JP5306097B2 - Transmission type organic EL display - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a transmissive organic EL display device, and more particularly to a see-through display in which not only a screen portion but also a frame region around it is made transparent.

  Organic electro-luminescence (Organic Electro-Luminescence / hereinafter referred to as “Organic EL”) display devices utilizing the light emission phenomenon of organic materials have higher image quality than liquid crystal displays and plasma displays, and can be made even thinner. Since it has excellent features such as high brightness, high definition, and low power consumption, it has been developed as a next-generation display device in recent years, and has been commercialized as a display for various electronic devices such as TVs, car navigation systems, and portable terminals. It's getting on.

  In such an organic EL display device, a light emitting element (organic EL element) is formed by laminating an organic substance as a light emitter and both positive and negative electrodes sandwiching the organic substance on a substrate, and a large number of them are two-dimensionally arranged as pixels. By configuring the display screen.

  If an organic EL element is used, a transmissive display (so-called see-through display) can be produced. For example, a display installed on the back side of the screen can be observed from the front side of the screen through the display. By arranging the see-through display in front of various displays such as an instrument panel (vehicle-mounted meter) of a car, it is possible to switch between the front display by the display and the display behind the display. .

  In this way, organic EL see-through displays are expected to have a variety of usage modes that are different from conventional displays that simply emit light from the screen and display images, and have the potential (function and design) of the display. It is something to spread.

  On the other hand, the following patent documents disclose such organic EL display devices.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-182779 JP 2001-148292 A

  By the way, in the conventional see-through display, only the screen portion (display portion) for displaying an image is transparent even if it is referred to as see-through, and the periphery (the frame portion) of the display portion includes the above-mentioned patent document. There was no idea of transparency. Also, even if it is desired to make the frame part transparent, many wires drawn to drive the display unit are routed around the screen, and making the frame part transparent is conventional. It was not possible with the device structure. This point will be further described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 9 is a plan view showing an example of a conventional transmissive organic EL display device. FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a peripheral region (frame portion) of the screen (display unit). The left side of the screen periphery centering on the display unit 13 (left side when the display device is viewed from the back side / the same applies hereinafter). Frame region Z1, frame region Z2 on the right side (right side when the display device is viewed from the rear side / the same applies hereinafter), frame region Z3 on the lower side, and frame region Z4 on the upper side are assumed. Further, in the lower frame region Z3, an inverted trapezoidal region sandwiched between the driving IC 15 disposed below the display unit 13 and the lower side of the display unit 13 is a lower central region Z31, and its left and right regions Are defined as a lower left region Z32 and a lower right region Z33, respectively.

As shown in FIG. 9, this display device is a transmissive display device of a passive matrix drive system, and includes an image display unit 13 in which organic EL elements are arranged in a matrix and an IC 15 that drives the display unit 13. This is provided on the glass substrate 12. The display unit 13 has a rectangular planar shape, a plurality of strip-like electrodes (anodes) extending in parallel with each other in the vertical direction (y ₁ -y ₂ direction) in FIG. 9, an organic EL layer including a light emitting layer, A plurality of strip-like electrodes (cathodes) extending in parallel in the left-right direction (x ₁ -x ₂ direction) in FIG. 9 are stacked on the glass substrate 12. As many anodes and cathodes as the number of pixels of the display unit 13 are provided, and an organic EL layer is sandwiched between the electrodes at a portion where the anode and the cathode intersect to form a light emitting unit (pixel).

  In order to make the display unit 13 see-through, for example, both the anode and the cathode may be formed of a light-transmitting conductive film such as ITO (Indium Tin Oxide / Indium Tin Oxide). A metal film that has been thinned until it has translucency and a transparent conductive film such as ITO are laminated, or a metal that has been made thin and transparent as in Patent Document 2 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-148292). Various devices are applied to the cathode in order to provide translucency, such as a composite structure of a film and a metal wire having a large thickness and not translucency but a narrow width. In general, since the cathode is a scanning electrode (common electrode) that performs line-sequential scanning, the electric power is lower than that of the anode (signal electrode (segment electrode) that inputs data in synchronization with the scanning). This is because the resistance value is required.

