Patents Assigned to Plextronics, Inc.
  • Patent number: 8440785
    Abstract: A composition comprising a homopolymer or a copolymer comprising bithiophene units for use in, for example, low band gap materials including uses in organic photovoltaic active layers. The band gap and other properties can be engineered by polymerization methods including selection of monomer structure and ratio of monomer components. In addition, a dimer adapted for making alternating copolymers further comprising one first monomer moiety comprising at least one bithiophene moiety compound covalently linked to one second monomer moiety comprising a different bithiophene moiety or at least one moiety that is not a bithiophene. The composition can be copolymerized to form an alternating copolymer that can be further processed to form a polymeric film used in a printed organic electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Plextronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher T. Brown, Chad Landis, Elena E. Sheina
  • Publication number: 20130109813
    Abstract: An improved polymerization method including a method comprising providing a reaction mixture comprising a first monomer, an organic oxidant, and at least one Lewis acid or Brönsted acid, wherein the first monomer comprises at least one optionally substituted heterocyclic ring, wherein the heterocyclic ring comprises at least one heteroatom; and reacting the reaction mixture to obtain a conjugated polymer. The method can reduce the content of undesirable entities in the polymer such as halogens and metals, which can be useful in organic electronic device applications. Purification methods also are adapted to remove organic and inorganic impurities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2012
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: Plextronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Plextronics, Inc.
  • Patent number: 8431925
    Abstract: Organic electronic devices, compositions, and methods are disclosed that employ electrically conductive nanowires and conducting materials such as conjugated polymers such as sulfonated regioregular polythiophenes which provide high device performance such as good solar cell efficiency. Devices requiring transparent conductors that are resilient to physical stresses can be fabricated, with reduced corrosion problems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignees: Plextronics, Inc., Cambrios Technologies Corp.
    Inventors: Sergey B. Li, Shawn P. Williams, Brian E. Woodworth, Pierre Marc Allemand, Rimple Bhatia, Hash Pakbaz
  • Publication number: 20130092887
    Abstract: A method including combining at least one first compound in a neutral form with at least one ionic dopant in a first solvent system to provide a first doped reaction product, isolating the first doped reaction product in solid form, and combining the isolated first doped reaction product with at least one conjugated polymer in neutral form in a second solvent system to form a second doped reaction product including an oxidized form of the conjugated polymer a neutral form of the first compound. Advantages include better stability, ease of use, and lower metal content. Applications include organic electronic devices including OLEDs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2012
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Applicant: Plextronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Plextronics, Inc.
  • Patent number: 8414304
    Abstract: An organic light emitting diode (OLED) device includes a substrate, an anode, a cathode, an active region including an organic material, wherein the active region is electrically coupled to the anode and the cathode, at least one coupler configured to electrically couple at least one of the anode or the cathode to a power supply, and an encapsulation that isolates the active region from an ambient environment. A lighting system can be made including a plurality of OLED devices. A lighting system can be assembled using the OLED devices from a kit. The OLED devices may be polymer light emitting diode (PLED) devices or small molecule light emitting diode (SMOLED) devices. The OLED devices can use regio-regular poly-thiophene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Plextronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Mathew K. Mathai, Glenn Thompson, Mark L. Storch, Troy D. Hammond
  • Publication number: 20130076263
    Abstract: A lighting system includes a plurality of organic light emitting diode (OLED) devices. By selecting the plurality of OLED devices, or by selectively controlling the plurality of OLED devices, the color characteristics of the lighting system can be tuned. The lifetime of the lighting system can be improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2012
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: PLEXTRONICS, INC.
    Inventor: Plextronics, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20130075670
    Abstract: Oligomers and/or polymers comprising a backbone comprising arylamine and fluorinated alkyleneoxy moieties which may be crosslinked. Ink formulations and devices can be formed from the oligomers or polymers, or corresponding monomers. Doped compositions can be formed. Charge injection and transport layers can be formed. Improved stability can be achieved in organic electronic devices such as OLEDs and OPVs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2012
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: Plextronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Plextronics, Inc.
  • Patent number: 8399604
    Abstract: Conducting polymer systems for hole injection or transport layer applications including a composition comprising: a water soluble or water dispersible regioregular polythiophene comprising (i) at least one organic substituent, and (ii) at least one sulfonate substituent comprising sulfonate sulfur bonding directly to the polythiophene backbone. The polythiophene can be water soluble, water dispersible, or water swellable. They can be self-doped. The organic substituent can be an alkoxy substituent, or an alkyl substituent. OLED, PLED, SMOLED, PV, and ESD applications can be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Plextronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Venkataramanan Seshadri, Brian E. Woodworth, Christopher Greco, Darin Laird, Mathew K. Mathai
  • Patent number: 8383454
    Abstract: Compositions for use in hole transporting layers (HTLs) or hole injection layers (HILs) are provided, as well as methods of making the compositions and devices fabricated from the compositions. OLED devices can be made. The compositions comprise at least one conductive conjugated polymer, at least one semiconducting matrix component that is different from the conductive conjugated polymer, and an optional dopant, and are substantially free of an insulating matrix component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Plextronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Chris T. Brown, Matthew K. Mathai, Venkataramanan Seshadri
  • Patent number: 8362517
    Abstract: An organic optoelectronic device includes a substrate, an anode, a cathode, an active region comprising an organic material, an encapsulation that isolates the active region from an ambient environment, wherein the encapsulation comprises a housing, and a first hermetically sealed electrical path through the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Plextronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Glenn H. Thompson
  • Patent number: 8288951
    Abstract: A lighting system includes a plurality of organic light emitting diode (OLED) devices. By selecting the plurality of OLED devices, or by selectively controlling the plurality of OLED devices, the color characteristics of the lighting system can be tuned. The lifetime of the lighting system can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Plextronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark L. Storch, Mathew K. Mathai, Glenn Thompson, Joseph Greenberg
  • Patent number: 8283002
    Abstract: Oligomers and/or polymers comprising a backbone comprising arylamine and fluorinated alkyleneoxy moieties which may be crosslinked. Ink formulations and devices can be formed from the oligomers or polymers, or corresponding monomers. Doped compositions can be formed. Charge injection and transport layers can be formed. Improved stability can be achieved in organic electronic devices such as OLEDs and OPVs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Plextronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher T. Brown, Venkataramanan Shesadri, Jing Wang
  • Patent number: 8217260
    Abstract: Photovoltaic cells comprising an active layer comprising, as p-type material, conjugated polymers such as polythiophene and regioregular polythiophene, and as n-type material at least one fullerene derivative. The fullerene derivative can be C60, C70, or C84. The fullerene also can be functionalized with indene groups. Improved efficiency can be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignees: Plextronics, Inc., Nano-C, Inc.
