Transport balancing diffusion layer for rate limited scavenging systems

• US 6,977,391 B2
• Filed: 09/25/2003
• Issued: 12/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Pictiva Displays International Limited (f/k/a Dolya Holdco 5 Limited) (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Osram Opto Semiconductors GmbH (Ams-Osram AG)
• Inventors: Frischknecht, Kyle D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Thao P.
• Application Number:
  US10/672,546
• Publication Number:
  US 20050067718A1
• Time in Patent Office: 817 Days
• Field of Search: 257/787
• US Class Current: 257/40
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 23/26 including materials for absorbing or reacting with moisture or other undesired substances , e.g. getters
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/0002 Not covered by any one of groups H01L24/00, H01L24/00 and H01L2224/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/12044 OLED
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/841 Self-supporting sealing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/844 Encapsulations
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/846 comprising getter material or desiccants
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/871 Self-supporting sealing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/873 Encapsulations
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/874 including getter material or desiccant

Abstract

An embodiment of an encapsulated organic optoelectronic device is described. The encapsulated device includes an organic optoelectronic device on a substrate and that organic optoelectronic device has a cathode. The encapsulated device further includes a diffusion layer that is on the organic optoelectronic device and that diffusion layer covers exposed areas of the organic optoelectronic device. An adhesive layer is on the substrate and is around a perimeter of the diffusion layer. An encapsulation lid is on the adhesive layer, and a getter is on the encapsulation lid such that the getter overlies the organic optoelectronic device. The diffusion layer slows a rate of absorption of reactive gasses by the cathode and increases a proportion of the reactive gasses absorbed by the getter relative to the cathode.

Claims

1. An encapsulated organic optoelectronic device, comprising:

a substrate;

an organic optoelectronic device on said substrate, said organic optoelectronic device includes a cathode;

a diffusion layer on said organic optoelectronic device, said diffusion layer covers exposed areas of said organic optoelectronic device;

an adhesive layer on said substrate and around a perimeter of said diffusion layer, wherein said adhesive layer is separated from said diffusion layer by a gap such that said adhesive layer does not physically contact said diffusion layer;

an encapsulation lid on said adhesive layer, said encapsulation lid forming a cavity around said organic optoelectronic device such that there is a gap between said encapsulation lid and said diffusion laver; and

a getter on said encapsulation lid, said getter overlies said organic optoelectronic device,

wherein said diffusion layer slows a rate of absorption of reactive gasses by said cathode and increases a proportion of said reactive gasses absorbed by said getter relative to said cathode.

2. The encapsulated organic optoelectronic device of claim 1 wherein said diffusion layer is a solvent-free organic polymer layer.

3. The encapsulated organic optoelectronic device of claim 1 wherein said diffusion layer is a solvent-free UV-curable acrylate material.

4. The encapsulated organic optoelectronic device of claim 1, wherein said diffusion layer is a UV-curable or thermally-curable solvent-free epoxy.

5. The encapsulated organic optoelectronic device of claim 1 wherein said diffusion layer is a solvent-free photoresist.

6. The encapsulated organic optoelectronic device of claim 1 wherein said reactive gasses are oxygen and moisture.

7. The encapsulated organic optoelectronic device of claim 1 wherein said getter has a relatively slow rate of absorption compared to a rate of absorption of said cathode.

8. The encapsulated organic optoelectronic device of claim 1 wherein said organic optoelectronic device is any one of:

an OLED display, an organic light sensor array, an organic solar cell array, or an organic laser.

9. The encapsulated organic optoelectronic device of claim 1, wherein said diffusion layer does not physically contact said getter.

10. An encapsulated organic optoelectronic device, comprising:

a substrate;

an organic optoelectronic device on said substrate, said organic optoelectronic device including a cathode;

a diffusion layer on said organic optoelectronic device, said diffusion layer covering exposed areas of said organic optoelectronic device;

an adhesive layer on said substrate and around a perimeter of said diffusion layer;

an encapsulation lid on said adhesive layer; and

a getter on said encapsulation lid, wherein said getter overlies said organic optoelectronic device, said getter is spaced from said diffusion layer by a gap, and said encapsulation lid with said getter forms a cavity around said organic optoelectronic device.