INTEGRATED PHOTOVOLTAIC CELL FOR DISPLAY DEVICE

• US 20100245731A1
• Filed: 03/31/2009
• Published: 09/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Zhang, Ming, Young, Ian, Limketkai, Benjie
• Granted Patent: US 8,294,858 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 349/106
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/201 in the form of arrays
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/3025 Polarisers, i.e. arrangements capable of producing a definite output polarisation state from an unpolarised input state G02B5/3008, G02B5/3016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 14/005 Photoelectrochemical storage cells light sensitive devices H01G9/20, semiconductors sensitive to light H01L31/00
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 39/00 Integrated devices, or assemblies of multiple devices, comprising at least one organic radiation-sensitive element covered by group H10K30/00
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/13 comprising photosensors that control luminance
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/38 comprising colour filters or colour changing media [CCM]
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 65/00 Integrated devices, or assemblies of multiple devices, comprising at least one organic light-emitting element and at least one organic radiation-sensitive element, e.g. organic opto-couplers organic image sensors integrated with organic light-emitting devices H10K39/34; OLED displays integrated with photosensors H10K59/13

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention describe a photovoltaic cell integrated into a display device. The photovoltaic cell is designed with an absorption spectrum that does not include a range of wavelengths corresponding to a particular color of visible light. Besides having the capability to harvest light, the photovoltaic cell can also function as a color filter and a photodetector.

Claims

1. A display device comprising:

a pixel; and

a photovoltaic cell over the pixel to absorb light, the photovoltaic cell having a visible light absorption spectrum that does not include a range of wavelengths corresponding to a first color of visible light.

2. The display device of claim 1, wherein the photovoltaic cell comprises:

a first electrode layer;

a first absorption layer over the first electrode layer, the first absorption layer having an absorption spectrum with a range of wavelengths corresponding to a second color of visible light;

a second absorption layer over the first absorption layer, the second absorption layer having an absorption spectrum with a range of wavelengths corresponding to a third color of visible light; and

a second electrode layer over the second absorption layer.

3. The display device of claim 1, wherein the first color is red, the second color is green, and the third color is blue.

4. The display device of claim 3, wherein the first absorption layer is made from NN′

-dimethylquinacridone (DMQA).

5. The display device of claim 3, wherein the second absorption layer is made from tetra(4-methoxyphenyl) porphine cobalt complex (Co-TPP).

6. The display device of claim 3,

wherein the color red has a range of wavelengths from 570 to 750 nanometers,

wherein the color green has a range of wavelengths from 495 to 570 nanometers, and

wherein the color blue has a range of wavelengths from 350 to 495 nanometers.

7. The display device of claim 1, wherein the first color is green, the second color is red, and the third color is blue.

8. The display device of claim 7, wherein the first absorption layer is made from zinc phthalocyanine (ZnPC).

9. The display device of claim 1, wherein the first color is selected from the group consisting of red, blue or green.

10. The display device of claim 1,

wherein the pixel is to transmit white light to the photovoltaic cell;

and

wherein the photovoltaic cell is to absorb the white light transmitted from the pixel except the range of wavelengths from the white light corresponding to the first color.

11. The display device of claim 1,

wherein the pixel is to emit the first color of visible light;

and

wherein the photovoltaic cell is not to absorb the range of wavelengths corresponding to the first color of visible light emitted by the pixel.

12. A display apparatus comprising;

a display screen;

a plurality of pixel units to transmit light to the display screen, each pixel unit comprising a first subpixel; and

a plurality of photovoltaic units, each photovoltaic unit comprising;

a first photovoltaic cell between the first subpixel and the display screen, wherein the first photovoltaic cell is to absorb ambient light transmitted through the display screen to generate electrical energy, and wherein the first photovoltaic cell is transparent to a first primary color of light.

13. The display apparatus of claim 12,

wherein each pixel unit further comprises a second subpixel;

and

wherein each photovoltaic unit further comprises;

a second photovoltaic cell between the second subpixel and the display screen, wherein the second photovoltaic cell is to absorb ambient light transmitted through the display screen to generate electrical energy, and wherein the second photovoltaic cell is transparent to a second primary color of light.