    Inventors: Darin W. Laird, Reza Stegamat, Malika Daadi, legal representative, Henning Richter, Viktor Vejins, Larry Scott, Thomas A. Lada
  • Patent number: 8215787
    Abstract: A plurality of organic light emitting diode (OLED) devices can be spatially distributed to form various lighting systems and luminaires. The lighting systems can be configured to readily replace conventional light bulbs or tubular fluorescent lamps. A networked lighting system including a plurality of OLED devices can have a variable light field based on a feedback.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Plextronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Mathew K. Mathai, Mark L. Storch, Glenn Thompson, Eli J. Scott, Lisa Pattison, Troy D. Hammond
  • Patent number: 8187501
    Abstract: Use of certain materials in hole injection layer and/or hole transport layer can improve operational lifetimes in organic devices. Polymers having fused aromatic side groups such as polyvinylnaphthol polymers can be used in conjunction with conjugated polymers. Inks can be formulated and cast as films in organic electronic devices including OLEDs, SMOLEDs, and PLEDs. One embodiment provides a composition comprising: at least one conjugated polymer, and at least one second polymer different from the conjugated polymer comprising at least one optionally substituted fused aromatic hydrocarbon side group. The substituent can be hydroxyl. Aqueous-based inks can be formulated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Plextronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher T. Brown, Venkataramanan Seshadri
  • Patent number: 8097876
    Abstract: Compositions for use in hole transporting layers (HTLs) or hole injection layers (HILs) are provided, as well as methods of making the compositions and devices fabricated from the compositions. OLED devices can be made. The compositions comprise at least one conductive conjugated polymer, at least one semiconducting matrix component that is different from the conductive conjugated polymer, and an optional dopant, and are substantially free of an insulating matrix component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Plextronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Mathew K. Mathai, Christopher T. Brown, Venkataramanan Seshadri
  • Patent number: 8017241
    Abstract: Conducting polymer systems for hole injection or transport layer applications including a composition comprising: a water soluble or water dispersible regioregular polythiophene comprising (i) at least one organic substituent, and (ii) at least one sulfonate substituent comprising sulfonate sulfur bonding directly to the polythiophene backbone. The polythiophene can be water soluble, water dispersible, or water swellable. They can be self-doped. The organic substituent can be an alkoxy substituent, or an alkyl substituent. OLED, PLED, SMOLED, PV, and ESD applications can be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Plextronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Venkataramanan Seshadri, Brian E. Woodworth, Christopher Greco, Darin Laird, Mathew K. Mathai
  • Patent number: 7888427
    Abstract: Latent doping is provided wherein a conducting polymer is mixed with a dopant in solution without the doping reaction occurring unless solvent is removed. Regioregular polythiophenes are a particularly important embodiment. A composition comprising (i) at least one polymer comprising conjugation in the polymer backbone, (ii) at least one dopant for the polymer, (iii) at least one solvent for the polymer and latent dopant, wherein the polymer, the latent dopant, and the solvent are formulated so that the latent dopant does not substantially dope the polymer when formulated, but does substantially react with the polymer when the solvent is removed. Formulation of the composition can comprise adjusting the order of mixing, the amounts of the components, and the temperature. Methods of formulating the compositions and methods of using the compositions are also provided. OLED, PLED, photovoltaic, and other organic electronic devices can be fabricated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Plextronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Shawn P. Williams, Darin W. Laird, Caton C. Goodman, Christopher M. Greco, Jaideep Rajput
  • Patent number: 7838624
    Abstract: Synthesis of regioregular thiophene-based polymers (PTs) and their functionalized counterparts via metal assisted cross-coupling polymerizations utilizing mixed halogen substituted aryl halide monomer precursors. The described method provides a means to control structural homogeneity and regioregularity and the electronic/spectroscopic properties of functionalized PTs, and leads to improved performance of organic semiconductor devices such as OPVs and/or OFETs. Asymmetrical monomers can be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Plextronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Darin Laird, Elena Sheina
  • Patent number: 7790979
    Abstract: Regioregular polythiophene polymers can be used in photovoltaic applications including copolymers and blends. The polymer can comprise heteroatoms in the side groups. Better efficiencies can be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Plextronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Shawn P. Williams, Darin W. Laird, Troy D. Hammond, Andrew W. Hannah, Elena E. Sheina, Shijun Jia