Light emitting device using dual light emitting stacks to achieve full-color emission

• US 6,166,489 A
• Filed: 09/15/1998
• Issued: 12/26/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Princeton University, University of Southern California
• Original Assignee: The Trustees of Princeton University (Princeton University), University of Southern California
• Inventors: Forrest, Stephen R., Thompson, Mark, Gu, Gong
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Nimeshkumar D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILLIAMS, JOSEPH L
• Application Number:
  US09/153,349
• Time in Patent Office: 833 Days
• Field of Search: 313/506, 313/504, 313/501, 313/503, 313/509, 313/512, 313/112, 428/690, 428/704, 428/917, 428/457, 428/332, 428/213, 257/40, 257/88, 257/10
• US Class Current: 313/506
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/125 specially adapted for multicolour light emission, e.g. for emitting white light
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/32 Stacked devices having two or more layers, each emitting at different wavelengths
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/35 comprising red-green-blue [RGB] subpixels

Abstract

Light emitting devices including at least one pixel comprising a first light emitting stack and a second light emitting stack placed side-by-side. The first and second light emitting stacks each comprise a first OLED and a second OLED over the first OLED. The first light emitting stack further includes a downconversion layer under the first OLED. Together, the first and second stacks are capable of emitting any visible color of light.

Claims

1. A light emitting device that includes a pixel comprising:

a first light emitting stack and a second light emitting stack;

wherein

said first and second light emitting stacks are placed side-by-side;

said first and second light emitting stacks each comprise a first OLED and a second OLED over said first OLED;

said first light emitting stack includes a downconversion layer under said first OLED; and

together, said first and second light emitting stacks are capable of emitting any visible color of light.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein a wavelength of light emitted by at least one of said first and second OLEDs is less than a wavelength of light emitted by said downconversion layer.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein said first OLED emits substantially blue light.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein said second OLED emits substantially red light.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein said downconversion layer is a green downconversion layer.

6. The device of claim 3, wherein said second OLED emits substantially green light.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein said downconversion layer is a red downconversion layer.

8. The device of claim 1, further comprising a substrate under said first and second light emitting stacks.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein said downconversion layer is located between said substrate and said first OLED of each of said first light emitting stacks.

10. The device of claim 8, wherein said downconversion layer is located under said substrate.

11. The device of claim 8, wherein said substrate is glass.

12. The device of claim 8, further comprising a planarization layer between said substrate and said first and second light emitting stacks.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein said planarization layer comprises polyimide.

14. The device of claim 8, further comprising

a first electrode between said substrate and said first OLED;

a second electrode between said first and second OLEDs; and

a third electrode over said second OLED.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein at least one of said first and second electrodes comprises indium tin oxide.

16. The device of claim 14, wherein said third electrode comprises a metal selected from the group consisting of aluminum, silver, gold, and alloys thereof.

17. An electronic device incorporating the device of claim 1, said electronic device selected from the group consisting of a computer;

a television;

a large area wall, theater or stadium screen;

a billboard;

a sign;

a vehicle;

a printer;

a telecommunication device; and

a telephone.

18. A pixel for use in a light emitting device, said pixel comprising:

a first light emitting stack and a second light emitting stack;

wherein

said first and second light emitting stacks are placed side-by-side in each of said pixels;

each of said first and second light emitting stacks comprises a first OLED and a second OLED over said first OLED;

each of said first light emitting stacks includes a downconversion layer under said first OLED; and

together, said first and second light emitting stacks are capable of emitting any visible color of light.

19. A light emitting device comprising:

a first light emitting stack and a second light emitting stack;

wherein

said first and second light emitting stacks are placed side-by-side;

said first and second light emitting stacks each comprise a first OLED and a second OLED over said first OLED;

said first light emitting stack includes a downconversion layer under said first OLED; and

together, said first and second light emitting stacks are capable of emitting any visible color of light.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein a wavelength of light emitted by at least one of said first and second OLEDs is less than a wavelength of light emitted by said downconversion layer.