LIGHT-EMITTING COMPONENT

Abstract

A light-emitting component a first layer stack configured to generate light, at least one additional layer stack configured to generate light, where each of the first layer stack and the at least one additional layer stack are separately drivable from one another and where an auxiliary structure is arranged between the first layer stacks and the at least one additional layer stacks.

Claims

1-17. (canceled)

18. A light-emitting device comprising: a first layer stack configured to generate light; at least one additional layer stack configured to generate light, wherein each of the first layer stack and the at least one additional layer stack are separately drivable from one another; and an auxiliary structure arranged between the first layer stack and the at least one additional layer stack, wherein the auxiliary structure is electrically insulating, a first electrode is assigned to each of the first and the at least one additional layer stacks, each of the first electrodes makes electrical contact with the associated layer stack, the auxiliary structure is arranged between the first layer stack and the at least one additional layer stack along a lateral direction.

19. The light-emitting device according to claim 18, wherein at least one of the first electrodes is in direct contact with the auxiliary structure.

20. The light-emitting device according to claim 18, wherein each of the first electrodes is in direct contact with the auxiliary structure.

21. The light-emitting device according to claim 18, wherein each of the first electrodes comprises a transparent conductive oxide.

22. The light-emitting device according to claim 18, wherein each of the first electrodes is arranged in direct contact with the associated layer stack on a surface of the associated layer stack.

23. The light-emitting device according to claim 18, further comprising a second electrode assigned to the first and the at least one additional layer stacks, each of the second electrodes makes electrical contact with the associated layer stack.

24. The light-emitting device according to claim 18, wherein the first layer stack and the at least one additional layer stack are configured to generate light independently from each other.

25. The light-emitting device according to claim 18, wherein the first layer stack and the at least one additional layer stack are arranged on a common carrier.

26. The light-emitting device according to claim 18, wherein the auxiliary structure fills a region in a lateral direction between the first layer stack and the at least one additional layer stack.

27. The light-emitting device according to claim 18, wherein each of the at least one additional layer stack and the first layer stack is part of a segment of the light-emitting device.

28. The light-emitting device according to claim 27, wherein at least two of the segments of which each of the at least one additional layer stack and the first layer stack are a part differ in their shape.

29. The light-emitting device according to claim 27, wherein at least two of the segments of which each of the at least one additional layer stack and the first layer stack are a part differ in their lateral extent.

30. The light-emitting device according to claim 27, wherein at least two of the segments of which each of the at least one additional layer stack and the first layer stack are a part differ in a color of light produced in the respective segments.

31. The light-emitting device according to claim 27, wherein at least two of the segments of which each of the at least one additional layer stack and the first layer stack are a part differ in a brightness of light produced in the respective segments.

32. The light-emitting device according to claim 18, wherein the auxiliary structure is reflective or light-scattering.

33. The light-emitting device according to claim 18, wherein the first layer stack and the at least one additional layer stack comprise at least one different material.

34. The light-emitting device according to claim 18, wherein the first layer stack and the at least one additional layer stack differ in thickness.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0038] Further features, embodiments and advantages are given in the following description of the exemplified embodiments in conjunction with the figures, in which:

[0039] FIGS. 1a and 2a are a schematic sectional view and plan view respectively of a first exemplified embodiment of a light-emitting device having a plurality of segments that can be driven separately from one another;

[0040] FIGS. 1b and 2b are a schematic sectional view and plan view respectively of a first part of the light-emitting device according to the first exemplified embodiment;

[0041] FIGS. 1c and 2c are a schematic sectional view and plan view respectively of a second part of the light-emitting device according to the first exemplified embodiment; and

[0042] FIGS. 1d and 2d are a schematic sectional view and plan view respectively of a second exemplified embodiment of a light-emitting device having a plurality of segments that can be driven separately from one another.

[0043] In the figures, the same reference numbers are used to denote identical, similar or equivalent elements. The figures and the relative sizes of the elements illustrated in the figures shall not be considered to be to scale. Indeed individual elements and in particular layer thicknesses may be shown exaggeratedly large in order to improve visualization and/or understanding.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0044] A first exemplified embodiment of a light-emitting device 1 having a plurality of segments 17, 19 that can be driven separately from one another is shown schematically by Figure la in a sectional view and by FIG. 2a in a plan view. As FIG. 1a shows, the light-emitting device 1 comprises a carrier 9, which extends in the lateral direction. The carrier 9 comprises in particular a substrate (not shown in greater detail). The light-emitting device 1 is for instance an organic layer stack having an active region designed to generate light (not shown explicitly in the figures to simplify diagram).

[0045] In this exemplified embodiment, the carrier 9 is designed to be translucent, i.e., comprises, for example, at least one layer made of glass, so that light can pass through the carrier during operation of the light-emitting device 1. In this regard, the light-emitting device 1 can have an emission direction pointing vertically towards a bottom face of the light-emitting device 1 (known as a “bottom emitter”).

