JP2770100B2 - EL display element patterning method - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an EL (electroluminescence) display device, and more particularly to the EL device.
The present invention relates to a patterning method for performing patterning on a light emitting surface of an L display element to display predetermined characters, figures, and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIGS. 5 and 6 show an example of a patterning method in a conventional EL display element 90 of this kind. First, FIG. 5 shows an EL display element previously formed in a plate shape, for example. The display element 91 is obtained by cutting out the element 90 into a predetermined shape using a punching die or the like, and wiring the transparent electrode and the back electrode of the display element 91 to emit light to display a predetermined shape. It is.

FIG. 6 shows a masking film 92 in which a predetermined shape portion is made transparent and the other portions are made opaque, for example, on the surface on the viewing side of an EL display element 90 formed in a plate shape in advance. When the EL display element 90 is caused to emit light, it is visually observed that only a predetermined shape portion emits light, whereby an intended display can be performed.

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional patterning method, first, in the method shown in FIG. 5, a laminating process or the like for moisture proof must be performed after cutting out. ,
This causes a problem that the production process becomes complicated, and particularly when a character string is required for display, it is necessary to perform cutting and lamination processing for each character, and it takes much more time and effort,
As a result, there has been a problem that the production cost is very high.

In addition, in the device shown in FIG. 6, since a portion other than a predetermined shape portion for display is also illuminated at the time of lighting, power consumption with respect to a display area is increased and power efficiency is reduced. In addition to the problem that the entire surface emits light simultaneously at the time of lighting, there is also a problem that the display is not given a variation such as independent lighting for each character and the appealing effect on the display is poor.
Also, in any of the above cases, the display contents are limited to the punching type or the plate type, so that when changing the display contents, it is necessary to change the above type or make a new work, which causes a problem of poor mobility. Therefore, the solution of these points has been an issue.

[0006]

According to the present invention, as a specific means for solving the above-mentioned conventional problems, there is provided a method for patterning an EL display element for displaying a predetermined shape by patterning a light emitting surface, wherein the patterning is performed by the EL.
A notch groove extending from the back electrode layer side of the display element to at least the insulating layer is provided in a closed curve shape along the outer shape of the predetermined shape, and a positive electrode is formed on the back electrode layer of the predetermined shape portion electrically separated by the notch groove. By providing a patterning method for an EL display element provided with a display terminal, all of the conventional problems described above are solved.

[0007]

Next, the present invention will be described in detail based on an embodiment shown in the drawings. 1 and 2 are EL display elements. The EL display element 1 has a transparent electrode layer 11 and a light-emitting layer 1 from the display surface side as shown in the sectional view of FIG.
2, the insulating layer 13 and the back electrode layer 14 are laminated and formed. When a high-frequency voltage is applied between the transparent electrode layer 11 and the back electrode layer 14, the light emitting layer 12 emits light and becomes transparent. The emitted light is transmitted through the electrode layer 11 and is observed.

In the present invention, a notch groove 2 is formed along the outer shape of a predetermined shape 1a, 1b for display by a YAG (yttrium-aluminum-garnet crystal) laser 20 from the side of the back electrode layer 14 of the EL display element 1. Is formed in a closed curve shape. At this time, the depth of the cut groove 2 is set to reach at least the insulating layer 13 as shown in FIG. 2, and is located at the position of the predetermined shape 1a, 1b. Each of the display unit rear electrode layers 14a and 14b has a predetermined shape 1
The portions other than a and 1b are electrically separated from the back electrode layer 14, and the display portion back electrode layer 14a and the display portion back electrode 14b are also electrically separated from each other.

The YAG laser 20 is used to cut the cut groove 2.
The depth at which is provided may reach the light emitting layer 12 as shown by the broken line in FIG. 2. In short, the depth is such that the back electrode layer 14 is cut in the above-described state and does not reach the transparent electrode layer 11. If so, the depth can be set freely.

FIG. 3 shows a wiring process after the cut groove 2 is provided as described above. In this embodiment,
The display unit back electrode layer 14a and the display unit back electrode layer 14b, which are electrically separated from each other, are connected, and the back electrode layer 14 is insulated from the back electrode layer 14 by an insulating film 6 or the like, and the positive display terminal 3 is provided. At the same time, the negative display terminal 4 is provided on the back electrode layer 14. The transparent electrode layer 11
Is provided with a common terminal 5 in advance when an EL display element is formed.

