JP4820100B2 - Self-luminous panel, self-luminous panel manufacturing method, illumination and display device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a self-luminous panel , a method for manufacturing the self-luminous panel , illumination, and a display device .

  For example, self-luminous panels using organic electroluminescence (hereinafter abbreviated as EL) elements have been used in display displays and light emitting elements of various information devices.

  In the organic EL element, moisture contained in the outside air is assumed as a deterioration factor that degrades the organic EL element. In order to prevent the deterioration of the organic EL element from such deterioration factors, there are various sealing methods for blocking the organic EL element from the outside air.

  One of them is a hermetic sealing method in which a sealing substrate is disposed opposite to a substrate on which an organic EL element is provided so as to form a sealing space for blocking the organic EL element from outside air. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1 below.) With the hermetic sealing method, a self-luminous panel using an organic EL element can be manufactured easily and at low cost.

  In the self-light-emitting panel in which the self-light-emitting element is sealed using the hermetic sealing method, the support substrate and the sealing base material are bonded via an adhesive. This prevents the deterioration factor from entering the sealed space.

JP 2002-297064 A

  However, in the conventional technique including the technique described in Patent Document 1 described above, the deterioration factor may be transmitted through the adhesive and enter the sealed space. When the deterioration factor that has entered the sealed space reaches the self-light-emitting element through the surface of the support substrate, there is a problem that the light-emitting performance of the self-light-emitting element deteriorates.

  As a countermeasure, it is conceivable to widen the area where the adhesive is applied (adhesion area), so that it takes time for the degradation factor to travel through the adhesive and enter the sealed space. limited. Thereafter, when the self-luminous element is sealed using solid sealing or film sealing, the self-luminous element is sealed using the hermetic sealing method in the same manner as the sealing region formed around the self-luminous element. A sealing region including a sealing space formed around the self-luminous element when sealed is used.

  In particular, in a small self-luminous panel, when the distance between the self-luminous element and the adhesive is shortened by widening the area where the adhesive is applied, the self-luminous light is emitted once the deterioration factor enters the sealing area. Deterioration of the device becomes significant. Similarly, in a small self-luminous panel, if the area where the adhesive is applied is increased by increasing the area where the adhesive is applied, the limited space on the support substrate can be effectively utilized. It becomes impossible. That is, there is a problem that widening the area where the adhesive is applied becomes an obstacle to downsizing the self-luminous panel.

  In view of this, the present invention has an example of dealing with such a problem. That is, it aims at suppressing the fall of the light emission performance by a deterioration factor being transmitted, and aiming at size reduction of a self-light-emitting panel.

In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, a self-luminous panel according to the invention of claim 1 includes a support substrate in which a self-luminous element having a light-emitting layer between electrode pairs is provided in a display area, A sealing base material that forms a sealing region that shields the self-light-emitting element from outside air between the supporting substrate and an adhesive region between the supporting substrate and the sealing base material in the width direction. A first adhesive region and a second adhesive region having different dimensions, and a distance between the first adhesive region and the display area is between the second adhesive region and the display area. The dimension of the first adhesion region in the width direction is small with respect to the distance of the second adhesion region in the width direction.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for manufacturing a self-luminous panel, wherein a self-luminous element having a light-emitting layer between electrode pairs is provided in a display area, and the self-luminous element is shielded from outside air. In a manufacturing method of a self-luminous panel provided with a sealing base material that forms a sealing region between the support substrate and an adhesive region between the support substrate and the sealing base material, they are different from each other in the width direction. A bonding area adjusting step for adjusting the bonding area, the first bonding area having a dimension and a second bonding area, wherein a distance between the first bonding area and the display area is The dimension of the first adhesion area in the width direction is small with respect to the dimension of the second adhesion area, which is large with respect to the distance between the two adhesion areas and the display area.
Moreover, the illumination concerning the invention of Claim 10 is provided with the self-light-emitting panel described in Claim 1.
According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, a display device includes the self-luminous panel according to the first aspect.

  Exemplary embodiments of a self-luminous panel and a method for producing the self-luminous panel according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

(Embodiment 1)
(Schematic configuration of self-luminous panel)
FIG. 1 is a longitudinal side view showing a self-luminous panel according to the first embodiment. The self-luminous panel 100 according to the first embodiment includes a support substrate 101, a self-luminous element 102, a sealing substrate 103, a desiccant 104, and an adhesive 105.

