KR20090109477A - Organic electroluminescence apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: An organic electroluminescent device is provided to omit a wide space between pixels by overlapping a sub wiring layer with a pixel. CONSTITUTION: A pixel region is formed on one surface of a supporting substrate. A plurality of pixels(100a) are arranged in the pixel region. Each pixel includes an organic electroluminescent device(80). The organic electroluminescent device includes a first electrode layer(81), a light emitting layer, and a second electrode layer(83). The second electrode layer is formed on a whole pixel region. A sub wiring layer(84) is formed on a top part or a bottom part of the second electrode layer, has a stripe or lattice shape, is made of a metal layer of thickness capable of transmitting a light, is overlapped with a part of the organic electroluminescent device of each pixel, and is made of a silver layer or a silver alloy layer.

Description

Organic EL device {ORGANIC ELECTROLUMINESCENCE APPARATUS}

The present invention relates to an organic electroluminescent device (hereinafter referred to as an organic EL device) provided with an organic electroluminescent device (hereinafter referred to as an organic EL device) on a supporting substrate.

The organic EL device has a pixel region in which a plurality of pixels are arranged on a supporting substrate, and each of the plurality of pixels has a structure in which an organic EL element having at least a first electrode layer, a light emitting layer, and a second electrode layer is formed. . In such an organic EL device, the second electrode layer is formed of a thin film formed so as to span a plurality of pixels, and in the case where the electrical resistance of the second electrode layer is high or the electrical resistance is uneven in some places, the organic EL device In this case, variation in brightness occurs. Particularly in the top emission type organic EL device in which light emitted from the organic EL element is emitted from the side where the second electrode layer is located (opposite to the side where the supporting substrate is located), the second electrode layer has a light transmissive property. In order to make thin the film thickness of a 2nd electrode layer, brightness nonuniformity resulting from the electrical resistance of a 2nd electrode layer is easy to generate | occur | produce.

Therefore, it is proposed to prevent the luminance unevenness caused by the electrical resistance of the second electrode layer by forming the auxiliary wiring layer in contact with the second electrode layer on the upper or lower layer side of the second electrode layer by a metal film such as aluminum. According to this technique, for example, as shown in FIG. 10, the auxiliary wiring layer 88 extends so as to pass between the adjacent pixels 100a so as not to block light emitted from the organic EL element. (Refer patent document 1).

[Patent Document 1] Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2006-80094

However, in the structure of patent document 1, since it is necessary to ensure sufficient space for passing the auxiliary wiring layer 88 between the adjacent pixels 100a, it is necessary to make pixel size small. In the case where color display is performed by placing a light-transmissive substrate having a color filter on the substrate on which the organic EL element is formed, in order to prevent color mixing, the light shielding layer ( 23 is often formed, however, in such a case, it is necessary to form the light shielding layer 23 widely so that the auxiliary wiring layer 88 does not protrude from the light shielding layer 23, and as a result, in the pixel 100a. Therefore, there also exists a problem that the ratio (pixel aperture ratio) which a light emission area occupies falls.

In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide an organic EL device which does not need to widen the width of the region sandwiched between adjacent pixels even when the auxiliary wiring layer is formed.

MEANS TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM In order to solve the said subject, in this invention, it has the pixel area | region which several pixel was arrange | positioned at the one surface side of a support substrate, At least a 1st electrode layer, a light emitting layer, and a translucent 2nd electrode layer in each of the said some pixel In an organic EL device comprising organic EL elements stacked in order and emitting light emitted from the organic EL elements from a side where the second electrode layer is located, the second electrode layer is the entire surface of the pixel region. Or formed almost on the entire surface, a stripe-like or lattice-shaped auxiliary wiring layer is formed on the upper layer side or the lower layer side of the second electrode layer, and the auxiliary wiring layer is formed of a metal layer having a light-transmitting thickness. In addition, it is formed so that at least one part may overlap with the organic electroluminescent element in each of the said some pixel in plan view. It characterized.

In the present invention, the auxiliary wiring layer is made of a metal layer such as a silver layer, a silver alloy layer, or the like, and is formed with a film thickness that is thin enough to exhibit light transmittance. For this reason, even if the auxiliary wiring layer is formed so as to overlap the pixel in plan view, the amount of emitted light does not significantly decrease. Therefore, it is not necessary to pass the auxiliary wiring layer between adjacent pixels, and it is not necessary to ensure a wide space between the pixels, so that the pixel size can be increased.

In the present invention, the auxiliary wiring layer preferably comprises a silver layer or a silver alloy layer.

In this invention, the structure provided with the translucent board | substrate arrange | positioned facing one side of the said support substrate can be employ | adopted.

In this case, the light transmissive substrate may have a configuration in which a stripe-like or lattice-shaped light shielding layer is formed in a region overlapping in plan view with a region sandwiched between adjacent pixels. Also in this case, since the auxiliary wiring layer may overlap with the light shielding layer in plan view, the width dimension of the light shielding layer may be narrow. Therefore, the ratio (pixel aperture ratio) which a light emission area occupies in a pixel can be made high.

