Organic LED device

• US 6,727,645 B2
• Filed: 01/23/2003
• Issued: 04/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: InnoLux Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Tanaka, Atsushi, Tsujimura, Takatoshi, Morooka, Mitsuo, Miwa, Kohichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu, David Hung
• Application Number:
  US10/350,215
• Publication Number:
  US 20030146711A1
• Time in Patent Office: 460 Days
• Field of Search: 257/40, 257/59, 313/503, 313/504
• US Class Current: 313/504
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 2102/3026 Top emission
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/122 Pixel-defining structures or layers, e.g. banks
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/123 Connection of the pixel electrodes to the thin film transistors [TFT]

Abstract

An organic LED device comprises a substrate, a first driver TFT on the substrate, a second driver TFT on said substrate, and an insulating film on the substrate, the first driver TFT and the second driver TFT. There is a common anode on the insulating film. A first organic LED element is on a first portion of the anode and configured as a top emission struction, and a second organic LED element is on a second portion of the anode and configured as a top emission structure. A first cathode extends into the insulating film and electrically connects the first LED element with the first driver TFT. A second cathode extends into the insulating film and electrically connects the second LED element with the second driver TFT.

Claims

1. An organic LED device comprising:

a substrate;

a first driver TFT on said substrate;

a second driver TFT on said substrate;

an insulating film on said substrate, said first driver TFT and said second driver TFT;

a common anode on said insulating film;

a first organic LED element on a first portion of said anode;

a second organic LED element on a second portion of said anode;

a first cathode extending into said insulating film and electrically connecting said first LED element with said first driver TFT; and

a second cathode extending into said insulating film and electrically connecting said second LED element with said second driver TFT.

2. An organic LED device as set forth in claim 1 further comprising an insulating film on said first LED element and said second LED element.

3. An organic LED device as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said first cathode comprises a first conductive via hole in said insulating layer and a first conductive layer on said first conductive via hole and extending over said insulating layer to an edge of said first LED element; and

said second cathode comprises a second conductive via hole in said insulating layer and a second conductive layer on said second conductive via hole and extending over said insulating layer to an edge of said second LED element.

4. An organic LED device as set forth in claim 1 further comprising:

a first switching TFT on said substrate and electrically connected to said first driver TFT; and

a second switching TFT on said substrate and electrically connected to said second driver TFT.

5. An organic LED device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first driver TFT includes an n-type amorphous silicon and an n-type polycrystalline silicon as an active layer;

and said second driver TFT includes an n-type amorphous silicon and an n-type polycrystalline silicon as an active layer.

6. An organic LED device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first organic LED element includes a light emitting portion and an electron transport portion, each including a portion formed in a self-aligned manner.

7. An organic LED device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first and second organic LED elements are configured as top emission structures.

8. An organic LED device as set forth in claim 1 further comprising:

a first overhanging structure protruding above said insulating layer and surrounding said first LED element; and

a second overhanging structure protruding above said insulating layer and surrounding said second LED element.

9. An organic LED device as set forth in claim 8 wherein said first organic LED element was formed in a self-aligned manner in an inside of said first overhanging structure by an evaporation method, and said second organic LED element was formed in a self-aligned manner in an inside of said second overhanging structure by an evaporation method.

10. An organic LED device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first driver TFT is n-type and said second driver TFT is n-type.