Siloxane and siloxane derivatives as encapsulants for organic light emitting devices

• US 20020004577A1
• Filed: 08/23/2001
• Published: 01/10/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/1996
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: InnoLux Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Biebuyck, Hans, Haskal, Eliav
• Granted Patent: US 6,468,590 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 528/12
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 83/04 Polysiloxanes
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 33/22 characterised by the chemical or physical composition or the arrangement of auxiliary dielectric or reflective layers
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/125 specially adapted for multicolour light emission, e.g. for emitting white light
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/844 Encapsulations
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/858 comprising refractive means, e.g. lenses
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/873 Encapsulations
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/879 comprising refractive means, e.g. lenses
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 428/917 Electroluminescent
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24802 Discontinuous or differential coating, impregnation or bond [e.g., artwork, printing, retouched photograph, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24917 including metal layer

Abstract

An organic light emitting device (10) is provided which is encapsulated by a Siloxane film (17). This Siloxane film (17) is applied to the light emitting portion of the diode (10) providing for protection against contamination, degradation, oxidation and the like. The Siloxane film (17) carries an optical element, such as a lens (18) for example. This optical element (18) is arranged such that the light generated inside the diode (10) is output through it.

Claims

1. Organic light emitting device having

a) two contact electrodes, one thereof serving as anode and the other one serving as cathode, and

b) an organic region in which light is generated by means of electroluminescence if a voltage is applied between said two contact electrodes,

being characterized in that at least part of the light emitting portion is covered by Siloxane, said Siloxane comprising an optical element being arranged within the path of said light.

2. The organic light emitting device of claim 1, wherein said Siloxane is either a Siloxane film applied to said light emitting portion, or curable Siloxane cured on said light emitting portion.

3. The organic light emitting device of claim 1, wherein said organic region is an organic multilayer structure.

4. The organic light emitting device of claim 1, wherein said Siloxane is in direct contact with one of said contact electrodes and/or said organic region.

5. The organic light emitting device of any of the preceding claims, wherein said optical element is a lens, filter, color converter, grating, diffuser, polarizer, or prism, or any combination thereof.

6. The organic light emitting device of claim 5, wherein said optical element is either

embedded in said Siloxane, or

formed in said Siloxane, or

placed in a pocket-like portion of said Siloxane.

7. The organic light emitting device of claim 1, wherein said organic light emitting device is an array or display.

8. The organic light emitting device of claim 7, wherein said Siloxane comprises an array or matrix of optical elements each being aligned to the corresponding light emitting diodes of said array or being aligned to the pixels of said display.

9. The organic light emitting device of claim 8, wherein said optical element is a color conversion element or color filter realized by a suited dye contained in said Siloxane.

10. The organic light emitting device of claim 9, wherein said dye is filled into container(s), preferably pathway(s), formed in said Siloxane.

15. The Siloxane film of claim,8, wherein said optical element is a color conversion element or color filter realized by a suited dye contained in said Siloxane film.

16. The Siloxane film of claim 15, wherein said dye is filled into container(s), preferably pathway(s), formed in said Siloxane.

17. The Siloxane film of claim 16, wherein said dye contained in said container(s) is either in its liquid state or in its solid state.

11. Siloxane film for protection of part of the light emitting portion of an organic light emitting device having

a) two contact electrodes, one thereof serving as anode and the other one serving as cathode, and

b) an organic region in which light is generated by means of electroluminescence if a voltage is applied between said two contact electrodes,

said Siloxane film being characterized in that it comprise an optical element designed to interact with light emitted by said organic light emitting device.

12. The Siloxane film of claim 11, wherein said optical element is a lens, filter, color converter, grating, prism, diffuser, or polarizer, or any combination thereof.

13. The Siloxane film of claim 11, wherein said optical element is either

embedded in said Siloxane film, or

formed in said Siloxane film, or SZ 9-96-008

placed in a pocket-like portion of said Siloxane film.

14. The Siloxane film of claim 11, comprising an array or matrix of optical elements.

18. Method for making a Siloxane film for protection of part of the light emitting portion of an organic light emitting device, said Siloxane film having color conversion elements or color filters, said method comprising the steps of

forming containers in said Siloxane film, and

filling said containers with a dye, preferably a color conversion dye.