JP2002270377A - Luminescent panel and electric device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a luminescent panel, in which boundaries of an electrode are not conspicuous, and electric devices carrying this luminescent panel. SOLUTION: Since a compensating layer 17 is provided, which is made of the same material with the same thickness as a negative electrode 15, in domains other than the domain, in which the negative electrode 15 is formed, when a user looks at this organic EL panel 10 from a display face side, it becomes uniformly transparent over this whole panel surface, then the boundaries of the negative electrode 15 are not conspicuous.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a light-emitting panel such as an organic EL panel and an electronic apparatus equipped with the light-emitting panel.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a thin light emitting panel, an organic EL (El
ectro Luminescence) panels are known. FIG.
3 is a cross-sectional view of the organic EL panel. As shown in FIG. 5, the organic EL panel includes a transparent glass substrate 101, an anode 102, an insulating layer 103, a light-emitting organic layer 104, a cathode 10
5, a sealing agent 106 and a sealing substrate 107 are laminated in this order. The anode 102 is made of, for example, ITO.
(Indium tin oxide) and the like, and the cathode 105 is formed of a metal having a low work function such as magnesium, aluminum and calcium. The light-emitting organic layer 104 includes an organic EL layer including an organic EL element, a hole injection layer that supplies holes to this layer, and the like. These anode 102 and cathode 1
When a DC voltage is applied between the light emitting organic layer 1 and the light emitting organic layer 1 positioned between the anode 102 and the cathode 105.
04 emits light.

Here, if the above-mentioned layers are formed of substantially transparent members, for example, by forming the cathode 105 by a metal thin film, a transparent organic EL panel is obtained. If such a transparent organic EL panel is arranged, for example, between the clock face and the cover glass, the user can display the time using the clock face without disturbing the field of view when the panel is not emitting light. On the other hand, when the panel emits light, various information displayed by the light emission can be referred to.

[0004]

By the way, the above-mentioned cathode 105 plays a role of supplying electrons necessary for causing the luminescent organic layer 104 to emit light. Therefore, if the cathode 105 is formed to be extremely thin with priority given to the transparency of the entire organic EL panel, the electric resistance of the cathode 15 increases, and sufficient electrons cannot be supplied. Luminance cannot be obtained. Conversely, if the thickness of the cathode 105 is made thicker by giving priority to the luminance of the panel, the transparency is reduced instead of obtaining sufficient luminance,
The dial at the bottom of the panel is hard to see.

Therefore, at present, the thickness of the cathode 105 is adjusted so as to balance the transparency and the luminance. As a result, the area where the cathode 105 is formed has a transparency of about 60%, The area where no pattern is formed has a transparency of about 90%.

However, if there is a difference in transparency of about 30% between the region where the cathode 105 is formed and the region where the cathode 105 is not formed as described above, the boundary of the cathode 105 becomes slightly noticeable, There is a problem that the dial face is difficult to see and the quality as a product is deteriorated.

The present invention has been made under such a background, and an object of the present invention is to provide a light-emitting panel in which the boundaries of electrodes are inconspicuous, and an electronic device equipped with the light-emitting panel.

[0008]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a first structure of the present invention is a transparent light-emitting panel having a structure in which a plurality of layers are stacked, and a region where no electrode is formed. A correction layer having substantially the same degree of transparency as the electrode is formed in a region corresponding to.
According to this configuration, even when the user looks at the light-emitting panel, the boundaries between the electrodes are inconspicuous.

Further, according to a second configuration of the present invention, in the first configuration, the correction layer is formed of the same material as that of the electrode to have a thickness substantially equal to that of the electrode. It is characterized by the following.

In a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the correction layer is formed of a material different from a material forming the electrode so as to have substantially the same transparency as the electrode. It is characterized by having.

According to a fourth configuration of the present invention, in the first configuration, the light-emitting panel is an organic electro-luminescence (EL) device.
inescence) panel, wherein the electrodes are the organic EL.
It is a cathode of a panel.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the fourth aspect, the correction layer is formed on an insulating layer laminated on the cathode.

