Types of OLEDs: Passive and Active Matrix

There are several types oI OLEDs:

O !assive-matrix OLED
O .tive-matrix OLED
O Transparent OLED
O Top-emitting OLED
O oldable OLED
O hite OLED
Ea.h type has diIIerent uses. In the Iollowing se.tions, we'll dis.uss ea.h type oI OLED. Let's
start with passive-matrix and a.tive-matrix OLEDs.
Passive-matrix OLED (PMOLED)
!OLEDs have strips oI .athode, organi. layers and strips oI anode. The anode strips are
arranged perpendi.ular to the .athode strips. The interse.tions oI the .athode and anode make up
the pixels where light is emitted. External .ir.uitry applies .urrent to sele.ted strips oI anode and
.athode, determining whi.h pixels get turned on and whi.h pixels remain oII. gain, the
brightness oI ea.h pixel is proportional to the amount oI applied .urrent.

!OLEDs are easy to make, but they .onsume more power than other types oI OLED, mainly
due to the power needed Ior the external .ir.uitry. !OLEDs are most eIIi.ient Ior text and
i.ons and are best suited Ior small s.reens (2- to 3-in.h diagonal) su.h as those you Iind in .ell
phones, !Ds and !3 players. Even with the external .ir.uitry, passive-matrix OLEDs
.onsume less battery power than the LCDs that .urrently power these devi.es.
Active-matrix OLED (AMOLED)
OLEDs have Iull layers oI .athode, organi. mole.ules and anode, but the anode layer
overlays a thin Iilm transistor (TT) array that Iorms a matrix. The TT array itselI is the
.ir.uitry that determines whi.h pixels get turned on to Iorm an image.

OLEDs .onsume less power than !OLEDs be.ause the TT array requires less power than
external .ir.uitry, so they are eIIi.ient Ior large displays. OLEDs also have Iaster reIresh
rates suitable Ior video. The best uses Ior OLEDs are .omputer monitors, large-s.reen TVs
and ele.troni. signs or billboards.