In the organic EL device to which the present invention is applied, in the case where a light of different colors is emitted from a plurality of pixels, for example, the light-transmissive substrate may have a color filter of a different color in a region overlapping the plurality of pixels in plan view. What is necessary is just to employ | adopt the structure in which is formed. Further, the plurality of organic EL elements may be configured to emit light of different colors.

In this invention, it is preferable that the said auxiliary wiring layer comprises the half mirror layer which comprises an optical resonator between the light reflection surface arrange | positioned on the said support substrate side rather than the said auxiliary wiring layer. Do. In this way, since the color purity emitted from each pixel can be improved, a color image with high quality can be displayed.

In the present invention, a half mirror layer made of a metal layer in contact with the second electrode layer is formed on an upper layer side or a lower layer side of the second electrode layer, and the half mirror layer is an organic EL element in each of the plurality of pixels. It is preferable that the optical resonator is formed so that at least a part overlaps in planar view and between the light reflection surface arrange | positioned at the said support substrate side rather than the said half mirror layer. In this way, since the color purity emitted from each pixel can be improved, a color image with high quality can be displayed. In addition, since the half mirror layer is made of a metal layer, the half mirror layer also exhibits the same function as the auxiliary wiring layer. In this case, the half mirror layer is preferably made of a silver layer, a silver alloy layer, an aluminum layer or an aluminum alloy layer.

In this invention, the structure of the area | region where the said half mirror layer overlaps in plan view with respect to the organic electroluminescent element of the said pixel may employ | adopt the structure which differs according to the color which the said pixel opposes.

The organic EL device to which the present invention is applied is used as a direct-viewing display unit or the like in an electronic device such as a cellular phone or a mobile computer.

(The best form to carry out invention)

EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiment of this invention is described. In the drawings referred to in the following description, in order to make each layer or each member a size that can be recognized on the drawing, the scales are different for each layer or each member.

Embodiment 1

(Overall configuration)

1 is an equivalent circuit diagram showing an electrical configuration of an organic EL device to which the present invention is applied. In the organic EL device 100 shown in FIG. 1, on the first substrate 10, a plurality of scan lines 3a and a plurality of data lines 6a extending in a direction crossing with the scan line 3a, It has the some power supply line 3e extended in parallel with respect to the scanning line 3a. In the first substrate 10, a plurality of pixels 100a are arranged in a matrix in the rectangular pixel region 10a. The data line driver circuit 101 is connected to the data line 6a, and the scan line driver circuit 104 is connected to the scan line 3a. In each of the pixel regions 10a, the switching thin film transistor 30b is supplied with the scanning signal to the gate electrode via the scanning line 3a, and from the data line 6a through the switching thin film transistor 30b. A storage capacitor 70 holding the supplied pixel signal, a driving thin film transistor 30c in which the pixel signal held by the storage capacitor 70 is supplied to the gate electrode, and the thin film transistor 30c Between the first electrode layer 81 (anode layer) through which the drive current flows from the power supply line 3e when electrically connected to the power supply line 3e, and between the first electrode layer 81 and the cathode layer. An organic EL element 80 having an organic functional layer sandwiched therein is formed.

According to such a structure, when the scanning line 3a is driven and the switching thin film transistor 30b is turned on, the electric potential of the data line 6a at that time will be hold | maintained in the holding capacitor 70, and the holding capacitor ( The on / off state of the driving thin film transistor 30c is determined in accordance with the charge held by 70. Then, a current flows from the power supply line 3e to the first electrode layer 81 through the channel of the driving thin film transistor 30c, and a current flows to the counter electrode through the organic functional layer. As a result, the organic EL element 80 emits light in accordance with the amount of current flowing therethrough.

In the organic EL device 100 configured as described above, the plurality of pixels 100a correspond to red (R), green (G), and blue (B), respectively, red (R), green (G), and blue. One pixel is comprised by the three pixel 100a of (B). In this embodiment, the organic EL element 80 emits white light or mixed color light of red (R), green (G), and blue (B), and the pixel 100a is red (R) and green (G). ), Which corresponds to blue (B), is defined by the color filter layer described later.

In addition, in the structure shown in FIG. 1, although the power supply line 3e was parallel with the scanning line 3a, the structure which the power supply line 3e is parallel to the data line 6a may be employ | adopted. In addition, in the structure shown in FIG. 1, although the holding capacitor | capacitance 70 was comprised using the power supply line 3e, the capacitance line is formed separately from the power supply line 3e, and the holding capacitance 70 is formed by such a capacitance line. ) May be configured.

(Specific Configuration of Organic EL Device)

2 (a) and 2 (b) are a plan view of the planar configuration of the organic EL device to which the present invention is applied, as well as each component, as viewed from the second substrate side, and a cross-sectional view taken along the line J-J '. In addition, illustration of a color filter layer etc. is abbreviate | omitted in FIG.2 (b). 2A and 2B, in the organic EL device 100 of the present embodiment, the first substrate 10 serving as the element substrate, the sealing substrate, and the color filter layer substrate are in charge of both functions. The 2nd board | substrate 20 is provided in the 1st board | substrate 10, and the 2nd board | substrate 20 overlaps and is arrange | positioned in the surface side in which the some organic electroluminescent element 80 is formed. The first substrate 10 and the second substrate 20 are joined by a first sealing material layer 91 and a second sealing material layer 92. Although the detailed structure of such a 1st sealing material layer 91 and the 2nd sealing material layer 92 is mentioned later, the 1st sealing material layer 91 is shown as the area | region where the dot was closely stuck in FIG. It is formed in frame shape along the periphery area | region 10c which surrounds the periphery of area | region 10a. In contrast, the second sealing material layer 92 is formed over the entire region surrounded by the first sealing material layer 91, as shown in FIG.

