Organic light emitting device with increased luminescence

• US 7,906,898 B2
• Filed: 11/07/2007
• Issued: 03/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Display Company Limited (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Lee, Baek-Woon
• Primary Examiner(s): Guharay; Karabi
• Application Number:
  US11/936,667
• Publication Number:
  US 20080122347A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,224 Days
• Field of Search: 313/504, 313/506, 257/59, 257/79
• US Class Current: 313/504
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/813 characterised by their shape
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/822 characterised by their shape
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/85 Arrangements for extracting light from the devices
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/12 Active-matrix OLED [AMOLED] displays
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/124 Insulating layers formed between TFT elements and OLED elements

Abstract

An organic light emitting device (OLED) is presented that includes: signal lines formed on a substrate; thin film transistors formed on the substrate and electrically connected to the signal lines; a first passivation layer having a concavo-convex surface; a first electrode formed on the first passivation layer; a partition formed on the first electrode and having an opening extending to the first electrode; a light emitting member formed in the opening and covered by a second electrode. The refractive indices of the light emitting member and the first passivation layer are different, and the refractive indices of the first passivation layer and the first electrode are different. The concavo-convex surface increases the luminescent surface area without decreasing the opening size, thereby enhancing the luminous power per unit pixel electrode. Forming an interface of materials whose refractive indices differ by at least 0.2 within the OLED increases light extraction efficiency.

Claims

1. An organic light emitting device comprising:

a substrate;

a first signal line formed on the substrate;

a second signal line formed perpendicularly to the first signal line;

a plurality of thin film transistors formed on the substrate and electrically connected to the first and second signal lines;

a second passivation layer formed on the thin film transistors and having a concavo-convex surface

a first passivation layer formed on the second passivation layer and having a concavo-convex surface;

a first electrode formed on the first passivation layer and having a concavo-convex surface;

a partition formed on the first electrode and having an opening extending to the first electrode;

a light emitting member formed on the first electrode and in the opening; and

a second electrode formed on the light emitting member,

wherein refractive indices of the light emitting member and the first passivation layer are different, and refractive indices of the first passivation layer and the first electrode are different,

wherein at least one of a difference between the refractive indices of light emitting member and the first passivation layer and a difference between the refractive indices of the first passivation layer and the first electrode is 0.2 or greater,

wherein the first electrode has a concavo-convex surface, and

wherein a ratio of height to a bottom length of the concave portion or the convex portion is between about 0.1 and about 1, and

wherein the second passivation layer comprises a polycarbonate-based compound containing silicon nitride or a high refractive index additive.

2. The organic light emitting device of claim 1, further comprising a color filter formed between the substrate and the first electrode.

3. The organic light emitting device of claim 1, wherein a difference between a refractive index of the second passivation layer and that of the first passivation layer is 0.2 or greater.

4. The organic light emitting device of claim 1, further comprising a protrusion formed on the first electrode.

5. The organic light emitting device of claim 4, wherein a difference between a refractive index of the protrusion and that of the light emitting member is 0.2 or greater.

6. The organic light emitting device of claim 5, wherein the protrusion has a hemispherical shape.

7. The organic light emitting device of claim 1, wherein the light emitting member comprises a plurality of emission layers each emitting light of a different wavelength, and light each with different wavelengths are combined to emit white light.

8. An organic light emitting device comprising:

a substrate;

a first signal line formed on the substrate;

a second signal line formed perpendicularly to the first signal line;

a plurality of thin film transistors formed on the substrate and electrically connected to the first and second signal lines;

a first passivation layer formed on the thin film transistors and having a concavo-convex surface;

a first electrode formed on the first passivation layer and having a concavo-convex surface;

a partition formed on the first electrode and having an opening extending to the first electrode;

a light emitting member formed on the first electrode and disposed in the opening;

a second electrode formed on the light emitting member; and

a second passivation layer between the substrate and the first electrode and having a concavo-convex surface;

wherein a ratio of height to bottom length of the concave portion or the convex portion of the first passivation layer is between about 0.1 and about 1,

wherein a difference between a refractive index of the second passivation layer and that of the first passivation layer is 0.2 or greater, and

wherein the second passivation comprises a polycarbonate-based compound containing silicon nitride or a high refractive index additive.

9. The organic light emitting device of claim 8, wherein a difference between a refractive index of the second passivation layer and that of the first passivation layer is 0.2 or greater.

10. The organic light emitting device of claim 8, further comprising a protrusion formed on the first electrode.

11. The organic light emitting device of claim 10, wherein a difference between a refractive index of the protrusion and that of the light emitting member is 0.2 or greater.

12. The organic light emitting device of claim 11, wherein the protrusion has a hemispherical shape.

13. The organic light emitting device of claim 8, wherein the light emitting member comprises a plurality of emission layers each emitting light of a different wavelength, and respective light each with a different wavelength are combined to emit white light.

14. A method for manufacturing an organic light emitting device, comprising:

forming a plurality of signal lines and a plurality of thin film transistors on a substrate;

forming a second passivation layer with a concavo-convex surface on the signal lines and the thin film transistors;

forming a first passivation layer with a concavo-convex surface on the second passivation layer;

forming a first electrode on the first passivation layer;

forming a partition on the first electrode and having an opening extending to the first electrode;

forming a light emitting member on the first electrode in the opening; and

forming a second electrode on the light emitting member;

wherein at least one of a difference between the refractive indices of light emitting member and the first passivation layer and a difference between the refractive indices of the first passivation layer and the first electrode is 0.2 or greater,

wherein the concavo-convex shape of the surface of the first passivation layer is formed at a portion corresponding to the opening,

wherein a ratio of height to bottom length of the concave portion or the convex portion of the first passivation layer is between about 0.1 and about 1, and

wherein the second passivation layer comprises a polycarbonate-based compound containing silicon nitride or a high refractive index additive.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the forming of the second passivation layer comprises:

coating a photosensitive organic layer;

exposing the photosensitive organic film to light through a slit mask; and

developing the photosensitive organic layer.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising forming a color filter between the substrate and the first electrode.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising forming a protrusion on the first electrode.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein a difference between a refractive index of the protrusion and that of the light emitting member is 0.2 or greater.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the protrusion has a hemispherical shape.