Self-emitting element, display panel, display apparatus, and method of manufacturing self-emitting element

• US 20090115330A1
• Filed: 12/19/2008
• Published: 05/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Element Capital Commercial Company Pte. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Yamauchi, Taisuke
• Granted Patent: US 7,821,202 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 313/506
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 2102/3026 Top emission
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/844 Encapsulations
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/856 comprising reflective means
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/858 comprising refractive means, e.g. lenses
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/86 Arrangements for improving contrast, e.g. preventing reflection of ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/122 Pixel-defining structures or layers, e.g. banks
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/173 comprising banks or shadow masks
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/873 Encapsulations
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/878 comprising reflective means
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/879 comprising refractive means, e.g. lenses
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/8791 Arrangements for improving contrast, e.g. preventing reflection of ambient light

Abstract

A display panel includes a light-emitting layer, a protective layer, a reflective layer, and a reflective surface. The protective layer is deposited on an emitting side of the light-emitting layer and forms an interface with an external medium. The protective layer has a thickness that allows the light emitted from the light-emitting layer to undergo total reflection at least once at the interface in an area of the light-emitting layer. The reflective layer is deposited on an opposite side of the protective layer with respect to the light-emitting layer. The reflective surface is at a periphery of the light-emitting layer and changes the direction of the light propagating inside the protective layer emitted from the light-emitting layer.

Claims

1. A light-emitting element comprising:

a substrate having a first surface;

a bank above the first surface of the substrate;

a display layer disposed surrounding the bank, the display layer including a light-emitting layer;

a protective layer disposed above the display layer, the protective layer having a second surface facing away from the display layer;

a protrusion disposed on the bank, a width of the protrusion near the bank being larger than a width of the protrusion near a tip of the protrusion;

a reflecting film disposed on an inclined surface of the protrusion;

the first surface being separated from the second surface by a first distance that is smaller than a second distance separating the first surface from the tip of the protrusion.

2. The light-emitting element according to claim 1, the display layer including:

a first electrode layer;

a second electrode disposed farther from the substrate than the first electrode; and

a light-emitting layer disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode.

3. The light-emitting element according to claim 1, the first electrode being a reflective layer having a function to reflect a part of light emitted from the light emitting layer.

4. The light-emitting element according to claim 1, a reflective index of the protective layer being larger than a reflective index of the light-emitting layer.

5. The light-emitting element according to claim 1, the protrusion being formed by an insulating material.

6. A display panel being formed by disposing the plurality of light-emitting element in a two dimensional in matrix according to claim 1.

7. A display panel being formed by disposing the plurality of light-emitting element in a two dimensional in matrix according to claim 2.

8. A display panel being formed by disposing the plurality of light-emitting element in a two dimensional in matrix according to claim 3.

9. A display panel being formed by disposing the plurality of light-emitting element in a two dimensional in matrix according to claim 4.

10. A display panel being formed by disposing the plurality of light-emitting element in a two dimensional in matrix according to claim 5.