Serially connecting OLED devices for area illumination

• US 20040032220A1
• Filed: 08/07/2002
• Published: 02/19/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Global OLED Technology LLC (LG Display Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Tyan, Yuan-Sheng, Cok, Ronald S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,034,470 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/291
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2105/00 Planar light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/15 Organic light-emitting diodes [OLED]
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/84 Parallel electrical configurations of multiple OLEDs
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/86 Series electrical configurations of multiple OLEDs

Abstract

An area illumination apparatus, including a multiplicity of spaced-apart OLED devices electrically connected in series including a common substrate and each OLED device formed simultaneously over the common substrates; and a power source connected to the first and last of the series of spaced-apart OLED devices.

Claims

1. An area illumination apparatus, comprising

(a) a multiplicity of spaced-apart OLED devices electrically connected in series including a common substrate and each OLED device formed simultaneously over the common substrates;

and

(b) a power source connected to the first and last of the series of spaced-apart OLED devices.

2. The area illumination apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the power source is 120 Volts alternating single-phase current at 60 Hz and is connected directly to the area illuminating apparatus.

3. The area illuminating apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the power source is 240 Volts alternating single-phase current at 50 Hz and is connected directly to the area illuminating apparatus.

4. The area illuminating apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a socket and wherein the power source is connected through the socket to the area illuminating apparatus.

5. The area illuminating apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the common substrate is removably insertable into the socket.

6. The area illuminating apparatus according to claim 1 further including means for adjusting the power provided by the power source.

7. The area illuminating apparatus according to claim 6 further comprising a socket and power modification circuitry for adjusting the power from the power source and wherein the power modification circuitry is disposed within the socket.

8. The area illuminating apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the power modification circuitry for adjusting the power from the power source includes a half-wave or full-wave rectifier.

9. The area illuminating apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the power modification circuitry for adjusting the power from the power source includes a shunt capacitor across the series-connected OLED devices.

10. The area illuminating apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the power modification circuitry for adjusting the power from the power source includes a bridge rectifier.

11. The area illuminating apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the bridge rectifier is full-wave bridge rectifier.

12. The area illuminating apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the full-wave bridge rectifier includes diodes.

13. An area illumination apparatus according to claim 1 wherein:

(a) the plurality of spaced-apart OLED devices including the common substrate and each spaced apart OLED devices formed simultaneously over the common substrate eachwherein each spaced apart OLED devices including spaced apart bottom electrodes disposed over the substrate;

(b) each one of the spaced apart OLED devices including at least one organic layer extending over an edge of its corresponding spaced apart bottom electrode; and

(c) each one of the plurality of OLED devices including a top electrode spaced apart from the other top electrodes and extending into electrical contact with the spaced apart bottom electrode of a neighboring OLED device so that a series connection of OLED devices is provided and current flows between the spaced apart top and bottom electrodes of each OLED device and from the spaced apart bottom electrode of such OLED device to the spaced apart top electrode of the next OLED device which reduces power loss due to series resistance.

14. The area illumination apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the power source is 120 Volts alternating single-phase current at 60 Hz and is connected directly to the area illuminating apparatus.

15. The area illuminating apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the power source is 240 Volts alternating single-phase current at 50 Hz and is connected directly to the area illuminating apparatus.

16. The area illuminating apparatus according to claim 13 further comprising a socket and wherein the power source is connected through the socket to the area illuminating apparatus.

17. The area illuminating apparatus according to claim 16 wherein the common substrate is removably insertable into the socket.

18. The area illuminating apparatus according to claim 13 further including means for adjusting the power provided by the power source.

19. The area illuminating apparatus according to claim 18 further comprising a socket and power modification circuitry for adjusting the power from the power source and wherein the power apparatus. modification circuitry is disposed within the socket.

20. The area illuminating apparatus according to claim 18 wherein the power modification circuitry for adjusting the power from the power source includes a half-wave or full-wave rectifier.

21. The area illuminating apparatus according to claim 18 wherein the power modification circuitry for adjusting the power from the power source includes a shunt capacitor across the series-connected OLED devices.