  The display unit 13 is driven by the IC 15 installed on the glass substrate 12, and a lead wire 42 that electrically connects the driving IC 15 and the anode is drawn from the lower end of the display unit 13 to the lower central region Z 31. The pattern is formed as follows. Similarly, lead wires 43 that electrically connect the cathode and the driving IC 15 are drawn from the left and right edges of the display unit 13 to the left and right frame regions Z1 and Z2. Here, the lead-out wiring 43 connected to the cathode needs to have a low electrical resistance like the cathode (common electrode), and therefore is formed of a low-resistance metal film, and to a certain extent to suppress the electrical resistance. The line width is required. Therefore, in the conventional apparatus, the frame regions Z1 and Z2 on the left and right sides of the display unit cannot be made transparent because light is blocked by the lead-out wirings 43 on the cathode side. Note that the lead-out wiring 42 on the anode side is usually formed of an electrically advantageous (low resistance) metal film.

  As described above, in the conventional display device, all the frame regions Z1 to Z3 except the region Z4 on the upper side of the screen must be opaque, and even if the display unit 13 can be made transparent, the extraction electrode is surrounded so as to surround it. It is inevitable that at least a U-shaped opaque frame (frame portion) due to 42 and 43 is generated. Further, a sealing plate that covers and seals the display unit 13 is generally provided on the surface of the substrate 12, but a frame-like edge 44 of the sealing plate that is bonded to the substrate 12 is provided around the display unit 13. The frame-like edges 44 appear around the screen through the support substrate 12 even if the screen periphery is made transparent.

  On the other hand, if the entire display including the frame area can be made transparent with respect to such a conventional display device, it can be said to be a more complete see-through display, and it has a novel design that surpasses the conventional see-through display in terms of design. It can be applied to various products.

  For example, it is possible to construct a display in which an image or display is raised from a transparent display board, such as a transparent glass plate standing upright, or a mobile phone (a type in which the screen and the phone body are folded in two, The screen (sliding from the main body of the phone), and the entire screen (the lid-like housing including the display) is transparent, and the operation surface of the main body of the phone is provided with dial buttons even when folded or not slid It is also possible to provide a mobile phone with an unprecedented design so that the whole can be seen through. In addition, when various displays are performed on the rear rear side of the see-through display, if the entire front display is transparent, the rear display can be easily viewed.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to realize a see-through display in which not only the display unit but also the outer peripheral part of the display is transparent.

  In order to solve the above problems and achieve the object, the transmissive organic EL display device according to the present invention has translucency and supports a plurality of organic EL elements so as to constitute a pixel. A display unit arranged two-dimensionally on the substrate, a drive unit for driving the display unit, a plurality of first electrodes extending in a first direction parallel to the surface of the support substrate in the display unit, and a display A plurality of second electrodes extending in a second direction parallel to the surface of the support substrate in the section and substantially perpendicular to the first direction, and one or both of the first frame area and the second frame area from the display section And a plurality of first lead wires that electrically connect each of the plurality of first electrodes and the drive unit, and are arranged to be drawn from the display unit to the third frame region, and Each of the plurality of second electrodes and the driving unit A plurality of electrically connected second lead wires, and the organic EL element includes a first electrode, an organic EL layer, and a second electrode so as to sandwich the organic EL layer at the intersection of the first electrode and the second electrode. It is formed by laminating electrodes, and the drive unit is arranged in the third frame region.

  Here, the “frame region” refers to a region around the display unit when viewed from a plane (an outer peripheral portion surrounding the display unit), and the first region of the frame region when viewed from the display unit. An area located on one side in one direction (hereinafter referred to as “first direction”) is referred to as a “first frame area”, and an area located on the other side in the first direction is referred to as a “second frame area”. Each is called. Similarly, a region located on one side of the second direction (hereinafter referred to as “second direction”) when viewed from the display unit is referred to as a “third frame region”.

For example, if the first direction is the left-right direction (the x ₁ -x ₂ direction in FIG. 10), the first frame region is the outer peripheral portion on the left side (or right side) of the display unit around the display unit. It is the left frame region Z1 (or right frame region Z2), and the second frame region is the right frame region Z2 (or left frame region Z1) which is the outer peripheral part on the right side (or left side) of the display unit. In the case of this example, the second direction is the vertical direction when viewing the display unit from a plane (the y ₁ -y ₂ direction in FIG. 10), and the third frame region is the outer periphery on the lower side or upper side of the display unit It becomes a lower frame region Z3 (or an upper frame region Z4) which is a part. In the frame region located on the other side in the second direction (hereinafter, this region is referred to as “fourth frame region”), the lead-out wiring is not arranged, and thus the light-transmitting property is impaired by the lead-out wiring. There is nothing.

