JPH0799087A - El display device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an EL display device capable of displaying a desired luminous pattern with a desired luminous color by inexpensive constitution. CONSTITUTION:Plural elements 1A and 1B, forming projectingly common lead electrode 1g and lead electrode 1h are fixed at a desired fixed part 3 on a base board 2 and form a desired luminous pattern. In the respective fixed parts 3, contacts 3c and 3d and contacts 3e and 3f for detachably fixing respectively the common lead electrode 1g and the lead electrode 1h of the respective EL elements, are provided on the respective fixed parts 3, and a drive signal from a drive circuit 4 is supplied between these contacts 3c, 3d and contacts 3e, 3f make the respective EL elements emit light to luminously display a desired luminous pattern.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an EL (electroluminescence) display device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art At present, in EL devices, for example, a plurality of light emitting layers exhibiting different light emitting colors are formed adjacent to each other on a common transparent electrode to form a light emitting pattern such as a figure and a character and After forming a back electrode corresponding to each light emitting layer via an insulating layer, both surfaces thereof are sealed with a waterproof film. Then, by selectively applying a driving voltage between the transparent electrode and the back electrode corresponding to each light emitting layer, the light emitting pattern is made to emit light at a desired timing. Such EL elements are used in interior devices, toys, and the like because they can be made thin and are not so restricted in the installation space, and emit vivid light. For example, an EL element is provided on a clock dial, etc., and it is illuminated in the dark to illuminate the clock dial, or an interior clock used as a visual effect by blinking this at the time of reporting, behind an illustration, etc. There is a wall-mounted light emitting interior device in which EL elements are arranged and used as a backlight.

As another light emitting display device, LE
There is one in which a display matrix is formed by using D or the like to display a specific character or figure by light emission, and is currently widely used as an information display device in a store or the like.

[0004]

However, in the former type, the emission color and emission pattern are fixed in advance, and the user cannot easily change the emission color and emission pattern according to his or her preference. It was

Further, in the latter one, although it is possible to display arbitrary characters and figures by light emission, it is necessary to form a display matrix with LEDs or the like, and when performing color display, each of the normal matrix is displayed. Since three-color LEDs or color liquid crystal filters are required at the intersections, it is difficult to make the device thin and expensive, and it cannot be easily used in ordinary homes or small stores.

An object of the present invention is to provide an EL display device capable of displaying a desired light emitting pattern with a desired light emitting color with an inexpensive structure.

[0007]

Means for Solving the Problems A plurality of EL elements having electrodes for inputting drive signals formed in a projecting manner, and a plurality of EL elements having electrodes for detachably fixing the electrodes and having contacts for conducting the electrodes. The above object is achieved by an EL display device including a substrate having a fixed portion and a drive circuit for supplying a drive signal of the EL element to a contact of the fixed portion of the substrate.

[0008]

EXAMPLE An EL display device according to an example of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1A and 1B are explanatory views showing the structure. FIG. 1A shows the front surface of the device and the entire structure, and FIG. 1B shows an enlarged cross section of an EL element and a fixing portion.

In FIG. 1a, 1A-1A, 1B-1B
Are EL elements, which are constructed as shown in FIG. 1b. First, the light emitting body layer 1b containing a light emitting body such as ZnS (Cu) and a fluorescent pigment is formed on the transparent electrode 1a made of an ITO transparent conductive film or the like. A desired luminescent color is obtained by the fluorescent pigment contained in the luminescent layer 1b, and in this example, the EL element 1A exhibits a red luminescent color and the EL element 1B exhibits a light green color. Next, the dielectric layer 1c and the back electrode 1d are laminated in this order on the light emitting layer 1b. Also,
The transparent electrode is provided with lead portions 1e and 1f, and the common lead electrode 1g is attached to the lead portion 1e.
On f, a dielectric layer 1c and a back electrode 1d are laminated in this order, and then a lead electrode 1h is mounted on the back electrode 1d.
By supplying a drive signal described below between the common lead electrode 1g and the lead electrode 1h, the EL element is caused to emit light. Next, after adhering the water catching film 1i on the back electrode 1d, the laminated body from the transparent electrode 1a to the water catching film 1i is formed so that the common lead electrode 1g and the lead electrode 1h are exposed except for a part. Moisture-proof film 1 from both sides
j, 1j. Next, the common lead electrode 1g and the lead electrode 1h are bent to the back electrode side, and the laminated body sealed with a moisture-proof film so that these are projected is housed in a transparent plastic case 1k to store the EL element 1A or the EL element. 1B is configured. Similarly, a plurality of EL elements exhibiting different emission colors are formed. For example, EL elements of about 12 different colors are prepared by the number of fixed portions described below.

