This application is a National Stage of International Application No. PCT/EP2020/065545, filed on Jun. 4, 2020, which designates the United States and was published in Europe, and which claims priority to German Patent Application No. 10 2019 115 817.6, filed on Jun. 11, 2019, in the German Patent Office. Both of the aforementioned applications are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.
The present application relates to a method for operating a light emitting diode arrangement, a method for characterizing a light emitting diode and a light emitting diode arrangement.
The optical characterization of light emitting diodes is often very time consuming or technically difficult to realize, especially when a light emitting diode arrangement, such as a display device comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes. In particular, it is not readily possible to monitor the light-emitting diodes during operation of the light-emitting diode arrangement with regard to their aging behavior and the associated change in the emitted light output. Such aging effects can be directly reflected in a faulty color control or color rendering or brightness control.
It is an object to obtain the characterization and/or the aging of light emitting diodes with respect to their efficiency of light generation in a simple and reliable way.
These objects are solved inter alia by the methods and a light emitting diode arrangement according to the independent patent claims. Further embodiments and conveniences are the subject of the dependent patent claims.
A method for operating a light-emitting diode arrangement and a light-emitting diode arrangement are specified. The light-emitting diode arrangement is particularly suitable for operation in accordance with the method described. Features specified in connection with the method can therefore also be used for the light-emitting diode arrangement, and vice versa.
Features specified below in connection with at least one embodiment or one exemplary embodiment of the method and/or one embodiment or one exemplary embodiment of the light-emitting diode arrangement can also be combined with other features described in connection with at least one embodiment or one exemplary embodiment of the method and/or the light-emitting diode arrangement, as long as they are not mutually exclusive or it is not explicitly specified to the contrary.
For example, the light emitting diode arrangement with at least one light emitting diode is driven with an instantaneous current feed. For example, the instantaneous current feed is the current feed at which the light emitting diode is configured to emit a specified light intensity. For example, the light emitting diode is configured to be operated in multiple dimming levels, wherein an instantaneous current feed for the light emitting diode is provided for each dimming level.
The current feed is adjustable in particular by means of a change in the intensity of current and/or by means of pulse width modulation.
According to at least one embodiment of the method, the method comprises a step in which at least one instantaneous current-voltage value pair of the light-emitting diode is determined. This current-voltage value pair is part of the instantaneous current-voltage characteristic of the light-emitting diode. For example, a certain predefined voltage is applied and the corresponding current is measured or vice versa.
According to at least one embodiment of the method, the method comprises a step of matching the instantaneous current-voltage value pair with an original current-voltage value pair. The original current-voltage value pair is stored, for example, in a memory of the light-emitting diode arrangement.
According to at least one embodiment of the method, an updated current feed is determined based on the matching and the light emitting diode is driven with the updated current feed.
By means of the change in the updated current feed compared to the previously instantaneous current feed, changes in the light emitting diode and an associated change in the efficiency of the radiation generation can be compensated for. In particular, the updated current feed can be determined solely by a purely electrical characterization of the light emitting diode. A measurement of the light power emitted by the light emitting diode can be dispensed with.
According to at least one embodiment of the method, aging of the light emitting diode is at least partially compensated for by determining the updated current feed. In other words, the updated current feed is determined such that, during operation with the updated current feed, a light output is emitted by the light emitting diode which corresponds at least approximately to an original light output of the light emitting diode at an original current feed. This consideration of the aging does not take place by means of a stored expected, typical aging curve, but on the basis of a concrete determination of the current-voltage value pair. Thus, the reliability of the method does not require for the aging of the light emitting diode to follow a predetermined scheme.
For example, the updating of the current feed occurs after a specified operating period or at specified operating intervals. Alternatively or additionally, the updating of the current feed can also be triggered at a specific point in time.
According to at least one embodiment of the method, the light-emitting diode arrangement comprises at least one further light-emitting diode, wherein an updated current feed is determined for the further light-emitting diode on the basis of an individually determined instantaneous current-voltage value pair.
In the case of a light emitting diode arrangement with a plurality of light emitting diodes, an updated current feed can therefore be determined individually for a plurality of light emitting diodes and in particular also for each light emitting diode on the basis of a specific measurement at the respective light emitting diode.
With other words, the aging behavior of the individual light emitting diodes of the light emitting diode arrangement can be determined individually by a purely electrical measurement and can subsequently be compensated or at least partially compensated by updating the respective current feed. Thus, the method can also achieve a reliable compensation of aging effects if the light emitting diodes of the light emitting diode arrangement show a different aging behavior.
