Segmented organic light emitting device

• US 7,271,534 B2
• Filed: 11/04/2003
• Issued: 09/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Padiyath, Raghunath, Ottman, Jon E., Engler, David A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel; Ashok
• Application Number:
  US10/701,337
• Publication Number:
  US 20050094394A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,414 Days
• Field of Search: 313498-512, 313/3, 313/1
• US Class Current: 313/504
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/805 Electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/18 Tiled displays
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/805 Electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/84 Parallel electrical configurations of multiple OLEDs
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/86 Series electrical configurations of multiple OLEDs
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 71/861 Repairing

Abstract

The invention relates to organic electronic devices and methods of manufacture comprising at least two segments, each segment comprising an organic electronic light-emitting device wherein each segment is defined by peripheral edges; wherein each segment comprises a first electrical contact disposed on a first peripheral edge and a second electrical contact disposed on a different peripheral edge than the first electrical contact and the electrical contacts of each segment are joined in electrical communication with a conductive material.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising at least two segments, each segment comprising an organic electronic light-emitting device comprising a light-emitting layer containing a light-emitting polymer, a doped light-emitting polymer, or a blended light-emitting polymer;

wherein each segment is defined by peripheral edges;

wherein each segment comprises a first electrical contact disposed on a first peripheral edge and a second electrical contact disposed on a different peripheral edge than the first electrical contact and the electrical contacts of each segment are joined in electrical communication with a conductive material.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein the second electrical contact is disposed on a peripheral edge substantially perpendicular to the first peripheral edge.

3. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein the second electrical contact is disposed on a peripheral edge substantially parallel to the first peripheral edge.

4. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein each segment comprises a continuous substrate layer and the substrate layer is discontinuous between segments.

5. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein each segment comprises a light-emitting layer disposed between two conductive layers wherein the conductive layers are electrically isolated.

6. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein the conductive material is flexible.

7. The electronic device of claim 6 wherein the conductive material is selected from a metal foil, a conductive adhesive, metallized polymeric film, and combinations thereof.

8. The electronic device of claim 7 wherein the metal foil comprises copper.

9. The electronic device of claim 6 wherein the conductive material comprises a metal foil adhered to the segments by means of a conductive adhesive.

10. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein the electrical contacts of the segments are joined in series.

11. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein the electrical contacts of the segments are joined in parallel.

12. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein the device comprises a plurality of segments.

13. The electronic device of claim 12 wherein the plurality of segments are joined in a row.

14. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein each segment has a width up to about two inches.

15. The electronic device of claim 14 wherein each segment has a width of at least about ⅛

inch.

16. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein each segment has a length up to about 10 inches.

17. The electronic device of claim 16 wherein each segment has a length of at least about 1 inch.

18. The electronic device of claim 13 wherein a plurality of rows are joined in columns.

19. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein each segment is encapsulated.

20. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein the joined segments are encapsulated.

21. The electronic device of claim 18 wherein the device is a pixilated display.

22. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein said device is a backlight for an article selected from a lamp, a display, a sign, a toy, and personal protection apparel.

23. The electronic device of claim 22 wherein the sign or display includes a fixed or variable message.

24. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein the device emits a single color or multiple colors.

25. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein segments emitting different color light are independently adjustable.

26. An electronic device comprising at least two segments, each segment comprising an organic electronic light-emitting device comprising a light-emitting layer consisting of an organic electroluminescent material containing a small molecule emitter or a light-emitting small molecule doped polymer;

wherein each segment is defined by peripheral edges;

wherein each segment comprises a first electrical contact disposed on a first peripheral edge and a second electrical contact disposed on a different peripheral edge than the first electrical contact and the electrical contacts of each segment are joined in electrical communication with a conductive material.

27. The electronic device of claim 26 wherein each segment has a first dimension ranging from about ⅛

inch to about 2 inches, a second dimension ranging from about 1 inch to about 10 inches and the electrical contacts of the segments are joined in electrical communication with a conductive material.

28. The electronic device of claim 26 wherein the device is a pixilated display.

29. The electronic device of claim 26 wherein said device is a backlight for an article selected from a lamp, a display, a sign, a toy, and personal protection apparel.

30. The electronic device of claim 26 wherein the sign or display includes a fixed or variable message.

31. The electronic device of claim 26 wherein the device emits a single color or multiple colors.

32. The electronic device of claim 31 wherein segments emitting different color light are independently adjustable.