JP2005148475A - Optoelectronic apparatus and its manufacturing method, and electronic equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the cost needed to alter an image to be displayed. <P>SOLUTION: A display panel 1 has a plurality of unit elements U which are arrayed on a plate surface of a base material 10. Each unit element U has an OLED element 15 which is interposed between a 1st electrode 11 and a 2nd electrode 12. Image constituent elements U1 selected corresponding to a desired display image among the plurality of unit elements U are provided with optical control parts which vary characteristics of projection lights from OLED elements 15 to overlap with the image constituent elements U1 when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the plate surface of the base material 10. Optical characteristics of respective optical control parts are selected by the image constituent elements U1 according to gradations of the display image. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

The present invention relates to a technique for displaying an image using an electro-optic element that converts an electrical action such as supply of current or application of voltage into an optical action such as change in luminance (gradation) or transmittance.

An apparatus that displays an image using an electro-optical element such as an organic light emitting diode (hereinafter referred to as “OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode)”) element is a dot matrix type that displays various images using pixels arranged in a matrix. , It is roughly divided into a segment type for displaying a specific image in a fixed manner. Among these, in the segment type electro-optical device, as shown in Patent Document 1, for example, the electro-optical element is driven by an electrode patterned so as to have a shape of an image to be displayed.

JP2001-244081 (paragraph 0027 and FIG. 1)

However, in this segment type electro-optical device, it is necessary to create a photomask for patterning the electrodes for each image to be displayed. Therefore, it is very difficult to newly manufacture an electro-optical device having different images. There is a problem of cost. The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to reduce the cost required for changing the displayed image.

In order to achieve this object, a first feature of an electro-optical device according to the present invention is a plurality of unit elements arranged in a planar shape, the electro-optical element interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode A plurality of unit elements, and a plurality of unit elements as viewed from a direction perpendicular to the unit element arrangement surface, and overlapping with some of the unit elements to change the characteristics of light emitted from the electro-optic element And a light control unit. The electro-optical element in the present invention is an element for converting an electrical action such as supply of current or application of voltage into a change in optical characteristics such as luminance (light emission amount) and transmittance. A typical example of an electro-optic element is an organic EL (Electro Luminescen).
t) and organic light emitting diode (OLED) elements such as light emitting polymers. The electro-optical element in the present invention does not necessarily have to be a self-luminous element (that is, has a property of emitting light itself) typified by an organic light-emitting diode, and does not necessarily transmit incident light from the back side. A self-luminous element (for example, liquid crystal) may be used.

In this configuration, the light control unit is selectively provided so as to overlap with some of the unit elements selected from the plurality of unit elements arranged in a planar shape. Under this configuration, the light control unit is provided with the characteristics of the light that is emitted from the electro-optical element of the unit element provided with the light control unit and is transmitted through the light control unit and is visually recognized by the observer. This is different from the characteristics of light that is emitted from an electro-optic element of a unit element that is not emitted and is viewed by an observer without passing through the light control unit. Therefore, for example, if a light control unit is selectively provided only for unit elements corresponding to pixels (dots) constituting a specific image, the image is visually recognized by an observer. As described above, since the display of the image is realized by providing the light control unit in the unit element selected according to the desired image, even when an electro-optical device that displays a different image is manufactured, It is not necessary to create a photomask for patterning each electrode into a shape corresponding to an image for each image. Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the cost required to manufacture electro-optical devices that display different images.

As the light control unit in the present invention, for example, an optical filter layer, a light interference layer, or a lens layer may be employed. Among these, the optical filter layer is a layer that selectively transmits part of the light emitted from the electro-optical element. The optical interference layer is formed by interposing a translucent layer that transmits the irradiation light between the first and second transflective layers that transmit a part of the irradiation light and reflect the other part. Is a layer. On the other hand, the lens layer is a layer provided with a lens that refracts light emitted from the electro-optic element. According to these light control units, the amount of light emitted from the electro-optic element and reaching the observer is
Since the amount of light emitted from the electro-optic element of the unit element not provided with the light control unit and reaching the observer can be different, the desired amount according to the arrangement of the unit elements provided with the light control unit An image is displayed. In addition, the structure of the light control part in this invention is not restricted to what employ | adopted any one of these aspects selectively. For example, the light control unit may be configured by stacking two or more layers selected from an optical filter layer, a light interference layer, a lens layer, and other layers having other configurations.

In a desirable mode of the present invention, the optical characteristics of one light control unit among the plurality of light control units provided so as to overlap each unit element are different from the optical characteristics of the other light control units. As described above, if the optical characteristics are appropriately selected for each light control unit, the characteristics (for example, the amount of light) of light that passes through the light control unit of each unit element and reaches the observer can be made different for each unit element. Therefore, an image composed of unit elements provided with the light control unit can be displayed with a plurality of gradations.

In the electro-optical device according to the invention, in addition to the configuration in which the light control unit is selectively provided in some of the unit elements, the light control unit is provided in each of the unit elements. A configuration in which the characteristics of the light control unit of each unit element are made different can also be adopted. That is, the second feature of the electro-optical device according to the present invention is a plurality of unit elements arranged in a planar shape, each of which includes a plurality of electro-optical elements interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. A plurality of light control units which are provided so as to overlap each unit element when viewed from the direction perpendicular to the unit element array plane, and change the characteristics of light emitted from the electro-optic element, and are a single light control unit And a plurality of light control units having different optical characteristics of the other light control units. According to this configuration, an image can be displayed in a plurality of gradations by appropriately changing the optical characteristics for each light control unit of each unit element. Even in this configuration, it is not necessary to create a photomask for each electro-optical device that displays different images (images having a plurality of gradations), so that the manufacturing cost is reduced.

Among the electro-optical devices according to the first feature, the electro-optical device having different optical characteristics for each light control unit and the light control unit of the electro-optical device according to the second feature include, for example, the above-described optical filter layer, A light interference layer or a lens layer may be employed. Among these, under the configuration employing the optical filter layer, the light transmittance is different between the optical filter layer of one light control unit and the optical filter layer of another light control unit among the plurality of light control units. According to this configuration, the amount of light that passes through the light control unit of each unit element and reaches the observer can be made different for each unit element, so that an image can be displayed in a plurality of gradations. In addition, as a structure for making the transmittance | permeability of an optical filter layer differ for every light control part, the structure by which the film thickness was varied by the optical filter layer of one light control part, and the optical filter layer of another light control part Or the structure by which the optical filter layer of one light control part and the optical filter layer of another light control part were formed with the material from which an absorption coefficient differs can be considered. However, it goes without saying that the light transmittance of each optical filter layer may be made different depending on other configurations.

In addition, under the configuration in which the light interference layer is employed as the light control unit, the thickness of the light transmissive layer differs between the light interference layer of one light control unit and the light interference layer of another light control unit. Furthermore, under a configuration in which a lens layer is employed as the light control unit, the optical characteristics of the lens of the lens layer of one light control unit are different from those of the lens layer of the other light control unit. Also with these configurations, the amount of light that passes through the light control unit of each unit element and reaches the observer can be made different for each unit element, so that an image can be displayed in a plurality of gradations. Among these, when a lens layer is used, the optical characteristics are different for each unit element, so that the focal length is set between the lens of the lens layer of one light control unit and the lens layer of the other light control unit. A different configuration or a configuration in which the lens layer of one light control unit and the lens layer of another light control unit are formed of materials having different refractive indexes can be considered. In addition,
The configuration of the light control unit in the present invention is not limited to one in which any one of these modes is selectively adopted. For example, the light control unit may be configured by stacking two or more layers selected from an optical filter layer, a light interference layer, a lens layer, and other layers having other configurations.

In another aspect of the present invention, a resistance layer formed of a conductive material and interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode of one or more unit elements among the plurality of unit elements is provided. According to this aspect, the amount of light emitted from the electro-optic element can be appropriately adjusted for each unit element by making the resistance value between the first electrode and the second electrode different for each unit element. Various image displays are realized. In another aspect, an insulating layer that electrically insulates the first electrode and the second electrode of one or more unit elements among the plurality of unit elements is provided. According to this aspect, since the presence or absence of the emitted light from the electro-optical element can be selected for each unit element according to the presence or absence of the insulating layer, more various image displays can be realized. In yet another aspect, the first electrode and the second electrode of one or more unit elements of the plurality of unit elements are overlapped with each other so as to overlap a part of the electro-optic element when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the arrangement surface of the unit elements. A partial insulating layer interposed therebetween is provided. According to this aspect, the amount of light emitted from the electro-optic element can be appropriately selected for each unit element according to the presence / absence of the partial insulation layer and the area occupied by the partial insulation layer with respect to the light emission surface of the electro-optic element. More diverse image display is realized.

In the electro-optical device according to the present invention, each of the first electrode and the second electrode may be a single electrode continuous over a plurality of unit elements, or a plurality of separately provided for each unit element. These electrodes may be used. The same applies to the electro-optical element, and the electro-optical element may be provided so as to be continuous over a plurality of unit elements, or may be provided independently for each unit element. Even in a configuration in which the first electrode and the second electrode are continuous over a plurality of unit elements, and in a configuration in which the electro-optical element is continuous over a plurality of unit elements, the presence or absence of a light control unit in each unit element and the light of each unit element By appropriately selecting the characteristics of the control unit, a high-quality display consisting of multiple gradations can be realized. When at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode is a plurality of electrodes provided for each unit element, a different current or voltage for each unit element can be supplied to the electro-optical element. In this way, if the electric action on the electro-optic element is made different for each unit element, the amount of light emitted from the electro-optic element can be appropriately selected, so that various images can be displayed.