  Self-luminous panel 100 in the first embodiment is a display device using self-luminous element 102. The self-luminous panel 100 is used as, for example, a cell phone, a vehicle-mounted monitor, an operation panel for home appliances, a dot matrix display panel such as a PC or a television. In addition, the self-luminous panel 100 is used as, for example, a fixed display for a clock or an advertisement panel, a light source for a scanner or a printer, an illumination, an outdoor display such as Aurora Vision (registered trademark), a liquid crystal backlight, or the like. .

  The self-luminous panel 100 can be applied to display devices of various sizes such as a small size to a large size such as an aurora vision. Although detailed illustration is omitted, the self-light-emitting panel 100 of the first embodiment includes one in which individual dots are realized by each of the plurality of self-light-emitting elements 102 arranged in a dot matrix.

  Examples of a material for forming the support substrate 101 include glass, metal, and resin such as TPFT (tetrapolyfluoroethylene). When the self-light emitting element 102 is an organic EL element having a bottom emission structure for extracting light from the support substrate 101 side or a TOLED structure for extracting light from both sides of the support substrate 101 side and the opposite side, the support substrate 101 is transparent. It is made of excellent glass or resin.

  For example, when the self-emitting element 102 is an organic EL element having a top emission structure that extracts light from the side opposite to the support substrate 101 side, the material forming the support substrate 101 is not particularly limited, and may be glass or transparent. The support substrate 101 may be formed of any material that is subjected to the property.

  The self-luminous element 102 is provided on the support substrate 101. In the first embodiment, when viewed from the display surface side of the self-luminous panel 100, an area where the self-luminous element 102 is actually formed is defined as a display area (see FIG. 2). For example, when the self light emitting panel 100 includes a single self light emitting element 102, the light emitting surface of the single self light emitting element 102 becomes a display area. For example, when the self-light-emitting panel 100 includes a plurality of self-light-emitting elements 102, an area that covers all of the plurality of self-light-emitting elements 102 is a display area. In this display area, for example, information is displayed.

  The self-light-emitting element 102 according to the first embodiment is realized by an organic EL element. Although not particularly shown, the organic EL element has a structure in which an electrode pair and an organic layer sandwiched between the electrode pair are stacked. The organic layer has a structure in which a plurality of layers having various functions are stacked. In such an organic EL element, it is laminated in the order of “lower electrode (anode) / hole injection layer / hole transport layer / organic EL light emitting layer / electron transport layer / electron injection layer / upper electrode (cathode)”. Structures are common.

  Each layer in the organic EL element may be formed of a single organic material, may be formed by mixing a plurality of materials (mixed layer), or organic in a polymer binder. A material in which a functional material of inorganic type or inorganic type is dispersed may be used. The functional material includes a charge transport function, a light emitting function, a charge blocking function, an optical function, and the like.

Each layer in the organic EL element may include a layer having a buffer function for preventing the light emitting layer from being damaged. Providing a layer having a buffer function is particularly effective when a sputtering method is used to form an electrode on the upper side of the light emitting layer. The layer having a buffer function can be formed of, for example, SiO ₂ (silicon dioxide), TiO ₂ (titanium oxide), or the like.

  For example, when the support substrate 101 is formed using glass having an alkali component, the layer having a buffer function is used to block permeation of impure elements (alkali metal, Ca, Na, etc.) contained in the glass. In addition, each layer in the organic EL element may include a layer having a planarizing function for interfering with unevenness on the surface of the light emitting layer generated by the film forming process of the light emitting layer.

  In addition, the organic EL element has an electrode located above the light emitting layer as an anode and an electrode located below the light emitting layer as a cathode, a light emitting layer composed of a plurality of layers, Stacked different light-emitting layers (SOLED: Stacked OLED), a structure in which a charge generation layer is interposed between a cathode and an anode (multi-photon element), a structure in which a layer such as a hole transport layer is omitted, or a plurality It may be a laminated layer, or an element structure having only one organic layer (a layer in which each functional layer is continuously formed or a layer boundary is eliminated).