Next, the operation and effect of the EL display element 1 formed by the above-described method will be described. The cut groove 2 is formed in a closed curve shape along the outer shape of the predetermined shape 1a, 1b. The positive display terminal 3 is provided on the display portion rear electrode layer 14a and the display portion rear electrode layer 14b which are electrically separated from the portion.
The EL display element 1 is provided with a negative display terminal 4 so that when a high-frequency voltage is applied between the common terminal 5 and the positive display terminal 3, only the portions of the predetermined shapes 1a and 1b emit light. Thus, the target display is performed by characters that shine on the dark ground, that is, positive display.

When a high-frequency voltage is applied between the common terminal 5 and the negative display terminal 4, the portion other than the portions of the predetermined shapes 1a and 1b emits light, and the target display shines on the ground. It is performed in dark characters, that is, negative display.

In the state where the above-mentioned positive display is performed,
When the power supply to the positive display terminal 3 is stopped, the portions of the predetermined shapes 1a and 1b are naturally turned off, and the entire surface of the EL display element 1 is in a dark state, that is, the display is stopped by darkening. At this time, the power supply to the positive display terminal 3 is continued, and in addition, the power is also supplied to the negative display terminal 4, so that the entire surface of the EL display element 1 is in a bright state, that is, the display can be stopped even by light turning. The same applies to the negative display state.

FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of the present invention. In the previous embodiment, the display rear electrode layer 14a and the display rear electrode layer 14b are connected to each other and provided on the positive display terminal 3. On the other hand, in this embodiment, the display unit back electrode layer 1
Independent positive display terminals 3a and 3b are attached to the display unit back electrode layer 4b and the display unit back electrode layer 14b, respectively. In this manner, the predetermined shapes 1a and 1b can be independently flashed, and the display can be further improved. Will be given.

Since the operation and effects other than those described above are exactly the same as those of the previous embodiment, detailed description thereof will be omitted. Also, in each of the above embodiments, the example in which the predetermined shape for display is two is described, but it is needless to say that this can be performed in any number of one or more places. still,
In any of the above embodiments, the example in which a YAG laser is used to form the cut groove has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and another laser such as a CO ₂ laser may be used. Means may be adopted.

[0016]

As described above, according to the present invention, in the patterning, a notch groove reaching at least the insulating layer from the back electrode layer side of the EL display element is provided along a contour of a predetermined shape in a closed curve shape. A positive display terminal is provided on the back electrode layer of the predetermined shape portion electrically separated by the above, and a patterning method of an EL display element having a negative display terminal provided on the other back electrode layer, One is to provide a predetermined display shape only by providing the notch groove 2 on one surface of the EL display element, thereby improving productivity and achieving an excellent effect of cost reduction. The terminal and the negative display terminal give a positive display, a negative display, etc. to give a variation to the display and also have an excellent effect of improving the appealing effect.In addition, by providing a groove by cutting, a punching type, Type, such as type of any kind in which excellent effects in improving the mobility of the production line as being easy different types of production of display contents as required.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a cutting groove forming step using a YAG laser in an EL display element patterning method according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a terminal attaching process of the same embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a conventional example.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing another conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... EL display element 1a, 1b ... Predetermined shape 11 ... Transparent electrode layer 12 ... Emitting layer 13 ... Insulating layer 14 ... Back electrode layer 14a, 14b ... Display part back electrode layer 2 ... Notch Groove 3, 3a, 3b Positive display terminal 4 Negative display terminal 5 Common terminal 6 Insulating film 20 YAG laser

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁶ , DB name) H05B 33/10

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A patterning method for an EL display element for displaying a predetermined shape by patterning a light emitting surface,
At least reaches that switching Komimizo the insulating layer provided on the closed curve along the contour of the predetermined shape, the predetermined shape portions that are electrically separated by the cut-out groove from the back electrode layer side of the patterning said EL display device 3. A patterning method for an EL display element, wherein a positive display terminal is provided on the back electrode layer. 2. The patterning method for an EL display element according to claim 1, wherein a negative display terminal is provided on the back electrode layer other than the predetermined shape portion.