  In the first display device of the present invention, the first electrode is a segment electrode, the second electrode is a common electrode, and at least a portion located in the first frame region and the second frame region is the first drawer. The wiring is formed using a light-transmitting conductive material. Thereby, in the display device of the present invention, at least three regions of the outer peripheral portion of the display unit, that is, the first frame region, the second frame region, and the fourth frame region can be translucent. This point will be specifically described with reference to FIGS. 9 to 10 again.

In the conventional apparatus, for example, the apparatus shown in FIG. 9, the frame regions Z1 and Z2 on the left and right sides of the display unit cannot be made transparent because the lead-out wiring 43 on the cathode (common electrode) side is routed. . On the other hand, in the present invention, as described above, the first direction is the left-right direction (x ₁ -x ₂ direction), the first frame region is the left outer peripheral portion Z1 of the display unit 13, and the second frame region is the right outer periphery of the display unit 13. The second frame is the portion Z2 (the second direction is the vertical direction (y ₁ -y ₂ direction) when the display unit 13 is viewed from the plane), and the third frame region is the lower outer peripheral portion Z3 of the display unit 13 In contrast to the conventional device, the common electrode (second electrode) is in the vertical direction (y ₁ -y ₂ direction), and the segment electrode (first electrode) is in the horizontal direction (x ₁ -x ₂ direction). They will be arranged to extend.

  Therefore, on the left and right sides (first and second frame regions) of the display portion, lead wires for connecting the segment electrode and the drive portion are drawn, and the lead wires on the segment electrode side have a lower resistance value than the common electrode side. Since it is not required, it is generally possible to use a transparent conductive material having high electrical resistance but translucency. Therefore, in this invention, the 1st lead-out wiring connected to this segment electrode is formed with the electroconductive material which has translucency, and, thereby, right and left (a 1st frame area | region and a 2nd frame area | region) of a display part are made transparent.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to make the outer peripheral three sides of the display unit (three other frame regions excluding the third frame region in which the drive unit is disposed) transparent. Note that the third frame region in which the drive unit and the second lead wiring for connecting the common electrode (second electrode) and the drive unit are not necessarily translucent, but the frame region is not transparent. However, the portion above (in this example) above the third frame region can be translucent as a whole, and a U-shaped opaque frame portion is unavoidable. Compared with this device, a see-through display that can receive an extremely transparent impression as a whole device can be configured.

  In the present invention, the method for making the display portion see-through is not particularly limited. For example, the first electrode may be formed of a transparent conductive film such as ITO, and the second electrode may be a laminated electrode in which a thin metal film and a transparent conductive film such as ITO are laminated to have translucency. Alternatively, a composite structure of a thin metal film made transparent as described in Patent Document 2 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-148292) and a metal wire having a large film thickness and no light transmission property but a narrow line width may be used. Alternatively, as described later in the embodiment, the second electrode is formed by a narrow metal line so as to pass through a part of the pixel, that is, the first electrode is formed by a transparent conductive film, while the second electrode Display can also be achieved by forming the electrode from a metal material and making the width of the second electrode smaller than the pixel width so that light can be transmitted through the display portion through the portion in the pixel where the second electrode is not disposed. Part see-through is possible. Furthermore, the second electrode may be simply formed of a transparent conductive film similarly to the first electrode, or a known structure other than these may be adopted to make the display portion see-through.

  In addition to ITO, for example, IZO (Indium Zinc Oxide), tin oxide, zinc oxide, or the like can be used as the transparent conductive film.

  The planar shape of the display unit is typically a square (rectangular or square), but is not limited to this shape, and may be a polygon, a circle, an ellipse, or other shapes. The drive unit is typically a drive circuit or an IC including the drive circuit, but is not necessarily limited thereto, and may be a connection means for connecting to the drive circuit. For example, the device of the present invention does not include the drive circuit itself, and can be configured to connect the drive circuit separately.