According to at least one embodiment of the method, a current lies in the low current regime of the light emitting diode when determining the instantaneous operating voltage. In particular, a current density lies between 0.01 A/cm2 and 10 A/cm2 inclusive, for example between 0.02 A/cm2 and 2 A/cm2 inclusive. In this region of operating current density, the efficiency of a light emitting diode depends strongly on the material quality. Aging effects are particularly pronounced in this current regime. These can lead, for example, to faulty color control or color reproduction in display devices. This effect can be counteracted with the method described.
According to at least one embodiment of the method, the light emitting diode arrangement is configured for operating the light emitting diode with a plurality of dimming levels, wherein an associated updated current feed is determined for each dimming level. The method thus takes into account that, for example, aging effects have different effects for different current feeds. This means that the current feed is not increased by the same percentage for all dimming levels. Rather, the required current feed is updated separately for the individual dimming levels.
According to at least one embodiment of the method, an updated efficiency of the light emitting diode for different dimming levels is determined based on the deviation between the instantaneous current-voltage value pair and the original current-voltage value pair. In other words, the measurement of the voltage at a current or vice versa is used to obtain an adjustment of the current feed for different dimming levels based on the updated efficiency.
According to at least one embodiment of the method, the determination of the updated efficiency of the light emitting diode is based on an equivalent circuit in which an ideal radiating diode is brigded by a parasitic non-radiating diode with a series resistor. The ideal radiating diode and the non-radiating diode are thus electrically connected in parallel. In this equivalent circuit, the series resistor of the parasitic non-radiating diode determines the portion that flows through the branch of the non-radiating diode. Thus, the lower the series resistance, the greater the fraction of the current that flows across the non-radiating diode and consequently makes no contribution to light generation. It has turned out that the aging behavior of a light-emitting diode can be characterized essentially by a change in series resistance alone when this equivalent circuit is used as a basis. The change in the other parameters, for example the ideality factor of the non-radiating diode, can be neglected.
According to at least one embodiment of the method, an updated series resistance is determined based on the at least one instantaneous current-voltage value pair, and the updated current feed is determined based on the updated series resistance. In particular, the updated current feed can be determined for a plurality of dimming levels or, in particular, for all dimming levels. With other words, the updated series resistance can be determined based on an operating voltage at a specified operating current or analogously based on an operating current at a specified operating voltage, in particular in the low current regime. This series resistance is sufficient to carry out the corresponding updating of the current feed for several or all dimming levels.
According to at least one embodiment of the method, a correspondingly updated current feed for the dimming level is determined for several dimming levels in each case on the basis of the respective associated instantaneous current-voltage value pair. In this case, the determination of the series resistance based on the aforementioned equivalent circuit can be dispensed with. For example, the original operating voltages with the associated operating currents, i.e. the original current-voltage value pairs, are stored in a memory for the respective dimming levels.
According to at least one embodiment, the light-emitting diode arrangement comprises a light-emitting diode and a drive circuit, wherein the light-emitting diode arrangement is configured to determine an instantaneous current-voltage value pair of the light-emitting diode and to determine an updated current feed for the light-emitting diode on the basis of the instantaneous current-voltage value pair.
Based on the instantaneous current-voltage value pair, it is thus possible to determine how the current feed needs to be updated to compensate for a changed behavior of the light emitting diode, for example due to aging effects.
According to at least one embodiment of the light emitting diode arrangement, the light emitting diode arrangement is a display device with a plurality of light emitting diodes. The light emitting diode arrangement is configured, for example, to determine an instantaneous current-voltage value pair for each of the light emitting diodes and to determine an updated current feed for the light emitting diodes based on the respective instantaneous current-voltage value pairs. The light emitting diode arrangement is thus configured to determine for different light emitting diodes an updated current feed for the light emitting diodes in each case on the basis of concrete individual measurements.
According to at least one embodiment of the light-emitting diode arrangement, the light-emitting diode arrangement comprises a memory in which characteristic values for the light-emitting diode are stored for its original current-voltage characteristic. For example, the characteristic values are based on an equivalent circuit in which an ideal radiating diode is bridged by a parasitic non-radiating diode with a series resistor.
According to at least one embodiment of the light emitting diode arrangement, the light emitting diode arrangement comprises a memory in which a plurality of original current-voltage value pairs are stored for the light emitting diode. Based on these original current-voltage-value pairs, aging effects can be detected by measuring the instantaneous current-voltage-value pair and compensated for accordingly.
