JP2007173088A - Organic electroluminescent panel and organic el lighting system using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a user to safely exchange and light an organic EL panel, and that, to appropriately judge its end of life. <P>SOLUTION: The organic EL panel 1 has an organic EL element 4 formed on a substrate 3, and also, a characteristics information retaining part 5 retaining characteristics information of quality or the like of the organic element 4 as well as an information output terminal 6 for outputting characteristics information retained in the characteristics information retaining part 5 formed on a substrate 3. The characteristics information retained in the characteristics information retaining part 5 contains measurement information of characteristics values accompanying change with time of the organic EL element 4 and threshold information to be judgment standards of life. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an organic EL panel and an organic EL lighting device using the same.

  In general, a self-luminous EL element uses an EL (electroluminescence) phenomenon, and therefore hardly generates heat, and is lightweight and thin. In particular, an organic EL element is more than an inorganic EL element. It has various advantages such as easy color selection, low driving voltage and power saving.

  The organic EL element is configured by forming an organic light emitting layer between a pair of electrodes composed of an anode and a cathode. In the organic EL element, the physical properties of the organic light emitting layer change due to long-time lighting. For example, the luminance deteriorates due to a change in the characteristics of the element itself.

  By the way, the organic EL element is regarded as promising as a light source for illumination in terms of the possibility of increasing the light output, but in order to illuminate a large area, a single or a plurality of organic EL elements are provided on the substrate. It is also considered to form an organic EL panel by forming elements. In such a case, as described above, when the luminance characteristic of the organic EL element deteriorates due to the lighting time, a problem arises in that uneven luminance occurs in the panel and uniform illumination cannot be performed.

Therefore, conventionally, a lighting circuit for driving the organic EL element is provided with a monitor circuit for measuring the cumulative lighting time and lighting intensity (applied voltage level) for the organic EL element, and the data measured by the monitor circuit is preset. By comparing and referring to the data of the change in luminance characteristics of the organic EL element over time, a drive signal corrected according to the characteristic deterioration of the organic EL element is applied to the organic EL element so as to suppress the occurrence of luminance unevenness. The techniques described above have been proposed (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).
JP 2002-175041 A JP 2002-229513 A

  However, as in the prior art described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 above, a monitor circuit that measures the cumulative lighting time and lighting intensity (applied voltage level) for the organic EL element in the lighting device that drives the organic EL element. When the sensor is provided, the detection value for judging the change with time (voltage value or current value) of the characteristics of the organic EL element and the threshold value as a judgment criterion thereof fluctuate due to variations in circuit components on the monitor circuit side. There is a problem that it is difficult to accurately detect a change with time and life.

  In addition, the specifications of the organic EL panel are often different depending on the size, shape and manufacturer. In other words, power consumption (wattage), rated voltage, rated current, dimmability, toning, whether to apply a reverse bias, rated life, depending on the size and shape of the organic EL panel, manufacturer, etc. The specifications such as may be different.

  However, since the conventional device is not provided with any means for easily discriminating between such various specifications, when mounting the organic EL panel on the user side, the difference between the specifications is surely and reliably. There was no way to judge easily. For this reason, the non-standard organic EL panel is erroneously turned on by the lighting device, and as a result, the organic EL panel may fail.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and allows the user to safely replace and turn on the organic EL panel, and allows the user to appropriately determine the lifetime of the organic EL panel. An object is to provide an organic EL panel and an organic EL lighting device using the same.

  In order to achieve the above object, an organic EL panel according to the invention described in claim 1 includes a characteristic information holding unit for holding characteristic information such as quality of the organic EL element on the substrate in addition to the organic EL element. And an information output terminal for outputting the characteristic information held in the characteristic information holding unit.

  The organic EL panel according to a second aspect of the present invention is the organic EL panel according to the first aspect of the present invention, wherein the characteristic information held in the characteristic information holding unit includes measurement information of characteristic values accompanying a change with time of the organic EL element. And threshold information that is a criterion for determining the life.

