JP5451104B2 - Organic EL panel for lighting - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an organic EL panel for lighting provided with an auxiliary electrode for supplying power to an organic EL (electroluminescence) light emitting layer.

  Conventionally, in this type of lighting organic EL panel, normally, ITO (indium tin oxide) having high transparency is used as the element electrode. However, since ITO has a high resistivity, power supply to the element electrode is, for example, one contact point. In the case of using only, the power supply to the EL light emitting layer decreases as the distance from the contact point increases due to a voltage drop in the ITO, resulting in luminance variations. Therefore, in order to solve this problem, there is known one using an auxiliary electrode that sandwiches the element electrode and the substrate and makes surface contact (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  FIG. 17 shows a configuration of auxiliary electrodes of the lighting organic EL panel 100. In this organic EL panel for illumination 100, an organic EL light emitting layer is laminated on a transparent substrate 101, and an element electrode 102 is led to the outer periphery of a sealing portion 104 that seals the light emitting layer. The transparent substrate 101 is sandwiched between the auxiliary electrodes 103 having a clip-like spring property, and power is supplied to the element electrodes 102. Although only one auxiliary electrode 103 is shown in the figure, there is an auxiliary electrode that supplies power to another element electrode.

  However, since the auxiliary electrode 103 as described above makes the pair of contact portions contact the transparent substrate 101 and the element electrode 102 in a planar shape, the substrate thickness D1 by the transparent substrate 101 and the element electrode 102, and the auxiliary electrode When the distance D2 between the contact surfaces 103 varies, the contact is not flat, and the contact pressure is insufficient, so that an insufficient holding force cannot be secured, and reliable power feeding becomes difficult.

  As shown in FIG. 18A, when the contact surface distance D2 is smaller than the substrate thickness D1, or as shown in FIG. In this case, the transparent substrate 101 and the device electrode 102 are in edge contact with each other, so that the bonding becomes insufficient and the transparent substrate 101 and the device electrode 102 may be damaged or damaged. In addition, since the attachment position of the auxiliary electrode 103 with respect to the transparent substrate 101 and the element electrode 102 is not fixed, it is difficult to know whether or not the auxiliary electrode 103 is mounted at a predetermined position.

JP 2008-269988 A

  The present invention solves the above-described problem, and in an organic EL panel for lighting provided with an auxiliary electrode for supplying power to a substrate having a light emitting layer, the contact pressure by the auxiliary electrode is increased, and the substrate is not damaged and reliably An object of the present invention is to provide an organic EL panel for illumination that can supply power to the battery.

In order to achieve the above object, a first aspect of the present invention is directed to a substrate on which a light emitting layer having a light emitting surface is provided, a sealing portion disposed opposite to the substrate on the opposite side of the light emitting surface, An organic EL panel for illumination comprising an element electrode led to the outer periphery of a sealing portion and disposed on the substrate, and an auxiliary electrode that contacts the element electrode and supplies power from the outside, wherein the auxiliary electrode is the substrate A first abutting portion extending along a side direction of the substrate and contacting the substrate; a second abutting portion facing the first abutting portion and extending along the side direction of the substrate; An elastic member comprising a contact portion and a mountain-shaped connection portion that connects the first contact portion and the second contact portion to sandwich the substrate and the device electrode by an elastic force; The element electrode extends along a side direction of the substrate on a contact surface with the auxiliary electrode. An auxiliary electrode layer formed to said auxiliary electrode layer, the element higher conductivity than the electrode, the second contact portion, the contact surface in contact with the element electrodes, a plurality of hemispherical A convex portion is provided, and the convex portion is provided along the longitudinal direction of the auxiliary electrode, and the contact of the element electrode with the auxiliary electrode layer is formed by the convex portion.

