JP6881566B2 - Surface light emitting device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a surface light emitting device using an organic EL element.

The surface light emitting device is a light emitting device having a function of a surface light source. An organic EL lighting device is known as an example of a surface light emitting device.

There is an organic EL lighting device having a touch detection function. According to this, the user can perform various operations (for example, lighting on / off operation) by touching the lighting panel.

As an organic EL lighting device having a touch detection function, for example, there is an organic electroluminescence module disclosed in Patent Document 1. It has a capacitance type touch detection circuit unit and a light emitting element drive circuit unit having a light emitting element drive circuit unit for driving the organic electroluminescence panel, and the organic electroluminescence panel is located at an internal facing position. The pair of electrodes are connected to the light emitting element drive circuit unit, and one of the pair of electrodes is a touch detection electrode, and the touch detection electrode is the touch. It is connected to the detection circuit unit.

According to the technique of Patent Document 1, one of a pair of planar electrodes constituting an organic electroluminescence panel (illumination panel) is used as a touch detection electrode (hereinafter, detection electrode). As a result, it is not necessary to newly provide a detection electrode, and it is possible to achieve a thin lighting panel.

Patent Document 1 is a type of organic EL lighting apparatus composed of an organic EL element having a structure in which an electrode layer, an organic layer, and an electrode layer are laminated. In addition to this type, there is a type of organic EL lighting device having a structure in which a plurality of organic EL elements are laminated in order to increase the amount of light emitted. When the technique of Patent Document 1 is applied to the latter type as it is, the present inventor causes the current supplied by the touch sensor to the detection electrode (current used for touch detection) to become too large, thereby making a normal touch sensor. Found that it cannot be used. In a normal touch sensor, the current used for touch detection is, for example, about several mA.

Therefore, there is a demand for a surface light emitting device capable of performing touch detection without the current used for touch detection becoming too large, while having a structure in which a plurality of organic EL elements are laminated.

International Publication No. 2015/182001

An object of the present invention is to provide a surface light emitting device having a structure in which a plurality of organic EL elements are laminated and a touch detection function, and capable of performing touch detection without the current used for touch detection becoming too large.

In order to realize the above-mentioned object, the surface light emitting device reflecting one aspect of the present invention includes a transparent base material having a touch surface, a plurality of organic EL elements, a touch sensor, and a first control unit. .. The plurality of organic EL elements are composed of a plurality of the electrode layers and a plurality of the organic layers in which electrode layers and organic layers are alternately arranged on the opposite side of the touch surface of the transparent base material. , Are connected in series. The touch sensor uses any one of the plurality of electrode layers as a detection electrode to detect a change in capacitance. During the detection period by the touch sensor, the first control unit controls each of the plurality of electrode layers other than the electrode layer used as the detection electrode to the same potential as the detection electrode.

The advantages and features provided by one or more embodiments of the invention are fully understood from the detailed description and accompanying drawings provided below. These detailed descriptions and accompanying drawings are given by way of example only and are not intended as a limited definition of the present invention.

It is sectional drawing of the surface light emitting device which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a circuit block diagram of the surface light emitting device which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a waveform diagram which shows the waveform of the voltage applied to each electrode layer during the detection period of the surface light emitting device which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing explaining the state of each electrode layer during the detection period in each of 1st Embodiment, the modified example 1, the modified example 2, and the modified example 3. It is explanatory drawing explaining each period which occurs in the modification of 1st Embodiment. It is a circuit block diagram of the surface light emitting device which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a waveform diagram which shows the waveform of the voltage applied to each electrode layer during the detection period of the surface light emitting device which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a circuit block diagram of the surface light emitting device which concerns on the modification of 2nd Embodiment. It is sectional drawing of the surface light emitting device which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. It is an equivalent circuit diagram of the organic EL element provided in the surface light emitting device which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. It is a circuit block diagram of the surface light emitting device which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing explaining the state of each electrode layer during the detection period in each of the 3rd Embodiment, the modified example 1, the modified example 2, and the modified example 3. It is sectional drawing of the surface light emitting device which concerns on 4th Embodiment. It is an equivalent circuit diagram of the organic EL element provided in the surface light emitting device which concerns on 4th Embodiment. It is a circuit block diagram of the surface light emitting device which concerns on 4th Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing explaining the state of each electrode layer during the detection period in each of the 4th Embodiment, the modified example 1, the modified example 2, and the modified example 3. It is a circuit block diagram of the surface light emitting device which concerns on a comparative example. It is a waveform diagram which shows the waveform of the voltage applied to each electrode layer during the detection period of the surface light emitting device which concerns on a comparative example. It is a schematic block diagram which shows an example of the smart device which provided the surface light emitting device of this invention in the icon part.

Hereinafter, one or more embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the scope of the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments.

In each figure, the configurations with the same reference numerals indicate that they are the same configuration, and the description of the configurations already described will be omitted. In the present specification, when they are collectively referred to, they are indicated by reference numerals without subscripts (for example, electrode layer 3), and when they refer to individual configurations, they are indicated by reference numerals with subscripts (for example, electrode layer 3). -1).

As described above, when the technique of Patent Document 1 is applied as it is to the structure in which a plurality of organic EL elements are laminated, the current supplied by the touch sensor to the detection electrode (current used for touch detection) becomes too large. This will be described with reference to a comparative example. The cross-sectional structure of the surface light emitting device according to the comparative example is the same as the cross-sectional structure of the surface light emitting device 1-1 according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. Therefore, the cross-sectional structure of the surface light emitting device according to the comparative example will be briefly described with reference to FIG. The electrode layer 3-1, the organic layer 4-1 and the electrode layer 3-2, the organic layer 4-2, and the electrode layer 3-3 are laminated in this order on one surface 2a of the transparent base material 2. The electrode layer 3-1, the organic layer 4-1 and the electrode layer 3-2 constitute an organic EL element 5-1. The organic EL element 5-2 is composed of the electrode layer 3-2, the organic layer 4-2, and the electrode layer 3-3. Therefore, the organic EL element 5-1 and the organic EL element 5-2 are laminated on one surface 2a of the transparent base material 2, and these are connected in series.

FIG. 17 is a circuit configuration diagram of a surface light emitting device according to a comparative example. The organic EL element 5-1 and the organic EL element 5-2 are connected in series. C1 is the parasitic capacitance of the organic EL element 5-1. C2 is the parasitic capacitance of the organic EL element 5-2.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 17, the surface light emitting device according to the comparative example includes a touch sensor 10. The touch sensor 10 includes a detection circuit 8 connected to the electrode layer 3-1. During the detection period in which the touch sensor 10 detects a touch, the electrode layer 3-1 is used as a detection electrode. The touch surface that the finger F touches is the other surface 2b of the transparent base material 2. Cf is the capacitance generated when the finger F approaches or comes into contact with the transparent base material 2.

FIG. 18 is a waveform diagram showing the waveform of the voltage applied to each electrode layer 3 during the detection period of the surface light emitting device according to the comparative example. The waveform W1 is a waveform of the voltage applied to the anode (electrode layer 3-1) of the organic EL element 5-1. The anode (electrode layer 3-1) of the organic EL element 5-1 is used as a detection electrode. The waveform W1 is generated by the pulse output from the detection circuit 8. When the pulse is at H level, a charging current flows through the capacitance Cf, and the detection circuit 8 detects a change in the capacitance Cf based on this charging current. The frequency of the pulse is usually several megahertz.

The capacitance Cf is usually several pF. On the other hand, when the parasitic capacitances C1 and C2 are large, they are about 1 μF. The parasitic capacitance C1 is connected to the capacitance Cf. Therefore, when the charging current flows through the parasitic capacitance C1, the charging current supplied to the detection circuit 8 becomes too small, and the detection circuit 8 cannot measure the charging current. Therefore, in the technique of Patent Document 1, the anode (electrode layer 3-1) of the organic EL element 5-1 and the cathode (electrode layer 3-2) of the organic EL element 5-1 are controlled to have the same potential, and the parasitic capacitance is controlled. The discharge current is prevented from flowing through C1 (note that the organic electroluminescence module disclosed in Patent Document 1 does not include the organic EL element 5-2). When the technique of Patent Document 1 is applied to a comparative example, it becomes as follows.

The waveform W2 is a waveform of the voltage applied to the cathode (electrode layer 3-2) of the organic EL element 5-1 and the anode (electrode layer 3-2) of the organic EL element 5-2. The waveform W2 has the same amplitude and phase as the waveform W1. The waveform W2 is generated by a pulse output from a pulse generation circuit (not shown). Since the waveform W2 has the same amplitude and phase as the waveform W1, the anode (electrode layer 3-1) of the organic EL element 5-1 and the cathode (electrode layer 3-2) of the organic EL element 5-1 have the same potential. It becomes. Therefore, no discharge current flows through the parasitic capacitance C1.

In the touch detection technique, it is generally said that the conductive member around the detection electrode is preferably grounded (GND) in order to reduce the influence of noise. As described above, since the electrode layer 3-2 cannot be grounded, in the modified example, the cathode (electrode layer 3-3) of the organic EL element 5-2 is grounded.

However, the present inventor has found that when the cathode (electrode layer 3-3) of the organic EL element 5-2 is grounded, the current required for charging / discharging the capacitance Cf becomes too large. For example, the parasitic capacitance C2 is 1 μF, the amplitude of the pulse output by the detection circuit 8 is 2 V, and the frequency of this pulse is 1 MHz. In this case, the current required for charging / discharging the capacitance Cf is 2A. This is theoretically possible, but the touch sensor 10 using such a large current is not realistic.