According to at least one embodiment of the light emitting diode arrangement, the light emitting diode arrangement can be calibrated based on an original current-voltage characteristic. The original current-voltage characteristic is, for example, one or more current-voltage value pairs or the characteristic value for its original current-voltage characteristic. The original current-voltage characteristic can be used for calibration, for example, for brightness correction. This can be done prior to delivery of the light emitting diode arrangement or during operation, in particular prior to aging of the light emitting diode arrangement.
Furthermore, a method for characterizing a light emitting diode with respect to its internal light generation efficiency is specified. According to at least one embodiment of the method for characterizing a light emitting diode, current-voltage value pairs for the light emitting diode are determined. The current-voltage value pairs are approximated based on an equivalent circuit in which an ideal radiating diode is bridged by a parasitic non-radiating diode with a series resistor. The series resistor is matched with a characteristic series resistor for the light-emitting diode.
With the method described, for example, purely electrical measurements of operating current and associated operating voltage can be used for a known type of light-emitting diode to obtain information about the internal efficiency of light generation, in particular about the internal quantum efficiency. Instead of costly optical characterizations of the light-emitting diodes, a purely electrical measurement can be performed during manufacture to check them with respect to their efficiency.
According to at least one embodiment of the method, the light emitting diode is selected out if a deviation of the series resistance from the characteristic series resistance exceeds a specified tolerance value. The specified tolerance value is, for example, an absolute deviation or a percentage deviation.
Further embodiments and conveniences will be apparent from the following description of the exemplary embodiments in conjunction with the figures.
In the Figures:
Elements that are the same, similar, or have the same effect are indicated in the figures with the same reference signs.
The figures are each schematic representations and therefore not necessarily to scale. Rather, comparatively small elements and, in particular, layer thicknesses may be shown exaggeratedly large for clarification or better understanding.
In the exemplary embodiment shown in
For the exemplary embodiment of the method, an instantaneous current-voltage value pair is determined. For this purpose, the associated voltage is measured for a specified current. Alternatively, the associated current can be measured for a specified voltage. The current present when determining the current-voltage value pair can, but does not necessarily have to, be at an intensity of current typical for operation of the light emitting diode arrangement (step S12). Depending on the sensitivity of the measurement, it may be more appropriate to perform the measurement in a region that is not typical for the actual operation of the light emitting diode arrangement.
The instantaneous current-voltage value pair is matched with an original current-voltage value pair (step S13). An updated current feed is determined based on the matching so that the light emitting diode can be further driven with the updated current feed (step S14). For example, the updated current feed differs from the instantaneous current feed by a changed intensity of current and/or a changed pulse width modulation.
The method is particularly suitable for at least partially compensating for aging of the light emitting diode by determining the updated current feed.
1×10−4 A/mm2 and including 0.01 A/mm2, aging effects occur. At higher current densities, however, the luminous flux and the internal quantum efficiency change only slightly.
It is therefore not readily possible to store a typical aging curve for a light-emitting diode arrangement and, on the basis of the operating time already completed, to adjust the operating current so that the luminous power remains constant.
With the method described, the compensation of the aging can be done on the basis of a concrete measurement of current and associated voltage.
The method described is generally suitable for driving light-emitting diode arrangements in which a change in the efficiency of the light-emitting diodes due to aging leads to a significant change in the characteristic properties of the radiation. This is especially the case for light emitting diode arrangements which comprise light emitting diodes emitting in different spectral ranges. For example, the light emitting diode arrangements are part of a color mixing system or a display.
To determine the updated current feed, an equivalent circuit 5 for the light emitting diode can be used, as shown in
In contrast, the non-radiative diode DNR represents, in particular, the tunneling current without light emission at very small currents. The ideality factor of the parasitic nonradiative diode DNR is greater than 1 and is, for example, between 2 and 7 inclusive.
According to this model, the low-current efficiency of a light-emitting diode is directly proportional to the relative current flow through the radiating diode DR.
Based on this equivalent circuit, an adjustment to a real current-voltage characteristic can be made. This is shown in
It can be seen from
Thus, when describing a light emitting diode with the equivalent circuit 5 shown in
By comparing a measured voltage value at a certain operating current in the low current regime with the original voltage at this operating current, it is therefore possible to deduce the series resistor RP. The series resistor RP thus provides a measure of the efficiency of the light-emitting diode and, in particular, of the change in efficiency due to aging. Based on the instantaneous current-voltage value pair, an updated efficiency of the light emitting diode can thus be determined.
From
In particular, it can be deduced over the entire operating range of the light emitting diode how the current feed must be adjusted for different dimming levels in order to compensate for aging effects.