  The second transmissive organic EL display device of the present invention includes the same display unit, drive unit, first electrode, second electrode, first lead wire and second lead wire as the first display device. The first electrode is a segment electrode and the second electrode is a common electrode, but the means for making the first frame region and the second frame region transparent is different. Specifically, instead of forming the first lead wiring with a transparent conductive film, the first lead wiring is formed of a metal material with low electrical resistance such as aluminum, silver, silver-magnesium alloy, calcium, etc. At least at the line portion of the first lead wiring located in the first frame region and the second frame region, by narrowing the wiring width, a gap between adjacent first lead wires is widened (for example, the interval is set to the first lead wire). Thus, the first frame region and the second frame region are made transparent as a whole.

  Also in the second display device, the first electrode is a segment electrode, and the electric resistance value of the first lead-out line led out to the first frame region and the second frame region is common as in the first display device. Low resistance is not required compared to the electrode side. Therefore, the first lead wiring is formed of the metal material generally having a lower resistance than that of the transparent conductive film, while the wiring is thinned (the line width is narrowed) so that light can be transmitted between the lead wirings.

  Furthermore, in each of the first and second display devices of the present invention, a sealing plate that covers the surface of the display unit, and a light-transmitting material that is interposed between the sealing plate and the support substrate. An adhesive layer for fixing the sealing plate may be provided, and the sealing plate may be a translucent flat plate member. Further, in this case, a sealing film that is made of a material having airtightness and translucency and is interposed between the sealing plate and the support substrate at least around the display portion and seals the display portion is provided. is there.

  Organic EL materials are generally susceptible to moisture, and if exposed to the open air, the light emitting element will deteriorate and adversely affect display quality and device life. Therefore, organic EL display devices require a sealing structure that covers the display section. It becomes. In general, a sealing plate provided in a conventional apparatus forms a space for accommodating a display portion inside, and is attached to the support substrate by lowering the edge part over the entire circumference in order to fix it to the surface of the support substrate. It has a shape with a frame-like edge. And an adhesive agent is apply | coated to this edge part and a sealing board is fixed to the surface of a support substrate.

  However, the conventional sealing plate is flat in the region overlapping the display unit when viewed from the front as described above, and the presence of the sealing plate is not noticeable, but the edge portion has a frame-shaped step as described above. In addition, since the adhesive is applied to the substrate and fixed to the substrate, the frame can be seen around the display unit when the see-through display is configured (see the frame 44 in FIG. 9).

  Therefore, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the sealing plate is a flat plate member (for example, a flat glass plate or a resin plate) having no frame-like step. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the frame as described above from being seen, and to make the edge of the sealing plate inconspicuous. A light-transmitting adhesive layer may be interposed between the sealing plate and the support substrate, and the sealing plate may be fixed to the support substrate. Furthermore, in order to prevent outside air from entering the display unit through the gap between the sealing plate and the support substrate from the periphery of the sealing plate, as described above, between the sealing plate and the support substrate around the display unit. It is preferable to provide a sealing film that is interposed between and seals the display portion.

  This sealing film can be formed of, for example, silicon oxide, silicon nitride oxide, silicon nitride, silicon oxide carbide, and aluminum oxide. The adhesive layer may be formed of, for example, an ultraviolet curable resin having translucency after curing such as acrylic or epoxy.

  According to the present invention, a transparent see-through display can be realized in which not only the display unit but also the outer peripheral part of the display is transparent.

  Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments of the present invention described with reference to the drawings. In addition, in each figure, the same code | symbol shows the same or an equivalent part.

FIG. 1 is a plan view schematically showing a transmissive organic EL display device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing a cross-sectional structure (cross section AA in FIG. 1) of the transmissive organic EL display device according to the embodiment. FIG. 3 is an enlarged plan view schematically showing the transmissive organic EL display device (B portion) according to the embodiment (the organic EL layer, the planarizing film above the cathode, the sealing film, the adhesive layer, and the like). The sealing plate is not shown). FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing an enlarged cross-sectional structure (cross-section CC in FIG. 1) of the transmissive organic EL display device according to the embodiment. FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically showing a cross-sectional structure (cross section A1-A1 in FIG. 3) of the transmissive organic EL display device according to the embodiment. FIG. 6 is an enlarged plan view showing a part of the anode lead-out line led out to the right frame region of the display unit in the transmissive organic EL display device according to the embodiment. FIG. 7 is an enlarged plan view (corresponding to FIG. 6) showing another configuration example of the anode side lead-out line led out to the right frame region of the display unit in the transmissive organic EL display device according to the embodiment. FIG. 8A is a diagram illustrating a usage example of the transmission organic EL display device according to the embodiment. FIG. 8B is a diagram showing another example of use of the transmissive organic EL display device according to the embodiment. FIG. 9 is a plan view showing an example of a conventional transmissive organic EL display device. FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the surrounding area (frame portion) of the screen (display unit).