14. The display apparatus of claim 13,

wherein each pixel unit further comprises a third subpixel;

and

wherein each photovoltaic unit further comprises;

a third photovoltaic cell between the third subpixel and the display screen, wherein the third photovoltaic cell is to absorb ambient light transmitted through the display screen to generate electrical energy, and wherein third organic photovoltaic cell is transparent to a third primary color of light.

15. The display apparatus of claim 14, wherein the first primary color of light is red, wherein the second primary color of light is green, and wherein the third primary color of light is blue.

16. The display apparatus of claim 12, wherein the first primary color of light is selected from the group consisting of red, green or blue.

17. The display apparatus of claim 14, further comprising:

a backlight module to emit white light to the plurality of pixel units, wherein the emitted white light from the backlight module is to be transmitted through the first, second and third subpixels onto the first, second and third photovoltaic cells;

wherein the first photovoltaic cell is to absorb the emitted white light transmitted through the first subpixel and generates electrical energy;

wherein the second photovoltaic cell is to absorb the emitted light white transmitted through the second subpixel and generates electrical energy; and

wherein the third photovoltaic cell is to absorb the emitted white light transmitted through the third subpixel and generates electrical energy.

18. The display apparatus of claim 12, further comprising:

a power source coupled to the plurality of photovoltaic units, wherein the power source is to receive and to store electrical energy generated by the plurality of photovoltaic units.

19. The display apparatus of claim 12, further comprising:

a controller coupled to the plurality of pixel units and the plurality of photovoltaic units,

wherein each photovoltaic unit and the corresponding pixel unit is addressable by the controller, and

wherein the controller is to detect the electrical energy generated by each photovoltaic unit to adjust the amount of light transmitted by the corresponding pixel unit.

20. The display apparatus of claim 14,

wherein the first subpixel is to transmit the first primary color of light;

wherein the second subpixel is to transmit the second primary color of light; and

wherein the third subpixel is to transmit the third primary color of light.

21. A photovoltaic device comprising:

a first photovoltaic cell comprising;

a first electrode layer;

a first absorption layer over the first electrode, wherein the first absorption layer is to absorb a first color;

a second absorption layer over the first absorption layer, wherein the second absorption layer is to absorb a second color; and

a second electrode layer over the second absorption layer.

22. The photovoltaic device of claim 21 further comprising:

a second photovoltaic cell comprising;

a third electrode layer;

a third absorption layer over the third electrode, wherein the third absorption layer is to absorb a third color;

a fourth absorption layer over the third absorption layer, wherein the fourth absorption layer is to absorb the second color; and

a fourth electrode layer over the fourth absorption layer.

23. The photovoltaic device of claim 22 further comprising:

a third photovoltaic cell comprising;

a fifth electrode layer;

a fifth absorption layer over the fifth electrode, wherein the fifth absorption layer is to absorb the third color;

a sixth absorption layer over the fifth absorption layer, wherein the sixth absorption layer is to absorb the first color; and

a sixth electrode layer over the sixth absorption layer.

24. The photovoltaic device of claim 21, wherein the first photovoltaic cell further comprises:

a first interface layer between the first electrode and the first absorption layer, wherein the first interface layer is to adjust the work function of the first electrode; and

a second interface layer between the second electrode and the second absorption layer, wherein the second interface layer is to adjust the work function of the second electrode.

25. The photovoltaic device of claim 24, wherein the first interface layer and second interface layer are made from a material selected from the group consisting of self-assembled monolayers and metal oxides.

26. The photovoltaic device of claim 24, wherein the first photovoltaic cell further comprises an acceptor layer between the second interface layer and the second absorption layer.

27. The photovoltaic device of claim 26, wherein the acceptor layer is made of a material selected from the group consisting of

naphthalene tetra carboxylic anhydride (NTCDA),

3,4,9,10-perylenetetracarboyxilic bis-benzimidazole (PTCBI),

3,4,9,10-perylene tetracarboxylic acid (PTCDA),

bathocuproine (BCP), and

fullerene.

28. The photovoltaic device of claim 23 further comprising:

a barrier layer over the second electrode, fourth electrode and third electrode, wherein the barrier layer is made from polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

29. The photovoltaic device of claim 23, wherein the first color is green, wherein the second color is blue, and wherein the third color is red.