IP Library Granted Patent US 7,893,612
Granted Patent B2
US 7,893,612 · App. 12/037,961 · Granted Feb 22, 2011

LED device having improved light output

Assignee: Global OLED Technology LLC
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,893,612
App. No.
12/037,961
Granted
Feb 22, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

A light-emitting diode device that includes a first group of sub-pixels each subpixel comprising a reflective electrode and a second electrode formed over a substrate with an unpatterned light-emitting layer formed between the reflective electrode and the second electrode, thus forming a first optical cavity having a first cavity length. Either the reflective or second electrode is patterned to form two or more independently-controllable, light-emitting sub-pixels. A second group of sub-pixels, each comprising a reflective electrode and a second electrode formed over the substrate. An unpatterned light-emitting layer is formed between the reflective electrode and the second electrode to comprise a second optical cavity having a second cavity length different from the first cavity length of the first optical cavity. Either the reflective or second electrode is patterned to form one or more independently-controllable, light-emitting sub-pixels.

Claims (22)

1. A light-emitting diode device, comprising:

a) a first group of differently colored sub-pixels each comprising a reflective electrode and a second electrode formed over a substrate with an unpatterned light-emitting layer formed between the reflective electrode and the second electrode to comprise a first optical cavity having a first cavity length, and wherein either the reflective or second electrode is patterned to form two or more independently-controllable, differently colored light-emitting sub-pixels; and

b) a second group of sub-pixels each comprising the reflective electrode and the second electrode formed over the substrate with the unpatterned light-emitting layer formed between the reflective electrode and the second electrode to comprise a second optical cavity having a second cavity length different from the first cavity length of the first optical cavity, and wherein either the reflective or second electrode is patterned to form one or more independently-controllable, light-emitting sub-pixels,

wherein the second electrode of either group is transparent and further comprising a low-index layer adjacent the second electrode having an optical index lower than the optical index of the second, transparent electrode.

2. The light-emitting diode device of claim 1 , wherein the reflective electrode of either group is formed between the substrate and the second electrode of either group.

3. The light-emitting diode device of claim 1 , wherein the second electrode of either group is formed between the substrate and the reflective electrode of either group.

4. The light-emitting diode device of claim 1 further comprising an optical spacer located between the reflective and second electrodes of the independently-controllable, light-emitting sub-pixels of either, or both, of the first or second group of light-emitting sub-pixels.

5. The light-emitting diode device of claim 4 , wherein the optical spacer is a layer between the reflective and second electrodes.

6. The light-emitting diode device of claim 4 , wherein either, or both, of the reflective or second electrodes of the independently-controllable, light-emitting sub-pixels in the first or second groups comprises a transparent, conductive layer forming an optical spacer.

7. The light-emitting diode device of claim 4 , wherein the reflective and second electrodes and the unpatterned light-emitting layer comprise an organic light-emitting diode (OLED).

8. The light-emitting diode device of claim 1 further comprising color filters located in correspondence with one or more of the independently-controllable, light-emitting sub-pixels of either group to filter the light emitted by the independently-controllable, light-emitting sub-pixels.

9. The light-emitting diode device of claim 8 , wherein the first group includes independently-controllable, light-emitting sub-pixels having a color filter of a first color and also includes independently-controllable, light-emitting sub-pixels having a second color filter of a second color different from the first color.

10. The light-emitting diode device of claim 8 , wherein the first group includes independently-controllable, light-emitting sub-pixels having a color filter of a first color and the second group includes independently-controllable, light-emitting sub-pixels having a second color filter of a second color different from the first color.

11. The light-emitting diode device of claim 8 , wherein either the first or second group includes independently-controllable, light-emitting sub-pixels having a color filter and also includes sub-pixels having no color filter.

12. The light-emitting diode device of claim 1 , wherein the unpatterned light-emitting layer emits white light having a spectrum with at least two peaks.

13. The light-emitting diode device of claim 12 , wherein the two largest spectral peaks are blue and yellow or cyan and red.

14. The light-emitting diode device of claim 1 , wherein the independently-controllable, light-emitting sub-pixels in one group emit red and green light and the sub-pixels in the other group emit blue light.

15. The light-emitting diode device of claim 14 , wherein the independently-controllable, light-emitting sub-pixels in the group that emits red and green light also include sub-pixels that emit yellow light.

16. The light-emitting diode device of claim 14 , wherein the independently-controllable, light-emitting sub-pixels that emit red and green light include red and green color filters, respectively.

17. The light-emitting diode device of claim 14 , wherein the independently-controllable, light-emitting sub-pixels that emit blue light include blue color filters.

18. The light-emitting diode device of claim 1 , further comprising an independently-controllable, light-emitting sub-pixel having the first optical cavity in a first portion of the independently-controllable, light-emitting sub-pixel and the second optical cavity in a second portion of the independently-controllable, light-emitting sub-pixel and wherein light from the first and second optical cavities have different complementary colors and the independently-controllable, light-emitting sub-pixel emits perceptually white light.

19. The light-emitting diode device of claim 14 , wherein the independently-controllable, light-emitting sub-pixels in the group that emits red and green light also include sub-pixels that emit substantially white light by having two different complementary colors.

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 27, 2008
From: COK, RONALD S.
To: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
Reel/Frame 020564/0900 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20090212694A1 · Aug 27, 2009