The electro-optical device according to the present invention is used as a display device of various electronic devices such as a mobile phone. A configuration in which the present invention is applied to only a part of the display area of the display device is also suitable. That is, in the first area of the display area, various images are displayed by a dot matrix type display method, while in the second area different from the first area, a fixed image is displayed by applying the present invention. Is done.

The first feature of the manufacturing method according to the present invention is that a plurality of unit elements each having an electro-optic element interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode are formed on the plate surface of the flat substrate. And a process of
Forming a light control unit that changes the characteristics of light emitted from the electro-optic element so as to overlap some of the plurality of unit elements when viewed from the direction perpendicular to the plate surface of the substrate. It is in. According to this method, an electro-optical device that displays a desired image can be obtained by selectively forming a light control unit so as to overlap some of the unit elements. There is no need to prepare a different photomask for each. Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the cost of manufacturing electro-optical devices that display different images.

Furthermore, a second feature of the manufacturing method according to the present invention is that a plurality of unit elements each having an electro-optic element interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode are formed on the plate surface of the flat substrate. And a step of forming each of the plurality of light control units that change the characteristics of the emitted light from the electro-optic element so as to overlap each unit element when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the arrangement surface of the unit elements. And forming a plurality of light control units so that the optical characteristics of one light control unit and the optical characteristics of the other light control units are different from each other. According to this method, an electro-optical device that displays a desired image can be obtained by appropriately selecting the optical characteristics of the light control unit that is overlaid on each unit element. Therefore, a different photomask can be used for each image to be displayed. There is no need to prepare. Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the cost of manufacturing electro-optical devices that display different images.

In the manufacturing methods according to the first and second features, the order in which the steps are performed is arbitrary. For example, the light control unit may be formed after forming the plurality of unit elements, or the plurality of unit elements may be formed after forming the light control unit. Or you may implement the process of forming a light control part between each process of forming the 1st electrode which forms each unit element, the 2nd electrode, and an electro-optic element.

Of these manufacturing methods, a droplet discharge method is used in the step of forming the light control unit.
Specifically, an optical filter that transmits a part of light emitted from an electro-optic element by discharging a droplet containing a light-absorbing substance from a discharge port and landing the droplet on a substrate. A layer is formed as a light control. In addition, liquid droplets containing a light-transmitting substance are discharged from the discharge port,
The light-transmitting layer is formed by landing the droplet on the surface of the first semi-transmissive reflective layer that transmits a part of the irradiation light and reflects the other part, while the first light-transmitting layer is sandwiched between By forming the second transflective layer opposite to the first transflective layer, an optical interference layer including the first transflective layer, the translucent layer, and the second transflective layer is formed as the light control unit. The Further, a lens layer including a lens that refracts light emitted from the electro-optical element is emitted by discharging a droplet containing a light-transmitting substance from the discharge port and landing the droplet on the substrate. It is formed as a control unit. If the droplet discharge method is used in this way, the manufacturing cost can be reduced as compared with the case where each light control unit is formed using a photolithography technique or the like.

Specific embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following, OL
Although an example in which the present invention is applied to an electro-optical device using an organic electroluminescence element as an example of an ED element as an electro-optical element is illustrated, the scope to which the present invention can be applied is not limited to this device. Further, in the respective drawings shown below, the dimensions and ratios of the respective constituent elements are appropriately changed from the actual ones in order to make the respective constituent elements large enough to be recognized on the drawings.

<A: First Embodiment>
<A-1: Configuration of electro-optical device>
FIG. 1 is a plan view showing the configuration of the electro-optical device according to the present embodiment. As shown in the figure, the electro-optical device 100 includes a display panel 1 and a power supply circuit 8. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the display panel 1. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the display panel 1 has a flat plate or film substrate 10 made of glass, plastic, or the like. The display panel 1 according to the present embodiment is a top emission type panel in which light emitted from an OLED element to be described later is emitted to the side opposite to the substrate 10 (upper side in FIG. 2).

As shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of unit elements U are arranged in a matrix over the X and Y directions on the plate surface of the substrate 10. When viewed from a direction perpendicular to the plate surface of the substrate 10, each of these unit elements U has substantially the same rectangular shape. As shown in FIG. 2, each unit element U
Are a first electrode 11 provided on the plate surface of the substrate 10, an OLED element 15 provided on the surface of the first electrode 11, and a second electrode facing the first electrode 11 across the OLED element 15. And the electrode 12. Each of the first electrode 11 and the second electrode 12 is a single electrode continuous over a plurality of unit elements U. Among these, the 1st electrode 11 is an electrode which functions as an anode of the OLED element 15, and is formed of a conductive material having light reflectivity such as a single metal such as aluminum or silver or an alloy mainly composed of these metals. Yes. According to this configuration, OL
The light emitted from the ED element 15 to the side opposite to the observation side (the lower side in FIG. 2) is the first electrode 11.
The brightness of the display image can be improved by reflecting the light to the viewing side.

As shown in FIG. 2, a partition wall 13 is provided on the plate surface of the substrate 10 on which the first electrode 11 is provided. The partition walls 13 are provided in a lattice shape so as to overlap the gaps between the unit elements U adjacent to each other in the X direction or the Y direction, and project from the plate surface of the substrate 10. In other words, it can be understood that each of the plurality of unit elements U is divided by the partition wall 13. The OLED element 15, which is an electro-optic element, is provided on the plate surface of the substrate 10 so as to enter a space (depression) surrounded on all sides by the partition wall 13. Therefore, the OLED element 15 is independent for each unit element U. Each OLED element 15 has a structure in which a hole injection layer, a hole transport layer, a light emitting layer, an electron transport layer, and an electron injection layer are stacked in this order as viewed from the substrate 10 side. Second
The electrode 12 is an electrode that covers the plate surface of the substrate 10 on which the partition wall 13 and the OLED element 15 are provided, and functions as a cathode of the OLED element 15. The second electrode 12 in the present embodiment is formed of a light-transmitting conductive material such as indium tin oxide (ITO). The plate | board surface of the base material 10 in which the 2nd electrode 12 was formed is the sealing layer 1 over the whole region.
8 is covered. The sealing layer 18 is a layer for protecting each element such as the second electrode 12 formed on the substrate 10.

The first electrode 11 and the second electrode 12 are connected to the power supply circuit 8. The power supply circuit 8 is a circuit for supplying power to the first electrode 11 and the second electrode 12. More specifically,
The power supply circuit 8 applies the higher power supply voltage side to the first electrode 11, while applying the lower power supply potential side (ground potential) to the second electrode 12. Thus, the first electrode 11 and the second electrode 1
2, a current flows through the OLED element 15 of each unit element U, and the OL
The ED element 15 emits light.

The electro-optical device 100 according to the present embodiment is a device that fixedly displays a specific image (hereinafter referred to as “target image”). In order to realize this display, a plurality of unit elements U arranged in a matrix form, as shown in FIG. 3, unit elements U (hereinafter referred to as “unit elements U” selected as corresponding to the dots constituting the target image). In particular, it is classified into “image constituent element U1” and other unit elements U (that is, unit elements U other than the dots constituting the target image. In the following, they are particularly referred to as “non-constituent elements U0”). . For example, in FIG. 3 illustrating the case where the character “ABC” is the target image, the unit elements U constituting each of the characters “A”, “B”, and “C” are separated into image constituent elements U1, Other unit elements U (ie, the characters “ABC”
The unit element U) corresponding to the dot serving as the background of "is separated into the non-constituent element U0.

Among all the unit elements U, each image constituent element U1 is provided with an optical filter layer 21 as a light control unit for changing the characteristics of the emitted light from the OLED element 15, while each non-constituent element U0 has an optical filter layer. 21 is not provided. The optical filter layer 21 transmits light emitted from the OLED element 15 (light emitted from the light emitting layer of the OLED element 15 toward the observation side and reflected by the first electrode 11 and then transmitted through the OLED element 15 for observation). 2 is a film body that selectively transmits a part of the light toward the viewing side to the observation side. As shown in FIG. 2, the OLED element 15 of the image forming element U1 as viewed from the direction perpendicular to the plate surface of the substrate 10 is used. Is formed on the surface of the second electrode 12 so as to overlap. In this configuration, the amount of light emitted from the OLED element 15 of the image constituent element U1 and passing through the optical filter layer 21 and traveling toward the observation side is not so much as a part of the light amount is absorbed by the optical filter layer 21. The amount of light emitted from the OLED element 15 of the constituent element U0 and less toward the observation side is smaller. Therefore, this difference in the amount of emitted light depends on the gradation (brightness) by the observer.
As a result, the target image is displayed.

