Luminescent apparatus and method of manufacturing the same

• US 6,608,449 B2
• Filed: 05/08/2001
• Issued: 08/19/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Fukunaga, Takeshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Don
• Assistant Examiner(s): VO, TUYET THI
• Application Number:
  US09/851,656
• Publication Number:
  US 20010043046A1
• Time in Patent Office: 833 Days
• Field of Search: 315/169.3, 315/169.1, 313/494, 313/498, 313/504, 313/506, 313/512, 313/513, 313/116
• US Class Current: 315/169.3
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 2102/3026 Top emission
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/81 Anodes
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/814 combined with auxiliary electrodes, e.g. ITO layer combined with metal lines
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/828 Transparent cathodes, e.g. comprising thin metal layers
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/841 Self-supporting sealing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/8423 Metallic sealing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/8428 Vertical spacers, e.g. arranged between the sealing arrangement and the OLED
• 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 59/123 Connection of the pixel electrodes to the thin film transistors [TFT]
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/131 Interconnections, e.g. wiring lines or terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/35 comprising red-green-blue [RGB] subpixels

Abstract

The present invention provides a luminescent apparatus having a bright, high-quality image. A reflecting surface-including electrode, and an EL element formed of an organic EL layer and a transparent electrode are provided on an insulator. As shown in FIG. 1, an auxiliary electrode 107 formed of a transparent conductive film is connected to the transparent electrode via a conductor. This structure enables a resistance value of the transparent electrode 104 to be substantially lowered, and a uniform voltage to be applied to the organic EL layer.

Claims

1. A luminescent apparatus comprising:

a substrate;

a first electrode having a reflective surface formed over the substrate;

an organic electro luminescence layer formed over the first electrode;

a transparent electrode formed over the organic electro luminescence layer;

a plurality of conductive layers disposed separately over each other, and formed on the transparent electrode; and

an auxiliary electrode formed over the plurality of conductive layers,

wherein the auxiliary electrode is electrically connected to the transparent electrode via the plurality of conductive layers.

2. A method of manufacturing a luminescent apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary electrode is formed of a transparent conductive film.

3. A luminescent apparatus comprising:

a substrate;

a first electrode having a reflective surface over the substrate;

an organic electro luminescence layer over the first electrode;

a transparent electrode over the organic electro luminescence layer;

an anisotropic conductor over the transparent electrode; and

an auxiliary electrode formed over the anisotropic conductor and electrically connected to the transparent electrode via the anisotropic conductor.

4. A method of manufacturing a luminescent apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the auxiliary electrode is formed of a transparent conductive film.

5. A luminescent apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the anisotropic conductor comprises a resin in which conductive particles are dispersed.

6. A luminescent apparatus comprising:

a substrate;

a switching TFT formed over the substrate;

a current control TFT electrically connected to the switching TFT;

a first electrode having a reflective surface formed over the current control TFT;

an organic electro luminescence layer formed over the first electrode;

a transparent electrode formed over the organic electro luminescence layer;

an anisotropic conductor formed over the transparent electrode; and

an auxiliary electrode formed over the anisotropic conductor and electrically connected to the transparent electrode via the anisotropic conductor.

7. A method of manufacturing a luminescent apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the auxiliary electrode is formed of a transparent conductive film.

8. The luminescent apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the anisotropic conductor comprises a resin in which conductive particles are dispersed.

9. A luminescent apparatus comprising:

an electro luminescence element comprising an electrode having a reflective surface, a transparent electrode and an organic electro luminescence layer interposed therebetween;

an auxiliary electrode electrically connected to the transparent electrode via an anisotropic conductor,

wherein the electrode having a reflective surface is formed by laminating a metallic film and a transparent conductive film on each other and the transparent electrode is formed by laminating a translucent metallic film and a transparent conductive film on each other.

10. A luminescent apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the translucent metallic film has a thickness of 5-70 nm.

11. A luminescent apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said a luminescent apparatus is an apparatus selected from the group consisting of a personal computer, a TV, a video camera, a digital camera, a goggle type display, a navigation system, a music reproducer and game machine.

12. A luminescent apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the auxiliary electrode is formed of a transparent conductive film.

13. A luminescent apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the anisotropic conductor comprises a resin in which conductive particles are dispersed.

14. A luminescent apparatus according to claim 9, wherein an organic electro luminescence layer is provided in contact with the transparent conductive film included in the electrode having a reflective surface and the translucent metallic film.

15. A luminescent apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the translucent metallic film has a thickness of 5-70 nm.

16. A method of manufacturing a luminescent apparatus comprising the steps of:

forming a reflecting surface-including electrode on an insulator,

forming an organic electro luminescence layer on the reflecting surface-including electrode, forming a transparent electrode on the organic electro luminescence layer,

forming an anisotropic conductor on the transparent electrode,

forming an auxiliary electrode on a seal member, and

pasting the insulator and seal member on each other so that the anisotropic conductor and auxiliary electrode are connected together,

wherein the reflecting surface-including electrode is formed by laminating a metallic film and a transparent conductive film on each other and the transparent electrode is formed by laminating a translucent metallic film and a transparent conductive film on each other.

17. A method of manufacturing a luminescent apparatus according to claim 16, wherein a thickness of the translucent metallic film is set to 5-70 nm.

18. A method of manufacturing a luminescent apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the auxiliary electrode is formed of a transparent conductive film.

19. A luminescent apparatus comprising:

a plurality of pixels, each of the plurality of pixels comprising;

at least one thin film transistor over a substrate;

a first electrode having a reflective surface over the substrate and electrically connected to the at least one thin film transistor; and

an organic electro luminescence layer over the first electrode,

a transparent electrode over the plurality of pixels;

an anisotropic conductor over the transparent electrode; and

an auxiliary electrode over the anisotropic conductor and electrically connected to the transparent electrode via the anisotropic conductor.

20. A luminescent apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the anisotropic conductor comprises a resin in which conductive particles are dispersed.

21. A method of manufacturing a luminescent apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the auxiliary electrode is formed of a transparent conductive film.