  The invention of claim 3 is the lighting organic EL panel according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the contact surface between the first contact portion and the substrate has a convex portion, one of which has a curved surface, The other includes a concave portion having a curved surface, and the convex portion and the concave portion are engaged with each other.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the lighting organic EL panel according to the first or second aspect, the contact surface between the first contact portion and the substrate includes a convex portion having a curved surface, respectively. When the auxiliary electrode is mounted from the direction of the end face of the substrate, one convex portion gets over the other convex portion and is engaged.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the auxiliary electrode is in contact with the substrate and the device electrode at the convex portion of the first contact portion or the second contact portion where the elastic force is concentrated when contacting the substrate and the device electrode. Since the contact pressure increases, even if the substrate thickness due to the substrate and the element electrode and the distance between the contact surfaces of the auxiliary electrode vary, it is possible to ensure their holding power and ensure power supply to the element electrode. Can do. Moreover, since the convex part has a curved surface, the auxiliary electrode can be smoothly brought into contact with the substrate and the element electrode, and they are hardly damaged.

According to the invention of claim 2, since the contact pressure between the auxiliary electrode layer formed on the element electrode and the second contact portion increases, power is reliably supplied from the auxiliary electrode to the element electrode via the auxiliary electrode layer. be able to.

  According to the invention of claim 3, the mounting of the auxiliary electrode on the substrate can be positioned by the position of the convex portion or the concave portion of the substrate engaged with the first contact portion, and the click feeling when they are engaged. This makes it easy to see the completion of the auxiliary electrode installation.

  According to the invention of claim 4, since the first contact portion and the second contact portion are both in contact with the substrate and the element electrode by the convex portions having curved surfaces, it is easy to insert the auxiliary electrode from the end surface direction of the substrate.

The perspective view of the organic electroluminescent panel for illumination which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. The exploded perspective view of the panel. The side view of the panel. Sectional drawing of the panel. (A) is a perspective view of the auxiliary electrode of the panel, (b) is a side view of the auxiliary electrode. (A) is a perspective view of the auxiliary electrode of the organic electroluminescent panel which concerns on said modification, (b) is a side view of the auxiliary electrode. (A) is a perspective view of the auxiliary electrode of the organic electroluminescent panel which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention, (b) is a side view of the auxiliary electrode. The perspective view of the auxiliary electrode of the organic electroluminescent panel which concerns on said reference example. (A) is the perspective view seen from the downward direction of the organic electroluminescent panel which concerns on another reference example, (b) is the downward perspective view of the board | substrate of the panel. The perspective view of the organic electroluminescent panel for illumination which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. The exploded perspective view of the panel. The lower perspective view of the organic electroluminescent panel for illumination which concerns on the 4th Embodiment of this invention. The side view of the panel. The lower perspective view of the board | substrate of the panel. The partial side view of the organic electroluminescent panel which concerns on said modification. The partial side view of the organic electroluminescent panel which concerns on another modification. Sectional drawing of the auxiliary electrode part of the conventional organic EL panel for illumination. (A) (b) is a figure which shows the clamping defect state of the said auxiliary electrode, respectively.

  Hereinafter, an organic EL panel for illumination according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in these drawings, an organic EL panel for illumination 1 (hereinafter referred to as an EL panel) includes a rectangular transparent substrate 2 on which an organic EL light emitting layer 6 is provided, and a sealing portion that seals the light emitting layer 6. 3, a pair of element electrodes 4 that feed power to the light emitting layer 6, and a pair of auxiliary electrodes 5 that contact the element electrodes 4 and supply electric power from the outside. In the EL panel 1, the auxiliary electrode 5 is brought into contact with the element electrode 4 on the substrate 2 to supply power to the light emitting layer 6.

  The substrate 2 is made of a transparent member such as glass, and an element electrode 4 serving as an electrode for supplying power to the light emitting layer 6 is formed thereon, and the light emitting layer 6 is laminated on the element electrode 4 to constitute a light emitting panel. Is done. The opposite surface side (back surface side) of the substrate 2 on which the light emitting layer 6 is formed is a light emission surface for EL light emission.