Furthermore, the optical characteristics of the optical filter layer 21 in each image constituent element U1 differ depending on the gradation of each dot constituting the target image. More specifically, the light transmittance of the optical filter layer 21 with respect to the emitted light from each OLED element 15 (that is, the ratio of the emitted light amount to the incident light amount) is appropriately determined according to the gradation of each dot constituting the target image. Selected. For example, in FIG. 3, the gradations of the letters “A”, “B”, and “C” that are the target image are indicated by hatching density (the gradation is lower (darker as the hatching is denser)). Taking this case as an example, the light transmittance of the optical filter layer 21 (the optical filter layer 21 corresponding to the letter “A”) in the image constituent element U1 constituting the letter “A” is the light corresponding to the letter “B”. The light transmittance of the optical filter layer 21 corresponding to the letter “B” is higher than the light transmittance of the optical filter layer 21 corresponding to the letter “C”. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 3, the character “A” is displayed in a lighter gradation than the character “B” (however, it is darker than the non-component U0), and the character “B” It is displayed with gradations brighter than “C”. As a configuration for making the light transmittance of each optical filter layer 21 different in this way, each optical filter layer 2 is made of a material having a different absorption coefficient from a configuration in which the thickness of each optical filter layer 21 is made different.
1 may be considered. Among these, in the former configuration, the optical filter layer 2
As the film thickness of 1 increases, the display gradation of the image forming element U1 becomes darker. In the latter configuration, the image forming element U1 is formed as the light filter layer 21 is formed of a material having a large extinction coefficient.
The display gradation of 1 becomes darker.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the shape of the target image is arbitrarily selected according to the presence or absence of the optical filter layer 21, and each part of the target image is determined according to the light transmittance of the optical filter layer 21. The gradation is arbitrarily selected. Therefore, a high-quality and high-definition display is realized in spite of a very simple configuration as compared with the active matrix electro-optical device 100 in which a switching element such as a thin film transistor is provided for each pixel.

<A-2: Manufacturing method of electro-optical device>
Next, a method for manufacturing the electro-optical device 100 described above will be described.
First, as shown in FIG. 4A, the first electrode 11 is formed on the plate surface of the base material 10.
More specifically, after forming a thin film made of a light-reflective conductive material such as a single metal such as aluminum, magnesium, lithium or calcium or an alloy containing these as a main component by a film forming technique such as sputtering, this film The first electrode 11 is obtained by subjecting the film to a patterning process using a photolithography technique and an etching technique (that is, a process of removing the peripheral portion of the thin film). The first electrode 11 may be formed by laminating a plurality of layers each made of a different material. For example, the first electrode 1 may be formed by stacking Li ₂ O and Al, stacking LiF and Al, stacking MgF ₂ and Al, or the like.
1 can be formed. Since the first electrode 11 functions as an anode of the OLED element 51, the work function is desirably 4.5 eV or more, more preferably 4.5 eV or more and 5.5.
eV or less.

Subsequently, as illustrated in FIG. 4B, the partition wall 13 is formed on the plate surface of the base material 10 on which the first electrode 11 is formed. Specifically, a photosensitive organic material such as polyimide, acrylic or polyamide is applied on the substrate 10 and then cured by heating, and the organic film is exposed and developed using a predetermined photomask. Thus, a lattice-like partition wall 13 is obtained. Further, the partition wall 13 is subjected to plasma treatment using a gas such as CF ₄ , SiF _4, or BF ₃ as a reactive gas, and the surface thereof is modified to exhibit liquid repellency (for example, water repellency). Instead of modifying the surface of the partition wall 13, the partition wall 13 itself may exhibit liquid repellency by adding a fluoride to the organic material used to form the partition wall 13.

Next, as shown in FIG. 4C, a large number of regions (hereinafter “
An OLED element 15 is formed in each Au (referred to as “unit region”). A droplet discharge method is used for this formation. That is, as shown in FIG. 4C, after the discharge port 51 is moved above each unit area Au, a droplet containing an electro-optical material is discharged from the discharge port 51 to Land on the board. The OLED element 15 is obtained by repeating this for all the unit regions Au and drying. Note that the hole transport layer of the OLED element 15 is formed of, for example, a polythiophene derivative, a polypyrrole derivative, or a material obtained by doping them. More specifically, a dispersion liquid in which 3,4-polyethylenedioxythiophene is dispersed in polystyrene sulfonic acid as a solvent and then water is added (PE
DOT / PSS dispersion) is discharged from the discharge port 51 to form a hole transport layer. Also,
The light emitting layer of the OLED element 15 includes, for example, a polyfluorene derivative (PV), a polyparaphenylene vinylene derivative (PPV), a polyphenylene derivative (PP), a polyparaphenylene derivative (PPP), polyvinyl carbazole (PVK), a polythiophene derivative, poly It is formed of various known materials such as dialkylfluorene (PDAF), polyfluorene benzothiadiazole (PFBT), polyalkylthiophene (PAT), or polymethylphenylsilane (PMPS). In addition to these polymer materials, polymer materials such as perylene dyes, coumarin dyes or rhodamine dyes, rubrene, perylene, 9,10-diphenylanthracene, tetraphenylbutadiene, Nile red, coumarin 6 or quinacridone. The light emitting layer can also be formed by a material doped with a low molecular material.

Since the surface of the partition wall 13 exhibits liquid repellency as described above, the OL in the process of FIG.
The droplet that becomes the ED element 15 efficiently stays in the space (depression) surrounded by the partition wall 13. From the viewpoint of efficiently retaining droplets at the bottom of the space partitioned by the partition wall 13, the first layer exhibiting lyophilicity and the second layer exhibiting liquid repellency are viewed from the substrate 10 side. A method of forming the partition wall 13 by stacking in order is also suitable. Alternatively, a partition wall 13 is formed by laminating a first layer made of an inorganic material such as SiO ₂ and a second layer made of an organic material such as acrylic or polyimide in this order as viewed from the substrate 10 side. A method of performing a plasma treatment on can also be employed. According to this method, the degree of surface modification differs between the first layer and the second layer (the second layer exhibits higher liquid repellency than the first layer), so that the droplets are efficiently retained. be able to.

Next, as shown in FIG. 4D, the entire surface of the substrate 10 is covered (that is, the partition wall 13).
And the OLED element 15 are formed). More specifically, after a thin film made of a light-transmitting conductive material such as indium tin oxide, indium oxide, or zinc oxide-based amorphous is formed by a film forming technique such as vacuum deposition or sputtering, a photolithography technique and The 2nd electrode 12 is obtained by removing the peripheral part of a thin film by the patterning process using an etching technique. Since the second electrode 12 functions as a cathode of the OLED element 51, the work function is desirably 3.5 eV or less.

Next, as shown in FIG. 4E, the optical filter layer 21 is selectively formed on the unit region Au corresponding to the image constituent element U1 among the many unit regions Au partitioned by the partition wall 13. The For this formation, a droplet discharge method (inkjet method) is used. That is, FIG.
), The unit region Au corresponding to the image constituent element U1 among the many unit regions Au.
After the ejection port 52 is moved above the droplets, droplets containing a light-absorbing substance are ejected from the ejection port 52 to land on the unit region Au. The optical filter layer 21 is obtained by repeating this for all the image constituent elements U1 and then drying. As described above, the light transmittance of each optical filter layer 21 is adjusted by appropriately selecting the film thickness and material. When the light transmittance of each optical filter layer 21 is adjusted according to the film thickness, each unit region Au
The amount of liquid droplets that land on the surface (for example, the amount of liquid droplets discharged from the discharge port 52 and the number of times droplets are discharged)
Is appropriately selected so that the optical filter layer 21 has a thickness corresponding to the gradation of the target image. For example, the amount of liquid droplets that become the optical filter layer 21 corresponding to a bright gradation is smaller than the amount of liquid droplets that become the optical filter layer 21 corresponding to a darker gradation. On the other hand, when the light transmittance of each optical filter layer 21 is adjusted according to the extinction coefficient of the material, the type of solution (or dye / pigment content) discharged to each unit area Au is the optical filter. The layer 21 is appropriately selected so as to exhibit light transmittance according to the gradation of the target image.

The optical filter layer 21 is formed of a resin material containing a color material such as a dye or a pigment. More specifically, resin materials mixed with water-soluble dyes such as indigo and azo,
The optical filter layer 21 is made of a resin material in which pigments such as phthalocyanine and perylene are dispersed.
Can be formed. Even when a color material that does not have water solubility or a color material that is difficult to disperse in water is used, the molecules of these color materials are coated with a binding polymer and then mixed with a solvent, so that the discharge port 52 can be used. It is possible to prepare a solution suitable for discharging the liquid. Moreover, you may give the solubility with respect to a solvent by forming a side chain in various coloring materials.

Further, a binder component may be added to the solution discharged from the discharge port 52. Here, in the droplet discharge method, it is necessary to remove the solvent of the droplet after discharge from the discharge port 52. Therefore, the binder component is a substance that is cured by the action of energy such as heat or light (for example, photosensitive resin or It is desirable to use a thermosetting resin. If these substances are added as a binder component, the binder component is cured to form the optical filter layer 21 when the solvent is removed by heating or irradiating light to the discharged droplets. As a binder component,
Various thermosetting resin materials such as phenol resin, urea resin, and epoxy resin, and various photosensitive (crosslinked) resin materials such as polyvinyl benzalacetophenone can be employed. Moreover, it is crosslinked by applying a polymerization initiator after applying a material such as a vinyl compound to the pixel,
Thereby, the optical filter layer 21 may be formed.

Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 2, a sealing layer 18 is formed so as to cover the entire surface of the substrate 10. The sealing layer 18 is formed of various inorganic compounds, and is preferably formed of a silicon compound, that is, silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride, silicon oxide, or the like. However, the sealing layer 18 may be formed of other materials such as alumina, tantalum oxide, titanium oxide, and other ceramics. Thus, if the sealing layer 18 is formed of an inorganic compound, the adhesion between the sealing layer 18 and the second electrode 12 is increased, particularly when the second electrode 12 is formed of an inorganic compound, thereby sealing the sealing layer 18. The layer 18 becomes a dense layer having no defects, and has a better barrier property against oxygen and moisture.

