IP Library Granted Patent US 7,973,470
Granted Patent B2
US 7,973,470 · App. 12/037,116 · Granted Jul 5, 2011

Led device having improved color

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,973,470
App. No.
12/037,116
Granted
Jul 5, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

A display device includes a substrate having at least one light-emitting element. The light-emitting element includes one electrically-continuous electrode formed over the substrate. A separator is located on the electrically-continuous electrode, dividing the electrically-continuous electrode into at least first and second separate electrode portions that remain electrically continuous. A transparent layer is located over the first electrode portion, while separated from the second electrode portion. A light-emitting layer is formed over the transparent layer and the second electrode portion. A second electrode is formed over the light-emitting layer. The first electrode portion, the transparent layer, the light-emitting layer, and the second electrode comprise a first optical cavity having a first optical path length. The second electrode portion, the light-emitting layer, and the second electrode comprise a second optical cavity having a second optical path length different from the first optical path length.

Claims (47)

1. A display device, comprising:

a) a substrate having at least one light-emitting element, the light-emitting element including one electrically-continuous electrode formed over the substrate;

b) a separator located on the electrically-continuous electrode dividing the electrically-continuous electrode into at least first and second separate and electrically continuous electrode portions;

c) a transparent layer located over the first electrode portion, the transparent layer separated by the separator from the second electrode portion;

d) a light-emitting layer formed over the transparent layer and the second electrode portion;

e) a second electrode formed over the light-emitting layer;

f) an insulating layer formed on the substrate which separates the electrically-continuous electrode from neighboring electrically-continuous electrode of a corresponding neighboring light-emitting element; and

g) wherein the first electrode portion, the transparent layer, the light-emitting layer, and the second electrode comprise a first optical cavity first optical path length; and the second electrode portion, the light-emitting layer, and the second electrode comprise a second optical cavity having a second optical path length different from the first optical path length.

2. The display device of claim 1 , wherein the first and second electrode portions have different spatial areas.

3. The display device of claim 1 , wherein the transparent layer is electrically conductive.

4. The display device of claim 1 , wherein the light-emitting layer emits light with a spectrum having multiple optical peaks at wavelengths corresponding to the multiple optical path lengths.

5. The display device of claim 1 , wherein the separator has edges with a maximum angle of 60 degrees with respect to the surface of the electrically-continuous electrode where the separator contacts the electrically-continuous electrode.

6. The display device of claim 1 , wherein the separator divides the electrically-continuous electrode into two or three portions.

7. The display device of claim 1 , wherein the electrically-continuous electrode portions are formed in a common plane with the separator formed over the common plane or between separate electrode portions.

8. The display device of claim 1 , wherein the separator includes a photo-sensitive resin.

9. The display device of claim 1 , wherein the light-emitting layer comprises organic materials or the light-emitting layer comprises inorganic including phosphorescent crystals or quantum dots.

10. A method of forming a display, comprising the steps of:

a) providing a substrate having at least one electrically-continuous electrode formed over the substrate;

b) depositing a first photosensitive material over the electrically-continuous electrode, patternwise exposing, and removing portions of the first photosensitive material to form a separator that divides the surface of the electrically-continuous electrode into two, or more, separate electrode portions;

c) forming a patterned transparent layer over at least one of the separated electrode portions;

d) forming a light-emitting layer over the transparent layer and all separated electrode portions;

e) forming a second electrode over the light-emitting layer;

f) forming an insulating layer on the substrate that separates the electrically-continuous electrode from neighboring electrically-continuous electrode of a corresponding neighboring light-emitting element; and

g) wherein one electrode portion, the transparent layer, the light-emitting layer, and the second electrode comprise a first optical cavity having a second electrode comprise a second optical cavity having a second optical path length different from the first optical path length.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the step of forming the patterned transparent layer over the separated electrode portions comprises the steps of:

i) depositing a transparent layer over the separated electrode portions;

ii) depositing a second photosensitive material over the transparent layer, patternwise exposing, and removing the second photosensitive material to form a protective layer over a first electrode portion and removing the second photosensitive material in a second electrode portion to expose the transparent layer in the second electrode portion, each electrode portion separated from other electrode portions by the separator;

iii) removing the exposed transparent layer to form a patterned transparent layer.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the step of forming the patterned transparent layer over the separated portions comprises the step of depositing a transparent layer over at least one of the separates electrode portions through a mask.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the transparent layer is sputtered.

14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the transparent layer is electrically conductive.

15. A method of forming a display, comprising the steps of:

a) providing a substrate having at least one electrically-continuous electrode formed over the substrate, the electrically-continuous electrode divided into separate portions by a separator;

b) locating or forming a mask over the electrically-continuous electrode;

c) removing a portion of the mask to expose at least one separate portion of the electrically-continuous electrode;

d) depositing a transparent layer over the mask and exposed electrode portion to pattern the transparent layer;

e) forming a light-emitting layer over the patterned transparent layer and electrically-continuous electrode;

f) removing the mask;

g) forming a second electrode over the light-emitting layer;

h) forming an insulating layer on the substrate that separates the electrically-continuous electrode from neighboring electrically-continuous electrode of a corresponding neighboring light-emitting element; and

i) wherein the separated electrically-continuous electrode portion having the transparent layer comprises a first optical cavity and the separated portion of the electrically-continuous electrode without the transparent layer comprises a second optical cavity having a different optical path length than the optical path length.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the mask is a polymer mask.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the transparent layer is sputtered.

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the removal of a portion of the mask to expose a separated portion of the electrically-continuous electrode is ablation.

19. The method of claim 15 , further comprising the steps of:

separating the mask into portions and mechanically removing one of the portions of the mask to expose a separated portion of the electrically-continuous electrode.

20. The method of claim 15 wherein the light-emitting layer is deposited using either evaporation or liquid coating.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 11, 2010
From: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
To: GLOBAL OLED TECHNOLOGY LLC
Reel/Frame 024068/0468 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 26, 2008
From: COK, RONALD S.
To: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
Reel/Frame 020557/0851 →