Method of manufacturing organic EL display

• US 20050269962A1
• Filed: 07/27/2005
• Published: 12/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Japan Display Central Incorporated (Japan Display Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Toshiba Matsushita Display Technology (Japan Display Incorporated)
• Inventors: Matsunaga, Ikuo
• Granted Patent: US 7,645,631 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/169.300
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/12 Active-matrix OLED [AMOLED] displays
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/122 Pixel-defining structures or layers, e.g. banks
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 71/00 Manufacture or treatment specially adapted for the organic devices covered by this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 71/861 Repairing

Abstract

There is provided a method of manufacturing an organic EL display including an insulating substrate, a power supply terminal, a plurality of pixels arrayed on the substrate and each including an organic EL element and a pixel circuit, and an organic planarizing film covering the pixel circuits and interposed between the organic EL elements and the substrate, including selecting a pixel which can be recognized as a dark spot and/or a bright spot from the pixels, and irradiating, of the pixel circuit included in the selected pixel, a portion located between the organic planarizing film and the substrate with an energy beam through the substrate to electrically disconnect the organic EL element included in the selected pixel from the power supply terminal.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing an organic EL display comprising an insulating substrate with light transmittance properties, a power supply terminal, a plurality of pixels arrayed in a matrix on the insulating substrate and each including an organic EL element and a pixel circuit which controls power supply from the power supply terminal to the organic EL element, and an organic planarizing film covering the pixel circuits and interposed between the organic EL elements and the insulating substrate, comprising:

selecting a pixel which can be recognized as a dark spot and/or a bright spot from the pixels; and

irradiating, of the pixel circuit included in the selected pixel, a portion located between the organic planarizing film and the insulating substrate with an energy beam through the insulating substrate to electrically disconnect the organic EL element included in the selected pixel from the power supply terminal.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the organic EL display further comprises a partition insulating layer which covers at least part of the pixel circuit with the organic planarizing film interposed therebetween and surrounds the organic EL element, the partition insulating layer including an organic insulating layer, and

wherein a portion of the pixel circuit included in the selected pixel which is located between the organic planarizing film and the insulating substrate and between the organic insulating layer and the insulating substrate is irradiated with the energy beam.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the energy beam irradiation is carried out such that a volume V (μ

m³) of the portion of the pixel circuit which is irradiated with the energy beam, and an energy R (mJ) of the energy beam with which the portion is irradiated satisfy a relationship given by an inequality;

0.067×

V<

R<

0.17×

V.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the pixel circuit comprises a drive control element including a first terminal connected to a first power supply terminal, a control terminal, and a second terminal which outputs a driving current having a magnitude corresponding to a voltage between the first terminal and the control terminal, wherein the organic EL element is connected between the second terminal and a second power supply terminal, and wherein the drive control element is irradiated with the energy beam.

7. A method according to claim 2, wherein the pixel circuit comprises a drive control element including a first terminal connected to a first power supply terminal, a control terminal, and a second terminal which outputs a driving current having a magnitude corresponding to a voltage between the first terminal and the control terminal, wherein the organic EL element is connected between the second terminal and a second power supply terminal, and wherein the drive control element is irradiated with the energy beam.

8. A method according to claim 3, wherein the pixel circuit comprises a drive control element including a first terminal connected to a first power supply terminal, a control terminal, and a second terminal which outputs a driving current having a magnitude corresponding to a voltage between the first terminal and the control terminal, wherein the organic EL element is connected between the second terminal and a second power supply terminal, and wherein the drive control element is irradiated with the energy beam.

11. A method according to claim 1, wherein the pixel circuit comprises a drive control element including a first terminal connected to a first power supply terminal, a control terminal, and a second terminal which outputs a driving current having a magnitude corresponding to a voltage between the first terminal and the control terminal, wherein the organic EL element is connected between the second terminal and a second power supply terminal, and wherein one of an interconnection which connects the first power supply terminal to the first terminal and an interconnection which connects the second terminal to the organic EL element is irradiated with the energy beam.

