OLED device having improved lifetime and resolution

1. A light-emitting diode device, comprising:

a) a substrate;

b) a plurality of first electrodes formed in a pattern over the substrate in a first dimension;

c) a plurality of first shadowing pillars, having a first height, and formed in a second dimension, orthogonal to the first dimension, over the substrate;

d) one-or-more first light-emitting layer(s) formed over the first electrodes;

e) a plurality of second electrodes formed in a pattern between the first shadowing pillars over the one-or-more first light-emitting layer(s);

f) a plurality of second shadowing pillars, having a second height, and formed in the first dimension over the substrate, wherein the second height is greater than the first height;

g) one or more second light-emitting layer(s) formed over the second electrodes; and

h) a plurality of third electrodes formed in a pattern over the first shadowing pillars between the second shadowing pillars over the one-or-more second light-emitting layer(s).

2. The light-emitting diode device of claim 1 , wherein the first shadowing pillars are formed upon the first electrodes and the second shadowing pillars are formed upon the second electrodes.

3. The light-emitting diode device of claim 1 , wherein the first shadowing pillars are formed upon the first electrodes and the second shadowing pillars are formed between the first electrodes.

4. The light-emitting diode device of claim 1 , further comprising busses formed over the substrate, under the second shadowing pillars, and connected to the second electrode.

5. The light-emitting diode device of claim 4 , wherein the busses are connected to the second electrode through a via.

6. The light-emitting diode device of claim 1 , wherein the third electrodes are electrically connected over the first shadowing pillars and separated by the second shadowing pillars.

7. The light-emitting diode device of claim 1 , wherein the first and second electrodes are transparent and the third electrodes are reflective.

8. The light-emitting diode device of claim 1 , wherein the first electrodes are reflective and the second and third electrodes are transparent.

9. The light-emitting diode device of claim 1 , further comprising electrical signal drivers connected to the first, second, and third electrodes to drive current through the first and second light-emitting layer(s) to emit light therefrom.

10. The light-emitting diode device of claim 9 , wherein the electrical signal drivers alternately drive current through either the first or second light-emitting layer(s) to emit light from either the first or second light-emitting layer(s).

11. The light-emitting diode device of claim 9 , wherein the electrical signal drivers simultaneously drive current through both the first and second light-emitting layer(s) to simultaneously emit light from both of the first and second light-emitting layer(s).

12. The light-emitting diode device of claim 1 , wherein the first and second light-emitting layer(s) emit different colors of light.

13. The light-emitting diode device of claim 1 , wherein both of the first and second light-emitting layer(s) are patterned.

14. The light-emitting diode device of claim 1 , wherein neither the first nor second light-emitting layer(s) is patterned.

15. The light-emitting diode device of claim 1 , wherein either the first or second light-emitting layer(s) are patterned and the other light-emitting layer is not.

16. The light-emitting diode device of claim 1 , further comprising a patterned array of color filters located adjacent to the first or third electrodes.

17. A method of making a light-emitting diode device, comprising the steps of:

a) providing a substrate;

b) forming a plurality of first electrodes and a plurality of busses in a pattern over the substrate in a first dimension;

c) forming a plurality of first shadowing pillars, having a first height, in a second dimension orthogonal to the first dimension, and over the substrate;

d) forming a plurality of second shadowing pillars, having a second height, in the first dimension, and over the substrate, wherein the second height is greater than the first height;

e) forming one-or-more first light-emitting layer(s) over the first electrodes;

f) forming a plurality of second electrodes in a pattern, between the first and second shadowing pillars, over the one-or-more first light-emitting layer(s), and connecting each of the second electrodes to a different buss;

g) forming one or more second light-emitting layer(s) over the second electrodes; and

h) forming a plurality of third electrodes, in a pattern over the first shadowing pillars, between the second shadowing pillars, and over the one-or-more second light-emitting layer(s).

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising the step of forming a via through the first organic light-emitting layer(s) to connect each buss to at least one second electrode.

19. The light-emitting diode device of claim 18 , wherein the via is formed by laser ablation.

20. A method of making a light-emitting diode device, comprising the steps of:

a) providing a substrate;

b) forming a plurality of first electrodes in a pattern over the substrate in a first dimension;

c) forming a plurality of first shadowing pillars, having a first height, in a second dimension orthogonal to the first dimension, and over the substrate;

d) forming one-or-more first light-emitting layer(s) over the first electrodes;

e) forming a plurality of second electrodes in a pattern, between the first shadowing pillars, and over the one-or-more first light-emitting layer(s);

f) forming a plurality of second shadowing pillars, having a second height, in the first dimension, and over the substrate, wherein the second height is greater than the first height;

g) forming one or more second light-emitting layer(s) over the second electrodes;

h) forming a plurality of third electrodes in a pattern over the first shadowing pillars, between the second shadowing pillars, and over the one-or-more second light-emitting layer(s).