OLED DEVICE HAVING IMPROVED LIFETIME AND RESOLUTION
An organic light-emitting diode device, includes a plurality of first patterned electrodes that define a corresponding plurality of light-emitting areas, and one-or-more organic first light-emitting layer(s) formed over the first patterned electrodes. A plurality of second patterned electrodes are formed over the one-or-more first light-emitting layer(s) corresponding to the first patterned electrodes; and one or more organic second light-emitting layer(s) formed over the second patterned electrodes. A third electrode common to the plurality of light-emitting areas is formed over the one-or-more second light-emitting layer(s). Each of the second patterned electrodes is shared between the first and second light-emitting layers so that the first and second patterned electrodes provide current through the first light-emitting layer(s); and each of the second and third electrodes, within each of the plurality of light-emitting areas, provide current through the second light-emitting layer(s) independent of the current through the first light-emitting layer.
1 . An organic light-emitting diode device, comprising:
a) a substrate having a plurality of first and second electrical conductors and a two-dimensional continuous grid of shadowing pillars formed over the substrate;
b) a plurality of first patterned, electrically isolated electrodes formed over the substrate and connected to corresponding first electrical conductors;
c) one-or-more organic first light-emitting layer(s) formed over the first patterned electrodes;
d) a plurality of second patterned, electrically isolated electrodes formed between the shadowing pillars over the first patterned electrodes and the one-or-more first light-emitting layer(s) electrically connected to corresponding second patterned electrical conductors through vias formed in the first light-emitting layer(s) between the shadowing pillars, the first and second patterned electrodes defining a corresponding plurality of light-emitting areas separated by the grid of shadowing pillars;
e) one or more organic second light-emitting layer(s) formed over the second patterned electrodes;
f) a third electrode electrically common to the plurality of light-emitting areas formed over the one-or-more second light-emitting layer(s), the shadowing pillars, and the plurality of light-emitting areas; and
g) wherein each of the second patterned electrodes is shared between the first and second light-emitting layers, within each of the plurality of light-emitting areas, so that the first and second patterned electrodes provide current through the first light-emitting layer(s); and each of the second and third electrodes, within each of the plurality of light-emitting areas, provide current through the second light-emitting layer(s) independent of the current through the first light-emitting layer.
2 . The organic light-emitting diode device of claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second patterned electrodes is transparent and the third electrode is reflective.
3 . The organic light-emitting diode device of claim 1 , wherein each of the first patterned electrodes is reflective and each of the second patterned electrode and the third electrode are transparent.
4 .- 6 . (canceled)
7 . The organic light-emitting diode device of claim 1 , further comprising an electronic circuit connected to the first patterned electrode and to the second patterned electrode.
8 . The organic light-emitting diode device of claim 1 , wherein light emitted from the first and second one-or-more light-emitting layers is independently controllable to emit light from either the first or second light-emitting layer or to emit light from both the first and second light-emitting layers in combination with each other.
9 . The organic light-emitting diode device of claim 1 , wherein the first light-emitting layer(s) emit the same first color of light in each of the plurality of light-emitting areas and the second light-emitting layer(s) emit the same second color of light in each of the plurality of light-emitting areas and wherein the first and second colors are different colors.
10 . The organic light-emitting diode device of claim 9 , wherein:
a) one of the first or second light-emitting layer(s) emits green light and the other of the first or second light-emitting layers emits magenta light; or
b) one of the first or second light-emitting layer(s) emits blue light and the other of the first or second light-emitting layers emits yellow light; or
c) one of the first or second light-emitting layer(s) emits red light and the other of the first or second light-emitting layers emits cyan light; or
d) one of the first or second light-emitting layer(s) emits cyan light and the other of the first or second light-emitting layers emits yellow light; or
e) one of the first or second light-emitting layer(s) emits cyan light and the other of the first or second light-emitting layers emits magenta light; or
f) one of the first or second light-emitting layer(s) emits yellow light and the other of the first or second light-emitting layers emits magenta light
11 . The organic light-emitting diode device of claim 1 , wherein one of the first and second light-emitting layer(s) emits light of different colors in different light-emitting areas and the other of the first and second light-emitting layer(s) emits light of the same color in all light-emitting areas.
12 . The organic light-emitting diode device of claim 11 wherein the different colors are red and blue and the same color is green.
13 . The organic light-emitting diode device of claim 1 , wherein both of the first and second light-emitting layer(s) emits light of different colors in different light-emitting areas.
14 . The organic light-emitting diode device of claim 1 , further comprising a color filter for filtering the light output from the first and second light-emitting layer(s).
15 . The organic light-emitting diode device of claim 14 , wherein at least one of the color filters are yellow, cyan, or magenta.
16 . The organic light-emitting diode device of claim 14 wherein different color filters are used with different light-emitting areas.
17 . A method for making an organic light-emitting diode device, comprising the steps of:
a) forming a plurality of first patterned electrodes that define a plurality of first light-emitting areas on a substrate;
b) forming one-or-more organic first light-emitting layer(s) over the first patterned electrodes;
c) forming a plurality of second patterned electrodes over the one-or-more first light-emitting layer(s) that define a plurality of second light-emitting areas;
d) forming one or more organic second light-emitting layer(s) over the second patterned shared electrodes;
e) forming a third electrode common to the second light-emitting areas over the one-or-more second light-emitting layer(s);
f) wherein each of the second patterned electrodes is shared between the first and second light-emitting layers, within each of the first light-emitting areas, so that the first and second patterned electrodes provide current through the first light-emitting layer(s); and each of the second and third patterned electrodes, within each of the second light-emitting areas, provide current through the second light-emitting layer(s) independent of the current through the first light-emitting layer.
18 . The method of claim 17 further comprising the steps of forming thin-film electronic components over the substrate, wherein the first patterned electrodes are electrically connected to the thin-film electronic components; and forming a via through the one-or-more first light-emitting layer(s) to electrically connect the second patterned shared electrode to the thin-film electronic components when the second patterned shared electrode is formed.
19 . The method of claim 18 wherein the via is formed by laser ablation of the first light-emitting layers.
20 . A method for making an organic light-emitting diode device, comprising the steps of:
a) providing a substrate;
b) forming electrically insulating shadowing pillars on the substrate;
c) forming a plurality of first patterned electrodes that define a plurality of first light-emitting areas over the substrate;
d) forming one-or-more organic first light-emitting layer(s) over the first patterned electrodes;
e) forming a plurality of second patterned electrodes over the one-or-more first light-emitting layer(s) that define a plurality of second light-emitting areas between the shadowing pillars;
f) forming one or more organic second light-emitting layer(s) over the second patterned shared electrodes;
g) forming a third electrode common to the second light-emitting areas over the one-or-more second light-emitting layer(s) and over the shadowing pillars; and
h) wherein each of the second patterned electrodes is shared between the first and second light-emitting layers, within each of the first light-emitting areas, so that the first and second patterned electrodes provide current through the first light-emitting layer(s); and each of the second and third patterned electrodes, within each of the second light-emitting areas, provide current through the second light-emitting layer(s) independent of the current through the first light-emitting layer.