Light-emitting element and display device using same

• US 9,276,052 B2
• Filed: 08/24/2015
• Issued: 03/01/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Samsung Display Company Limited (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Japan Display Incorporated, Panasonic Liquid Crystal Display Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Adachi, Masaya, Tsuji, Kazutaka, Murakami, Hajime, Nishimura, Etsuko
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams, Joseph L
• Application Number:
  US14/833,951
• Publication Number:
  US 20150364529A1
• Time in Patent Office: 190 Days
• Field of Search: 313498-512
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 33/02 Details
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 33/04 Sealing arrangements , e.g. against humidity
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 33/14 characterised by the chemical or physical composition or the arrangement of the electroluminescent material , or by the simultaneous addition of the electroluminescent material in or onto the light source
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 33/22 characterised by the chemical or physical composition or the arrangement of auxiliary dielectric or reflective layers
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 2102/3026 Top emission
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 2102/321 Inverted OLED, i.e. having cathode between substrate and anode
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/805 Electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/81 Anodes
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/82 Cathodes
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/828 Transparent cathodes, e.g. comprising thin metal layers
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/84 Passivation; Containers; Encapsulations
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/841 Self-supporting sealing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/8426 Peripheral sealing arrangements, e.g. adhesives, sealants
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/8428 Vertical spacers, e.g. arranged between the sealing arrangement and the OLED
• 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 50/858 comprising refractive means, e.g. lenses
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/86 Arrangements for improving contrast, e.g. preventing reflection of ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/1213 the pixel elements being TFTs
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/1216 the pixel elements being capacitors
• 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]
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/124 : Insulating layers formed between TFT elements and OLED elements
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/35 : comprising red-green-blue [RGB] subpixels
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/38 : comprising colour filters or colour changing media [CCM]

Abstract

A display device includes a plurality of light-emitting elements aligned on a TFT substrate in a formation of a matrix. The plurality of light-emitting elements each have a flat surface portion and including a light-emitting layer, an anode, and a cathode, an insulating layer formed on the TFT substrate and under the light emitting element, and a tilted metal surface provided on a peripheral area surrounding the flat surface portion of the light-emitting element and having a tilt angle with respect to the flat surface portion of the light-emitting element. The tilted metal surface is provided on a surface of a slope of a bank that is provided on the insulation layer, and a width of a cross-section of the bank becomes smaller as the cross section comes farther away from a surface of the TFT substrate. A counter substrate is placed on the TFT substrate.

Claims

1. A display device comprising:

a plurality of light-emitting elements aligned on a TFT substrate in a formation of a matrix, the plurality of light-emitting elements each having a flat surface portion and including an anode, a light-emitting layer arranged on the anode, and a cathode arranged on the light-emitting layer;

an insulation layer formed on the TFT substrate and under the light emitting element; and

a tilted metal is provided on a peripheral area surrounding the flat surface portion of the light-emitting element and has a tilt angle against the flat surface portion of the light-emitting element;

wherein the tilted metal is provided on a surface of a slope of a bank that is provided on the insulation layer,

wherein a width of a cross section of the bank becomes smaller as the cross section comes farther away from a surface of the TFT substrate,

wherein a counter substrate is placed on the plurality of light-emitting elements, the tilted metal, and the TFT substrate,

wherein the light emitting element emits light in a direction from the TFT substrate to the counter substrate, and

wherein gap exist between the light emitting element and the counter substrate.

2. The display device according to claim 1, further comprising a predetermined metal between the TFT substrate and the insulation layer;

and

an extended metal is connected to the anode,

wherein the display device comprising a plurality of pixels aligned on the TFT substrate in a formation of a matrix,

wherein the tilted metal is connected to the cathode,

wherein the predetermined metal is connected to the extended metal via a contact hole in the insulation layer,

wherein each of the bank and the tilted metal overlaps the extended metal and the contact hole in plan view, and

wherein each of the plurality of pixels includes each of the plurality of light-emitting elements.

3. The display device according to claim 1, wherein an optical waveguide layer is overlaid in an area surrounded by the tilted metal on the light emitting element.

4. The display device according to claim 3, wherein the optical waveguide layer has a cross sectional formation so that a cross sectional width of the optical waveguide layer becomes wider as distance from the surface of the TFT substrate increases, and

wherein a height of the tilted metal from the flat surface of the light-emitting layer is larger than a maximum height of the optical waveguide layer.

5. The display device according to claim 1, wherein inactive gas is arranged in the gap.

6. The display device according to claim 2, wherein the bank is sandwiched between the tilted metal and the anode in the peripheral area surrounding the flat surface portion of the light-emitting element, and

wherein the bank isn'"'"'t arranged on the flat surface portion of the light-emitting element in plan view.

7. The display device according to claim 6, further comprising:

a plurality of driver elements each connected to each of the light-emitting elements;

a plurality of capacitor elements each of which is connected to each of the light emitting elements and receives each of a plurality of image signals; and

a plurality of switching elements each of which is connected to each of the capacitor elements and each of the light emitting elements and controls input of each of the plurality of image signals to each of the capacitor elements,

wherein the predetermined metal is connected to the driver element.

