Abstract: The present invention relates generally to fabricating two-terminal electric microswitches comprising thin semiconductor films and using these microswitches to construct column-row (x-y) addressable microswitch matrices. These microswitches are two terminal devices through which electric current and electric potential (or their derivatives or integrals) can be switched on and off by the magnitude or the polarity of the external bias. The microswitches are made from semiconducting thin films in a electrode/semiconductor/electrode, thin film configuration. Column-row addressable electric microswitch matrices can be made in large areas, with high pixel density. Such matrices can be integrated with a sensor layer with electronic properties which vary in response to external physical conditions (such as photon radiation, temperature, pressure, magnetic field and so on), thereby forming a variety of detector matrices.

Abstract: This invention pertains generally to the field of light-emitting diodes (LEDs). More particularly, this invention relates to polymer LEDs which offer high brightness, high efficiency and extended operating life, and which comprise (a) a transparent hole-injecting anode layer; (b) an emissive layer comprising an electroluminescent polymer; and, (c) an electron-injecting cathode layer; wherein said cathode layer comprises an ultra-thin layer of alkaline earth metal (such as calcium, strontium and barium) having a thickness of about 100 Å or less, typically from about 15 to about 100 Å.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to fabricating two-terminal electric microswitches comprising thin semiconductor films and using these microswitches to construct column-row (x-y) addressable microswitch matrices. These microswitches are two terminal devices through which electric current and electric potential (or their derivatives or integrals) can be switched on and off by the magnitude or the polarity of the external bias. The microswitches are made from semiconducting thin films in a electrode/semiconductor/electrode, thin film configuration. Column-row addressable electric microswitch matrices can be made in large areas, with high pixel density. Such matrices can be integrated with a sensor layer with electronic properties which vary in response to external physical conditions (such as photon radiation, temperature, pressure, magnetic field and so on), thereby forming a variety of detector matrices.

Abstract: This invention pertains to methods of forming a patterned metal layer in an electronic device, wherein the metal layer is in contact with an underlying organic polymeric layer (e.g., a conductive or semiconductive organic polymeric layer), which methods comprise mechanically scribing the metal layer with a mechanical scribing instrument to form the patterned metal electrode.

Abstract: Organic photodetectors with switchable photosensitivity are achieved using organic photoactive layers in electrode/organic/electrode structures. The photosensitivity can be switched on and off by the biasing voltage across the detectors, the switching voltage imparting photosensitivity above 1 mA/W at a preselected operating bias and near zero photosensitivity at a cut-off bias substantially equivalent in magnitude to the built-in potential of the photodetector. The photocurrent can be probled with a read-out circuit in the loop. These photodetectors can be arranged in linear arrays or in two-dimensional matrices that function as high performance, linear or two-dimensional image sensors.

Abstract: Image sensors with monochromatic or multi-color response made from organic semiconductors are disclosed. The image sensors are comprised of image sensing elements (pixels) each of which comprises a thin layer (or multiple layers) of organic semiconductor(s) sandwiched between conductive electrodes. These image sensors can be integrated or hybridized with electronic or optical devices on the same substrate or on different substrates. The electrical output signals from the image sensors resulting from the input image are probed by a circuit connected to the electrodes. The spectral response of the image sensing, elements can be modified and adjusted to desired spectral profiles through material selection, through device thickness adjustment and/or through optical filtering. Several approaches for achieving red, green, and blue full-color detection are disclosed.

Abstract: The addition of a highly polarizable additive such as an organic anionic surfactant to an electrically active polymer improves the electrical properties of the polymer. When such an additive is added to an electroluminescent organic polymer this mixture can be used in diodes having an anode contacting a layer of this mixture as the active light-emitting layer and an air-stable metal cathode having a work function larger than 4 eV. The external efficiency and brightness versus voltage are significantly improved compared to results obtained with the same electroluminescent polymer used alone with high work function (>4.0 eV) metal cathodes.

Abstract: Thin film spatial filters are disclosed. The filters are constructed with a continuous thin film of low resistance conductor (for example with a resistance of from 10−2 to 108 Ohms-cm) with plurabilty of resistive elements defining pixels. A thin film of high resistance material is on other side of the pixels in the case of grounded filters. The conductor film provides lateral blurring for image processing.

Abstract: Optical quality transparent conductors such as bodies, films and coatings formed from substituted and unsubstituted polyanilines in nonconductive substrates such as polymers or polymer plus solvents with protonic acid are disclosed as are methods of forming such conductors from fluid forms of the polyaniline/substrate/acid mixtures.

