Patent Application
20070241674
The invention can be more fully understood by reading the subsequent detailed description and examples with references made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
The following description is of the best-contemplated mode of carrying out the invention. This description is made for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention and should not be taken in a limiting sense. The scope of the invention is best determined by reference to the appended claims.
In this embodiment, the OLED apparatus is a bottom emitting apparatus. Light from the OLED device 210 is emitted to and through the substrate 200, and further to the space from the bottom surface 201 of the substrate 200. Thus, the substrate 200 is substantially glass or other transparent material. In some embodiments, the substrate 200 may be flexible, such as a transparent plastic material.
The OLED device 210 is formed overlying the top surface 202, of a known combination of multi-layer organic materials, such as electrode layers, a hole injection layer, a hole transport layer, light emitting layers, an electron transport layer, an electron injection layer, or other layers. Those skilled in the art will recognize the possibility of using appropriate materials and formation methods to complete the desired layers of the OLED device 210, and thus, details regarding thereto are omitted herefrom.
The passivation layer 220 typically completely covers and encapsulates the OLED device 210. The passivation layer 220 is typically gas tight materials to prevent oxygen and moisture from entering the OLED device 210. The moisture permeation rate of the passivation layer 220 is preferably less than 10−6 g/m2/day, and the oxygen permeation rate of the passivation layer 220 is preferably less than 10−5 cc/bar/m2/day. Thus, the passivation layer 220 is preferably of organic/inorganic multi-layer composite materials. An exemplary formation method of the passivation layer 220 comprise, first, a polymeric sub-layer deposited overlying the substrate 200, covering the OLED device 210, the surface of which comprises an atomic level flatness. A ceramic sub-layer approximately 50 nm thick is then deposited on the polymer sub-layer, followed by repeated alternating formations of polymeric and ceramic sub-layers to complete the multi-layered passivation layer 220, between 2 and 5 μm thick, comprising alternating polymeric and ceramic sub-layers. Those skilled in the art will recognize the possibility of using appropriate materials and formation methods to form the desired sub-layers, completing the desired passivation layer 220, and thus, details regarding thereto are omitted herefrom.
Protective film 230 is formed overlying and completely covering passivation layer 220, providing protection from scraping. In this embodiment, the protective film 230 is preferably tape with at least one surface adhesive. The protective film 230 may comprise polycarbonate (PC), poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), or other plastics thereof. The protective film 230 is thicker than the passivation layer 220, between 50 μm and 300 μm thick, for example. When stress is exerted on the apparatus during subsequent process, the protective film 230 successfully protects the underlying passivation layer 220 damaged and scraping. Thus, the passivation layer 220 functions normally to prevent oxygen and moisture in the outside environment from entering the OLED device 210, increasing the process yield and product reliability of the apparatus.
It is not necessary to utilize transparent materials as the passivation layer 220 and protective film 230, since the OLED apparatus of this embodiment is a bottom emitting apparatus. When transparent materials are utilized as the passivation layer 220 and protective film 230, the apparatus may act as a dual emitting apparatus.
In this embodiment, the OLED apparatus is a top emitting apparatus. Light from the OLED device 310 passes through the passivation layer 320 and the protective film 330, entering the space from the top surface 332 of the protective film 330. Thus, the substrate 300 may be flexible, such as a transparent plastic material, or rigid substrate, and need not necessarily be transparent. When a substantially transparent material, such as glass, transparent plastic material, or other transparent material, is utilized as the substrate 300, the OLED apparatus of this embodiment may act as a dual emitting apparatus.
Details regarding the OLED device 310, passivation layer 320, and protective film 330, are respectively similar to the OLED device 210, the passivation layer 220, and the protective film 230 of the first embodiment except that, here, the passivation layer 320 and the protective film 330 are transparent, and thus, are omitted herefrom. The light transmittance, relative to light from the OLED device 310, of the protective film 330 is preferably as high as 80% or greater, and thus the apparatus can provide desired brightness. For example, if intensity of light received in the bottom surface 331 of the protective film 330 is A0, followed by passage through the protective film 330, becoming A1 when entering the space from the top surface 332 of the protective film 330, and the ratio of (A1/A0) is preferably as high as 80% or greater.