  An organic EL panel according to a third aspect of the present invention includes the organic EL panel according to the first or second aspect and a lighting device that lights the organic EL panel, and the lighting device is the organic EL panel. A lighting circuit for lighting the panel and a control unit for controlling the operation of the lighting circuit based on the characteristic information output from the information output terminal are provided.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the organic EL panel is provided with the characteristic information holding unit that holds the characteristic information such as the quality of the element, when the organic EL panel is used by being connected to the lighting device, Since the characteristic information held in the characteristic information holding unit is read from the information output terminal, on the lighting device side, the contents of the specifications such as the quality of the organic EL element are reliably and easily determined based on the read characteristic information. can do. For this reason, for example, it is possible to prevent inconveniences such as a non-standard organic EL panel being erroneously turned on by the lighting device and causing a failure.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the characteristic information held in the characteristic information holding unit includes the measurement information of the characteristic value accompanying the change with time of the organic EL element and the threshold value information that is a criterion for determining the lifetime. The detection value for judging the change over time (voltage value and current value) of the characteristics of the organic EL element and the threshold value serving as the judgment reference are suppressed from being fluctuated due to the influence of circuit component variations on the monitor circuit side, It is possible to detect changes with time and lifetime more accurately.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, the controller of the lighting device that lights the organic EL panel controls the operation of the lighting circuit based on the characteristic information output from the information output terminal of the organic EL panel. However, it is possible not only to prevent malfunctions such as accidental lighting of non-standard organic EL panels, but also to cause malfunctions, and to correct the drive signal according to the characteristics of the organic EL elements, thereby suppressing the occurrence of uneven brightness. Can do. Further, when an abnormality is detected such that the voltage value or current value applied to the organic EL element is lower than the reference value based on the characteristic information, the lighting of the organic EL panel can be stopped.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1)
1 is a perspective view showing an organic EL panel and a lighting device of the organic EL lighting device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a front view of the organic EL panel, and FIG. FIG. 3B is a circuit diagram of the organic EL panel.

  The organic EL lighting device according to the first embodiment includes an organic EL panel 1 and a lighting device 2.

  In the organic EL panel 1, an organic EL element 4 is formed on a single transparent substrate 3 made of, for example, glass. The organic EL element 4 is formed by forming an organic light emitting layer between a pair of electrodes composed of an anode and a cathode, and the anode is composed of a transparent electrode such as ITO.

  Furthermore, the organic EL panel 1 of the first embodiment is provided with a characteristic information holding unit 5 that holds characteristic information such as the quality of the organic EL element 4 on the substrate 3, and is held by the characteristic information holding unit 5. A plurality (four in this example) of information output terminals 6 for outputting the characteristic information to the outside are formed.

  In this case, the characteristic information holding unit 5 is constituted by, for example, a semiconductor memory in which characteristic information is stored in advance. Further, as the characteristic information held in the characteristic information holding unit 5, the power consumption (wattage) of the organic EL panel 1, the rated voltage and the rated current, the dimming capability, the toning capability, and this panel were manufactured. It includes information such as the manufacturer, whether or not reverse bias can be applied, and characteristic values related to the rated life. Of the four information output terminals, two of the information output terminals 6a and 6b relate to characteristic values relating to the rated life, and the other information output terminals are the power consumption (wattage) of the organic EL panel 1 and the rating. It relates to characteristic information such as voltage, rated current, dimmability, toning, toning, manufacturer of this panel, and whether to apply a reverse bias. Reference numerals 7a and 7b denote drive signal input terminals connected to a pair of electrodes sandwiching the organic light emitting layer of the organic EL element 4, respectively.