More conveniently, the measurement of the instantaneous current-voltage value pair is performed at an operating current in the low current regime of the light emitting diode. When operating a light emitting diode arrangement with several light emitting diodes, the described method can be carried out for several light emitting diodes, in particular for all light emitting diodes individually, so that an updated current feed can be determined for each light emitting diode.
In step S23, the instantaneous current-voltage value pairs are matched with the stored corresponding original current-voltage value pairs. From this, a correspondingly updated current feed is determined for each of the dimming levels on the basis of the respective instantaneous current-voltage value pair (step S24).
In contrast to the exemplary embodiment described in connection with
This can be done as explained in connection with the described operating method. For example, the light emitting diodes 2 are arranged in a matrix. For example, the light emitting diode arrangement comprises different types of light emitting diodes which are provided for generating radiation in mutually different spectral ranges, such as for generating radiation in the red, green and blue spectral ranges. For simplified illustration, only a section with eight light emitting diodes is shown, wherein one of the light emitting diodes 2 is identified as another light emitting diode 2B for simplified reference.
In particular, the light emitting diode arrangement 1 is configured to determine at least one instantaneous current-voltage value pair operating voltage for the light emitting diodes 2 in each case and to determine an updated current feed for the light emitting diodes on the basis of the respective instantaneous current-voltage value pair.
The change in efficiency can thus be derived from the change in the instantaneous current-voltage value pair compared to the corresponding original current-voltage value pair, and the current feed can be readjusted accordingly.
For example, the light emitting diode arrangement 1 comprises a memory 4 in which characteristic values for the light emitting diode 2 are stored for its original current-voltage characteristic. For example, the characteristic values are based on an equivalent circuit as shown in
Alternatively or additionally, a plurality of original current-voltage value pairs are stored in the memory. By matching the instantaneous value pairs with respect to the original value pairs, aging can be deduced and a corresponding adjustment of the current feed can be made.
In such a light emitting diode arrangement 1 with a plurality of light emitting diodes, for example a light emitting diode arrangement in the form of a display device 10, it would not be readily possible to monitor the radiation emitted by the individual light emitting diodes 2 during operation. As a result, there is a risk that a change in the efficiency of the light-emitting diodes due to aging would lead to incorrect color control and/or color reproduction. This can be compensated for as described above.
In particular, light emitting diodes 2 intended for generating radiation in different spectral ranges may comprise, for example, different aging characteristics, so that by individually adjusting the aging behavior based on concrete measurements on the respective light emitting diodes 2, a reliable control of the current feed can be performed.
In such a display device 10, the color control and dimming of the individual pixels can be implemented by changing the current feed. The change of the current feed can be realized by a pulse width modulation and/or a change of the operating current of the individual pixels. For the second case, the operating current intensity can change over several orders of magnitude depending on the luminosity required in each case. Over this entire operating range, the aging effects can be compensated or at least largely compensated.
The series resistor determined in this way is matched with a characteristic series resistor for the light-emitting diode (step S33). The internal efficiency of the light-emitting diode can be deduced from this matching. In this way, the light-emitting diode can be checked with respect to an optical parameter, namely the internal efficiency of light generation, without the need for an optical measurement of the emitted light power. Rather, the characterization of the light emitting diode can be based on a purely electrical measurement of the current-voltage characteristic.
For example, the light emitting diode can be selected out if a deviation of the series resistance from the characteristic series resistance exceeds a specified tolerance value. In other words, an excessively low series resistance in the underlying equivalent circuit can be used to conclude that the internal efficiency of the light generation is too low.
The invention is not limited by the description based on the exemplary embodiments. Rather, the invention encompasses any new feature as well as any combination of features, which in particular includes any combination of features in the patent claims, even if that feature or combination itself is not explicitly specified in the patent claims or the exemplary embodiments.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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10 2019 115 817.6 | Jun 2019 | DE | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/EP2020/065545 | 6/4/2020 | WO |
Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
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WO2020/249469 | 12/17/2020 | WO | A |
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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6049175 | Forsberg | Apr 2000 | A |
20030071821 | Sundahl | Apr 2003 | A1 |
20080084169 | Wendt | Apr 2008 | A1 |
20080252571 | Hente | Oct 2008 | A1 |
20110169494 | Zudrell-Koch | Jul 2011 | A1 |
20120290241 | Nguyen | Nov 2012 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
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10 2009 014 998 | Sep 2010 | DE |
1 932 137 | Jun 2008 | EP |
2 523 008 | Nov 2012 | EP |
2007036837 | Apr 2007 | WO |
2010034509 | Apr 2010 | WO |
Entry |
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20220256664 A1 | Aug 2022 | US |