Further, the sealing layer 18 may be formed by laminating a plurality of layers made of different materials selected from the various silicon compounds described above. More specifically, a layer made of a silicon compound and a layer made of silicon oxynitride are stacked in this order as viewed from the second electrode 12 side, or a layer made of silicon oxynitride and a layer made of silicon oxide It is desirable to form the sealing layer 18 by stacking layers in this order as viewed from the second electrode 12 side. In the top emission type display panel 1, the sealing layer 18 needs to have light transmittance. For this reason, the sealing layer 18
It is desirable to adjust the light transmittance when the light belonging to the visible light region is irradiated to the sealing layer 18 to 80% or more by appropriately adjusting the material and the film thickness. Moreover, it is good also as a structure by which the sealing member (not shown) was bonded together in the inert gas atmosphere so that the whole surface of the base material 10 might be covered. If the OLED element 15 is arranged in a sealed space surrounded by the sealing member and the base material 10 under this configuration, the OLED element 15 can be isolated from oxygen and moisture in the atmosphere. After the sealing layer 18 is formed in this way, the power supply circuit 8 is mounted in the vicinity of the edge of the substrate 10, and the electro-optical device 10.
0 is obtained.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, by appropriately selecting the presence / absence of the formation of the optical filter layer 21 for each unit element U and the light transmittance of the optical filter layer 21 in each image constituent element U1, multiple gradations can be used. Thus, the electro-optical device 100 that displays the desired target image is obtained. Of these manufacturing processes, the process of forming each element such as the first electrode 11, the second electrode 12, and the OLED element 15 is common regardless of the contents of the target image. In particular, the first electrode 11 and the second electrode 1
It is not necessary to change the photomask for forming 2 according to the contents of the target image. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the display panel 1 is used using a photomask corresponding to the content of the target image.
As compared with the case of manufacturing the display panel, the cost required for manufacturing the display panel 1 for displaying different target images is remarkably reduced. In other words, it is possible to create the display panel 1 that can display various target images according to the user's request without increasing the manufacturing cost. Moreover, the present embodiment has an advantage that the optical filter layer 21 is formed by a relatively inexpensive droplet discharge method.

<A-3: Other configuration examples>
Next, the configuration of the bottom emission type display panel 1 will be described. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the electro-optical device 100 and corresponds to FIG. 2 described above. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected about what performs the effect | action similar to each element of each drawing mentioned above among each element shown by FIG. In the bottom emission type display panel 1, the light emitted from the OLED element 15 passes through the substrate 10 and is emitted to the observation side (the lower side in FIG. 5). For this reason, the 2nd electrode 12 in this embodiment is formed with the electroconductive material which has light reflectivity, such as single-piece | unit metals, such as aluminum and silver, and the alloy containing these metals as a main component. On the other hand, in order to reduce the amount of light emitted from the OLED element 15 and traveling toward the observation side, the light filter layer 21 serving as a light control unit is provided between the OLED element 15 and the observer. In FIG.
A conductive film 111 made of a light-transmitting conductive material is provided so as to cover the entire surface of the base material 10, while the first electrode 11 serving as the anode of the OLED element 15 is provided as a separate electrode for each unit element U. ing. The optical filter layer 21 is provided so as to be interposed between the first electrode 11 and the conductive film 111 in the image constituent element U1. In this configuration, the first electrode 11 of each image constituent element U1 is connected to the conductive film 111 via a contact hole (not shown) provided in the optical filter layer 21. Also with this configuration, the electro-optical device 100 described above.
Similarly, the target image is displayed according to the presence / absence of the optical filter layer 21 and each light transmittance.

<B: Second Embodiment>
<B-1: Configuration of the electro-optical device 100>
In the said 1st Embodiment, the structure by which the optical filter layer 21 was employ | adopted as a light control part which changes the characteristic of the emitted light from the OLED element 15 was illustrated. On the other hand, in this embodiment, the optical interference layer 22 is employed as the light control unit. Of the elements of the electro-optical device 100 according to the present embodiment, those that operate in the same manner as the elements according to the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the display panel 1 according to the present embodiment. This display panel 1
Is a top emission type panel in which light emitted from the OLED element 15 is emitted to the opposite side (upper side in FIG. 6) of the substrate 10 and used for display. As shown in the figure, an optical interference layer 22 is provided in the image constituent element U1 selected from among a large number of unit elements U according to the contents of the target image. The light interference layer 22 is provided on the side opposite to the substrate 10 as viewed from the OLED element 15 (that is, the side toward which light used for display is directed), and changes the characteristics of the emitted light from the OLED element 15. The first for transmitting a part of the irradiation light and reflecting the other
Similarly to the semi-transmissive reflective layer, the second semi-transmissive reflective layer 22 transmits a part of the irradiation light and reflects the other.
2 and a translucent layer 223 that is interposed between the first transflective layer and the second transflective layer 222 to transmit the irradiation light. However, in FIG. 6, the first transflective layer is the OLED element 1.
A case where the second electrode 12 is also used as the cathode 5 is illustrated. That is, the 2nd electrode 12 in this embodiment is an electrode which permeate | transmits a part of irradiation light and reflects others. The second electrode 12 and the second transflective layer 222 as the first transflective layer are provided so as to continue over all unit elements U including both the image constituent element U1 and the non-constituent element U0. . Further, the second transflective layer 222 has a role of transmitting a part of the irradiation light and reflecting the other, and a role of protecting each element formed on the substrate 10 (that is, in the first embodiment). It plays the same role as the sealing layer 18). For this reason, the display panel 1 according to the present embodiment does not have the sealing layer 18.

On the other hand, the translucent layer 223 is selectively provided only for the image constituent element U1 among the many unit elements U, and is not provided for the non-constituent element U0. Here, on the top surface of the partition wall 13 covered with the second electrode 12, a lattice-shaped light transmitting layer forming partition wall 225 overlapping the partition wall 13 is provided. The translucent layer 223 of the image constituent element U1 includes the partition wall 13 and the translucent layer forming partition wall 2.
25 is provided so as to enter a space (depression) surrounded by both of them. The second transflective layer 222 described above is provided so as to cover the light transmitting layer forming partition wall 225.

Here, the light transmitted through the first transflective layer (second electrode 12) toward the second transflective layer 222 or the first transflective layer of the second transflective layer 222 faces the first transflective layer. The light reflected on the surface and the light reflected on the surface of the first transflective layer facing the second transflective layer 222 are between the first transflective layer and the second transflective layer 222. The beams interfere with each other and exit to the observation side. The degree (condition) of this interference depends on the first transflective layer and the second transflective layer 22.
2 according to the interval. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the film thickness of the light transmitting layer 223 in each image constituent element U1 is appropriately selected according to the gradation of each dot constituting the target image. As described above, the distance between the first transflective layer (second electrode 12) and the second transflective layer 222 is made different for each image constituent element U1, so that the first transflective layer and the second transflective layer are reflected. The degree of interference between the light traveling between the layers 222 is arbitrarily adjusted. As a result, OLE
The amount of light emitted from the D element 15 and transmitted through the optical interference layer 22 and then emitted to the observation side depends on the film thickness of the light transmitting layer 223 in each image constituent element U1.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the shape of the target image is arbitrarily selected according to the presence or absence of the light interference layer 22, and according to the film thickness of the light transmitting layer 223 in each light interference layer 22. The gradation of each part of the target image is arbitrarily selected. Therefore, according to the electro-optical device 100 according to the present embodiment, a high-quality and high-definition display is realized despite the extremely simple configuration.

<B-2: Manufacturing Method of Electro-Optical Device 100>
The electro-optical device 100 according to the present embodiment is the electro-optical device 100 according to the first embodiment.
In place of the step of forming the optical filter layer 21 in FIG.
It is manufactured by performing the process of forming. For this reason, below, only the process of forming the optical interference layer 22 is demonstrated, and description about the process of forming the other elements (the 1st electrode 11, the partition 13, and the OLED element 15) is abbreviate | omitted.

Subsequent to the step of forming the OLED element 15 shown in FIG. 4C, as shown in FIG. 7A, the second electrode 12 also serving as the first transflective layer is formed. More specifically, a thin film made of a conductive material having both light transmittance and light reflectivity is formed by a film forming technique such as vacuum deposition or sputtering, and then the thin film is formed by patterning using a photolithography technique and an etching technique. The 2nd electrode 12 is obtained by removing a peripheral part. As the material of the second electrode 12, indium tin oxide, a zinc oxide-based amorphous material (for example, IZO (registered trademark)), or the like can be employed. In addition, by forming a light-reflective material such as a single metal such as aluminum, magnesium or silver or an alloy containing these metals as a main component into an extremely thin film, it has a function of transmitting part of the irradiation light. be able to.

Next, as shown in FIG. 7B, a light transmitting layer forming partition wall 225 is formed on the top surface of the partition wall 13 covered with the second electrode 12. Specifically, a photosensitive organic material such as polyimide, acrylic, or polyamide is applied so as to cover the entire surface of the substrate 10 and then cured by heating, and the organic film is exposed and developed using a predetermined photomask. To obtain a lattice-shaped light transmitting layer forming partition wall 225. It is desirable that the light transmitting layer forming partition wall 225 exhibit liquid repellency like the partition wall 13 described above. As a method for imparting liquid repellency to the surface of the light transmitting layer forming partition wall 225, the method described for the partition wall 13 in the first embodiment may be employed.