The embodiment is an improvement of the comparative example described above. Embodiments include a first embodiment to a fourth embodiment. The first embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional structural view of the surface light emitting device 1-1 according to the first embodiment. The surface light emitting device 1-1 includes a transparent base material 2, an electrode layer 3-1 and an organic layer 4-1 and an electrode layer 3-2, an organic layer 4-2, and an electrode layer 3-3. Be prepared. The electrode layer 3-1, the organic layer 4-1 and the electrode layer 3-2, the organic layer 4-2, and the electrode layer 3-3 are laminated in this order on one surface 2a of the transparent base material 2. The other surface 2b of the transparent base material 2 serves as a touch surface. The transparent base material 2 is a member having a touch surface. A finger F is shown above the other surface 2b. The transparent base material 2 may have a single-layer structure (for example, a transparent glass substrate) or a multilayer structure (for example, a structure in which a transparent glass substrate and a transparent film are laminated).

The electrode layer 3-1, the organic layer 4-1 and the electrode layer 3-2 constitute an organic EL element 5-1. The organic EL element 5-2 is composed of the electrode layer 3-2, the organic layer 4-2, and the electrode layer 3-3. Therefore, the organic EL element 5-1 and the organic EL element 5-2 are laminated on one surface 2a of the transparent base material 2, and these are connected in series. Although the case where the number of layers of the organic EL element 5 is 2 is described as an example, the number of layers is not limited to 2, and may be a plurality. As described above, in the surface light emitting device 1-1, a plurality of electrode layers in which the electrode layers 3 and the organic layers 4 are alternately arranged on the other surface 2b (touch surface) side of the transparent base material 2 are arranged. A plurality of organic EL elements 5 composed of 3 and a plurality of organic layers 4 and connected in series are provided.

The organic layer 4 has, for example, 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 laminated. The emission color of the light emitting layer provided in the organic layer 4-1 and the emission color of the light emitting layer provided in the organic layer 4-2 may be the same or different.

The electrode layer 3-1 is a transparent electrode formed directly on one surface 2a of the transparent base material 2. The electrode layer 3-1 serves as an anode of the organic EL element 5-1.

The electrode layer 3-2 is a transparent electrode, which serves as a cathode of the organic EL element 5-1 and an anode of the organic EL element 5-2. The organic EL element 5-1 and the organic EL element 5-2 are connected in series with the electrode layer 3-2 as a common electrode.

The electrode layer 3-3 is a metal electrode and serves as a cathode for the organic EL element 5-2.

The voltage applied to the electrode layer 3-1 and the electrode layer 3-2 causes the light emitting layer contained in the organic layer 4-1 to emit light, and the voltage applied to the electrode layer 3-2 and the electrode layer 3-3. As a result, the light emitting layers contained in the organic layer 4-2 emit light, and the light L from these light emitting layers is emitted via the transparent base material 2.

FIG. 2 is a circuit configuration diagram of the surface light emitting device 1-1 according to the first embodiment. The surface light emitting device 1-1 includes an organic EL element 5-1, 5-2, an overall control unit 6, a drive circuit 7-1, 7-2, a detection circuit 8, and a pulse generation circuit 9-1, 9 -2 and switches SW1 to SW7. C1 is the parasitic capacitance of the organic EL element 5-1. C2 is the parasitic capacitance of the organic EL element 5-2. Cf is the capacitance generated when the finger F approaches or comes into contact with the transparent base material 2 (FIG. 1).

The overall control unit 6 controls the entire surface light emitting device 1-1, and specifically, the drive circuits 7-1 and 7-2, the detection circuit 8, the pulse generation circuits 9-1, 9-2, and the like. Controls switches SW1 to SW7. The overall control unit 6 is realized by hardware (CPU (Central Processing Unit), RAM (Random Access Memory), ROM (Read Only Memory), etc.), software, and the like.

The drive circuit 7-1 is a circuit that controls the operation of the organic EL element 5-1. This control includes on / off control of the organic EL element 5-1 and control of the magnitude of the forward voltage / current applied to the organic EL element 5-1. The drive circuit 7-1 includes a power supply circuit (for example, a DCDC converter) that generates the forward voltage.

The positive terminal of the drive circuit 7-1 is connected to the anode of the organic EL element 5-1 via the switch SW2. The negative terminal of the drive circuit 7-1 is connected to the cathode of the organic EL element 5-1 via the switch SW3.

The drive circuit 7-2 is a circuit that controls the operation of the organic EL element 5-2. This control includes on / off control of the organic EL element 5-2, control of the magnitude of the forward voltage / current applied to the organic EL element 5-2, and the like. The drive circuit 7-2 includes a power supply circuit (for example, a DCDC converter) that generates the forward voltage.

The positive terminal of the drive circuit 7-2 is connected to the anode of the organic EL element 5-2 via the switch SW4. The negative terminal of the drive circuit 7-2 is connected to the cathode of the organic EL element 5-2 via the switch SW5.

The detection circuit 8 is connected to the anode of the organic EL element 5-1 via the switch SW1. This anode is the electrode layer 3-1 shown in FIG. The electrode layer 3-1 is the electrode layer 3 closest to the transparent base material 2. The touch sensor 10 is composed of the detection circuit 8 and the electrode layer 3-1. The electrode layer 3-1 is used as a detection electrode of the touch sensor 10. The detection circuit 8 generates a predetermined pulse to be applied to the detection electrode (electrode layer 3-1). A given pulse has, for example, an amplitude of 2 V and a frequency of several megahertz.

The pulse generation circuit 9-1 is connected to the cathode of the organic EL element 5-1 and the anode of the organic EL element 5-2 via the switch SW6. The pulse generation circuit 9-2 is connected to the cathode of the organic EL element 5-2 via the switch SW7. The pulse generation circuit 9 is an example of a voltage generation unit. The voltage generation unit is connected to at least one electrode layer other than the electrode layer used as the detection electrode among the plurality of electrode layers 3, and applies a voltage having the same potential as the detection electrode to the connected electrode layers. ..

The switches SW1 to SW7 are, for example, transistors. By controlling the switches SW1 to SW7, the overall control unit 6 controls to alternately repeat the light emission period and the detection period. The light emitting period is a period during which the organic EL element 5 is made to emit light. The detection period is a period during which the touch sensor 10 detects a touch. The organic EL element 5 does not emit light during the detection period. The touch sensor 10 does not detect touch during the light emitting period. The overall control unit 6 repeats the light emission period and the detection period at a frequency of, for example, several tens of hertz or more. As a result, it looks like continuous light emission to a person, and touch detection is always possible.

A third control unit is configured by the overall control unit 6 and switches SW1 to SW7. The third control unit controls to alternately generate the detection period and the light emission period.

The operation of the surface light emitting device 1-1 according to the first embodiment during the light emitting period will be described. With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the overall control unit 6 turns on the switches SW2, SW3, SW4, and SW5 and turns off the switches SW1, SW6, and SW7 during the light emitting period. As a result, the DC voltage output from the drive circuit 7-1 is applied to the anode (electrode layer 3-1) of the organic EL element 5-1 and the cathode (electrode layer 3-2) of the organic EL element 5-1. Then, the organic EL element 5-1 emits light, and the DC voltage output from the drive circuit 7-2 is the anode (electrode layer 3-2) of the organic EL element 5-2 and the cathode of the organic EL element 5-2. The organic EL element 5-2 emits light when applied to (electrode layer 3-3). By these light emission, the surface light emitting device 1-1 emits light L.

The operation of the surface light emitting device 1-1 according to the first embodiment during the detection period will be described. With reference to FIG. 2, the overall control unit 6 turns off the switches SW2, SW3, SW4, and SW5 and turns on the switches SW1, SW6, and SW7 during the detection period. FIG. 3 is a waveform diagram showing the waveform of the voltage applied to each electrode layer 3 shown in FIG. 1 during the detection period of the surface light emitting device 1-1 according to the first embodiment. The difference from the waveform diagram shown in FIG. 18 is that the waveform W3 is added. Since the waveform W1 and the waveform W2 have been described in the comparative example, the description thereof will be omitted. The waveform W2 is generated by the pulse output from the pulse generation circuit 9-1.

With reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, the waveform W3 is a waveform of the voltage applied to the cathode (electrode layer 3-3) of the organic EL element 5-2. The waveform W3 has the same amplitude and phase as the waveform W2. Therefore, the waveform W1, the waveform W2, and the waveform W3 have the same amplitude and phase. The waveform W3 is generated by the pulse output from the pulse generation circuit 9-2. Since the waveform W3 has the same amplitude and phase as the waveform W2, the anode (electrode layer 3-2) of the organic EL element 5-2 and the cathode (electrode layer 3-3) of the organic EL element 5-2 have the same potential. Become. Therefore, no discharge current flows through the parasitic capacitance C2.

The pulse generation circuits 9-1 and 9-2 output pulses having the same amplitude and frequency as the pulses output by the detection circuit 8. The overall control unit 6 synchronizes the pulse output by the detection circuit 8, the pulse output by the pulse generation circuit 9-1, and the pulse output by the pulse generation circuit 9-2. As a result, the waveform W1, the waveform W2, and the waveform W3 have the same amplitude and phase. Therefore, during the detection period, the electrode layers 3-2 and 3-3 have the same potential as the electrode layer 3-1 (detection electrode). This is realized by the first control unit composed of the overall control unit 6, the pulse generation circuits 9-1, 9-2, and the switches SW6 and SW7. During the detection period, the first control unit detects each electrode layer (electrode layer 3-2, 3-3) other than the electrode layer used as the detection electrode among the plurality of electrode layers 3 as a detection electrode (electrode layer 3). Control to the same potential as -1).

