Patterns of electrically conducting polymers and their application as electrodes or electrical contacts

Abstract

Electronic devices having patterned electrically conductive polymers providing electrical connection thereto and methods of fabrication thereof are described. Liquid crystal display cells are described having at least one of the electrodes providing a bias across the liquid crystal material formed from a patterned electrically conductive polymer. Thin film transistors having patterned electrically conductive polymers as source drain and gate electrodes are described. Light emitting diodes having anode and coated regions formed from patterned electrically conductive polymers are described. Methods of patterning using a resist mask; patterning using a patterned metal layer; patterning the metal layer using a resist; and patterning the electrically conductive polymer directly to form electrodes and anode and cathode regions are described.

1 - 56 . (canceled)  
     
     
         57 . A structure comprising: 
 an electroluminescent region;    an anode;    a cathode;    at least one of said anode and said cathode being an electrically conductive polymer.    
     
     
         58 . A structure according to  claim 58  wherein said electrically conductive polymer is selected from the group consisting of a hole injecting material and an electron injecting material.  
     
     
         59 . A structure according to  claim 59  wherein said electrically conductive polymer is patterned.  
     
     
         60 . A structure comprising: 
 an electroluminescent region;    a hole injecting region;    an electron injecting region;    an electrically conductive polymer providing electrical contact to at least one of said hole injecting region and said electron injecting region.    
     
     
         61 . (canceled)  
     
     
         62 . A structure according to  claim 57  wherein said electroluminescent region is formed from a material selected from the group consisting of an organic material and in inorganic material.  
     
     
         63 . A diode according to  claim 57  electrically conductive polymer is selected from the group of one or more of substituted and unsubstituted polyparaphenylene vinylenes, polyparaphenylenes, polyanilines, polythiophenes, polyazines, polyfuranes, polypyrroles, polyselenophenes, poly-p-phenylene sulfides, polyacetylenes combinations thereof and blends thereof with other polymers copolymers of the monomers thereof.  
     
     
         64 . A diode according to  claim 60  wherein said electroluminescent region is formed from a material selected from the group consisting of an organic material and in inorganic material.  
     
     
         65 - 66 . (canceled)  
     
     
         67 . A diode according to  claim 57  further including indium tin oxide.  
     
     
         68 . A diode according to  claim 57  wherein said anode is a transparent conductor.  
     
     
         69 . A diode according to  claim 57  wherein said conductor is indium tin oxide.  
     
     
         70 . A diode according to  claim 57  in which said electroluminescent region comprises single organic electroluminescent layer.  
     
     
         71 . A diode according to  claim 57  in which said electroluminescent region consist a stack of organic layers including at least one electroluminescent layer a electron transporting layer wherein said thin metal layer is in direct contact electron transporting layer.  
     
     
         72 . A diode according to  claim 57  further including a transparent substrate.  
     
     
         73 . A diode according to  claim 72  wherein said substrate is semi-transparent.  
     
     
         74 . A diode according to  claim 72  wherein said substrate is opaque.  
     
     
         75 . A diode according to  claim 74  wherein said material of said substrate is selected from the group consisting of glass, plastic, and silicon.  
     
     
         76 . A structure according to  claim 72  wherein said substrate is flexible.  
     
     
         77 . An array comprising more than one  claim 57  organic light emitting diode.  
     
     
         78 . An array according to  claim 77  further including a single crystal substrate comprising electronic circuits.  
     
     
         79 . A array according to  claim 78  wherein said circuits control the light emitted from said array.  
     
     
         80 - 128 . (canceled)  
     
     
         129 . A structure comprising: 
 an electroluminescent region;    a hole injection region;    an electron injection region;    an anode contact;    a cathode contact;    at least one of said hole injection region and said electron injection region being an electrically conductive polymer.    
     
     
         130 . A field effect transistor having a gate electrode, a source electrode and a drain electrode, at least one of which is a patterned electrically conductive polymer.  
     
     
         131 . A bipolar transistor having an emitter electrode, a bare electrode and a collector electrode at least one of which is a patterned electrically conductive polymer.  
     
