a program of instructions stored in the memory to implement biometric recognition of an individual based on processing electrical signals received from the NIR light sensor to detect a fingerprint, an iris, or face image.

Hereinafter, inventive and example embodiments will be described in detail so that a person skilled in the art would understand the same.

In the drawings, the thickness of layers, films, panels, regions, etc., are exaggerated for clarity. Like reference numerals designate like elements throughout the specification. It will be understood that when an element such as a layer, film, region, or substrate is referred to as being "on" another element, it can be directly on the other element or intervening elements may also be present.

Hereinafter, an organic light emitting diode (OLED) panel embedded with a near-infrared organic photosensor according to some example embodiments is described with references to drawings.

<FIG> and <FIG> show a pixel layout of an OLED panel <NUM> embedded with a near-infrared organic photosensor <NUM> according to some inventive embodiments and a cross-sectional view thereof, respectively.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, an OLED panel <NUM> embedded with a near-infrared organic photosensor <NUM> according to some inventive embodiments is a stack-type panel including a near infrared (NIR) organic photosensor stack <NUM> stacked under an OLED stack <NUM>. As shown in at least <FIG>, the OLED panel <NUM> includes a substrate <NUM>, an OLED stack <NUM> on the substrate, and an NIR organic photosensor stack <NUM> on the substrate <NUM>, where the NIR organic photosensor stack <NUM> ("NIR light sensor stack"), as shown in <FIG>, is between the substrate <NUM> and the OLED stack <NUM>.

In the OLED panel <NUM> embedded with a near-infrared organic photosensor <NUM>, sub-pixels emitting different lights (R, G, B) having different wavelengths from each other are gathered to provide a unit pixel (Px), and the unit pixel (Px) is repeatedly arranged with a matrix to complete the OLED panel <NUM>.

As described herein, the near-infrared (NIR) organic photosensor <NUM> is "embedded" in the OLED panel <NUM> based on being included within the outer volume boundaries defined by the OLED panel <NUM>. Accordingly, the photosensor <NUM> may configure the OLED panel <NUM> to implement biometric recognition of a subject without having effect on an aperture ratio of the OLED emitter <NUM>. For example, as shown in at least <FIG>, the NIR organic photosensor <NUM> is located within the outer volume boundaries defined by, at a first side, at least one of OLED stack <NUM> and the cover glass <NUM> and, at a second side, at least one of driver <NUM> and substrate <NUM>. Thus, the NIR organic photosensor <NUM> is understood to be, based on being "embedded" in the OLED panel <NUM>, located within an interior of the OLED panel <NUM> as defined by the outer volume boundaries of at least some elements of the OLED panel <NUM> that are configured to enable emission of light from the OLED stack <NUM>.

While <FIG> and <FIG> illustrate the NIR photosensing stack <NUM> as being distal from front surface 1000a in relation to the OLED stack <NUM>, it will be understood that, in some example embodiments, the NIR photosensing stack may be proximate to front surface 1000a in relation to the OLED stack <NUM>, such that the NIR organic photosensor stack <NUM> is between the cover glass <NUM> and the OLED stack <NUM>.

<FIG> exemplify a plane view (<FIG>) and a perspective view (<FIG>) in which an NIR organic photosensor <NUM> is disposed under (e.g., "on") each OLED sub-pixel (Sub-Px). The NIR organic photosensor <NUM> may include an NIR organic emitter <NUM> and an NIR detector <NUM> for improving ("configured to improve") biometric recognition efficiency. As shown in at least <FIG>, at least one element of the NIR organic emitter <NUM> and NIR organic detector <NUM> may on a given pixel (Px) of the OLED stack <NUM>.

Accordingly, as shown in <FIG> that is a cross-sectional view taken along a line II-II' of <FIG>, a sub-pixel region and an NIR organic photosensor region are overlapped.