In FIG. 1a, reference numeral 2 is a substrate, which is provided with a plurality of fixing portions 3 on which EL elements are mounted and fixed. Here, for convenience, they are arranged in 8 columns and 16 rows, but the arrangement is not limited to this, and they may be provided as appropriate. Each fixing portion 3 is provided with a hole 3a and a hole 3b into which the lead electrode 1h of the EL element and the common lead electrode 1g are inserted. As shown in FIG. 1b, inside the holes 3a and 3b, a pair of contact points 3 which are made of a conductive material having elasticity and which are electrically connected to each other and face each other.
c, 3d, and a pair of similar contacts 3e, 3f. The pair of contacts 3c, 3d sandwiches the lead electrode 1h, and engages with the protrusion 1l at the tip thereof to fix it. Similarly, the contacts 3e and 3f similarly make elastic contact with the common lead electrode 1g and fix the same. Here, the EL element is reversed, the lead electrode 1h is inserted into the hole 3b and fixed by the contacts 3e and 3f, and the common lead electrode 1g is inserted into the hole 3a and the contact 3 is inserted.
The same operation is performed even if fixed at c and 3d. Although not shown, the pair of contacts 3c and 3d of all the fixed parts 3 are electrically connected to each other, and the pair of contacts 3e and 3f of all the fixed parts 3 are also electrically connected to each other, As a result, drive signals are supplied in parallel to all EL elements. Although not shown, the back surface of the substrate 2 is covered with a housing, and the contacts 3c to 3f are not exposed.

In FIG. 1a, 4 is a drive circuit, which is a pair of contacts 3c and 3d and a pair of contacts 3e and 3 of each fixed portion 3.
The drive signal of the EL element is supplied between the signal and f.

Next, the operation of this example will be described. First,
The EL element having a desired color is fixed to the fixing portion 3 on the substrate 2 to form a desired light emitting pattern. Here, as shown in FIG. 1a, a pattern of alphabet B is formed on the substrate 2 by the EL element 1A exhibiting a red emission color.
EL element 1B that emits a light green color in other portions of the
Will be filled in. Next, when the power switch 5 is turned on, the drive circuit 4 is started and a drive signal is supplied to each EL element, whereby each EL element 1 emits light.

As described above, the device of the present example has an arbitrary E among a plurality of EL elements which are prepared in advance and exhibit different emission colors.
The L element is fixed to the fixing portion 3 arranged on the substrate 2, a desired light emitting pattern is formed, and the light emitting display is performed. Therefore, various light emission patterns can be displayed with a simple structure. Further, the thickness of the device can be set to the extent that the thickness of the EL element itself, the height of the electrode protruding from the EL element and the contact point of the fixing portion fixing the electrode, and the thickness of the substrate are added. Here, the thickness of the EL element is several mm
Since the size can be reduced to a certain level, the device can be easily made thin. Therefore, the device can be thinned, the installation space is not restricted, and various light-emitting patterns can be light-emitted and displayed with an inexpensive structure, so that it can be easily used as a toy or a home-use display device. For example, as a toy, a jigsaw puzzle in which each EL element is one piece can be configured. Further, as a home-use display device, a message can be written on the surface of each EL element and can be used as a light emitting message board.

Further, in the above-mentioned one embodiment, each EL element is directly exposed. However, a detachable translucent plate such as a half mirror plate is provided on the front surface of the substrate to cover each EL element. Good. As a result, the appearance of the device can be adjusted, for example, the fixed portion on which the EL element is not mounted can be hidden.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the drive signal is supplied in parallel to each EL element, but the contacts 3c and 3d and the contacts 3e and 3f of the fixed part 3 are wired for each column of the fixed part 3. Then, instead of the drive circuit 4, the contacts 3c to
A driving circuit that sequentially supplies a driving signal to 3f is provided to
The elements may be made to sequentially emit light for each column.
The driving method of the L element can be variously changed.

[0016]

According to the present invention, a plurality of E prepared in advance is prepared.
Since the L element is fixed at a desired position on the substrate to form a desired light emitting pattern and the light emitting display is performed, it is possible to display the desired light emitting pattern in a desired light emitting color with an inexpensive configuration. It becomes possible to provide an EL display device that enables the display.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of an EL display device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1A, 1B EL element 1g Common lead electrode (electrode) 1h Lead electrode (electrode) 2 Substrate 3 Fixed part 3c to 3f Contact

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of EL (electroluminescence) elements in which electrodes for inputting drive signals are formed in a protruding manner, and a plurality of electrodes having electrodes of each of the EL elements that are detachably fixed and have electrical contacts with the electrodes. An EL display device comprising: a substrate having a fixed portion; and a drive circuit for supplying a drive signal of the EL element to a contact of the fixed portion of the substrate.