Light emitting device, method of manufacturing the same, and manufacturing apparatus therefor

• US 20060208263A1
• Filed: 05/12/2006
• Published: 09/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Hamatani, Toshiji, Takayama, Toru, Yamazaki, Shunpei
• Granted Patent: US 7,420,210 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 257/83
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 21/67207 comprising a chamber adapted to a particular process
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 2102/3026 Top emission
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/125 specially adapted for multicolour light emission, e.g. for emitting white light
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/13 comprising stacked EL layers within one EL unit
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/84 Passivation; Containers; Encapsulations
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/841 Self-supporting sealing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/844 Encapsulations
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/865 comprising light absorbing layers, e.g. light-blocking layers
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/12 Active-matrix OLED [AMOLED] displays
• 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 59/17 Passive-matrix OLED displays
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/32 Stacked devices having two or more layers, each emitting at different wavelengths
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/35 comprising red-green-blue [RGB] subpixels
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/353 characterised by the geometrical arrangement of the RGB subpixels
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/38 comprising colour filters or colour changing media [CCM]
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 71/00 Manufacture or treatment specially adapted for the organic devices covered by this subclass

Abstract

A light emitting device having high definition, a high aperture ratio, and high reliability is provided. The present invention achieves high definition and a high aperture ratio with a full color flat panel display using red, green, and blue color emission light by intentionally forming laminate portions, wherein portions of different organic compound layers of adjacent light emitting elements overlap with each other, without depending upon the method of forming the organic compound layers or the film formation precision.

Claims

1-25. -25. (canceled)

26. A light emitting device comprising:

a first light emitting element, the first light emitting element comprising a first light emitting layer between a first electrode and a second electrode;

a second light emitting element adjacent to the first light emitting element, the second light emitting element comprising a second light emitting layer between the second electrode and a third electrode; and

an insulator covering an end of the first electrode and an end of the third electrode,

wherein the second light emitting layer overlaps the first electrode, the insulator, the third electrode, and the first light emitting layer.

28. The light emitting device according to claim 26, wherein the insulator comprises an inorganic insulator.

30. The light emitting device according to claim 26, wherein the first light emitting element emits light of one color selected from the group consisting of red, green, and blue.

32. The light emitting device according to claim 26, wherein the second light emitting element emits light of one color selected from the group consisting of red, green, and blue.

34. The light emitting device according to claim 26, wherein color of light emitted from the first light emitting element is different from color of light emitted from the second light emitting element.

36. An active electroluminescence module having the light emitting device according to claim 26.

38. A passive electroluminescence module having the light emitting device according to claim 26.

40. The light emitting device according to claim 26, wherein the light emitting device is incorporated into an electronic equipment selected from the group consisting of a video camera, a digital camera, a head mounted display, a car navigation system, a car stereo, a personal computer, a mobile computer, a mobile phone, an electronic book, a player using a recording medium, and a display.

42. The light emitting device according to claim 26, wherein a hole injecting layer and a hole transporting layer are provided between the first light emitting layer and the first electrode, and between the second light emitting layer and the third electrode.

44. The light emitting device according to claim 26, wherein the first electrode is electrically connected to a first thin film transistor and the third electrode is electrically connected to a second thin film transistor.

27. A light emitting device comprising:

a first light emitting element, the first light emitting element comprising a first light emitting layer between a first electrode and a second electrode;

a second light emitting element adjacent to the first light emitting element, the second light emitting element comprising a second light emitting layer between the second electrode and a third electrode; and

a bank covering an end of the first electrode and an end of the third electrode,

wherein the second light emitting layer overlaps the first electrode, the insulator, the third electrode, and the first light emitting layer.

29. The light emitting device according to claim 27, wherein the bank comprises an organic resin.

31. The light emitting device according to claim 27, wherein the first light emitting element emits light of one color selected from the group consisting of red, green, and blue.

33. The light emitting device according to claim 27, wherein the second light emitting element emits light of one color selected from the group consisting of red, green, and blue.

35. The light emitting device according to claim 27, wherein color of light emitted from the first light emitting element is different from color of light emitted from the second light emitting element.

37. An active electroluminescence module having the light emitting device according to claim 27.

39. A passive electroluminescence module having the light emitting device according to claim 27.

41. The light emitting device according to claim 27, wherein the light emitting device is incorporated into an electronic equipment selected from the group consisting of a video camera, a digital camera, a head mounted display, a car navigation system, a car stereo, a personal computer, a mobile computer, a mobile phone, an electronic book, a player using a recording medium, and a display.

43. The light emitting device according to claim 27 wherein a hole injecting layer and a hole transporting layer are provided between the first light emitting layer and the first electrode, and between the second light emitting layer and the third electrode.

45. The light emitting device according to claim 27, wherein the first electrode is electrically connected to a first thin film transistor and the third electrode is electrically connected to a second thin film transistor.