Non-common capping layer on an organic device

Abstract

An apparatus that includes an OLED is disclosed. The OLED includes a first electrode, a second electrode disposed over the first electrode; and an EL material disposed between the first and the second electrodes. The OLED also includes a first capping layer disposed over the second electrode of a first portion of the OLED, a second capping layer disposed over the second electrode of a second portion of the OED, and a third capping layer disposed over the second electrode of a third portion of the OLED.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising:
 an OLED provided on a first substrate, wherein the OLED comprises:
 a first electrode; 
 a second electrode disposed over the first electrode; and 
 an organic electroluminescent (EL) material disposed between the first and the second electrodes wherein the OLED comprising a first, a second, and a third portions; 
   a first capping layer disposed over the second electrode of the first portion of the OLED,
 wherein the first capping layer and the second electrode are in contact with each other throughout the first portion of the OLED such that the first capping layer is optically coupled to the first portion of the OLED and the first capping layer is not optically coupled to the second portion or third portion of the OLED, 
 wherein substantially all of the light emitting from the first portion of the OLED in a direction perpendicular to the second electrode propagates through the first capping layer so that the first capping layer enhances the amount of light outcoupled from the underlying first portion of the OLED; 
   a second capping layer disposed over the second electrode of the second portion of the OLED,
 wherein the second capping layer and the second electrode are in contact with each other throughout the second portion of the OLED such that the second capping layer is optically coupled to the second portion of the OLED and the second capping layer is not optically coupled to the first portion or third portion of the OLED, 
 wherein substantially all of the light emitting from the second portion of the OLED in a direction perpendicular to the second electrode propagates through the second capping layer so that the second capping layer enhances the amount of light outcoupled from the underlying second portion of the OLED; 
   a third capping layer disposed over the second electrode of the third portion of the OLED,
 wherein the third capping layer and the second electrode are in contact with each other throughout the third portion of the OLED such that the third capping layer is optically coupled to the third portion of the OLED and the third capping layer is not optically coupled to the first portion or second portion of the OLED, 
 wherein substantially all of the light emitting from the third portion of the OLED in a direction perpendicular to the second electrode propagates through the third capping layer so that the third capping layer enhances the amount of light outcoupled from the underlying third portion of the OLED. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the OLED comprises a plurality of blue OLEDs, the second portion of the OLED comprises a plurality of green OLEDs, and the third portion of the OLED comprises a plurality of red OLEDs. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first capping layer has a first total optical path that is constant over the first portion of the OLED;
 wherein the second capping layer has a second total optical path that is constant over the second portion of the OLED; and   wherein the first total optical path and the second total optical path are different.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first capping layer has a first total optical path that is constant over the first portion of the OLED;
 wherein the third capping layer has a third total optical path that is constant over the third portion of the OLED; and   wherein the first total optical path and the third total optical path are different.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the second capping layer has a second total optical path that is constant over the second portion of the OLED;
 wherein the third capping layer has a third total optical path that is constant over the third portion of the OLED; and   wherein the second total optical path and the third total optical path are different.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the first capping layer has a thickness that is optimized for a plurality of blue OLEDs. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the second capping layer has a thickness that is optimized for a plurality of green OLEDs. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the third capping layer has a thickness that is optimized for a plurality of red OLEDs. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the second capping layer and the third capping layer is deposited through a coarse mask or no mask and is not deposited through a fine metal mask (FMM). 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the third capping layer is not deposited through a fine metal mask. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first capping layer has a first total optical path that is constant over the first portion of the OLED, wherein the second capping layer has a second total optical path that is constant over the second portion of the OLED, wherein the third capping layer has a third total optical path that is constant over the third portion of the OLED, and wherein the first total optical path, the second total optical path, and the third total optical path are different. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein each of the first, second, and third capping layers are less than 200 nm thick. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the second capping layer is disposed over the second electrode of the second portion of the OLED by depositing the second capping layer by at least one of laser induced thermal imaging (LITI), laser induced pattern-wise sublimation (LIPS), VTE, and OVJP. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein depositing the second capping layer comprises depositing the second capping layer onto portions of a second substrate and aligning the second capping layer over at least the second portion of the OLED. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the third capping layer is disposed over the second electrode of at least the third portion of the OLED by depositing the third capping layer by at least one of laser induced thermal imaging (LITI), laser induced pattern wise sublimation (LIPS), VTE, and OVJP. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein depositing the third capping layer comprises depositing the third capping layer onto portions of a second substrate and aligning the third capping layer over at least the third portion of the OLED. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the OLED comprises a plurality of sub-pixels emitting blue light, the second portion of the OLED comprises a plurality of sub-pixels emitting green light, and the third portion of the OLED comprises a plurality of sub-pixels emitting red light.