EL display device utilizing light-emitting organic compounds and method for forming the same

• US 7,112,374 B2
• Filed: 10/15/2003
• Issued: 09/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Konuma, Toshimitsu, Yamazaki, Shunpei, Mizukami, Mayumi
• Primary Examiner(s): KOSLOW, CAROL M
• Application Number:
  US10/684,410
• Publication Number:
  US 20040079923A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,077 Days
• Field of Search: 428/690, 345/45, 345/76, 348/333.01
• US Class Current: 428/690
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 2102/3026 Top emission
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/11 characterised by the electroluminescent [EL] layers
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/84 Passivation; Containers; Encapsulations
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/8423 Metallic sealing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/8426 Peripheral sealing arrangements, e.g. adhesives, sealants
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/844 Encapsulations
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/846 comprising getter material or desiccants
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/865 comprising light absorbing layers, e.g. light-blocking layers
• 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 59/12 Active-matrix OLED [AMOLED] displays
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/38 comprising colour filters or colour changing media [CCM]
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 71/311 Purifying organic semiconductor materials
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 85/111 comprising aromatic, heteroaromatic, or aryl chains, e.g. polyaniline, polyphenylene or polyphenylene vinylene
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 85/114 Poly-phenylenevinylene; Derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 85/324 comprising aluminium, e.g. Alq3
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 85/60 Organic compounds having low molecular weight H10K85/10 - H10K85/50 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 428/917 Electroluminescent

Abstract

By repeating a purification process of a light-emitting organic compound several times, a thin film made of the light-emitting organic compound to be used in an EL display device contains ionic impurities at the concentration of 0.1 ppm or lower and has a volume resistivity in the range of 3×10¹⁰ Ωcm or larger. By using such a thin film as a light-emitting layer in the EL device, a current caused by reasons other than the carrier recombination can be prevented from flowing through the thin film, and deterioration caused by unnecessary heat generation can be suppressed. Accordingly, it is possible to obtain an EL display device with high reliability.

Claims

1. A digital camera comprising:

a main body;

a display portion;

an image receiving portion; and

an operation switch,

the display portion comprising;

a plurality of pixels formed over a substrate, each of the plurality of pixels comprising a light-emitting element,

wherein the light-emitting element comprises an EL layer including a light-emitting organic compound, and

wherein the EL layer includes ionic impurities at the concentration of 0.1 ppm or lower.

2. A digital camera according to claim 1, wherein the ionic impurities are sodium or potassium.

13. A digital camera according to claim 1, wherein the display portion is an active matrix type.

3. A digital camera comprising:

a main body;

a display portion;

an image receiving portion; and

an operation switch,

the display portion comprising;

a plurality of pixels formed over a substrate, each of the plurality of pixels comprising a light-emitting element,

wherein the light-emitting element comprises an EL layer including a light-emitting organic compound, and

wherein the EL layer includes ionic impurities at the concentration of 0.01 ppm or lower.

4. A digital camera according to claim 3, wherein the ionic impurities are sodium or potassium.

14. A digital camera according to claim 3, wherein the display portion is an active matrix type.

5. A digital camera comprising:

a main body;

a display portion;

an image receiving portion; and

an operation switch,

the display portion comprising;

a plurality of pixels formed over a glass substrate, each of the plurality of pixels comprising a light-emitting element,

wherein the light-emitting element comprises an EL layer including a light-emitting organic compound, and

wherein the EL layer includes ionic impurities at the concentration of 0.1 ppm or lower and has a volume resistivity of 3×

10¹⁰ Ω

cm or larger.

6. A digital camera according to claim 5, wherein the ionic impurities are sodium or potassium.

15. A digital camera according to claim 5, wherein the display portion is an active matrix type.

7. A digital camera comprising:

a main body;

a display portion;

an image receiving portion; and

an operation switch,

the display portion comprising;

a plurality of pixels formed over a glass substrate, each of the plurality of pixels comprising a light-emitting element,

wherein the light-emitting element comprises an EL layer including a light-emitting organic compound, and

wherein the EL layer includes ionic impurities at the concentration of 0.01 ppm or lower and has a volume resistivity of 3×

10¹⁰ Ω

cm or larger.

8. A digital camera according to claim 7, wherein the ionic impurities are sodium or potassium.

9. A digital camera comprising:

a main body;

a display portion;

an image receiving portion; and

an operation switch,

the display portion comprising;

a plurality of pixels formed over a substrate, each of the plurality of pixels comprising a light-emitting element,

wherein the light-emitting element comprises an EL layer including a light-emitting organic compound, and

wherein the EL layer includes ionic impurities at the concentration of 0.1 ppm or lower and has a volume resistivity of 1×

10¹¹ to 1×

10¹² Ω

cm.

10. A digital camera according to claim 9, wherein the ionic impurities are sodium or potassium.

16. A digital camera according to claim 9, wherein the display portion is an active matrix type.

17. A digital camera according to claim 9, wherein the display portion is an active matrix type.

11. A digital camera comprising:

a main body;

a display portion;

an image receiving portion; and

an operation switch,

the display portion comprising;

a plurality of pixels formed over a substrate, each of the plurality of pixels comprising a light-emitting element,

wherein the light-emitting element comprises an EL layer including a light-emitting organic compound, and

wherein the EL layer includes ionic impurities at the concentration of 0.01 ppm or lower and has a volume resistivity of 1×

10¹¹ to 1×

10¹² Ω

cm.

12. A digital camera according to claim 11, wherein the ionic impurities are sodium or potassium.

18. A digital camera according to claim 11, wherein the display portion is an active matrix type.