Display apparatus and method for fabricating the same

• US 6,991,506 B2
• Filed: 12/23/2002
• Issued: 01/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: JOLED Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Yamada, Jiro, Hirano, Takashi, Iwase, Yuichi, Sano, Naoki, Sasaoka, Tatsuya, Sekiya, Mitsunobu, Chiba, Yasuhiro
• Primary Examiner(s): WILLIAMS, JOSEPH L
• Application Number:
  US10/328,630
• Publication Number:
  US 20030201708A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,135 Days
• Field of Search: 445 23- 25
• US Class Current: 445/24
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/1214 comprising a plurality of TFTs formed on a non-semiconducting substrate, e.g. driving circuits for AMLCDs
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 2102/3026 Top emission
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/805 Electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/814 combined with auxiliary electrodes, e.g. ITO layer combined with metal lines
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/824 combined with auxiliary electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/122 Pixel-defining structures or layers, e.g. banks
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/805 Electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/80516 combined with auxiliary electrodes, e.g. ITO layer combined with metal lines
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/80522 combined with auxiliary electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 71/166 using selective deposition, e.g. using a mask

Abstract

An active-matrix-type display apparatus ensuring sufficient luminous intensity of display devices within a display plane and allowing improved display properties is provided. Such display apparatus having of a plurality of pixels comprises a lower electrode formed on a substrate; organic layers formed on the lower electrode; and an upper common electrode formed on the organic layers; in which a plurality of the pixels are partitioned by a rib larger in the thickness than the organic layers and having at least a conductive material layer; and the conductive material layer is electrically connected to the upper common electrode.

Claims

1. A method for fabricating a display apparatus having a plurality of pixels, the method comprising the steps of:

forming on a substrate a first electrode;

forming between adjacent ones of said plurality of pixels a rib having a conductive material, said rib being aligned substantially normal to the substrate;

placing a mask on said rib, said mask being aligned substantially parallel to said substrate, and forming on said first electrode a light emitting layer smaller in thickness than said rib using said mask; and

forming a second electrode on said light emitting layer and on and over said rib.

2. The method for fabricating a display apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said rib is made of an insulating material and a conductive material.

3. The method for fabricating a display apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said rib is formed so as to have a mesa-formed section such that the width of which becomes wider toward said substrate.

4. The method for fabricating a display apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said rib is formed so as to have a mesa-formed section such that the width of which becomes wider toward said substrate.

5. The method for fabricating a display apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

forming on said second electrode a protective film made of an insulating material or a conductive material; and

adhering on said protective film a second substrate using a photo-curing resin.

6. The method for fabricating a display apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a step of forming an insulating film under said rib.

7. The method for fabricating a display apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said rib is formed in an island form in the step for forming said rib.

8. The method for fabricating a display apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second electrode and said conductive material are made of different materials.

9. The method for fabricating a display apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first electrode is higher in reflectivity of light than said second electrode.

10. The method for fabricating a display apparatus having a plurality of pixels, the method comprising the steps of:

forming on a substrate a field effective transistor having a first electrode, a second electrode and a third electrode;

forming on said field effective transistor an interlayer insulating film;

forming an opening to said interlayer insulating film;

forming on said interlayer insulating film on a lower electrode connected through said opening to said first electrode;

forming between adjacent ones of said plurality of pixels a rib having a conductive material, said rib being aligned substantially normal to said substrate;

placing a mask on said rib, said mask being aligned substantially parallel to said substrate, and forming on said lower electrode an organic layer having a light emitting layer smaller in thickness than said rib using said mask; and

forming on and over said said rib and said organic layer an upper electrode and a protective layer made of an insulating material or a conductive material while keeping said organic layer unexposed to the air.

11. The method for fabricating a display apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said rib is made of an insulating material and a conductive material.

12. The method for fabricating a display apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said rib is formed so as to have a mesa-formed section such that the width of which becomes wider toward said substrate.

13. The method for fabricating a display apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein said rib is formed so as to have a mesa-formed section such that the width of which becomes wider toward said substrate.

14. The method for fabricating a display apparatus as claimed in claim 10, further comprising a step of adhering on said protective film a second substrate using a photo-curing resin.

15. The method for fabricating a display apparatus as claimed in claim 10, further comprising a step of forming an insulating film under said rib.

16. The method for fabricating a display apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said rib is formed in an island form in the step for forming said rib.

17. The method for fabricating a display apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said upper electrode and said conductive material layer are individually made of different materials.

18. The method for fabricating a display apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said lower electrode is higher in reflectivity of light than said upper electrode.