[0046] On a face of the carrier 9 that faces away from bottom face of the light-emitting device 1 are arranged laterally adjacent to one another a first layer stack 3 for generating light and additional layer stack 5 for generating light. The layer stacks 3, 5 comprise, for example, organic semiconductor material, in particular organic layers for emitting light and for supplying charge carriers. In this exemplified embodiment, the material and thickness of the layer stacks 3, 5 in the vertical direction are designed to be identical, for example. In other exemplified embodiments, the material and thickness of the layer stacks 3, 5 may differ from one another, in particular with regard to characteristics of the light to be emitted, for instance a characteristic such as a color.

[0047] Each of the layer stacks 3, 5 is assigned a first electrode 11, 13, which is arranged between the layer stacks 3, 5 and the carrier 9. The first electrodes 11, 13 each comprise, for example, a conductive oxide, metal or metal oxide such as indium oxide, for instance. The first electrodes 11, 13 can have a transparent design, for example, in this context. The first electrodes 11, 13 are arranged laterally adjacent to one another, for instance. In this exemplified embodiment, viewed vertically from above, the first electrodes 11, 13 are arranged in particular congruent with the layer stacks 3, 5.

[0048] A region laterally between the layer stacks 3, 5 and/or between the respective electrodes 11, 13 is filled over its entire surface by an auxiliary structure 7. The auxiliary structure 7 is preferably made of, or contains, a polyamide, acrylate or epoxide. In this case, the auxiliary structure 7 is designed to be translucent at least in places, for example. In particular, the auxiliary structure 7 has a light-scattering design, so that a light generated in the layer stacks 3, 5 and emitted into the auxiliary structure 7 is scattered by the auxiliary structure 7 such that the light is redistributed. The auxiliary structure 7 can be designed in this respect to couple out glass modes, for example. In other words, light generated in the layer stacks 3, 5 is emitted by the auxiliary structure 7 vertically towards a region outside the light-emitting device 1. For this purpose, the auxiliary structure 7 comprises, for example, a multiplicity of scattering particles and/or scattering centers for scattering the light. A refractive index of said auxiliary structure 7 is in particular greater than a refractive index of the carrier 9. In particular, an emission direction of the auxiliary structure 7 is substantially the same as the emission direction of the light-emitting device 1.

[0049] The layer stacks 3, 5 are also assigned a common second electrode 15, which is arranged on a face of the layer stacks 3, 5 that faces away from the bottom face of the light-emitting device 1 in the vertical direction. The second electrode 15 contains in particular a conductive material having a high reflectivity, for instance a material such as aluminum. In this exemplified embodiment, viewed vertically from above, the second electrode 15 is arranged in particular such that the layer stacks 3, 5 are completely covered.

[0050] The first electrodes 11, 13 form, for example, anodes of the segments 17, 19, and the second electrode 15 forms a cathode of the segments 17, 19. By contact being made separately with the respective first electrodes 11, 13 and with the second electrode 15, the segments 17, 19 can generate light separately from one another during operation of the light-emitting device 1. Coupling-out light generated in the layer stacks 3, 5 through the auxiliary structure 7 means that the region between the layer stacks 3, 5 that is filled laterally by the auxiliary structure 7 is barely perceptible to a viewer as a visible separating area between the segments 17, 19. In fact, when only the first layer stack 3 is generating light, the first segment 17 can appear to be enlarged laterally by the auxiliary structure 7. Likewise, when only the additional layer stack 5 is generating light, the additional segment 19 can appear to be enlarged laterally by the auxiliary structure 7. In particular when both layer stacks 3, 5 are generating light, the separating area between the segments 17, 19 is discernible, for example, only by a blurred coupling-out of light from both layer stacks 3, 5.

[0051] The plan view corresponding to Figure la and shown schematically in FIG. 2a shows the light-emitting device 1 in a condition in which no light is being generated in the layer stacks 3, 5. The layer stacks 3, 5, or respectively the segments 17, 19, are shaped like an arrow in the lateral direction. The additional layer stack 5 in particular comprises a lateral recess into which the first layer stack 3 extends. The auxiliary structure 7 arranged in the region laterally between the layer stacks 3, 5 is discernible in this condition of the light-emitting device 1 as an opaque separating area, for example.

[0052] FIG. 1b shows a schematic sectional view of a first part of the light-emitting device 1 according to the first exemplified embodiment. The first part of the light-emitting device 1 here comprises only the carrier 9 and the auxiliary structure 7. For instance this may be the case during production of the light-emitting device 1 when initially only the auxiliary structure 7 is applied to the carrier 9. For this purpose, the auxiliary structure 7 is applied using an inkjet or screen-printing process, for example.