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, a transmissive organic EL display device 11 according to an embodiment of the present invention has a light-transmitting flat glass substrate (hereinafter, simply referred to as “substrate”) 12. An organic EL display unit (hereinafter referred to as “display unit”) 13 formed on the surface of the glass substrate 12, a sealing plate 14 covering the upper surface of the display unit 13 (the back side of the display device 11), and a display unit An IC (Integrated Circuit) 15 for driving 13 and an FPC (Flexible Printed Circuit Board) 16 connected to the IC 15, and a planarizing film between the display unit 13 and the sealing plate 14 30, a sealing film 31, and an adhesive layer 32.

The display unit 13 displays a plurality of organic EL elements constituting the pixel two-dimensionally, that is, in the left-right direction (x ₁ -x ₂ direction in FIGS. 1 and 3) and up and down so that an image can be displayed. And arranged in a matrix in the direction (y ₁ -y ₂ direction in FIGS. 1 and 3), as shown in an enlarged view in FIGS. It forms by laminating | stacking the insulating film 24 which electrically insulates the anode 21 which fits together, the organic EL layer 22 containing a light emitting layer, and the cathode 23 in order. The display device 11 of this embodiment is a bottom emission type that emits display light downward (to the glass substrate 12 side) in FIGS. 2, 4, and 5, and the display unit 13 is a passive matrix type using an IC 15. Driven.

The anode 21 is a segment electrode that inputs signals in synchronization with line sequential scanning by the cathode 23, and is formed of ITO. The anodes 21 are provided in a number corresponding to the number of pixels, and are arranged in parallel with each other in a stripe shape so as to extend in the left-right direction (first direction / x ₁ -x ₂ direction) on the substrate 12. Further, lead wires 17 are connected to the respective end portions of the anodes 21, and these lead wires 17 are connected to the left and right outer peripheral portions (left frame region Z 1 or right frame region Z 2 shown in FIG. 10) of the display unit 13. It is arranged so as to be pulled out from the frame, and is drawn to the lower frame area Z3 to be connected to the driving IC 15.

Similarly, the lead wire 18 is connected to the end portion of the cathode 23 described later, so that the IC 15 and the cathode 23 can be electrically connected to each other from the lower side (end side on the y ₁ side) of the display unit 13. The lead-out wiring 18 is patterned so as to be drawn out to the side frame region Z3 (lower center frame region Z31), and the cathode 23 is connected thereto.

  The lead-out wiring 17 on the anode side is formed of a transparent conductive film (in this example, ITO like the anode). This is to make the left and right frame regions Z1, Z2 of the display device 11 transparent. As shown in an enlarged view in FIG. 6, it is necessary to provide a large number of lead wires 17 corresponding to the number of pixels and the space for drawing them is limited. In the conventional display device, these lead wires 17 have a low resistance. Therefore, the width W2 of the lead wiring is wide and the interval S2 between the wires must be narrowed. As described above, the left and right frame regions Z1 and Z2 are seen through. It was not possible. On the other hand, in the apparatus of this embodiment, the segment electrode (anode 21) is arranged so as to extend in the left-right direction, and the lead-out wiring 17 connected to the segment electrode is formed of a light-transmitting conductive film (ITO). The left and right frame regions Z1 and Z2 shown in FIG. 10 can be made transparent.

  These lead wires 17 may be formed of a transparent conductive film for at least the line portion located in the left frame region Z1 or the right frame region Z2, and the lower frame region Z3 (lower left region Z32 and lower right region Z33). May be a wiring made of a metal film. On the other hand, if the whole anode side lead-out wiring 17 is formed of a transparent conductive film, the lower left region Z32 and the lower right region Z33 of the lower frame region Z3 can be made transparent.

