Organic electroluminescent device having a protective covering comprising organic and inorganic layers

• US 6,198,217 B1
• Filed: 05/08/1998
• Issued: 03/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: JOLED Inc.
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Hori, Yoshikazu, Suzuki, Mutsumi, Fukuyama, Masao
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Nimeshkumar D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HAYNES, MACK NELSON
• Application Number:
  US09/074,421
• Time in Patent Office: 1,033 Days
• Field of Search: 313/501, 313/504, 313/505, 313/506, 313/507, 313/509, 313/512
• US Class Current: 313/504
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 33/04 Sealing arrangements , e.g. against humidity
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/844 Encapsulations

Abstract

An organic electroluminescent device comprises an electroluminescent unit having an organic layer structure provided between a pair of electrodes and capable of emitting light on application of a voltage thereto. The electroluminescent unit is covered with a protective double layer made of an organic barrier layer and an inorganic barrier layer formed on the unit in this order.

Claims

1. In an organic electroluminescent device comprising an electroluminescent unit including a pair of electrodes and an organic layer structure provided between the pair of electrodes and capable of emitting light on application of a voltage thereto via the pair of electrodes, and a dual layer protective covering formed on said electrolumescent unit, wherein said dual layer consists of a single organic barrier layer covering and in contact with said electroluminescent unit and a single inorganic barrier layer formed on said organic barrier layer.

2. An organic electroluminescent device according to claim 1, further comprising a substrate on which said electroluminescent unit is formed.

3. An organic electroluminescent device according to claim 1, wherein said organic barrier layer is made of a photocured resin.

4. An organic electroluminescent device according to claim 1, wherein said organic barrier layer is made of a material having a glass transition point, and is thermally treated at or near the glass transition point.

5. An organic electroluminescent device according to claim 1, wherein said organic barrier layer is made of a thermoplastic resin, and is thermally treated at or near a softening temperature of the resin.

6. An organic electroluminescent device according to claim 1, wherein said organic barrier layer is formed by a vapor phase technique.

7. An organic electroluminescent device according to claim 1, wherein said organic barrier layer has a thickness of 0.5 μ

m or over.

8. An organic electroluminescent device according to claim 1, wherein said inorganic barrier layer is made of a member selected from the group consisting of oxides and nitrides.

9. An organic electroluminescent device according to claim 1, wherein said inorganic barrier layer is made of a metal.

10. An organic electroluminescent device according to claim 1, wherein said inorganic barrier layer is formed according to a vapor phase technique.

11. An organic electroluminescent device according to claim 1, further comprising a low moisture-permeable substrate or film bonded to said device.

12. An organic electroluminescent device according to claim 11, wherein said substrate is bonded to said device so that said substrate is not in contact with said electroluminescent unit.