Light-emitting device and electronic device using the same

• US 10,475,856 B2
• Filed: 09/28/2016
• Issued: 11/12/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Seo, Satoshi, Kimura, Hajime, Yamazaki, Shunpei
• Primary Examiner(s): Harris, Dorothy
• Application Number:
  US15/278,591
• Publication Number:
  US 20170084672A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2330/028 Generation of voltages supplied to electrode drivers in a matrix display other than LCD
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/2011 by amplitude modulation
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/2022 using sub-frames
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/2074 using sub-pixels
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/2077 by a combination of two or more gradation control methods
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3233 with pixel circuitry controlling the current through the light-emitting element
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3291 in which the data driver supplies a variable data voltage for setting the current through, or the voltage across, the light-emitting elements
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 2101/10 Triplet emission
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/11 characterised by the electroluminescent [EL] layers
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/125 specially adapted for multicolour light emission, e.g. for emitting white light
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/351 comprising more than three subpixels, e.g. red-green-blue-white [RGBW]
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/353 characterised by the geometrical arrangement of the RGB subpixels

Abstract

It is an object to provide a light-emitting device and an electronic device which can provide an image with excellent image quality. One of the present inventions is a light-emitting device including a plurality of light-emitting elements each exhibiting a different emission color. At least one of the plurality of light-emitting elements has n light-emitting layers (n is a natural number, n≥2) between a pair of electrodes. Further, at least one of the n light-emitting layers includes a substance which provides emission from a triplet excitation state. In a light-emitting device having such a structure, an image is displayed by combining emissions from the plurality of light-emitting elements.

Claims

1. A light-emitting device comprising:

a first light-emitting element exhibiting a first emission color over a substrate, the first light-emitting element having first to fourth sides;

a second light-emitting element exhibiting a second emission color, provided on the second side of the first light-emitting element;

a third light-emitting element exhibiting a third emission color, provided on the third side of the first light-emitting element; and

a fourth light-emitting element exhibiting a fourth emission color, provided on the fourth side of the first light-emitting element,

wherein the first emission color is different from the second emission color, the third emission color, and the fourth emission color,

wherein the first light-emitting element and the second light-emitting element share a first light-emitting layer,

wherein the first light-emitting element and the third light-emitting element share a second light-emitting layer,

wherein the first light-emitting element and the fourth light-emitting element share a third light-emitting layer,

wherein the first light-emitting layer and the second light-emitting layer are overlapped with each other with the third light-emitting layer interposed therebetween in the first light-emitting element,

wherein the second light-emitting layer is in direct contact with each of the first light-emitting layer and the third light-emitting layer, and

wherein the first light-emitting layer is not included in the third light-emitting element and the fourth light-emitting element.

2. The light-emitting device according to claim 1,

wherein the second light-emitting layer is not included in the second light-emitting element and the fourth light-emitting element.

3. The light-emitting device according to claim 1,

wherein the third light-emitting layer is not included in the second light-emitting element and the third light-emitting element.

4. The light-emitting device according to claim 1,

wherein the first light-emitting element, the second light-emitting element, and the third light-emitting element are arranged in a first direction,

wherein the first light-emitting element and the fourth light-emitting element are arranged in a second direction, and

wherein the first direction is vertical to the second direction.

5. The light-emitting device according to claim 1, wherein the first emission color is white.

6. The light-emitting device according to claim 1, wherein the second emission color, the third emission color, and the fourth emission color are red, green and blue, respectively.

7. A light-emitting device comprising:

a first light-emitting element exhibiting a first emission color over a substrate, the first light-emitting element having first to fourth sides;

a second light-emitting element exhibiting a second emission color, provided on the second side of the first light-emitting element;

a third light-emitting element exhibiting a third emission color, provided on the third side of the first light-emitting element;

a fourth light-emitting element exhibiting a fourth emission color, provided on the fourth side of the first light-emitting element; and

a fifth light-emitting element exhibiting a fifth emission color, provided on the first side of the first light-emitting element,

wherein the first emission color is different from the second emission color, the third emission color, the fourth emission color, and the fifth emission color,

wherein the fourth emission color and the fifth emission color are the same emission color,

wherein the first light-emitting element and the second light-emitting element share a first light-emitting layer,

wherein the first light-emitting element and the third light-emitting element share a second light-emitting layer,

wherein the first light-emitting element and the fourth light-emitting element share a third light-emitting layer,

wherein the first light-emitting layer and the second light-emitting layer are overlapped with each other with the third light-emitting layer interposed therebetween in the first light-emitting element,

wherein the second light-emitting layer is in direct contact with each of the first light-emitting layer and the third light-emitting layer, and

wherein the first light-emitting layer is not included in the third light-emitting element and the fourth light-emitting element.

8. The light-emitting device according to claim 7,

wherein the second light-emitting layer is not included in the second light-emitting element and the fourth light-emitting element.

9. The light-emitting device according to claim 7,

wherein the third light-emitting layer is not included in the second light-emitting element and the third light-emitting element.

10. The light-emitting device according to claim 7,

wherein the first light-emitting element, the second light-emitting element, and the third light-emitting element are arranged in a first direction,

wherein the first light-emitting element, the fourth light-emitting element, and the fifth light-emitting element are arranged in a second direction, and

wherein the first direction is vertical to the second direction.

11. The light-emitting device according to claim 7, wherein the first emission color is white.

12. The light-emitting device according to claim 7, wherein the second emission color, the third emission color, and the fourth emission color are red, green and blue, respectively.