Abstract: The addition of a highly polarizable additive such as an organic anionic surfactant to an electrically active polymer improves the electrical properties of the polymer. When such an additive is added to an electroluminescent organic polymer this mixture can be used in diodes having an anode contacting a layer of this mixture as the active light-emitting layer and an air-stable metal cathode having a work function larger than 4 eV. The external efficiency and brightness versus voltage are significantly improved compared to results obtained with the same electroluminescent polymer used alone with high work function (>4.0 eV) metal cathodes.

Abstract: Fluorenes and polyfluorenes having one or two polar-group-containing alkyl substituents on their "9" carbon methylenes are disclosed together with the polymers' use as luminescent materials in organic light-emitting diodes and light-emitting electrochemical cells.

Abstract: Electrochemical light emitting devices are disclosed which include a composite material in contact with two electrodes. The composite material is an admixture of ionic species and an `immobile` semiconductor and a high-boiling gel-forming liquid. The presence of high-boiling gel-forming liquid improves the efficiency of the devices. The semiconductor is capable of supporting both p- and n-type carriers and having a doping profile which can be dynamically changed in a controlled fashion through reversible electrochemical oxidation and reduction. Devices having this structure may be used to generate electrochemically induced p-n junctions, thereby providing a new means of exploiting the light emitting properties of such junctions under an applied voltage. Systems and methods for generating useful levels of light employing these devices are also disclosed.

Abstract: A smart array comprised an array of polymer grid triodes arrayed with a common polymer grid. In a preferred embodiment it is embodied as a conducting polymer device which provides local gain adjustment for video display such that the entire sensor dynamic range available, typically more than 16 bits in the infrared detector case, can be utilized locally to solve the intra-scene contrast problem. The array of polymer grid triodes with common grid can be utilized to process the image in analog form directly on the focal plane. Alternatively, the array of polymer grid triodes with common grid can be utilized to process the image after analog to digital conversion and integrated directly into the display.

Abstract: Long-lived organic light-emitting diodes are achieved by positioning a layer comprising polyaniline in the emeraldine salt form directly contiguous with the anode side of the active light-emitting layer. Particular advantages are achieved if the emeraldine salt-containing layer has a sheet resistance of at least about 10.sup.3 ohms per square which can be achieved by casting the layer from solution in a polar solvent, most particularly, DMSO. The LED's can find advantageous application in displays where they exhibit long life and marked resistance to blurring, spreading or other degradations over time.

Abstract: Compositions are disclosed comprising electrically conducting polyaniline and particular substituted aromatic compounds that simultaneously form hydrogen bonds and ring-ring interactions with, respectively, the NH-groups and the six-membered rings of the conducting polyanilines. The present conducting polyaniline compositions show drastically enhanced processibility and their blends with insulating or semiconducting materials exhibit significantly improved electrical properties.

Abstract: Electrochemical light emitting devices are disclosed which include a composite material in contact with two electrodes. The composite material is an admixture of ionic species and an `immobile` semiconductor. The semiconductor is capable of supporting both p- and n-type carriers and having a doping profile which can be dynamically changed in a controlled fashion through reversible electrochemical oxidation and reduction. Devices having this structure may be used to generate electrochemically induced p-n junctions, thereby providing a new means of exploiting the light emitting properties of such junctions under an applied voltage. Systems and methods for generating useful levels of light employing these devices are also disclosed.

Abstract: Light-emitting electrochemical cells are produced with a surface cell configuration. In preferred embodiments the cells employ organic semiconducting polymers and particularly ion doped conjugated organic semiconducting polymers as active light-emitting materials.

Abstract: Optical quality transparent conductors such as bodies, films and coatings formed from substituted and unsubstituted polyanilines in nonconductive substrates such as polymers or polymer plus solvents with protonic acid are disclosed as are methods of forming such conductors from fluid forms of the polyaniline/substrate/acid mixtures.

Abstract: Compositions of electrically conductive substituted and unsubstituted polyanilines in nonconductive substrates such as polymers or polymer plus solvents with protonic acids are disclosed as are methods of forming such compositions and use of same to form conductive articles.

Abstract: Polymer grids comprising a body of electrically conducting organic polymer, which body has an open and porous network morphology and defines an expanded surface area void-defining porous network are disclosed. In most applications active electronic material is located within at least a portion of the void spaces defined by the porous network. These grids are advantageously incorporated into polymer grid triodes and especially light-emitting polymer grid triodes.