The main effects of the first embodiment will be described. The surface light emitting device 1-1 according to the first embodiment outputs the pulse output from the pulse generation circuit 9-2 during the detection period without grounding the cathode of the organic EL element 5-2. It is applied to the cathode of 2. As a result, as described above, the anode (electrode layer 3-2) of the organic EL element 5-2 and the cathode (electrode layer 3-3) of the organic EL element 5-2 have the same potential during the detection period. Therefore, no discharge current flows through the parasitic capacitance C2 during the detection period. Further, as described in the comparative example, during the detection period, the anode (electrode layer 3-1) of the organic EL element 5-1 and the cathode (electrode layer 3-2) of the organic EL element 5-1 have the same potential. Therefore, no discharge current flows through the parasitic capacitance C1.

As described above, according to the surface light emitting device 1-1 according to the first embodiment, it is possible to prevent the current (discharge current) from flowing through the parasitic capacitances C1 and C2 during the detection period. Therefore, according to the surface light emitting device 1-1 according to the first embodiment, it is not necessary to increase the current (current used for touch detection) supplied from the touch sensor 10 to the detection electrode (electrode layer 3-1). Touch detection is possible.

The pulse generation circuit 9-1 (voltage generation unit) has an electrode layer 3-2 (cathode of the organic EL element 5-1) located next to the electrode layer 3-1 used as a detection electrode among the plurality of electrode layers 3. ) Is connected. Since the electrode layer 3-2 is not in the open state but is connected to the pulse generation circuit 9-1 (voltage generation unit), a shielding effect is generated. Therefore, the detection electrode can be made less susceptible to noise.

The overall control unit 6 completely disconnects the drive circuit 7 from the organic EL element 5 by turning off the switches SW2, SW3, SW4, and SW5 during the detection period. As a result, since the drive circuit 7 does not have a capacitance during the detection period, it is possible to prevent the current supplied from the touch sensor 10 to the detection electrode (current used for touch detection) from becoming large due to the drive circuit 7. ..

The overall control unit 6 may turn on the drive circuit 7 to turn on (emit) the organic EL element 5, and turn off the drive circuit 7 to turn off the organic EL element 5. The overall control unit 6 turns on the detection circuit 8 and supplies the pulse to the detection electrode (electrode layer 3-1), and turns off the detection circuit 8 so that the detection circuit 8 detects the pulse (the electrode layer 3-1). It may not be supplied to the electrode layer 3-1). In the overall control unit 6, the pulse generation circuit 9 is turned on and the pulse generation circuit 9 supplies the pulse to the electrode layer 3, and the pulse generation circuit 9 is turned off and the pulse generation circuit 9 supplies the pulse to the electrode layer 3. You may not do it. In this way, the switch SW becomes unnecessary. This also applies to the modifications described below, other embodiments, and modifications of the other embodiments.

A modified example of the first embodiment will be described. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state of each electrode layer 3 during the detection period in each of the first embodiment, the modified example 1, the modified example 2, and the modified example 3. As described above, in the first embodiment, the electrode layer 3-1 is used as a detection electrode during the detection period, and the pulse output from the pulse generation circuit 9-1 is applied to the electrode layer 3-2. The pulse output from the pulse generation circuit 9-2 is applied to the electrode layer 3-3. In the first modification, the electrode layer 3-1 is used as a detection electrode during the detection period, the pulse output from the pulse generation circuit 9-1 is applied to the electrode layer 3-2, and the electrode layer 3-3 becomes the electrode layer 3-3. , Opened. The first modification will be described in detail.

Modification 1 does not include the pulse generation circuit 9-2 and the switch SW7 among the elements constituting the surface light emitting device 1-1 shown in FIG. The overall control unit 6 of the modification 1 turns on the switches SW2, SW3, SW4, SW5 during the light emitting period, turns off the switches SW1 and SW6, and turns off the switches SW2, SW3, SW4, SW5 during the detection period. The state is set, and the switches SW1 and SW6 are turned on.

In the first modification, the waveform of the voltage applied to each electrode layer 3 during the detection period is the same as that of the first embodiment (FIG. 3). The reason why the waveform of the voltage applied to the cathode (electrode layer 3-3) of the organic EL element 5-2 becomes the waveform W3 even if the modification 1 does not include the pulse generation circuit 9-2 and the switch SW7. Will be explained.

With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, since the switch SW5 is in the off state during the detection period, the cathode (electrode layer 3-3) of the organic EL element 5-2 is in the open state. As a result, the electrode layer 3-3 is capacitively coupled to the electrode layer 3-2 by the parasitic capacitance C2. As a result, the voltage of the waveform W3 is applied to the cathode (electrode layer 3-3) of the organic EL element 5-2. That is, even if the pulse output from the pulse generation circuit 9-2 is not applied to the cathode (electrode layer 3-3) of the organic EL element 5-2, the cathode (electrode layer 3-3) of the organic EL element 5-2. The voltage of the waveform W3 is applied to 3).

With reference to FIG. 4, in the second modification, the electrode layer 3-1 is used as a detection electrode during the detection period, the electrode layer 3-2 is in an open state, and a pulse is generated in the electrode layer 3-3. The pulse output from the circuit 9-2 is applied. The second modification will be described in detail.

Modification 2 does not include the pulse generation circuit 9-1 and the switch SW6 among the elements constituting the surface light emitting device 1-1 shown in FIG. The overall control unit 6 of the modification 2 turns on the switches SW2, SW3, SW4, SW5 during the light emitting period, turns off the switches SW1 and SW7, and turns off the switches SW2, SW3, SW4, SW5 during the detection period. The state is set, and the switches SW1 and SW7 are turned on.

In the second modification, the waveform of the voltage applied to each electrode layer 3 during the detection period is the same as that of the first embodiment (FIG. 3). Even if the modification 2 does not include the pulse generation circuit 9-1 and the switch SW6, the cathode (electrode layer 3-2) of the organic EL element 5-1 and the anode (electrode layer) of the organic EL element 5-2. The reason why the waveform of the voltage applied to 3-2) becomes the waveform W2 will be described.

With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, since the switches SW3 and SW4 are in the off state during the detection period, the cathode of the organic EL element 5-1 (electrode layer 3-2) and the anode of the organic EL element 5-2 ( The electrode layer 3-2) is in an open state. As a result, the electrode layer 3-2 is capacitively coupled to the electrode layer 3-1 by the parasitic capacitance C1 and is capacitively coupled to the electrode layer 3-3 by the parasitic capacitance C2. As a result, the voltage of the waveform W2 is applied to the cathode (electrode layer 3-2) of the organic EL element 5-1 and the anode (electrode layer 3-2) of the organic EL element 5-2. That is, the pulse output from the pulse generation circuit 9-1 is applied to the cathode (electrode layer 3-2) of the organic EL element 5-1 and the anode (electrode layer 3-2) of the organic EL element 5-2. Even if this is not done, the voltage of the waveform W2 is applied to them.

With reference to FIG. 4, in the modification 3, the electrode layer 3-1 is used as a detection electrode and the electrode layers 3-2 and 3-3 are opened during the detection period. Modification 3 will be described in detail.

Modification 3 does not include the pulse generating circuits 9-1, 9-2 and the switches SW6 and SW7 among the elements constituting the surface light emitting device 1-1 shown in FIG. The overall control unit 6 of the modification 3 turns on the switches SW2, SW3, SW4, and SW5 during the light emitting period, and turns off the switches SW2, SW3, SW4, and SW5 during the detection period.

In the third modification, the waveform of the voltage applied to each electrode layer 3 during the detection period is the same as that of the first embodiment (FIG. 3). Even if the modification 3 does not include the pulse generation circuits 9-1, 9-2 and the switches SW6 and SW7, the cathode (electrode layer 3-2) of the organic EL element 5-1 and the organic EL element 5- The waveform of the voltage applied to the anode (electrode layer 3-2) of 2 becomes the waveform W2, and the waveform of the voltage applied to the cathode (electrode layer 3-3) of the organic EL element 5-2 becomes the waveform W3. Explain the reason for this.

With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, since the switches SW3 and SW4 are in the off state during the detection period, the cathode of the organic EL element 5-1 (electrode layer 3-2) and the anode of the organic EL element 5-2 ( The electrode layer 3-2) is in an open state. Since the switch SW5 is in the off state during the detection period, the cathode (electrode layer 3-3) of the organic EL element 5-2 is in the open state. As a result, the electrode layer 3-2 is capacitively coupled to the electrode layer 3-1 by the parasitic capacitance C1, and the electrode layer 3-3 is capacitively coupled to the electrode layer 3-1 by the parasitic capacitances C1 and C2 connected in series. Will be done. As a result, the voltage of the waveform W2 is applied to the cathode (electrode layer 3-2) of the organic EL element 5-1 and the anode (electrode layer 3-2) of the organic EL element 5-2, and the organic EL element. The voltage of the waveform W3 is applied to the cathode (electrode layer 3-3) of 5-2. That is, the pulse output from the pulse generation circuit 9-1 is applied to the cathode (electrode layer 3-2) of the organic EL element 5-1 and the anode (electrode layer 3-2) of the organic EL element 5-2. Even if this is not done, the voltage of the waveform W2 is applied to them, and the pulse output from the pulse generation circuit 9-2 is not applied to the cathode (electrode layer 3-3) of the organic EL element 5-2. The voltage of the waveform W3 is applied to this.

Modification 4 will be described. With reference to FIG. 2, in the modified example 4, the organic EL element 5-1 and the organic EL element 5-2 are driven in a time-division manner. This is realized by the overall control unit 6 and the second control unit composed of the switches SW2, SW3, SW4, SW5. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating each period that occurs in the modified example 4 of the first embodiment. With reference to FIGS. 2 and 5, the detection period, the light emitting period of the organic EL element 5-1 and the light emitting period of the organic EL element 5-2 are repeated in this order. As described above, the detection period is the period during which the touch sensor 10 detects the touch, and the overall control unit 6 turns off the switches SW2, SW3, SW4, and SW5 during the detection period, and switches SW1, SW6, and SW6. Turn SW7 on.