  On the other hand, the lighting device 2 includes a socket unit 8 in which the organic EL panel 1 is mounted, a display unit 9 that displays the content of the characteristic information output from the information output terminal 6 of the organic EL panel 1, and the organic EL panel 1. The lighting circuit 10 for driving the lighting and the control unit 11 for controlling the operation of the lighting circuit 10 based on the characteristic information read from the characteristic information holding unit 5 of the organic EL panel 1 are provided. Note that the display unit 9 also serves as a notification unit for notifying that when there is an abnormality in the organic EL panel 1.

  In the above configuration, when the organic EL panel 1 is attached to the socket unit 8, the characteristic information held in the characteristic information holding unit 5 of the organic EL panel 1 is read out accordingly, and this characteristic information is read by the information output terminal 6. Is taken into the control unit 11 of the lighting device 2.

  Since the control unit 11 of the lighting device 2 displays the characteristic information read from the organic EL panel 1 on the display unit 9, the user looks at the display content and the organic EL having an appropriate specification for the lighting device 2. It can be easily confirmed whether or not it is the panel 1. In addition, the control unit 11 controls the operation of the lighting circuit 10 that drives and drives the organic EL panel 1 based on the characteristic information read from the organic EL panel 1.

  For example, when the information on the power consumption is read, if the control unit 11 is out of the standard, the lighting drive of the lighting circuit 10 is stopped and the display unit 9 blinks to inform the user that the standard is out of standard. Inform. Further, when the information on the rated voltage and current is read, the control unit 11 controls the lighting circuit 10 so as to conform to the rated voltage and current. When the dimming information is read, the controller 11 performs dimming by controlling the lighting circuit 10 based on the dimming information. If dimming is not possible, perform only the rated lighting. The same control as in the case of dimming is performed when information on whether or not toning is possible is read. Further, when the information of the panel manufacturer is read, the controller 11 emits light output based on the manufacturer information if the light output characteristics are slightly different even at the same rated voltage, for example, so as to match the characteristics of the manufacturer. The voltage applied to the organic EL element 4 is controlled so as to be the same without being influenced by the manufacturer. When the information on whether or not the reverse bias voltage can be applied is read, if the reverse bias voltage can be applied to the organic EL element 4, the control unit 11 applies the voltage including the reverse bias to light up while ensuring the life. I do.

  Further, in the first embodiment, the characteristic information holding unit 5 of the organic EL panel 1 holds the measurement information of the characteristic value accompanying the change with time of the organic EL element 4 and the threshold information that is a criterion for determining the lifetime. It has become. Then, as shown in FIG. 3B, a voltage is divided between resistors R1 and R2 between drive signal input terminals 7a and 7b that are connected to the organic EL element EL and apply a voltage for lighting the organic EL element. A circuit and a voltage dividing circuit by resistors R3 and R4, and a voltage divided by the resistors R3 and R4 is output from the information output terminal 6a to be used as measurement information of characteristic values associated with the aging of the organic EL element 4. The Zener voltage VZ of the Zener diode ZD connected in parallel to the resistor R2 is output from the information output terminal 6b as threshold information that serves as a criterion for determining the lifetime of the organic EL element. In this case, the resistors R1, R2, R3, and R4 and the Zener diode ZD are formed by chip components, but may be formed by a laminated film forming process of the organic EL element.

  On the other hand, the lighting device 2 is provided with a comparator 12 connected to each information output terminal 6a, 6b of the organic EL panel 1, and a measured value output from the one information output terminal 6a by this comparator 12. Is compared with the threshold value output from the other information output terminal 6b.

  Then, the measured value output from one information output terminal 6a is compared with the threshold value output from the other information output terminal 6b by the comparator 12. If the measured value exceeds the threshold value, the output level of the comparator 12 is output. Accordingly, the control unit 11 determines that the organic EL panel 1 has reached the end of its life, and the stop circuit 11b is operated by the output of the control circuit 11a of the control unit 11 and the lighting circuit 10 The output is stopped to stop the lighting of the organic EL panel, and the display on the display unit 9 prompts the user to replace the panel.

