An object of the present invention is to provide a display device capable of narrowing the area of the frame. In order to achieve this object, the display device according to the present invention has a substrate having a plurality of arranged display elements and a wiring layer of a power source on the peripheral side; a bank layer for mutually separating the display elements; an electrode layer for covering the plurality of display elements and the bank layer; and a sealing substrate for further covering the electrode layer by joining the peripheral portion of the substrate and the sealing portion circling around the periphery via a joining element such as an adhesive; wherein the periphery of the sealing substrate is positioned inside the periphery of the substrate, and the peripheral portion of the electrode layer is connected to the wiring of the power source within the sealing portion.

Patent
   RE45556
Priority
Jan 16 2002
Filed
Jun 21 2013
Issued
Jun 09 2015
Expiry
Jan 14 2023
Assg.orig
Entity
Large
4
58
all paid
0. 28. An electro-optical apparatus, comprising:
a first substrate having a first surface and a first side constituting a periphery of the first surface;
a second substrate having a second surface facing the first surface;
a first electrode arranged between the first surface and the second surface;
a second electrode arranged between the first electrode and the second surface;
an organic light-emitting layer arranged between the first electrode and the second electrode;
a transistor arranged between the first surface and the first electrode, the transistor including a semiconductor layer and a gate layer arranged facing the semiconductor layer; and
a plurality of conductive films arranged in the same layer as the gate layer;
the first substrate and second substrate being joined in a joint area arranged above the first surface; and
the plurality of conductive films having a first conductive film and a second conductive film, the first conductive film and the second conductive film being arranged between the first electrode and the first side,
the first conductive film and the second conductive film being arranged so as not to overlap the first electrode, but to overlap the joint area.
0. 14. An electro-optical apparatus, comprising:
a first substrate having a first surface, a first side constituting a first part of a periphery of the first surface, and a second side constituting a second part of the periphery of the first surface and intersecting the first side;
a second substrate having a second surface facing the first surface;
a first electrode arranged between the first surface and the second surface;
a second electrode arranged between the first electrode and the second surface;
an organic light-emitting layer arranged between the first electrode and the second electrode;
a transistor arranged between the first surface and the first electrode, the transistor including a semiconductor layer and a gate layer arranged facing the semiconductor layer; and
a first conductive film having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion being arranged in the same layer as the gate layer and being arranged between the first electrode and the first side, the second portion being arranged in the same layer as the gate layer and between the first electrode and the second side;
the first substrate and second substrate being joined in a joint area arranged above the first surface; and
the first conductive film being arranged so as not to overlap the first electrode, but to overlap the joint area.
0. 22. An electro-optical apparatus, comprising:
a first substrate having a first surface, a first side constituting a first part of a periphery of the first surface, and a second side constituting a second part of the periphery of the first surface and facing the first side;
a second substrate having a second surface facing the first surface;
a first electrode arranged between the first surface and the second surface;
a second electrode arranged between the first electrode and the second surface;
an organic light-emitting layer arranged between the first electrode and the second electrode;
a transistor arranged between the first surface and the first electrode, the transistor including a semiconductor layer and a gate layer arranged facing the semiconductor layer; and
a plurality of conductive films arranged in the same layer as the gate layer;
the first substrate and second substrate being joined in a joint area arranged above the first surface;
the plurality of conductive films having a first conductive film and a second conductive film, the first conductive film being arranged between the first electrode and the first side, the second conductive film being arranged between the first electrode and the second side, and
the first conductive film and the second conductive film being arranged so as not to overlap the first electrode, but to overlap the joint area.
0. 1. A display device, comprising:
a substrate including a plurality of display elements, a bank layer that separates each of the display elements, and a wiring layer;
a common electrode layer that is spread out to the periphery of the substrate and covers said plurality of display elements and said bank layer; and
a multilayer thin film for covering the substrate,
wherein a flat peripheral portion of the common electrode layer is laminated to a flat top face of the wiring layer through laminated flat conductive films which form a linear electrical connection area in plane, and the connection area is continuously positioned outside of the bank layer along sides of the substrate where a wiring tape is not connected, and the multilayer thin film extends beyond the connection area of the common electrode layer and the wiring layer.
0. 2. The display device according to claim 1, wherein at least one thin film among the multilayer thin film has gas barrier properties or anti-environmental properties.
0. 3. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the substrate is a square substrate, and the common electrode layer and the wiring layer are connected at one side of the substrate by laminating the common electrode layer and the wiring layer together using the laminated flat conductive films.
0. 4. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the substrate is a square substrate, and the common electrode layer and the wiring layer are connected at two sides of the substrate by laminating the common electrode layer and the wiring layer together using the laminated flat conductive films.