  As a specific example, when the lower electrode is an anode, for example, ITO (indium-tin oxide), IZO (indium-zinc oxide), or the like can be used for the anode. Similarly, when the upper electrode is a cathode, for example, Cr (chromium), Al (aluminum), Ag (silver), or the like is used for the cathode. As an example of the most suitable organic EL element, there is a structure in which glass is used for the support substrate 101, ITO is used for the anode, and Al is used for the cathode.

  When an organic EL element is used as the self light emitting element 102 in a self light emitting panel exhibiting a plurality of light emitting colors, the organic layer can be formed in various patterns corresponding to the light emitting colors of each pixel. In forming the organic layer, the hole transport layer, the electron transport layer, or the like may be formed with a film thickness corresponding to the emission color. In addition, this Embodiment does not limit the structure of an organic EL element.

  Although not particularly illustrated, in a self-light-emitting panel including a plurality of self-light-emitting elements 102 in a display area, an insulating film that insulates each self-light-emitting element 102 may be provided between the self-light-emitting elements 102. Such an insulating film may be provided so that at least one of the electrode pairs included in each light emitting element 102 is insulated for each self light emitting element 102.

  The sealing base material 103 has a box shape in which an opening and a concave portion continuing to the opening are provided on one side. The sealing base material 103 is disposed to face the support substrate 101 with the opening facing the support substrate 101. The sealing base material 103 is provided so as to cover the self-light emitting element 102 provided on the support substrate 101. In the case of the self-light-emitting panel 100 in which a plurality of self-light-emitting elements 102 are provided on the support substrate 101, the sealing base material 103 is provided so as to cover all the self-light-emitting elements 102 provided on the support substrate 101.

  The material for forming the sealing substrate 103 includes glass substrates such as soda glass, lead glass, and hard glass, plastic substrates such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, and polymethyl methacrylate, and metal substrates such as aluminum and stainless steel. Various materials such as can be used. As a material for forming the sealing substrate 103, a suitable material can be appropriately selected according to the configuration of the self-light-emitting element 102.

  When the self-luminous element 102 is an organic EL element having a top emission structure or a TOLED structure, the sealing substrate 103 is set to a thickness having high transmittance in addition to using a highly transparent material. Is preferred. On the other hand, when the self-light-emitting element 102 is an organic EL element having a bottom emission structure, a metal material that is subjected to transparency may be used as a material for forming the sealing substrate 103. In the sealing substrate 103, a desiccant 104 is provided at a position facing the self-light-emitting element 102.

  The sealing substrate 103 is bonded to the support substrate 101 via the adhesive 105. Here, a sealing space 106 is formed by the support substrate 101, the sealing base material 103, and the adhesive 105 as a sealing region that shields the light-emitting element 103 from the outside air. By bonding the support substrate 101 and the sealing base material 103 via the adhesive 105 applied to the bonding region, the protection performance of the self-light-emitting element 102 against a deterioration factor that degrades the self-light-emitting element 102 can be obtained. Can be improved over the periphery of the.

  Various known adhesives can be used as the adhesive 105, but in the first embodiment, a UV curable resin that is cured by irradiation with ultraviolet (Ultra Violet) is used as the adhesive 105. . Among the UV curable resins, UV curable epoxy resins are preferable. By using the UV curable resin as the adhesive 105, the support substrate 101 and the sealing base material 103 can be bonded well, and good airtightness can be secured in the sealing space 106.

  The adhesive 105 is formed of a material that can prevent the deterioration factor from entering the sealing space 106 as much as possible, in addition to bonding the support substrate 101 and the sealing substrate 103. ing. In the first embodiment, an adhesive region (see FIG. 2) is realized on the support substrate 101 by the region to which the adhesive 105 is applied. Details of the adhesive region will be described later.

  Note that the self-light-emitting panel 100 may be a passive-drive self-light-emitting panel or an active-drive type. Although description is omitted because it is a known technique, in the passive drive type self-luminous panel 100, a data line formed by a plurality of anodes and a scanning line formed by a plurality of cathodes intersect each other to form a data line. And the light-emitting element 102 at the intersection of the scanning line and the scanning line are selectively emitted. Similarly, although description is omitted, in the active drive type self-luminous panel 100, each self-luminous element 102 is provided with a transistor as a switching element, and each self-luminous element 102 is caused to emit light individually. Further, in this embodiment mode, the airtight sealing is described, but the present invention is not limited to this. The present invention is also effective in a self-luminous panel that has been subjected to film sealing or solid sealing.

