Organic light emitting device with conducting cover

• US 8,766,517 B2
• Filed: 02/03/2010
• Issued: 07/01/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Universal Display Corporation
• Original Assignee: Universal Display Corporation
• Inventors: Silvernail, Jeffrey, Paynter, Jason, Rajan, Kamala
• Primary Examiner(s): WALFORD, NATALIE K
• Application Number:
  US13/575,837
• Publication Number:
  US 20120319553A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,609 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 313/46
• 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 50/8423 Metallic sealing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/87 Arrangements for heating or cooling

Abstract

The claimed invention was made by, on behalf of, and/or in connection with one or more of the following parties to a joint university corporation research agreement: Princeton University, The University of Southern California, The University of Michigan and Universal Display Corporation. The agreement was in effect on and before the date the claimed invention was made, and the claimed invention was made as a result of activities undertaken within the scope of the agreement.

Claims

1. An organic light emitting device (OLED) configured to emit light uniformly over an emitting area, the OLED comprising:

a substrate;

an electrode disposed over the substrate;

a light-emitting structure comprising an organic material, the light-emitting structure in contact with the electrode;

an electrically conductive cover disposed over the electrode; and

an electrically conductive connecting material disposed between the electrically conductive cover and the electrode and providing an electrically conductive path connecting the electrically conductive cover and the electrode.

2. The OLED of claim 1, wherein the electrode is configured as one of an anode or a cathode for the light emitting structure.

3. The OLED of claim 1, wherein, the electrode is essentially transparent to the emitted light.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the electrically conductive cover is essentially transparent to the emitted light.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the electrically conductive connecting material comprises at least one of a conductive adhesive, a conductive elastomer, a conductive polymer, a conductive epoxy, or a mechanical connector.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the mechanical connector comprises at least one of an electrically conducting wire or an electrically conducting spring.

7. The device of claim 1 further comprising a heat-conductive material filling a space between the electrically conductive cover and the substrate.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the heat-conductive material comprises at least one of a solid or a liquid.

17. The device of claim 1, wherein the electrically conductive cover is attached to the OLED by adhesive.

18. The organic light emitting device of claim 1, wherein the light emitting structure is disposed between the substrate and the electrically conductive cover.

9. A method for fabricating an organic light-emitting device (OLED) with uniform light emission over an emitting area, comprising:

disposing an electrode on a substrate;

fabricating a light emitting structure comprising an organic material, the light emitting structure in contact with the electrode;

placing an electrically conductive connection material in contact with the electrode; and

disposing an electrically conductive cover over the electrode and in contact with the electrically conductive connection material, forming an electrically conductive path that includes the cover, the electrically conductive connection material, and the electrode.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the electrode is configured as one of an anode or a cathode for the light emitting structure.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the disposing of an electrode comprises disposing an electrode essentially transparent to the emitted light.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the fabricating of an electrically conductive cover comprises fabricating a cover essentially transparent to the emitted light.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the electrically conductive connection material comprises at least one of a conductive adhesive, a conductive elastomer, a conductive polymer, a conductive epoxy, or a mechanical connector.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the mechanical connector comprises at least one of an electrically conducting wire or an electrically conducting spring.

15. The method of claim 9, further comprising disposing a heat conductive material within a space between the electrically conductive cover and the substrate.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the heat-conductive material comprises at least one of a solid or a liquid.