Method for transferring of organic material from a donor to form a layer in an OLED device

A method for transferring organic material from a flexible donor element onto a substrate to form a layer of organic material in making one or more OLED devices, comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing the flexible donor element and the substrate in a spaced relationship within a chamber under atmospheric pressure defined by a transfer station so that the flexible donor element partitions the chamber into first and second cavities;
• (b) reducing the pressure in the first and second cavities while maintaining a small pressure differential between the said cavities to reduce distortion of the flexible donor element;
• (c) increasing the pressure in the second cavity to cause the flexible donor element to move into a contact relationship with the substrate;
• (d) providing a transparent window which defines the top surface of the second cavity;
• and
• (e) providing radiation energy through the transparent window onto the flexible donor element in contact with the substrate to cause the flexible donor element to absorb heat and transfer organic material onto the substrate.

A method for transferring organic material from a flexible donor element onto a substrate to form a layer of organic material in making one or more OLED devices, comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing first and second fixtures and moving the first and second fixtures into engagement to define a transfer station having a chamber;
• (b) providing the flexible donor element and the substrate in a spaced relationship within the chamber under atmospheric pressure so that the flexible donor element partitions the chamber into first and second cavities;
• (c) reducing the pressure in the first and second cavities while preventing distortion of the flexible donor element;
• (d) increasing the pressure in the second cavity to cause the flexible donor element to move into a contact relationship with the substrate;
• (e) providing a transparent window in the second fixture which defines the top surface of the second cavity;
• and
• (f) providing radiation energy through the transparent window onto the flexible donor element in contact with the substrate to cause the flexible donor element to absorb heat and transfer organic material onto the substrate.

A method for transferring organic material from a flexible donor element onto a substrate to form a layer of organic material in making one or more OLED devices, comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing first and second fixtures and moving the first and second fixtures into engagement to define a transfer station having a chamber, the second fixture including a door element which defines a portion of the chamber and is movable from a closed to an open radiation receiving position;
• (b) providing the flexible donor element and the substrate in a spaced relationship within the chamber under atmospheric pressure so that the flexible donor element partitions the chamber into first and second cavities;
• (c) reducing the pressure in the first and second cavities while preventing distortion of the flexible donor element;
• (d) increasing the pressure in the second cavity to cause the flexible donor element to move into a contact relationship with the substrate and moving the door element to the open radiation receiving position;
• (e) providing radiation energy through the open radiation receiving position in the second fixture onto the flexible donor element in contact with the substrate to cause the flexible donor element to absorb heat and transfer organic material onto the substrate.

Apparatus for transferring organic material from a flexible donor element onto a substrate to form a layer of organic material in making one or more OLED devices, comprising:

• (a) a transfer station having a chamber under atmospheric pressure
• (b) means to provide the flexible donor element and the substrate in a spaced relationship within the chamber so that the flexible donor element partitions the chamber into first and second cavities
• (c) means to create a pressure differential between the two cavities to cause the flexible donor element to move into a contact relationship with the substrate;
• (d) a transparent window which defines the top surface of the second cavity;
• and
• (e) means to provide radiation energy through the transparent window onto the flexible donor element in contact with the substrate to cause the flexible donor element to absorb heat and transfer organic material onto the substrate.

Apparatus for transferring organic material from a flexible donor element onto a substrate to form a layer of organic material in making one or more OLED devices, comprising:

• (a) a transfer station having a chamber under atmospheric pressure
• (b) means to provide the flexible donor element and the substrate in a spaced relationship so that the flexible donor element partitions the chamber into first and second cavities;
• (c) means to reduce the pressure in the first and second cavities while maintaining a small pressure differential between the said cavities to minimize distortion of the flexible donor element;
• (c) means to increase the pressure in the second cavity to cause the flexible donor element to move into a contact relationship with the substrate;
• (d) a transparent window which defines the top surface of the second cavity;
• and
• (e) means to provide radiation energy through the transparent window onto the flexible donor element in contact with the substrate to cause the flexible donor element to absorb heat and transfer organic material onto the substrate.

Apparatus for transferring organic material from a flexible donor element onto a substrate to form a layer of organic material in making one or more OLED devices, comprising:

• (a) first and second fixtures and means to move the first and second fixtures into engagement to define a transfer station having a chamber under atmospheric pressure;
• (b) means to provide the flexible donor element and the substrate in a spaced relationship within the chamber so that the flexible donor element partitions the chamber into first and second cavities;
• (c) means to reduce the pressure in the first and second cavities while minimizing distortion of the flexible donor element;
• (d) means to increase the pressure in the second cavity to cause the flexible donor element to move into a contact relationship with the substrate;
• (e) a transparent window in the second fixture which defines the top surface of the second cavity;
• and
• (f) means to provide radiation energy through the transparent window onto the flexible donor element in contact with the substrate to cause the flexible donor element to absorb heat and transfer organic material onto the substrate.

Apparatus for transferring organic material from a flexible donor element onto a substrate to form a layer of organic material in making one or more OLED devices, comprising:

• (a) first and second fixtures and means to move the first and second fixtures into engagement to define a transfer station having a chamber, the second fixture including a door element which defines a portion of the chamber and is movable from a closed to an open radiation receiving position;
• (b) means to provide the flexible donor element and the substrate in a spaced relationship within the chamber under atmospheric pressure so that the flexible donor element partitions the chamber into first and second cavities;
• (c) means to reduce the pressure in the first and second cavities while minimizing distortion of the flexible donor element;
• (d) means to increase the pressure in the second cavity to cause the flexible donor element to move into a contact relationship with the substrate and to move the door element to the open radiation receiving position;
• (e) means to provide radiation energy through the open radiation receiving position in the second fixture onto the flexible donor element in contact with the substrate to cause the flexible donor element to absorb heat and transfer organic material onto the substrate.