As referred to herein, an element that is "on" another element is "above" or "under" the other element. Conversely, an element that is described as being "above" or "under" another element will be understood to be "on" the other element. Additionally, an element that is "on" another element may be "directly on" (e.g., in contact with) the other element or may be "indirectly on" (e.g. isolated from direct contact with via an interposing element(s) and/or a gap space) the other element.

The OLED stack <NUM> is a region of a device that is configured to display an image. Accordingly, the OLED stack <NUM> is configured to emit visible light (e.g., light in a visible wavelength spectrum). The visible wavelength spectrum may include light in a range of about <NUM> nanometers to about <NUM> nanometers. When the terms "about" or "substantially" are used in this specification in connection with a numerical value, it is intended that the associated numerical value include a tolerance of ±<NUM>% around the stated numerical value. When ranges are specified, the range includes all values therebetween such as increments of <NUM>%. The OLED stack <NUM> includes an organic light emitting diode (OLED) emitter <NUM> including an organic emission layer <NUM>, and a first electrode <NUM> and a second electrode <NUM> formed under and over the organic emission layer <NUM>, respectively, such that the first and second electrodes <NUM> and <NUM> are, respectively, on opposite surfaces of the organic emission layer <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the OLED emitter <NUM> may be at least partially on each of a lower insulation layer <NUM> and an upper insulation layer <NUM> of the OLED stack <NUM>, and may further be at least partially between the lower insulation layer <NUM> and the upper insulation layer <NUM>. The organic emission layer <NUM> may be formed of ("may at least partially comprise") various organic materials inherently configured to emit light <NUM> of any one color of red R, green G, and blue B colors toward a front surface 1000a of the OLED panel <NUM>, that is in an opposite direction of (e.g., away from) the NIR organic photosensor stack <NUM>, as shown in at least <FIG>. Either one electrode of the first electrode <NUM> and the second electrode electrode <NUM> is connected (e.g., electrically coupled) with a driving voltage line (Vdd) and an output terminal (Out Put) to be configured to function as an anode, and the other one electrode is connected (e.g., electrically coupled) with a common voltage (Vss) to be configured to function as a cathode. The second electrode <NUM> may be formed as ("may at least partially comprise") a transparent electrode having a thickness of <NUM> or less in order to be configured to display light emitted from the organic emission layer <NUM> outside (e.g., towards front surface 1000a to an external environment that is external to the OLED panel <NUM>). For example, the second electrode <NUM> may be formed of MgAg, Ag, Al, Mo, Ti, TiN, Ni, ITO, IZO, AlZO, AlTO, or the like. The first electrode <NUM> may be formed of ("may at least partially comprise") a transparent electrode (e.g., a separate transparent electrode in relation to a transparent electrode of the second electrode <NUM>) in order to be configured to enable NIR light to exit from and enter to the NIR organic photosensor stack <NUM> (e.g., via surface 250a). In some example embodiments, the transparent electrode is formed with ("at least partially comprises") a transparent material having transmittance of <NUM>% or more. For example, the first electrode <NUM> may be formed of ("may at least partially comprise") ITO, IZO, AlZO, AlTO, or the like. The NIR organic photosensor stack <NUM> ("NIR light sensor stack") may include an NIR organic emitter <NUM> and an NIR organic detector <NUM>. The NIR organic emitter <NUM> and the NIR organic detector <NUM> collectively comprise the NIR organic photosensor <NUM> ("NIR light sensor"). As shown in <FIG>, the NIR organic photosensor <NUM> may be at at least partially on each of a lower insulation layer <NUM> and an upper insulation layer <NUM> of the NIR organic photosensor stack <NUM>, and may further be at least partially between the lower insulation layer <NUM> and the upper insulation layer <NUM>.

