Multi-functional active matrix organic light-emitting diode display

Abstract

A multi-functional active matrix display comprises a transparent front sheet, a semi-transparent layer of light emissive devices adjacent the rear side of the front sheet and forming a matrix of display pixels, and a solar cell layer located behind the light emissive devices for converting both ambient light and internal light7 from the light emissive devices into electrical energy, the solar cell layer including an array of electrodes on the front surface of the solar cell layer for use in detecting the location of a change in the amount of light impinging on a portion of the front surface of the solar cell layer.

1 - 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . A method comprising:
 receiving at least a portion of light emitted from a display at one or more solar cells adjacent the display; and   converting the received at least a portion of light into an electrical output.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising:
 prior to receiving, integrating behind the display, the one or more solar cells with the display. 
 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , in which the electrical output comprises electrical energy, the method further comprising:
 storing the electrical energy in electrical energy storage.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 receiving ambient light at the one or more solar cells; and   converting the received ambient light into electrical energy for storage in the electrical energy storage.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , in which the one or more solar cells are comprised in a solar cell layer which includes an array of electrodes on at least one surface of the solar cell layer for generating the electrical output, the electrical output corresponding to light emissions from various areas across the display, the method further comprising:
 detecting non-uniformities in the display from the electrical output; and   correcting for the detected non-uniformities in the display.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , in which the at least a portion of light includes light emitted by the display and reflected from an object near a front surface of the display, the method further comprising:
 detecting a location of the object from the electrical output.   
     
     
         16 . An active matrix display comprising:
 a semi-transparent layer of light emissive devices forming a matrix of display pixels for displaying images; and   one or more solar cells adjacent said semi-transparent layer for receiving at least a portion of light emitted from the semi-transparent layer and converting the at least a portion of light into an electrical output.   
     
     
         17 . The active matrix display of  claim 16  further comprising:
 a transparent front sheet adjacent a front side of the semi-transparent layer, the displayed images for viewing through the front sheet. 
 
     
     
         18 . The active matrix display of  claim 17  in which the semi-transparent layer of light emissive devices includes a substantially transparent anode adjacent the front sheet, a semi-transparent semiconductor stack forming organic light emitting diodes adjacent a rear side of the anode, a semi-transparent cathode adjacent a rear side of the semiconductor stack, a cover glass spaced rearwardly of the cathode and covering the one or more solar cells, and a peripheral sealant bonding the cover glass to the transparent front sheet. 
     
     
         19 . The active matrix display of  claim 18  in which the peripheral sealant holds the cover glass spaced away from a rear side of the cathode to form an air gap between the cathode and the cover glass. 
     
     
         20 . The active matrix display of  claim 17  in which the transparent front sheet is a glass substrate for the semi-transparent layer of light emissive devices. 
     
     
         21 . The active matrix display of  claim 16  in which the one or more solar cells re comprised in a solar cell layer which includes laminated N-type and P-type semiconductor materials, and includes an array of electrodes on at least one surface of said solar cell layer for generating said electrical output, the array of electrodes including multiple electrode segments located on a front surface of the semiconductor laminate and spaced from each other to allow light from the light emissive devices to impinge on the semiconductor laminate. 
     
     
         22 . The active matrix display of  claim 21  in which the array of electrodes includes first spaced electrode segments running in a first direction on one surface of the semiconductor laminate, and second spaced electrode segments running in a second direction on an opposite surface of the semiconductor laminate. 
     
     
         23 . The active matrix display of  claim 16  in which the semi-transparent layer of light emissive devices includes a substantially transparent anode and a semi-transparent cathode. 
     
     
         24 . The active matrix display of  claim 16  in which the one or more solar cells is comprised in a solar cell layer which includes an array of electrodes on at least one surface of the solar cell layer for generating said electrical output, the electrical output corresponding to light emissions from various light emissive devices across the matrix of display pixels. 
     
     
         25 . The active matrix display of  claim 24  further comprising:
 a detection circuit for detecting non-uniformities in the active matrix display from the electrical output; and 
 a correction circuit for correcting for the detected non-uniformities in the active matrix display. 
 
     
     
         26 . The active matrix display of  claim 25 , in which each solar cell of the one or more solar cells represents one or more pixels or sub-pixels. 
     
     
         27 . The active matrix display of  claim 26 , in which each solar cell is calibrated at different color and brightness levels, and in which values corresponding to the electrical output are stored in a lookup table for use in the detecting and the correcting of the non-uniformities in the active matrix display. 
     
     
         28 . The active matrix display of  claim 24  in which the electrodes on the at least one surface of the solar cell layer generates the electrical output for use in detecting a location of a change in an amount of light impinging on a portion of the front surface of the solar cell layer due to an object in front of the semi-transparent layer reflecting light from the light emissive devices back through the semi-transparent layer to the solar cell layer. 
     
     
         29 . The active matrix display of  claim 28  further comprising:
 a touch screen circuit coupled to the solar cell layer for receiving the electrical output from the array of electrodes and for detecting the location of the change in the amount of light with use of the electrical output. 
 
     
     
         30 . The active matrix display of  claim 16 , in which the electrical output comprises electrical energy, the active matrix display further comprising:
 electrical energy storage for storing the electrical energy.