Local seal for encapsulation of electro-optical element on a flexible substrate

Abstract

An electroluminescent display or lighting product incorporates a panel comprising a collection of distinct light-emitting elements formed on a substrate. A plurality of distinct local seals are formed over respective individual light-emitting elements or groups of light-emitting elements. Each local seal is formed by depositing a low melting temperature glass powder suspension or paste, and fusing the glass powder. Fusing may be performed using selective heating by microwave or laser irradiation. Energy absorption may be enhanced by incorporating absorbing particles in the glass powder paste or suspension. The local seal may be used in conjunction with a continuous thin film encapsulation structure. Optical functions can be provided by each local seal, including refraction, filtering, color shifting, and scattering.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A method of manufacturing local encapsulation seals over a two-dimensional array of organic electro-optical elements, the method comprising:
 a. depositing one or more first drops of a glass powder formulation over a first electro-optical element, to form a first mass;
 wherein the formulation is selected from the group consisting of a paste and a suspension; 
   b. depositing one or more second drops of the same glass powder formulation over a second electro-optical element, to form a second mass;
 wherein the first and second electro-optical elements are neighbors, and the first mass is not in direct contact with the second mass; and 
   c. fusing the first and second masses, thereby to form respective first and second local encapsulation seals of fused glass;
 wherein an area between the first and second local encapsulation seals remains uncovered by fused glass. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the depositing steps are performed using one or more inkjet dispensers. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fusing step is performed by application of microwave energy. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the glass powder suspension comprises a microwave absorbing component. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the microwave absorbing component is a ferrite material. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the microwave absorbing component comprises ferrite nanoparticles. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fusing step is performed by application of laser energy. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the glass powder suspension comprises a light absorbing component. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the light absorbing component comprises plasmonic nanoparticles. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the organic electro-optical elements are emissive, wherein the light absorbing component has an absorption peak at a first wavelength selected to be spaced apart from all wavelengths at which the electro-optical elements have peaks in their emissive spectra. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the first wavelength is in the near infrared portion or the near ultraviolet portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the temperature of the first mass is maintained at less than or equal to 300° C. during the fusing step.