Thin-Film Electronic Devices Including Pre-Deformed Compliant Substrate
First Claim
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1. An electronic structure comprising:
- a layer structure comprising;
a flexible substrate;
a buffer layer formed over said flexible substrate;
a metal layer formed over said buffer layer;
said layer structure permanently plastically deformed, said deformation the result of an annealing during which said layer structure in its entirety is heated to an anneal temperature beyond the plastic deformation limit of said layer structure, then cooled; and
a layered electronic device, formed over said layer structure such that the said metal layer forms a first layer of said layered electronic device.
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Abstract
A thin-film layered electronic device, or array of devices, is formed over a layer structure comprising a flexible substrate, a buffer layer, and a metal layer. The layer structure is annealed to permanently deform the layer structure beyond its plastic deformation limit. The thin-film electronic device is formed thereover by a process according to which all steps are performed at a temperature below that at which further plastic deformation of the buffer layer occurs. In-process strain and runout are reduced, improving device yield on flexible substrates. The metal layer forms a first layer of the thin-film layered device, or array of devices.
22 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An electronic structure comprising:
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a layer structure comprising; a flexible substrate; a buffer layer formed over said flexible substrate; a metal layer formed over said buffer layer; said layer structure permanently plastically deformed, said deformation the result of an annealing during which said layer structure in its entirety is heated to an anneal temperature beyond the plastic deformation limit of said layer structure, then cooled; and a layered electronic device, formed over said layer structure such that the said metal layer forms a first layer of said layered electronic device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A thin-film transistor structure, comprising:
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a layer structure comprising; a flexible substrate; a buffer layer formed over said flexible substrate; a metal layer formed over said buffer layer; said layer structure permanently plastically deformed by an annealing during which said layer structure is heated to an anneal temperature beyond the plastic deformation limit of said layer structure, then cooled; and a transistor formed over and in physical contact with said layer structure such that a portion of said metal layer forms a gate structure of said transistor. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A thin-film transistor structure, comprising:
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a layer structure comprising; a flexible substrate; a buffer layer formed over said flexible substrate; a metal layer formed over said buffer layer; said layer structure permanently plastically deformed by an annealing during which said layer structure is heated to an anneal temperature beyond the plastic deformation limit of said layer structure, then cooled; and an array comprising a plurality of electronic devices formed over and in physical contact with said layer structure, at least one of said electronic devices comprising a transistor, such that a portion of said metal layer forms a portion of each of said electronic devices. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification