US5663573A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Bipolar electroluminescent device
Assignee: Ohio State Innovation Foundation
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Filing: 1995-03-17
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Granted: 1997-09-02
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Expires: 2015-03-17
Abstract
Abstract Light-emitting bipolar devices consist of a light-emitter formed from an electroluminescent organic light-emitting material in contact with an insulating material. The light emitter is in contact with two electrodes that are maintained in spaced apart relation with each other. The light emitter can be formed as an integral mixture of light emitting materials and insulating materials or as separate layers of light-emitting and insulating materials. The devices operate with AC voltage of less than twenty-four volts and in some instances at less than five volts. Under AC driving, the devices produce modulated light output that can be frequency or amplitude modulated. Under DC driving, the devices operate in both forward and reverse bias.
Inventors
- 👤 Arthur J. Epstein
- 👤 Yunzhang Wang
- 👤 Darren Douglas Gebler
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 13:56
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05B; H05B33/00; H05B33/12; H05B33/22; H05B33/14; H05B33/20; H05B33/26; H10; H10K; H10K50/00; H10K50/10; H10K50/11; H10K71/00; H10K71/841
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 71
Claim 1
Independent Claim
86 words
A bipolar electroluminescent device comprising: a. a light emitter operating in both a forward and a reverse current direction and comprising an electroluminescent organic light emitting means in contact with an insulating means; b. a first electrode means in contact with said light emitter and for electrically connecting said first electrode to a potential difference; and c. a second electrode means in contact with said light emitter and in spaced relation with said first electrode and for electrically connecting said second electrode to said potential difference.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
86 words
A bipolar electroluminescent device comprising: a. a light emitter operating in both a forward and a reverse current direction and comprising an electroluminescent organic light emitting means in contact with an insulating means; b. a first electrode means in contact with said light emitter and for electrically connecting said first electrode to a potential difference; and c. a second electrode means in contact with said light emitter and in spaced relation with said first electrode and for electrically connecting said second electrode to said potential difference.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The bipolar electroluminescent device according to claim 1 wherein said potential difference is an alternating potential difference.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
The bipolar electroluminescent device according to claim 1 wherein said insulating means is selected from the group of insulating means consisting of ceramic insulating means, organic insulating means, and inorganic polymer insulating means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The bipolar electroluminescent device according to claim 3 with said insulating means being an organic insulating means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
The bipolar electroluminescent device according to claim 4 wherein said organic insulating means is selected from the group of organic insulating means consisting of conjugated polymers, acrylic polymers, nylon polymers, polyvinylcarbazoles, copolymers thereof, organic insulating molecules, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The bipolar electroluminescent device according to claim 5 with said organic insulating means being a conjugated polymer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The bipolar electroluminescent device according to claim 6 with said conjugated polymer being a polyaniline polymer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The bipolar electroluminescent device according to claim 7 with said polyaniline polymer being a polyaniline emeraldine base.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The bipolar electroluminescent device according to claim 5 with said organic insulating means being an organic insulating molecule.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The bipolar electroluminescent device according to claim 9 with said organic insulating molecule being dispersed in a host polymer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The bipolar electroluminescent device according to claim 10 with said insulating organic molecule being 2-(4-biphenyl)-5-(4-tert-butylphenyl-1,3,4-oxadiazole).