  The lead-out wiring 17 on the anode side can be formed of a metal film having a narrow width W3 as shown in FIG. 7 instead of using a transparent conductive film as described above. By reducing the wiring width W3, the space S3 between the adjacent lead wires 17b can be increased (preferably the space S3 between the lead wires 17b is equal to or greater than the width W3 of the wire 17b). The areas Z1 and Z2 can be made transparent. Further, as a metal material for forming the lead-out wiring 17b on the anode side, for example, aluminum, silver, a silver-magnesium alloy, calcium or the like can be used, and a single layer or a plurality of layers of these metals or alloys are used. The lead wiring 17b can be configured.

  The insulating film 24 that insulates between the anodes 21 includes a pixel opening 24a having a substantially square planar shape. Further, the insulating film 24 has translucency, in particular, has a high transmittance in the visible light region (the transmittance is 80% or more in the visible light region) and is as close as possible to colorless and transparent. Is preferred. According to such an insulating film 24, light can be transmitted not only in the peripheral region of the cathode 23 described later but also in the region where the insulating film 24 is formed, so that the translucency of the display unit 13 is improved and the see-through display is formed. Function can be enhanced. In addition, the insulating film 24 is assumed to have a resistance value that is higher than the level at which the current leaking between the adjacent anodes 21 does not affect the display quality. Such an insulating film 24 is formed of, for example, an inorganic compound mainly composed of silicon oxide, silicon oxynitride, silicon nitride, aluminum oxide, tantalum oxide, an acrylic resin, a novolac resin, a polyimide resin, a polycycloolefin resin, or the like. Is possible.

On the insulating film 24, a plurality of partition walls (element separators) 25 made of the same insulating material as the insulating film 24 are provided. These partition walls (element separators) 25 pass in the second direction (parallel to each other so as to pass between adjacent pixel openings 24a and pixel openings 24a in the first direction (left-right direction / x ₁ -x ₂ direction). The organic EL layer 22 is separated for pixels adjacent in the first direction (x ₁ -x ₂ direction) by extending in the vertical direction / y ₁ -y ₂ direction and projecting to a position above the upper surface of the cathode 23 described later. At the same time, it serves as a spacer that prevents the mask used when forming the cathode 23 from directly touching the organic EL layer 22.

  The organic EL layer 22 is made of an organic material that has translucency and is substantially colorless and transparent when formed. This is to eliminate the influence on the light transmitted through the display unit 13 as much as possible and enhance the function as a see-through display. Such an organic EL layer 22 includes, for example, α-NPD (Bis [N- (1-naphthyl) -N-pheny] benzidine / hole transport layer) and Alq3 (trisquinolinato aluminum doped with rubrene). (Tris (8-hydroxyquinoline) aluminum) / light emitting layer), Alq3 (electron transport layer), and lithium fluoride (electron injection layer) are formed on the anode 21 in this order. I can do it.

  In addition to the above, the laminated structure and materials used for the organic EL layer 22 may be various. For example, the organic EL layer 22 may have a five-layer 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 sequentially stacked, or a three-layer structure in which the injection layer and the transport layer are combined. It is also possible to adopt a structure (a hole transport layer, a light emitting layer, and an electron transport layer) and other structures. In addition to the above, various materials can be used for the materials used for each layer constituting the organic EL layer 22.

A cathode 23 is disposed on the organic EL layer 22. The cathodes 23 serve as scanning electrodes (common electrodes), and are provided in a number corresponding to the number of pixels in parallel with each other in a striped manner like the anode 21. However, these cathodes 23 extend in the vertical direction (second direction / y ₁ -y ₂ direction) when seen from the plane, and therefore each cathode 23 is orthogonal to the anode 21. Further, in the present embodiment, each cathode 23 has a width dimension W1 narrower than the width W of the pixel opening 24a, and the organic EL layer together with the anode 21 crosses the substantially center position of the pixel region (pixel opening 24a). The organic EL layer 22 is disposed on the upper surface so that 22 is sandwiched therebetween. In other words, the cathode 23 is disposed so as to cross a pair of opposing sides of the pixel and has a width W1 smaller than the length W of the side. A portion sandwiched between the cathode 23 and the anode 21 is a light emitting region.

