JP6501599B2 - Connector for organic EL panel - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a connector for an organic EL panel for supplying power to an organic EL (electroluminescent) panel for lighting.

  Conventionally, organic ELs have mainly been applied to display devices and the like for display, but in recent years, light emission sufficient for illumination has become possible, and application for illumination has been considered.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of an organic EL panel for illumination.

  In this organic EL panel 10 for illumination, a transparent electrode layer 12 is formed on a rectangular plate-shaped glass substrate 11, and a layer structure 13 as an organic EL comprising a light emitting layer, a charge transport layer, etc. is formed thereon. And the metal electrode layer 14 is formed thereon.

  Along the end face of the organic EL panel 10, the layer structure 13 and the metal electrode layer 14 are cut out to form a region (a region of (A)) in which the transparent electrode layer 12 is exposed. Act as an electrode. Further, a region (a region of (B)) in which the metal electrode layer 14 is formed along the end face of the organic EL panel 10 functions as a minus electrode. When a voltage is applied between the plus electrode (transparent electrode layer 12) and the minus electrode (metal electrode layer 14), the light emitting layer in the layer structure 13 emits light, and the emitted light is the transparent electrode layer 12 and the glass substrate 11 And emit in the direction of arrow X.

  The organic EL panel having a structure as shown in FIG. 1 has a rectangular plate shape, and is used in a form in which a protective cover for supporting the peripheral portion over the entire circumference is attached. The protective cover is also provided with parts serving as a connector for supplying power to the organic EL panel (see Patent Document 1).

JP, 2010-218897, A

  Although the organic EL panel itself has a plate shape with a considerably small thickness, including the protective cover tends to greatly increase the overall thickness. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a protective cover having a structure in which an organic EL panel is sandwiched from above and below. In the case of the protective cover of this structure, the structure is complicated, such as sandwiching the organic EL panel with different parts from above and below, and the overall thickness is greatly expanded compared to the organic EL panel itself.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a connector for an organic EL panel, which doubles as a protective cover for the organic EL panel and is reduced in height.

The connector for an organic EL panel of the present invention which achieves the above object is
A rectangular plate having a first surface and a second surface which is a back surface with respect to the first surface and four end surfaces surrounding the first surface and the peripheral edge of the second surface, two mutually separated on the first surface An organic EL panel in which an electrode is formed at a position along the first end face,
A body portion into which an edge portion near one of the two first end faces is fitted;
The organic EL panel extends along the two second end faces except for the two first end faces of the four end faces to the middle of each of the two second end faces, and by sliding in the extending direction, the organic EL panel A housing having a region of the one first end face side of each of the two edge portions close to each of the two second end faces, and the two arm portions respectively fitted, and supported by the main body portion, And a contact electrically connected to an electrode formed at a position along the first end face of the EL panel fitted into the main body ,
Prepare the two connectors for the organic EL panel having the same shape as each other in the two arms.
The two edge portions of the organic EL panel to which the connector for the organic EL panel is attached are respectively fitted to the main body portions of the two connectors for the organic EL panel. In the state, each of the two second end faces has a length covered by the arm portion of the connector for the two organic EL panels over the entire length .

  The connector for an organic EL panel according to the present invention includes a housing having the above-mentioned main body and two arms, and has a structure in which the organic EL panel is fitted by sliding, and this structure enables reduction in height. . The organic EL panel connector of the present invention not only covers the first end face with the main body, but also carries a cover of the second end face by two arms, and a protective cover for protecting the organic EL panel It also doubles as a role.

  Here, two first connectors of the organic EL panel according to the present invention, which are the same shape as each other, are prepared, and the connectors for the organic EL panel are to be attached. Each of the two edge portions close to each of the end faces is inserted into the main body of each of the two connectors for the organic EL panel. The organic EL panel connector of the present invention has a length such that the two arm portions are covered by the arms of the two organic EL panel connectors over the entire length of the two second end faces in this state. Is preferred.

  When two arms have such a length, by preparing two organic EL panels according to the present invention having the same shape, a protective cover is provided that wraps around the organic EL panel to be fitted. Function. The two arms may have the same length, or even if one arm is relatively long and the other is short, the two organic EL panels having the same shape are combined. If it covers the entire circumference of the organic EL panel at the same time, this preferable requirement is satisfied.

  In addition, in the case of having an arm having a length satisfying the preferable requirements, a hole is formed at the tip of one of the two arms, and the hole is formed at the tip of the other arm. Two projections for the organic EL panel having the same shape as each other and having projections of the dimensions to be inserted into each of the two first end faces of the organic EL panel to which the connectors for the organic EL panel are attached In a state in which the two edge portions which are close to each other are inserted into the main body of each of the two organic EL panel connectors, one of the two organic EL panel connectors is inserted into the hole of the other organic EL panel connector. It is preferable that the above-mentioned projection of the connector for organic EL panels is inserted.