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The bipolar electroluminescent device according to claim 10 with said host polymer being emeraldine base.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
The bipolar electroluminescent device according to claim 11 with said host polymer being emeraldine base.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
The bipolar electroluminescent device according to claim 10 with said host polymer being polyvinylcarbazole.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
The bipolar electroluminescent device according to claim 11 with said host polymer being polyvinylcarbazole.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
The bipolar electroluminescent device according to claim 5 with said organic insulating means being an acrylic polymer.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
14 words
The bipolar electroluminescent device according to claim 16 with said acrylic polymer being polymethylmethacrylate.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
The bipolar electroluminescent device according to claim 3 with said insulating means being a ceramic insulating means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
16 words
The bipolar electroluminescent device according to claim 18 with said ceramic insulating means being aluminum oxide.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
17 words
The bipolar electroluminescent device according to claim 1 wherein said insulating means is at least partially transparent.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
34 words
The bipolar electroluminescent device according to claim 1 wherein said electroluminescent organic light-emitting means is selected from the group of organic light-emitting means consisting of electroluminescent organic light-emitting molecules and electroluminescent organic light-emitting polymers.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
20 words
The bipolar electroluminescent device according to claim 21 with said electroluminescent organic light-emitting means being an electroluminescent organic light-emitting polymer.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
44 words
The bipolar electroluminescent device according to claim 22 wherein said electroluminescent organic light-emitting polymer is a polymer selected from the group of electroluminescent polymers consisting of polypyridines, polypyridylvinylenes, polyphenylenes, polyphenylenevinylenes, polythiophenes, polyvinylcarbazoles, polyfluorenes, polynaphthalenevinylenes, polyphenyleneacetylenes, polyphenylenediacetylenes, polycyanoterephthalylidenes, polyphenylenebenzobisthiazoles, polybenzimidazobenzophenanthrolines, copolymers thereof, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
15 words
The bipolar electroluminescent device according to claim 23 with said electroluminescent polymer being a polypyridine.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
13 words
The bipolar electroluminescent device according to claim 24 with said polypyridine being poly(p-pyridine).
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
16 words
The bipolar electroluminescent device according to claim 23 with said electroluminescent organic polymer being a copolymer.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
15 words
The bipolar electroluminescent device according to claim 26 wherein said electroluminescent copolymer is poly(phenylenevinylene pyridylvinylene).
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
17 words
The bipolar electroluminescent device according to claim 23 with said electroluminescent organic polymer being an electroluminescent polyphenylene.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
16 words
The bipolar electroluminescent device according to claim 23 with said electroluminescent organic polymer being a polyphenylenevinylene.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
14 words
The bipolar electroluminescent device according to claim 29 with said electroluminescent polyphenylenevinylene being poly(p-phenylenevinylene).
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
16 words
The bipolar electroluminescent device according to claim 23 with said electroluminescent organic polymer being a polyphenylenebenzobisthiazole.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
32 words
The bipolar electroluminescent device according to claim 1 with at least one of said first electrode means and said second electrode means being an electrode means that is at least partially transparent.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
47 words
The bipolar electroluminescent device according to claim 1 with at least one of said first electrode means and said second electrode means being an electrode means selected from the group of electrode means consisting of In--SnO 2 , metals, alloys, conducting non-metals, and highly conducting organic polymers.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
16 words
The bipolar electroluminescent device according to claim 33 with said electrode means being In--SnO 2 .
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
26 words
The bipolar electroluminescent device according to claim 1 further comprising a substrate in contact with one of said first electrode means and said second electrode means.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
16 words
The bipolar electroluminescent device according to claim 35 wherein said substrate is at least partially transparent.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
14 words
The bipolar electroluminescent device according to claim 35 with said substrate being electrically non-conducting.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
23 words
The bipolar electroluminescent device according to claim 35 wherein said substrate is selected from the group of substrates consisting of glass and plastic.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
13 words
The bipolar electroluminescent device according to claim 38 with said substrate being glass.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
19 words
The bipolar electroluminescent device according to claim 39 with said electrode means contacting said substrate being In--SnO 2 .