The NIR organic emitter <NUM> may be an NIR organic photodiode including an organic emission layer <NUM> that is configured to emit light in an NIR wavelength spectrum (e.g., one or more NIR wavelengths in a wavelength spectrum ranging from about <NUM> to about <NUM>) and a first electrode <NUM> and a second electrode <NUM> formed under and over the organic emission layer <NUM>, respectively (e.g., on opposite surfaces of the organic emission layer <NUM>, as shown in at least <FIG>). The organic emission layer <NUM> may be formed of ("may at least partially comprise") one material of the following materials represented by Chemical Formula <NUM> or a mixture thereof, which are appropriate for emitting NIR light of a wavelength region ranging from about <NUM> to about <NUM>, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto but may include any material appropriate for emitting light in a desired NIR wavelength. <CHM>
<CHM>.

At least one electrode of the first electrode <NUM> ("lower electrode") and the second electrode <NUM> ("upper electrode") is connected (e.g., electrically coupled) with a driving voltage line (Vdd) and an output terminal (Out Put) and is configured to function as an anode, and the other electrode is connected (e.g., electrically coupled) with a common voltage (Vss) and is configured to function as a cathode. The second electrode <NUM> may be formed as ("may at least partially comprise") a transparent electrode in order to be configured to enable NIR light emitted from the NIR organic emitter <NUM> to exit the NIR organic photosensor stack <NUM> (e.g., the surface 250a). For example, the second electrode <NUM> may be formed of ("may at least partially comprise) ITO, IZO, ALZO, ALTO, or the like. The first electrode <NUM> may be formed as ("may at least partially comprise") a reflective electrode configured to enable the emitted light to be emitted toward the second electrode <NUM> through resonance, and the second electrode <NUM> may be a transparent electrode. For example, the second electrode <NUM> may be formed of ("may at least partially comprise") Al, Ag. Mo, AINd, Mo / Al / Mo, TiN, ITO / Ag / ITO, ITO / Al / ITO, ITO / Mo / ITO, or the like.

The NIR organic detector <NUM> may be an NIR organic photodiode including an organic light-absorbing layer <NUM> that is configured to absorb light in an NIR wavelength and a first electrode <NUM> and a second electrode <NUM> formed under and over the organic light-absorbing layer <NUM>, respectively (e.g., on opposite surfaces of the organic light-absorbing layer <NUM>, as shown in at least <FIG>). The organic light-light-absorbing layer <NUM> may be formed of ("may at least partially comprise") a material appropriate for absorbing ("configured to absorb") light of a NIR wavelength. In other words, the organic light-absorbing layer <NUM> may be formed of ("may at least partially comprise") an appropriate material for absorbing ("configured to absorb") light in a wavelength region ("wavelength spectrum") of about <NUM> to about <NUM>. For example, the organic light-absorbing layer <NUM> may be formed of ("may at least partially comprise") one material of the following materials represented by Chemical Formula <NUM> or a mixture thereof, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto but may include any appropriate material for absorbing light of an NIR wavelength. <CHM>
<CHM>.

The second electrode <NUM> of the NIR organic detector <NUM> may at least partially comprise a transparent electrode in order to be configured to absorb NIR at most. In some example embodiments, the second electrode <NUM> may be formed of ("may at least partially comprise") a transparent electrode having transmittance of about <NUM>% or greater (e.g., equal to or greater than about <NUM>%). For example, the second electrode <NUM> may be formed of ("may at least partially comprise") ITO, IZO, AlTO, carbon nanotube (CNT), graphene, nanosilver (Nano Ag), or the like. The first electrode <NUM> may be formed as ("may at least partially comprise") a reflective electrode so that the incident light is not transmitted and lost. For example, the first electrode <NUM> may be formed of ("may at least partially comprise") Al, Ag, Mo, AINd, Mo / Al / Mo, TiN, ITO / Ag / ITO, ITO / Al / ITO, ITO / Mo / ITO or the like.

A driver <NUM> may be disposed between the substrate <NUM> and the NIR organic photosensor stack <NUM> so as to be configured to not inhibit light emitting and light-receiving functions of the OLED stack <NUM> and the NIR organic photosensor stack <NUM>.

