ELECTRONIC DEVICES WITH IMPROVED SHELF LIVES

• US 20130334510A1
• Filed: 06/13/2013
• Published: 12/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Universal Display Corporation
• Original Assignee: Universal Display Corporation
• Inventors: Mandlik, Prashant, Ma, Ruiqing, Harikrishna Mohan, Siddharth
• Granted Patent: US 9,991,463 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 257/40
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/00 Organic light-emitting devices integrated devices or assemblies of multiple devices H10K59/00, H10K65/00; organic semiconductor lasers H01S5/36
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/11 characterised by the electroluminescent [EL] layers
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/80 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/805 Electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/814 combined with auxiliary electrodes, e.g. ITO layer combined with metal lines
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/844 Encapsulations
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/80 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/80516 combined with auxiliary electrodes, e.g. ITO layer combined with metal lines
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/873 Encapsulations

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide electronic devices such as OLEDs that have enhanced mechanical integrity and prolonged shelf, by minimizing the spread of a delamination region using topographical non-uniformities introduced in the device structure. For example, a device may be made deliberately non-planar by introducing multiple energy barriers which can prevent or minimize the propagation of a delamination, because the delamination will have to cross the energy barriers in order to spread to a larger area.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a substrate;

a first electrode disposed over the substrate;

an organic emissive layer disposed over the first electrode;

a second electrode disposed over the organic emissive layer;

a barrier film disposed over the first electrode, the organic emissive layer, and the second electrode, and in conformal contact with a layer immediately below the barrier film; and

a topographically non-planar layer disposed between the substrate and the barrier film.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the non-planar layer is disposed between the anode and the organic emissive layer.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the cathode is disposed above the anode.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the non-planar layer is disposed between the substrate and the organic emissive layer.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the non-planar layer is disposed adjacent to the organic emissive layer.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the non-planar layer is disposed adjacent to the first electrode.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the non-planar layer is disposed adjacent to the first electrode.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the organic emissive layer comprises a plurality of pixels.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the non-planar layer physically separates separate pixels within the organic emissive layer.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the non-planar layer comprises a grid structure.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the non-planar layer comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of:

a metal, an organic, and an inorganic.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the non-planar layer is disposed between the first electrode and the organic emissive layer.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the organic emissive layer is a blanket layer.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein the non-planar layer comprises a grooved layer.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein the non-planar layer is disposed immediately over the substrate.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein each layer disposed over the non-planar layer topographically follows the contour of the non-planar layer.

17. The device of claim 1, wherein the non-planar layer comprises a topographical non-uniformity having a wall that makes an angle relative to the substrate of not more than 90 degrees.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the non-uniformity is in physical contact with the substrate.

19. The device of claim 1, wherein the non-planar layer comprises a topographical non-uniformity having an upper portion that extends over and beyond a lower portion.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein the barrier film conformally coats the topographical non-uniformity.

21. The device of claim 19, wherein the organic emissive layer is disposed over the topographical non-uniformity.

22. The device of claim 21, wherein a region under the upper portion of the topographical non-uniformity is not filled by the organic emissive layer.

23. A device comprising:

a substrate;

an anode disposed over the substrate;

a topographically non-planar layer disposed over the anode;

an organic emissive layer disposed over the non-planar layer;

a cathode disposed over the organic emissive layer; and

a barrier film disposed over and in conformal contact with the cathode.