System and method for a flexible display encapsulation

• US 9,502,681 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2012
• Issued: 11/22/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Universal Display Corporation
• Original Assignee: Universal Display Corporation
• Inventors: Hack, Michael, Brown, Julia J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shamsuzzaman, Mohammed
• Application Number:
  US13/719,262
• Publication Number:
  US 20140166992A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,434 Days
• Field of Search: 257/40, 345/76, 313/512, 136/256
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/844 Encapsulations
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/873 Encapsulations
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 71/00 Manufacture or treatment specially adapted for the organic devices covered by this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 77/111 Flexible substrates

Abstract

Provided is an OLED device that is rollable and has a rollable protective covering to protect the OLED when rolled. The rollable protective covering may include a single layer barrier and a plastic lid. The single layer barrier may provide permeation protection to the OLED in the OLED device. The protective covering provides mechanical protection to the OLED device when rolled. The protective covering and the OLED may be fabricated separately and assembled afterwards.

Claims

1. A rollable device, comprising:

a rollable OLED;

a rollable plastic lid laminated on to the rollable OLED, the rollable plastic lid comprising;

a plastic lid layer;

a single layer barrier disposed on a first side of the plastic lid layer, the single layer barrier to prevent at least one of moisture and oxygen from contacting the OLED; and

a rollable hardcoat disposed on a second side of the plastic lid layer opposite to the first side to provide mechanical protection,

wherein the single layer barrier is disposed between the rollable OLED and the the plastic lid layer; and

wherein the rollable device has a radius of curvature that is less than 30 cm and is capable of being curved to overlap itself more than one complete revolution.

2. The rollable device as recited in claim 1, wherein the rollable OLED is a rollable display.

3. The rollable device as recited in claim 1, wherein the rollable OLED is a rollable lighting device.

4. The rollable device as recited in claim 1, wherein the single layer barrier has a permeation to water of not more than 10⁻

5 g/m²/day.

5. The rollable device as recited in claim 1, wherein the device is a device type selected from the group consisting of:

a touchscreen, a flat panel display, a computer monitor, a medical monitor, a television, a billboard, a general illumination device, a signal, a heads up display, a fully transparent display, a flexible display, a laser printer, a telephone, a cell phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a laptop computer, a digital camera, a camcorder, a viewfinder, a microdisplay, a vehicle, a large area wall, a theater, a stadium screen, and a sign.

6. The rollable device as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a display and a light source.

11. The rollable device of claim 1, wherein the rollable single layer barrier comprises a mixture of a polymeric material and a non-polymeric material.

7. A method of fabricating a rollable device, comprising:

a rollable OLED;

obtaining a rollable plastic lid;

depositing a rollable single layer barrier on a first surface of the rollable plastic lid at a first location, the rollable single layer barrier to prevent at least one of moisture and oxygen from contacting the rollable OLED;

applying a hardcoat on a second surface of the rollable plastic lid opposite to the first surface to provide mechanical protection;

laminating the rollable plastic lid with the rollable single layer barrier on to the rollable OLED at a second location remote from the first location,

wherein the single layer barrier is disposed between the rollable OLED and the rollable plastic lid; and

wherein the rollable device has a radius of curvature that is less than 30 cm and is capable of being curved to overlap itself more than one complete revolution.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein rollable the single layer barrier is in physical contact with the rollable OLED after the plastic lid is laminated on the rollable OLED.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

applying the hard coat to the rollable plastic lid prior to depositing the rollable single layer barrier on the rollable plastic lid.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the rollable device is a device type selected from the group consisting of:

a touchscreen, a flat panel display, a computer monitor, a medical monitor, a television, a billboard, a general illumination device, a signal, a heads up display, a fully transparent display, a flexible display, a laser printer, a telephone, a cell phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a laptop computer, a digital camera, a camcorder, a viewfinder, a microdisplay, a vehicle, a large area wall, a theater, a stadium screen, and a sign.