  FIG. 2 is a plan view showing self-luminous panel 100 in the first embodiment. In the self-luminous panel 100 according to the first embodiment, the center position of the display area 201 may be shifted from the center of the support substrate 101, for example, due to design reasons. In this way, by shifting the position of the center of the display area 201 with respect to the center of the support substrate 101, a space for mounting a drive circuit or the like on the support substrate 101 can be secured. Thereby, size reduction as the whole display apparatus using the self-light-emitting panel 100 can be achieved.

  The adhesive region 202 in the self-luminous panel 100 according to the first embodiment is provided so as to surround the display area 201 on the support substrate 101. The display area 201 of the first embodiment is a display area 201 having a polygonal shape.

  The adhesion region 202 has a shape surrounding the display area 201 according to the shape of the display area 201. The adhesion region 202 is set on the support substrate 101 so that the dimension along the shortest distance direction (hereinafter referred to as “width direction”) to the display area 201 becomes smaller as the distance to the display area 201 becomes larger. Dimensions along the width direction of the adhesive region 202 are set corresponding to each side of the display area 201. The distance from the adhesive region 202 to the display area 201 is set by the arrangement position of the display area 201 on the support substrate 101.

  In FIG. 2, A, B, and C indicate the distance from each part in the display area 201 to the adhesion region 202, respectively. In FIG. 2, a, b, and c indicate the dimensions along the width direction of the bonding region 202 provided at positions A, B, and C away from the display area 201, respectively. When the relationship between A, B, and C is A <B <C, the relationship between the widths a, b, and c of the adhesive region 202 in the self-luminous panel 100 of Embodiment 1 is a> b> c. The

(Self-luminous panel manufacturing method)
Although not particularly shown, when the self-luminous panel 100 is manufactured, first, the self-luminous element 102 is formed on one surface side of the support substrate 101. The single light emitting element 102 formed at this time may be single or plural. Although illustration and description are omitted because it is a known technique, an electrode (lower electrode and upper electrode) layer or an organic layer is formed by using a vapor deposition method, a sputtering method, or the like when the self-luminous element 102 is formed on the support substrate 101. Form.

  On the other hand, the sealing base material 103 provided with the recessed part and opening for forming the sealing space 106 is formed. In forming the sealing substrate 103, for example, the sealing substrate 103 may be formed by pressing, drawing, sandblasting, etching, or the like.

  Then, the support substrate 101 on which the self-light emitting element 102 is formed and the sealing base material 103 on which the concave portion and the opening are formed are bonded so as to cover the display area 201. At this time, the adhesive 105 is applied in advance to the adhesion region 202 of the support substrate 101. For example, when the adhesive 105 is applied, the width of the adhesive region 202 can be adjusted. The width of the adhesive region 202 can be adjusted by a dispenser, for example.

  Then, the adhesive 105 is irradiated with UV light. As a result, a photo-curing reaction occurs in the adhesive 105 and the adhesive 105 is cured. In this way, the support substrate 101 and the sealing base material 103 bonded to each other are bonded together via the adhesive 105. In addition to the above method, for example, the width of the adhesive region 202 can be adjusted after the adhesive 105 is cured. At this time, the width of the adhesive region 202 can be adjusted by, for example, a display device scribe. The self-luminous panel 100 is formed through the above steps.

  By the way, when moisture, which is one of deterioration factors contained in the outside air, passes through the adhesive 105 and enters the sealed space 106, it directly travels through the surface of the support substrate 101 and reaches the self-luminous element 102. The deterioration factor is transmitted to the display area 201 earlier as the distance from the place where it enters the sealing space 106 through the adhesive 105 to the display area 201 is shorter, regardless of the location of the display area 201.