  The element electrode 4 is formed in a planar shape on the substrate 2 as a transparent electrode by using, for example, ITO (indium tin oxide), and has a rectangular electrode 41 and an electrode 42 that become a plus electrode and a minus electrode to the light emitting layer 6, respectively. The electrode 41 and the electrode 42 are composed of two rectangular patterns separated by a rectangular insulating separation layer between them, and the area of the electrode 41 is larger than that of the electrode 42.

  On the electrode 41, a light emitting layer 6 made of, for example, an organic thin film containing a fluorescent organic compound is formed as a light emitter. A submicron-thick aluminum electrode 7 is formed on the upper surface of the light emitting layer 6 by vapor deposition or the like, and the aluminum electrode 7 is connected to the electrode 42. The light emitting layer 6 and the aluminum electrode 7 are sealed with a sealing portion 3 made of silicon resin or the like. The electrode 41 and the electrode 42 are led out to the outer periphery of the sealing portion 3, and come into contact with the auxiliary electrode 5 at a lead-out portion along a pair of opposing side directions of the substrate 2. The electrode 42 is not necessarily a transparent electrode, and may be an aluminum electrode or the like.

  The auxiliary electrode 5 is made of a metal plate having a spring property that is extremely higher than that of ITO, for example, stainless steel. The thickness of the auxiliary electrode 5 can be set to about 1 mm or less, for example. The auxiliary electrode 5 is formed in a substantially U shape in side view so as to sandwich the substrate 2 and the element electrode 4 (electrode 41 or electrode 42) by elastic force, and has a long shape extending along the side direction of the substrate 2. The first contact portion 51 is in contact with the substrate 2, and the second contact portion 52 is disposed so as to face the substrate 2 and is in contact with the element electrode 4. A portion connecting the first contact portion 51 and the second contact portion 52 is provided with a chevron-shaped curved surface in order to enhance the spring property.

  The auxiliary electrode 5 includes protrusions 55 on the contact surface of the first contact portion 51 with the substrate 2 and the contact surface of the second contact portion 52 with the element electrode 4. These convex portions 55 extend in the longitudinal direction of the electrode 5, have a substantially semi-cylindrical curved surface in a side view, and are formed to face each other. Further, the first contact portion 51 and the first contact portion 52 are connected by a wiring (not shown) from an external power source and supplied with power.

  As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the first contact portion 51 and the second contact portion 52 are substantially parallel to each other in the state before the auxiliary electrode 5 is mounted on the substrate 2. Is made. Here, the distance H2 between the contact surfaces is slightly larger than the substrate thickness H1 of the substrate 2 including the thickness of the element electrode 4 so that the substrate 2 can be easily inserted. Further, the convex portions 55 of the first contact portion 51 and the second contact portion 52 have a predetermined height from the respective contact surfaces, and the interval H3 between the apexes is formed smaller than the substrate thickness H1. Yes.

  In the EL panel 1 configured as described above, when the auxiliary electrode 5 is mounted from the end surface direction of the substrate 2, the auxiliary electrode 5 has an interval H <b> 2 between the first contact portion 51 and the second contact portion 52. Since it is wider than the substrate thickness H1, the substrate thickness H1 is smoothly inserted into the auxiliary electrode 5. At this time, when the insertion of the substrate 2 proceeds and the convex portions 55 of the respective contact portions 51 and 52 come into contact with the end surface of the substrate 2, the convex portion 55 forms a curved surface. While getting on, the space between the convex portions 55 of the auxiliary electrode 5 is expanded. Therefore, the auxiliary electrode 5 can press and hold the substrate 2 and the element electrode 4 by the convex portions 55 of the first contact portion 51 and the second contact portion 52 without damaging the substrate 2 and the device electrode 4. .

