MULTI-STRUCTURE CATHODE FOR FLEXIBLE ORGANIC LIGHT EMITTING DIODE (OLED) DEVICE AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME
First Claim
1. A method for making a flexible, organic electroluminescent device, the method comprising:
- forming a continuous anode layer on a portion of the planar upper surface of a flexible substrate;
forming on a portion of the continuous anode layer, an organic layer including one or more organic light emitting materials;
forming a continuous cathode layer on the organic layer, the continuous cathode layer defining a first thickness above the organic layer; and
forming on the continuous cathode layer a discontinuous cathode layer, the discontinuous cathode layer defining a second thickness above the continuous cathode layer, the second thickness varying as a function of its coordinates in a virtual plane parallel to the plane defined by the planar upper surface of the substrate.
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Abstract
Described is a method for making a flexible OLED lighting device. The method includes forming a plurality of OLED elements on a flexible planar substrate, each of the OLED elements including a continuous respective anode layer formed over the substrate. One or more organic light emitting materials is formed over the anode layer; a continuous cathode layer having a first thickness is formed over the light emitting materials; and a discontinuous cathode layer having a second thickness is formed over the continuous cathode layer. An encapsulating protective cover may be formed over the cathode layers. Each of the OLED elements defines a bendable, continuous light region on the substrate, wherein the substrate and combination of OLED elements define an OLED device that more effectively dissipates heat and has an active light area that is bendable.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method for making a flexible, organic electroluminescent device, the method comprising:
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forming a continuous anode layer on a portion of the planar upper surface of a flexible substrate; forming on a portion of the continuous anode layer, an organic layer including one or more organic light emitting materials; forming a continuous cathode layer on the organic layer, the continuous cathode layer defining a first thickness above the organic layer; and forming on the continuous cathode layer a discontinuous cathode layer, the discontinuous cathode layer defining a second thickness above the continuous cathode layer, the second thickness varying as a function of its coordinates in a virtual plane parallel to the plane defined by the planar upper surface of the substrate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A flexible, organic electroluminescent device, comprising:
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a flexible planar substrate defining an upper surface; a continuous anode layer formed on the upper surface of the substrate; an organic layer including one or more organic light emitting materials formed on the anode layer; a continuous cathode layer formed on the organic layer, the continuous cathode layer defining a first thickness above the anode layer; and a discontinuous cathode layer defining a second thickness above the continuous cathode layer, the second thickness varying as a function of the coordinates of the discontinuous cathode layer in a plane parallel to the plane defined by the upper surface of the substrate. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A flexible, organic electroluminescent device made by the process comprising:
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forming a continuous anode layer on a portion of the planar upper surface of a flexible substrate; forming on a portion of the continuous anode layer, an organic layer including one or more organic light emitting materials; forming a continuous cathode layer on the organic layer, the continuous cathode layer defining a first thickness above the organic layer; and forming on the continuous cathode layer a discontinuous cathode layer, the discontinuous cathode layer defining a second thickness above the continuous cathode layer, the second thickness varying as a function of its coordinates in a virtual plane parallel to the plane defined by the planar upper surface of the substrate.
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Specification