JP2005331688A - Display apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a display apparatus using an organic EL (electroluminescence) panel which avoids complicated manufacturing processes and can be easily manufactured in a plurality of variations. <P>SOLUTION: The organic EL panel 1 is produced by disposing an organic EL element 16 which has an organic layer 5 including at least a light emitting layer held between a light transmitting first electrode and an opaque second electrode, on a light transmitting glass substrate (supporting substrate) 2, and disposing a sealing member 7 on the glass substrate 2 to cover the organic EL element 9. An illuminating means 20 is disposed on the backside of the sealing member 7. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a display device, and more particularly to a display device including an organic EL (electroluminescence) panel.

Conventionally, as an organic EL panel, a transparent electrode (front electrode) serving as an anode made of ITO (indium tin oxide), a hole injection layer, a hole transport layer, a light emitting layer on a translucent substrate made of a glass material. And an organic layer composed of an electron transport layer and a non-transparent back electrode such as aluminum (Al) serving as a cathode are sequentially laminated to form an organic EL element which is a laminate, and a glass material covering the laminate There is known one in which a sealing member made of is disposed on a translucent substrate. Such an organic EL panel is disclosed in Patent Document 1, for example.
JP 2001-267066 A

  As a display device using this organic EL panel, a laminated body composed of a transparent electrode, an insulating layer, an organic layer, and a back electrode is sequentially formed on a glass substrate which is a light-transmitting substrate by vapor deposition. There are some which comprise each segment display part which consists of EL elements. In addition, a color filter (colored layer) layer is formed as a lower layer of the transparent electrode in the segment display portion at a predetermined location in order to make the display color different from that of other segment display portions. The display color of was different. Such a configuration has been attracting attention in recent years because various display colors and display forms can be obtained, and a display device having excellent decorativeness can be obtained.

  In order to obtain a decorative display using the display device having such a configuration, a color filter layer must be formed in the organic EL panel, and the manufacturing process of the display device may be complicated. . Further, in order to ensure a plurality of variations in display color or display form in the display device, the organic EL panel cannot be shared, and the organic EL panel must be manufactured individually. It was.

  The present invention has been made in view of this problem, and provides a display device using an organic EL panel that can easily manufacture a plurality of variations without causing a complicated manufacturing process.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides a light-transmitting organic EL element in which an organic layer having at least a light-emitting layer is sandwiched between a first electrode and a second electrode as in the display device according to claim 1. An organic EL panel disposed on a support substrate and having a sealing member disposed on the support substrate so as to cover the organic EL element, and an illuminating unit capable of irradiating light from behind the sealing member Are provided.

  Further, the display device according to claim 2 is the display device according to claim 1, wherein a second display region is provided on the support substrate in a state of surrounding the first display region of the organic EL panel. The second display area is illuminated by the illumination means.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the display device according to the second aspect, wherein a design portion is provided on the display light emission surface side of the support substrate, and the illumination pattern is obtained in the second display region. Is defined by the design part.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the display device according to the first aspect, the organic EL panel includes an electrically insulating standing portion reaching the back electrode as the second electrode, and the standing portion The illumination means illuminates the gap between the organic layer obtained by forming the film.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the display device according to the first aspect, the illuminating means includes a plurality of display colors, and the display color of the second display area can be changed. is there.

  According to the present invention, an organic EL element in which an organic layer having at least a light emitting layer is sandwiched between a translucent first electrode and a non-translucent second electrode is disposed on a translucent support substrate, The present invention relates to a display device provided with an organic EL panel in which a sealing member is disposed on the support substrate so as to cover the organic EL element, and there is no possibility that the manufacturing process becomes complicated when performing decorative display. Since the organic EL panel can be used in common for a plurality of variations of decorative display, the manufacturing process of the organic EL panel can be simplified.

  A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The display device A includes an organic EL panel 1, an illumination unit 20, and a design part 21.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the organic EL panel 1 includes a glass substrate (support substrate) 2, a transparent electrode (first electrode) 3, an insulating layer 4, an organic layer 5, and a back electrode 6 (second electrode). And the sealing member 7.

  The glass substrate 2 is a translucent support substrate having a rectangular shape, and includes a first display area and a second display area described later.

  The transparent electrode 3 is formed by forming a conductive material such as ITO on the glass substrate 2 by means such as a vapor deposition method or a sputtering method. The transparent electrode 3 includes a Japanese character display segment portion 3a and individual display segment portions 3a. Each has a lead portion 3b formed to lead out and an electrode terminal 3c provided at a terminal portion of the lead portion 3b, and can selectively give a constant current from a power supply circuit (not shown) for each display segment portion 3a. You have a possible structure. The electrode terminals 3c are formed with lead portions 3b corresponding to the display segment portions 3a so as to be concentrated on one side of the glass substrate 2.