The driver <NUM> includes various transistor arrays 120a, 120b, and 120c formed on the substrate <NUM> that are configured to input and output electrical signals of each of the NIR organic photosensor stack <NUM> and the OLED stack <NUM>, and an interlayer insulating layer <NUM> in which a multi-layered wire layer <NUM> is formed.

The OLED transistor array 120a, the transistor array 120b for the NIR organic emitter, and the transistor array 120c for the NIR organic detector (each of which may be referred to herein as a separate "driver") may be formed on the same plane (e.g., a common plane, as shown in at least <FIG>). The OLED transistor array 120a, the transistor array 120b for the NIR organic emitter, and the transistor array 120c for the NIR organic detector may be formed on a substantially common ("same") plane (e.g., the same plane within manufacturing tolerances and/or material tolerances). When they are formed on the same or substantially same plane, each process of forming the transistor arrays 120a, 120b, and 120c may be simultaneously carried out so it is not needed to produce an additional process mask, compared to the case of forming the transistor arrays 120a, 120b, and 120c on different planes, so the number of process steps may be reduced, thereby improving efficiency of fabrication of the OLED panel <NUM>. In addition, the thickness of the panel including the OLED panel <NUM> may be formed to be thinner than the case an OLED panel <NUM> that includes transistor arrays 120a, 120b, and 120c in different planes, so it may favorably accomplish a flexible panel.

The substrate <NUM> may be formed with ("may include") various materials such as glass or plastic. In a case of plastic, it may be formed with ("may include") a transparent and flexible material.

A cover glass <NUM> is attached on an upper surface of the OLED stack <NUM> by an adhesive (not shown) to be configured to protect the structure below and to form a display surface and a biometric surface.

<FIG> is a schematic view illustrating an operation of carrying out biometrics recognition, and specifically, fingerprint recognition, using the organic light emitting diode (OLED) panel embedded with a near-infrared organic photosensor according to some example embodiments.

Referring to <FIG>, in response to a biometric subject, for example, a finger <NUM> being placed on (e.g., directly on and/or indirectly on) the cover glass <NUM> of the OLED panel <NUM>, a driving signal is applied to the OLED panel <NUM> to turn on ("initialize") the diode of the NIR organic emitter <NUM>. Accordingly, light <NUM> of a NIR wavelength in a range ("wavelength spectrum") from about <NUM> nanometers to about <NUM> nanometers is emitted from the NIR organic emitter <NUM> and radiated into a fingerprint <NUM> of the finger <NUM>. The light <NUM> of a NIR wavelength ("NIR light") is not a visible ray ("visible wavelength spectrum") and thus may not be caught ("observed") by human eyes. In response to an object like the finger <NUM> being located on the display surface including the cover glass <NUM>, the light <NUM> of a NIR wavelength ("NIR light") may be reflected or scattered on the surface of the finger <NUM>. The reflected or scattered NIR light <NUM> is light-received and detected by the NIR organic detector <NUM>. Charges light-received by the NIR organic detector <NUM> are read by a transistor array 120c for an NIR organic detector and go through an image processor to be processed by the image processor to obtain a fingerprint image of the finger <NUM>, through which a fingerprint recognition may be performed.

Although <FIG> exemplifies a fingerprint of a finger <NUM> as a biometric subject, the OLED panel <NUM> may be applied for (e.g., configured to detect) various biometric subjects including a palm print, an iris, a retina, and a face.