Further, a sixth configuration of the present invention comprises the first to fifth embodiments.
A light-emitting panel having any one of the above configurations, a panel drive control device that drives and controls the light-emitting panel, a power supply device that supplies power to the panel drive control device, and the device that is driven by the panel drive control device. And a clock supply device for supplying a clock signal necessary for control. According to this configuration, even when the user looks at the light-emitting panel mounted on the electronic device, the boundaries between the electrodes are inconspicuous.

[0014]

Next, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Hereinafter, a case where the organic EL panel according to an embodiment of the present invention is mounted on a wristwatch-type information device mounted on a user's arm will be described as an example. A: Configuration (1) Configuration of wristwatch-type information device First, the configuration of the wristwatch-type information device 100 will be described with reference to the cross-sectional view shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 1, the wristwatch-type information device 100 includes a circuit board 4 in a housing formed by a cover glass 1, a case 2, and a back cover 3. A quartz oscillator 5 for generating a source oscillation signal having a reference frequency and a battery 6 for supplying power to each part of the wristwatch-type information device 100 are provided on the back side (lower side of the drawing) of the circuit board 4. Have been. On the other hand, an IC chip 7 for performing various control processes is provided on the front side (upper part of the drawing) of the circuit board 4, and a liquid crystal panel 20 (hereinafter, referred to as an LCD 20) is provided above the IC chip 7.
), And a transparent organic EL panel 10 is further provided thereabove. Organic EL panel 10
Is transparent, and when viewed from the user, this organic EL panel 10 is not displayed when nothing is displayed on the organic EL panel 10.
It is possible to refer to the display content of the LCD 20 below the panel 10 without disturbing the field of view by the panel 10. Further, even when information is displayed on the organic EL panel 10, the display contents of the LCD 20 are not completely invisible, and it is possible to refer to the approximate contents.

(2) Configuration of Organic EL Panel 10 Next, the configuration of the organic EL panel 10 will be described with reference to the cross-sectional view shown in FIG. In FIG. 2, the surface (that is, the display surface) of the wristwatch-type information device 100 facing the cover glass 1 shown in FIG. The top surface in FIG. Therefore, when the user looks at the organic EL panel 10, he or she looks in the direction of the arrow indicated by Y in the figure.

As shown in FIG. 2, this organic EL panel 1
At 0, a patterned anode 12 is formed on a transparent glass substrate 11. This anode 12
Is made of a transparent material having conductivity such as ITO.

On this anode 12, an insulating layer 13 is formed. The insulating layer 13 is formed on the organic EL panel 10.
Are formed in regions other than the light emitting region.

On the anode 12 and the insulating layer 13, a hole injection layer / EL layer 14 including a hole injection layer for supplying holes and an organic EL layer composed of an organic EL element is formed. The hole injection layer / EL layer 14 is a Bayt hole injection layer.
A structure in which a conductive polymer such as ron P (VPAl 4083, Bayer Corporation) is deposited, and a luminescent polymer having π conjugation such as polyfluorene or polyparaphenylenevinylene corresponding to each color is laminated thereon. It has become.

On the hole injection layer / EL layer 14, a cathode 15 is formed by a thin metal film having a low work function, such as magnesium, aluminum, or calcium.
FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a formation pattern of the cathode 15 (when a common electrode is used) when the segment type organic EL panel 10 is driven at 1/3 duty. In FIG. 3, reference numeral 15a denotes a common electrode corresponding to a light emitting region,
Reference numeral 15b denotes an inter-electrode wiring connecting the common electrodes 15a, and 15c denotes a cathode auxiliary wiring connected to a panel driver (not shown). Here, the cathode 15 means the common electrode 15a, the inter-electrode wiring 15b, and the cathode auxiliary wiring 1
5c means all.

The cathode 15 and the hole injection layer / EL layer 14
On the insulating layer 16 is formed over the entire surface of the panel 10, and on the insulating layer 16, a correction layer 17 for correcting transparency is formed. As shown in the plan view of FIG. 4, the correction layer 17 is formed of the same material and the same thickness as the cathode 15 in a region other than the region where the cathode 15 is formed (see FIG. 3). That is, the formation region of the cathode 15 shown in FIG. 3 and the correction layer 17 shown in FIG.
And the formation region are inverted from each other. Further, since the insulating layer 16 is provided between the cathode 15 and the correction layer 17, there is no danger that the cathode 15 and the correction layer 17 are electrically short-circuited.

