DISPLAY DEVICE, ELECTRONIC APPARATUS, AND METHOD OF FABRICATING THE DISPLAY DEVICE

• US 20100176720A1
• Filed: 02/04/2010
• Published: 07/15/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: YAMAZAKI, Shunpei
• Granted Patent: US 8,237,355 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 313/509
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/1222 with a particular composition, shape or crystalline structure of the active layer
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/1277 using a crystallisation promoting species, e.g. local introduction of Ni catalyst
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/1288 employing particular masking sequences or specially adapted masks, e.g. half-tone mask
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/153 in a repetitive configuration, e.g. LED bars
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 29/78675 with normal-type structure, e.g. with top gate
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 2102/311 Flexible OLED
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/8428 Vertical spacers, e.g. arranged between the sealing arrangement and the OLED
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/1201 Manufacture or treatment
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/1213 the pixel elements being TFTs
• 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 59/38 comprising colour filters or colour changing media [CCM]
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/8723 Vertical spacers, e.g. arranged between the sealing arrangement and the OLED
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/874 including getter material or desiccant
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 71/00 Manufacture or treatment specially adapted for the organic devices covered by this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 71/164 using vacuum deposition
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 71/166 using selective deposition, e.g. using a mask
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 77/111 Flexible substrates
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/549 Organic PV cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 : Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product

Abstract

It is an object of the invention to provide a technique to manufacture a display device with high image quality and high reliability at low cost with high yield. The invention has spacers over a pixel electrode layer in a pixel region and over an insulating layer functioning as a partition which covers the periphery of the pixel electrode layer. When forming a light emitting material over a pixel electrode layer, a mask for selective formation is supported by the spacers, thereby preventing the mask from contacting the pixel electrode layer due to a twist and deflection thereof. Accordingly, such damage as a crack by the mask does not occur in the pixel electrode layer. Thus, the pixel electrode layer does not have a defect in shapes, thereby a display device which performs a high resolution display with high reliability can be manufactured.

Claims

1. A display device comprising:

a first spacer over a first electrode layer;

an insulating layer covering an end portion of the first electrode layer;

a second spacer over the insulating layer;

an electroluminescent layer including a light emitting layer over the first electrode layer and the first spacer; and

a second electrode layer over the electroluminescent layer including the light emitting layer,

wherein the light emitting layer exhibits monochromatic emission or white emission, and

wherein the first spacer is entirely covered with the electroluminescent layer including the light emitting layer.

4. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the first spacer and the second spacer have columnar shapes.

5. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the first spacer and the insulating layer are separated.

6. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the first spacer and the insulating layer are connected.

7. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the first spacer and the second spacer are separated.

9. The display device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a thin film transistor including a gate electrode layer, a gate insulating layer, a semiconductor layer, a source electrode layer and a drain electrode layer;

wherein the source electrode layer or the drain electrode layer and the first electrode layer are electrically connected to each other.

19. An electronic apparatus having the display device according to claim 1,

said apparatus being selected from the group consisting of a television device, a computer, an image reproducing device provided with a recording medium, a portable phone, and a video camera.

22. The display device according to claim 1, wherein a color of the monochromatic emission is one selected from the group consisting of red, green, and blue.

2. A display device comprising:

a first spacer over a first electrode layer;

an insulating layer covering an end portion of the first electrode layer;

a second spacer over the insulating layer;

an electroluminescent layer including a light emitting layer over the first electrode layer and the first spacer; and

a second electrode layer over the electroluminescent layer including the light emitting layer,

wherein the insulating layer and the first spacer are made of the same material,

wherein the light emitting layer exhibits monochromatic emission or white emission, and

wherein the first spacer is entirely covered with the electroluminescent layer including the light emitting layer.

8. The display device according to claim 2, wherein the first spacer and the second spacer are separated.

10. The display device according to claim 2, wherein the first spacer and the second spacer have columnar shapes.

12. The display device according to claim 2, wherein the first spacer and the insulating layer are separated.

14. The display device according to claim 2, wherein the first spacer and the insulating layer are connected.

17. The display device according to claim 2, further comprising:

a thin film transistor including a gate electrode layer, a gate insulating layer, a semiconductor layer, a source electrode layer and a drain electrode layer;

wherein the source electrode layer or the drain electrode layer and the first electrode layer are electrically connected to each other.

20. An electronic apparatus having the display device according to claim 2,

said apparatus being selected from the group consisting of a television device, a computer, an image reproducing device provided with a recording medium, a portable phone, and a video camera.

23. The display device according to claim 2, wherein a color of the monochromatic emission is one selected from the group consisting of red, green, and blue.

3. A display device comprising:

a first spacer over a first electrode layer;

an insulating layer covering an end portion of the first electrode layer;

a second spacer over the insulating layer;

an electroluminescent layer including a light emitting layer over the first electrode layer and the first spacer; and

a second electrode layer over the electroluminescent layer including the light emitting layer,

wherein the first spacer and the second spacer are made of the same material,

wherein the light emitting layer exhibits monochromatic emission or white emission, and

wherein the first spacer is entirely covered with the electroluminescent layer including the light emitting layer.

11. The display device according to claim 3, wherein the first spacer and the second spacer have columnar shapes.

13. The display device according to claim 3, wherein the first spacer and the insulating layer are separated.

15. The display device according to claim 3, wherein the first spacer and the insulating layer are connected.

16. The display device according to claim 3, wherein the first spacer and the second spacer are separated.

18. The display device according to claim 3, further comprising:

a thin film transistor including a gate electrode layer, a gate insulating layer, a semiconductor layer, a source electrode layer and a drain electrode layer;

wherein the source electrode layer or the drain electrode layer and the first electrode layer are electrically connected to each other.

21. An electronic apparatus having the display device according to claim 3,

said apparatus being selected from the group consisting of a television device, a computer, an image reproducing device provided with a recording medium, a portable phone, and a video camera.

24. The display device according to claim 3, wherein a color of the monochromatic emission is one selected from the group consisting of red, green, and blue.