Integration of NIR-OLEDs in CMOS-silicon chips

The successful development of organic light emitting diodes (OLED), which are emitting in near infrared (NIR) spectral range, opens up completely new applications for the already commercially successful OLED-technology. For the first time ever the Center for Organic Materials and Electronic Devices Dresden COMEDD at the Fraunhofer IPMS has succeeded the integration of NIR-OLEDs in CMOS-silicon chips. Thus they can be used as a light source in the field of sensor technology, for medical light therapy or as a display. This technology allows, for example, the development of NIR-OLED based light barriers or flow sensors.
By combining of NIR-OLEDs with conventional OLEDs, light systems with an accordingly extended spectral range can be produced for color sensors or spectrometers. NIR-displays could be applied, for example, in night vision devices fitted with supporting low-light amplifiers. The displayed information would remain invisible to anyone but the operator of the device.

Furthermore, COMEDD is able to produce bi-directional NIR-OLED displays that cannot only emit NIR-light, but also detect it. The integration of OLED displays in data eyeglasses has already been successfully demonstrated.