Active matrix display

• US 6,359,606 B1
• Filed: 07/01/1999
• Issued: 03/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Intellectual Keystone Technology LLC
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Yudasaka, Ichio
• Primary Examiner(s): Hjerpe, Richard
• Assistant Examiner(s): ZAMANI, ALI A
• Application Number:
  US09/297,278
• Time in Patent Office: 992 Days
• Field of Search: 345/87, 345/88, 345/206, 345/89, 345/45, 345/46, 345/38, 345/39, 345/47, 345/48, 345/92, 345/91, 315/169--16, 313/483, 313/498, 313/500, 313/502, 313/503, 313/504, 313/506, 313/512, 313/499
• US Class Current: 345/87
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/1255 integrated with passive devices, e.g. auxiliary capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 33/04 Sealing arrangements , e.g. against humidity
• 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: H05B 33/26 characterised by the composition or arrangement of the conductive material used as an electrode
• 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 59/122 Pixel-defining structures or layers, e.g. banks
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/873 Encapsulations

Abstract

In an active matrix display device, each pixel is provided with a pixel electrode, an organic semiconductor film deposited on the upper layer side of the pixel electrode, and a thin film luminescent element provided with an opposing electrode formed on the upper layer side of the organic semiconductor film. A protective film covering almost the entire surface of a substrate is formed on the upper layer of the opposing electrode. The protective film prevents the entry of moisture or oxygen to inhibit the deterioration of the thin film luminescent element.

Claims

1. An active matrix display device comprising:

a substrate;

a display section on the substrate, the display section comprising a plurality of scanning lines, a plurality of data lines intersecting the scanning lines, and a plurality of pixels formed in a matrix by the data lines and the scanning lines, each of the pixels comprising;

a circuit including a thin film transistor having a gate electrode to which a scanning signal is supplied via the scanning lines,

a pixel electrode,

a luminescent thin film on the pixel electrode, and

a thin film luminescent element comprising the pixel electrode, the luminescent thin film and an opposing electrode, the opposing electrode being in common with a plurality of pixel electrodes, the thin film luminescent element emitting light in accordance with image signals supplied from the data lines via the circuit; and

a protective film disposed on the opposing electrode that covers at least a region where the opposing electrode is formed.

2. The active matrix display device according to claim 1, further comprising an insulating film disposed below the opposing electrode, the insulating film being formed to be thicker than the luminescent thin film, the insulating film defining an area of the luminescent thin film.

3. The active matrix display device according to claim 1, the opposing electrode comprising an aluminum film containing an alkali metal.

4. The active matrix display device according to claim 1, the protective film comprising an insulating film.

5. The active matrix display device according to claim 3, the protective film comprising an insulating film.

6. The active matrix display device according to claim 1, the protective film comprising a silicon nitride film.

7. The active matrix display device according to claim 3, the protective film comprising a silicon nitride film.

8. The active matrix display device according to claim 1, the protective film comprising a metal having a high melting point or an alloy thereof.

9. The active matrix display device according to claim 3, the protective film comprising a metal having a high melting point or an alloy thereof.

10. The active matrix display device according to claim 1, the protective film comprising an aluminum film of any of a pure aluminum film, an aluminum film containing silicon, and an aluminum film containing copper.

11. The active matrix display device according to claim 3, the protective film comprising an aluminum film of any of a pure aluminum film, an aluminum film containing silicon, and an aluminum film containing copper.

12. The active matrix display device according to claim 1, the protective film having a double-layer structure consisting of a conductive film and an insulating film.

13. The active matrix display device according to claim 3, the protective film having a double-layer structure consisting of a conductive film and an insulating film.

14. The active matrix display device according to claim 1, the thin film transistor in each pixel being a first thin film transistor, the conduction control circuit in each pixel further including a second thin film transistor having a gate electrode thereof connected to a data line via the first thin film transistor, and the second thin film transistor in each pixel and the thin film luminescent element being connected in series between a common feeder line for supplying drive current that is configured separately from the data line and the scanning line, and the opposing electrode.

15. An active matrix display device comprising:

a thin luminescent element comprising a pixel electrode, a luminescent thin film and an opposing electrode, the opposing electrode being in commmon with a plurality of the pixel electrodes; and

a protective film disposed on at least a region where the opposing electrode is formed.

16. The active matrix display device according to claim 15, further comprising an insulating film defining an area of the luminescent thin film.

17. The active matrix display device according to claim 15, further comprising an insulating film defining a pixel.