In the first substrate 10, a terminal 102 is formed in a protruding region from the second substrate 20. In the first substrate 10, the data line driving circuit 101 described with reference to FIG. 1 using the peripheral region 10c or the region sandwiched between the pixel region 10a and the peripheral region 10c. And a scanning line driver circuit 104 (not shown) is formed.

(Configuration of Organic EL Element)

3A and 3B are cross-sectional views schematically showing a cross-sectional structure of an organic EL device to which the present invention is applied, and an enlarged cross-sectional view schematically showing one of the pixels in an enlarged manner. 3 (a), only three organic EL elements corresponding to red (R), green (G), and blue (B) are shown as organic EL elements.

As shown to Fig.3 (a), (b), the 1st board | substrate 10 is equipped with the support substrate 10d which consists of a quartz substrate, a glass substrate, a ceramic substrate, a metal plate, etc. The insulating films 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15 are formed on the surface of the supporting substrate 10d, and the organic EL element 80 is formed on the upper layer of the insulating film 15. In this embodiment, the insulating films 11, 12, 13, and 15 are formed of a silicon oxide film, a silicon nitride film, or the like, and the insulating film 14 is formed as a flattening film made of a thick photosensitive resin having a thickness of 1.5 to 2.0 mu m. have. Although the insulating film 11 is a base insulating layer and is not shown in figure, the thin film transistors 30b and 30c described with reference to FIG. 1 by using the layers between the insulating films 11, 12, 13 and 14, etc., The holding capacitor 70, various wirings, and each driving circuit are formed. Moreover, the electrical connection of the electrically conductive films formed between different layers is performed using the contact hole formed in the insulating films 12, 13, 14, and 15. FIG.

The organic EL device 100 of the present embodiment is a top emission type, and as shown by an arrow L1, light is taken out from the side on which the organic EL element 80 is formed, as seen by the support substrate 10d. As the substrate 10d, an opaque substrate such as ceramics such as alumina, stainless steel, or the like can be used. In addition, the light reflection layer 41 which consists of aluminum, silver, and their alloy is formed between the layers of the insulating films 14 and 15, and the light reflected from the organic electroluminescent element 80 toward the support substrate 10d is a light reflection layer By reflecting at 41, light can be emitted.

In the first substrate 10, a transmissive first electrode layer 81 (anode / pixel electrode) made of an ITO film, an IZO film, or the like is formed in an island shape on the upper layer of the insulating film 15. On the upper layer of the electrode layer 81, thick barrier ribs 51 made of photosensitive resin or the like having an opening for defining a light emitting area are formed.

The organic functional layer 82 and the transmissive second electrode layer 83 (cathode) are laminated on the upper layer of the first electrode layer 81, and the first electrode layer 81, the organic functional layer 82, and the second The organic EL element 80 is formed by the electrode layer 83. In this embodiment, the organic functional layer 82 and the second electrode layer 83 also include a region where the partition walls 51 are formed, and are formed over the entire surface or almost the entire surface of the pixel region 10a. have. Here, a constant potential is applied to the second electrode layer 83 directly or through a cathode wiring.

In this embodiment, the organic functional layer 82 includes a hole injection layer made of a triarylamine (ATP) multimer, a TPD (triphenyldiamine) based hole transport layer, a styrylamine containing an anthracene dopant or a rubrene dopant. The light emitting layer made of a system material (host) and the electron injection layer made of aluminum quinolinol (Alq ₃ ) were laminated in this order, and the second electrode layer 83 made of a thin film metal such as MgAg was formed thereon. Formed. In addition, an electron injection buffer layer made of LiF may be formed between the organic functional layer 82 and the second electrode layer 83. Of these materials, each layer constituting the organic functional layer 82 and the electron injection buffer layer can be sequentially formed by a vacuum evaporation method using a heating boat. In addition, the metal material constituting the second electrode layer 83 or the like can be formed by vacuum deposition, and the oxide material such as ITO constituting the first electrode layer 81 can be formed by the ECR plasma sputtering method or the plasma gun. Can be formed by a high density plasma film forming method such as ion plating method, magnetron sputtering method or the like.

