Light emitting device and method of manufacturing the same

• US 6,646,284 B2
• Filed: 12/12/2001
• Issued: 11/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Arai, Yasuyuki, Yamazaki, Shunpei, Mizukami, Mayumi
• Primary Examiner(s): Nelms, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tran, Long
• Application Number:
  US10/012,369
• Publication Number:
  US 20020084464A1
• Time in Patent Office: 699 Days
• Field of Search: 257/40, 257/642, 257/759, 257/918, 257/656, 257/69, 257/59, 257/13, 257/79-103, 438/82, 438/99, 438/623, 438/725, 438/780, 349/42, 349/43, 349/69, 313/500-506
• US Class Current: 257/40
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/12 the substrate being other than a semiconductor body, e.g. an insulating body
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/805 Electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/841 Self-supporting sealing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/844 Encapsulations
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/846 comprising getter material or desiccants
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/12 Active-matrix OLED [AMOLED] displays
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/122 Pixel-defining structures or layers, e.g. banks
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/131 Interconnections, e.g. wiring lines or terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/17 Passive-matrix OLED displays
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/805 Electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/871 Self-supporting sealing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/874 including getter material or desiccant

Abstract

Two aspects, an impurity factor and a structural factor are assumed as the deterioration causes of an organic light emitting device and means for solving the respective factors are provided. In order to prevent deterioration of the light emitting device, concentrations of moisture and oxygen, which are left in a space in which an organic light emitting element is sealed, are minimized. At the same time, an impurity including oxygen, such as moisture or oxygen which is included in an organic compound composing the organic light emitting element, is reduced. An element structure for preventing the deterioration of the organic light emitting element due to stress is used to suppress the deterioration.

Claims

1. A light emitting device comprising:

a first electrode on a first insulating film;

a second electrode in contact with the first electrode and on the first insulating film;

a second insulating film formed on the second electrode;

an organic compound layer located on the first electrode; and

a third electrode located on the organic compound layer,

wherein end portions of the second insulating film are provided outside end portions of the second electrode and are not overlapped with end portions of the organic compound layer.

2. A light emitting device according to claim 1, wherein the light emitting device is at least one device selected from the group consisting of:

a monitor of a desktop personal computer, a video camera, a head-mounted EL display, a DVD, a goggle type display, a laptop personal computer, a portable telephone, a car audio equipment and a digital camera.

3. A light emitting device comprising:

a first electrode on a first insulating film;

a second electrode in contact with end portions of the first electrode and on the first insulating film;

a second insulating film on the second electrode and having end portions located outside the second electrode;

an organic compound layer located on the first electrode; and

a third electrode located on the organic compound layer,

wherein end portions of the organic compound layer are not overlapped with end portions of the second insulating film.

4. A light emitting device according to claim 3, wherein the light emitting device is at least one device selected from the group consisting of:

a monitor of a desktop personal computer, a video camera, a head-mounted EL display, a DVD, a goggle type display, a laptop personal computer, a portable telephone, a car audio equipment and a digital camera.

5. A light emitting device comprising:

a first wiring, a second wiring and a first electrode on a first insulating film, the first electrode provided between the first wiring and the second wiring;

a second electrode connected with the first electrode and on the first insulating film;

an organic compound layer located on the first electrode; and

a third electrode located on the organic compound layer,

wherein the organic compound layer and the third electrode are provided inside the first wiring and the second wiring.

6. A light emitting device according to claim 5, wherein the light emitting device is at least one device selected from the group consisting of:

a monitor of a desktop personal computer, a video camera, a head-mounted EL display, a DVD, a goggle type display, a laptop personal computer, a portable telephone, a car audio equipment and a digital camera.

7. A light emitting device comprising:

a first wiring on a first insulating film;

a second insulating film provided on the first wiring;

a second wiring on the first insulating film;

a third insulating film provided on the second wiring;

a first electrode provided between the first wiring and the second wiring and on the first insulating film;

an organic compound layer located on the first electrode; and

a third electrode located on the organic compound layer,

wherein the first wiring is in contact with the first electrode, end portions of the second insulating film are provided outside the first wiring, end portions of the third insulating film are provided outside the second wiring, and the organic compound layer and the third electrode are provided inside the first wiring and the second wiring.

8. A light emitting device according to claim 7, wherein the light emitting device is at least one device selected from the group consisting of:

a monitor of a desktop personal computer, a video camera, a head-mounted EL display, a DVD, a goggle type display, a laptop personal computer, a portable telephone, a car audio equipment and a digital camera.

