Local seal for encapsulation of electro-optical element on a flexible substrate

摘要

An electro-optical panel product comprises a collection of distinct light-emitting elements formed on a substrate. The product may be a display or lighting apparatus, and each electro-optical element may be an OLED. Distinct local seals are formed below respective individual electro-optical elements or groups of electro-optical elements. Some embodiments combine a metal foil substrate and glass local seals in a flexible bottom-emitting product. The local seal may be used in conjunction with a continuous thin film encapsulation structure. Optical functions can be provided by each local seal, including refraction, filtering, color shifting, and scattering. Each local seal is formed by depositing a low melting temperature glass powder suspension or paste using inkjet technology in openings formed in a starter substrate; the glass powder is fused using a scanning laser beam having a tailored beam profile. The lower encapsulation substrate incorporating local window seals may be wholly or partially pre-formed.

主权项

1. A method of manufacturing local encapsulation seals in a substrate, the method comprising:
a) providing a plurality of openings in a starter substrate; b) depositing a first drop of a glass powder suspension in a first opening using an inkjet dispenser; c) depositing a second drop of the same glass powder suspension in a second opening;
wherein the first and second openings are neighbors, and the first and second drops are not in contact with each other; and d) fusing the first and second drops of glass powder, thereby to form respective first and second local encapsulation seals of fused glass, using at least one laser beam;
wherein the temperature of the glass powder in the first drop is maintained at a temperature less than or equal to 300° C. during the fusing step, andan area between the first and second local encapsulation seals remains uncovered by fused glass.