  The insulating layer 4 is made of, for example, a polyimide-based insulating material, and is formed by means such as photolithography. The insulating layer 4 has a window portion 4a corresponding to the display segment portion 3a, and the window portion 4a is slightly overlapped with the peripheral portion of the display segment portion 3a of the transparent electrode 3 in order to clearly display the outline of the light emitting region. In order to ensure insulation between the transparent electrode 3 and the back electrode 6, the lead portion 3 b is covered.

  The organic layer 5 may be disposed on the transparent electrode 3 as long as it has at least a light emitting layer, but in the embodiment of the present invention, a hole injection layer, a hole transport layer, a light emitting layer, and The electron transport layer is formed by sequentially laminating by means such as vapor deposition, and for example, emits white light.

  The back electrode 6 is formed by forming a metallic conductive material such as aluminum (Al), aluminum lithium (Al: Li), or magnesium silver (Mg: Ag) on the organic layer 6 by means of vapor deposition or sputtering. This is a single metal electrode (non-translucent electrode) having a rectangular shape and serves as a common electrode for the light emitting portion (display segment portion 3a) in the organic layer 5. The back electrode 6 is electrically connected to a cathode electrode terminal 6 a provided on one side of the glass substrate 2 so as to be adjacent to each electrode terminal 3 c of the transparent electrode 3. The electrode terminal 6 a is made of the same material as the transparent electrode 3 and is formed in an elongated shape along the width direction of the back electrode 6.

  As described above, the organic EL element 9 is obtained by sequentially laminating the transparent electrode 3, the insulating layer 4, the organic layer 5, and the back electrode 6 on the glass substrate 2, thereby forming the organic EL element 9. The formation area of the EL element 9 is the first display area S1, and the area other than the first display area S1 is the second display area S2 (see FIG. 1).

  The sealing member 7 is formed by, for example, forming a concave portion 7a as a storage portion on a flat plate member made of a glass material. For example, the sealing member 7 includes a sealing member 7 and a supporting member 7b that are formed so as to surround the recess 7a. The supporting member 7b is hermetically disposed on the glass substrate 2 with an ultraviolet curable epoxy resin adhesive 10 interposed therebetween. The glass substrate 2 constitutes an airtight space for housing the organic EL element 9. The sealing member 7 is configured slightly smaller than the glass substrate 2 so that the electrode terminal 3c of the transparent electrode 3 and the electrode terminal 6a of the back electrode 6 are exposed to the outside.

  Illumination means 20 is disposed on the sealing member 7 side of the organic EL panel 1 above the organic EL panel 1. The illuminating means 20 includes a circuit board 20a on which a predetermined wiring pattern is disposed, and an LED or lamp (colored cover) that emits illumination light (for example, red) of a color different from the display light emitted from the organic EL panel 1. A light source 20b composed of a broken lamp body and a diffusion member 20c. The light source 20b shines in the illumination unit 20 based on a drive signal from a control circuit (not shown), and the light emitted from the light source 20b is converted into uniform illumination light by the diffusion member 20c, and the organic EL panel 1 The second display area S2 is illuminated.

  On the other hand, a design portion 21 is provided on the light emission surface side of the glass substrate 2 of the organic EL panel 1. The design portion 21 is formed in a frame shape on the periphery of the glass substrate 2 and is formed by printing or pasting an impermeable member. Therefore, the frame-shaped design portion 21 becomes a design for clarifying the outline of the second display region S2 of the organic EL panel 1, in other words, the illumination pattern obtained in the second display region S2 is a design. This is defined by the design pattern of the portion 21.

  The display device A is configured by the above-described units. The display device A includes a lighting unit 20 behind the sealing member 7 in the organic EL panel 1, and a second display formed in a state surrounding the first display region S <b> 1 including the organic EL element 9. By illuminating the area S2 with the illuminating means 20, the second display area S2 formed in a frame shape shines in a color different from the display light emitted from the organic EL element 9, and the organic EL panel 1 It is possible to perform decoration display on the display device A with a simple configuration in which the illumination means 20 is provided behind the display device A. In addition, since a decorative display is possible without forming a color filter inside the organic EL panel 1 as in the prior art, the manufacturing process of the organic EL panel 1 is not complicated, and variations of the display device A are possible. Since the organic EL panel 1 can be used in common, the manufacturing process is not complicated.

  In addition, the design portion 21 is provided on the periphery of the glass substrate 2 on the display light emission surface side of the glass substrate 2, and the illumination pattern obtained in the second display region S 2 is defined by the design portion 21, so that the decoration display The contour of the display pattern can be clearly displayed.

  Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. The same reference numerals are given to the same or corresponding portions as those of the first embodiment described above, and the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

  The display device A of the second embodiment is different from the display device A of the first embodiment in the configuration of the organic EL panel 1. The organic EL panel 1 according to the second embodiment includes the standing portion 30 on the insulating layer 4 made of a light transmitting material. The standing portion 30 is made of an electrically insulating material made of a photosensitive resin such as a phenolic resin, and is formed in a substantially inverted trapezoidal shape (overhang shape) so as to be positioned in the vicinity of the portion where the organic layer 5 is formed. The thickness of the standing portion 30 in the height direction is formed to be thicker than the film thickness on which the transparent electrode 3, the insulating layer 4, the organic layer 5 and the back electrode 6 are deposited. The standing portion 30 is formed in a broken line shape or a line shape so as to avoid the lead portions 3b of the Japanese character-shaped display segment portion 3a and along the outline (contour) of each display segment portion 3a. It is. In addition, although the standing part 30 in the outline of the sun-shaped display segment part 3a is formed in a state avoiding each lead part 3b, the standing part 30 in the outline (contour) of the display segment part 3a is It is formed in a closed loop shape.

  The organic layer 5 and the back electrode 6 are sequentially stacked on the transparent electrode 3, the standing portion 30 and the insulating layer 4. By forming the standing portion 30, the organic layer 5 and the back electrode 6 are formed. As a result, a gap S is formed between the standing portion 30 and the organic layer 5 (organic EL element 9). Therefore, when the illumination means 20 disposed behind the organic EL panel 1 is made to shine based on the drive signal from the control circuit, the illumination light emitted from the illumination means 20 (different from the display light of the organic EL element 9). Color emission light) is emitted from the gap S to the light emission surface side of the organic EL panel 1.

  The design portion 22 formed on the light emitting surface side of the glass substrate 2 is formed so as to cover the second display region S2 so that the illumination light from the illumination means 20 cannot be viewed from the second display region S2. Therefore, the illumination light from the illumination means 20 can be emitted only from the gap S.

  The display device A according to the second embodiment includes the illumination unit 20 behind the sealing member 7 in the organic EL panel 1, and the illumination light from the illumination unit 20 is emitted from the gap S formed in the organic EL panel 1. By emitting the light, it is possible to perform a decorative display on the display device A. In addition, the decorative display can be performed without forming a color filter inside the organic EL panel 1 as in the prior art, so that the manufacturing process of the organic EL panel 1 is not complicated.

  In each of the embodiments described above, the design portions 21 and 22 are formed in a frame shape, but the decorativeness can be further improved by applying letters, numbers, or patterns.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, the segment display type organic EL panel is used. However, the present invention may be applied to a dot matrix type organic EL panel.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, the illumination light (display color) from the illumination unit 20 is a single color. However, the illumination unit according to the present invention uses different colors of light so that a plurality of display colors are provided. A plurality of light sources that emit light are prepared, and the display color of the second display region S2 is changed by specifying the light source according to the situation and shining, or a plurality of color filters of different colors are provided on the front surface of the light source. The display color may be changed by selecting a color filter according to the situation and irradiating the second display region S2 with the light from the light source through the selected color filter. By making the display color of the display area S2 changeable, the decorativeness of the display device A can be further improved.

  Moreover, in each embodiment mentioned above, although the illumination means 20 was arrange | positioned behind the organic electroluminescent panel 1, the illumination means of this invention sends illumination light from the sealing member 7 side of the organic electroluminescent panel 1. FIG. For example, the illumination unit may be disposed on the side of the organic EL panel 1 and light from the illumination unit may be guided to the sealing member via the light guide member. .

It is principal part sectional drawing which shows the display apparatus in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the organic electroluminescent panel in 1st Embodiment same as the above. It is a front view of the display apparatus in 1st Embodiment same as the above. It is principal part sectional drawing which shows the display apparatus in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a front view which shows the display apparatus in 2nd Embodiment same as the above.

Explanation of symbols

A display device S1 first display region S2 second display region S gap 1 organic EL panel 2 glass substrate (support substrate)
3 Transparent electrode (first electrode)
5 Organic layer 6 Back electrode (second electrode)
7 Sealing member 9 Organic EL element 20 Illumination means 20a Circuit board 20b Light sources 21, 22 Design part

Claims (5)

An organic EL element in which an organic layer having at least a light emitting layer is sandwiched between a first electrode and a second electrode is disposed on a translucent support substrate, and the sealing member is supported so as to cover the organic EL element A display device, comprising: an organic EL panel disposed on a substrate; and an illumination unit capable of irradiating light from behind the sealing member. The second display area is provided on the support substrate in a state of surrounding the first display area of the organic EL panel, and the second display area is illuminated by the illumination unit. The display device described in 1. The display according to claim 2, wherein a design portion is provided on a display light emission surface side of the support substrate, and an illumination pattern obtained in the second display region is defined by the design portion. apparatus. The organic EL panel is provided with an electrically insulating standing portion that reaches the back electrode, which is the second electrode, and the gap between the organic layer obtained by forming the standing portion is illuminated by the lighting means. The organic EL panel according to claim 1. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the illumination unit includes a plurality of display colors, and the display color of the second display area can be changed.

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