A New World Beyond Display, Transparent OLED | Experience | OLED SPACE

Transparent
OLED

A New World Beyond Display,
Transparent OLED

Binn Kim, Senior Research Engineer of Large Display Panel Research Team 2

Sep 26, 2023

Have you ever wondered what displays in the future will look like?
Many people still imagine Transparent OLED as the answer to this question.
In reality, Transparent OLEDs are already being utilized in various fields, revolutionizing our everyday lives.

Imagination

Turned to Reality

Transparent OLED is Present!

Imagination

Turned to

Reality Transparent OLED is Present!

Mr.Kim is discussing with his team members while looking at the Transparent OLED screen installed in the subway window.

10 Years with

Transparent OLED

My name is Binn Kim and I work in the Large Display Panel Research Team 2, focusing specifically on Transparent OLED technology.

I am in charge of developing picture quality enhancements to be applied to the next generation Transparent OLED. Essentially, I am working to continuously improve the picture quality of transparent displays.

This year marks the 24th anniversary of my joining LG Display. For the first few years, I worked on a polycrystalline silicon-TFT device called Poly-Si then since moved on to design LCD and OLED panels.

I’ve been working on Transparent OLED since 2012. I first initiated the Transparent OLED project back in 2012, so I’ve already spent 10 years of my life with Transparent OLED.

Creating
the
First-Ever

Product

Bringing an imagined Transparent OLED to life was no simple task.

During the initial stages of developing Transparent OLED, I faced criticisms in meetings regarding the unfeasibility of mass-producing this technology. The reason was due to the intricate circuits of transparent pixels and the dissimilar process and structure from traditional OLEDs. I have often felt discouraged as I struggled to find a way forward.

However, whenever I faced obstacles, my previous research experiences allowed me to push forward and learn from my mistakes. Additionally, I had wonderful colleagues supporting me throughout the process. In 2012, LG Display was chosen as the sole developer for transparent flexible displays as part of the government-led "Future Industry-Leading Tech Development Project”. Within five years, we successfully developed the world's first 77" UHD Transparent Flexible OLED.

Whiskey products are displayed in a showcase where Transparent OLEDs are placed front and back.

Whiskey products is visible on the side of the showcase where Transparent OLEDs are placed front and back.

Travel information is displayed on the Transparent OLED screen installed in the subway window, and the outside view can be seen behind the screen.

A Transparent OLED touch partition screen shows information such as weather, power, and lighting.

45% Transparency,

the Key to Transparent OLED

45% Transparency,

the Key to

Transparent OLED

Transparent OLED is exactly what the name suggests-it’s transparent. The display is see-through, allowing you to see what's behind it while still viewing images on the screen. That is why this technology's greatest strength and standout feature is its high transparency. This challenging and critical technology makes or breaks the product, and LG Display currently provides a high transparency of 45% through its large area Transparent OLED technology.

When we surveyed LG Display employees, they thought 30% was enough to consider a display transparent. But we had already successfully mass-produced a transparency of 45%, which is a remarkable feature.

In addition, a panel’s transparency and durability are typically inversely related but LG Display’s transparent electrode structure’s top-emitting method is a technology that simultaneously enhances the panel’s transparency and durability. LG Display’s unique transparent pixel design technology forms a larger transmission area, resulting in excellent transparent picture quality that clearly shows the background through the panel.

A case consisting of several Transparent OLEDs is installed in the living room, showing trees inside, and flowers bloom around the leaves.

High Transparency,
Creation of New Spaces,
Seamless Design
The Embodiment of Innovation

I believe that Transparent OLED created a new category of “displays that blend into their surroundings.” The high transparency of Transparent OLED eliminates the disconnected feel from the environment in everyday spaces, providing an unprecedented display experience.

High Transparency

Transparent OLED takes full advantage of its self-illuminating pixels, and its 45% transparency allows viewers to enjoy vivid picture quality while still being able to see the background behind the screen.

Creation of New Spaces

Displays with enhanced transparency and openness take the place of traditional windows, newly creating a space that offers information, advertisement, and entertainment.

Seamless Design

Dissolves spatial barriers and integrates seamlessly into any space, with the capability to design an elegant space.

High Transparency,
Creation of New Spaces,
Seamless Design
The Embodiment of Innovation

High Transparency

Transparent OLED takes full advantage of its self-illuminating pixels, and its 45% transparency allows viewers to enjoy vivid picture quality while still being able to see the background behind the screen.
Creation of New Spaces

Displays with enhanced transparency and openness take the place of traditional windows, newly creating a space that offers information, advertisement, and entertainment.
Seamless Design

Dissolves spatial barriers and integrates seamlessly into any space, with the capability to design an elegant space.

Displays on an entirely

new level that dissolve

the boundaries of space.

Displays on an

entirely new level

that dissolve

the boundaries

of space.

Click icons to check Transparent OLED specs!

Product information is displayed on the show window screen consisting of Transparent OLEDs, and the actual bicycle is seen behind the transparent screen.

* 77” product is under planning.

Another Evolution of the

Transparent

The 2nd Generation of Transparent OLED has recently been released. While the 1st Generation marked the start of Transparent OLED, the 2nd Generation aims to achieve widespread public use.

The 2nd Generation Transparent OLED display offers improved image brightness while also improving transparency, addressing a common concern among our customers. We offer a wide range of sizes from mid-sized to extra-large to make our displays suitable for a variety of applications and have upgraded the resolution from FHD to UHD for a better screen experience at home. If the 1st Generation Transparent OLED was limited to subways or store windows, the 2nd Generation is now more widely applicable, including household screens and architectural exteriors.

As you can see, Transparent OLED has the potential to dominate the future display market. At present, they are predominantly used in public spaces, public transportation, or high-end retail shops. However, soon we will be able to utilize them for conveying information in various fields, such as homes, offices, cars, flights, and more. Perhaps in the future, they will be used in places I’ve never even imagined!

Another

Evolution of the

Transparent

The 2nd Generation of Transparent OLED has recently been released. While the 1st Generation marked the start of Transparent OLED, the 2nd Generation aims to achieve widespread public use.