As for an organic light emitting diode (OLED) panel embedded with the NIR organic photosensor illustrated with a reference to <FIG>, when the NIR organic photosensor <NUM> including the NIR organic emitter <NUM> and the NIR organic detector <NUM> is adopted, the NIR organic emitter <NUM> may be configured to selectively emit NIR light <NUM> alone and thus may not need a separate NIR color filter. In some example embodiments, the NIR organic emitter <NUM> emits NIR alone which is not recognized ("detected") by a user and thus may give less feeling of fatigue to the user. Furthermore, since NIR has a larger wavelength than visible light light and thus small scattering refection, it is advantageous to be used to obtain depth information of an image. In some example embodiments, NIR light <NUM> may be selectively emitted to enable biometric recognition in order to enable performance of biometric recognition before ("prior to") display of the OLED stack <NUM>. For example, the OLED panel <NUM> may be configured to generate a display, via OLED stack <NUM>, in response to performing biometric recognition of a subject (e.g., via biometric recognition performed regarding finger <NUM>). Furthermore, the NIR organic organic emitter <NUM> may be used as a separate NIR light source to increase the degree of constitutional freedom. Accordingly, the NIR organic emitter <NUM> and NIR organic detector <NUM> (e.g., the NIR organic photosensor <NUM>) may configure the OLED panel <NUM> to implement biometric recognition of a subject without having effect on an aperture ratio of the OLED emitter <NUM>.

<FIG> show a pixel array of the OLED panel <NUM> embedded with an NIR organic photosensor <NUM> and various layouts of the NIR organic photosensor <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the NIR organic photosensor <NUM> may not be disposed under ("on") some sub-pixels (ex. , OLED B), or as shown in <FIG>, the NIR organic photosensor <NUM> may be disposed in only one sub-pixel (ex. , OLED R) of a pixel.

In some inventive embodiments, as shown in <FIG>, each of the NIR organic detector <NUM> and the NIR organic emitter <NUM> are disposed in a given pixel while being separated in adjacent sub-pixels of the given pixel. In some example embodiments, as shown in <FIG>, the NIR organic detector <NUM> and the NIR organic emitter <NUM> may be disposed in a given pixel while skipping every other sub-pixel of the given pixel in the adjacent sub-pixels of the given pixel.

As shown above, the various arrays of the various pixels and the NIR organic photosensor <NUM> may be modified according to the recognition area and the image shape of the biometric subject, such that certain configurations of the NIR organic photosensor <NUM> may be configured to provide a particular recognition area and/or to detect a particular image shape of a biometric subject.

<FIG> is a schematic view of another pixel layout of OLED panel in which an NIR organic photosensor is embedded. <FIG> shows a pentile matrix type of layout in which one pixel (Px) includes an RGBG pattern. It exemplifies that the NIR organic photosensor <NUM> is disposed in every sub-pixel (R, G, B, G), but it may be modified to have the various shapes as in <FIG>.

<FIG> are schematic view of smart phones <NUM> including OLED panels <NUM> embedded with NIR organic photosensors <NUM> according to embodiments.

<FIG> shows that the OLED panel <NUM> that is embedded with an NIR organic photosensor (e.g., photosensor <NUM>) may recognize a fingerprint <NUM>, <FIG> shows the case of recognizing an iris <NUM>, and <FIG> shows the case of recognizing a face <NUM>.

<FIG> show a smart phone <NUM> as one example of the display device, but the OLED panel <NUM> that includes an embedded NIR organic photosensor <NUM> may be applied to ("included in") a screen including a TV as well as for a multi-media player, a tablet PC, or the like that are capable of employing the OLED panel <NUM> embedded with an NIR organic photosensor <NUM>, in addition to the smart phone <NUM>.

<FIG> shows that the NIR organic photosensor <NUM> is limitedly disposed in a particular (or, alternatively, predetermined) pixel (Px) of a pixel array part of OLED panel <NUM>. The productivity may be enhanced by forming the NIR organic photosensor <NUM> only in a particular (or, alternatively, predetermined) desired pixel (Px) according to the recognition range of the biometric subject and by decreasing an amount of an NIR light-emitting (fluorescence or phosphorescence) material or an NIR light-absorbing material. In <FIG>, Dr1 and Dr2 denote a row direction and a column direction, respectively, when a plurality of pixels (Px) are arranged in a matrix.