In this embodiment, the organic EL element 80 emits white light or mixed color light of red (R), green (G), and blue (B). For this reason, in the organic electroluminescent apparatus 100, the color filter layer of red (R), green (G), and blue (B) formed in the position which opposes the organic EL element 80 in the 2nd board | substrate 20. FIG. By performing color conversion by (22 (R), (G), (B)), full color display is performed. That is, the second substrate 20 is formed of a plastic substrate such as polyethylene terephthalate, an acrylic resin, polycarbonate, polyolefin, or a transparent support substrate 20d (transparent substrate) made of a glass substrate or the like. Light leakage occurs between the green (G) and blue (B) color filter layers 22 (R), (G) and (B) and the color filter layers 22 (R), (G) and (B). A light-transmissive gas barrier layer 25 made of a light shielding layer 23 (black matrix layer), a light-transmissive flattening film 24, a silicon oxynitride layer, or the like for prevention is formed in this order. The color filter layers 22 (R), (G), and (B) are layers in which a pigment or dye is mixed in a transparent resin binder, and it is basic to use red (R), green (G), and blue (B). However, you may add light blue, light cyan, white etc. according to the objective. The thickness of the color filter layers 22 (R), (G), and (B) is preferably thinner as possible in consideration of light transmittance, and is formed in the range of 0.1 to 1.5 mu m, and the thicknesses differ depending on the corresponding color. There is work. The light shielding layer 23 is made of a resin containing a black pigment, and the thickness thereof is thicker than that of the color filter layers 22 (R), (G) and (B), and a film thickness of about 1 to 2 µm is preferable. The above film thickness may be sufficient. In addition, the second substrate 20 may be formed with a resin layer such as an ultraviolet blocking / absorption layer for preventing the incidence of ultraviolet rays, a light reflection prevention layer, a heat dissipation layer, or the like.

In the organic EL device 100 configured as described above, the organic functional layer 82, the second electrode layer 83 used as the cathode, the electron injection layer, and the like are easily deteriorated by moisture, and such deterioration is deteriorated in the electron injection effect. Causing a non-light-emitting portion called a dark spot. So, in this embodiment, the structure which joined the 1st board | substrate 10 as the sealing board 2nd board | substrate 20, and the structure which provided the sealing film 60 demonstrated below about the 1st board | substrate 10 are shown. Use together.

First, the sealing film 60 is formed in the 1st board | substrate 10 over the area | region larger than the pixel area | region 10a in the upper layer of the 2nd electrode layer 83. FIG. As the encapsulation film 60, in this embodiment, the first layer 61 made of a silicon compound layer laminated on the second electrode layer 83, and the second layer made of a resin layer laminated on the first layer 61. The laminated film provided with the layer 62 and the 3rd layer 63 which consists of a silicon compound laminated | stacked on this 2nd layer 62 is used. The first layer 61 and the third layer 63 have a high density plasma vapor deposition method using a high density plasma source, for example, plasma gun type ion plating, an ECR plasma sputter, an ECR plasma CVD, and a surface wave plasma. It is composed of silicon nitride (SiN _x ), silicon oxynitride (SiO _x N _y ), etc. formed by CVD, ICP-CVD, etc., and this thin film is a high-density gas barrier layer that reliably blocks water even when formed at low temperatures. Function. The second layer 62 is formed of a functional layer, and flattens the surface irregularities caused by the partition walls 51 and the wiring to prevent cracks in the first layer 61 and the third layer 63. It functions as a buffer layer.

Next, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2 (a), (b), and FIG. 3, between the 1st board | substrate 10 and the 2nd board | substrate 20 along the peripheral area | region 10c. The first sealing material layer 91 is formed in a rectangular frame shape, and the transparent second sealing material layer 92 is formed over the entire area surrounded by the peripheral area 10c, and the first substrate 10 is formed. And the second substrate 20 are bonded to each other by the first sealing material layer 91 and the second sealing material layer 92. In the present embodiment, an epoxy adhesive 91a that is cured by ultraviolet rays is used for the first sealing material layer 91. The first sealing material layer 91 interposes between the first substrate 10 and the second substrate 20 to control the substrate gap between the first substrate 10 and the second substrate 20. A bead shape or fiber shape gap material 95 is dispersed in the resin 96, and the gap between the first substrate 10 and the second substrate 20 is It is controlled by the gap material 95. The epoxy adhesive 92a which hardens with heat is used for the 2nd sealing material layer 92. As shown in FIG.

(Configuration of Auxiliary Cathode Layer and Main Effects of the Present Mode)

4 is an explanatory diagram showing a planar positional relationship between an auxiliary wiring layer and a pixel formed in the organic EL device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In addition, in FIG. 4, the area | region where the auxiliary wiring layer was formed is shown by the dotted line of the right lower side, In FIG. 4, the light shielding layer 23 formed in the 2nd board | substrate 20 is drawn with the diagonal line of the right rising. The area is shown. 4, each pixel 100a and the organic electroluminescent element 80 are shown with the rectangular solid line.

The organic EL device 100 configured as described above is a saw that emits light emitted from the organic EL element 80 from the side where the second electrode layer 83 is located (opposite to the side where the supporting substrate 10d is located). Since it is an emission type, light transmittance is required for the second electrode layer 83. For this reason, since the second electrode layer 83 has a thin film thickness and is set to, for example, less than 10 nm, the second electrode layer 83 tends to have nonuniform electrical resistance depending on the place, and the nonuniformity of the electrical resistance is luminance. It causes nonuniformity.

