ROHM to develop a new structure of flexible OLED device flagship high-end lighting

The Japanese manufacturer ROHM (ROHM Co. Ltd.) is constructed by development alone before the gas barrier layer composite substrate formed thin glass plate as OLED film sealed the light-emitting portion by a plastic substrate with thickness of only 0.05mm and inorganic membrane (Gas Barrier); in addition to the life and to ensure that the same current the glass substrate is packaged OLED products, has successfully developed a flexible OLED device (Flexible OLED Device), the weight is only 1/8 of the existing glass substrate OLED device, the thickness of OLED lighting applications 1/6. The company attaches importance to the design of high-end lighting or display area as the target, is expected to be around 2014 and 2015 reached the practical level, at Roll-to Roll (continuous rolling strip type precision coating) process production technology as the direction of sustainable development.

Figure 1, left - flexible OLED device standard S type; right - bracelet type

The bending radius of this product is 25mm, weight is 0.05g/cm2, thickness of 0.3mm, with the characteristics of light, thin and flexible; at the same time because it is made of a plastic substrate, for falling safety, impact resistance is quite advantage. Driving voltage of 3~5 volts (V), power consumption of 0.5~1 watts (W), 2800K 1000~3000 (cd/m2), luminous color is the color of the bulb.

ROHM composite material is used to replace the glass substrate with PET/PEN plastic substrate, and paste the Japanese electronic glass company (Nippon ELectric Glass Co., Ltd.) ultra-thin glass board manufacturing, the thickness of only 0.05mm; OLED film, this substrate to form a light-emitting portion of 100 micron ITO transparent electrode and aluminum electrode. OLED films are enclosed in the composite substrate, and the gas barrier layer of inorganic membrane covers it, and finally to the barrier layer affixed above the PET/PEN protective film.

With this new structure, can improve the plastic substrate, due to lack of original OLED gas insulation easily lead to life affected by oxygen or water (Life time) the problem of not enough. Although still in the test, but the brightness of the product life expectancy is expected to be the same as the glass substrate OLED devices, up to ten thousand hours.

In addition, because the ROHM is rolled up flexible substrate, will be able to mass production of high Roll-to Roll production mode of manufacturing, the future will accelerate the establishment of production technology of Roll-to Roll process, and the development direction of packaging technology, enhance the device with a large area of the efforts.