The overall control unit 6 turns on the switches SW2 and SW3 and turns off the switches SW1, SW4, SW5, SW6 and SW7 during the light emitting period of the organic EL element 5-1. As a result, the organic EL element 5-1 emits light, and the organic EL element 5-2 does not emit light.

The overall control unit 6 turns on the switches SW4 and SW5 and turns off the switches SW1, SW2, SW3, SW6 and SW7 during the light emitting period of the organic EL element 5-2. As a result, the organic EL element 5-2 emits light, and the organic EL element 5-1 does not emit light.

In the first embodiment, the detection period and the light emission period are alternately generated. During the light emission period, the organic EL elements 5-1 and 5-2 emit light. The voltage applied to one organic EL element 5 during the light emitting period is, for example, 3V. When the organic EL element 5-1 and the organic EL element 5-2 emit light, a voltage of 6 V is generated in the circuit in which the organic EL element 5-1 and the organic EL element 5-2 are connected in series. Therefore, a voltage of 6 V may be applied to the detection circuit 8 when the light emission period is switched to the detection period. Therefore, since the detection circuit 8 capable of withstanding a voltage of 6 V is required, it is necessary to increase the withstand voltage of the detection circuit 8.

On the other hand, in the modified example 4, the organic EL element 5-1 and the organic EL element 5-2 are driven by time division. Therefore, in the circuit in which the organic EL element 5-1 and the organic EL element 5-2 are connected in series, a voltage of 6V is not generated, but a voltage of 3V is generated. As a result, when the light emitting period (light emitting period of the organic EL element 5-2) is switched to the detection period, a voltage of 3 V may be applied to the detection circuit 8. Therefore, the detection circuit 8 does not have to withstand a voltage of 6V, and only needs to be able to withstand a voltage of 3V. Therefore, it is possible to eliminate the need to increase the withstand voltage of the detection circuit 8. Therefore, a normal low withstand voltage detection circuit can be used for the detection circuit 8.

A second embodiment will be described. In the second embodiment, the electrode layer 3-2 (FIG. 1) is used as a detection electrode. FIG. 6 is a circuit configuration diagram of the surface light emitting device 1-2 according to the second embodiment. The cross-sectional structure diagram of the surface light emitting device 1-2 according to the second embodiment is the same as the cross-sectional structure diagram of the surface light emitting device 1-1 according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. The difference between the surface light emitting device 1-2 according to the second embodiment and the surface light emitting device 1-1 according to the first embodiment will be described.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 6, the detection circuit 8 includes a cathode (electrode layer 3-2) of the organic EL element 5-1 and an anode (electrode layer 3-2) of the organic EL element 5-2. It is connected via the switch SW1. The pulse generation circuit 9-1 is connected to the anode (electrode layer 3-1) of the organic EL element 5-1 via the switch SW6.

FIG. 7 is a waveform diagram showing the waveform of the voltage applied to each electrode layer 3 shown in FIG. 1 during the detection period of the surface light emitting device 1-2 according to the second embodiment. Similar to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the voltage of the waveform W1 is applied to the anode (electrode layer 3-1) of the organic EL element 5-1 and the cathode (electrode layer 3-) of the organic EL element 5-1. 2), the voltage of the waveform W2 is applied to the anode (electrode layer 3-2) of the organic EL element 5-2, and the waveform is applied to the cathode (electrode layer 3-3) of the organic EL element 5-2. The voltage of W3 is applied. However, in the case of the second embodiment, the waveform W1 is generated by the pulse output from the pulse generation circuit 9-1, the waveform W2 is generated by the pulse output from the detection circuit 8, and the waveform W3 is the pulse generation circuit 9. It is generated by the pulse output from -2.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 6, of the plurality of electrode layers 3, the electrode layer 3-1 which is one end of the structure of the plurality of organic EL elements 5 connected in series is an anode. The touch sensor 10 uses any one of the plurality of electrode layers 3 other than the electrode layer 3-1 (here, the electrode layer 3-2) as a detection electrode. As a result, when the light emitting period is switched to the detection period, the voltage applied to the detection circuit 8 is the voltage applied to the series circuit of the organic EL element 5-1 and the organic EL element 5-2 (for example, 6V). ), But the voltage applied to the organic EL element 5-2 (for example, 3V) can be used. Therefore, according to the second embodiment, it is possible to eliminate the need to increase the withstand voltage of the detection circuit 8 as in the modified example 4 of the first embodiment.

A modified example of the second embodiment will be described. In this modification, the electrode layer 3-3 (FIG. 1) is used as a detection electrode. FIG. 8 is a circuit configuration diagram of the surface light emitting device 1-3 according to the modified example of the second embodiment. The difference between the surface light emitting device 1-3 and the surface light emitting device 1-2 according to the second embodiment shown in FIG. 6 will be described.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 8, the detection circuit 8 is connected to the cathode (electrode layer 3-3) of the organic EL element 5-2 via the switch SW1. The pulse generation circuit 9-2 is connected to the cathode (electrode layer 3-2) of the organic EL element 5-1 and the anode (electrode layer 3-2) of the organic EL element 5-2 via the switch SW7. ing.

The modified example of the second embodiment also eliminates the need to increase the withstand voltage of the detection circuit 8 for the same reason as that of the second embodiment.

A third embodiment will be described. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional structural view of the surface light emitting device 1-4 according to the third embodiment. The surface light emitting device 1-4 differs from the surface light emitting device 1-1 shown in FIG. 1 in that the electrode layer 3-1 has a structure in which the electrode layer 3-1 is divided into a plurality of partial electrodes 11. In FIG. 9, partial electrodes 11-1, 11-2, and 11-3 are shown. The plurality of partial electrodes 11 are arranged side by side at predetermined intervals in a direction orthogonal to the direction in which the electrode layers 3 and the organic layers 4 are alternately stacked (stacking direction).

FIG. 10 is an equivalent circuit diagram of the organic EL element 5 provided in the surface light emitting device 1-4 according to the third embodiment. There are as many organic EL elements 5-1 as there are a plurality of partial electrodes 11. These organic EL elements 5-1 are connected in parallel.

The plurality of partial electrodes 11 are arranged side by side at predetermined intervals, and the electrode layer 3-1 does not exist between the adjacent partial electrodes 11. Therefore, the area of the electrode layer 3-1 composed of the plurality of partial electrodes 11 is smaller than the area of the electrode layer 3-1 shown in FIG. Therefore, when the electrode layer 3-1 composed of the plurality of partial electrodes 11 is used as the detection electrode, the touch detection sensitivity of the touch sensor 10 is lowered. Electrode layers 3-2 and 3-3 are candidates for detection electrodes. The closer the detection electrode is to the touch surface (the other surface 2b of the transparent substrate 2), the higher the touch detection sensitivity of the touch sensor 10. Therefore, in the third embodiment, the electrode layer 3-2 is used as the detection electrode.

FIG. 11 is a circuit configuration diagram of the surface light emitting device 1-4 according to the third embodiment. The difference between the surface light emitting device 1-4 and the surface light emitting device 1-2 according to the second embodiment shown in FIG. 6 will be described. The surface light emitting device 1-4 further includes a plurality of switches SW8 for selecting each of the plurality of organic EL elements 5-1. When the number of organic EL elements 5-1 is n, the number of switches SW8 is n (switches SW8-1 to switch SW8-n). As shown in FIG. 9, the n partial electrodes 11 are separated from each other. The overall control unit 6 can selectively apply a voltage to the n partial electrodes 11 by selecting switches SW8-1 to SW8-n during the light emitting period. As a result, n organic EL elements 5-1 can be selectively emitted to emit light, and an image (for example, a character image) can be displayed on the surface emitting device 1-4.

A modified example of the third embodiment will be described. FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state of each electrode layer 3 during the detection period in each of the third embodiment, the modified example 1, the modified example 2, and the modified example 3. FIG. 12 is the same as FIG. 4 except that the detection electrode is not the electrode layer 3-1 but the electrode layer 3-2, and thus the description thereof will be omitted.

When the electrode layer 3-1 closer to the transparent base material 2 (in other words, the electrode layer 3-1 closer to the touch surface) than the detection electrode (electrode layer 3-2) is applied with a pulse (third embodiment, deformation). In the case of Example 1), there are advantages in each of the open states (Modified Example 2 and Modified Example 3). In the case of pulse application, since the electrode layer 3-1 is connected to the pulse generation circuit 9-1 (voltage generation unit), a shielding effect is generated. Therefore, the detection electrode can be made less susceptible to noise. However, in this case, the touch detection sensitivity of the touch sensor 10 is lowered due to the shielding effect. On the other hand, when the electrode layer 3-1 is in the open state, the shielding effect does not occur, so that it is possible to prevent a decrease in the touch detection sensitivity of the touch sensor 10.

The surface light emitting device 1-2 according to the second embodiment shown in FIG. 6 also has a modification 1, a modification 2, and a modification 3 shown in FIG.

A fourth embodiment will be described. FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional structural view of the surface light emitting device 1-5 according to the fourth embodiment. The surface light emitting device 1-5 differs from the surface light emitting device 1-4 shown in FIG. 9 in that the electrode layers 3-1 and 3-2 are divided into a plurality of partial electrodes 11 and 12, respectively. Be prepared. In FIG. 13, the partial electrodes 11-1, 11-2, 11-3 constituting the electrode layer 3-1 and the partial electrodes 12-1, 12-2, 12-3 constituting the electrode layer 3-2 are shown. It is shown. The plurality of partial electrodes 11 and 12 are arranged side by side at predetermined intervals in a direction orthogonal to the direction in which the electrode layers 3 and the organic layers 4 are alternately stacked (stacking direction), respectively.