<FIG> and <FIG> show a pixel layout of an OLED panel <NUM> embedded with a near-infrared organic photosensor according to some example embodiments and a cross-sectional view thereof, respectively.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the NIR organic emitter <NUM> and the NIR organic detector <NUM> may be on a non-light-emitting portion <NUM> of the pixel Px of the OLED stack <NUM>, where the non-light-emitting portion <NUM> is between at least two proximate sub-pixels of the pixel of the OLED stack <NUM>, and NIR light from NIR organic photosensor stack <NUM> is emitted and entered through a non-light-emitting portion <NUM> of a pixel Px, between at least two proximate sub-pixels 2310R, <NUM>, and 2310B at least partially comprising the pixel Px, in an OLED panel <NUM> in which a NIR organic photosensor is embedded according to some example embodiments.

Accordingly, organic light emitting diode <NUM> constituting the sub-pixels 2310R, <NUM>, and 2310B may be formed in a structure capable of strong resonance. Specifically, as shown in <FIG>, the red sub-pixel 2310R, the green sub-pixel <NUM>, and the blue sub-pixel 2310B are formed of the organic light emitting diode <NUM>. The organic light emitting diode (OLED) <NUM> includes an organic emission layer <NUM> for emitting light of a corresponding wavelength and a first electrode <NUM> and a second electrode <NUM> formed on and under the organic mission layer <NUM>. Either one of the first electrode <NUM> and the second electrode <NUM> is connected with a driving voltage line (Vdd) and an output terminal (Out Put) to function as an anode, and the other one is connected with a common voltage (Vss) to function as a cathode. The second electrode <NUM> may be formed as a transparent electrode having a thickness of <NUM> or less in order to display light emitted from the organic emission layer <NUM> outside. For example, the second electrode <NUM> may be formed of MgAg, Ag, Al, Mo, Ti, TiN, Ni, ITO, IZO, AlZO, AlTO, or the like. The first electrode <NUM> may be formed as ("may include") a reflective electrode because the first electrode <NUM> is independent of light exit from and enter to the NIR organic photosensor stack <NUM>. By forming the first electrode <NUM> as a reflective electrode, the luminous efficiency of the organic light emitting diode <NUM> can be further improved. For example, the first electrode <NUM> may be made of Al, Ag. Mo, AINd, Mo / Al / Mo, TiN, ITO / Ag / ITO, ITO / Al / ITO and ITO / Mo / ITO.

The NIR organic emitter <NUM> and the NIR organic detector <NUM> constituting the NIR organic photosensor stack <NUM> may be larger, the same or smaller than the organic light emitting diode <NUM>, respectively. The NIR organic emitter <NUM> and the NIR organic detector <NUM> may be disposed under the non-light-emitting portion <NUM> between the organic light emitting diode <NUM> constituting the sub-pixels 2310R, <NUM>, and 2310B to allow NIR light to exit from and enter to the NIR organic photosensor stack <NUM> through the non-light-emitting portion <NUM> at least partially defined by the lower insulation layer <NUM> between the organic light emitting diode <NUM>. Accordingly, the NIR organic emitter <NUM> and NIR organic detector <NUM> (e.g., the NIR organic photosensor <NUM>) may configure the OLED panel <NUM> to implement biometric recognition of a subject without having effect on an aperture ratio of the OLED emitter <NUM>. Other remaining components are the same as those of the example embodiments described with reference to <FIG>, and therefore, description thereof will be omitted.

On the cover glass <NUM> of the OLED panel <NUM>, when a biometric subject, for example, a finger <NUM> is put, a driving signal is applied thereto to turn on the diode of the NIR organic emitter <NUM>. Accordingly, light <NUM> of a NIR wavelength in a range from about <NUM> to about <NUM> is emitted from the NIR organic emitter <NUM> and radiated into a fingerprint of the finger <NUM> through the non-light-emitting portion <NUM> between the organic light emitting diode <NUM> constituting the sub-pixels 2310R, <NUM>. The light <NUM> of a NIR wavelength is not a visible ray and thus may not be caught by human eyes. When an object like the finger <NUM> is put on the display surface formed of the cover glass <NUM>, the light <NUM> of a NIR wavelength may be reflected or scattered on the surface of the finger <NUM>. The reflected or scattered NIR light <NUM> is received and detected by the NIR organic detector <NUM> through the non-light-emitting portion <NUM> at least partially defined by the lower insulation layer <NUM> between the organic light emitting diode <NUM> constituting the sub-pixels 2310R, <NUM>. Accordingly, the NIR organic emitter <NUM> and NIR organic detector <NUM> (e.g., (e.g., the NIR organic photosensor <NUM>) may configure the OLED panel <NUM> to implement biometric recognition of a subject without having effect on an aperture ratio of the OLED emitter <NUM>.