  As described above, according to the EL panel 1 of the present embodiment, the auxiliary electrode 5 has the first contact portion 51 and the second contact portion where the elastic force is concentrated when contacting the substrate 2 and the element electrode 4. 52, the contact pressure between the substrate 2 and the element electrode 4 increases, so even if the substrate thickness H1 due to the substrate 2 and the element electrode 4 and the distance H2 between the contact surfaces of the auxiliary electrode 5 vary, A holding force can be ensured, and power can be reliably supplied to the element electrode 4. Moreover, since the convex part 55 comprises the curved surface, the auxiliary electrode 5 can be smoothly contacted with the board | substrate 2 and the element electrode 4, and they are hard to be damaged.

  Further, by making the height of the convex portion 55 from the contact surface larger than the maximum value of the total variation of the substrate thickness H1 and the interval H2, the influence of these variations can be almost absorbed. In the above description, the interval H2 is substantially parallel, but the interval H2 is inclined from the wider state to the narrower state than the substrate thickness H1 toward the end portion from the inside of the auxiliary electrode 5. Thus, the contact pressure by the convex portion 55 can be increased without damaging the substrate 2 and the device electrode 4, and the effect of absorbing variations in the substrate thickness H1 and the interval H2 can be enhanced. In addition, although the convex part 55 was provided in both the 1st contact part 51 and the 2nd contact part 52, you may provide in either one. Further, a plurality of convex portions 55 may be provided in parallel to each other.

  Next, auxiliary electrodes of an EL panel according to a modification of the above embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. In the above-described embodiment, the convex portion 55 of the auxiliary electrode 5 has a shape extending continuously in the longitudinal direction. However, in this modification, the first contact portion 51 and the second contact portion of the auxiliary electrode 5 are used. The contact portion 52 is provided with a plurality of substantially the same hemispherical convex portions 55a at appropriate intervals along the longitudinal direction thereof.

  In this configuration, before the auxiliary electrode 5 is mounted on the substrate 2, the spacing H <b> 2 between the contact surfaces in the first contact portion 51 and the second contact portion 52 and the apex of each convex portion 55 a, as described above. The interval H3 is wider and narrower than the substrate thickness H1 (H2> H1> H3). Thereby, while being able to mount | wear without damaging the board | substrate 2 of thickness H1, more reliable electric power feeding can be performed by the multipoint contact by the some convex part 55a. In addition, although the convex part 55a was made into 1 row structure along the longitudinal direction of the auxiliary electrode 5, you may make it multiple rows | lines, and may change the height H3 for every row | line | column.

  Next, the auxiliary electrode of the EL panel according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the present embodiment, the first contact portion 51 and the second contact portion 52 of the auxiliary electrode 5 extend in a hook shape in the longitudinal direction of the auxiliary electrode 5, and a convex portion having a substantially arc-shaped curved surface when viewed from the side. 55b.

  In the auxiliary electrode 5, the opening H2 between the first contact part 51 and the second contact part 52 where the substrate 2 is inserted is wider than the distance H3 between the vertices of the arcuate curved surface in the convex part 55b facing each other. The interval H3 is formed narrower than the substrate thickness H1.

  In the auxiliary electrode 5 configured as described above, the distance between the first abutting portion 51 and the second abutting portion 52 is continuously moderate from the distance H2 between the open ends to the distance H3 between the vertices of the convex portions 55b. Therefore, the substrate 2 can be inserted into the auxiliary electrode 5 more smoothly. Further, the curvature of the curved surface of these convex portions 55b is larger than that of the semi-cylindrical convex portion 55, the hemispherical convex portion 55a, or the like. Therefore, the auxiliary electrode 5 can widen the contact area between the substrate 2 and the element electrode 4, and the contact pressure and holding force increase. Thereby, the auxiliary electrode 5 can hold the substrate 2 and the element electrode 4 more strongly, and can supply power more reliably without damaging the substrate 2 and the element electrode 4.

Next, the auxiliary electrode of the organic EL panel for illumination according to the reference example of the above embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In this reference example, the first contact portion 51 and the second contact portion 52 of the auxiliary electrode 5 are provided with a plurality of slits 56 at an appropriate interval along the longitudinal direction of the convex portion 55b forming an arcuate curved surface. in that the Ru with different from the embodiment.