Therefore, in this embodiment, the auxiliary wiring layer 84 which contacts the 2nd electrode layer 83 in the lower layer side of the 2nd electrode layer 83 is formed. In this embodiment, as shown in Figs. 3A, 4B, and 4, the auxiliary wiring layer 84 includes a light emitting region (organic EL element 80) in each of the plurality of pixels 100a. Formed in a stripe shape so that at least a portion thereof overlaps in plan view, and two auxiliary wiring layers 84 pass parallel to one pixel 100a. With respect to such auxiliary wiring layer 84, the electrostatic potential is not applied to the auxiliary wiring layer 84 directly, or through the cathode wiring, except that it is responsible for the reduction of the electrical resistance as a whole of the second electrode layer 83 and the nonuniformity. It may be authorized.

Here, the auxiliary wiring layer 84 is made of a silver layer or silver alloy layer having a higher electrical conductivity than aluminum, and is formed to have a thin film thickness, for example, less than 10 nm, to exhibit almost perfect light transmittance. For this reason, with this form, even if the auxiliary wiring layer 84 is formed so that it may overlap with the pixel 100a by planar view, the amount of emitted light will not fall significantly. Therefore, it is not necessary to pass the auxiliary wiring layer 84 between the adjacent pixels 100a, and it is not necessary to secure a wide space for passing the auxiliary wiring layer 84 between the adjacent pixels 100a. Therefore, the pixel size can be increased. Moreover, since it does not need to overlap completely with the light shielding layer 23 formed in the 2nd board | substrate 20 in plan view, the width dimension of the light shielding layer 23 may be narrow. Therefore, according to this embodiment, the ratio (pixel aperture ratio) which the light emission area occupies in the pixel 100a is high. Therefore, according to the organic electroluminescent apparatus 100 of this form, the image with high brightness and high quality can be displayed.

Embodiment 2

5 is an explanatory diagram showing a planar positional relationship between an auxiliary wiring layer and a pixel formed in the organic EL device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In addition, since the basic structure of this embodiment is the same as that of Embodiment 1, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the common part, and their description is abbreviate | omitted. In addition, the basic structure of the pixel of the organic electroluminescent apparatus of this form is demonstrated with reference to FIG.3 (a), (b).

Similarly to the first embodiment, the organic EL device of this embodiment is also of the top emission type, so that light transmitting property is required for the second electrode layer 83 shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B. For this reason, since the film thickness of the 2nd electrode layer 83 is set thin, in the 2nd electrode layer 83, electrical resistance tends to be nonuniform in some places, and such an electrical resistance nonuniformity produces a brightness nonuniformity. Therefore, also in this embodiment, the auxiliary wiring layer 84 which contacts the 2nd electrode layer 83 is formed in the lower layer side of the 2nd electrode layer 83 similarly to 1st Embodiment. The auxiliary wiring layer 84 is not applied with a static potential, and a static potential is applied directly or through a cathode wiring, except that it is responsible for reducing the electrical resistance as a whole of the second electrode layer 83 and eliminating nonuniformity. In some cases.

In this embodiment, the auxiliary wiring layer 84 is formed in the light emitting region (organic EL element 80) in each of the plurality of pixels 100a, as shown in FIGS. 3A, 5B, and 5. Formed in a stripe shape so that at least a portion thereof overlaps in plan view, and a wide auxiliary wiring layer 84 passes through one pixel 100a. Here, the auxiliary wiring layer 84 is made of a silver layer or a silver alloy layer having a higher electrical conductivity than aluminum, and is formed with a film thickness that is thin enough to exhibit light transmittance. For this reason, with this form, even if the auxiliary wiring layer 84 is formed so that it may overlap with the pixel 100a by planar view, the amount of emitted light will not fall significantly. Therefore, it is not necessary to pass the auxiliary wiring layer 84 between the adjacent pixels 100a, and it is not necessary to secure a wide space for passing the auxiliary wiring layer 84 between the adjacent pixels 100a. Therefore, the pixel size can be increased. Moreover, since it does not need to overlap completely with the light shielding layer 23 formed in the 2nd board | substrate 20 in plan view, the width dimension of the light shielding layer 23 may be narrow. Therefore, according to this embodiment, the ratio (pixel aperture ratio) which the light emission area occupies in the pixel 100a is high.

Here, since the thickness of the auxiliary wiring layer 84 is thicker than that of the first embodiment and is, for example, about 10 nm, the auxiliary wiring layer 84 functions as a half mirror layer. Therefore, in this embodiment, the optical resonator is formed using the auxiliary wiring layer 84 (half mirror layer), and the spectrum of the light emitted from the organic EL element 80 is adjusted for each color corresponding to the pixel 100a. In constructing such an optical resonator, for example, the structure in which the film thickness of the first electrode layer 81 shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B differs for each color corresponding to the pixel 100a or the first electrode layer The film thickness of the insulating film 15 interposed between the 81 and the light reflection layer 41 is configured such that the pixel 100a differs for each color corresponding thereto. As a result, an optical resonator having an optical path length corresponding to the wavelength of the color corresponding to the pixel 100a is formed between the auxiliary wiring layer 84 (half mirror layer) and the light reflection layer 41. Therefore, from each pixel 100a, the light which has been adjusted by the optical resonator and the light directly emitted without passing through the auxiliary wiring layer 84 is emitted by the optical resonator. After color conversion in (R), (G), (B)), it is emitted. Therefore, since the light excellent in color purity is emitted from each pixel 100a, a color image with high quality can be displayed.

Embodiment 3

6 is an explanatory diagram showing a planar positional relationship between an auxiliary wiring layer and a pixel formed in the organic EL device according to the third embodiment of the present invention. In addition, since the basic structure of this embodiment is the same as that of Embodiment 1, 2, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to common parts, and their description is abbreviate | omitted. In addition, the basic structure of the pixel of the organic electroluminescent apparatus of this form is demonstrated with reference to FIG.3 (a), (b).

Also in the organic EL device of this embodiment, since it is a top emission type similarly to Embodiment 1, 2, light transmittance is calculated | required by the 2nd electrode layer 83 shown to FIG. 3 (a), (b). For this reason, since the film thickness of the 2nd electrode layer 83 is set thin, in the 2nd electrode layer 83, electrical resistance tends to be nonuniform in some places, and such an electrical resistance nonuniformity produces a brightness nonuniformity. Therefore, also in this embodiment, the auxiliary wiring layer 84 which contacts the 2nd electrode layer 83 is formed in the lower layer side of the 2nd electrode layer 83 similarly to 1st Embodiment. With respect to such auxiliary wiring layer 84, the electrostatic potential is not applied to the auxiliary wiring layer 84 directly or through the cathode wiring, except that the function of reducing the electrical resistance as a whole of the second electrode layer 83 and eliminating nonuniformity is performed. It may be authorized.

In this embodiment, as shown in Figs. 3A, 6B, and 6, the auxiliary wiring layer 84 has a light emitting region in each of the plurality of pixels 100a (the organic EL element 80 is a mold). Formed regions are formed in a stripe shape so that at least a portion thereof overlaps in plan view, and two auxiliary wiring layers 84 pass through and parallel to one pixel 100a. Here, the auxiliary wiring layer 84 is made of a silver layer or silver alloy layer having a higher electrical conductivity than aluminum, and is formed to have a thin film thickness, for example, less than 10 nm, to exhibit almost perfect light transmittance.

In this embodiment, the half mirror layer 85 is formed between the same layers as the auxiliary wiring layer 84 (between the organic functional layer 82 and the second electrode layer 83). Here, the half mirror layer 85 is formed in a stripe shape so that at least part of the half mirror layer 85 overlaps with the light emitting region (the region where the organic EL element 80 is formed) in each of the plurality of pixels 100a. Each pixel 100a passes in parallel with the auxiliary wiring layer 84. Here, the half mirror layer 85 is made of a high conductivity silver layer such as aluminum, an aluminum alloy, silver, or a silver alloy, and is formed to have a thin film thickness of about 10 nm, for example, to exhibit light transmittance of about tens of percent.

In this embodiment, the half mirror layer 85 has an optical path length corresponding to the wavelength of the corresponding color of the pixel 100a between the light reflection layers 41 shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B. It consists of an optical resonator. That is, the film thickness of the first electrode layer 81 shown in Figs. 3A and 3B or the film thickness of the insulating film 15 interposed between the first electrode layer 81 and the light reflection layer 41 is The pixels 100a are different for each corresponding color. Therefore, from each pixel 100a, light which has been adjusted to the corresponding color by the optical resonator and light emitted without passing through the half mirror layer 85 are emitted. 22 (R), (G), and (B) are then converted into color, and then emitted. Therefore, since the light excellent in color purity is emitted from each pixel 100a, a color image with high quality can be displayed.

In addition, since the half mirror layer 85 is made of a silver layer having high conductivity, such as aluminum, aluminum alloy, silver, or silver alloy, the electric potential as a whole of the second electrode layer 83 is not applied and a nonuniformity is not applied. In addition to performing the function of eliminating, the same function as that of the auxiliary wiring layer 84 is applied, such as the application of an electrostatic potential directly or through a cathode wiring. Therefore, according to this embodiment, the half mirror layer 85 and the auxiliary wiring layer 84 can effectively reduce the electrical resistance and eliminate the nonuniformity as the second electrode layer 83 as a whole.

Embodiment 4

7 is an explanatory diagram showing a planar positional relationship between an auxiliary wiring layer and a pixel formed in the organic EL device according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. In addition, since the basic structure of this embodiment is the same as that of Embodiment 3, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to common parts, and their description is abbreviate | omitted. In addition, the basic structure of the pixel of the organic electroluminescent apparatus of this form is demonstrated with reference to FIG.3 (a), (b).

As shown in FIG. 7, also in this embodiment, similarly to the third embodiment, the auxiliary wiring layer 84 exhibiting almost perfect light transmittance so as to pass through each of the plurality of pixels 100a, and light transmittance of about tens of percent is exhibited. The half mirror layer 85 is passed through the pixel 100a. In adopting such a configuration, in Embodiment 3, two auxiliary wiring layers 84 are extended in parallel at one end portion of the pixel 100a, and the half mirror layer 85 is formed at the other end portion. Although it extended in parallel to two auxiliary wiring layers 84, there is no limitation in the positional relationship, As shown in FIG. 7, the structure which the half mirror layer 85 extends between two auxiliary wiring layers 84 is shown. You may employ | adopt.

