Light emitting device

• US 6,528,824 B2
• Filed: 06/27/2001
• Issued: 03/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Maruyama, Junya, Yamagata, Hirokazu
• Primary Examiner(s): Nelms, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): Huynh, Andy
• Application Number:
  US09/892,990
• Publication Number:
  US 20020000561A1
• Time in Patent Office: 615 Days
• Field of Search: 257/59, 257/448, 257/71, 257/72, 257/92, 257/81, 438/48, 438/128, 438/149, 438/151, 438/157, 438/283, 438/22
• US Class Current: 257/81
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/85 Arrangements for extracting light from the devices
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/86 Arrangements for improving contrast, e.g. preventing reflection of ambient light
• 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 59/875 Arrangements for extracting light from the devices
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/8792 comprising light absorbing layers, e.g. black layers

Abstract

In a light-emitting device wherein a light shield portion is disposed in touch with a transparent electrode included in a pixel, the light shield portion (105 in FIG. 1) is disposed at the peripheral part of the transparent electrode (101), whereby that part of light (visible light) emitted in an EL layer (102) which escapes from the peripheral part of the transparent electrode (101) can be intercepted or reflected. Thus, the loss of the light emitted in the EL layer (102) and the leakage thereof to an adjacent pixel can be prevented, and the efficiency of deriving the light can be sharply heightened.

Claims

1. A light-emitting device comprising:

a transparent electrode formed in contact with an insulating surface;

an interlayer insulating film formed in contact with a portion of said insulating surface;

an electro-luminescence layer formed on said transparent electrode and overlapped with said interlayer insulating film;

a non-transparent electrode formed on said electro-luminescence layer; and

a light shield portion formed in contact with said insulating surface.

2. A light-emitting device according to claim 1, wherein said light shield portion comprises an insulating film containing a pigment or carbon.

3. A light-emitting device according to claim 1, wherein said light shield portion comprises a conductive material.

4. A light-emitting device according to claim 1, wherein said light shield portion reflects light emitted in said electro-luminescence layer.

5. A light-emitting device according to claim 1, wherein said light-emitting device is incorporated in at least one selected from the group consisting of an EL display device, a sound reproduction device, an image playback device, a video camera, a head mount display, a personal computer, a digital camera, and a portable telephone.

6. A light-emitting device comprising:

a transparent electrode formed in contact with an insulating surface;

an interlayer insulating film formed in contact with a portion of said insulating surface;

a light shield portion formed in contact with said insulating surface;

an electro-luminescence layer formed on said transparent electrode and overlapped with said interlayer insulating film; and

a non-transparent electrode formed on said electro-luminescence layer,

wherein a part of said light shield portion is in contact with said transparent electrode.

7. A light-emitting device according to claim 6, wherein said light shield portion comprises an insulating film containing a pigment or carbon.

8. A light-emitting device according to claim 6, wherein said light shield portion comprises a conductive material.

9. A light-emitting device according to claim 6, wherein said light shield portion reflects light emitted in said electro-luminescence layer.

10. A light-emitting device according to claim 6, wherein said light-emitting device is incorporated in at least one selected from the group consisting of an EL display device, a sound reproduction device, an image playback device, a video camera, a head mount display, a personal computer, a digital camera, and a portable telephone.

11. A light-emitting device comprising:

a plurality of transparent electrodes formed in contact with an insulating surface;

an interlayer insulating film formed in contact with a portion of said insulating surface;

an electro-luminescence layer formed on each of said transparent electrodes and overlapped with said interlayer insulating film;

a non-transparent electrode formed on said electro-luminescence layer; and

light shield portions formed in contact with said insulating surface.

12. A light-emitting device according to claim 11, wherein said light shield portions comprise an insulating film containing a pigment or carbon.

13. A light-emitting device according to claim 11, wherein said light shield portions comprise a conductive material.

14. A light-emitting device according to claim 11, wherein said light shield portions reflect light emitted in said electro-luminescence layer.

15. A light-emitting device according to claim 11, wherein said light-emitting device is incorporated in at least one selected from the group consisting of an EL display device, a sound reproduction device, an image playback device, a video camera, a head mount display, a personal computer, a digital camera, and portable telephone.

