Last updated: August 27, 2025
Introduction
Japan Patent JP2015504095, titled "Method for producing an organic electroluminescent display device", was filed to secure rights around manufacturing processes for organic light-emitting diode (OLED) displays. With the global OLED market expanding rapidly, understanding the patent's scope, claims, and surrounding patent landscape is crucial for stakeholders—be they developers, manufacturers, or legal entities—aiming to navigate intellectual property (IP) intricacies in this technological arena.
This analysis dissects the patent's scope and claims, contextualizes its position within the broader patent landscape, and evaluates strategic considerations based on its content.
Patent Overview
Publication Details:
- Publication Number: JP2015504095
- Filing Date: May 9, 2014 (priority claimed from earlier applications)
- Publication Date: August 13, 2015
Assignee:
Initially filed by Konica Minolta, Inc., reflecting the company's interest in advanced display technology.
Technology Area:
Organic electroluminescent (OLED) device manufacturing, emphasizing methods to improve device efficiency, stability, and manufacturing yield.
Scope of the Patent
Core Focus:
The patent aims to specify a method for manufacturing OLED display devices that enhances the uniformity of organic layers and reduces defects, ultimately improving device lifespan and brightness stability.
Implication of Scope:
By delineating specific process steps—such as film formation, patterning, and layer deposition—the patent seeks to cover manufacturing techniques that achieve more precise layer control and fewer defects in OLED displays. The scope encompasses both material handling and fabrication procedures intended to optimize the OLED production yield.
Limitations & Boundaries:
The scope is technical and process-specific, primarily covering methods rather than device structures or compositions alone. It does not extend explicitly to newly invented organic materials or device architectures, focusing instead on manufacturing processes and steps.
Claims Analysis
Claim 1 (Independent Claim):
The broadest claim defines a method comprising specific sequential steps, including:
- forming a first organic layer via a particular deposition process,
- controlling the humidity and temperature during deposition,
- patterning the organic layer with a specific technique,
- curing or annealing stages designed to improve film quality.
This claim indicates a focus on conditions during layer deposition and patterning, aiming at minimizing defects and improving uniformity.
Dependent Claims:
Further specify parameters such as:
- type of organic materials used,
- exact temperature and humidity ranges,
- specific deposition techniques (e.g., vacuum thermal evaporation, sputtering),
- particular patterning or curing methods.
Through these dependent claims, the patent encapsulates various embodiments and refinements, providing fallback positions if the broad claims face challenges.
Claim Interpretation:
The claims encompass a methodology for improving OLED manufacturing, particularly emphasizing controlled environmental conditions, precise patterning, and process optimizations.
Patent Landscape in Japan for OLED Manufacturing Methods
Key Competitors and Patent Pollution:
- Samsung Electronics and LG Display have extensive patent portfolios covering OLED materials and device architectures but also encompass manufacturing processes.
- Japanese companies like Sony and Konica Minolta themselves hold multiple patents relating to OLED fabrication, often focusing on layer deposition control, encapsulation technologies, and patterning improvements.
Related Patent Families:
- Several recent Japanese patents elaborate on environmentally controlled deposition approaches, similar to JP2015504095, indicating an active patenting trend targeting contamination control and defect reduction.
- International filings, especially under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), reveal global extensions of Japanese process inventions, indicating strategic patenting beyond Japan.
Prior Art & Novelty:
- Prior art in the field shows multiple processes aimed at controlling humidity and temperature during organic layer deposition, as well as patterning techniques for high-resolution OLED displays.
- The novelty here hinges on specific process parameters and operational sequences claimed to significantly enhance production yield, uniformity, and device stability.
Patentability & Fencing:
- The patent's claims are technologically nuanced, focusing on process environments and steps, aligning with existing IP but adding distinct process conditions or sequences.
- Companies must assess whether their processes infringe on the specific environmental control parameters or step sequences claimed here.
Strategic Insights
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For Patent Holders:
Deploy this patent as a barrier to competitors implementing similar environment-controlled OLED manufacturing methods, especially if process conditions align with those claimed.
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For Competitors:
Develop alternative deposition and patterning techniques that avoid the specific combinations of steps or environmental conditions described in JP2015504095 to circumvent infringement.
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In Licensing & Litigation:
This patent's detailed process claims could be pivotal in licensing negotiations or infringement disputes, particularly in Japan’s high-technology manufacturing sectors.
Conclusion
JP2015504095 delineates a focused and process-oriented approach to OLED manufacturing, emphasizing controlled environmental conditions and precise step sequencing to enhance device quality. Its scope centers on improving fabrication yield and stability, marking a strategic innovation in OLED production.
The Japanese patent landscape demonstrates active patenting in OLED process control tools, aligning JP2015504095 with a broader trend of securing manufacturing advantages via process-specific patents.
Stakeholders should interpret this patent within their development pipeline and consider designing around the specific process conditions or securing licensing arrangements to mitigate IP risks.
Key Takeaways
- JP2015504095 protects a specific manufacturing methodology emphasizing environmental control in OLED layer formation.
- Its claims cover sequential process steps, including deposition, patterning, curing, and environmental regulation.
- The patent landscape in Japan features numerous process-related OLED patents, underscoring the importance of specialized manufacturing IP.
- Developing alternative processes that avoid the claimed parameters may circumvent infringement.
- Strategic patent positioning necessitates detailed technological understanding to leverage or navigate this patent effectively.
FAQs
1. How does JP2015504095 differ from other OLED manufacturing patents?
It specifically emphasizes controlling environmental conditions—humidity and temperature—during organic layer deposition and patterning, optimizing process parameters to reduce defects, which is a nuanced approach compared to broader device architecture patents.
2. Can this patent impact OLED manufacturing outside Japan?
Yes, if the patent has counterparts or national filings in other jurisdictions, or if the techniques are part of licensed technologies, it can influence global manufacturing practices, especially in Asia.
3. What are the risks of infringement for companies using similar manufacturing processes?
Companies adopting deposition and patterning techniques with similar environmental controls and process steps as claimed could face infringement allegations, necessitating detailed process audits.
4. Is designing around this patent feasible?
Yes, by altering the specific environmental parameters, sequence of steps, or deposition techniques, companies can innovate alternative manufacturing methods outside the scope of the patent claims.
5. How should patent applicants or licensees utilize this patent?
They should assess whether their processes infringe, consider licensing agreements, or develop alternative methods that do not replicate the claimed steps or parameters, thus avoiding patent infringement.
References
- Japanese Patent JP2015504095, "Method for producing an organic electroluminescent display device", Konica Minolta, Inc., 2015.
- Patent Landscape Reports on OLED Manufacturing Processes (e.g., JP, US, EP filings).
- Industry analysis reports on OLED patenting trends and process innovations (2020-2023).
Note: This analysis is based solely on publicly available data and should be supplemented by a detailed patent claim and prior art search for comprehensive due diligence.