  Further, the periphery of the cathode 23 is the substrate 12, the anode 21, the organic EL layer 22, the planarization film 30 (details will be described later / the same applies to the sealing film 31, the adhesive layer 32, and the sealing plate 14), and the sealing film Since all of 31, the adhesive layer 32, and the sealing plate 14 have translucency, they become a see-through region where light can be transmitted. The ratio between the see-through area and the light emitting area in which the cathode 23 is arranged may be determined according to the use or usage of the display device 11 and only by changing the width dimension W1 of the cathode 23. The transmittance of the display unit 13 can be set freely and easily.

  As a constituent material of the cathode 23, for example, aluminum, silver, or a silver-magnesium alloy may be used. Further, each cathode 23 is electrically connected at its end (lower end) to a cathode-side lead wiring 18 formed so as to be drawn out to the lower frame region Z3 (lower central frame region Z31).

  On the cathode 23, a planarizing film 30 that planarizes the surface of the display unit 13 and a sealing film 31 that covers and seals the display unit 13 are sequentially stacked. The planarizing film 30 and the sealing film 31 are translucent, cover the entire display unit 13 with the sealing film 31, and cover the display unit 13 (especially through the gap between the sealing plate 14 and the substrate 12). ) Prevent outside air from entering. As a material of the sealing film 31, for example, silicon oxide, silicon nitride oxide, silicon nitride, silicon oxide carbide, aluminum oxide, or the like can be used. Further, in order to improve the moisture barrier property, the sealing film 31 can have a multilayer film structure in which polysilazane or the like is applied on a silicon oxide or silicon nitride oxide film, for example. The planarizing film may be formed of, for example, acrylic, epoxy, polyolefin, novolac, polyimide resin, or inorganic material.

  Then, the sealing plate 14 is fixed on the sealing film 31 through the adhesive layer 32. The sealing plate 14 is formed of a light-transmitting flat plate member made of, for example, glass or resin, and has substantially the same size as the glass substrate 12 in the left and right frame regions Z1 and Z2 and the upper frame region Z4 (both left and right frames). The edge and the upper edge overlap the left and right edges and the upper edge of the glass substrate 12, respectively).

  As described above, according to the apparatus 11 of the present embodiment, the sealing plate 14 is made of a flat plate member, and the left and right and upper edges thereof are arranged so as to substantially overlap the edges of the glass substrate 12. The edge is not conspicuous, and the frame 44 (see FIG. 9) at the periphery of the sealing plate does not appear clearly around the display unit 13 as in the conventional device, and the periphery of the display unit 13 (the left and right frame region Z1). , Z2 and the upper frame area Z4) can be made more transparent. Further, since the display unit 13 is protected from the outside air by the sealing film 31 and the sealing plate 14, it is not necessary to provide a desiccant inside the sealing plate as in the conventional device. It is also possible to reduce the size.

  The sealing plate 14 is bonded to the sealing film 31 and the glass substrate 12 by the adhesive layer 32. The adhesive layer 32 may be formed of a light-transmitting material like the planarizing film 30 and the sealing film 31, for example, an ultraviolet curable resin such as acrylic or epoxy.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to these, It is clear to those skilled in the art that a various change can be made within the range as described in a claim. .

For example, in the embodiment, the first direction is the left-right direction and the second direction is the up-down direction. Conversely, the first direction may be the up-down direction and the second direction may be the left-right direction. 8A and 8B exemplify the usage mode of the display device of the present invention. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 8A, the first direction is the vertical direction (y ₁ -y ₂ direction), and the second with the direction left-right direction (x ₁ -x ₂ direction), (lower frame area Z3 of the display unit 13) first frame region, (the upper frame area Z4 of the display portion 13) the second frame region and the fourth The frame area (the left frame area Z1 of the display unit 13) is made transparent.

  In FIG. 8A, the display device is viewed from the display surface side (glass substrate side) contrary to FIGS. 1 and 10, and therefore the left and right sides are reversed from those of FIGS. The region Z1 is on the right side, and the right frame region Z2 is on the left side (the same applies to FIG. 8B described later). In this example, the third frame region (the right frame region Z2) is used as a portion that supports the display device (for example, a portion embedded in the structure 1 such as a wall or other device housing). According to the invention, for example, it is possible to realize a display device in which the entire display portion protruding from the structure 1 (the right side portion from the third frame region Z2) is made see-through.