The combination of the two organic EL panel connectors with the holes and the protrusions inserted into the holes makes them difficult to separate from each other, and functions more stably as a connector and a protective cover.
Furthermore, the present invention relates to an organic EL panel module in a state where the two organic EL panel connectors are attached to the organic EL panel.

  As described above, according to the present invention, a low-profile connector for an organic EL panel, which also plays a role as a protective cover for the organic EL panel, is realized.

It is a schematic cross section which showed schematic structure of the organic electroluminescent panel for illuminations. It is an exploded perspective view of a connector for organic EL panels. It is the perspective view which showed two connectors for organic electroluminescent panels, and an organic electroluminescent panel. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a state in which two organic EL panel connectors having the same shape shown in FIG. 3 are mounted on the organic EL panel. It is the expansion perspective view which showed the inside of circle | round | yen R1 shown in FIG. 3, ie, the front-end | tip of one arm part of two arms. It is the expansion perspective view which showed the inside of circle | round | yen R2 shown in FIG. 3, ie, the front-end | tip of the other arm part of two arms. It is a perspective view which shows the contact which comprises an organic electroluminescent panel. It is a side view of a contact. It is a figure which shows the installation tool which receives installation of an organic electroluminescent panel module and its organic electroluminescent panel module. It is an expansion perspective view of the part of circle R3 of FIG. FIG. 8 is a side view showing the whole of the contact pin including the portion buried in the installation tool.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the organic EL panel connector of the present invention.

  The organic EL panel connector 20 has a housing 30 and a contact 40. In the present embodiment, one housing 30 and three contacts 40 constitute one connector 20 for an organic EL panel.

  The housing 30 has a main body 31 and two arms 32 extending from the main body 31. Although three contacts 40 are press-fit into the main body 31 of the housing 30, openings 31a are formed at the press-fit positions of the three contacts 40, respectively. The detailed description of the contact 40 will be given later. Further, a hole 321a is formed at the end of one arm 321 of the two arms 32 of the housing 30, and a dimension of the hole 321a is formed at the end of the other arm 322. A protrusion 322a of a shape to be inserted is formed.

  FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing two organic EL panel connectors of the present embodiment and the organic EL panel.

  Although two connectors 20 for organic EL panels are shown here, these two connectors 20 for organic EL panels only differ in direction, and are mutually the same shape.

  The organic EL panel connector 20 is obtained by press-fitting the three contacts 40 shown in FIG. 2 into the housing 30 shown in FIG. In FIG. 3, a part of the contact 40 is peeped from the opening 31 a of the main body 31 of the housing 30.

  The organic EL panel 50 is an organic EL panel for which the two connectors for an organic EL panel shown in FIG. 3 are targeted, and in principle has a layer structure shown in FIG. The organic EL panel 50 further includes a first surface 51 (upper surface in FIG. 3) and a second surface 52 (lower surface in FIG. 3) which is a back surface with respect to the first surface 51. It is a rectangular plate having four end surfaces 53 surrounding the periphery of the two surfaces 52. Electrodes 54 are formed on the first surface 51 of the organic EL panel 50 at positions along the two end surfaces 53 separated from each other. When a voltage is applied to the electrodes 54, the organic EL panel 50 emits light. As shown in FIG. 1, light emitted from the organic EL panel 10 is emitted from the surface (lower surface in FIG. 1) opposite to the side on which the electrodes are formed (upper surface in FIG. 1). Similarly to this, in the organic EL panel 50 shown in FIG. 3, an electrode is formed on the first surface 51 (upper surface), and emitted light is emitted from the second surface 52 (lower surface). Here, among the four end surfaces 53, two end surfaces formed in the vicinity of the electrode 54 are referred to as a first end surface 531, and the remaining two end surfaces excluding the two first end surfaces 531 are referred to as a second end surface 532. .

  The groove of the main body portion 31 of the housing 30 of the organic EL panel connector 20 is closer to one of the first end surfaces 531 of the two first end surfaces 531 of the organic EL panel 50 where the electrodes 54 are formed in the vicinity. The edge portion 531a of the When the edge portion 531a closer to the first end face 531 is fitted into the main body portion 31, the contact 40 (see FIG. 2) press-fit into the main body portion 31 is attached to the electrode 54 closer to the first end face 531 thereof. Contact and electrically conduct. A detailed description of contact 40 will be given later.