0. 5. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the substrate is a square substrate, and the common electrode layer and the wiring layer are connected at three sides of the substrate by laminating the common electrode layer and the wiring layer together using the laminated flat conductive films.
0. 6. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the multilayer thin film includes an inorganic layer.
0. 7. The display device according to claim 6, wherein the inorganic layer is made of a material selected from SiO2, SiN and SiON.
0. 8. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the multilayer thin film includes an organic layer.
0. 9. The display device according to claim 8, wherein the organic layer includes fluoric macromolecules.
0. 10. The display device according to claim 8, wherein the organic layer is made of a material selected from polyethylene, polystyrene and polypropylene.
0. 11. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the multilayer thin film is formed by laminating an organic layer/inorganic layer/organic layer.
0. 12. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the multilayer thin film is formed by laminating an inorganic layer/organic layer/inorganic layer.
0. 13. A manufacturing method of a display device, comprising:
a step of forming at least a wiring layer at a part of the periphery of a substrate to which an electrical circuit is to be formed;
a step of forming an element separation layer comprising a plurality of grooves for mutually separating a plurality of display elements excluding an area over the wiring layer of the substrate;
a step of forming said display elements to each of the plurality of grooves of the element separation layer;
a step of forming a common electrode layer on the plurality of display elements, the element separation layer, and the wiring layer, respectively; and
a sealing step of directly forming a multilayer thin film above the common electrode layer and the substrate;
wherein a flat peripheral portion of the common electrode layer is laminated to a flat top face of the wiring layer through laminated flat conductive films which form a linear electrical connection area in plane; and the connection area is continuously positioned outside of the element separation layer along sides of the substrate where a wiring tape is not connected, and the multilayer thin film extends beyond the connection area.
0. 15. The electro-optical apparatus as set forth in claim 14,
the second electrode and the first conductive film being electrically connected to each other.
0. 16. The electro-optical apparatus as set forth in claim 14,
the first substrate further having a third side constituting the periphery of the first surface and facing the first side,
the first conductive film further having a third portion arranged between the first electrode and the third side, and
the first portion, second portion and third portion being connected to each other.
0. 17. The electro-optical apparatus as set forth in claim 14, further comprising:
a source layer arranged between the gate layer and the first electrode; and
a second conductive film arranged in the same layer as the source layer,
the second conductive film being arranged so as not to overlap the first electrode, but to overlap the joint area.
0. 18. The electro-optical apparatus as set forth in claim 14, further comprising:
a source layer arranged between the gate layer and the first electrode; and
a second conductive film arranged in the same layer as the source layer,
the second conductive film being electrically connected to the first conductive film.
0. 19. The electro-optical apparatus as set forth in claim 14, further comprising:
a third conductive film arranged in the same layer as the first electrode, and
the third conductive film not overlapping the first electrode, but being electrically connected to the first conductive film.
0. 20. The electro-optical apparatus as set forth in claim 14,
the semiconductor layer being arranged between the gate layer and the first surface.
0. 21. An electronic device, comprising:
the electro-optical apparatus as set forth in claim 14.
0. 23. The electro-optical apparatus as set forth in claim 22,
the second electrode and the plurality of conductive films being electrically connected to each other.
0. 24. The electro-optical apparatus as set forth in claim 22,
the first substrate further having a third side constituting the periphery of the first surface and intersecting the first side and second side,
the plurality of conductive films further having a third conductive film arranged between the first electrode and the third side, and
the first conductive film, the second conductive film, and the third conductive film being separated from each other.
0. 25. The electro-optical apparatus as set forth in claim 22, further comprising:
a source layer arranged between the gate layer and the first electrode; and
a fourth conductive film arranged in the same layer as the source layer,
the fourth conductive film being arranged so as not to overlap the first electrode, but to overlap the joint area.
0. 26. The electro-optical apparatus as set forth in claim 22, further comprising:
a source layer arranged between the gate layer and the first electrode; and
a fourth conductive film arranged in the same layer as the source layer,
the fourth conductive film being electrically connected to the plurality of conductive films.
0. 27. An electronic device, comprising:
the electro-optical apparatus as set forth in claim 22.
0. 29. The electro-optical apparatus as set forth in claim 28,
the second electrode and the plurality of conductive films being electrically connected to each other.
0. 30. The electro-optical apparatus as set forth in claim 28,
the first conductive film and the second conductive film being separated from each other.
0. 31. The electro-optical apparatus as set forth in claim 28, further comprising:
a source layer arranged between the gate layer and the first electrode; and
a third conductive film arranged in the same layer as the source layer,
the third conductive film being arranged so as not to overlap the first electrode, but to overlap the joint area.
0. 32. The electro-optical apparatus as set forth in claim 28, further comprising:
a source layer arranged between the gate layer and the first electrode; and
a third conductive film arranged in the same layer as the source layer,
the third conductive film being electrically connected to the plurality of conductive films.
0. 33. An electronic device, comprising:
the electro-optical apparatus as set forth in claim 28.

