Multi-color light emission apparatus with organic electroluminescent device

• US 5,909,081 A
• Filed: 08/06/1997
• Issued: 06/01/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Idemitsu Kosan Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Idemitsu Kosan Company Limited
• Inventors: Matsuura, Masahide, Eida, Mitsuru, Tokailin, Hiroshi
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Shea, Sandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): DAY, MICHAEL HENRY
• Application Number:
  US08/875,756
• Time in Patent Office: 664 Days
• Field of Search: 313/504, 313/501, 313/506, 313/509, 313/512, 428/917, 345/76, 345/36, 345/45, 315/169.3, 257/40
• US Class Current: 313/504
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3216 using a passive matrix
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/053 protected by inert gas
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 33/10 Apparatus or processes specially adapted to the manufacture of electroluminescent light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 33/12 Light sources with substantially two-dimensional radiating surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 33/22 characterised by the chemical or physical composition or the arrangement of auxiliary dielectric or reflective layers
• 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 59/38 comprising colour filters or colour changing media [CCM]
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/871 Self-supporting sealing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/873 Encapsulations
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/8792 comprising light absorbing layers, e.g. black layers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 428/917 Electroluminescent

Abstract

This invention provides a multi-color light emission apparatus wherein a transparent inorganic oxide substrate (4) is disposed between an organic EL device (1) and a fluorescent layer (3) in such a manner as to arrange the fluorescent layer (3) with a gap with the organic EL device (1), and the organic EL device (1) is sealed by sealing means (5) between the transparent inorganic oxide substrate (4) and a support substrate (2). The invention provides also a multi-color light emission apparatus wherein a transparent insulating inorganic oxide layer (12) having a thickness of 0.01 to 200 μm is interposed between the fluorescent layer (3) and the organic EL device (1). In this way, light emission life and angle-of-view characteristics can be improved.

Claims

1. A multi-color light emission apparatus comprising a support substrate, an organic electroluminescence (EL) device disposed on the support substrate, and a fluorescent layer disposed to correspond to a transparent electrode or electrode of the organic EL device to absorb the light emitted from the organic EL device and to emit visible fluorescent light, wherein a transparent inorganic oxide substrate on which the fluorescent layer is placed is disposed between the organic EL device and the fluorescent layer in such a manner as to provide a gap between the fluorescent layer and the organic EL device, and the organic EL device is sealed using a sealing means between the transparent inorganic oxide substrate and the support substrate.

2. The multi-color light emission apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the fluorescent layer is separately disposed on the transparent inorganic oxide substrate on the same plane.

3. The multi-color light emission apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,

wherein at least a transparent protective layer of the fluorescent layer and a transparent substrate are farther disposed on the fluorescent layer.

4. The multi-color light emission apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the thickness of the transparent inorganic oxide substrate is in a range of from 1 to 200 μ

m.

5. The multi-color light emission apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transparent inorganic oxide substrate is made of a transparent glass plate.

6. A multi-color light emission apparatus comprising a transparent support substrate, fluorescent layers separately disposed on the transparent support substrate on the same plane, and an organic electroluminescence (EL) device disposed on or above the fluorescent layers, the fluorescent layers being disposed to correspond to a transparent electrode or electrode of the organic EL device so that each of the fluorescent layers absorbs the light emitted from the organic EL device and emits different visible fluorescent light, wherein a transparent and insulating inorganic oxide layer with a thickness of from 0.01 to 200 μ

m is interposed between the fluorescent layer and the organic EL device wherein at least a transparent protective layer of the fluorescent layers and a transparent adhesive layer are disposed between the fluorescent layers and the transparent and insulating inorganic oxide layer.

7. The multi-color light emission apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the transparent and insulating inorganic oxide layer is made of a transparent and insulating glass plate.

8. The multi-color light emission apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the transparent inorganic oxide layer is made from one or more compounds selected from a group consisting of silicon oxide, aluminum oxide, and titanium oxide.

9. The multi-color light emission apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the transparent and insulating inorganic oxide layer is produced by forming a film of one or more compounds selected from a group consisting of silicon oxide, aluminum oxide, and titanium oxide on at least one of the surface or back face of a transparent and insulating glass plate.

10. The multi-color light emission apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the transparent and insulating inorganic layer contains mainly an inorganic oxide.