12. A method according to claim 2, wherein the pixel circuit comprises a drive control element including a first terminal connected to a first power supply terminal, a control terminal, and a second terminal which outputs a driving current having a magnitude corresponding to a voltage between the first terminal and the control terminal, wherein the organic EL element is connected between the second terminal and a second power supply terminal and wherein one of an interconnection which connects the first power supply terminal to the first terminal and an interconnection which connects the second terminal to the organic EL element is irradiated with the energy beam.

13. A method according to claim 3, wherein the pixel circuit comprises a drive control element including a first terminal connected to a first power supply terminal, a control terminal, and a second terminal which outputs a driving current having a magnitude corresponding to a voltage between the first terminal and the control terminal, wherein the organic EL element is connected between the second terminal and a second power supply terminal, and wherein one of an interconnection which connects the first power supply terminal to the first terminal and an interconnection which connects the second terminal to the organic EL element is irradiated with the energy beam.

16. A method according to claim 1, wherein the pixel circuit comprises a drive control element including a first terminal connected to a first power supply terminal, a control terminal, and a second terminal which outputs a driving current having a magnitude corresponding to a voltage between the first terminal and the control terminal,

wherein the organic EL element comprises a plurality of anodes which are spaced apart from each other and connected in parallel with the second terminal, a cathode which is connected to the second power supply terminal and faces the anodes, and an organic layer which is interposed between the anodes and the cathode and includes a light-emitting layer, and

wherein an interconnection which connects one of the anodes included in the selected pixel to the second terminal is irradiated with the energy beam.

17. A method according to claim 2, wherein the pixel circuit comprises a drive control element including a first terminal connected to a first power supply terminal, a control terminal, and a second terminal which outputs a driving current having a magnitude corresponding to a voltage between the first terminal and the control terminal,

wherein the organic EL element comprises a plurality of anodes which are spaced apart from each other and connected in parallel with the second terminal, a cathode which is connected to the second power supply terminal and faces the anodes, and an organic layer which is interposed between the anodes and the cathode and includes a light-emitting layer, and

wherein an interconnection which connects one of the anodes included in the selected pixel to the second terminal is irradiated with the energy beam.

18. A method according to claim 3, wherein the pixel circuit comprises a drive control element including a first terminal connected to a first power supply terminal, a control terminal, and a second terminal which outputs a driving current having a magnitude corresponding to a voltage between the first terminal and the control terminal,

wherein the organic EL element comprises a plurality of anodes which are spaced apart from each other and connected in parallel with the second terminal, a cathode which is connected to the second power supply terminal and faces the anodes, and an organic layer which is interposed between the anodes and the cathode and includes a light-emitting layer, and

wherein an interconnection which connects one of the anodes included in the selected pixel to the second terminal is irradiated with the energy beam.

21. A method according to claim 1, wherein the portion of the pixel circuit, which is irradiated with the energy beam, is made of polysilicon.

22. A method according to claim 2, wherein the portion of the pixel circuit, which is irradiated with the energy beam, is made of polysilicon.

23. A method according to claim 3, wherein the portion of the pixel circuit, which is irradiated with the energy beam, is made of polysilicon.

4. A method of manufacturing an organic EL display comprising an insulating substrate with light transmittance properties, a power supply terminal, a plurality of pixels arrayed in a matrix on the insulating substrate and each including an organic EL element and a pixel circuit which controls power supply from the power supply terminal to the organic EL element, and a partition insulating layer covering at least part of the pixel circuit and surrounding the organic EL element, the partition insulating layer including an organic insulating layer, comprising:

selecting a pixel which can be recognized as a dark spot and/or a bright spot from the pixels; and

irradiating, of the pixel circuit included in the selected pixel, a portion located between the organic insulating layer and the insulating substrate with an energy beam through the insulating substrate to electrically disconnect the organic EL element included in the selected pixel from the power supply terminal.