  The first contact portion 51 and the second contact portion 52 each have a comb shape divided by a plurality of slits 56. As a result, the auxiliary electrode 5 is brought into surface contact with the substrate 2 and the element electrode 4 by the plurality of comb-shaped arcuate curved surfaces, respectively. Therefore, the auxiliary electrode 5 does not damage the substrate 2 and the element electrode 4, and the contact reliability is further improved. In addition, although the slit was provided in both the 1st contact part 51 and the 2nd contact part 52 here, you may provide only in either.

Next, an EL panel according to another reference example of the above embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. In this reference example, the substrate 2 is provided with the protrusion 21 that engages with the slit 56 of the protrusion 55 b in the first contact portion 51 of the auxiliary electrode 5 in the modification. The first contact portion 51 and the second contact portion 52 each have a comb shape divided by a plurality of slits 56. As a result, the auxiliary electrode 5 is brought into surface contact with the substrate 2 and the element electrode 4 by the plurality of comb-shaped arcuate curved surfaces, respectively. Therefore, the auxiliary electrode 5 does not damage the substrate 2 and the element electrode 4, and the contact reliability is further improved. In addition, although the slit was provided in both the 1st contact part 51 and the 2nd contact part 52 here, you may provide only in either.

  The substrate 2 has a plurality of protrusions 21 having substantially the same shape on the back side thereof along the side direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the electrode 52 and at substantially the same intervals as the slits 56 of the protrusions 55b. Have. When the auxiliary electrode 5 is mounted from the end face direction of the substrate 2, each protrusion 21 is inserted from the opening side of each slit 56 toward the back side thereof, and is engaged on the terminal side of the slit 56. Thereby, the auxiliary electrode 5 is fixed not only in the insertion direction of the auxiliary electrode 5 of the substrate 2 but also in the direction orthogonal to the insertion direction, and the auxiliary electrode 5 can be positioned stably.

  Next, an EL panel according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the EL panel 1 of the present embodiment, the element electrode 4 includes the auxiliary electrode layer 8 having high conductivity on the contact surface with the second contact portion 52 of the auxiliary electrode 5.

  The auxiliary electrode layer 8 is formed in a rectangular shape extending along the side direction of the substrate 2 by vapor deposition of aluminum having higher conductivity than ITO. Since the potential on the auxiliary electrode layer 8 is the same, no voltage drop occurs in the element electrode 4 if the second contact portion 52 of the auxiliary electrode 5 contacts at least one place on the surface of the auxiliary electrode layer 8. Therefore, there is no voltage drop in the ITO facing the electrodes 41, 42 on the substrate 2, and each becomes a constant voltage, so that the potential difference due to the feeding position to the light emitting layer 6 can be eliminated.

  As a result, the power supplied to the light emitting layer 6 does not decrease with increasing distance from the connection point, and it is possible to prevent the occurrence of luminance variations. Therefore, it is possible to cope with a large area panel in which the element electrode 4 is elongated in the side direction of the substrate 2.

  Next, an EL panel according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the EL panel 1 of the present embodiment, the substrate 2 includes a concave portion 22 having a curved surface on a contact surface between the first contact portion 51 of the auxiliary electrode 5 and the substrate 2, and the convex portion of the first contact portion 51 is formed in the concave portion 22. The part 55 is engaged.

  The recess 22 is formed in a groove shape having a substantially semicircular arc shape in a side view extending along the side direction in contact with the auxiliary electrode 5 on the light emitting surface side of the substrate 2, and the auxiliary electrode 5 is inserted from the end surface direction of the substrate 2. When it is done, it engages with the convex portion 55 of the first contact portion 51 at a predetermined position of the substrate 2. As a result, it is possible to position the auxiliary electrode 5 for attachment, and the attachment accuracy is improved, and the completion of attachment of the auxiliary electrode 5 is easily understood by the click feeling when they are engaged.

