Abstract: The present invention in one embodiment introduces a composite optical destructive layer (35) into the electroluminescent device which reduces the reflection of ambient light from the device. The composite optical destructive layer (35) is advantageously made of materials already found in the manufacturing process of the electroluminescent device (70) and also by manufacturing processes inherent in the manufacture of the device. More particularly, the composite optical destructive layer (35) is made from a variant of a parent material used to form one of the electrodes (12) of the electroluminescent device. The variant material differs from the parent material in that the variant material is oxygen deficient. This oxygen deficiency in the variant material causes the variant material to have a change in refractive index from that of the parent material.

Abstract: The present invention in one embodiment introduces a composite optical destructive layer (35) into the electroluminescent device which reduces the reflection of ambient light from the device. The composite optical destructive layer (35) is advantageously made of materials already found in the manufacturing process of the electroluminescent device (70) and also by manufacturing processes inherent in the manufacture of the device. More particularly, the composite optical destructive layer (35) is made from a variant of a parent material used to form one of the electrodes (12) of the electroluminescent device. The variant material differs from the parent material in that the variant material is oxygen deficient. This oxygen deficiency in the variant material causes the variant material to have a change in refractive index from that of the parent material.

Abstract: An organic light emitting diode (OLED) formed on an opaque flexible substrate is disclosed. The opaque flexible substrate is composed of one of the following: (i) a plastic layer laminated to or coated with a metal layer, (ii) a metal layer sandwiched between two plastic layers, or (iii) a metal foil. When the OLED is formed on a metal surface of the flexible substrate, the metal surface may be coated with an isolation layer. The isolation layer may be a spin-coated polymer layer or a dielectric layer. The metal in the flexible substrate serves as a barrier to minimize the permeation of oxygen and moisture to the OLED. In addition, the OLED is provided with a transparent or semi-transparent upper electrode so that light can emit through the upper electrode.