Organic light emitting devices for illumination

• US 20040032205A1
• Filed: 08/16/2002
• Published: 02/19/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Universal Display Corporation
• Original Assignee: Universal Display Corporation
• Inventors: Weaver, Michael S., Hack, Michael, Lu, Min-Hao Michael
• Granted Patent: US 7,663,300 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 313/504
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2105/00 Planar light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/15 Organic light-emitting diodes [OLED]
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/85 Arrangements for extracting light from the devices
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/35 comprising red-green-blue [RGB] subpixels
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/875 Arrangements for extracting light from the devices

Abstract

An organic light emitting device is provided. The device has a plurality of regions, each region having an organic emissive layer adapted to emit a different spectrum of light. The regions in combination emit light suitable for illumination purposes. The area of each region may be selected such that the device is more efficient that an otherwise equivalent device having regions of equal size. The regions may have an aspect ratio of at least about four. All parts of any given region may be driven at the same current.

Claims

1. An organic light emitting device, comprising:

a plurality of regions, each region having an organic emissive layer adapted to emit a different spectrum of light;

wherein the regions in combination emit light suitable for illumination purposes; and

wherein the area of each region is selected such that the device is more efficient that an otherwise equivalent device having regions of equal size.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein there are regions adapted to emit three different spectra of light, and the spectra emitted by the regions in combination has a CRI of at least 80.

3. The device of claim 2, the spectra emitted by the regions in combination has a CRI of at least 95 and a CIE of (0.33±

0.02, 0.33±

0.02).

4. The device of claim 2, wherein the spectra emitted by the regions in combination has a CRI of at least 98.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein there are regions adapted to emit two different spectra of light, and the light emitted by the regions in combination has a CRI of at least 80, and a CIE of (0.33±

0.04, 0.33±

0.07).

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the combination of spectra emitted by all regions results in light that appears white to a viewer without the use of a diffuser.

7. The device of claim 1, further comprising a diffuser disposed near the plurality of regions.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the relative areas of the regions are selected to enhance the lifetime of the region having the lowest expected lifetime.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the relative areas of the regions are selected to enhance the luminous flux of the least efficient region.

10. The device of claim 2, wherein the first spectra of light is red, and the second spectra of light is green, and the third spectra of light is blue.

11. The device of claim 2, wherein the regions have areas such that, when the organic emissive layer of each region is driven at a current selected to optimize device efficiency, the combination of the spectra emitted by the regions results in light having a CRI of at least 95 and a CIE of (0.33±

0.02, 0.33±

0.02).

12. The device of claim 1, further comprising color correction circuitry adapted to individually control the current passing through each region to correct for any differential aging of the regions.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the color correction circuitry includes photodetectors integrated with the different regions.

14. The device of claim 12, wherein the color correction circuitry includes photodetectors external to the different regions.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein each region is driven in DC mode from a constant current source.

16. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is incorporated into a light source adapted to provide illumination.

17. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the organic light emitting layers is phosphorescent.

18. The device of claim 1, wherein the light emitted by the device may be controlled by voice commands.

19. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is transparent.

20. The device of claim 1, further comprising controls with which a user may adjust the intensity of emitted light.

21. The device of claim 1, further comprising controls with which a user may adjust the hue of emitted light.

22. The device of claim 1, wherein organic vapor jet deposition is used to deposit the organic layers of the organic light emitting devices.

23. The device of claim 1, wherein each region is fabricated using the same materials and processes, except for the organic emissive layer of each region.

24. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is a bottom emitting device, and at least 50 percent of the surface area of the device emits light.

25. The device of claim 24, wherein at least 70 percent of the surface area of the device emits light.

26. An organic light emitting device, comprising:

(a) a first region having an organic emissive layer adapted to emit a first spectrum of light;

(b) a second region having an organic emissive layer adapted to emit a second spectrum of light;

(c) a third region having an organic emissive layer adapted to emit a third spectrum of light;

wherein the regions in combination emit light suitable for illumination purposes.

27. An organic light emitting device, comprising:

(a) a first region having an organic emissive layer adapted to emit a first spectrum of light;

(b) a second region having an organic emissive layer adapted to emit a second spectrum of light;

wherein the regions in combination emit light suitable for illumination purposes.

28. The device of claim 27, wherein the combination of the spectra emitted by the first and second regions results in light having a CRI of at least 80 and a CIE of (0.33±

0.04, 0.33±

0.07).

29. The device of claim 27, wherein the first spectrum of light is blue, and the second spectrum of light is yellow.

30. An organic light emitting device, comprising:

a plurality of regions, each region having an organic emissive layer adapted to emit a different spectrum of light;

wherein the regions in combination emit light suitable for illumination purposes; and

wherein the regions have an aspect ratio of at least four to one.

31. An organic light emitting device, comprising:

a plurality of regions, each region having an organic emissive layer adapted to emit a different spectrum of light;

wherein the regions in combination emit light suitable for illumination purposes; and

wherein all parts of any given region are all driven at substantially the same current density.

32. An organic light emitting device, comprising:

a plurality of regions, each region having an organic emissive layer adapted to emit a different spectrum of light;

wherein the regions in combination emit light suitable for illumination purposes; and

wherein the device is a bottom emitting device, and at least 70% of the surface area of the device emits light.

33. A device, comprising:

a plurality of regions disposed on a substrate, each region having an organic emissive layer adapted to emit a different spectrum of light; and

a means disposed on the substrate for adjusting the relative light output from each of the plurality of regions.