OLED LIGHT SOURCE

• US 20090206761A1
• Filed: 02/19/2008
• Published: 08/20/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BOE Technology Group Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Heller, Christian Maria Anton
• Granted Patent: US 8,115,399 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/169.300
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/80 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/80 Constructional details

Abstract

Organic light emitting diode (OLED) light source includes a plurality of stacked organic light emitting diode units comprised of a removable topmost organic light emitting diode unit and one or more removable underlying organic light emitting diode units. A power source is in electrical communication with the anode and the cathode of the topmost organic light emitting diode unit, wherein the underlying organic light emitting diode units are free from contact with the power source. As such, each OLED is sequentially operated upon removal of the topmost OLED unit, thereby providing redundancy as well as extending the operating lifetime of the OLED light source. Also disclosed are processes for operating the OLED light source.

Claims

1. An organic light emitting diode light source, comprising

a plurality of stacked organic light emitting diode devices comprised of a removable topmost organic light emitting diode device and one or more removable underlying organic light, emitting diode devices, each organic light emitting diode device comprising an anode, a cathode, at least one light emitting layer disposed between the anode and the cathode, and a substrate;

and

a power source in electrical communication with the anode and the cathode of the topmost organic light emitting diode device, wherein the underlying organic light emitting diode devices are free from contact with the power source.

2. The organic light emitting diode light source of claim 1, wherein the removable organic light emitting diode devices further comprises an adhesive disposed therebetween, wherein the topmost organic light emitting diode device is removable relative to the one or more underlying organic light emitting diode devices.

3. The organic light emitting diode light source of claim 2, wherein the adhesive is a pressure sensitive adhesive.

4. The organic light emitting diode light source of claim 2, wherein the adhesive is selected from the group consisting of rubber pressure-sensitive adhesives, acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesives, polyester pressure-sensitive adhesives, urethane pressure-sensitive adhesives, polyamide pressure-sensitive adhesives, epoxy pressure-sensitive adhesives, vinyl alkyl ether pressure-sensitive adhesives, silicone pressure-sensitive adhesives, fluorine-containing pressure-sensitive adhesives, and mixtures thereof.

5. The organic light emitting diode light source of claim 1, wherein the organic light emitting diode devices are configured to emit visible light.

6. The organic light emitting diode light source of claim 1, wherein the organic light emitting diode devices are configured to emit white light.

7. The organic light emitting diode light source of claim 1, wherein the organic light emitting diode devices are configured to emit light at different wavelengths.

8. The organic light emitting diode light source of claim 1, wherein the organic light emitting diode devices are configured to emit light at similar wavelengths.

9. The organic light emitting diode light source of claim 1, wherein the power source comprises spring loaded contacts in electrical communication with the anode and the cathode of the topmost organic light emitting diode device.

10. The organic light emitting diode light source of claim 9, wherein the spring-loaded contacts are configured to contact the anode and the cathode of the underlying organic light emitting diode device upon removal of the topmost organic light emitting diode device.

11. The organic light emitting diode light source of claim 1, further comprising a barrier layer disposed on the organic light emitting diode devices.

12. The organic light emitting diode light source of claim 1, wherein the organic light emitting diode devices are flexible.

13. The organic light emitting diode light source of claim 1, wherein the removable topmost organic light emitting diode device and the one or more removable underlying organic light emitting diode devices are electrostatically attached.

14. The organic light emitting diode light source of claim 1, wherein the removable topmost organic light emitting diode device and the one or more removable underlying organic light emitting diode devices are magnetically attached.

15. A process operating an organic light emitting diode light source, the process comprising:

stacking a plurality of organic light emitting diode devices, wherein the stacked organic light emitting diode devices comprise a topmost organic light emitting diode device and one or more underlying organic light emitting diode devices, each organic light emitting diode device comprising an anode, a cathode, and at least one light emitting layer disposed between the anode and the cathode; and

selectively contacting a power source in electrical communication with the anode and the cathode of the topmost organic light emitting diode device, wherein the power source is configured to contact the underlying organic light emitting diode devices upon removal of the topmost organic light emitting diode device.

16. The process of claim 15, wherein stacking the plurality of organic light emitting diode devices comprises disposing an adhesive between each one of the organic light emitting diode devices, wherein the adhesive is selected to permit release of the topmost organic light emitting diode device relative to the underlying organic light emitting diode device.

17. The process of claim 15, wherein stacking the plurality of organic light emitting diode devices comprises magnetically attracting the organic light emitting diode devices to form the stack.

18. The process of claim 15, wherein stacking the plurality of organic light emitting diode devices comprises electrostatically attracting the organic light emitting diode devices to form the stack

19. The process of claim 15, wherein the power source sequentially contacts the underlying organic light emitting diode devices upon removal thereof.

20. The process of claim 15, wherein the power source comprises spring loaded contacts in electrical communication with the anode and the cathode of the topmost organic light emitting diode device.