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
18 words
The bipolar electroluminescent device according to claim 1 having a turn-on voltage of less than about 24 volts.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
18 words
The bipolar electroluminescent device according to claim 1 having a turn-on voltage of less than about 12 volts.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
18 words
The bipolar electroluminescent device according to claim 1 having a turn-on voltage of less than about 6 volts.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
12 words
The bipolar electroluminescent device according to claim 1 having modulated light output.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
13 words
The bipolar electroluminescent device according to claim 44 having frequency modulated light output.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
13 words
The bipolar electroluminescent device according to claim 44 having amplitude modulated light output.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
25 words
The bipolar electroluminescent device according to claim 1 wherein said light emitter is a mixture of said light emitting means and said electrical insulating means.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
17 words
The bipolar electroluminescent device according to claim 47 wherein said potential difference is an alternating potential difference.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
19 words
The bipolar electroluminescent device according to claim 47 with said electrical insulating means comprising an electrically insulating organic polymer.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
17 words
The bipolar electroluminescent device according to claim 49 with said electrically insulating organic polymer being a nylon.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
22 words
The bipolar electroluminescent device according to claim 50 with said electrically insulating organic nylon polymer being formed from adipic acid and 1,6-hexanediamine.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
16 words
The bipolar electroluminescent device according to claim 49 with said electrically insulating organic polymer being polymethylmethacrylate.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
21 words
The bipolar electroluminescent device according to claim 47 with said electroluminescent organic light emitting means being an electroluminescent organic light-emitting polymer.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
18 words
The bipolar electroluminescent device according to claim 53 with said electroluminescent organic light emitting polymer being a polypyridine.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
17 words
The bipolar electroluminescent device according to claim 54 with said electroluminescent organic light emitting polypyridine being poly(p-pyridine).
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
18 words
The bipolar electroluminescent device according to claim 53 with said electroluminescent organic light emitting polymer being a polyphenylenevinylene.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
18 words
The bipolar electroluminescent device according to claim 53 with said electroluminescent organic light emitting polymer being a polypyridylvinylene.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
74 words
The bipolar electroluminescent device according to claim 1 wherein said light emitter is formed as a layer of said light emitting means in contact with a layer of said electrical insulating means and said first electrode means is in contact with said electrical insulating means and said second electrode means is in contact with said light emitting means and said second electrode means has a lower electron work function than said first electrode means.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
17 words
The bipolar electroluminescent device according to claim 58 wherein said potential difference is an alternating potential difference.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
19 words
The bipolar electroluminescent device according to claim 58 with said electrical insulating means comprising an electrically insulating organic polymer.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
18 words
The bipolar electroluminescent device according to claim 60 with said electrically insulating organic polymer being an insulating polyaniline.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
18 words
The bipolar electroluminescent device according to claim 61 with said electrically insulating organic polyaniline polymer being emeraldine base.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
16 words
The bipolar electroluminescent device according to claim 60 with said electrically insulating organic polymer being polymethylmethacrylate.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
22 words
The bipolar electroluminescent device according to claim 58 with said electrically insulating means being a mixture of insulating emeraldine base and 2-(4-biphenyl)-5-(4-tertbutylphenyl-1,3,4-oxadiazole.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
21 words
The bipolar electroluminescent device according to claim 58 with said electroluminescent organic light emitting means being an electroluminescent organic light-emitting polymer.
Claim 67
Dependent Claim
18 words
The bipolar electroluminescent device according to claim 65 with said electroluminescent organic light emitting polymer being a polypyridine.
Claim 68
Dependent Claim
13 words
The bipolar electroluminescent device according to claim 65 with said polypyridine being poly(p-pyridine).
Claim 69
Dependent Claim
17 words
The bipolar electroluminescent device according to claim 65 with said electroluminescent organic light emitting polymer being polyphenylenevinylene.
Claim 70
Dependent Claim
18 words
The bipolar electroluminescent device according to claim 65 with said electroluminescent organic light emitting polymer being a polypyridylvinylene.
Claim 71
Dependent Claim
24 words
The bipolar electroluminescent device according to claim 58 wherein said first electrode means is indium tin oxide and said second electrode means is aluminum.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-09-01 | 2001-03-03 | 2001-09-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-09-01 | 2005-03-03 | 2005-09-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-09-01 | 2009-03-03 | 2009-09-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |