Organic Light-Emitting Device Spacer Pattern for Electrical Short Prevention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Organic light emitting devices face challenges in achieving uniform light emission and high brightness over large areas due to voltage drops and non-uniform current injection, leading to reduced energy efficiency and stability issues, particularly during encapsulation processes where electrical shorts can occur.

Innovation Solution

The device incorporates a spacer pattern on the first electrode and a metal auxiliary electrode, strategically positioned to prevent electrical shorts and improve current distribution, with the spacer pattern formed using a photosensitive resin composition and specific processing methods to ensure reliability and transparency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If a multilayer structure is used to enable low voltage driving, then energy efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy efficiencyVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The device is divided into multiple functional layers including hole injection layer, hole transport layer, light emitting layer, electron transport layer, and electron injection layer. Each layer performs a specific function to optimize energy efficiency while maintaining manageable complexity through functional segmentation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The organic material layer serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as the hole transport layer, light emitting layer, and electron transport layer. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate layers needed, improving energy efficiency without proportionally increasing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Illumination intensity

If the device area is increased to achieve high brightness, then illumination intensity is improved, but voltage drop increases leading to non-uniform current injection

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovebrightnessVSAvoidcurrent uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a conductive layer with specific work function characteristics in strategic positions within the device structure. This conductive layer has different electrical properties than surrounding layers, creating local quality variations that compensate for voltage drops across large areas and ensure uniform current injection throughout the extended device area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Ease of manufacture

If encapsulation is performed without cavity using thin film or glass, then device integration is improved, but electrical short between electrodes may occur during the process

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveencapsulation integrationVSAvoidelectrical short prevention
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Spacer patterns are formed on the substrate before the encapsulation process. These spacers create preliminary physical separation between the first and second electrodes, preventing direct contact and electrical shorting during encapsulation. This preliminary structural preparation enables safe integration of cavity-less encapsulation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The spacer pattern acts as an intermediary element between the first and second electrodes during encapsulation. It provides physical separation and prevents direct electrical contact while allowing the encapsulation process to proceed with thin film or glass without creating short circuits.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This configuration enhances the uniformity of light emission and prevents electrical shorts during encapsulation, maintaining high brightness and efficiency while ensuring reliable substrate integrity.

Implementation Method 1

the spacer pattern is provided in the non-light emitting area inside of the light emitting area, and the metal auxiliary electrode is provided in the non-light emitting area outside of the light emitting area

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhysical separation:

Implementation Method 2

a metal auxiliary electrode formed apart from the spacer pattern on the first electrode

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrical conduction: Conduction (electrical)

Implementation Method 3

when voltage is applied between two electrodes in a structure in which an organic material layer is disposed between an anode and a cathode, holes from the anode and electrons from the cathode are injected into the organic material layer. When the injected holes and electrons meet each other, an exciton is formed, and the exciton falls down again to a bottom state to emit light

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectroluminescence: Electroluminescence

Data Source

PatentEP2858137B1Organic light-emitting device
Publication Date: 2018.08.29 LG DISPLAY CO LTD
  • EP2858137B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2858137B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The present invention relates to an organic light emitting device and a method for preparing an organic light emitting device, and the organic light emitting device comprises a substrate, a first electrode, an organic material layer, and a second electrode in this order, and a spacer pattern on the first electrode.