the power the substrate 100 has a first side 100a, a second side 100b and a third side 100c. Each of the first side 100a, the second side 100b and the third side 100c constitutes a part of a periphery of the substrate 100. The power source wiring 107 and the common electrode (negative electrode) 123 are connected at the three sides (upper side, left side, right side the first side 100a, the second side 100b and the third side 100c) of the square (polygonal) substrate 100, narrowing of the frame is sought by sealing the outside areas thereof, and the driver IC (external circuit) is connected with the wiring tape 402 at one side (lower side). According to this structure, wiring resistance can be reduced up to the common electrode 123 with the connection at three sides, and, since one side can be dedicated to connection with the external circuit, the frame of the overall display device module can be narrowed in a well-balanced manner. As shown in FIG. 14, the power source wiring 107 has a first portion 107a, a second portion 107b and a third portion 107c. Further, as explained above with relation to FIG. 6(a), the gate wiring film 108 of the TFT 130 is formed as the same layer as the power source wiring 107. In this embodiment, the power source wiring 107 corresponds to a first conductive film. In addition, i) the first portion 107a, ii) the second portion 107b and iii) the third portion 107c correspond to a) a first portion, b) a second portion and c) a third portion, respectively.

With the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 15, the power source wiring 107 and the common electrode (negative electrode) 123 are connected at one side (lower side) of the substrate 100, and sealing is performed at the outside area thereof. In this example, since the common electrode 123 and the wiring film 107 are connected at only one side, it is difficult to narrow the frame since a sufficient conductive area (vertical conductive area) must be secured between the common electrode 123 and the wiring film 107 with this one side. Nevertheless, since the wiring with the common electrode 123 will no longer be necessary at the other three sides, the frame portion of such three sides can be narrowed significantly. This kind of structure is effective in cases as with a display device of a portable telephone wherein the module may be elongated in a certain direction, but is restricted in other directions.

With the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 16, the common electrode 123 and the wiring film 107 are connected at two sides (left side and right side) of the substrate 100, and sealing is performed respectively to the outside areas thereof. When providing the wiring tape 402 to either side (upper side and lower side) facing each other, respectively, in order to install an external circuit, for instance, this is effective when driving the odd number lines from the top and driving the even number lines from the bottom, and a large capacity (large screen) display is enabled by mounting numerous driver ICs. Moreover, with this structure, the reduction of wiring resistance comparable with the case of connecting the common electrode 123 and the wiring film 107 at three sides as depicted in FIG. 14 may be sought.

With the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 17, the substrate 100 has a first side 100a, a second side 100b, a third side 100c and a fourth side 100d. Each of the first side 100a, the second side 100b, the third side 100c and the fourth side 100d constitutes a periphery of the substrate 100. As shown in FIG. 17, the common electrode 123 and the wiring film 107 are connected at four sides (upper side, lower side, left side, right side the first side 100a, the second side 100b, the third side 100c and the fourth side 100) of the substrate 100, and sealing is performed respectively to the outside areas thereof. Then, a pullout wiring is formed via the insulation film at the lower part of the wiring for seeking conductivity between the common electrode 123 and the wiring film 107 with the multilayer wiring film, and this wiring is connected with an external circuit. Moreover, the conductive area for connecting the common electrode 123 and the wiring film 107 may be separated into a plurality of blocks, and a pullout wiring may be disposed between the mutual blocks. According to this kind of structure, sufficient reduction of wiring resistance required for realizing a large-size high resolution display can be attained. As shown in FIG. 17, the power source wiring 107 has a first wiring 107d, a second wiring 107e, a third wiring 107f and a fourth wiring 107g. Further, as explained above with relation to FIG. 6(a), the gate wiring film 108 of the TFT 130 is formed as the same layer as the power source wiring 107. In this embodiment, i) the first wiring 107d, ii) the second wiring 107e, iii) the third wiring 107f and iv) the fourth wiring 107g correspond to a) a first conductive film, b) a second conductive film, c) a third conductive film and d) a fourth conductive film, respectively. Further, i) the first side 100a, ii) the second side 100b and iii) the third side 100c correspond to a) a first side, b) a second side and c) a third side, respectively.

As described above, according to the respective embodiments of the present invention, since the display device is assembled such that the connection area (c) of the common electrode (negative electrode) 123 and the substrate wiring 107 is included within the sealing margin (b+c), the frame area of the display unit can be reduced.