Further, an anti-reflection layer 340 composed of ceramic materials such as SiO2, Si3N4, or other materials, can be optionally formed overlying the top surface 332 of the protective film 330 to decrease the interface reflection of ambient light and internal emission light between the protective film 330 and the air thereof, enhancing the contrast and the efficiency.
As described, when stress is exerted on the apparatus during subsequent process, the protective film 330 successfully protects the underlying passivation layer 220 from damage or scraping. Thus, the passivation layer 320 still functions normally to prevent oxygen and moisture in the outside environment from entering the OLED device 310, increasing the process yield and product reliability of the apparatus.
In this embodiment, the protective film 260 is attached to an adhesive layer 250, and thus spans the passivation layer 220 without substantial contact therewith. In an alternative embodiment, the protective film 260 may substantially contact the passivation layer 220 as desired. The adhesive layer 250 is typically formed overlying the substrate 200, in the proximity of the passivation layer 220. For example, the adhesive layer 250 may be formed at either side of the passivation layer 220 or surrounding the passivation layer 220. The adhesive layer 250 preferably has original adhesive, and can be cured or hardened by radiation of ultraviolet (UV) light or heat. When hardened, the adhesive layer 250 can be adhesive or not. Thus, the protective film 260, adhesive or not, adheres to the adhesive layer 250, followed by curing or hardening of the adhesive layer 250 to fix the protective film 260, completing the OLED apparatus shown in
In this embodiment, the OLED apparatus is a top emitting apparatus. Light from the OLED device 310 passes through the passivation layer 320 and the protective film 360, entering the space from the top surface 362 of the protective film 360. Details regarding the substrate 300, the OLED device 310, and the passivation layer 320 are the same as those described in the second embodiment, and thus, are omitted herefrom.
In this embodiment, the protective film 360 is attached to an adhesive layer 350, and thus spans the passivation layer 320 without substantial contact therewith. In an alternative embodiment, the protective film 360 may substantially contact the passivation layer 320 as desired. The adhesive layer 350 is typically formed overlying the substrate 300, in the proximity of the passivation layer 320. For example, the adhesive layer 350 may be formed at either side of the passivation layer 320 or surrounding the passivation layer 320. The adhesive layer 350 preferably has original adhesive, and can be cured or hardened by radiation of ultraviolet (UV) light or heat. When hardened, the adhesive layer 350 can be adhesive or not. Thus, the protective film 360, adhesive or not, is adhered to the adhesive layer 350, followed by curing or hardening the adhesive layer 350 to fix the protective film 360, completing the OLED apparatus shown in
In this embodiment, the OLED apparatus is a top emitting apparatus. Light from the OLED device 310 passes through the passivation layer 320 and the protective film 330, entering the space from the top surface of the protective film 330. Thus, the substrate 300 may be flexible, such as a transparent plastic material, or rigid substrate, and need not necessarily be transparent. The light transmittance, relative to light from the OLED device 310, of the protective film 360 is preferably as high as 80% or greater, and thus the apparatus can provide desired brightness. For example, if intensity of light received in the bottom surface 361 of the protective film 360 is A0, followed by passage through the protective film 360, becoming A1 when emitting to the space from the top surface 362 of the protective film 360, the ratio of (A1/A0) is preferably as high as 80% or greater.
Further, an anti-reflection layer 370 composed of ceramic materials, such as SiO2, Si3N4, or other materials, can be optionally formed overlying the top surface 362 of the protective film 360 to decrease the interface reflection of ambient light and internal emission light between the protective film 360 and the air thereof, enhancing the contrast and the efficiency.
OLED apparatuses and fabrication methods thereof are provided, with improved protection from damage and scraping.
While the invention has been described by way of example and in terms of preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. To the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements (as would be apparent to those skilled in the art). Therefore, the scope of the appended claims should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 95113152 | Apr 2006 | TW | national |