[0053] Corresponding to this figure, FIG. 2b shows a plan view of the first part of the light-emitting device 1. The auxiliary structure 7 is shaped here such that the lateral region between the layer stacks 3, 5 is completely filled. The shape of said auxiliary structure 7 can differ from the shape shown in FIG. 2b, for instance in the case in which the layer stacks 3, 5 and the auxiliary structure 7 are designed to overlap in the vertical direction.

[0054] FIGS. 1c and 2c each show a second part of the light-emitting device 1 according to the first exemplified embodiment. In particular, the light-emitting device 1 is shown here without the auxiliary structure 7. During operation of only the second part of the light-emitting device 1, the separating area between the layer stacks 3, 5 is visible to a viewer as an un-illuminated area.

[0055] FIG. 1d is used to show schematically a sectional view of a second exemplified embodiment of the light-emitting device 1 having segments 17, 19 that can be driven separately from one another. As in the first exemplified embodiment, the light-emitting device 1 comprises the carrier 9, on the face of which that faces away from the bottom face of the light-emitting device 1 are arranged the first layer stack 3 and the additional layer stack 5. Each of the layer stacks 3, 5 is assigned a first electrode 11, 13, which is arranged in a vertical direction between the layer stacks 3, 5 and the carrier 9 in direct contact with, and in particular congruent with, the respective layer stacks 3, 5.

[0056] A region between the layer stacks 3, 5 and/or between the respective electrodes 11, 13, is filled completely by the auxiliary structure 7, i.e., in particular in the lateral and vertical directions. In this case, the auxiliary structure 7 overlaps in particular the first layer stack 3 in the vertical direction. A surface of the first layer stack 3 that faces away from the bottom face of the light-emitting device 1 thus includes material of the auxiliary structure 7. The additional layer stack 5 and the first electrode 13 assigned to the additional layer stack 5 overlap the auxiliary structure 7 and the first layer stack 3 in the vertical direction. A surface of the auxiliary structure 7 that faces away from the bottom face of the light-emitting device 1, in particular the part of the auxiliary structure 7 that overlaps the first layer stack 3 in the vertical direction, thus includes material of the additional layer stack 5 and/or of the electrode 13 assigned to the additional layer stack 5.

[0057] In this case, the auxiliary structure 7 is designed to be translucent at least in places, for example. In particular, the auxiliary structure 7 is designed to be an electrical insulator, so that operation of the first layer stack 3 remains largely unaffected when current is supplied via the electrode 13 assigned to the additional layer stack 5. For example, a light generated in the additional layer stack 5 passes through the auxiliary structure 7 vertically such that the region between the layer stacks 3, 5 is barely perceptible to a viewer as a visible separating area between the segments 17, 19. The auxiliary structure 7 can here optionally have a light-scattering design, similar to the first exemplified embodiment, so that light generated additionally by the first layer stack 3, for example, can be redistributed and emitted by the auxiliary structure 7.

[0058] The layer stacks 3, 5 are also assigned the common second electrode 15, which is arranged on a face of the layer stacks 3, 5 that faces away from the bottom face of the light-emitting device 1 in the vertical direction.

[0059] By contact being made separately with the respective first electrodes 11, 13 and with the second electrode 15, the segments 17, 19 can generate light separately from one another during operation of the light-emitting device 1. By virtue of the auxiliary structure 7, the region between the layer stacks 3, 5 that is filled laterally by the auxiliary structure 7 is barely perceptible to a viewer as a visible separating area between the segments 17, 19 at least as a result of light generated in the additional layer stack 5 passing through the auxiliary structure 7. When only the first layer stack 3 is generating light, the first segment 17 can appear to be delimited to a lateral extent of the layer stack 3. When only the additional layer stack 5 is generating light, the additional segment 19 can appear to be enlarged laterally by the auxiliary structure 7. An identical effect likewise occurs when both layer stacks 3, 5 are generating light.

[0060] The plan view of the light-emitting device 1 shown schematically in FIG. 2d shows the light-emitting device 1 according to the first exemplified embodiment and the second exemplified embodiment in a condition in which light is being generated at least in one of the layer stacks 3, 5. In the region laterally between the layer stacks 3, 5, light is emitted vertically towards the region outside the light-emitting device 1, with the result that the auxiliary structure 7 arranged there and the separating area are not visible to the viewer.

[0061] The description referring to the exemplified embodiments does not limit the invention. Instead, the invention includes every novel feature and every combination of features, which in particular includes every combination of features in the claims, even if this feature or combination is not itself explicitly mentioned in the claims or exemplified embodiments.

[0062] Although the invention herein has been described with reference to particular embodiments, it is to be understood that these embodiments are merely illustrative of the principles and applications of the present invention. It is therefore to be understood that numerous modifications may be made to the illustrative embodiments and that other arrangements may be devised without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.