  Next, an EL panel according to a modification of the above embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In this modification, the auxiliary electrode 5 includes a concave portion 55c having a curved surface at the first contact portion 51, and the substrate 2 includes a convex portion 23 having a curved surface. The concave portion 55c and the convex portion 23 are connected to each other. Combine. In the figure, only one auxiliary electrode 5 is shown.

  The convex portion 23 has a substantially arc-shaped curved surface in a side view extending along a side direction where the auxiliary electrode 5 on the light emitting surface side of the substrate 2 is mounted. Further, the concave portion 55 c has a groove shape having a substantially arc-shaped curved surface in a side view extending in the longitudinal direction of the auxiliary electrode 5. When the auxiliary electrode 5 is mounted from the end face direction of the substrate 2, the convex portion 23 and the concave portion 55c are positioned so as to engage with each other. In this modified example, the same effect as described above can be obtained.

  Next, an organic EL panel for illumination according to another modification of the above embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In the present modification, the first contact portion 51 of the auxiliary electrode 5 and the substrate 2 include a convex portion 55 and a convex portion 23 having curved surfaces, respectively, and when the auxiliary electrode 5 is mounted from the end surface direction of the substrate 2. The convex part 55 gets over the convex part 23 and is engaged. In this modified example, the protrusion 55 is engaged by overcoming the protrusion 23 by elastic deformation of the auxiliary electrode 5. Thereby, the effect similar to the above is acquired.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the structure of the said various embodiment, A various deformation | transformation is possible suitably in the range which does not change the meaning of invention. For example, in each of the above-described embodiments, the auxiliary electrode 5 that is in contact with the pair of opposing sides of the substrate 2 has been described. However, the plus and minus element electrodes 4 are provided on the two opposing sides of the substrate 2, respectively. The same can be done when the auxiliary electrode 5 is contacted from four sides of the substrate 2.

1 EL panel (Organic EL panel for lighting)
2 Substrate 22 Concave part 23 Convex part 3 Sealing part 4 Element electrode 41, 42 Electrode 5 Auxiliary electrode 51 1st contact part 52 2nd contact part 53 Connection part 55, 55a, 55b Convex part 55c Concave part 6 Light emitting layer

Claims (3)

A substrate provided with a light emitting layer having a light emitting surface; a sealing portion disposed opposite to the substrate on the opposite side of the light emitting surface; and led to an outer periphery of the sealing portion and disposed on the substrate In an organic EL panel for illumination comprising an element electrode and an auxiliary electrode that contacts the element electrode and supplies power from the outside,
The auxiliary electrode extends along the side direction of the substrate and is arranged to extend along the side direction of the substrate so as to face the first contact portion and to contact the substrate. A second contact portion that contacts the element electrode; and a mountain-shaped connection portion that connects the first contact portion and the second contact portion to hold the substrate and the element electrode by an elastic force. An elastic member provided,
The element electrode includes an auxiliary electrode layer formed on the contact surface with the auxiliary electrode so as to extend along a side direction of the substrate,
The auxiliary electrode layer has higher conductivity than the element electrode,
The second contact portion includes a plurality of hemispherical convex portions on a contact surface in contact with the element electrode, and the convex portions are provided along a longitudinal direction of the auxiliary electrode, and the auxiliary electrode of the element electrode is provided. An organic EL panel for illumination, wherein contact with an electrode layer is made by the convex portion. One of the contact surfaces of the first contact portion and the substrate includes a convex portion having a curved surface, and the other has a concave portion having a curved surface, and the convex portion and the concave portion are engaged with each other. The organic EL panel for illumination according to claim 1 . Contact surfaces of the first contact portion and the substrate each include a convex portion having a curved surface,
2. The organic EL panel for illumination according to claim 1, wherein when the auxiliary electrode is mounted from the end face direction of the substrate, one convex portion gets over and engages the other convex portion .

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