9. A light emitting device in which a pixel portion is formed on a first insulating film, comprising:

a first wiring, a second wiring and a first electrode on a first insulating film, the first electrode provided between the first wiring and the second wiring;

a first organic compound layer provided on the first electrode;

a second electrode provided on the first organic compound layer;

a third wiring and a third electrode on the first insulating film, the third electrode provided between the second wiring and the third wiring;

a second organic compound layer provided on the third electrode; and

a fourth electrode provided on the second organic compound layer,

wherein the second electrode is connected with the fourth electrode in an outer edge portion of the pixel portion.

10. A light emitting device according to claim 9, wherein the light emitting device is at least one device selected from the group consisting of:

a monitor of a desktop personal computer, a video camera, a head-mounted EL display, a DVD, a goggle type display, a laptop personal computer, a portable telephone, a car audio equipment and a digital camera.

11. A light emitting device having a pixel portion on a first insulating film, comprising:

a first wiring, a second wiring and a first electrode on a first insulating film, the first electrode provided between the first wiring and the second wiring;

a first organic compound layer provided on the first electrode;

a second electrode provided on the first organic compound layer;

a second insulating film and a third insulating film provided on the first wiring and the second wiring, respectively, with end portions of the second insulating film and the third insulating film extending beyond side portions of the first wiring and the second wiring;

a third wiring and a third electrode on the first insulating film, the third electrode provided between the second wiring and the third wiring;

a second organic compound layer provided on the third electrode;

a fourth electrode provided on the second organic compound layer; and

a fourth insulating film provided on the third wiring with end portions of the third insulating film extending beyond side portions of the third wiring,

wherein the first organic compound layer does not overlap with the end portions of the second insulating film and the third insulating film, and the second electrode is connected with the fourth electrode in an outer edge portion of the pixel portion.

12. A light emitting device according to claim 11, wherein the light emitting device is at least one device selected from the group consisting of:

a monitor of a desktop personal computer, a video camera, a head-mounted EL display, a DVD, a goggle type display, a laptop personal computer, a portable telephone, a car audio equipment and a digital camera.

13. A light emitting device having a pixel portion on a first insulating film, the pixel portion comprising:

a first wiring, a second wiring and a first electrode, the first electrode provided between the first wiring and the second wiring;

a first organic compound layer provided on the first electrode;

a second electrode provided on the first organic compound layer;

a third wiring and a third electrode on the first insulating film, the third electrode provided between the second wiring and the third wiring;

a second organic compound layer provided on the third electrode; and

a fourth electrode provided on the second organic compound layer,

wherein the pixel portion is provided in a closed space produced by a sealing member and a concentration of oxygen and moisture in the closed space is 2 ppm or lower.

14. A light emitting device according to claim 13, wherein the light emitting device is at least one device selected from the group consisting of:

a monitor of a desktop personal computer, a video camera, a head-mounted EL display, a DVD, a goggle type display, a laptop personal computer, a portable telephone, a car audio equipment and a digital camera.

15. A light emitting device comprising:

a first electrode on a first insulating film;

a second electrode electrically connected with the first electrode and on the first insulating film, wherein the second electrode has one side edge in contact with the first electrode;

a second insulating film formed on the second electrode, wherein the second insulating film extends beyond at least one side edge of the second electrode;

a light emitting film comprising an organic material formed on the second electrode; and

a third electrode located on the light emitting film,

wherein the light emitting layer is distant from the second electrode.

16. A light emitting device having a pixel portion on a first insulating film, the pixel portion comprising:

a first wiring, a second wiring and a first electrode on a first insulating film, the first electrode provided between the first wiring and the second wiring;

a first organic compound layer provided on the first electrode;

a second electrode provided on the first organic compound layer;

a third wiring and a third electrode on the first insulating film, the third electrode provided between the second wiring and the third wiring;

a second organic compound layer provided on the third electrode; and

a fourth electrode provided on the second organic compound layer,

wherein the pixel portion is provided in a closed space produced by a sealing member, the closed space is filled with at least one gas selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, helium, argon, krypton and neon, and a concentration of oxygen and moisture in the closed space is 2 ppm or lower.

17. A light emitting device according to claim 16, wherein the light emitting device is at least one device selected from the group consisting of:

a monitor of a desktop personal computer, a video camera, a head-mounted EL display, a DVD, a goggle type display, a laptop personal computer, a portable telephone, a car audio equipment and a digital camera.