[Embodiment 5]

8 is an explanatory diagram showing a planar positional relationship between an auxiliary wiring layer and a pixel formed in the organic EL device according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention. In addition, since the basic structure of this embodiment is the same as that of Embodiment 3, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to common parts, and their description is abbreviate | omitted. In addition, the basic structure of the pixel of the organic electroluminescent apparatus of this form is demonstrated with reference to FIG.3 (a), (b).

As shown in FIG. 8, also in this embodiment, as in the third embodiment, the auxiliary wiring layer 84 exhibiting almost perfect light transmittance so as to pass through each of the plurality of pixels 100a, and light transmittance of about tens of percent is exhibited. The half mirror layer 85 is passed through the pixel 100a. In adopting such a configuration, in the third embodiment, the area where the half mirror layer 85 overlaps with the pixel 100a is the same in any of the plurality of pixels 100a, but in this embodiment, the half mirror layer is the same. The width dimension of 85 differs for each color corresponding to the pixel 100a, and the area where the half mirror layer 85 overlaps each pixel 100a includes color filters 23 (R), (G), Considering the color conversion characteristics of (B)), the light emission characteristics of the organic EL element 80, the visibility between each color, and the like, the following relationship

Pixel 100a (G) <Pixel 100a (B) <Pixel 100a (R)

Is set to. Therefore, according to this aspect, a color image with high quality can be displayed.

[Other Embodiments]

In the above embodiment, the auxiliary wiring layer 84 and the half mirror layer 85 are formed on the lower layer side of the second electrode layer 83, but the auxiliary wiring layer 84 and the half mirror layer 85 are formed on the second electrode layer 83. You may form in the upper layer side of the. In addition, in the said embodiment, although the auxiliary wiring layer 84 and the half mirror layer 85 were formed in the same layer, one of the auxiliary wiring layer 84 and the half mirror layer 85 was lower layer side of the 2nd electrode layer 83. And the other may be formed on the upper layer side of the second electrode layer 83.

In the above embodiment, the auxiliary wiring layer 84 and the half mirror layer 85 are formed in a stripe shape, but may be formed in a lattice shape. In addition, one of the auxiliary wiring layer 84 and the half mirror layer 85 may be formed in a stripe shape, and the other may be formed in a lattice shape.

In the said embodiment, although the case where the color filter layer 22 (R), (G), (B) was formed in the 2nd board | substrate 20 in the top emission type organic electroluminescent apparatus 100 was demonstrated to the example, organic The present invention may be applied to an organic EL device in which the EL element itself emits light of each color. In this case, the second substrate 20 functions only as a sealing substrate.

In addition, in the said embodiment, although the organic electroluminescent apparatus 100 for color display was demonstrated to the example, when using it as an optical head etc. of a copying machine, it may be black and white and you may apply this invention to such an organic electroluminescent apparatus for such monochromes. . Also in this case, the second substrate 20 functions only as the sealing substrate.

In the above embodiment, the example in which the organic functional layer 82 is formed on the entire surface of the pixel region 10a has been described. However, the organic functional layer is selectively coated in the region surrounded by the partition wall 51 by an inkjet method or the like. After fixing, the organic EL having a hole injection layer made of 3,4-polyethylenedioxythiophene / polystyrenesulfonic acid (PEDOT / PSS) or the like and an organic functional layer made of a light emitting layer are formed on the upper layer of the first electrode layer 81. You may apply invention to an apparatus. In this case, the light emitting layer is, for example, polyfluorene derivatives, polyphenylene derivatives, polyvinylcarbazoles, polythiophene derivatives, or polymer materials thereof, for example, perylene pigments, coumarin pigments, rhodamine pigments, For example, it is comprised from materials doped with rubrene, perylene, 9,10-diphenylanthracene, tetraphenylbutadiene, nile red, coumarin 6, quinacridone and the like. As the light emitting layer, the π-conjugated polymer material, in which the double bond π electrons are delocalized on the polymer chain, is excellent in luminescence performance because it is also a conductive polymer, and thus is suitably used. In particular, a compound having a fluorene skeleton in its molecule, that is, a polyfluorene-based compound, is more suitably used. In addition to such a material, a composition containing a precursor of a conjugated polymer organic compound and at least one fluorescent dye for changing the luminescence properties can also be used.

[Example of mounting on an electronic device]

With reference to FIG. 9, the electronic device which mounts the organic electroluminescent apparatus 100 which concerns on embodiment mentioned above is demonstrated. 9 is an explanatory diagram of an electronic device using the organic EL device according to the present invention.