  The two arms 32 of the housing 30 of the organic EL panel connector 20 extend from the main body 31 along the two second end faces 532 of the organic EL panel 50 to the middle of the two second end faces 532 respectively. It exists. Then, by sliding in the extending direction, the body portion 31 of each of the two edge portions 532a of the organic EL panel 50, which is close to each of the two second end faces 532, is inserted into the groove of these two arm portions 32. The half areas on the side of the first end face 531 to be inserted are respectively fitted.

  FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a state in which two organic EL panel connectors 20 having the same shape shown in FIG. 3 are attached to the organic EL panel 50 shown in FIG.

  Each of the two arm portions 32 of the housing 30 of each of the two connectors 20 for an organic EL panel has a length that covers half of the second end surface 532 (see FIG. 3) of the organic EL panel 50. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4, when the two connectors 20 for an organic EL panel are mounted, the tips of the arms 32 of the housings 30 of the two connectors 20 for an organic EL panel are in contact with each other, and the second end surface 321 is the entire length Covered. Thus, this organic EL panel connector 20 serves as a protective cover that covers the entire circumference of the organic EL panel 50 by using two organic EL panel connectors 20 per organic EL panel 50. I am responsible.

  The organic EL panel connector 20 has an integral structure in which the housing 30 allows the organic EL panel 50 to be fitted by sliding. For this reason, as compared with the thing of the structure which pinches an organic electroluminescent panel from the upper and lower sides with separate components like the above-mentioned patent document 1, the shortening is realized.

  Here, a structure in a state where two organic EL panel connectors 20 are attached to the organic EL panel 50 shown in FIG. 4 is referred to as an organic EL panel module 60.

  Here, in the present embodiment, the two arm portions 32 both have the same length and share the cover of each half of the second end face of the organic EL panel, but the two arm portions The lengths of 32 need not be identical to one another. For example, one arm 321 may have a length of two thirds of the second end surface, and the other arm 322 may have a length of one third of the second end surface. In this case, the tangent points of the tips of the arms 32 of the two organic EL panel connectors 20 deviate from each other on the left and right, which can be used to improve the strength.

  FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view showing the inside of the circle R1 shown in FIG. 3, that is, the tip of one of the two arms. 6 is an enlarged perspective view showing the inside of the circle R2 shown in FIG. 3, that is, the tip of the other arm of the two arms.

  A hole 321a as shown in FIG. 5 is formed in one arm portion 321 of the two arm portions 31 constituting the housing 30 of the connector 20 for an organic EL panel. Further, the other arm portion 322 of the two arm portions 31 is formed with a projection 322a having a dimension to be inserted into the hole 321a. Here, the hole 321a and the protrusion 322a are shaped such that the protrusion 322a is inserted into the hole 321a by press fitting. For this reason, the projections 322a of the respective organic EL panel connectors 20 are inserted into the holes 321a of the respective organic EL panel connectors 20 by press-fitting, which are difficult to be separated from each other, and the organic EL panels 50 are stably held.

  FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a contact constituting the organic EL panel of the present embodiment, and FIG. 8 is a side view of the contact.

  The contact 40 includes a contact portion 41, a first receiving portion 42, a second receiving portion 43, and a third receiving portion 44.

  The contact portion 41 is a portion in contact with the electrode 54 (see FIG. 3) of the organic EL panel 50. In this embodiment, four contact portions 41 are provided for one contact 40.

  Further, in the contact 40 shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the first receiving portion 42 extends from the contact portion 41. In the present embodiment, the first receiving portion 42 faces downward in FIG. 8, that is, in the same direction as the second surface 52 (lower surface) of the organic EL panel 50 shown in FIG. Part that receives contact with the

  Further, the second receiving portion 43 is bent and extended from the first receiving portion 42. The second receiving portion 43 is a portion that faces the same direction as the first end face 531 (see FIG. 3) of the organic EL panel 50 inserted into the main body portion 31 and receives the contact of the external contact from that direction. .

  Furthermore, the third receiving portion 44 is bent by being further bent from the second receiving portion 43 and extends in a folded manner in relation to the first receiving portion 42. In the present embodiment, the third receiving portion 44 faces upward in FIG. 8, that is, in the same direction as the first surface 51 (upper surface) of the organic EL panel 50 shown in FIG. It is the part that receives contact.

  Corresponding to the first receiving portion 42, the second receiving portion 43, and the third receiving portion 44 being formed in the contact 40, the housing 30 has an opening 31a (FIG. 2 to FIG. 4) is formed. The opening 31 a extends in a slit shape from the upper surface to the lower surface of the main body 31, and all the first receiving portion 42, the second receiving portion 43, and the third receiving portion 44 of the contact 40 are outside. Exposed.