FIG. 14 is an equivalent circuit diagram of the organic EL element 5 provided in the surface light emitting device 1-5 according to the fourth embodiment. There are the same number of organic EL elements 5-1 as the number of the plurality of partial electrodes 11, and there are the same number of organic EL elements 5-2 as the number of the plurality of partial electrodes 12.

Since the electrode layer 3-1 is composed of a plurality of partial electrodes 11 and the electrode layer 3-2 is composed of a plurality of partial electrodes 12, the electrode layer 3-3 is used as a detection electrode.

FIG. 15 is a circuit configuration diagram of the surface light emitting device 1-5 according to the fourth embodiment. The difference between the surface light emitting device 1-5 and the surface light emitting device 1-4 according to the third embodiment shown in FIG. 11 will be described. The detection circuit 8 is connected to the cathode (electrode layer 3-3) of the organic EL element 5-2 via the switch SW1. The pulse generation circuit 9-2 is connected to the cathode (electrode layer 3-2) of the organic EL element 5-1 and the anode (electrode layer 3-2) of the organic EL element 5-2 via the switch SW7. ing.

The surface light emitting device 1-5 further includes a plurality of switches SW9 for selecting each of the plurality of organic EL elements 5-2. When the number of organic EL elements 5-2 is n, the number of switches SW9 is n (switches SW9-1 to switch SW9-n). As shown in FIG. 13, the n partial electrodes 12 are separated from each other. The overall control unit 6 can selectively apply a voltage to the n partial electrodes 12 by selecting switches SW9-1 to SW9-n during the light emitting period. As a result, n organic EL elements 5-2 can be selectively emitted to emit light, and an image (for example, a character image) can be displayed on the surface emitting device 1-5.

A modified example of the fourth embodiment will be described. FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state of each electrode layer 3 during the detection period in each of the fourth embodiment, the modified example 1, the modified example 2, and the modified example 3. FIG. 16 is the same as FIG. 4 except that the detection electrode is not the electrode layer 3-1 but the electrode layer 3-3, and thus the description thereof will be omitted.

When at least one of the electrode layers 3-1 and 3-2, which is closer to the transparent base material 2 than the detection electrode (electrode layer 3-3), is applied with a pulse (fourth embodiment, modified example 1, modified example 2), As described above, the shielding effect makes it possible to make the detection electrode less susceptible to noise. When the electrode layers 3-1 and 3-2 (in other words, the electrode layers 3-1 and 3-2 closer to the touch surface) closer to the transparent base material 2 than the detection electrode (electrode layer 3-3) are in the open state. (Modification 3), as described above, it is possible to prevent a decrease in the touch detection sensitivity of the touch sensor 10.

The surface light emitting device 1-3 according to the modified example of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 8 also has the modified example 1, the modified example 2, and the modified example 3 shown in FIG.

A typical example of the configuration of the organic EL element is shown below.

(I) Anosome / hole injection transport layer / light emitting layer / electron injection transport layer / cathode (ii) anode / hole injection transport layer / light emitting layer / hole blocking layer / electron injection transport layer / cathode (iii) anode / Hole injection transport layer / electron blocking layer / light emitting layer / hole blocking layer / electron injection transport layer / cathode (iv) anode / hole injection layer / hole transport layer / light emitting layer / electron transport layer / electron injection layer / Cathode (v) anode / hole injection layer / hole transport layer / light emitting layer / hole blocking layer / electron transport layer / electron injection layer / cathode (vi) anode / hole injection layer / hole transport layer / electron blocking Layer / light emitting layer / hole blocking layer / electron transport layer / electron injection layer / cathode

Further, when the light emitting layer is composed of a plurality of layers, a non-light emitting intermediate layer may be provided between the light emitting layers. The intermediate layer may be a charge generation layer or may have a multi-photon unit configuration.

Further, each layer constituting the organic EL element according to the present invention will be described.

[Transparent substrate]
Examples of the transparent base material applicable to the organic EL device according to the present invention include transparent materials such as glass and plastic. Examples of the transparent substrate preferably used include glass, quartz, and a resin film.

Examples of the glass material include silica glass, soda lime silica glass, lead glass, borosilicate glass, non-alkali glass and the like. From the viewpoint of imparting adhesion, durability, and smoothness to adjacent layers, the surface of these glass materials may be subjected to physical treatment such as polishing, formation of a thin film made of an inorganic substance or an organic substance, as necessary. A hybrid thin film can be formed by combining these thin films.

Examples of the material constituting the resin film include polyesters such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), polyethylene, polypropylene, cellophane, cellulose diacetate, cellulose triacetate (TAC), cellulose acetate butyrate, and cellulose acetate. Cellulose esters such as propionate (CAP), cellulose acetate phthalate, cellulose nitrate and their derivatives, polyvinylidene chloride, polyvinyl alcohol, polyethylene vinyl alcohol, syndiotactic polystyrene, polycarbonate, norbornene resin, polymethylpentene, poly Etherketone, polyimide, polyether sulfone (PES), polyphenylene sulfide, polysulfones, polyetherimide, polyetherketoneimide, polyamide, fluororesin, nylon, polymethylmethacrylate, acrylic and polyarylates, Arton (trade name, JSR) Cycloolefin resins such as (manufactured by Mitsui Kagaku Co., Ltd.) and Apel (trade name, manufactured by Mitsui Chemicals Co., Ltd.) can be mentioned.

The organic EL element may have a configuration in which a gas barrier layer is provided on the transparent base material described above, if necessary.

The material for forming the gas barrier layer may be any material having a function of suppressing the invasion of components that cause deterioration of the organic EL device, such as water and oxygen, and is an inorganic substance such as silicon oxide, silicon dioxide, and silicon nitride. Can be used. Further, in order to improve the vulnerability of the gas barrier layer, it is more preferable to have a laminated structure of these inorganic layers and an organic layer made of an organic material. The stacking order of the inorganic layer and the organic layer is not particularly limited, but a configuration in which both are alternately laminated a plurality of times is preferable.

(Anode electrode: Anode)
Examples of the anode constituting the organic EL element include a metal such as Ag and Au, an alloy containing a metal as a main component, CuI, or a metal oxide such as an _{indium-tin composite oxide (ITO), SnO 2 and ZnO.} Although it can be used, it is preferably a metal or an alloy containing a metal as a main component, and more preferably an alloy containing silver or a silver as a main component. Further, when the anode side is the light extraction side, it is necessary to have a transparent anode having light transmission.

When the transparent anode is a layer composed mainly of silver, specifically, it may be formed by silver alone, or it may be composed of an alloy containing silver (Ag) to ensure the stability of silver. It may have been done. Examples of such alloys include silver / magnesium (Ag / Mg), silver / copper (Ag / Cu), silver / palladium (Ag / Pd), silver / palladium / copper (Ag / Pd / Cu), and silver. -Indium (Ag / In), silver / gold (Ag / Au) and the like can be mentioned.

Among the constituent materials constituting the anode, the anode constituting the organic EL device according to the present invention is a transparent anode composed mainly of silver and having a thickness in the range of 2 to 20 nm. It is preferable, but more preferably, the thickness is in the range of 4 to 12 nm. When the thickness is 20 nm or less, the absorption component and the reflection component of the transparent anode are suppressed to a low level, and a high light transmittance is maintained, which is preferable.

The layer composed of silver as a main component in the present invention means that the silver content in the transparent anode is 60% by mass or more, preferably the silver content is 80% by mass or more. More preferably, the silver content is 90% by mass or more, and particularly preferably the silver content is 98% by mass or more. Further, "transparent" in the transparent anode according to the present invention means that the light transmittance at a wavelength of 550 nm is 50% or more.

The transparent anode may have a structure in which layers composed mainly of silver are divided into a plurality of layers and laminated, if necessary.

Further, in the present invention, when the anode is a transparent anode composed mainly of silver, a base layer may be provided under the transparent anode from the viewpoint of improving the uniformity of the silver film of the transparent anode to be formed. preferable. The base layer is not particularly limited, but is preferably a layer containing an organic compound having a nitrogen atom or a sulfur atom, and a method of forming a transparent anode on the base layer is a preferred embodiment.

[Intermediate electrode]
The organic EL device according to the present invention has a structure in which two or more organic functional layer units composed of an organic functional layer group and a light emitting layer are laminated between an anode and a cathode, and has two or more organic functions. The layer units can be separated by an intermediate electrode layer unit having independent connection terminals for obtaining an electrical connection.

[Light emitting layer]
The light emitting layer constituting the organic EL element preferably contains a phosphorescent compound or a fluorescent compound as a light emitting material.

This light emitting layer is a layer in which the electrons injected from the electrode or the electron transporting layer and the holes injected from the hole transporting layer recombine to emit light, and the light emitting portion is in the layer of the light emitting layer. It may be the interface between the light emitting layer and the adjacent layer.

The configuration of such a light emitting layer is not particularly limited as long as the contained light emitting material satisfies the light emitting requirements. Further, there may be a plurality of layers having the same emission spectrum and emission maximum wavelength. In this case, it is preferable to have a non-luminescent intermediate layer between each light emitting layer.

The total thickness of the light emitting layer is preferably in the range of 1 to 100 nm, and more preferably in the range of 1 to 30 nm because a lower driving voltage can be obtained. The total thickness of the light emitting layers is the thickness including the non-light emitting intermediate layer when there is a non-light emitting intermediate layer between the light emitting layers.

As the light emitting layer as described above, a light emitting material or a host compound to be described later is used, for example, a known vacuum deposition method, spin coating method, casting method, LB method (Langmuir Brodgett method), inkjet method or the like. It can be formed by applying the method.

