Sealing member, self-emitting panel, and method of manufacturing self-emitting panel

• US 20060125392A1
• Filed: 12/13/2005
• Published: 06/15/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Tohoku Pioneer Company Limited (Pioneer Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Tohoku Pioneer Company Limited (Pioneer Corporation)
• Inventors: Munekata, Yoichi
• Application Number:
  US11/299,693
• Publication Number:
  US 20060125392A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 313/512
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/841 Self-supporting sealing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/8423 Metallic sealing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/844 Encapsulations
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/846 comprising getter material or desiccants

Abstract

In a sealing method using a hermetic-sealing method, humidity in a sealing space is kept constant.

In a sealing member 103 which isolates a self-emitting device 101 of a self-emitting panel 150 having the self-emitting device 101 provided on a substrate 102 from open air, film formation is carried out on a base material of the sealing member 103 such that functional layers 107 each having insulating properties and adjusting humidity inside a sealing space 106 are formed on a recess 103b which faces the inside of the sealing space 106 formed of the sealing member 103 and a substrate 102, a side 103ab, and a bottom 103aa joined to the substrate 102.

Claims

1. A sealing member for isolating, from open air, at least a self-emitting device of a self-emitting panel having the self-emitting device provided on a substrate, wherein

film formation is carried out on a base material of said sealing member such that functional layers each having insulating properties and adjusting humidity inside a sealing space are formed on a surface facing the inside of the sealing space formed by said sealing member and said substrate, and a surface joined to said substrate.

2. The sealing member as claimed in claim 1, wherein said functional layer comprises a moisture absorption functional layer which absorbs the humidity inside said sealing space or said moisture absorption functional layer and a moisture retention functional layer which keeps the humidity inside said sealing space constant.

3. The sealing member as claimed in claim 2, wherein said functional layer comprises the moisture retention functional layer formed on said base material, and the moisture absorption functional layer stacked and formed on said moisture retention functional layer.

4. The sealing member as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said base material is of a conductive material.

5. The sealing member as claimed in claim 1, wherein said base material is of a conductive material and has a flange part which forms said sealing space and is joined to said substrate, and said functional layer is continuously formed over the whole surface facing the inside of said sealing space and said flange part.

6. The sealing member as claimed in claim 1, wherein part of said functional layer formed on said base material is removed, said part being joined to said substrate, and said base material is joined to said substrate through an insulative spacer disposed at said part to be joined.

7. A self-emitting panel having a substrate,at least a self-emitting device in which a light emitting layer is provided between a pair of electrodes on said substrate, and a sealing member which is stacked on said substrate and isolates said self-emitting device from open air, wherein

said sealing member is arranged such that functional layers each having insulating properties and adjusting the humidity inside said sealing space are formed on a surface facing the inside of said sealing space formed by said sealing member and said substrate, and the surface joined to said substrate.

8. The self-emitting panel as claimed in claim 7, wherein said self-emitting device is an organic EL device.

9. A method of manufacturing at least a self-emitting device of a self-emitting panel in which at least a light emitting layer is formed between a pair of electrodes on a substrate, said method comprising:

a functional film formation step, for a sealing member joined to said substrate, of forming functional layers each having insulating properties and adjusting humidity inside a sealing space, on a surface facing the inside of said sealing space formed by the sealing member and said substrate, and a surface joined to said substrate, and a sealing step of joining said sealing member to said substrate, and isolating said self-emitting device from open air.

10. The method of manufacturing the self-emitting panel as claimed in claim 9, wherein said functional film formation step comprises:

a moisture retention functional layer formation step of forming a moisture retention functional layer which keeps the humidity inside the sealing space constant on said substrate, and

a moisture absorption functional layer formation step of forming a moisture absorption functional layer which is stacked on said moisture retention functional layer, and absorbs moisture inside said sealing space.