  FIG. 8B shows an example in which the display device of the present invention is used as a display of a portable terminal (mobile phone). In this example, the first frame region (the frame region Z1 on the left side of the display unit 13 when viewed from the back side) is set with the first direction being the left-right direction and the second direction being the vertical direction, as in the embodiment shown in FIG. The second frame region (right frame region Z2 of the display unit 13) and the fourth frame region (upper frame region Z4 of the display unit 13) were made transparent. Further, the third frame region (the lower frame region Z3 of the display unit 13) in which the drive unit 15 and the lead-out wiring 18 on the cathode 23 (scanning electrode) side are arranged is used as the joint 10a of the terminal main body unit 10. A mobile phone in which the entire display unit above the joint 10a is transparent can be configured based on the present invention.

  The mobile terminal shown in FIG. 8B is a so-called foldable mobile phone in which the display unit is foldable with respect to the terminal main body unit 10. However, the mobile terminal can be opened and closed by sliding the display unit. Similarly, the display device of the present invention can be used for a portable terminal. Furthermore, the present invention can be applied to various electronic devices provided with a display other than a portable terminal.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Transmission type organic electroluminescence display device 12 Glass substrate 13 Organic electroluminescence display part 14 Sealing board 15 IC for drive
16 FPC
17, 17a, 17b, 42 Lead wiring on the anode (segment electrode) side 18, 43 Lead wiring on the cathode (common electrode) side 21 Anode (ITO)
22 Organic EL layer 23 Cathode 24 Insulating film 25 Partition (element separator)
30 Flattening film 31 Sealing film 32 Adhesive layer 44 Frame-like edge portion of sealing plate

Claims (6)

A display unit having a light-transmitting property and a plurality of organic EL elements arranged in a two-dimensional manner on a light-transmitting support substrate so as to constitute a pixel;
A drive unit for driving the display unit;
A plurality of first electrodes extending in a first direction parallel to the surface of the support substrate in the display unit;
A plurality of second electrodes extending in a second direction parallel to the surface of the support substrate and substantially orthogonal to the first direction in the display unit;
The periphery of the display unit when viewed from a plane is referred to as a frame region, and a region located outside the display unit and on one side in the first direction is the first frame region, A region located outside the display unit and on the other side in the first direction is a second frame region, and a region located outside the display unit and on one side in the second direction is a third frame region. Each of the plurality of first electrodes and the drive unit are arranged so as to be drawn from the display unit to one or both of the first frame region and the second frame region. A plurality of first lead wires to be connected to each other,
A plurality of second lead wires arranged so as to be drawn from the display unit to the third frame region and electrically connecting each of the plurality of second electrodes and the drive unit;
With
The organic EL element is formed by laminating the first electrode, the organic EL layer, and the second electrode so as to sandwich the organic EL layer at the intersection of the first electrode and the second electrode. ,
The drive unit is a transmissive organic EL display device arranged in the third frame region,
The first electrode is a segment electrode,
The second electrode is a common electrode,
While the first lead wire is formed of a metal material, at least a line portion of the first lead wire located in the first frame region and the second frame region is opened with a gap between adjacent first lead wires. The transmissive organic EL display device is characterized in that the first frame region and the second frame region have translucency as a whole. The line portion of the first lead wire positioned in the second frame region and the first frame area, the spacing between the first lead wire adjacent, claim 1 was above the line width of the first lead wire Transmissive organic EL display device. While the first electrode is formed of a light-transmitting conductive material,
The second electrode is formed of a metal material, and
The transmission type according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the width of the second electrode is made smaller than the pixel width so that light can be transmitted through the display portion through a portion in the pixel where the second electrode is not disposed. Organic EL display device. A sealing plate covering the surface of the display unit;
An adhesive layer that has translucency and is interposed between the sealing plate and the support substrate to fix the sealing plate;
The transmissive organic EL display device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the sealing plate is made of a flat plate member having translucency. A sealing film which is made of a material having airtightness and translucency and which is interposed between the sealing plate and the support substrate at least around the display portion and seals the display portion. 4. The transmission type organic EL display device according to 4. A terminal body,
A portable terminal comprising: a display unit including a display device that is foldably openable and closable with respect to the terminal main body unit;
Wherein a display device, a mobile terminal having a transmissive organic EL display device according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

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