Organic EL light emitting device and electronic apparatus

• US 6,958,488 B2
• Filed: 03/13/2002
• Issued: 10/25/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: BOE Technology Group Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Uchida, Masahiro
• Primary Examiner(s): CRANE, SARA W
• Application Number:
  US10/095,702
• Publication Number:
  US 20020149009A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,322 Days
• Field of Search: 257/40, 257/99, 313/506, 362/31, 359/618
• US Class Current: 257/40
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/0002 Not covered by any one of groups H01L24/00, H01L24/00 and H01L2224/00
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/828 Transparent cathodes, e.g. comprising thin metal layers
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/85 Arrangements for extracting light from the devices
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/856 comprising reflective means
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/00 Integrated devices, or assemblies of multiple devices, comprising at least one organic light-emitting element covered by group H10K50/00
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/90 Assemblies of multiple devices comprising at least one organic light-emitting element

Abstract

The invention provides an organic EL (electroluminescence) light emitting device that includes a plane emission-type first organic EL light emitter, and a side emission-type second organic EL light emitter. The first organic EL light emitter includes a glass substrate, and an ITO film, an organic layer, a cathode layer, and a sealing substrate, which are laminated on the back of the glass substrate. The second organic EL light emitter includes a glass substrate, and an ITO film, a luminescent layer, a cathode layer, and a sealing substrate, which are laminated on either of the front and back sides of the glass substrate. The outer surface of the second organic EL light emitter is covered with a high-reflectance mirror except a portion of the side of the glass substrate. An aperture of the second organic EL light emitter is disposed opposite to the side of the glass substrate of the first organic EL light emitter. Accordingly, the invention increases a quantity of light emitted from the first organic EL light emitter.

Claims

1. An EL light emitting device, comprising:

a substrate having a light emitting surface;

a first EL light emitter that emits a first light, and having an EL element deposited on the substrate, the first light emitter being arranged such that the first light enters the substrate from a thickness direction of the light emitting surface; and

a second EL light emitter that emits a second light, the second light emitter being arranged such that the second light enters the substrate from a plane direction of the light emitting surface, the plane direction crossing the thickness direction, wherein both of the first light and the second light output from the light emitting surface.

2. An EL light emitting device of claim 1, the first and the second EL light emitter including organic EL elements.

3. An EL light emitting device of claim 1, the first EL light emitter being in contact with the substrate.

4. An EL light emitting device of claim 1, the second EL light emitter including a member with transparency, the member being in contact with or united with the substrate.

5. An EL light emitting device of claim 4, the second EL light emitter including a pair of organic EL elements, the member being sandwiched there between.

6. An EL light emitting device of claim 1, the second EL light emitter including a mirror that changes a direction of the second light to the planer direction of the light emitting surface.

7. An EL light emitting device of claim 1, wherein the first light and the second light are different in colors.

8. An EL light emitting device, comprising:

means for emitting a first light;

means for emitting a second light; and

means for transmitting and outputting both of the first and second lights,

the lights entering the means for transmitting and outputting from different directions and being merged and radiating in the same direction,

the means for emitting a first light being deposited on a substrate, and the means for emitting the first light and the means for emitting the second light including organic EL elements,

the second light entering the substrate through a side of the substrate.