16. A light-emitting device comprising:

a plurality of transparent electrodes formed in contact with an insulating surface;

an interlayer insulating film formed in contact with a portion of said insulating surface;

light shield portions formed in contact with said insulating surface;

an electro-luminescence layer formed on each of said transparent electrodes and overlapped with said interlayer insulating film; and

a non-transparent electrode formed on said electro-luminescence layer,

wherein each of said light shield portions is in contact with said respectively corresponding transparent electrodes.

17. A light-emitting device according to claim 16, wherein said light shield portions comprise an insulating film containing a pigment or carbon.

18. A light-emitting device according to claim 16, wherein said light shield portions comprise a conductive material.

19. A light-emitting device according to claim 16, wherein said light shield portions reflect light emitted in said electro-luminescence layer.

20. A light-emitting device according to claim 16, wherein said light-emitting device is incorporated in at least one selected from the group consisting of an EL display device, a sound reproduction device, an image playback device, a video camera, a head mount display, a personal computer, a digital camera, and a portable telephone.

21. A light-emitting device comprising:

a plurality of transparent electrodes formed in contact with an insulating surface;

an interlayer insulating film formed in contact with a portion of said insulating surface;

light shield portions formed in contact with said insulating surface;

an electro-luminescence layer formed on each of said transparent electrodes and overlapped with said interlayer insulating film; and

a non-transparent electrode formed in contact with said electro-luminescence layer,

wherein each of said light shield portions is in contact with at least two of said transparent electrodes.

22. A light-emitting device according to claim 21, wherein said light shield portions comprise an insulating film containing a pigment or carbon.

23. A light-emitting device according to claim 21, wherein said light shield portions comprise a conductive material.

24. A light-emitting device according to claim 21, wherein said light shield portions reflect light emitted in said electro-luminescence layer.

25. A light-emitting device according to claim 21, wherein said light-emitting device is incorporated in at least one selected from the group consisting of an EL display device, a sound reproduction device, an image playback device, a video camera, a head mount display, a personal computer, a digital camera, and a portable telephone.

26. A light-emitting device comprising:

a transparent electrode formed in contact with an insulating surface, and connected with a thin film transistor through a wiring line;

an interlayer insulating film formed in contact with a portion of said insulating surface;

an electro-luminescence layer formed on said transparent electrode and overlapped with said interlayer insulating film;

a non-transparent electrode formed on said electro-luminescence layer; and

a light shield portion formed in contact with said insulating surface.

27. A light-emitting device according to claim 26, wherein said light shield portion comprises an insulating film containing a pigment or carbon.

28. A light-emitting device according to claim 26, wherein said light shield portion comprises said wiring line.

29. A light-emitting device according to claim 26, wherein said light shield portion reflects light emitted in said electro-luminescence layer.

30. A light-emitting device according to claim 26, wherein said transparent electrode is an anode, and said non-transparent electrode is a cathode.

31. A light-emitting device according to claim 26, wherein said light shield portion comprises a metal material having a reflectivity of 60% or more.

32. A light-emitting device according to claim 26, wherein said light-emitting device is incorporated in at least one selected from the group consisting of an EL display device, a sound reproduction device, an image playback device, a video camera, a head mount display, a a personal computer, a digital camera, and a portable telephone.

33. A light-emitting device comprising:

a transparent electrode formed in contact with an insulating surface, and connected with a thin film transistor through a wiring line;

an interlayer insulating film formed in contact with a portion of said insulating surface;

a light shield portion formed in contact with said insulating surface;

an electro-luminescence layer formed on said transparent electrode and overlapped with said interlayer insulating film; and

a non-transparent electrode formed on said electro-luminescence layer, wherein a part of said light shield portion is in contact with said transparent electrode.

34. A light-emitting device according to claim 33, wherein said light shield portion comprises an insulating film containing a pigment or carbon.

35. A light-emitting device according to claim 33, wherein said light shield portion comprises said wiring line.

36. A light-emitting device according to claim 33, wherein said light shield portion reflects light emitted in said electro-luminescence layer.

37. A light-emitting device according to claim 33, wherein said transparent electrode is an anode, and said non-transparent electrode is a cathode.

38. A light-emitting device according to claim 33, wherein said light shield portion comprises a metal material having a reflectivity of 60% or more.