8. A display device comprising

a plurality of light-emitting elements aligned on a TFT substrate in a formation of a matrix, at least one of the plurality of light-emitting elements having a flat surface portion and including an anode, a light-emitting layer arranged on the anode, and a cathode arranged on the light-emitting layer;

an insulation layer formed on the TFT substrate and under the light emitting element;

a first metal is provided on a surface of a slope of a first bank that is provided on the insulation layer; and

a second metal is provided on a surface of a slope of a second bank that is provided on the insulation layer,

wherein the flat surface portion of the light-emitting element is arranged between the first metal and the second metal,

wherein a width of a cross section of each of the first and the second banks becomes smaller as the cross section comes farther away from a surface of the TFT substrate,

wherein a counter substrate is placed on the plurality of light-emitting elements, the first metal, the second metal, and the TFT substrate,

wherein the light emitting element emits light in a direction from the TFT substrate to the counter substrate, and

wherein gap exist between the light emitting element and the counter substrate.

9. The display device according to claim 8, further comprising a predetermined metal between the TFT substrate and the insulation layer;

and

an extended metal connected to the anode,

wherein at the flat surface portion of the light-emitting element, the anode is connected to the organic layer, and the organic layer is connected to the cathode,

wherein the first metal and the second metal are connected to the cathode,

wherein the predetermined metal is connected to the extended metal via a contact hole in the insulation layer, and

wherein each of the first bank and the first metal overlaps the extended metal and the contact hole in plan view.

10. The display device according to claim 9, wherein an optical waveguide layer is overlaid on the flat surface portion of the light-emitting element.

11. The display device according to claim 10, wherein the optical waveguide layer has a cross sectional formation so that a cross sectional width of the optical waveguide layer becomes wider as distance from the surface of the TFT substrate increases, and

wherein a height of the first metal from the flat surface portion of the light-emitting element is larger than a maximum height of the optical waveguide layer.

12. The display device according to claim 8, wherein inactive gas is arranged in the gap.

13. The display device according to claim 9, wherein the first and the second banks are formed in an integrated manner,

wherein a peripheral metal of the anode as the predetermined metal surrounds the flat surface portion of the light-emitting element in plan view, and

wherein the first bank is arranged between the first metal and the peripheral metal of the anode, and the second bank is arranged between the second metal and the peripheral metal of the anode.

14. The display device according to claim 13, further comprising:

a plurality of driver elements each connected to each of the light-emitting elements;

a plurality of capacitor elements each of which is connected to each of the light emitting elements and receives each of a plurality of image signals; and

a plurality of switching elements each of which is connected to each of the capacitor elements and each of the light emitting elements and controls input of each of the plurality of image signals to each of the capacitor elements,

wherein the peripheral metal is connected to the driver element.

15. The display device according to claim 13, wherein the first metal is provided on a peripheral area surrounding the flat surface portion of the light-emitting element and has a first tilt angle against the flat surface portion of the light-emitting element,

wherein the second metal is provided in the peripheral area surrounding the flat surface portion of the light-emitting element and has a second tilt angle against the flat surface portion of the light-emitting element, and

wherein the first and the second banks includes the peripheral area formed on the peripheral metal of the anode.

16. A display device comprising:

a plurality of light-emitting elements aligned on a TFT substrate in a formation of a matrix, at least one of the plurality of light-emitting elements having a flat surface portion and including an anode, a light-emitting layer arranged on the anode, and a cathode arranged on the light-emitting layer;

an insulation layer formed on the TFT substrate and under the light emitting element; and

a metal is provided on a surface of an insulation bank that is provided on the insulation layer,

wherein each of the insulation bank and the metal surrounds the flat surface portion of the light-emitting element in plan view,

wherein a width of a cross section of the insulation bank becomes smaller as the cross section comes farther away from a surface of the TFT substrate,

wherein a counter substrate is placed on the plurality of light-emitting elements, the metal, and the TFT substrate,

wherein the light emitting element emits light in a direction from the TFT substrate to the counter substrate, and

wherein gap exist between the light emitting element and the counter substrate.

17. The display device according to claim 16, further comprising a predetermined metal between the TFT substrate and the insulation layer;

and

an extended metal connected to the anode,

wherein at the flat surface portion of the light-emitting element, the anode is connected to the organic layer, and the organic layer is connected to the cathode,

wherein the metal are connected to the cathode,

wherein the predetermined metal is connected to the extended metal via a contact hole in the insulation layer, and

wherein each of the insulation bank and the metal overlaps the extended metal and the contact hole in plan view.

18. The display device according to claim 17, wherein a peripheral metal of the anode as the predetermined metal surrounds the flat surface portion of the light-emitting element in plan view, and

wherein the insulation bank is arranged between the metal and the peripheral metal of the anode.

19. The display device according to claim 17, further comprising:

a plurality of driver elements each connected to each of the light-emitting elements;

a plurality of capacitor elements each of which is connected to each of the light emitting elements and receives each of a plurality of image signals; and

a plurality of switching elements each of which is connected to each of the capacitor elements and each of the light emitting elements and controls input of each of the plurality of image signals to each of the capacitor elements,

wherein the predetermined metal is connected to the driver element.

20. The display device according to claim 18, wherein the metal is provided on a peripheral area surrounding the flat surface portion of the light-emitting element and has a tilt angle against the flat surface portion of the light-emitting element, and

wherein the insulation bank includes the peripheral area formed on the peripheral metal of the anode.