Next, as shown in FIG. 7C, the unit region Au corresponding to the image constituent element U1 is selectively selected from the many unit regions Au partitioned by the partition wall 13 and the light transmitting layer forming partition wall 225. A translucent layer 223 is formed on the substrate. A droplet discharge method is used for this formation. That is, FIG.
As shown in (c), after the discharge port 54 is moved above the unit region Au corresponding to the image constituent element U1 among the many unit regions Au, the substance having light transmittance from the discharge port 54 Are ejected to land on the unit area Au. This is repeated for all the image constituent elements U1, and then dried to obtain the light transmitting layer 223 of the light interference layer 22.
In this step, the amount of liquid droplets ejected from the ejection port 54 is appropriately adjusted so that the translucent layer 223 has a film thickness corresponding to the gradation of the target image.

The light transmissive layer 223 is formed of various materials having light transmissivity. More specifically,
Polymethyl methacrylate, polyacrylate, polycarbonate, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, hydroxyethyl cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose, polyvinyl chloride resin, melanin resin, phenol resin, alkyd resin, epoxy resin,
The translucent layer 223 can be formed of polyurethane resin, polyester resin, maleic acid resin, polyamide resin, or the like. Note that since the light-transmitting layer 223 in this embodiment is formed by a droplet discharge method, a material for forming the light-transmitting layer 223 is a material that is soluble in a solvent such as water or a material that is dispersed in the solvent. It is desirable to be. Examples of these materials include polyhydric alcohols (for example, polyvinyl alcohol), acrylic resins (for example, polyvinyl acetate and polyvinyl acrylate), organic silicon compounds (for example, tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) and aninopropyltrimethoxysilane), and the like. It is done. Of course, even for materials that are not water-soluble or difficult to disperse in water, the molecules of these materials are coated with a binding polymer and mixed with water, so that the solution is suitable for ejection from the ejection port 54. Can be obtained. Moreover, you may give the solubility with respect to a solvent by forming a side chain in these materials.

In the droplet discharge method, since the solvent of the droplet needs to be removed after discharge from the discharge port 54, a material that is cured by the action of energy such as heat or light (for example, a photosensitive resin or a thermosetting resin). It is desirable to form the translucent layer 223 by If the light-transmitting layer 223 is formed by discharging a material containing these materials in a solvent from the discharge port 54, the solvent may be removed when the solvent is removed by heating or irradiating the discharged droplets. The optical layer 223 can be cured. Therefore, the light transmitting layer 223 is desirably formed of various thermosetting resin materials such as phenol resin, urea resin, and epoxy resin, and various photosensitive (crosslinked) resin materials such as polyvinyl benzalacetophenone. Alternatively, the light-transmitting layer 223 may be formed by applying a polymerization initiator to the pixel after applying a material such as a vinyl compound to the pixel, thereby cross-linking.

Now, after the translucent layer 223 is formed by the above steps, as shown in FIG.
A second transflective layer 222 is formed so as to cover the entire surface of the substrate 10. The second transflective layer 222 can be formed through a common process using the same material as that of the second electrode 12 serving as the first transflective layer. In order to reflect light at the boundary between the second electrode 12 or the second transflective layer 222 and the translucent layer 223, the refractive index of the second electrode 12 or the second transflective layer 222 and the translucent layer 223 are reflected. Must be different from the refractive index. More specifically, since the material of the light-transmitting layer 223 exemplified above has a refractive index of about 1.6, the second electrode 12 and the second transflective layer 2
22 is preferably formed of a material having a higher refractive index.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the presence / absence of the light interference layer 22 (more specifically, the light transmissive layer 223) in each unit element U and the film thickness of the light transmissive layer 223 in each image constituent element U1 are appropriately selected. Thus, the electro-optical device 100 that displays a desired target image having multiple gradations can be obtained. Therefore, for the same reason as in the first embodiment, the cost required for manufacturing the display panel 1 for displaying different target images is remarkably reduced. Moreover, this embodiment has an advantage that the light-transmitting layer 223 of the optical interference layer 22 is formed by a droplet discharge method that is relatively inexpensive and easy to control.

<B-3: Other configuration examples>
In FIG. 6, the second electrode 12 also serves as the first transflective layer of the optical interference layer 22 and the second
Although the configuration in which the transflective layer 222 also serves as the sealing layer 18 is illustrated, as shown in FIG. 8, a configuration in which these portions are separately formed may be employed. In the display panel 1 shown in the figure, the first transflective layer 221 is formed so as to cover the second electrode 12, and the sealing layer 18 is formed so as to cover the second transflective layer 222. Has been. In the above, the top emission type display panel 1 has been exemplified. However, a configuration in which a target image is displayed by the light interference layer 22 can also be adopted in a bottom emission type display panel. In the bottom emission type display panel 1, instead of the optical filter layer 21 shown in FIG.
Is provided.

<C: Third Embodiment>
<C-1: Configuration of Electro-Optical Device 100>
In the said 1st Embodiment, the structure by which the optical filter layer 21 was employ | adopted as the light control part was illustrated. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the lens layer 23 is employed as the light control unit. Of the elements of the electro-optical device 100 according to the present embodiment, those that operate in the same manner as the elements according to the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the display panel 1 according to the present embodiment. This display panel 1
Is a top emission type panel in which light emitted from the OLED element 15 is emitted to the opposite side (upper side in FIG. 9) of the substrate 10 and used for display. As shown in the figure, a lens layer 23 is provided on the image constituent element U1 selected according to the contents of the target image from among a large number of unit elements U, while a lens layer 23 is provided on the non-constituent element U0. Not provided. The lens layer 23 is a light control unit that is provided on the side opposite to the substrate 10 as viewed from the OLED element 15 (that is, the side toward which light used for display is directed) and changes the characteristics of the emitted light from the OLED element 15. There is a lens 231 (convex lens) that is convex toward the side opposite to the OLED element 15. Further, as shown in FIG. 9, a lens layer forming partition wall 23 is formed on the surface of the second electrode 12.
5 is provided. The lens layer forming partition wall 235 is a film body provided so as to cover the inner wall and the top surface of the partition wall 13. The lens layer 23 of each image forming element U1 is formed so as to enter a space (depression) surrounded by the partition wall 13 and the lens layer forming partition wall 235. Although details will be described later, the lens layer forming partition wall 235 plays a role of efficiently retaining droplets to be the lens layer 23 on the substrate 10 in the step of forming the lens layer 23 by the droplet discharge method.

Here, FIG. 10A is a diagram showing a path of light emitted from the OLED element 15 of the non-component U0, and FIG. 10B is emitted from the OLED element 15 of the image constituent U1. It is a figure which shows the path | route of light. In FIGS. 2A and 2B, illustration of elements constituting the display panel 1 such as electrodes and partition walls 13 is omitted as appropriate. A substrate 6 shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B is a light-transmitting plate-like member disposed on the observation side of the display panel 1 according to this embodiment. For example, the substrate 6 is disposed in a housing of an electronic device on which the electro-optical device 100 is mounted, and plays a role of protecting the display panel 1. In the following description, for convenience of explanation, the gap between the surface of the substrate 6 opposite to the observation side and the light emitting element or the lens layer 23 is filled with a substance having substantially the same refractive index as that of the substrate 6. Assuming that

As shown in FIG. 10A, the light emitted from the OLED element 15 of the non-constituent element U0 at the emission angle θ1 is relative to the boundary surface 61 between the plate surface on the observation side of the substrate 6 and the space on the observation side. It reaches at an incident angle θ1. Here, if the incident angle θ1 is larger than the critical angle, this light is totally reflected on the side of the boundary surface 61 opposite to the observation side, so that it is emitted to the observation side and used for display. There is no. That is, in the non-constituent element U0, only the light emitted from the OLED element 15 at the emission angle smaller than the critical angle at the boundary surface 61 is emitted to the observation side and used for display. On the other hand, since the light emitted from the OLED element 15 of the image forming element U1 at the emission angle θ1 is refracted on the surface of the lens 231 of the lens layer 23, it reaches the boundary surface 61 at an angle θ2 smaller than the angle θ1. It becomes. If this angle θ2 is smaller than the critical angle, this light is emitted to the observation side without being reflected at the boundary surface 61 and used for display. In other words, in the image constituent element U1, the emitted light from the OLED element 15 is converted into the lens 2
Since the light is condensed by 31, the OLE has an exit angle larger than the critical angle at the boundary surface 61.
The light emitted from the D element 15 can also be emitted to the observation side for display. Therefore, even if the amount of light emitted from the OLED element 15 is substantially the same between the image constituent element U1 and the non-constituent element U0, the amount of light actually emitted to the observation side differs between the image constituent element U1 and the non-constituent element U0. . More specifically, the amount of light emitted from the image constituent element U1 provided with the lens 231 that refracts the emitted light from the OLED element 15 to the observation side is larger than the amount of light emitted from the non-constituent element U0 to the observation side. It is. This difference in the amount of emitted light is recognized as a difference in gradation by the observer, and as a result, the target image is displayed. Therefore, in the first embodiment described above, the display gradation of the image constituent element U1 is lower (darker) than the display gradation of the non-constituent element U0, whereas in this embodiment, the display of the image constituent element U1 is displayed. The gradation is higher (brighter) than the display gradation of the non-constituting element U0. That is, the brightness of the gradation shown in FIG. 3 is reversed in the present embodiment.