Further, the light emitting layer may be a mixture of a plurality of light emitting materials, or a phosphorescent light emitting material and a fluorescent light emitting material (also referred to as a fluorescent dopant or a fluorescent compound) may be mixed and used in the same light emitting layer. It is preferable that the light emitting layer contains a host compound (also referred to as a light emitting host or the like) and a light emitting material (also referred to as a light emitting dopant compound) and emits light from the light emitting material.

<Host compound>
As the host compound contained in the light emitting layer, a compound having a phosphorescent quantum yield of phosphorescent emission at room temperature (25 ° C) of less than 0.1 is preferable. Further, the phosphorus photon yield is preferably less than 0.01. Further, among the compounds contained in the light emitting layer, the volume ratio in the layer is preferably 50% or more.

As the host compound, a known host compound may be used alone, or a plurality of types of host compounds may be used. By using a plurality of types of host compounds, it is possible to adjust the movement of electric charges, and it is possible to improve the efficiency of the organic electroluminescent device. Further, by using a plurality of types of light emitting materials described later, it is possible to mix different light emitting materials, whereby an arbitrary light emitting color can be obtained.

The host compound used in the light emitting layer may be a conventionally known low molecular weight compound or a high molecular weight compound having a repeating unit, and a low molecular weight compound having a polymerizable group such as a vinyl group or an epoxy group (deposited polymerizable light emitting host). ) May be used.

<Luminescent material>
Examples of the light emitting material that can be used in the present invention include a phosphorescent compound (also referred to as a phosphorescent compound, a phosphorescent material or a phosphorescent dopant) and a phosphorescent compound (also referred to as a phosphorescent compound or a phosphorescent material). ) Can be mentioned.

<Phosphorescent compound>
The phosphorescent compound is a compound in which light emission from the excited triplet is observed, specifically, a compound that emits phosphorescence at room temperature (25 ° C), and has a phosphorescent quantum yield of 25 ° C. Is defined as a compound of 0.01 or more, but a preferable phosphorescence quantum yield is 0.1 or more.

The phosphorus photon yield can be measured by the method described on page 398 (1992 edition, Maruzen) of Spectroscopy II of the 4th edition Experimental Chemistry Course 7. The phosphorescence quantum yield in a solution can be measured using various solvents, but when the phosphorescence luminescent compound is used in the present invention, the phosphorescence quantum yield in any of the solvents is 0.01 or more. Should be achieved.

The phosphorescent compound can be appropriately selected from known compounds used for the light emitting layer of a general organic EL element, and preferably contains a metal of Group 8 to 10 in the periodic table of the element. It is a complex-based compound, more preferably an iridium compound, an osmium compound, a platinum compound (platinum complex-based compound) or a rare earth complex, and the most preferable is an iridium compound.

In the present invention, one light emitting layer may contain two or more kinds of phosphorescent compounds, and the concentration ratio of the phosphorescent compounds in the light emitting layer changes in the thickness direction of the light emitting layer. It may be in the above mode.

In the present invention, preferred phosphorescent compounds include organometallic complexes having Ir as the central metal. More preferably, a complex containing at least one coordination mode of metal-carbon bond, metal-nitrogen bond, metal-oxygen bond and metal-sulfur bond is preferable.

<Fluorescent luminescent compound>
Fluorescent compounds include coumarin dyes, pyran dyes, cyanine dyes, croconium dyes, squalium dyes, oxobenzanthracene dyes, fluorescein dyes, rhodamine dyes, pyrylium dyes, perylene dyes, and stillbens. Examples thereof include system dyes, polythiophene dyes, rare earth complex phosphors and the like.

[Organic functional group]
Next, each layer other than the light emitting layer constituting the organic functional layer unit will be described in the order of the charge injection layer, the hole transport layer, the electron transport layer, and the blocking layer.

(Charge injection layer)
The charge injection layer is a layer provided between the electrode and the light emitting layer in order to reduce the driving voltage and improve the emission brightness, and includes a hole injection layer and an electron injection layer.

Generally, the charge injection layer is present between the anode and the light emitting layer or the hole transport layer in the case of the hole injection layer, and between the cathode and the light emitting layer or the electron transport layer in the case of the electron injection layer. However, the present invention is characterized in that the charge injection layer is arranged adjacent to the transparent electrode. When used as an intermediate electrode, at least one of the adjacent electron injection layer and hole injection layer may satisfy the requirements of the present invention.

The hole injection layer is a layer arranged adjacent to the anode, which is a transparent electrode, in order to reduce the driving voltage and improve the emission brightness.

Examples of the material used for the hole injection layer include porphyrin derivative, phthalocyanine derivative, oxazole derivative, oxaziazole derivative, triazole derivative, imidazole derivative, pyrazoline derivative, pyrazolone derivative, phenylenediamine derivative, hydrazone derivative, stillben derivative, and poly. Arylalkane derivative, triarylamine derivative, carbazole derivative, indolocarbazole derivative, isoindole derivative, acene derivative such as anthracene and naphthalene, fluorene derivative, fluorenone derivative, and polyvinylcarbazole and aromatic amine in the main chain or side chain. Examples thereof include the introduced polymer material or oligomer, polysilane, conductive polymer or oligomer (for example, PEDOT (polyethylenedioxythiophene): PSS (polystyrene sulfonic acid), aniline-based copolymer, polyaniline, polythiophene, etc.).

Examples of the triarylamine derivative include a benzidine type represented by α-NPD (4,4'-bis [N- (1-naphthyl) -N-phenylamino] biphenyl) and MTDATA (4,4', 4 ". Examples thereof include a starburst type represented by -tris [N- (3-methylphenyl) -N-phenylamino] triphenylamine), a compound having fluorene or anthracene in the triarylamine connecting core portion, and the like.

Hexaazatriphenylene derivatives can also be used as hole transport materials.

The electron injection layer is a layer provided between the cathode and the light emitting layer in order to reduce the driving voltage and improve the emission brightness. When the cathode is composed of the transparent electrode according to the present invention, the electron injection layer is concerned. It is provided adjacent to the transparent electrode.

Specific examples of materials preferably used for the electron injection layer include metals such as strontium and aluminum, alkali metal compounds such as lithium fluoride, sodium fluoride and potassium fluoride, magnesium fluoride and fluoride. Alkali metal halide layer typified by calcium, etc., alkaline earth metal compound layer typified by magnesium fluoride, metal oxide typified by molybdenum oxide, aluminum oxide, etc., lithium-8-hydroxyquinolate (Liq), etc. Examples thereof include metal complexes represented by. When the transparent electrode in the present invention is a cathode, an organic material such as a metal complex is particularly preferably used. The electron injection layer is preferably a very thin film, and the layer thickness is preferably in the range of 1 nm to 10 μm, although it depends on the constituent materials.

(Hole transport layer)
The hole transport layer is composed of a hole transport material having a function of transporting holes, and in a broad sense, a hole injection layer and an electron blocking layer also have a function as a hole transport layer. The hole transport layer may be provided as a single layer or a plurality of layers.

The hole transporting material has either injection or transport of holes or an electron barrier property, and may be either an organic substance or an inorganic substance. For example, triazole derivatives, oxaziazole derivatives, imidazole derivatives, polyarylalkane derivatives, pyrazoline derivatives, pyrazolone derivatives, phenylenediamine derivatives, arylamine derivatives, amino-substituted chalcone derivatives, oxazole derivatives, styrylanthracene derivatives, fluorenone derivatives, hydrazone derivatives, Examples thereof include stillben derivatives, silazane derivatives, aniline-based copolymers, conductive polymer oligomers and thiophene oligomers.

As the hole transporting material, the above-mentioned ones can be used, but porphyrin compounds, aromatic tertiary amine compounds and styrylamine compounds can be used, and in particular, aromatic tertiary amine compounds can be used. preferable.

Typical examples of aromatic tertiary amine compounds and styrylamine compounds are N, N, N', N'-tetraphenyl-4,4'-diaminophenyl, N, N'-diphenyl-N, N'-. Bis (3-methylphenyl)-[1,1'-biphenyl] -4,4'-diamine (abbreviation: TPD), 2,2-bis (4-di-p-tolylaminophenyl) propane, 1,1 -Bis (4-di-p-tolylaminophenyl) cyclohexane, N, N, N', N'-tetra-p-tolyl-4,4'-diaminobiphenyl, 1,1-bis (4-di-p) -Trillaminophenyl) -4-phenylcyclohexane, bis (4-dimethylamino-2-methylphenyl) phenylmethane, bis (4-di-p-tolylaminophenyl) phenylmethane, N, N'-diphenyl-N, N'-di (4-methoxyphenyl) -4,4'-diaminobiphenyl, N, N, N', N'-tetraphenyl-4,4'-diaminodiphenyl ether, 4,4'-bis (diphenylamino) Quadriphenyl, N, N, N-tri (p-tolyl) amine, 4- (di-p-tolylamino) -4'-[4- (di-p-tolylamino) styryl] stilben, 4-N, N Examples thereof include −diphenylamino- (2-diphenylvinyl) benzene, 3-methoxy-4'-N, N-diphenylaminostillbenzene and N-phenylcarbazole.

The hole transport layer is a known method such as a vacuum deposition method, a spin coating method, a casting method, a printing method including an inkjet method, and an LB method (Langmuir Blodgett method). Therefore, it can be formed by thinning the film. The thickness of the hole transport layer is not particularly limited, but is usually in the range of about 5 nm to 5 μm, preferably in the range of 5 to 200 nm. The hole transport layer may have a single-layer structure composed of one or more of the above materials.

Further, the p property can be enhanced by doping the material of the hole transport layer with impurities.

As described above, it is preferable to increase the p property of the hole transport layer because a device having lower power consumption can be manufactured.

(Electronic transport layer)
The electron transport layer is composed of a material having a function of transporting electrons, and in a broad sense, an electron injection layer and a hole blocking layer also correspond to an electron transport layer. The electron transport layer can be provided as a single-layer structure or a multi-layer laminated structure.