  If it is assumed that the deterioration factor is transmitted through the adhesive 105 and enters the sealed space 106, the probability of the deterioration factor entering the sealed space 106 is the same over the entire adhesive region 202. As the distance to the bonding region 202 is shorter, the influence of the is more likely to be affected. In other words, the longer the distance from the adhesive region 202 to the display area 201, the less affected by the deterioration factor. In addition to the moisture contained in the outside air, deterioration factors include light and oxygen contained in the outside air.

  On the other hand, as described above, the adhesive 105 is formed of a material that can prevent deterioration factors from entering the sealed space 106 as much as possible. For this reason, the speed at which the deterioration factor is transmitted through the adhesive 105 is slower than the speed at which the deterioration factor is transmitted through the surface of the support substrate 101.

  In the above description, the method of adjusting the width of the adhesive region 202 to which the adhesive 105 is applied in advance has been described, but the method is not limited to this. For example, as in the prior art, all of the adhesive regions 202 to which the adhesive 105 is applied are formed with an equal width, and when the self-luminous panel 100 is scribed and cut after the adhesive 105 is cured, the width of the adhesive regions 202 is increased. You may design. For example, a cutter is used for scribing and cutting the self-luminous panel 100. As described above, the adjustment of the shape of the bonding region 202 may be performed before the support substrate 101 and the sealing base material 103 are bonded, or after the support substrate 101 and the sealing base material 103 are bonded. Also good.

  As described above, according to the self-luminous panel 100 of the first embodiment, the dimension along the width direction in the adhesive region 202 is reduced for the place on the support substrate 101 where the distance to the display area 201 is large. A narrow frame can be achieved.

  Since the space can be secured on the support substrate 101 by narrowing the frame, for example, a drive circuit (not shown) for controlling the light emission of the self-light-emitting element 102 can be mounted in the secured space. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the size of the self-luminous panel 100 and the entire display device (not shown) using the self-luminous panel 100. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the light emission performance due to the transmission of the deterioration factor and to reduce the size of the self light emitting panel 100.

  On the contrary, for a place where the distance from the bonding area 202 to the display area 201 is short, the dimension along the width direction in the bonding area 202 can be increased to prevent the deterioration factor from entering the sealing space 106. . As a result, even when the distance to the display area 201 cannot be ensured on the support substrate 101 in order to reduce the size, the deterioration factor itself is prevented from entering the sealing space 106 and the deterioration factor is transmitted. It is possible to suppress a decrease in the light emission performance due to.

  Further, when the display area 201 has a polygonal shape as in the first embodiment, by setting the dimensions along the width direction of the adhesive region 202 corresponding to each side of the display area 201, respectively. The dimension along the width direction of the adhesive region 202 can be set without measuring the distance to the adhesive region 202 over the entire end of the display area 201. Thereby, for example, it is possible to facilitate the operation of setting the dimension along the width direction of the bonding region 202 in the design stage of the self-luminous panel 100 or the like.

(Embodiment 2)
(Schematic configuration of self-luminous panel)
FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the self-luminous panel according to the second embodiment. The same parts as those of the self-luminous panel 100 shown in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is also omitted. The self-luminous panel 300 according to the second embodiment includes a circular support substrate 301 and a circular display area 302 configured by the self-light-emitting elements 102 provided on the support substrate 301. The light emitting element 102 provided in the display area 302 may be single or plural. The center of the display area 302 is provided at a position shifted from the center of the support substrate 301.

  In FIG. 3, D and E respectively indicate the distance from each part in the display area 302 to the adhesion region 303. In FIG. 2, d and e indicate dimensions along the width direction in the bonding region 303 provided at positions separated from the display area 302 by distances D and E, respectively. When the relationship between D and E is D> E, the relationship between the width dimensions d and e of the adhesive region 303 in the self-luminous panel 300 of Embodiment 1 is d <e. In FIG. 3, only the portions where the distance from the display area 302 to the bonding area 303 is D and E are described, but the width dimension of the bonding area 303 is the same over the entire periphery of the display area 302. Is set.

  As shown in FIG. 3, when the display area 302, the adhesion region 303, or both have a shape represented by a curve, the distance from the adhesion region 303 to the display area 302 changes gently. In such a case as well, as in the case of the first embodiment described above, the dimension in the width direction in the adhesive region 303 is set based on the shortest distance from the end of the display area 302. However, since the distance from the bonding region 303 to the display area 302 changes gently, the shape of the resulting bonding region 303 also changes according to a gently changing curve.