The structure of the mobile personal computer provided with the organic electroluminescent apparatus 100 in FIG. 9 (a) is shown. The personal computer 2000 includes an organic EL device 100 as a display unit and a main body part 2010. The main body 2010 is provided with a power switch 2001 and a keyboard 2002. Fig. 9B shows the structure of a mobile phone having the organic EL device 100. The mobile phone 3000 includes a plurality of operation buttons 3001, a scroll button 3002, and an organic EL device 100 as a display unit. By operating the scroll button 3002, the screen displayed on the organic EL device 100 is scrolled. FIG. 9C shows a configuration of an information portable terminal (PDA: Personal-Digital-Assistants) to which the organic EL device 100 is applied. The information portable terminal 4000 includes a plurality of operation buttons 4001, a power switch 4002, and an organic EL device 100 as a display unit. When the power switch 4002 is operated, various types of information such as an address book and a schedule book are displayed on the organic EL device 100. In addition, as an electronic device to which the organic EL device 100 is applied, as shown in Figs. 9A to 9C, a digital still camera, a liquid crystal TV, a viewfinder type, and a monitor direct view type video tape recorder are shown. And a car navigation device, a pager, an electronic notebook, an electronic desk calculator, a word processor, a workstation, a TV phone, a POS terminal, and a device provided with a touch panel. As the display unit of these various electronic devices, the above-described organic EL device 100 can be applied.

1 is an equivalent circuit diagram showing an electrical configuration of an organic EL device to which the present invention is applied.

2 (a) and 2 (b) are a plan view of the planar configuration of the organic EL device to which the present invention is applied, as well as each component, as viewed from the side of the second substrate, and a cross-sectional view taken along the line J-J '.

3A and 3B are cross-sectional views schematically showing a cross-sectional structure of an organic EL device to which the present invention is applied, and an enlarged cross-sectional view schematically showing one of the pixels in an enlarged manner.

4 is an explanatory diagram showing a planar positional relationship between an auxiliary wiring layer and a pixel formed in the organic EL device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

5 is an explanatory diagram showing a planar positional relationship between an auxiliary wiring layer and a pixel formed in the organic EL device according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

6 is an explanatory diagram showing a planar positional relationship between an auxiliary wiring layer and a pixel formed in the organic EL device according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

7 is an explanatory diagram showing a planar positional relationship between an auxiliary wiring layer and a pixel formed in the organic EL device according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

8 is an explanatory diagram showing a planar positional relationship between an auxiliary wiring layer and a pixel formed in the organic EL device according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

9 is an explanatory diagram of an electronic apparatus using the organic EL device according to the present invention.

10 is an explanatory diagram showing a planar positional relationship between an auxiliary wiring layer formed in a conventional organic EL device and a pixel.

(Explanation of symbols for the main parts of the drawing)

10: first substrate

10a: pixel area

20: second substrate

22 (R), (G), (B): color filter layer

23: light shielding layer

80: organic EL device

81: first electrode layer

82: organic functional layer

83: second electrode layer

84: auxiliary wiring layer

85: half mirror layer

100: organic EL device

100a: pixels

Claims (10)

A pixel region in which a plurality of pixels are arranged on one side of the support substrate, and each of the plurality of pixels includes an organic EL element in which at least a first electrode layer, a light emitting layer, and a light-transmissive second electrode layer are laminated in order; In an organic EL device for emitting light emitted from the organic EL element from the side where the second electrode layer is located, The second electrode layer is formed on the entire surface or almost the entire surface of the pixel region, On the upper layer side or the lower layer side of the second electrode layer, a stripe-like or lattice-shaped auxiliary wiring layer in contact with the second electrode layer is formed. The auxiliary wiring layer is made of a metal layer having a light-transmitting thickness, and is formed so that at least a part of the auxiliary wiring layer overlaps the organic EL element in each of the plurality of pixels in plan view. . The method of claim 1, The auxiliary wiring layer is composed of a silver layer or a silver alloy layer. The method according to claim 1 or 2, An organic EL device comprising a translucent substrate disposed on one side of the support substrate so as to face each other. The method of claim 3, The light-transmitting substrate is formed with a light-shielding layer having a stripe shape or a lattice shape in a region overlapping in plan view with a region sandwiched between adjacent pixels. The method according to claim 3 or 4, An organic EL device according to claim 1, wherein a color filter having a different color is formed in each region overlapping the plurality of pixels in plan view. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, The plurality of organic EL elements emit light of different colors. The method according to claim 5 or 6, The auxiliary wiring layer comprises a half mirror layer constituting an optical resonator between the auxiliary wiring layer and the light reflection surface disposed on the support substrate side rather than the auxiliary wiring layer. . The method according to any one of claims 5 to 7, On the upper layer side or the lower layer side of the second electrode layer, a half mirror layer made of a metal layer in contact with the second electrode layer is formed, The half mirror layer is formed such that at least a portion of the half mirror layer overlaps with the organic EL element in each of the plurality of pixels in plan view, and is arranged between the light reflection surface disposed on the support substrate side rather than the half mirror layer. The organic electroluminescent apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned. The method of claim 8, The half mirror layer is composed of a silver layer, a silver alloy layer, an aluminum layer, or an aluminum alloy layer. The method according to any one of claims 5 to 9, An area of an area where the half mirror layer overlaps with respect to the organic EL element in plan view differs according to colors in which the pixels face each other.

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