On the correction layer 17 and the insulating layer 16,
A substantially transparent sealing agent 18 and a sealing substrate 19 are formed. The cathode 15 and the correction layer 17 made of the same metal material as the cathode 15 have a problem of deterioration due to oxidation. However, the cathode 15 and the correction layer 17 are different from the glass substrates 11 located at both end layers of the organic EL panel 10. Since the structure is shielded from the outside world by the sealing substrate 19, the above-described problem of deterioration does not occur.

With the above-described configuration, the user can select Y
When the organic EL panel 10 is viewed from the direction of the arrow shown by the arrow, even in a region where the cathode 15 does not exist, there is a correction layer 17 having the same transparency as that of the cathode 15, so that the transparency becomes uniform over the entire surface of the panel. It is.

Although FIG. 3 shows a case where the cathode 15 is a common electrode, the present invention is not limited to this, and the cathode 15 may be a segment electrode. However, since the wiring of the common electrode is generally less complicated than the segment electrode, there is an advantage that the boundary of the wiring portion is less noticeable when the cathode 15 is the common electrode.

B: Manufacturing Method A method of manufacturing the above-described organic EL panel 10 will be described. First, an anode film made of ITO or the like is formed on the glass substrate 11 by, for example, a vapor deposition method, and the anode film is patterned into a desired shape by etching or the like to form the anode 12.

Next, the glass substrate 1 on which the anode 12 is formed
On the other hand, after forming an insulating film by spin coating or the like, the insulating layer 13 is formed in a region other than the light emitting region by photo etching or the like.

Next, a hole injection layer / EL layer 14 is formed on the anode 12 and the insulating layer 13 formed on the glass substrate 11 by, for example, a spin coating method or an ink jet method. The solution used for forming the organic EL layer is a solvent such as water, xylene, toluene, tetrahydrofuran, mesitylene, tetralin, or dioxane, and the above-described conductive polymer material and a light-emitting polymer corresponding to each color. It is obtained by dissolving a material.

Next, a cathode 15 is formed in a predetermined pattern on the hole injection layer / EL layer 14 by, for example, an evaporation method or a sputtering method using a mask.

Next, an insulating layer 16 is formed on the entire surface of the panel on the cathode 15 by, for example, spin coating.

On the insulating layer 16, a correction layer 17 is formed in a region corresponding to a region where the cathode 15 is not formed by, for example, a vapor deposition method or a sputtering method using a mask. In this case, since the correction layer 17 is formed of the same metal material as the cathode 15, the transparency is the same only by forming the same thickness as the cathode 15.

Finally, a sealant 18 is provided on the correction layer 17.
Is applied, and a sealing substrate 19 is further provided thereon.

According to the above-described embodiment, in the region corresponding to the region where the cathode 15 is not formed, the correction layer 17 formed of the same material and the same thickness as the cathode 15 is provided. When the user looks at the organic EL panel 10 from the display surface side, the transparency becomes uniform over the entire surface of the panel, and the boundary of the cathode 15 is inconspicuous. Therefore, the LCD 20 below the organic EL panel 10
Is also easy to see.

C: Modifications (1) Material of Correction Layer 17 In the embodiment, the same metal material as that of the cathode 15 was used as a material for forming the correction layer 17, but the present invention is not limited to this. That is, even if the material is not the same as that of the cathode 15, it can be used as the material of the correction layer 17 as long as it can realize substantially the same transparency and spectral transmission characteristics.
In this case, the correction layer 17 does not need to have the same thickness as the cathode 15, but may have a different thickness as long as it can achieve substantially the same transparency and spectral transmission characteristics. In the embodiment, the correction layer 17 is sandwiched between the insulating layer 16 and the sealing material 18. However, if the correction layer 17 is formed of a material that is not likely to be deteriorated due to the oxidation described above,
The correction layer 17 may be provided on the sealing substrate 19 shown in FIG.