     
         132 . An optoelectronic display comprising a non-planarized substrate of semiconducting material and an array of organic light emitting diode (OLED) pixels arranged on the substrate, wherein the substrate comprises an active circuit for controlling the light emitted from each pixel, and each pixel comprises at least one layer of organic light emitting material, and a light-permeable electrode in contact with the organic layer on a side thereof remote from the substrate, the electrode comprising an electrically conducting polymer provided as a coating on one of a glass sheet and a plastics sheet which is bonded to the organic layer furthest from the substrate.  
     
     
         133 . A display according to  claim 132 , wherein the substrate is of crystalline silicon.  
     
     
         134 . A display according to  claim 132 , further comprising a metal electrode in contact with the substrate which also serves as a mirror behind the pixel.  
     
     
         135 . A display according to  claim 132 , further comprising a light absorbing black layer adjacent to the substrate.  
     
     
         136 . A display according to  claim 132 , wherein the light-permeable electrode includes a layer of indium tin oxide (ITO).  
     
     
         137 . A display according to  claim 136 , wherein said ITO layer is also provided as a coating on said sheet.  
     
     
         138 . A display according to  claim 132 , wherein the light-permeable electrode includes a layer of low work function metal.  
     
     
         139 . A display according to  claim 132 , wherein the light-permeable electrode includes a layer of high work function metal.  
     
     
         140 . A display according to  claim 132 , wherein the light-permeable electrode includes a layer of conducting epoxy based resin.  
     
     
         141 . A display according to  claim 132 , wherein each pixel includes a bottom electrode comprising a layer of conducting polymer.  
     
     
         142 . A display according to  claim 132 , wherein each pixel includes a bottom electrode comprising a layer of metal oxide.  
     
     
         143 . A display according to  claim 132 , wherein each pixel includes an organic electron transport layer in contact with the layer of light emitting material.  
     
     
         144 . A display according to  claim 132 , wherein each pixel includes an organic hole transport layer in contact with the layer of light emitting material.  
     
     
         145 . A display according to  claim 132 , wherein the conducting polymer is deposited from a polymer blend solution including at least one non-conducting polymer.  
     
     
         146 . A display according to claim  1 , further comprising a transparent, oxygen- and water-impermeable, encapsulating outer layer.  
     
     
         147 . A display according to claim  1 , wherein the light emitting material is monomeric.  
     
     
         148 . A display according to claim  1 , wherein the light emitting material is polymeric.  
     
     
         149 . A display according to claim  1 , wherein each OLED comprises a transition metal chelate.  
     
     
         150 . A display according to claim  1 , wherein the apparent brightness of light emitted from each pixel is controllable in an analogue manner.  
     
     
         151 . A display according to  claim 132 , further comprising repeated groups of red-, blue- and green-emitting pixels for forming a color image.  
     
     
         152 . A display according to  claim 132 , wherein the display is arranged to emit white light and is fitted with field sequential color filters for creating color images.  
     
     
         153 . A color display unit comprising: three optoelectronic displays, each optoelectronic display having a non-planarized substrate of semiconducting material and an array of organic light emitting diode (OLED) pixels arranged on the substrate, the substrate providing an active circuit for controlling the light emitted from each pixel, and each pixel having at least one layer of organic light emitting material and a light-permeable electrode in contact with the organic layer on a side thereof remote from the substrate, the electrode being an electrically conducting polymer provided as a coating on one of a glass sheet and plastic sheet which is bonded to the organic layer furthest from the substrate, and each optoelectronic display displaying an image in a different primary monochromatic color, and an optical system for combining the three images into a color image.  
     
     
         154 . An optoelectronic display comprising a substrate of semiconducting material and an array of organic light emitting diode pixels arranged on the substrate, wherein the substrate comprises an active circuit for controlling the light emitted from each pixel, and each pixel comprises at least one layer of organic light emitting material, and a light-permeable electrode in contact with the organic layer on a side thereof remote from the substrate, the electrode comprising an electrically conducting polymer provided as a coating on one of a glass sheet and plastics sheet which is bonded to the organic layer furthest from the substrate.  
     
     
         155 . A display according to  claim 154 , wherein a layer of indium tin oxide is also provided as a coating on said sheet.  
     
     
         156 . A display according to  claim 154 , wherein the light-permeable electrode comprises a layer of epoxy resin.