Moreover, since the bank layer 113 is positioned to be further inside the substrate than the connection area (c) of the common electrode 123 and the substrate wiring 107, it is possible to prevent gas from directly penetrating within the bank layer 113 from the connection portion (b+c) of the substrate 100 and the sealing substrate (or sealing film) 200. Thereby, influence on the light emitting element 120 will be minimal even upon employing a resin (such as a photoresist), which can be processed easily, as the bank layer 113.

Moreover, as a result of placing the calcium electrode 123a away from the connection area (c) of the electrode 123a and the substrate wiring 107, erosion of the calcium electrode 123a due to infiltration of oxygen or water vapor gas can be prevented.

Next, electronic devices comprising the display device according to the present invention are described below. The present invention, however, shall in no way be limited to these exemplifications.

<Mobile Computer>

Foremost, an example employing the display device pertaining to the foregoing embodiments in a mobile personal computer is explained. FIG. 18 is a perspective view showing the structure of this personal computer. In FIG. 18, the personal computer 1100 is structured from a main body 1104 comprising a keyboard 1102, and a display device unit comprising the foregoing display device 1106.

<Portable Phone>

Next, an example of employing the display device pertaining to the foregoing embodiments in the display unit of a portable telephone is explained. FIG. 19 is a perspective view showing the structure of this portable telephone. In FIG. 19, the portable telephone 1200 comprises a plurality of operation buttons 1202, an earpiece 1206, a mouthpiece 1024, and the foregoing display device 1208.

<Digital Still Camera>

An example of employing the display device pertaining to the foregoing embodiments in the finder of a digital still camera is now explained. FIG. 20 is a perspective view showing the structure of this digital still camera, and also briefly shows the connection with external equipment.

Whereas an ordinary camera exposes the film with the optical image of the photographic subject, the digital still camera 1300 generates image signals by performing photoelectric conversion to the optical image of the photographic subject with visual elements of a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) or the like. The foregoing display device 1304 is provided to the back face of the case 1302 of this digital still camera 1300, and is structured to conduct display based on the visual signals from the CCD. Thus, the display device 1304 functions as a finder for displaying the photographic subject. Moreover, a light receiving unit including the likes of an optical lens or CCD is provided to the observation side of the case 1302.

When the photographer confirms the image of the photographic subject displayed on the display device 1304 and presses the shutter button 1308, the visual signal of the CCD at such moment is transmitted to and stored in the memory of the circuit substrate 1310. Moreover, this digital still camera 1300 also comprises a video signal output terminal 1312 and a data transmission I/O terminal 1314 at the side face of the case 1302. And, as illustrated in FIG. 20, a television monitor 1330 is connected to the video signal output terminal 1312 and a personal computer 1340 is connected to the data transmission I/O terminal 1314, respectively, as necessary. Further, pursuant to prescribed operations, the structure is such that the visual signal stored in the memory of the circuit substrate 1308 is output to the television monitor 1330 or the computer 1340.

<Electronic Book>

FIG. 21 is a perspective view showing the structure of an electronic book as an example of the electronic device according to the present invention. In FIG. 21, reference numeral 1400 represents the electronic book. The electronic book 1400 comprises a book-shaped frame 1402 and a cover 1403 capable of opening and closing this frame 1402. A display device 1404 is provided to the frame 1402 in a state where its display face is exposed to the surface thereof, and, an operation unit 1405 is also provided thereto. A controller, counter, memory and so on are built in the frame 1402. In the present embodiment, the display device 1404 comprises a pixel portion to which display elements are disposed and an integrated peripheral circuit that is provided integrally with such pixel portion. The peripheral circuit comprises a decoder scan driver and data driver.

Moreover, as the electronic device, in addition to the personal computer of FIG. 18, the portable telephone of FIG. 19, the digital still camera of FIG. 20 and the electronic book of FIG. 21, electronic paper, liquid crystal televisions, view-finding or monitor-viewing video tape recorders, car navigation devices, pagers, electronic notebooks, calculators, word processors, workstations, television phones, OS terminals, devices comprising a touch panel and so on also apply. And, the foregoing display device may be employed as the display unit of the respective electronic devices described above.

The display device according to the present invention is not limited to the organic EL display device of the embodiments. Moreover, the substrate is not limited to the TFT substrate of the embodiments. In addition to an active substrate, the present invention can also be employed in a passive substrate.

Moreover, although an adhesive was used as the joining means in the embodiments, it is not limited thereto. Other methods, for instance, joining with supersonic waves or lasers may also be employed.

As described above, according to the display device of the present invention, it is preferable in that the width of the frame, which is the non-display area at the periphery of the display area, can be narrowed.

Yokoyama, Osamu, Kobayashi, Hidekazu, Matsueda, Yojiro

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