Organic EL element, organic EL display panel using same, and organic EL display panel manufacturing method

• US 10,707,283 B2
• Filed: 06/06/2018
• Issued: 07/07/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: JDI Design and Development GK
• Original Assignee: JOLED Inc.
• Inventors: Kondo, Tetsuro
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Sophia T
• Application Number:
  US16/001,399
• Publication Number:
  US 20180286935A1
• Time in Patent Office: 762 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/1218 with a particular composition or structure of the substrate
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/856 comprising reflective means
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/00 Integrated devices, or assemblies of multiple devices, comprising at least one organic light-emitting element covered by group H10K50/00
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/122 Pixel-defining structures or layers, e.g. banks
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/123 Connection of the pixel electrodes to the thin film transistors [TFT]
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/124 Insulating layers formed between TFT elements and OLED elements
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/125 including organic TFTs [OTFT]
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/126 Shielding, e.g. light-blocking means over the TFTs
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/131 Interconnections, e.g. wiring lines or terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 71/00 Manufacture or treatment specially adapted for the organic devices covered by this subclass

Abstract

An organic EL display panel in which pixels are arranged in a matrix, including: light-emitting layers disposed above pixel electrode layers in intervals between adjacent ones of column banks; an opposing electrode layer disposed above the light-emitting layers, the opposing electrode layer including a light-transmissive material; column light-shielding layers disposed higher than the pixel electrode layers, extending in the column direction, arranged side-by-side in the row direction, and overlapping row-direction edge portions of the pixel electrode layers in plan view of a substrate; and row light-shielding layers disposed higher than the pixel electrode layers, extending in the row direction, arranged side-by-side in the column direction, overlapping column-direction edge portions of the pixel electrode layers and partially overlapping contact regions in plan view of the substrate.

Claims

1. An organic EL element, comprising:

a substrate;

a thin film transistor disposed in the substrate;

a pixel electrode layer disposed on the substrate, the pixel electrode layer including a light-reflective material;

banks disposed on the substrate and on the pixel electrode layer, covering edge portions of the pixel electrode layer and a portion of a contact region of the pixel electrode layer, the contact region being for electrically connecting the pixel electrode layer;

a light-emitting layer disposed above the pixel electrode layer, wherein the light-emitting layer extends continuously in a column direction above the banks and is interrupted by the banks in a row direction;

an opposing electrode layer disposed above the light-emitting layer, the opposing electrode layer including a light-transmissive material; and

a light-shielding layer including a column light-shielding layer that extends in the column direction and a row light-shielding layer that extends in the row direction, and disposed higher than the pixel electrode layer, the light-shielding layer overlapping the edge portions of the pixel electrode layers, wherein;

a source or a drain of the thin-film transistor is connected to the pixel electrode layer via a connecting recess in which a portion of the pixel electrode layer is recessed in a direction of the substrate,

in a plan view of the substrate, the light-shielding layer does not completely overlap the contact region,

a width in the row direction of the column light-shielding layer is greater than a distance in the row direction between adjacent ones of the pixel electrode layers, and a width in the column direction of the row light-shielding layer is greater than a distance in the column direction between adjacent ones of the pixel electrode layers,

any two light-emitting layers disposed in intervals between row banks that are adjacent to each other in the column direction emit the same color of light, and

the light-shielding layer is formed between each pixel electrode and does not overlap the connecting recess.

2. The organic element of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of pixels arranged in a row direction and a column direction in a matrix;

a plurality of thin-film transistors arranged in the row direction and the column direction in a matrix in the substrate, in positions corresponding to the pixels, wherein

in the plan view of the substrate, row light-shielding layers do not overlap with the connecting recesses.

3. The organic EL element of claim 1, wherein

the light-emitting layer emits light of a different color than adjacent light-emitting layers disposed in adjacent intervals between the banks.

4. The organic EL element of claim 1, further comprising:

an upper substrate disposed above the opposing electrode, the upper substrate including a light-transmissive material, wherein

the light-shielding layer is disposed in direct contact with the upper substrate.

5. The organic EL element of claim 1, further comprising:

column banks disposed on the substrate and on the pixel electrode layer,

wherein the light-shielding layer is disposed on an upper surface of the column banks.

6. The organic EL element of claim 1, wherein

the light-shielding layer is disposed on an upper surface of the banks.

7. The organic EL element of claim 1, further comprising:

a hole injection layer disposed on the pixel electrode layer.

8. The organic EL element of claim 7, further comprising:

a hole transport layer disposed on the hole injection layer, wherein an upper surface of the hole injection layer contacts a lower surface of the hole transport layer.

9. The organic EL element of claim 1, wherein the light-shielding layer includes a resin material including an ultraviolet light curable resin.

10. An organic EL element comprising:

a substrate;

a thin film transistor disposed in the substrate;

a pixel electrode layer disposed on the substrate, the pixel electrode layer including a light-reflective material;

banks disposed on the substrate and on the pixel electrode layer, covering edge portions of the pixel electrode layer, wherein the banks include a row bank linearly extending in a row direction and a column bank linearly extending in a column direction;

a light-emitting layer disposed above the pixel electrode layer, wherein the light-emitting layer extends continuously in the column direction above the banks and is interrupted by the banks in the row direction;

an opposing electrode layer disposed above the light-emitting layer, the opposing electrode layer including a light-transmissive material; and

a light-shielding layer including a column light-shielding layer that extends in the column direction and a row light-shielding layer that extends in the row direction, and disposed higher than the pixel electrode layer, the light-shielding layer overlapping the edge portions of the pixel electrode layers, wherein;

a source or a drain of the thin-film transistor is connected to the pixel electrode layer via a connecting recess in which a portion of the pixel electrode layer is recessed in a direction of the substrate,

a portion of the row bank covering the connecting recess,

in a plan view of the substrate, the light-shielding layer partially overlaps the row bank,

any two light-emitting layers disposed in intervals between row banks that are adjacent to each other in the column direction emit the same color of light, and

the light-shielding layer is formed between each pixel electrode and does not overlap the connecting recess.

11. The organic EL element of claim 10, wherein the banks include a material having insulating properties.

12. The organic EL element of claim 10, wherein the portion of the row bank entirely covers the connecting recess.

13. The organic EL element of claim 10, wherein the light-emitting layer is disposed above the row bank.