39. A light-emitting device according to claim 33, wherein said light-emitting device is incorporated in at least one selected from the group consisting of an EL display device, a sound reproduction device, an image playback device, a video camera, a head mount display, a personal computer, a digital camera, and a portable telephone.

40. A light-emitting device having a plurality of pixels comprising:

transparent electrodes formed in contact with an insulating surface, and connected with thin film transistors through wiring lines;

an interlayer insulating film formed in contact with a portion of said insulating surface;

an electro-luminescence layer formed on each of said transparent electrodes and overlapped with said interlayer insulating film;

a non-transparent electrode formed on said electro-luminescence layer; and

light shield portions formed in contact with said insulating surface.

41. A light-emitting device according to claim 40, wherein said plurality of pixels are adjacent to each other.

42. A light-emitting device according to claim 40, wherein said light shield portions comprise an insulating film containing a pigment or carbon.

43. A light-emitting device according to claim 40, wherein said light shield portions comprise said wiring lines.

44. A light-emitting device according to claim 40, wherein said light shield portions reflect light emitted in said electro-luminescence layer.

45. A light-emitting device according to claim 40, wherein said transparent electrodes are anodes, and said non-transparent electrode is a cathode.

46. A light-emitting device according to claim 40, wherein said light shield portions comprise a metal material having a reflectivity of 60% or more.

47. A light-emitting device according to claim 40, wherein said light-emitting device is incorporated in at least one selected from the group consisting of an El display device, a sound reproduction device, an image playback device, a video camera, a head mount display, a personal computer, a digital camera, and a portable telephone.

48. A light-emitting device having a plurality of pixels comprising:

transparent electrodes formed in contact with an insulating surface, and connected with thin film transistors through wiring lines;

an interlayer insulating film formed in contact with a portion of said insulating surface;

light shield portions formed in contact with said insulating surface;

an electro-luminescence layer formed on each of said transparent electrodes and overlapped with said interlayer insulating film; and

a non-transparent electrode formed on said electro-luminescence layer,

wherein each of said light shield portions is in contact with said respectively corresponding transparent electrodes.

49. A light-emitting device according to claim 48, wherein said plurality of pixels are adjacent to each other.

50. A light-emitting device according to claim 48, wherein said light shield portions comprise an insulating film containing a pigment or carbon.

51. A light-emitting device according to claim 48, wherein said light shield portions comprise said wiring lines.

52. A Light-emitting device according to claim 48, wherein said light shield portions reflect light emitted in said electro-luminescence layer.

53. A light-emitting device according to claim 48, wherein said transparent electrodes are anodes, and said non-transparent electrode is a cathode.

54. A light-emitting device according to claim 48, wherein said light shield portions comprise a metal material having a reflectivity of 60% or more.

55. A light-emitting device according to claim 48, wherein said light-emitting device is incorporated in at least one selected from the group consisting of an EL display device, a sound reproduction device, an image playback device, a video camera, a head mount display, a personal computer, a digital camera, and a portable telephone.

56. A light-emitting device having a plurality of pixels comprising:

transparent electrodes formed in contact with an insulating surface, and connected with thin film transistors through wiring lines;

an interlayer insulating film formed in contact with a portion of said insulating surface;

light shield portions formed in contact with said insulating surface;

an electro-luminescence layer formed on each of said transparent electrodes and overlapped with said interlayer insulating film; and

a non-transparent electrode formed on said electro-luminescence layer,

wherein each of said light shield portions is in contact with at least two of said transparent electrodes.

57. A light-emitting device according to claim 56, wherein said plurality of pixels are adjacent to each other.

58. A light-emitting device according to claim 56, wherein said light shield portions comprise an insulating film containing a pigment or carbon.

59. A light-emitting device according to claim 56, wherein said light shield portions comprise said wiring lines.

60. A light-emitting device according to claim 56, wherein said light shield portions reflect light emitted in said electro-luminescence layer.

61. A light-emitting device according to claim 56, wherein said transparent electrodes are anodes, and said non-transparent electrode is a cathode.

62. A light-emitting device according to claim 56, wherein said light shield portions comprise a metal material having a reflectivity of 60% or more.

63. A light-emitting device according to claim 56, wherein said light-emitting device is incorporated in at least one selected from the group consisting of an EL display device, a sound reproduction device, an image playback device, a video camera, a head mount display, a personal computer, a digital camera, and a portable telephone.