Further, the optical characteristics of the lens layer 23 in each image constituent element U1 differ depending on the gradation of each dot constituting the target image. More specifically, the lens layer 23 of each image constituent element U1.
The focal length of the lens 231 is appropriately selected according to the gradation of each dot constituting the target image. More specifically, the image forming element U1 to display a bright gradation.
The lens 231 has a larger amount of light emitted toward the observation side, and the lens 231 of the image constituent element U1 to display a dark gradation has a smaller amount of light emitted toward the observation side (however, is larger than the amount of light emitted from the non-constituent element U0). Thus, the focal length of the lens 231 of each image constituting element U1 is adjusted. In this way, as a configuration for making the focal length of the lens 231 different in each lens layer 23, a material having a different refractive index from a configuration in which the surface shape (particularly the curvature) of each lens 231 is made different for each gradation of the target image. Thus, a configuration in which each lens 231 is formed can be considered.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the shape of the target image is arbitrarily selected according to the presence or absence of the lens layer 23, and the gradation of each part of the target image according to the focal length of each lens layer 23 Is arbitrarily selected. Therefore, even with the electro-optical device 100 according to the present embodiment, a high-quality and high-definition display can be realized despite an extremely simple configuration.

<C-2: Manufacturing Method of Electro-Optical Device 100>
The electro-optical device 100 according to the present embodiment is the electro-optical device 100 according to the first embodiment.
In place of the step of forming the optical filter layer 21 of FIG.
It is manufactured by performing the process of forming. For this reason, only the process of forming the lens layer 23 will be described below, and other elements (the first electrode 11, the partition wall 13, the OLED element 15) are described.
The description of the step of forming the second electrode 12) is omitted.

Following the step of forming the second electrode 12 shown in FIG. 4D, as shown in FIG. 11A, a lens layer forming partition 235 is formed in a portion of the second electrode 12 covering the partition 13. Is done.
The surface of the lens layer forming partition wall 235 exhibits liquid repellency. Such a lens layer forming partition wall 235 is formed by patterning a thin film made of an organic material such as polyimide or acrylic by the photolithography technique in the same manner as described in the first embodiment for the partition wall 13. It is obtained by subjecting the surface to plasma treatment in order to impart liquid repellency.
However, in this process, there is a possibility that a solvent used for patterning a thin film made of an organic material adheres to the already formed OLED element 15 and is damaged. In order to avoid such a problem, it is desirable that the lens layer forming partition wall 235 be formed by the process shown in FIG. That is, as shown in FIG. 5A, first, a plurality of film bodies 572 to be the lens layer forming partition walls 235 are formed on the plate surface of the flat substrate 571. The film body 572 is obtained, for example, by patterning a thin film formed of an organic material to which a fluoride is added so as to overlap with the partition wall 13 (lattice shape). Therefore, the film body 572 has liquid repellency. Next, as shown in FIG. 12B, the second electrode 12
The substrate 571 and the base material 10 so that the film body 572 contacts the top surface of the partition wall 13 covered with
In this state, energy such as heat and light is applied to the film body 572. For example, the film body 572 is irradiated with ultraviolet rays or laser light through the substrate 571. By this step, the film body 572 is peeled off from the plate surface of the substrate 571 and transferred onto the partition wall 13 to obtain a lens layer forming partition wall 235 having liquid repellency. Thus, the film body 5 separately formed on the substrate 571.
According to the method of forming the lens layer forming partition wall 235 by transferring 72 onto the base material 10, the OLED element 15 cannot be damaged by the solvent in principle.

When the lens layer forming partition wall 235 is formed by the above steps, as shown in FIG. 11B, among the many unit regions Au partitioned by the partition wall 13 and the lens layer forming partition wall 235, A lens layer 23 is selectively formed on the unit area Au corresponding to the image constituent element U1. A droplet discharge method is used for this formation. That is, as shown in FIG. 11B, the discharge port 5 is located above the unit area Au corresponding to the image constituent element U1 among the many unit areas Au.
6 is moved, and a droplet containing a light-transmitting substance is discharged from the discharge port 56 to land on the unit region Au. The lens layer 23 is obtained by repeating this for all the image constituent elements U1 and then drying. Here, since the unit area Au in which the lens layer 23 is formed is surrounded by the lens layer forming partition wall 235 having liquid repellency, the liquid droplets that have landed on the unit area Au face toward the opposite side of the substrate 10. The lens 23 is cured by protruding and cured.
1 As described above, the focal length of the lens 231 in each lens layer 23 is adjusted by appropriately selecting the surface shape and material. For example, the lens 231 having a desired surface shape is selected by appropriately selecting an appropriate amount of liquid to land on each unit area Au (for example, the amount of each droplet discharged from the discharge port 56 and the number of times the droplet is discharged). Is obtained. More specifically, a lens 231 having a large curvature can be obtained if the appropriate amount of liquid to land on each unit area Au is large, and a lens 231 having a small curvature can be obtained if the appropriate amount of liquid is small.
Further, the lens 231 having a desired focal length can be obtained by appropriately selecting the material of the droplets discharged to each unit region Au from a plurality of materials having different refractive indexes.

The lens layer 23 is formed of various materials having light transmittance. More specifically,
Polymethyl methacrylate, polyacrylate, polycarbonate, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, hydroxyethyl cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose, polyvinyl chloride resin, melanin resin, phenol resin, alkyd resin, epoxy resin,
The lens layer 23 can be formed of polyurethane resin, polyester resin, maleic acid resin, polyamide resin, or the like. In addition, since the lens layer 23 in this embodiment is formed by a droplet discharge method, the material for forming the lens layer 23 is a material that is soluble in a solvent such as water or a material that is dispersed in the solvent. Is desirable. Examples of these materials include polyhydric alcohols (for example, polyvinyl alcohol), acrylic resins (for example, polyvinyl acetate and polyvinyl acrylate), organic silicon compounds (for example, tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) and aninopropyltrimethoxysilane), and the like. It is done. However, even if the material is not water-soluble or difficult to disperse in water, a solution suitable for ejection from the ejection port 56 is obtained by coating the molecules of these materials with the binding polymer and mixing with water. Can be obtained. Moreover, you may give the solubility with respect to a solvent by forming a side chain in these materials.

Further, in the droplet discharge method, it is necessary to remove the solvent of the droplet after discharge from the discharge port, so that the material is cured by the action of energy such as heat or light (for example, a photosensitive resin or a thermosetting resin). It is desirable to form the lens layer 23. If the lens layer 23 is formed by ejecting a material containing these materials in a solvent from the ejection port 56, the lens layer is sometimes removed when the solvent is removed by heating or irradiating the droplets after ejection. 23 can be cured. Therefore, the lens layer 23 is desirably formed of various thermosetting resin materials such as phenol resin, urea resin, and epoxy resin, and various photosensitive (crosslinked) resin materials such as polyvinyl benzalacetophenone. Further, a material such as a vinyl compound is applied to the pixel and then crosslinked by applying a polymerization initiator, whereby the lens layer 2
3 may be formed.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the electro-optical device that displays a desired target image by appropriately selecting the presence / absence of the lens layer 23 in each unit element U and the focal length of the lens 231 in each image constituent element U1. 100 is obtained. Therefore, for the same reason as in the first embodiment, the cost required for manufacturing the display panel 1 for displaying different target images is remarkably reduced. In addition, the present embodiment has an advantage that the lens layer 23 is formed by a droplet discharge method that is relatively inexpensive and easy to control.

<D: Modification>
The embodiment described above is merely an example. Various modifications can be made to this embodiment without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Specifically, the following modifications can be considered.

<D-1: Modification 1>
In the electro-optical device 100 according to each of the above-described embodiments, the configuration in which the common electrodes connected to all the unit elements U are employed as the first electrode 11 and the second electrode 12 is exemplified. Since a common voltage is applied to each OLED element 15 under this configuration, each OLED element 15
The amount of emitted light is substantially the same across all unit elements U. Instead of this configuration, OLED
A configuration in which the light emission amount of each OLED element 15 is appropriately varied by varying the voltage applied to the element 15 (in other words, the current flowing through the OLED element 15) for each unit element U may be employed. For example, in addition to the configuration according to each of the above embodiments, the following first to third aspects are employed. In the following, a configuration in which the present modification is applied to the electro-optical device 100 according to the first embodiment will be exemplified, but the same configuration may be employed for the electro-optical device 100 according to the second and third embodiments. Of course.

(1) First aspect
A configuration in which a resistance layer is provided so as to be interposed between the first electrode 11 and the second electrode 12 in one or more unit elements U selected from among the plurality of unit elements U may be employed. This resistive layer
It is a film body made of a conductive material having a predetermined resistivity. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 13, the second electrode 12 and the OLED element 15 in the specific unit element U are overlapped with the OLED element 15 when viewed from the direction perpendicular to the plate surface of the substrate 10. A resistance layer 31 is provided therebetween. According to this configuration, even if the voltage applied to the first electrode 11 and the second electrode 12 is common over all the unit elements U, the applied voltage to the OLED element 15 of each unit element U is the resistance layer 31. Therefore, the light emission amount of each OLED element 15 can be varied depending on the presence or absence of the resistance layer 31. The unit elements U (the right and left unit elements U of the three unit elements U in FIG. 13) to form the resistance layer 31 are all unit elements including both the image constituent element U1 and the non-constituent element U0. U is appropriately selected according to the gradation of the desired target image. In FIG. 13, the resistance layer 3 is interposed between the second electrode 12 and the OLED element 15.
Although the configuration in which 1 is provided is illustrated, the resistance layer 31 may be provided between the first electrode 11 and the OLED element 15 instead of or in addition to this configuration. A configuration in which the resistance value of the resistance layer 31 is made different for each unit element U by appropriately selecting the film thickness and material of the resistance layer 31 may be employed.

