EP0977469A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Improved transparent, flexible permeability barrier for organic electroluminescent devices
Assignee: Agilent Technologies Inc
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Filing: 1999-07-30
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2019-07-30
Abstract
Abstract A barrier for preventing water or oxygen from a source thereof from reaching a device that is sensitive to water or oxygen. The barrier is constructed by depositing a first polymer layer[191] between the device and the source. An inorganic layer[192] is deposited on the first polymer layer[191] the device by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition utilizing an electron cyclotron resonance source ECR-PECVD. A second polymer layer[193] is then deposited on the inorganic layer[192]. The inorganic layer[192] is preferably an oxide or nitride. A second barrier layer[201] having a compound that absorbs oxygen or water can be placed between the inorganic layer[192] and the device to further retard the passage of oxygen or water. The present invention is particularly useful in encapsulating electroluminescent displays[100, 203].
Inventors
- 👤 James R. Sheats
- 👤 Mark R. Hueschen
- 👤 Karen L. Seaward
- 👤 Daniel B. Roitman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 02:13
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05B; H05B33/00; H05B33/02; H05B33/04; H10; H10K; H10K50/00; H10K50/80; H10K50/84; H10K50/844; H10K50/8445; H10K50/846; H10K59/00; H10K59/80; H10K59/87; H10K59/873; H10K59/874
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
63 words
A method for preventing water or oxygen from a source thereof reaching a device
(100,203), said method comprising the steps of: depositing a first polymer layer (191) between
said device (100, 203) and said source; depositing an inorganic layer (192) on said first
polymer layer (191) of said device by ECR-PECVD; and depositing a second polymer layer
(193) on said inorganic layer (192).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of Claim 1 wherein said inorganic layer (192) comprises a material
selected from the group consisting of: an oxide; a nitride; and an oxynitride.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of Claim 2 wherein said inorganic layer (192) comprises a material
selected from the group consisting of: an aluminum oxide; a silicon oxide; an aluminum nitride;
a silicon nitride; and a silicon oxynitride.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
34 words
The method of one of the preceding claims further comprising the step of depositing
a layer (201) of material that absorbs oxygen or water between said inorganic layer (192)
and said device (100, 203).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of Claim 4 wherein said absorbing material comprises a metal uniformly
dispersed in an oxide or nitride.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
22 words
The method of one of the preceding claims wherein said inorganic layer (192) further
comprises a material that absorbs oxygen or water.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of Claim 6 wherein said absorption material comprises a metal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
191 words
An electroluminescent device (100, 203) comprising: a flexible sheet (161), said
flexible sheet (161) being transparent to light of a first wavelength; a first polymer layer (191)
in contact with said flexible sheet (161); a first permeation barrier comprising an inorganic
layer (192) in contact with said first polymer layer (191); a second polymer layer (193) in
contact with said first permeation barrier; a first electrode (117) comprising a first electrode
layer in contact wit said flexible sheet (161), said first electrode layer being transparent to
light of said first wavelength; a light emitting layer (118) comprising an organic material in
electrical contact with said first electrode layer; a second electrode (131-132) comprising a
second electrode layer in electrical contact with said light emitting layer (118), said light
emitting layer generating light of said first wavelength when a potential difference is applied
across said first and second electrodes; a third polymer layer (181) in contact with said second
electrode layer; a second permeation barrier (182) comprising a layer of inorganic material in
contact with said third polymer layer; and a fourth polymer (183) layer in contact with said
second permeation barrier.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The device (100, 203) of Claim 8 wherein said first and second permeation barriers
comprises layers deposited by ECR-PECVD.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
43 words
The device (100, 203) of Claim 8 or 9 wherein said first permeation barrier comprises
a material selected from the group consisting of: an oxide and a nitride, in particular an
aluminum oxide, a silicon oxide, an aluminum nitride and a silicon nitride.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
The device (100, 203) of Claim 8, 9 or 10 wherein said first and second permeation
barriers further comprise a material that absorbs oxygen or water.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
44 words
The device (100, 203) of one of claims 8 to 11 further comprising: a first absorption
barrier (201) comprising a layer of material that absorbs oxygen or water, said first absorption
barrier being located between said first electrode layer and said first permeation barrier.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
39 words
The device (100, 203) of Claim 19 further comprising: a second absorption barrier
comprising a layer of material that absorbs oxygen or water, said second absorption barrier
being located between said second electrode layer and said second permeation barrier.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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