9. A method according to claim 4, wherein the pixel circuit comprises a drive control element including a first terminal connected to a first power supply terminal, a control terminal, and a second terminal which outputs a driving current having a magnitude corresponding to a voltage between the first terminal and the control terminal, wherein the organic EL element is connected between the second terminal and a second power supply terminal, and wherein the drive control element is irradiated with the energy beam.

14. A method according to claim 4, wherein the pixel circuit comprises a drive control element including a first terminal connected to a first power supply terminal, a control terminal, and a second terminal which outputs a driving current having a magnitude corresponding to a voltage between the first terminal and the control terminal, wherein the organic EL element is connected between the second terminal and a second power supply terminal, and wherein one of an interconnection which connects the first power supply terminal to the first terminal and an interconnection which connects the second terminal to the organic EL element is irradiated with the energy beam.

19. A method according to claim 4, wherein the pixel circuit comprises a drive control element including a first terminal connected to a first power supply terminal, a control terminal, and a second terminal which outputs a driving current having a magnitude corresponding to a voltage between the first terminal and the control terminal,

wherein the organic EL element comprises a plurality of anodes which are spaced apart from each other and connected in parallel with the second terminal, a cathode which is connected to the second power supply terminal and faces the anodes, and an organic layer which is interposed between the anodes and the cathode and includes a light-emitting layer, and

wherein an interconnection which connects one of the anodes included in the selected pixel to the second terminal is irradiated with the energy beam.

24. A method according to claim 4, wherein the portion of the pixel circuit, which is irradiated with the energy beam, is made of polysilicon.

5. A method of manufacturing an organic EL display comprising an insulating substrate with light transmittance properties, a power supply terminal, and a plurality of pixels arrayed in a matrix on the insulating substrate and each including an organic EL element and a pixel circuit which controls power supply from the power supply terminal to the organic EL element, comprising:

selecting a pixel which can be recognized as a dark spot and/or a bright spot from the pixels; and

irradiating part of the pixel circuit included in the selected pixel with an energy beam through the insulating substrate to electrically disconnect the organic EL element included in the selected pixel from the power supply terminal, wherein the energy beam irradiation is carried out such that a volume V (μ

m³) of the portion of the pixel circuit which is irradiated with the energy beam, and an energy R (mJ) of the energy beam with which the portion is irradiated satisfy a relationship given by an inequality;

0.067×

V<

R<

0.17×

V

10. A method according to claim 5, wherein the pixel circuit comprises a drive control element including a first terminal connected to a first power supply terminal, a control terminal, and a second terminal which outputs a driving current having a magnitude corresponding to a voltage between the first terminal and the control terminal, wherein the organic EL element is connected between the second terminal and a second power supply terminal, and wherein the drive control element is irradiated with the energy beam.

15. A method according to claim 5, wherein the pixel circuit comprises a drive control element including a first terminal connected to a first power supply terminal, a control terminal, and a second terminal which outputs a driving current having a magnitude corresponding to a voltage between the first terminal and the control terminal, wherein the organic EL element is connected between the second terminal and a second power supply terminal, and wherein one of an interconnection which connects the first power supply terminal to the first terminal and an interconnection which connects the second terminal to the organic EL element is irradiated with the energy beam.

20. A method according to claim 5, wherein the pixel circuit comprises a drive control element including a first terminal connected to a first power supply terminal, a control terminal, and a second terminal which outputs a driving current having a magnitude corresponding to a voltage between the first terminal and the control terminal,

wherein the organic EL element comprises a plurality of anodes which are spaced apart from each other and connected in parallel with the second terminal, a cathode which is connected to the second power supply terminal and faces the anodes, and an organic layer which is interposed between the anodes and the cathode and includes a light-emitting layer, and

wherein an interconnection which connects one of the anodes included in the selected pixel to the second terminal is irradiated with the energy beam.

25. A method according to claim 5, wherein the portion of the pixel circuit, which is irradiated with the energy beam, is made of polysilicon.