(2) Types of Light Emitting Panels In the embodiment, a transparent organic EL panel has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this.
Other light emitting panels such as L may be used.

(3) Structure of Wristwatch-Type Information Device 100 In the embodiment, the wristwatch-type information device 100 has a structure in which the LCD 20 is arranged below the transparent organic EL panel 10. However, the wristwatch-type information device 100
The configuration for displaying various information to the user in is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various other configurations can be considered. For example, the wristwatch-type information device 100 may include a dial for indicating the time using hands instead of the liquid crystal panel 20 shown in FIG. in this case,
It is necessary to provide an analog timekeeping drive circuit for driving the hands on the dial on the front side or the back side of the circuit board 4. Further, the organic EL panel 10 and the LCD shown in FIG.
20 are configured as transparent panels, and the LCD 2
Below 0, a dial for indicating the time by hands may be provided. In this case as well, it is necessary to provide an analog timekeeping drive circuit as described above.

(4) Types of Mounted Devices In the embodiment, the example in which the organic EL panel 10 is mounted on the wristwatch-type display device 100 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and communication devices such as mobile phones, music such as MP3 players, etc. It can be mounted on various electronic devices such as a playback device, an information terminal such as a PDA (Personal Digital Assistants) and a personal computer.

[0036]

According to the present invention, a correction layer having substantially the same degree of transparency as that of the electrode is formed in a region corresponding to a region where the electrode of the light emitting panel is not formed.
Even when the user looks at this light-emitting panel, the boundaries of the electrodes are inconspicuous.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a wristwatch-type information device equipped with an organic EL panel according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the organic EL panel according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a plan view when the cathode of the organic EL panel according to the embodiment is viewed from a direction perpendicular to the panel surface.

FIG. 4 is a plan view when the correction layer of the organic EL panel according to the embodiment is viewed from a direction perpendicular to the panel surface.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of an organic EL panel in a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Cover glass, 2 ... Case, 3 ... Back cover, 4 ... Circuit board, 5 ... Crystal resonator, 6 ... Battery, 7 ... IC chip, 10 ..Organic EL panel, 11 ... glass substrate, 12 ... anode, 13 ... insulating layer, 14 ... hole injection layer / EL layer, 15 ... cathode, 15a ... common electrode 15b: inter-electrode wiring, 15c: cathode auxiliary wiring, 16: insulating layer, 17: correction layer, 18: sealing material, 19: sealing substrate, 20 ...・ Liquid crystal panel, 100 ・ ・ ・ Watch type information device.

Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat II (Reference) H05B 33/28 H05B 33/28 F term (Reference) 2F002 AA06 EA04 EF01 EG00 EH02 EH04 3K007 AB00 AB17 CA01 CB01 CB03 DA01 DB03 EA01 EB00 5C094 AA01 AA48 BA27 BA43 DA02 DA03 DA13 EA04 EA05 EA10 EB02 FA01 FA02 FB01 FB02 FB12 FB15 HA03 HA10

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A transparent light-emitting panel comprising a plurality of stacked layers, wherein a correction layer having substantially the same degree of transparency as the electrodes is formed in a region corresponding to a region where no electrodes are formed. A light emitting panel. 2. The light-emitting panel according to claim 1, wherein the correction layer is made of the same material as the material forming the electrode and has a thickness substantially equal to that of the electrode. Light emitting panel. 3. The light-emitting panel according to claim 1, wherein the correction layer is formed of a material different from a material forming the electrodes so as to have substantially the same transparency as the electrodes. Light emitting panel. 4. The light emitting panel according to claim 1, wherein the light emitting panel is an organic EL (Electro Luminescenc).
e) A panel, wherein the electrode is a cathode of the organic EL panel. 5. The light-emitting panel according to claim 4, wherein the correction layer is formed on an insulating layer laminated on the cathode. 6. The light-emitting panel according to claim 1, a panel drive control device that drives and controls the light-emitting panel, a power supply device that supplies power to the panel drive control device, and the panel. An electronic device including a drive control device and a clock supply device that supplies a clock signal necessary for the device to perform drive control.