IP Library Granted Patent US 7,638,941
Granted Patent B2
US 7,638,941 · App. 11/292,829 · Granted Dec 29, 2009

Lamp with multi-colored OLED elements

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,638,941
App. No.
11/292,829
Granted
Dec 29, 2009
Kind
B2
Abstract

Solid-state area illumination stems and method for forming such systems are provided. The illumination system comprises: a plurality of OLED devices each device formed on a separate substrate and each device emitting light at a plurality of angles relative to the substrate, the emitted light having different ranges of frequencies at different ranges of the plurality of angles; and a support positioning each of the plurality of OLED devices at a plurality of orientations relative to an area of illumination, the positioning being defined so that any point on any surface within the area of illumination will receive a broadband combination of light from more than one of the OLED devices.

Claims (18)

1. A solid-state illumination system for illuminating an area with white light comprising:

a plurality of OLED devices, each OLED device formed on a separate substrate having a light-emitting area and each OLED device emitting light at a plurality of angles relative to the substrate in the light-emitting area, said emitted light having different ranges of frequencies at different ranges of the plurality of angles, wherein each different range of frequencies corresponds to a single, different color emitted at each of the different ranges of angles over the substrate light-emitting area; with each OLED device including a first electrode formed over the substrate and a second electrode that in each OLED has a single, fixed distance from the first electrode over the substrate light-emitting area with at least one of the first electrode and second electrode having a surface that is at least partially reflective and having at least one layer of an unpatterned, common light emitting organic material formed between the first electrode and second electrode, said at least one light emitting organic material layer emitting light at a plurality of angles relative to the normal of at least one layer of organic material;

wherein the electrodes and the at least one layer of organic material are formed so that the distance that emitted light travels from the light emitting layer to the at least one partially reflective surface varies depending on the angle of emission so that the frequency of light emitted from the OLED device substrate light-emitting area to an illuminated surface depends upon the emission angle; and

a support positioning the plurality of OLED devices at a plurality of orientations relative to an area of illumination, said positioning being defined so that any illuminated point within the area of illumination will receive a substantially common broadband combination of light selected to form white light from more than one of the plurality of OLED devices.

2. The solid-state area illumination system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of OLED devices are not located in a common plane.

3. The solid-state area illumination system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of OLED devices are located in a common plane.

4. The solid-state area illumination system of claim 1 , wherein the illumination system is a chandelier, a table lamp, or a floor lamp.

5. The solid-state area illumination system of claim 1 , wherein the illuminated surface is a floor, wall, ceiling, or item of furniture.

6. The solid-state area illumination system of claim 1 , wherein at least one substrate is a rigid planar substrate.

7. The solid-state area illumination system of claim 1 , wherein at least one substrate is flexible.

8. The solid-state area illumination system of claim 1 , wherein at least one OLED device comprises a transparent substrate and transparent cover and light is emitted from both sides of the OLED device.

9. The solid-state area illumination system of claim 1 , wherein the OLED devices emit broadband light.

10. The solid-state area illumination system of claim 1 , wherein the OLED devices emit a single color of light in a direction normal to the surface of the substrate.

11. The solid-state area illumination system of claim 10 , wherein the singe color of light emitted in a direction normal to the surface of the substrate is red, green, blue, yellow or cyan.

12. The solid-state area illumination system of claim 10 , wherein the OLED devices are microcavity devices.

13. The solid-state area illumination system of claim 10 , wherein at least one OLED device is a top-emitting OLED device.

14. The solid-state area illumination system of claim 10 , wherein at least one OLED device is a bottom-emitting OLED device.

15. The solid-state area illumination system of claim 1 , wherein at least two of the OLED devices radiate light at a different range of frequencies.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 26, 2010
From: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
To: GLOBAL OLED TECHNOLOGY LLC
Reel/Frame 023998/0368 →