(2) Second aspect
A configuration in which an insulating layer is provided so as to be interposed between the first electrode 11 and the second electrode 12 in one or more unit elements U selected from among the plurality of unit elements U may be employed. This insulating layer is
It is a film body made of a material having electrical insulation. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 14, as seen from the direction perpendicular to the plate surface of the base material 10, it overlaps with the light emitting surface of the OLED element 15.
An insulating layer 33 is provided between the second electrode 12 and the OLED element 15 in the specific unit element U. In this configuration, since no current flows through the OLED element 15 of the unit element U provided with the insulating layer 33 and no light is emitted, the unit element U realizes the lowest gradation of the target image. The unit elements U (the right and left unit elements U of the three unit elements U in FIG. 14) to form the insulating layer 33 are all unit elements including both the image constituent element U1 and the non-constituent element U0. U is appropriately selected according to the content of the desired target image. In FIG. 14, the second
Although the configuration in which the insulating layer 33 is provided between the electrode 12 and the OLED element 15 is illustrated, the insulating layer 3 is provided between the first electrode 11 and the OLED element 15 instead of or together with this configuration.
3 may be provided.

Here, the configuration in which the insulating layer 33 is provided so as to completely overlap the light emitting surface of the OLED element 15 in the specific unit element U is illustrated. However, as shown in FIG. A configuration in which an insulating layer (hereinafter referred to as “partial insulating layer”) 34 is partially provided so as to overlap with a part of the light emitting surface of the OLED element 15 when viewed from the vertical direction can also be adopted. According to this configuration, the amount of light emitted from each OLED element 15 and emitted to the observation side can be adjusted according to the proportion of the area of the partial insulating layer 34 in the light emitting surface. Therefore, it is possible to display a target image having more gradations.

The resistance layer 31, the insulating layer 33, and the partial insulating layer 3 in the first and second embodiments.
A droplet discharge method is used to form 4. For example, the resistive layer 31 is formed by discharging droplets containing a conductive substance having a predetermined resistivity from the discharge port and landing on the substrate 10,
The insulating layer 33 or the partial insulating layer 34 is formed by discharging droplets containing an insulating substance from the discharge port and landing on the substrate 10.

(3) Third aspect
At least one of the first electrode 11 and the second electrode 12 may be an independent electrode for each unit element U. FIG. 16 illustrates a configuration in which the first electrode 11 is provided independently for each unit element U. Each first electrode 11 is connected to the power supply circuit 8 through a wiring 112 formed on the plate surface of the base material 10 and covered with the partition wall 13. A voltage selected in accordance with the content of the target image is applied from each power supply circuit 8 to each of the plurality of first electrodes 11. According to this configuration, by applying different voltages to the OLED elements 15, each OLED element 15
The amount of emitted light can be adjusted appropriately. 16 illustrates the configuration in which the first electrode 11 is an electrode for each unit element U, but the second electrode 12 may be an independent electrode for each unit element U instead of or together with this configuration. Good.

As described above, according to this modification, the amount of light emitted from the OLED element 15 to the observation side is not only adjusted by the light control unit (the optical filter layer 21, the optical interference layer 22, or the lens layer 23), but also the OLED Since the amount of light emitted from the element 15 and reaching the light control unit can be made different for each unit element U, high-definition display is performed with more gradations compared to the configuration according to each of the above embodiments. It becomes possible.

<D-2: Modification 2>
In each of the above embodiments and modifications, the configuration in which the monochrome target image is displayed by changing only the display gradation of each unit element U is exemplified, but the present invention is also applied to a configuration capable of color display. obtain. That is, in this configuration, each OLE of each unit element U
As the D element 15, for example, one that emits light having a wavelength corresponding to any one of red, green, and blue is employed. Under this configuration, it is desirable that the optical characteristic of the light control unit provided in each image constituent element U1 is selected according to the emission color of the OLED element 15 in the unit element U. The details are as follows.

(1) First aspect
In the first embodiment, the optical filter layer 21 provided in each image constituent element U1 is preferably formed of a material capable of absorbing light emitted from the OLED element 15 of the image constituent element U1. More specifically, the light emitted from the OLED element 15 corresponding to blue has a peak intensity of a component having a wavelength of about 440 nm (nanometers). Therefore, the optical filter layer 21 of the image forming element U1 has a wavelength of 440 nm. It is desirable to form with the material which can absorb the light component of the band to contain, for example, an azo type material. Similarly, green light (wavelength 550n
The optical filter layer 21 of the image forming element U1 including the OLED element 15 that emits light having a peak intensity at about m) is a material that can absorb a light component having a wavelength in the range including 550 nm, for example, a phthalocyanine-based material It is desirable to be formed by. Also, red light (
The optical filter layer 21 of the image forming element U1 including the OLED element 15 that emits light having a peak intensity at a wavelength of about 680 nm is a material that can absorb a light component having a wavelength within a range including 680 nm, such as a phthalocyanine-based material. It is desirable that it be formed of a material.

(2) Second aspect
In the second embodiment, external light such as sunlight or indoor illumination light is reflected on the surface of the first electrode 11 or the first transflective layer (second electrode 12) and reaches the observation side, and a display image is displayed. It may also cause a decrease in contrast. Therefore, in the second embodiment, each image constituent element U1.
The light-transmitting layer 223 of the light interference layer 22 provided on the OLED element 15 of the image constituent element U1.
It is desirable to be formed of a material that can absorb light having a wavelength complementary to the wavelength of the light emitted from. According to this configuration, even if outside light such as sunlight or indoor illumination light reaches the inside of the light interference layer 22, light having a complementary color relationship with the wavelength of light emitted from the OLED element 15 is transmitted through the light transmitting layer 223. Therefore, only the light corresponding to the color of the OLED element 15 is selectively emitted to the observation side. Therefore, the contrast of the display image can be improved. Furthermore, if the light-transmitting layer 223 is formed of a material that can absorb a part of the light emitted from the OLED element 15, the amount of light emitted from the OLED element 15 and emitted to the observation side is obtained as in the first embodiment. Since it can be adjusted by the light-transmitting layer 223, a high-definition display is realized with more gradations.

<D-3: Modification 3>
In each of the above-described embodiments and modifications, the configuration in which the light control unit is provided on the observation side as viewed from the second electrode 12 is illustrated, but the light control unit (the optical filter layer 21, the optical interference layer 22, and the lens layer 23) is exemplified. ) Is not limited to this. For example, when the light control unit is formed of a conductive material, the light control unit is interposed between the first electrode 11 and the OLED element 15 or between the OLED element 15 and the second electrode 12. May be provided. Also, OL
When the ED element 15 includes a plurality of layers such as a hole injection layer, a hole transport layer, a light emitting layer, an electron transport layer, and an electron injection layer, light control is performed between these layers (that is, in the OLED element 15). A configuration provided with a portion may also be adopted. In short, in the present invention, it is sufficient if the light control unit is provided so as to overlap each unit element U when viewed from the direction perpendicular to the arrangement surface of the unit elements U (the plate surface of the base material 10 in each of the above embodiments). The position of the light control unit with respect to the stacked structure of the unit elements U is not limited.

<D-4: Modification 4>
In each of the above-described embodiments and modifications, the image constituent element U1 among the plurality of unit elements U.
Although the electro-optical device 100 having both the configuration in which only the light control unit is selectively provided and the configuration in which the optical characteristics of the light control unit are different for each unit element U (image constituent element U1) is illustrated, Only one of the configurations may be employed. For example, focusing on the former configuration, a light control unit having optical characteristics common to all the image constituent elements U1 selected according to the content of the target image from among the plurality of unit elements U is provided. The arranged configuration can also be adopted. Further, focusing on the latter configuration, there is a configuration in which the light control unit is provided for all the unit elements U, and the optical characteristics of each light control unit are appropriately changed according to the contents of the target image. Can be employed.

<D-5: Modification 5>
In each said embodiment, although the optical filter layer 21, the optical interference layer 22, and the lens layer 23 were illustrated as a light control part, the structure of a light control part is not restricted to this. That is, the “light control unit” in the present invention is sufficient if it is a member that changes the characteristics (particularly the amount of light) of the light emitted from the OLED element 15, and the specific configuration thereof is not questioned. In each of the above embodiments, the configuration in which only one of the optical filter layer 21, the optical interference layer 22, and the lens layer 23 is provided is exemplified. It is good also as a control part.