<FIG> shows an operation algorithm of the OLED panel <NUM> or <NUM> in which the NIR organic emitter <NUM> and the NIR organic detector <NUM> are embedded.

First, it is determines whether an R/G/B OLED is turned on (<NUM>). An R/G/B OLED being on means a state of shifting to a display mode after switching a start power on. The NIR organic emitter <NUM> and the NIR organic detector <NUM> are not operated when an R/G/B OLED is turned off (<NUM>). When an R/G/B OLED is turned turned on, it is determined whether a locking device turns on (<NUM>). When the locking device is turned off, the NIR organic emitter <NUM> and the NIR organic detector <NUM> are not operated since it is also one means of locking device (<NUM>). When the locking device turns on, it is determined whether touch sensors turn on (<NUM>). When the touch sensor is turned off, the NIR organic emitter <NUM> and the NIR organic detector <NUM> do not operate (<NUM>). This is to prevent a power consumption loss of more than that required by blocking touch in a waiting mode. When the touch touch sensor turns on even in a locking mode, it is determined whether a finger contacts the surface of the panel for a particular (or, alternatively, predetermined) time or longer (e.g., <NUM> second or longer) (<NUM>), and the NIR organic emitter <NUM> and the NIR organic detector <NUM> are operated when being contacted for the particular (or, alternatively, predetermined) time or longer (<NUM>). It is determined whether a fingerprint recognition is completed (<NUM>), and when the fingerprint recognition is completed, the NIR organic emitter <NUM> and the NIR organic detector <NUM> do not operate (<NUM>) and the locking device is turned off (<NUM>). When the fingerprint recognition is not completed, the locking device turns on again (<NUM>), and the procedure goes to step <NUM> again and operates.

<FIG> is a schematic diagram of an electronic device <NUM> according to some example embodiments.

As shown in <FIG>, an electronic device <NUM> may include a processor <NUM>, a memory <NUM>, and display device <NUM> that are electrically coupled together via a bus <NUM>. The display device <NUM> may be display device of any of the example embodiments as described herein, and thus may include any of the example embodiments of OLED panels as described herein. The memory <NUM>, which may be a non-transitory computer readable medium, may store a program of instructions. The processor <NUM> may execute the stored program of instructions to perform one or more functions, including implementing the biometric recognition of an individual based on processing electrical signals received from the NIR light sensor as described herein (e.g., to detect a fingerprint, an iris, or face image). The processor <NUM> may be configured to generate an output (e.g., an image to be displayed on the display device, a command to operate a locking device, some combination thereof, or the like) based on implementing the biometric recognition.

Claim 1:
An Organic Light Emitting Diode, OLED, panel (<NUM>), the OLED panel comprising:
a substrate (<NUM>);
an OLED stack (<NUM>) directly or indirectly on the substrate, the OLED stack configured to emit visible light; and
a Near Infrared, NIR, light sensor stack (<NUM>) on the substrate directly or indirectly, the NIR light sensor stack including an NIR emitter (<NUM>) configured to emit NIR light and an NIR detector (<NUM>), such that the NIR emitter and the NIR detector together constitute a NIR light sensor, characterized in that both the NIR emitter and the NIR detector are above or below a sub-pixel (Sub-Px) of a pixel of the OLED stack (<NUM>).