  As described above, according to self-luminous panel 300 in the second embodiment, even if display area 302 has an outer shape represented by a curve, it is based on the shortest distance from the end of display area 302. Thus, the dimension along the width direction in the bonding region 303 is set. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress a reduction in the light emission performance due to the transmission of the deterioration factor and to reduce the size of the self light emitting panel 300 without being influenced by the shape of the display area 302.

  Note that the shapes of the display area and the adhesion region are not limited to a quadrangular shape (see Embodiment 1) and a circular shape (see Embodiment 2). Although not shown, the shapes of the display area and the adhesion region are not limited to the two-dimensional shape, and may be a three-dimensional shape such as a spherical surface or a situation.

  Furthermore, the shape of the display area and the shape of the bonding area are not limited to those. Although illustration is omitted, for example, in a self-luminous panel provided with a circular display area on a rectangular support substrate, the size and shape of the support substrate, the size and number of drive circuits to be mounted on the support substrate, The shape of the adhesion region may be adjusted according to the shape or the like. Thereby, the self-light-emitting panel having the effects of the above-described embodiments can be designed more flexibly.

It is a vertical side view which shows the self-light-emitting panel in this Embodiment 1. It is a top view which shows the self-light emission panel in this Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a top view which shows the self-light emission panel in this Embodiment 2.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Self-light-emitting panel 101 Support substrate 102 Self-light-emitting element 103 Sealing base material 105 Adhesive 106 Sealing space 201 Display area 202 Adhesion area 300 Self-light-emitting panel 301 Support substrate 302 Display area

Claims (11)

A supporting substrate in which a self-luminous element having a light emitting layer between electrode pairs is provided in a display area;
And a sealing base material to form a sealing region for blocking the self-luminous element from the outside air between the support substrate,
The adhesion region between the support substrate and the sealing substrate includes a first adhesion region and a second adhesion region having different dimensions in the width direction,
The distance between the first adhesive region and the display area is larger than the distance between the second adhesive region and the display area,
The self-luminous panel according to claim 1, wherein a dimension of the first adhesion region in a width direction is smaller than a dimension of the second adhesion region . The adhesive region comprises a third adhesive region;
The distance between the third adhesion region and the display area is smaller than the distance between the second adhesion region and the display area,
The self-luminous panel according to claim 1, wherein a dimension of the third adhesion region in a width direction is larger than a dimension of the second adhesion region . The adhesive region has a polygonal shape corresponding to the display area;
The self-luminous panel according to claim 2 , wherein the first adhesion area, the second adhesion area, and the third adhesion area are defined by sides of the adhesion area. The self-luminous panel according to claim 2 , wherein the adhesion region has a shape represented by a curve corresponding to the display area as an outer shape. The self-luminous panel according to claim 1, wherein the self-luminous element is an organic EL element. A sealing substrate in which a self-light-emitting element having a light-emitting layer between electrode pairs is provided in a display area, and a sealing region that forms a sealing region that blocks the self-light-emitting element from outside air. And in a method for manufacturing a self-luminous panel comprising an adhesive region between the support substrate and the sealing substrate ,
An adjustment step of an adhesion region that adjusts the adhesion region including a first adhesion region and a second adhesion region having dimensions different from each other in the width direction;
The distance between the first adhesive region and the display area is larger than the distance between the second adhesive region and the display area,
A method of manufacturing a self-luminous panel, wherein a dimension of the first adhesion region in a width direction is smaller than a dimension of the second adhesion region . The method for manufacturing a self-luminous panel according to claim 6, wherein the adjustment step of the adhesion region includes a step of adjusting a width of an adhesive constituting the adhesion region at the time of application . The method for manufacturing a self-luminous panel according to claim 6 , wherein the adjustment step of the adhesion region includes a step of cutting the adhesion region between the support substrate and the sealing base material . The method for manufacturing a self-luminous panel according to claim 6, wherein the self-luminous element is an organic EL element. An illumination comprising the self-luminous panel according to claim 1. A display device comprising the self-luminous panel according to claim 1.

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