# US 10,483,489 B2 · Integrated circular polarizer and permeation barrier for flexible OLEDs

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- Number: US 10,483,489 B2
- Document ID: US10483489B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/235,609
- Filed: 2016-08-12
- Published: 2018-02-15
- Granted: 2019-11-19
- Earliest claimed: 2016-08-12
- Assignees: Universal Display Corporation
- Applicants: Universal Display Corporation
- Inventors: Michael Hack; Ruiqing Ma
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10483489B2

## CPC

- H10K 59/50: OLEDs integrated with light modulating elements, e.g. with electrochromic elements, photochromic elements or liquid crystal elements
- H10K 59/873: {Encapsulations}
- H10K 59/8793: {Arrangements for polarized light emission (H10K59/8791 takes precedence)}
- H10K 59/8794: {Arrangements for heating and cooling}
- H10K 2102/311: {Flexible OLED}
- H10K 2102/351: {Thickness}
- H10K: ORGANIC ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES

## Abstract

Devices and techniques for fabricating such devices are provided, which include an optical system having a combined permeation barrier and circular polarizer. The optical system is relatively thin and flexible, thereby allowing for OLED displays and similar devices that reduce glare while being suitable for use in flexible displays and similar devices.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An optical system for an organic light emitting device, the optical system comprising:
a first layer comprising a birefringent material;
a polarizer layer; and
a transparent first permeation barrier disposed between the first layer and the polarizer layer, wherein the first permeation barrier has a permeation not greater than 10−4 g/cm/day.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The optical system of claim 1, further comprising a second permeation barrier disposed adjacent to the first layer, wherein the first layer is disposed between the first and second permeation barriers.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The optical system of claim 1, further comprising a second permeation barrier disposed adjacent to the polarizer layer, wherein the polarizer layer is disposed between the first and second permeation barriers.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The optical system of claim 3, wherein the footprint of the first layer is smaller than the footprint of the second permeation barrier.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The optical system of claim 1, wherein the footprint of the first layer is smaller than the footprint of the first permeation barrier.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The optical system of claim 1, wherein the first layer comprises a quarter-wave plate.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The optical system of claim 1, wherein the polarizer layer comprises a linear polarizer.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The optical system of claim 1, wherein the first permeation barrier is not more than 10 μm thick.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The optical system of claim 7, wherein the first permeation barrier is not more than 5 μm thick.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The optical system of claim 1, wherein the permeation barrier is inorganic.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The optical system of claim 1, wherein the optical system is not more than 50 μm thick.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The optical system of claim 1, wherein the refractive index of the first permeation barrier is between an ordinary refractive index and an extraordinary refractive index of the first layer.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The optical system of claim 1, wherein the system is incorporated into a device comprising at least one selected from the group consisting of: a flat panel display, a computer monitor, a medical monitor, a television, a billboard, a light for interior or exterior illumination and/or signaling, a heads-up display, a fully or partially transparent display, a flexible display, a laser printer, a telephone, a cell phone, a tablet, a phablet, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a laptop computer, a digital camera, a camcorder, a viewfinder, a micro-display, a virtual reality display, an augmented reality display, a 3-D display, a vehicle, a large area wall, a theater or stadium screen, and a sign.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

A display comprising:
an organic light emitting diode (OLED); and
an optical system as recited in claim 1, disposed over the OLED.

### Claim 15

A method of fabricating a display, comprising:
disposing a first permeation layer over an organic light emitting diode (OLED), wherein the first permeation barrier has a permeation not greater than 10−4 g/cm/day;
coating at least a portion of the first permeation layer with a birefringent material and curing the birefringent material to form a birefringent layer;
depositing a second permeation barrier over the birefringent layer; and
coating at least a portion of the second permeation layer with a polarizer material and curing the polarizer material to form a polarizer layer.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, further comprising fabricating a third permeation barrier over the polarizer layer.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, wherein coating at least the portion of the first permeation layer with the birefringent material comprises depositing the birefringent material via an ink-jet process, flash evaporation, slot die coating, or spin coating.

### Claim 18 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, wherein curing the birefringent material comprises applying heat or linearly-polarized light to the birefringent material.

### Claim 19 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, wherein coating at least the portion of the second permeation layer with the polarizer material comprises depositing the polarizer material via an ink-jet process, flash evaporation, slot die coating, or spin coating.

### Claim 20 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, wherein curing the polarizer material comprises applying heat or linearly-polarized light to the polarizer material.

### Claim 21 (depends on 1)

The optical system of claim 1, wherein the first permeation barrier has a permeation of not more than 10−5 g/cm/day.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

The optical system of claim 21, wherein the first permeation barrier has a permeation of not more than 10−6 g/cm/day.

### Claim 23 (depends on 2)

The optical system of claim 2, wherein the second permeation barrier has a permeation not greater than 10−4 g/cm/day.