Independently controlled stacked inverted organic light emitting diodes and a method of manufacturing same

Abstract

An OLED apparatus is provided that includes a first electrode having a first polarity, and an electrode arrangement spaced apart from the first electrode and having a second polarity. The OLED apparatus also includes a first organic emissive layer interposed between the first electrode and the electrode arrangement, and a second electrode spaced apart from the electrode arrangement in a direction opposite the first electrode. The second electrode has the first polarity. The OLED apparatus further includes a second organic emissive layer interposed between the second electrode and the electrode arrangement, and a drive circuit for providing a first energizing signal to the first electrode and the electrode arrangement and a second energizing signal to the second electrode and the electrode arrangement. A method for manufacturing an OLED array is provided.

1 . A light emitting apparatus comprising first and second organic light emitting diode (OLED) devices, said first OLED device stacked and inverted relative to said second OLED device, the light emitting apparatus comprising:
 said first OLED device comprising a first electrode having a first polarity and a first organic emissive layer;   said second OLED device comprising a second electrode having the first polarity and a second organic emissive layer;   electrode means having a second polarity interposed between said first organic emissive layer and said second organic emissive layer, said first organic emissive layer interposed between said first electrode and said electrode means, said second organic emissive layer interposed between said second electrode and said electrode means; and   driving means for independently driving said first OLED device and said second OLED device, said driving means comprising means for providing a first energizing signal to said first electrode and said electrode means, and means for providing a second energizing signal to said second electrode and said electrode means.   
     
     
         2 . The light emitting apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said electrode means comprises a single central electrode. 
     
     
         3 . The light emitting apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein:
 said first electrode is a first anode;   said second electrode is a second anode; and   said single central electrode is a cathode with respect to said first OLED device and said second OLED device.   
     
     
         4 . The light emitting apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein said first OLED device comprises:
 a hole injection layer interposed between said first organic emissive layer and said first anode;   a hole transport layer interposed between said first organic emissive layer and said hole injection layer;   a hole blocking layer interposed between said first organic emissive layer and said single central electrode; and   an electron injection layer interposed between said hole blocking layer and said single central electrode.   
     
     
         5 . The light emitting apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein said second OLED device comprises:
 an electron transport layer interposed between said second emissive layer and said single central electrode;   a hole blocking layer interposed between said second emissive layer and said second electrode;   a hole transport layer interposed between said hole blocking layer and said second electrode; and   a hole injection layer interposed between said hole transport layer and said second electrode.   
     
     
         6 . The light emitting apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein:
 said first electrode is a first cathode;   said second electrode is a second cathode; and   said single central electrode is an anode with respect to said first OLED device and said second OLED device.   
     
     
         7 . The light emitting apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said electrode means comprises a first central electrode associated with the first OLED device and a second central electrode associated with the second OLED device. 
     
     
         8 . The light emitting apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein:
 said first electrode is a first anode;   said first central electrode is a first cathode;   said second electrode is a second anode; and   said second central electrode is a second cathode.   
     
     
         9 . The light emitting apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein:
 said first electrode is a first cathode;   said first central electrode is a first anode;   said second electrode is a second cathode; and   said second central electrode is a second anode.   
     
     
         10 . The light emitting apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein one of said first OLED device and said second OLED device emits blue light. 
     
     
         11 . The light emitting apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein one of said first OLED device and said second OLED device is a hybrid OLED device that emits a combination of red light and green light. 
     
     
         12 . The light emitting apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said driving means is capable of independently energizing said first OLED device and said second OLED device so that light emitted from said first OLED device and said second OLED device combines to form white light. 
     
     
         13 . The light emitting apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a third OLED device stacked on one of said first OLED device and said second OLED device. 
     
     
         14 . An OLED apparatus comprising:
 a first electrode having a first polarity;   an electrode arrangement spaced apart from the first electrode and having a second polarity;   a first organic emissive layer interposed between the first electrode and the electrode arrangement;   a second electrode spaced apart from the electrode arrangement in a direction opposite the first electrode, the second electrode having the first polarity;   a second organic emissive layer interposed between the second electrode and the electrode arrangement; and   a drive circuit for providing a first energizing signal to the first electrode and the electrode arrangement and a second energizing signal to the second electrode and the electrode arrangement.   
     
     
         15 . The OLED apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein:
 the first electrode is a first anode for the first organic emissive layer;   the electrode arrangement is a common cathode for the first organic emissive layer and the second organic emissive layer; and   the second electrode is a second anode for the second organic emissive layer.   
     
     
         16 . The OLED apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein:
 the first electrode is a first cathode for the first organic emissive layer;   the electrode arrangement is a common anode for the first organic emissive layer and the second organic emissive layer; and   the second electrode is a second cathode for the second organic emissive layer.   
     
     
         17 . The OLED apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein the electrode arrangement comprises a first interior electrode and a second interior electrode, the first interior electrode associated with the first organic emissive layer and the second interior electrode associated with the second organic emissive layer. 
     
     
         18 . The OLED apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein:
 the first electrode is a first anode for the first organic emissive layer;   the first interior electrode is a first cathode for the first organic emissive layer;   the second interior electrode is a second cathode for the second organic emissive layer; and   the second electrode is a second anode for the second organic emissive layer.   
     
     
         19 . The OLED apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein:
 the first electrode is a first cathode for the first organic emissive layer;   the first interior electrode is a first anode for the first organic emissive layer;   the second interior electrode is a second anode for the second organic emissive layer; and   the second electrode is a second cathode for the second organic emissive layer.   
     
     
         20 . A method for manufacturing an organic light emitting diode (OLED) array, comprising:
 forming a first electrode layer;   forming a first emissive layer above the first electrode layer;   forming a conductive layer above the first emissive layer;   forming a second emissive layer above the conductive layer;   forming a second electrode layer above the second emissive layer;   connecting first drive circuitry to the first electrode layer and the conductive layer, the first drive circuitry configured to energize the first emissive layer; and   connecting second drive circuitry to the second electrode layer and the conductive layer, the second drive circuitry configured to energize the second emissive layer;   wherein the first drive circuitry and the second the drive circuitry are configured to operate independently.