22. The area illuminating apparatus according to claim 18 wherein the power modification circuitry for adjusting the power from the power source includes a bridge rectifier.

23. The area illuminating apparatus according to claim 22 wherein the bridge rectifier is full-wave bridge rectifier.

24. The area illuminating apparatus according to claim 23 wherein the full-wave bridge rectifier includes diodes.

43. An area illumination apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each spaced-apart OLED devices is a stacked OLED device.

44. An area illumination apparatus according to claim 43 wherein each spaced-apart OLED device is a stacked OLED device including doped organic connector disposed between neighboring individual light emitting devices.

45. An area illumination apparatus according to claim 43 wherein each spaced-apart OLED device is a stacked OLED device including inter-device electrodes disposed between neighboring individual light emitting devices,

25. An area illumination apparatus, comprising

(a) a plurality of strings of serially connected OLED devices including a common substrate and each OLED device formed simultaneously over the common substrate;

and

(b) a power source connected to the first and last OLED devices in each of the strings of serially connected OLED devices.

26. The area illuminating apparatus according to claim 25 wherein the power source is 120 Volts alternating single-phase current at 60 Hz and is connected directly to the area illuminating apparatus.

27. The area illuminating apparatus according to claim 25 wherein the power source is 240 Volts alternating single-phase current at 50 Hz and is connected directly to the area illuminating apparatus.

28. The area illuminating apparatus according to claim 25 further comprising a socket and wherein the power source is connected through the socket to the area illuminating apparatus.

29. The area illuminating apparatus according to claim 28 wherein the common substrate is removably insertable into the socket.

30. The area illuminating apparatus according to claim 25 further including means for adjusting the power provided by the power source.

31. The area illuminating apparatus according to claim 30 further comprising a socket and power modification circuitry for adjusting the power from the power source and wherein the power modification circuitry is disposed within the socket.

32. The area illuminating apparatus according to claim 30 wherein the power modification circuitry for adjusting the power from the power source includes a half-wave or full-wave rectifier.

33. The area illuminating apparatus according to claim 30 wherein the power modification circuitry for adjusting the power from the power source includes a shunt capacitor across the series-connected OLED devices.

34. The area illuminating apparatus according to claim 30 wherein the power modification circuitry for adjusting the power from the power source includes a bridge rectifier.

35. The area illuminating apparatus according to claim 34 wherein the bridge rectifier is full-wave bridge rectifier.

36. The area illuminating apparatus according to claim 35 wherein the full-wave bridge rectifier includes diodes.

37. The area illumination apparatus according to claim 25 wherein the plurality of strings of serially connected OLED devices are paired and one string of serially connected OLED device of each pair is electrically connected in reverse of the other string of serially connected OLED device in the pair.

38. The area illumination apparatus according to claim 25 wherein the plurality of strings of serially connected OLED devices are grouped in fours and each string of serially connected OLED devices of each group of four is driven sequentially 90 degrees out of phase.

39. The area illuminating apparatus according to claim 25 wherein the plurality of strings of serially connected OLED devices have separate power connections to provide variable lighting.

40. The area illuminating apparatus of claim 39 wherein the separate power connections include a single switch that sequentially powers the plurality of strings of serially connected OLED devices.

42. The area illuminating apparatus according to claim 25 wherein the plurality of strings of serially connected OLED devices produce different colored light.

46. An area illumination apparatus according to claim 25 wherein each spaced-apart OLED devices is a stacked OLED device.

47. An area illumination apparatus according to claim 46 wherein each spaced-apart OLED device is a stacked OLED device including doped organic connector disposed between neighboring individual light emitting devices.

48. An area illumination apparatus according to claim 47 wherein each spaced-apart OLED device is a stacked OLED device including inter-device electrodes disposed between neighboring individual light emitting devices,

41. The area illuminating apparatus according to 25 wherein the plurality of strings of serially connected OLED devices have separate power connections so as to permit variable lighting and the separate power connections include a single switch that sequentially powers the plurality of strings of serially connected OLED devices.