<D-6: Modification 6>
In each of the above embodiments, the light control unit (more specifically, the optical filter layer 21 and the optical interference layer 22).
The case where the light-transmitting layer 223, the lens layer 23), and the OLED element 15 are formed by the droplet discharge method is illustrated, but these forming methods are arbitrary. For example, the light control unit and the OLED element 15 can also be formed by a method of transferring a material constituting the light control unit or the OLED element 15 onto the base material 10 using a laser. Moreover, you may form the OLED element 15 continuous over the whole surface of the base material 10 by film-forming techniques, such as a vapor deposition method and a spin coat method. Thus, even when the OLED element 15 is formed so as to be continuous over all the unit elements U, the presence / absence of the light control unit and the optical characteristics of each light control unit (or the above-mentioned) Resistive layer 31 and insulating layer 3 exemplified in Modification 1
3 or the characteristics of the partial insulating layer 34 and the voltage applied to the first electrode 11 and the second electrode 12 are selected as appropriate, so that the amount of light emitted from the unit element U to the observation side (that is, the unit element U).
Can be distinguished.

<D-7: Modification 7>
The present invention can also be applied to the electro-optical device 100 using an electro-optical element other than the OLED element 15. As an electro-optical device to which the present invention can be applied, a plasma display panel (PDP) using a high-pressure gas such as helium or neon as an electro-optical element, a field emission display (FED) using a phosphor as an electro-optical element, or the like Is mentioned.
In addition, although an electro-optical element that emits light itself (a so-called self-luminous electro-optic element) is illustrated here, a non-self-luminous electro-optic element that does not emit light itself (for example, irradiation light emitted from a lighting device). The present invention can also be applied to an electro-optical device using a liquid crystal or the like that changes transmittance according to the orientation direction.

<E: Electronic equipment>
Next, an electronic apparatus including the electro-optical device according to the invention as a display unit will be described. FIG. 17 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a mobile phone having the electro-optical device 100 to which the present invention is applied. As shown in this figure, the mobile phone 1200 includes a plurality of operation buttons 1202 operated by a user, a mouthpiece 1204 for outputting a sound received from another terminal device, and a sound transmitted to the other terminal device. In addition to the mouthpiece 1206, the electro-optical device 100 that displays various images is included. The display area of the electro-optical device 100 is divided into a first area 101 and a second area 102. Among these, the first area 101 is an area in which various images are displayed while being appropriately changed by a dot matrix type display method. On the other hand, the second region 102
Is an area where the target image is fixedly displayed by applying the present invention. That is, the second region 1
In 02, the light control unit is selectively provided only in the image constituent element U1 constituting the target image among the plurality of unit elements U arranged in a plane, and the optical characteristics of each light control unit are the same as those of the target image. It is selected for each image constituent element U1 according to the gradation.

Electronic devices that can use the electro-optical device according to the present invention include notebook computers, liquid crystal televisions, viewfinder type (or monitor direct view type) video recorders, in addition to the mobile phone shown in FIG. Car navigation device, pager, electronic notebook, calculator,
Examples include a word processor, a workstation, a videophone, a POS terminal, and a device equipped with a touch panel.

1 is a plan view illustrating a configuration of an electro-optical device according to a first embodiment of the invention. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of a display panel in the electro-optical device. It is a top view which shows the relationship between the image structural element and non-structural element in the display panel. It is sectional drawing for demonstrating the manufacturing method of the display panel which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of the display panel which concerns on the modification of 1st Embodiment. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of the display panel which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing for demonstrating the manufacturing method of the display panel. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of the display panel which concerns on the modification of 2nd Embodiment. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of the display panel which concerns on 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the optical path in an image structural element and a non-structural element among the display panels. It is sectional drawing for demonstrating the manufacturing method of the display panel. It is sectional drawing which shows the formation process of the partition for lens layer formation. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of the display panel which concerns on a modification. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of the display panel which concerns on a modification. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of the display panel which concerns on a modification. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of the display panel which concerns on a modification. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the mobile telephone which is an example of the electronic device which concerns on this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Electro-optical apparatus, 1 ... Display panel, 10 ... Base material, 11 ... 1st electrode, 12 ...
2nd electrode, 13 ... partition, 15 ... OLED element, 18 ... sealing layer, 111 ... conductive film, 112 ... wiring, 21 ... optical filter layer (light control part), 22 ... light Interference layer (light control unit)
221... First transflective layer, 222... Second transflective layer, 223.
5... Translucent layer forming partition wall 23. Lens layer (light control unit) 231.
... Lens layer forming partition wall 31... Resistive layer 33. Insulating layer 34 34 Partially insulating layer 8.
Power supply circuit 51, 52, 54, 56... Discharge port, U... Unit element, U1... Image constituent element, U2.

Claims (22)

A plurality of unit elements arranged in a plane, each of which has an electro-optical element interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode;
A light control unit provided so as to overlap a part of the plurality of unit elements when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the arrangement surface of the unit elements, and changing a characteristic of light emitted from the electro-optical element. An electro-optical device. The electro-optical device according to claim 1, wherein the light control unit includes an optical filter layer that transmits part of light emitted from the electro-optical element. The light control unit is a light formed by interposing a translucent layer that transmits the irradiation light between the first and second transflective layers that transmit a part of the irradiation light and reflect the other part. The electro-optical device according to claim 1, further comprising an interference layer. The electro-optical device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the light control unit includes a lens layer including a lens that refracts light emitted from the electro-optical element. 2. The electro-optic according to claim 1, wherein an optical characteristic of one light control unit of the plurality of light control units provided so as to overlap each of the unit elements is different from an optical characteristic of another light control unit. apparatus. A plurality of unit elements arranged in a plane, each of which has an electro-optical element interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode;
A plurality of light control units that are provided so as to overlap with the unit elements as viewed from a direction perpendicular to the arrangement surface of the unit elements, and that change the characteristics of the emitted light from the electro-optical element, the light control unit An electro-optical device comprising: a plurality of light control units having different optical characteristics from those of other light control units. Each of the plurality of light control units includes an optical filter layer that transmits a part of light emitted from the electro-optical element,
The electro-optical device according to claim 5, wherein the optical filter layer of one light control unit and the optical filter layer of another light control unit among the plurality of light control units have different transmittances. The electro-optical device according to claim 7, wherein the optical filter layer of the one light control unit and the optical filter layer of the other light control unit have different film thicknesses. The electro-optical device according to claim 7, wherein the optical filter layer of the one light control unit and the optical filter layer of the other light control unit are made of materials having different absorption coefficients. Each of the plurality of light control units includes a light-transmitting layer that transmits the irradiation light between the first and second transflective layers that transmit a part of the irradiation light and reflect the other part. Having a light interference layer inserted,
The translucent layer constituting the light interference layer of one light control unit and the translucent layer constituting the light interference layer of another light control unit among the plurality of light control units have different film thicknesses. The electro-optical device according to 1. Each of the plurality of light control units includes a lens layer including a lens that refracts light emitted from the electro-optical element,
The electro-optical device according to claim 5, wherein a lens of a lens layer of one light control unit and a lens of a lens layer of another light control unit among the plurality of light control units have different optical characteristics. The electro-optical device according to claim 11, wherein the lens of the lens layer of the one light control unit and the lens of the lens layer of the other light control unit have different focal lengths. The electro-optical device according to claim 11, wherein the lens layer of the one light control unit and the lens layer of the other light control unit are made of materials having different refractive indexes. The resistance layer formed of a conductive material and interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode in one or more unit elements among the plurality of unit elements is provided. Electro-optic device. The electro-optical device according to claim 1, further comprising an insulating layer that electrically insulates the first electrode and the second electrode in one or more unit elements of the plurality of unit elements. Among the plurality of unit elements, the electro-optical element is disposed so as to be interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode in one or more unit elements, and viewed from a direction perpendicular to the arrangement surface of the unit elements. The electro-optical device according to claim 1, further comprising a partial insulating layer that overlaps a part thereof.   An electronic apparatus comprising the electro-optical device according to claim 1 as a display device. Forming a plurality of unit elements each having an electro-optic element interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode on the plate surface of the flat substrate;
Forming a light control unit that changes the characteristics of the emitted light from the electro-optic element so as to overlap with some of the plurality of unit elements as viewed from a direction perpendicular to the plate surface of the substrate; A method of manufacturing an electro-optical device having Forming a plurality of unit elements each having an electro-optic element interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode on the plate surface of the flat substrate;
Forming each of the plurality of light control units that change the characteristics of the light emitted from the electro-optic element so as to overlap the unit elements when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the arrangement surface of the unit elements,
Forming the plurality of light control units so that the optical characteristics of one of the light control units is different from the optical characteristics of the other light control units. . In the step of forming the light control unit, the light emitted from the electro-optical element is discharged by discharging a droplet containing a light-absorbing substance from the discharge port and landing the droplet on the substrate. The method of manufacturing an electro-optical device according to claim 18, wherein an optical filter layer that transmits a part of the optical filter layer is formed as the light control unit. In the step of forming the light control unit, a first transflective layer that discharges a droplet containing a light-transmitting substance from the discharge port and transmits a part of the irradiation light and reflects the other part The light-transmitting layer is formed by landing the liquid droplets on the surface of the first, while the first light-transmitting layer is sandwiched between the first
By forming a second transflective layer facing the transflective layer, an optical interference layer composed of the first transflective layer, the translucent layer, and the second transflective layer is formed into the light control unit. The method of manufacturing an electro-optical device according to claim 18 or 19. In the step of forming the light control unit, the light emitted from the electro-optical element is discharged by discharging a droplet containing a light-transmitting substance from the discharge port and landing the droplet on the substrate. The method of manufacturing an electro-optical device according to claim 18, wherein a lens layer including a lens that refracts the light is formed as the light control unit.

Images