In the electron transport layer having a single layer structure and the electron transport layer having a laminated structure, as an electron transport material (also serving as a hole blocking material) constituting a layer portion adjacent to the light emitting layer, electrons injected from the cathode are used as the light emitting layer. It suffices if it has a function of transmitting. As such a material, any one can be selected and used from conventionally known compounds. Examples thereof include nitro-substituted fluorene derivatives, diphenylquinone derivatives, thiopyrandioxide derivatives, carbodiimides, freolenidene methane derivatives, anthracinodimethanes, antron derivatives and oxadiazole derivatives. Further, among the above oxadiazole derivatives, a thiadiazole derivative in which the oxygen atom of the oxadiazole ring is replaced with a sulfur atom, and a quinoxalin derivative having a quinoxalin ring known as an electron-withdrawing group can also be used as a material for the electron transport layer. it can. Further, a polymer material in which these materials are introduced into a polymer chain or a polymer material in which these materials are used as a polymer main chain can also be used.

Also, metal complexes of 8-quinolinol derivatives, such as tris (8-quinolinol) aluminum (abbreviation: Alq3), tris (5,7-dichloro-8-quinolinol) aluminum, tris (5,7-dibromo-8-quinolinol). ) Aluminum, tris (2-methyl-8-quinolinol) aluminum, tris (5-methyl-8-quinolinol) aluminum, bis (8-quinolinol) zinc (abbreviation: Znq), etc., and the central metal of these metal complexes is In. , Mg, Cu, Ca, Sn, Ga or Pb replaced with a metal complex can also be used as a material for the electron transport layer.

The electron transport layer can be formed by thinning the material by a known method such as a vacuum deposition method, a spin coating method, a casting method, a printing method including an inkjet method, and an LB method. The thickness of the electron transport layer is not particularly limited, but is usually in the range of about 5 nm to 5 μm, preferably in the range of 5 to 200 nm. The electron transport layer may have a single structure composed of one or more of the above materials.

(Blocking layer)
Examples of the blocking layer include a hole blocking layer and an electron blocking layer, which are layers provided as needed in addition to the constituent layers of the organic functional layer unit 3 described above.

The hole blocking layer has a function of an electron transporting layer in a broad sense. The hole blocking layer is made of a hole blocking material that has a function of transporting electrons and a significantly small ability to transport holes, and recombines electrons and holes by blocking holes while transporting electrons. The probability can be improved. In addition, the structure of the electron transport layer can be used as a hole blocking layer, if necessary. The hole blocking layer is preferably provided adjacent to the light emitting layer.

On the other hand, the electron blocking layer has a function of a hole transporting layer in a broad sense. The electron blocking layer is made of a material that has a function of transporting holes and has a significantly small ability to transport electrons. By blocking electrons while transporting holes, the probability of recombination of electrons and holes is improved. Can be made to. In addition, the structure of the hole transport layer can be used as an electron blocking layer, if necessary. The layer thickness of the hole blocking layer applied to the present invention is preferably in the range of 3 to 100 nm, and more preferably in the range of 5 to 30 nm.

〔cathode〕
The cathode is an electrode film that functions to supply holes to the organic functional layer group and the light emitting layer, and a metal, an alloy, an organic or inorganic conductive compound, or a mixture thereof is used. Specifically, gold, aluminum, silver, magnesium, lithium, magnesium / copper mixture, magnesium / silver mixture, magnesium / aluminum mixture, magnesium / indium mixture, indium, lithium / aluminum mixture, rare earth metal, ITO, ZnO, TIO Examples thereof include oxide semiconductors such as ₂ and SnO _2.

The cathode can be produced by forming a thin film of these conductive materials by a method such as thin film deposition or sputtering. The sheet resistance of the second electrode is preferably several hundred Ω / □ or less, and the film thickness is usually selected within the range of 5 nm to 5 μm, preferably 5 to 200 nm.

When the organic EL element is of a method of extracting emitted light from the cathode side as well, or of a double-sided emitting type, a cathode having good light transmission may be selected and configured.

[Sealing member]
Examples of the sealing means used for sealing the organic EL element include a method of adhering the sealing member, the cathode, and the transparent substrate with an adhesive.

The sealing member may be arranged so as to cover the display area of the organic EL element, and may be intaglio-shaped or flat-plate-shaped. Further, transparency and electrical insulation are not particularly limited.

Specific examples of the sealing member include a glass plate, a polymer plate, a film, a metal plate, and a film. Examples of the glass plate include soda lime glass, barium / strontium-containing glass, lead glass, aluminosilicate glass, borosilicate glass, barium borosilicate glass, and quartz. Examples of the polymer plate include a plate made of polycarbonate, acrylic, polyethylene terephthalate, polyether sulfide, polysulfone and the like. Examples of the metal plate include one or more metals or alloys selected from the group consisting of stainless steel, iron, copper, aluminum, magnesium, nickel, zinc, chromium, titanium, molybdenum, silicon, germanium and tantalum.

As the sealing member, a polymer film and a metal film can be preferably used from the viewpoint that the organic EL element can be thinned. ^{Further, the polymer film has a water vapor permeability of 1 × 10 -3} g / m ² at a temperature of 25 ± 0.5 ° C and a relative humidity of 90 ± 2% RH measured by a method according to JIS K 7129-1992. · preferably 24h or less, and further, the oxygen permeability was measured by the method based on JIS K 7126-1987 ^{is, 1 × 10 -3 ml / m} 2 · 24h · atm (1atm is 1.01325 × ¹⁰ 5 is Pa) equal to or lower than a temperature of 25 ± 0.5 ° C, the water vapor permeability at a relative humidity of 90 ± 2% is preferably at most ^{1 × 10 -3 g / m 2} · 24h ..

In the gas phase and liquid phase, an inert gas such as nitrogen or argon or an inert liquid such as fluorinated hydrocarbon or silicon oil is injected into the gap between the sealing member and the display region (light emitting region) of the organic EL element. It is preferable to do so. Further, the gap between the sealing member and the display region of the organic EL element can be evacuated, or a hygroscopic compound can be sealed in the gap.

[Manufacturing method of organic EL element]
The method for manufacturing an organic EL element is mainly a method of laminating an anode, a first organic functional layer group, a light emitting layer, a second organic functional layer group and a cathode on a transparent base material to form a laminate. ..

First, a transparent substrate is prepared, and a thin film made of a desired electrode substance, for example, an anode substance is deposited on the transparent substrate so as to have a film thickness of 1 μm or less, preferably 10 to 200 nm. The anode is formed by forming the anode by a method such as or sputtering. At the same time, a connection electrode portion (for example, an anode electrode wiring drawn from the anode electrode of the organic EL element 5-1 shown in FIG. 2) to be connected to an external power source is formed at the anode end portion.

Next, the hole injection layer, the hole transport layer, the light emitting layer, the electron transport layer constituting the second organic functional layer group, and the like constituting the first organic functional layer group are laminated in this order.

Examples of the method for forming each of these layers include a spin coating method, a casting method, an inkjet method, a vapor deposition method, a printing method, etc., but from the viewpoint that a homogeneous layer can be easily obtained and pinholes are difficult to be formed. , Vacuum deposition method or spin coating method is particularly preferable. Further, different forming methods may be applied for each layer. When a thin-film deposition method is used to form each of these layers, the vapor deposition conditions differ depending on the type of compound used, etc., but generally the boat heating temperature is in the range of 50 to 450 ° C and the degree of vacuum is 1 × ^10-6. Within the range of ~ 1 × 10 ^-2 Pa, the deposition rate is within the range of 0.01 to 50 nm / sec, the substrate temperature is within the range of -50 to 300 ° C, and the layer thickness is 0.1 to 5 μm. Within the range, it is desirable to select each condition as appropriate.

After forming the second organic functional layer group as described above, a cathode is formed on the upper portion by an appropriate forming method such as a vapor deposition method or a sputtering method. At this time, the cathode is patterned in a shape in which the terminal portion is pulled out from above the organic functional layer group to the peripheral edge of the transparent substrate while maintaining the insulating state with respect to the anode by the organic functional layer group.

After the cathode is formed, the transparent substrate, the anode, the organic functional layer group, the light emitting layer and the cathode are sealed with a sealing material. That is, with the terminal portions of the anode and the cathode (drawing wiring of each electrode) exposed, a sealing material covering at least the organic functional layer group is provided on the transparent base material.

Further, in the manufacture of an organic EL panel, for example, each electrode of an organic EL element is electrically connected to a detection circuit 8, a drive circuit 7, and the like, and an electrical connection member (drawer) that can be used at that time is used. The wiring) is not particularly limited as long as it is a member having conductivity, but an anisotropic conductive film (ACF), a conductive paste, or a metal paste is preferable.

The anisotropic conductive film (ACF) may be, for example, a layer having fine conductive particles having conductivity mixed with a thermosetting resin. The conductive particle-containing layer that can be used in the present invention is not particularly limited as long as it is a layer containing conductive particles as an anisotropic conductive member, and can be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. The conductive particles that can be used as the anisotropic conductive member according to the present invention are not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. Examples thereof include metal particles and metal-coated resin particles. Examples of commercially available ACFs include low-temperature curable ACFs such as MF-331 (manufactured by Hitachi Chemical Co., Ltd.) that can also be applied to resin films.

Examples of the metal particles include nickel, cobalt, silver, copper, gold, and palladium, and examples of the metal-coated resin particles include any metal such as nickel, copper, gold, and palladium on the surface of the resin core. Examples of the metal paste include commercially available metal nanoparticle pastes and the like.

<< Application fields of organic EL modules >>
The organic electroluminescence module of the present invention is an organic electroluminescence module capable of achieving small formatting and thinning, and achieving simplification of the process, and is suitable for various smart devices such as smartphones and tablets and lighting devices. Available.