  As described above, in the first embodiment, if the measurement information of the characteristic value accompanying the change with time of the organic EL element 4 and the threshold value information used as a criterion for the lifetime can be obtained directly from the organic EL panel 1, It is possible to suppress such information from being fluctuated due to the influence of variations in circuit components on the lighting device 2 side, to detect the change with time and the life more accurately, and to simplify the configuration of the lighting device. Further, since the characteristic information such as the quality is held in advance in the characteristic information holding unit 5 of the organic EL panel 1, the non-standard organic EL panel 1 is erroneously turned on by the lighting device 2 to cause a failure. It is possible to prevent such problems from occurring. Furthermore, since the drive signal output from the lighting circuit 10 can be corrected according to the characteristics of the organic EL element 4, the occurrence of uneven brightness can be effectively suppressed.

  In the first embodiment, the characteristic information holding unit 5 is configured by a semiconductor memory. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and may be configured by, for example, an IC tag, a barcode, a QR code, or the like.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 4A is a block diagram showing a main part configuration of the organic EL lighting device according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4B is a circuit diagram of the organic EL panel, which corresponds to the first embodiment. Parts are denoted by the same reference numerals.

  Also in the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the organic EL panel 1 is provided with the characteristic information holding unit 5 and its information output terminal. However, in the second embodiment, the organic EL panel 1 includes the comparator 12 and its power supply circuit 13, and the characteristic information held in the characteristic information holding unit 5 accompanies change with time of the organic EL element 4. This is life determination information obtained as a result of comparing the measurement information of the characteristic value with the threshold information serving as a reference for determining the life by the comparator 12. Since other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment, detailed description thereof is omitted here.

  As described above, in the second embodiment, the life determination information is output from the information output terminal 6, and accordingly, the control unit 11 determines that the organic EL panel 1 has reached the end of life, and the control unit 11, the stop circuit 11 b is operated by the output of the control circuit 11 a to stop the output of the lighting circuit 10 and stop the lighting of the organic EL panel.

  In the first and second embodiments, the control unit 11 operates the stop circuit 11b with the output of the control circuit 11a. However, the control unit 11 reduces the output for life extension measures instead of the stop circuit 11b. Or an increase in output to prevent a decrease in light output. Further, the organic EL panel 1 has been described on the assumption that it is exclusively used for illumination. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied to, for example, a dot matrix type organic EL display. is there.

It is a perspective view which shows the organic electroluminescent panel and lighting device of the organic electroluminescent illuminating device in Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a front view of the organic electroluminescent panel which comprises the apparatus. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The organic electroluminescent illuminating device in Embodiment 1 of this invention is shown, (A) is a block diagram which shows a principal part structure, (B) is a circuit diagram of an organic electroluminescent panel. The organic EL lighting device in Embodiment 2 of this invention is shown, (A) is a block diagram which shows a principal part structure, (B) is a circuit diagram of an organic EL panel.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Organic EL panel 2 Lighting device 3 Board | substrate 4 Organic EL element 5 Characteristic information holding part 6, 6a, 6b Information output terminal 9 Display part (notification part)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Lighting circuit 11 Control part 11a Control circuit 11b Stop circuit 12 Comparator

Claims (3)

  In an organic EL panel in which an organic EL element is formed on a substrate, a characteristic information holding unit that holds characteristic information such as quality of the organic EL element is provided on the substrate, and the characteristic information holding unit includes An organic EL panel characterized in that an information output terminal for outputting the held characteristic information is formed.   2. The characteristic information held in the characteristic information holding unit includes measurement information of a characteristic value associated with a change with time of the organic EL element and threshold information serving as a life criterion. Organic EL panel.   The organic EL panel according to claim 1 or 2 and a lighting device that lights the organic EL panel, wherein the lighting device is a lighting circuit that drives the organic EL panel to light, and the information output terminal An organic EL lighting device comprising: a control unit that controls the operation of the lighting circuit based on characteristic information output from the lighting device.

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