EL display device

• US 6,445,005 B1
• Filed: 09/13/2000
• Issued: 09/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Konuma, Toshimitsu, Yamazaki, Shunpei, Mizukami, Mayumi
• Primary Examiner(s): Ho, Hoai
• Assistant Examiner(s): Huynh, Andy
• Application Number:
  US09/661,022
• Time in Patent Office: 720 Days
• Field of Search: 257/72, 257/89, 257/59, 438/48, 438/128, 438/149, 438/151, 438/157, 438/283, 313/506, 313/498
• US Class Current: 257/72
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/1218 with a particular composition or structure of the substrate
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/124 with a particular composition, shape or layout of the wiring layers specially adapted to the circuit arrangement, e.g. scanning lines in LCD pixel circuits wiring structures per se H01L23/52
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 2102/3026 Top emission
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/841 Self-supporting sealing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/8426 Peripheral sealing arrangements, e.g. adhesives, sealants
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/844 Encapsulations
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/846 comprising getter material or desiccants
• 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 59/1213 the pixel elements being TFTs
• 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 59/126 Shielding, e.g. light-blocking means over the TFTs
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/131 Interconnections, e.g. wiring lines or terminals
• 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

Plurality of pixels (102) are arranged on the substrate. Each of the pixels (102) is provided with an EL element which utilizes as a cathode a pixel electrode (105) connected to a current control TFT (104). On a counter substrate (110), a light shielding film (112) is disposed at the position corresponding to periphery of each pixel (102), while a color filter (113) is disposed at the position corresponding to each of the pixels (102). This light shielding film makes the contour of the pixels clear, resulting in an image display with high definition. In addition, it is possible to fabricate the EL display device of the present invention with most of an existing manufacturing line for liquid crystal display devices. Thus, an amount of equipment investment can be significantly reduced, thereby resulting in a reduction in the total manufacturing cost.

Claims

1. An EL display device, comprising:

an active matrix substrate on which a plurality of pixels are arranged, each of the pixels including a TFT, a pixel electrode electrically connected to the TFT, and an EL element including the pixel electrode as a cathode; and

a counter substrate opposed to the active matrix substrate,

wherein the counter substrate is provided with a light shielding film respectively disposed at positions corresponding to peripheries of the respective pixels on the active matrix substrate.

7. An EL display device according to claim 1, wherein the light shielding films are made of a resin containing a drying agent.

11. An EL display device according to claim 1, wherein the EL element includes a light emitting layer made of a polymer type organic material.

18. An EL display device according to claim 1, wherein the EL display device using for a display portion of an electronic device selected from a group consisting of a video camera, a head mount type display, a DVD, a portable computer, a personal computer, a portable telephone and a car audio equipment.

2. An EL display device, comprising:

an active matrix substrate on which a plurality of pixels are arranged, each of the pixels including a TFT, a pixel electrode electrically connected to the TFT, and an EL element including the pixel electrode as a cathode; and

a counter substrate opposed to the active matrix substrate,

wherein a closed space is provided between the active matrix substrate and the counter substrate attached to each other, and the counter substrate is provided with a light shielding film disposed at positions respectively corresponding to peripheries of the respective pixels on the active-matrix substrate.

8. An EL display device according to claim 2, wherein the light shielding films are made of a resin containing a drying agent.

12. An EL display device according to claim 2, wherein the EL element includes a light emitting layer made of a polymer type organic material.

19. An EL display device according to claim 2, wherein the EL display device using for a display portion of an electronic device selected from a group consisting of a video camera, a head mount type display, a DVD, a portable computer, a personal computer, a portable telephone and a car audio equipment.

3. An EL display device, comprising:

an active matrix substrate on which a plurality of pixels are arranged, each of the pixels including a TFT, a pixel electrode electrically connected to the TFT, and an EL element including the pixel electrode as a cathode; and

a counter substrate opposed to the active matrix substrate,

wherein the counter substrate is provided with;

a light shielding film disposed at first positions respectively corresponding to peripheries of the respective pixels on the active matrix substrate; and

a plurality of color filters disposed at second positions respectively corresponding to the pixels on the active matrix substrate.

5. An EL display device according to claim 3, wherein the color filters are made of a resin containing a drying agent.

9. An EL display device according to claim 3, wherein the light shielding films are made of a resin containing a drying agent.

13. An EL display device according to claim 3, wherein the EL element includes a light emitting layer made of a polymer type organic material.

20. An EL display device according to claim 3, wherein the EL display device using for a display portion of an electronic device selected from a group consisting of a video camera, a head mount type display, a DVD, a portable computer, a personal computer, a portable telephone and a car audio equipment.

4. An EL display device, comprising:

an active matrix substrate on which a plurality of pixels are arranged, each of the pixels including a TFT, a pixel electrode electrically connected to the TFT, and an EL element including the pixel electrode as a cathode; and

a counter substrate opposed to the active matrix substrate,

wherein a closed space is provided between the active matrix substrate and the counter substrate attached to each other, and

the counter substrate is provided with;

a light shielding film disposed at first positions respectively corresponding to peripheries of the respective pixels on the active matrix substrate; and

a plurality of color filters disposed at second positions respectively corresponding to the pixels on the active matrix substrate.

6. An EL display device according to claim 4, wherein the color filters are made of a resin containing a drying agent.

10. An EL display device according to claim 4, wherein the light shielding films are made of a resin containing a drying agent.

14. An EL display device according to claim 4, wherein the EL element includes a light emitting layer made of a polymer type organic material.

21. An EL display device according to claim 4, wherein the EL display device using for a display portion of an electronic device selected from a group consisting of a video camera, a head mount type display, a DVD, a portable computer, a personal computer, a portable telephone and a car audio equipment.

15. An EL display device comprising:

a plurality of pixel electrodes arranged in a matrix form formed over a first substrate;

a plurality of switching elements electrically connected to said pixel electrodes;

a counter substrate opposed to said first substrate, said counter substrate provided with a light shielding layer and a plurality of color filters; and

a light emitting layer disposed between said first substrate and said counter substrate.

16. The EL display device according to claim 15 wherein each of said switching elements comprises a thin film transistor.

17. The EL display device according to claim 15 wherein said light shielding layer shields gaps between said pixel electrodes.

22. An EL display device according to claim 15, wherein the EL display device using for a display portion of an electronic device selected from a group consisting of a video camera, a head mount type display, a DVD, a portable computer, a personal computer, a portable telephone and a car audio equipment.