  FIG. 9 is a view showing the organic EL panel module 60 and the installation tool 70 for receiving the installation of the organic EL panel module 60. As shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 9, the organic EL panel 50 is upside down from FIGS. 3 and 4, and the light emitting surface (second surface 52) is shown to be in the upward position.

  The mounting tool 70 is formed with a recess 71 in which the organic EL panel module 60 is mounted, and on the left and right of the bottom surface of the recess 71, three head portions 72a of contact pins 72 such as pogo pins made of metal. Is protruding.

  10 is an enlarged perspective view of the portion of circle R3 in FIG. 9, and FIG. 11 is a side view showing the whole of the contact pin including the portion buried in the fixture 70. As shown in FIG.

  The head 72a of the contact pin 72 is biased in the projecting direction by a spring (not shown) installed inside the body 72b (see FIG. 11).

  The contact pin 72 is disposed at a position corresponding to the opening 31 a of the organic EL panel connector 20 when the organic EL panel module 60 is mounted in the recess 71 as shown in FIG. 9. Therefore, when the organic EL panel module 60 is mounted in the recess 71, the head 72a of the contact pin 72 enters the opening 31a of the organic EL panel connector 20 and comes into contact with the contact 40 therein. . The organic EL panel 50 is connected to the electrodes 54 (see FIG. 3) of the organic EL panel 50 via the contact pins 72 of the installation tool 70 and the contacts 40 (see FIG. 1) in the connector 20 for the organic EL panel. Power is supplied, and the organic EL panel 50 emits light.

  The fixture 70 shown in FIG. 9 is schematically shown, and may be, for example, a ceiling or a wall of a room, or may be a light umbrella.

  This organic EL panel module 60 has the contact 40 and the opening 31a of the structure described above.

  For this reason, as shown in FIG. 9, the contact of the contact pin 72 from the first surface 51 side of the organic EL panel 50 can also be received, and conversely, the second surface 52 (light emitting surface) of the organic EL panel 50 It is also possible to receive the contact of the contact pin from the side. Furthermore, it is also possible to receive the contact of the contact pin from the side of the organic EL panel 50.

  As described above, since the organic EL panel module 60 includes the connector 20 for an organic EL panel according to the present embodiment, the organic EL panel module 60 has a structure having a large degree of freedom regarding installation.

  In this embodiment, although a hole and a projection are adopted as a connecting means of the arms of the connector, the invention is not limited thereto. For example, a projection is provided at the tip of the arm and one arm is elastically deformed outward. The protrusions may be engaged with each other.

10, 50 Organic EL Panels 11 Glass Substrate
12 Transparent electrode layer
13-layer structure
14 metal electrode layer 20 connector for organic EL panel 30 housing 31 main body 31a opening 32 32 321 322 arm 40 contact 41 contact portion 42 first receiving portion 43 second receiving portion 44 third receiving portion 51 first surface 52 2 face 53 end face 54 electrode 60 organic EL panel module 70 installation tool 71 concave part 72 contact pin 72a head 72b body part 321a hole 322a protrusion 531 first end face 532 second end face 531a, 532a edge part

Claims (3)

A rectangular plate having a first surface, a second surface which is a back surface to the first surface, and four end surfaces surrounding the first surface and the periphery of the second surface, which are separated from each other on the first surface In an organic EL panel in which electrodes are formed at positions along two first end faces,
A body portion into which an edge portion near one of the two first end faces is fitted;
It extends from the main body along each of the two second end faces except the two first end faces of the four end faces to the middle of each of the two second end faces, and by sliding in the extending direction, A housing having: two arm portions in which a region of the one first end face side of each of two edge portions of each of the two second end faces of the organic EL panel is fitted; and the body portion A contact which is supported and electrically connected to an electrode formed at a position along the one first end face of the organic EL panel fitted into the main body ,
Prepare the two connectors for the organic EL panel having the same shape as each other in the two arms.
The two edge portions of the organic EL panel to which the connector for the organic EL panel is attached are respectively fitted to the main body portions of the two connectors for the organic EL panel. In the state, each of the two second end faces has a length covered by the arm portion of the two organic EL panel connectors over the entire length . A hole is formed at the tip of one of the two arms, and the tip of the other arm has a projection sized to be inserted into the hole,
In the inserted state, the protrusion of the other organic EL panel connector is inserted into the hole of the one organic EL panel connector of the two organic EL panel connectors. An organic EL panel connector according to claim 1 .   An organic EL panel module in a state where two organic EL panel connectors according to claim 1 or 2 are attached to the organic EL panel.

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