LIGHT-EMITTING DEVICE USING VOLTAGE SWITCHABLE DIELECTRIC MATERIAL

• US 20100270546A1
• Filed: 07/07/2010
• Published: 10/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Littelfuse Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Littelfuse Incorporated
• Inventors: Kosowsky, Lex
• Application Number:
  US12/832,033
• Publication Number:
  US 20100270546A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 257/40
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 25/167 comprising optoelectronic devices, e.g. LED, photodiodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/0002 Not covered by any one of groups H01L24/00, H01L24/00 and H01L2224/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/12044 OLED
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0257 Overvoltage protection
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0259 Electrostatic discharge [ESD] protection
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0373 containing additives, e.g. fillers H05K1/036 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/05 Insulated conductive substrates, e.g. insulated metal substrate
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/167 incorporating printed resistors
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/0738 Use of voltage responsive materials, e.g. voltage switchable dielectric or varistor materials
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10106 Light emitting diode [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/805 Electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/88 Terminals, e.g. bond pads

Abstract

A voltage switchable dielectric material (VSD) material as part of a light-emitting component, including LEDs and OLEDs.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

an array of light-emitting components;

wherein each of the light-emitting components in the array emits light by carrying current between at least a first terminal and a second terminal;

a polymer composition having a characteristic of being (i) a dielectric in absence of a voltage that exceeds a characteristic voltage level of the polymer composition, and (ii) with application of the voltage exceeding the characteristic voltage level, switching into a conductive state for only a duration in which the voltage is present;

wherein the polymer composition is positioned, relative to one or more of the light-emitting components, to provide grounding for the one or more components against any transient voltage that exceeds the characteristic voltage level of the polymer composition.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein each of the light-emitting components of the array is a diode.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein each of the light-emitting components of the array is an organic light-emitting diode.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein each of the light-emitting components of the array is formed from a semiconductor material.

5. The device of claim 3, wherein one or more of the light-emitting components of the array each include a first lead extending from the first terminal, and a second lead extending from a second terminal, and wherein the polymer composition is positioned between and in contact with the first lead and the second lead.

6. The device of claim 1, further comprising a substrate on which the array of light-emitting components is provided, and wherein the polymer composition is provided with the substrate.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein one or more of the light-emitting components of the array are formed from an organic polymer.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the polymer composition is provided to contact a first and/or a second terminal of one or more individual light-emitting components of the array.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the polymer composition is provided to contact, for one or more individual light-emitting components of the array, a first lead extending from a first terminal, or a second lead extending from a second terminal.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein each component of the array has a characteristic breakdown voltage, corresponding to a minimum voltage value that, when applied to that component, causes the component to fail, and wherein the characteristic voltage value of the polymer composition is less than the characteristic breakdown voltage.