[Smart device]
FIG. 19 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an example of a smart device 100 having the surface light emitting device 1 of the present invention in the icon portion.

The smart device 100 of the present invention includes a surface light emitting device 1, a liquid crystal display device 120, and the like. As the liquid crystal display device 120, a conventionally known liquid crystal display device can be used.

FIG. 19 shows a state in which the surface light emitting device 1 of the present invention is emitting light, and the light emission of various display patterns 111 can be visually recognized when viewed from the front side. When the surface light emitting device 1 is in the non-light emitting state, various display patterns 111 are not visually recognized. The shape of the display pattern 111 shown in FIG. 19 is an example and is not limited to these, and may be any graphic, character, pattern, or the like. Here, the "display pattern" refers to a design (pattern or pattern of a figure), characters, an image, or the like displayed by light emission of an organic EL element.

[Lighting device]
The surface light emitting device 1 of the present invention can also be applied to a lighting device. The lighting device provided with the surface light emitting device 1 of the present invention is also usefully used for display devices such as household lighting, vehicle interior lighting, and backlight of a liquid crystal display device. In addition, backlights such as clocks, signage advertisements, traffic lights, light sources such as optical storage media, light sources for electrophotographic copiers, light sources for optical communication processors, light sources for optical sensors, etc., and general display devices are required. A wide range of applications such as household electric appliances can be mentioned.

(Summary of embodiments)
The surface light emitting device according to the embodiment has a transparent base material having a touch surface, and a plurality of the electrode layers in which electrode layers and organic layers are alternately arranged on the opposite side of the touch surface of the transparent base material. A plurality of organic EL elements composed of the above and the plurality of the organic layers and connected in series, and a touch sensor that detects a change in capacitance by using any one of the plurality of electrode layers as a detection electrode. A first control unit that controls each of the plurality of electrode layers other than the electrode layer used as the detection electrode to the same potential as the detection electrode during the detection period by the touch sensor. ..

The organic layer is a layer of an organic material including at least a light emitting layer. The first control unit controls each of the plurality of electrode layers other than the electrode layer used as the detection electrode to the same potential as the detection electrode during the detection period by the touch sensor. This makes it possible to prevent current from flowing through the parasitic capacitances of the plurality of organic EL elements during the detection period. Therefore, according to the surface light emitting device according to the embodiment, touch detection can be performed without increasing the current (current used for touch detection) supplied from the touch sensor to the detection electrode.

In the above configuration, the first control unit is connected to at least one electrode layer other than the electrode layer used as the detection electrode among the plurality of electrode layers, and a voltage having the same potential as the detection electrode is applied. It is provided with a voltage generating unit that applies a voltage to the connected electrode layer.

According to this configuration, the electrode layer connected to the voltage generation unit can be controlled to have the same potential as the detection electrode. In the first control unit, all of the electrode layers other than the electrode layer used as the detection electrode may be the electrode layer connected to the voltage generation unit, or each electrode layer other than the electrode layer used as the detection electrode may be used. Of these, a certain electrode layer may be connected to a voltage generating unit. In the latter case, the remaining electrode layer is set to the open state described later, whereby the remaining electrode layer is also controlled to have the same potential as the detection electrode.

In the above configuration, the voltage generating unit is connected to an electrode layer located next to the electrode layer used as the detection electrode among the plurality of electrode layers.

Since the electrode layer located next to the detection electrode is not in the open state but is connected to the voltage generating unit, a shielding effect is generated. Therefore, the detection electrode can be made less susceptible to noise.

In the above configuration, the first control unit controls at least one electrode layer other than the electrode layer used as the detection electrode among the plurality of electrode layers in an open state.

No current flows through the circuit including the electrode layer controlled in the open state. The electrode layer controlled to the open state is in a state of the same potential as the detection electrode by capacitive coupling. The first control unit may control all of the electrode layers other than the electrode layer used as the detection electrode in an open state, or a certain electrode layer among the electrode layers other than the electrode layer used as the detection electrode. May be controlled to the open state. In the latter case, the remaining electrode layer is connected to the voltage generation unit described above, whereby the remaining electrode layer is also made to have the same potential as the detection electrode.

In the above configuration, the first control unit controls, among the plurality of electrode layers, an electrode layer closer to the transparent base material than the electrode layer used as the detection electrode in an open state.

The electrode layer connected to the voltage generator creates a shielding effect. When the voltage generating unit is connected to the electrode layer closer to the transparent base material than the electrode layer used as the detection electrode among the plurality of electrode layers, the touch detection sensitivity of the touch sensor is lowered due to the shielding effect. On the other hand, in the electrode layer controlled in the open state, the shielding effect does not occur. Therefore, according to this configuration, it is possible to prevent a decrease in the touch detection sensitivity of the touch sensor.

In the above configuration, among the plurality of electrode layers, the electrode layer that is one end of the structure of the plurality of organic EL elements connected in series is an anode, and the touch sensor is the said among the plurality of electrode layers. Any one electrode layer other than the electrode layer at one end is used as the detection electrode.

In a circuit composed of a plurality of organic EL elements connected in series, the potential of the anode is the highest. When this anode is used as a detection electrode, a high voltage is applied to the touch detection circuit included in the touch sensor. For this countermeasure, it is necessary to increase the withstand voltage of the touch detection circuit. According to this configuration, the touch sensor uses any one of the plurality of electrode layers other than the electrode layer which is one end of the structure of the plurality of organic EL elements connected in series as the detection electrode. It is possible to eliminate the need to increase the withstand voltage of the touch detection circuit. Therefore, a normal low withstand voltage device can be used as the touch detection circuit.

In the above configuration, the plurality of electrode layers include an electrode layer including a plurality of partial electrodes arranged at intervals in a direction orthogonal to the alternately stacked directions, and the touch sensor includes the plurality of electrode layers. Among the electrode layers of the above, an electrode layer other than the electrode layer including the plurality of partial electrodes is used as the detection electrode.

The electrode layers provided with a plurality of partial electrodes are arranged at intervals in a direction orthogonal to the direction in which the electrode layers and the organic layers are alternately stacked, and are compared with other electrode layers due to the presence of the interval points. The area becomes smaller. Therefore, when an electrode layer including a plurality of partial electrodes is used as a detection electrode, the touch detection sensitivity of the touch sensor is lowered. According to this configuration, since the touch sensor uses an electrode layer other than the electrode layer having a plurality of partial electrodes among the plurality of electrode layers as the detection electrode, it is possible to prevent a decrease in the touch detection sensitivity of the touch sensor.

In the above configuration, a second control unit that controls driving the plurality of organic EL elements in a time-division manner is further provided.

Since the touch sensor uses one of the plurality of electrode layers as the detection electrode, the voltage from the plurality of organic EL elements connected in series is applied to the touch detection circuit provided in the touch sensor. When this voltage is large, it is necessary to increase the withstand voltage of the touch detection circuit. When a plurality of organic EL elements connected in series are driven in a time-division manner rather than being driven at the same time, the voltage applied to the touch detection circuit can be lowered. According to this configuration, since a plurality of organic EL elements are driven in a time-division manner, it is possible to eliminate the need to increase the withstand voltage of the touch detection circuit.

In the above configuration, a third control unit that controls to alternately generate the detection period and the light emission period for causing the plurality of organic EL elements to emit light is further provided.

This configuration is an aspect of a surface light emitting device including a touch sensor.

Although embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described in detail, they are merely illustrations and examples and are not limited. The scope of the invention should be construed by the wording of the accompanying claims.

Japanese Patent Application No. 2017-51017, filed March 16, 2017, is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, with its entire disclosure.

According to the present invention, a surface light emitting device can be provided.

Claims (9)

A transparent base material with a touch surface and
A plurality of organics composed of a plurality of the electrode layers and a plurality of the organic layers in which electrode layers and organic layers are alternately arranged on the opposite side of the touch surface of the transparent base material and connected in series. EL element and
A touch sensor that detects changes in capacitance by using any one of the plurality of electrode layers as a detection electrode, and
A surface including a first control unit that controls each of the plurality of electrode layers other than the electrode layer used as the detection electrode to the same potential as the detection electrode during the detection period by the touch sensor. Light emitting device. The first control unit is connected to at least one electrode layer other than the electrode layer used as the detection electrode among the plurality of electrode layers, and a voltage having the same potential as the detection electrode is connected. The surface light emitting device according to claim 1, further comprising a voltage generating unit that applies a voltage to the electrode layer. The surface light emitting device according to claim 2, wherein the voltage generating unit is connected to an electrode layer located next to the electrode layer used as the detection electrode among the plurality of electrode layers. The first control unit according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first control unit controls at least one electrode layer other than the electrode layer used as the detection electrode among the plurality of electrode layers in an open state. Surface light emitting device. The surface light emitting device according to claim 4, wherein the first control unit controls an electrode layer closer to the transparent base material than the electrode layer used as the detection electrode among the plurality of electrode layers in an open state. Of the plurality of electrode layers, the electrode layer that is one end of the structure of the plurality of organic EL elements connected in series is an anode.
The surface emission according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the touch sensor uses any one of the plurality of electrode layers other than the electrode layer at one end as the detection electrode. apparatus. The plurality of electrode layers include an electrode layer including a plurality of partial electrodes arranged at intervals in a direction orthogonal to the alternately stacked directions.
The surface light emitting device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the touch sensor uses an electrode layer other than the electrode layer including the plurality of partial electrodes among the plurality of electrode layers as the detection electrode. .. The surface light emitting device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising a second control unit that controls driving the plurality of organic EL elements in a time-division manner. The surface light emitting device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, further comprising a third control unit that controls to alternately generate the detection period and the light emitting period for causing the plurality of organic EL elements to emit light.

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