IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,049,744
Granted Patent B2
US 7,049,744 · App. 10/448,990 · Granted May 23, 2006

Organic electroluminescence panel having a substrate and a sealing panel sealed by adhering an inorganic film and the sealing panel using a sealing material

Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,049,744
App. No.
10/448,990
Granted
May 23, 2006
Kind
B2
Abstract

To effectively prevent intrusion of moisture into a space above an organic EL element, a moisture blocking layer made of a silicon-based nitride film such as SiNx or a TEOS film formed to cover a drain electrode and source electrode of a TFT is formed on the entire surface of the element. A sealing glass is attached to the moisture blocking layer by a sealing material on the peripheral region of the substrate. The intrusion of moisture from the outside is effectively prevented by the moisture blocking layer.

Claims (55)

1. An organic electroluminescence panel comprising:

a substrate onto which a plurality of organic EL elements provided in a matrix form and a plurality of thin film transistors for driving the organic EL elements are formed; and

a sealing panel for sealing a region above a pixel area in which the organic EL elements are provided, attached to a peripheral region of the substrate, wherein

an inorganic film and an organic film are formed over the upper surface of the substrate,

the organic EL elements are provided above the thin film transistors, the inorganic film, and the organic film on the substrate,

the substrate and the sealing panel are sealed by adhering the inorganic film and the sealing panel using a sealing material, and

the organic EL element is formed of layers above the thin film transistor on the substrate, and the inorganic film is formed to cover the thin film transistor.

2. An organic electroluminescence panel comprising:

a substrate onto which a plurality of organic EL elements provided in a matrix form and a plurality of thin film transistors for driving the organic EL elements are formed; and

a sealing panel for sealing a region above a pixel area in which the organic EL elements are provided, attached to a peripheral region of the substrate, wherein

an inorganic film and an organic film are formed over the upper surface of the substrate,

the organic EL elements are provided above the thin film transistors, the inorganic film, and the organic film on the substrate,

the substrate and the sealing panel are sealed by adhering the inorganic film and the sealing panel using a sealing material,

a portion of the thin film transistor is placed below the sealing material on the substrate,

a source electrode or a drain electrode of the thin film transistor below the sealing material is present below the sealing material, an electrode protection layer is provided to cover these electrodes, and the electrode protection layer is covered by the sealing material, and

a planarization film is formed between the organic EL element and the inorganic film, the planarization film ending at a position internal to the position where the substrate and the sealing panel are sealed, and the electrode protection layer is formed of the same material as the planarization film.

3. An organic electroluminescence panel according to claim 2 , wherein the electrode protection layer and the planarization film are organic films.

4. An organic electroluminescence panel comprising:

a substrate onto which a plurality of organic EL elements provided in a matrix form and a plurality of thin film transistors for driving the organic EL elements are formed; and

a sealing panel for sealing a region above a pixel area in which the organic EL elements are provided, attached to a peripheral region of the substrate, wherein

an inorganic film is formed over the upper surface of the substrate,

the substrate and the sealing panel are sealed by adhering the inorganic film and the sealing panel using a sealing material,

the organic EL element is formed of layers above the thin film transistor on the substrate,

the inorganic film is formed to cover the thin film transistor,

the organic EL element is formed of layers above the inorganic film on the substrate,

the organic EL element is formed of layers above a planarization film formed on the inorganic film, and

the planarization film ends at a position internal to the position where the substrate and the sealing panel are sealed.

5. An organic electroluminescence panel according to claim 4 , wherein

the inorganic film is a silicon-based nitride film.

6. An organic electroluminescence panel according to claim 4 , wherein

the inorganic film is a silicon-based oxide film.

7. An organic electromluminescence panel according to claim 4 , wherein

the planarization film is an organic film.

8. An organic electroluminescence panel according to claim 4 , wherein

a portion of the thin film transistor is placed below the sealing material on the substrate.

9. An organic electroluminescence panel according to claim 8 , wherein

when a source electrode or a drain electrode of the thin film transistor below the sealing material is present below the sealing material, an electrode protection layer is provided to cover these electrodes, and the electrode protection layer is covered by the sealing material.

10. An organic electroluminescence panel according to claim 9 , wherein

a planarization film is formed between the organic EL element and the inorganic film, the planarization film ending at a position internal to the position where the substrate and the sealing panel are sealed, and

the electrode protection layer is formed of the same material as the planarization film.

11. An organic electroluminescence panel according to claim 10 , wherein

the electrode protection layer and the planarization film are organic films.

12. An organic electroluminescence panel comprising:

a substrate onto which a plurality of organic EL elements provided in a matrix form and a plurality of thin film transistors for driving the organic EL elements are formed; and

a sealing panel for sealing a region above a pixel area in which the organic EL elements are provided, attached to a peripheral region of the substrate, wherein

an inorganic film is formed over the upper surface of the substrate,

a planarization film is formed above the inorganic film,

the organic EL element is formed above the planarization film,

the substrate and the sealing panel are sealed by adhering the inorganic film and the sealing panel using a sealing material,

the planarization film ends before reaching a seal, and

a portion of the planarization film ends at a position internal to the sealing material,

an electrode is placed below the sealing material, and

a portion of the planarization film covers the electrodes provided below the sealing material.

13. An organic electroluminescence panel according to claim 12 , wherein

the planarization film is an organic film.

Assignments (3)
RE-RECORD TO CORRECT THE NAME OF THE ASSIGNEE, PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 014631 FRAME 0335. Recorded Dec 20, 2004
From: NISHIKAWA, RYUJI; SUZUKI, KOJI; ICHIKAWA, SHINJI
To: SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 016084/0506 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ASSIGNEE'S NAME PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 013948, FRAME 0675. ASSIGNOR HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT OF THE ENTIRE INTEREST. Recorded Oct 29, 2003
From: NISHIKAWA, RYUJI; SUZUKI, KOJI; ICHIKAWA, SHINJI
To: SANYO ELECTRIC CO., INC.
Reel/Frame 014631/0335 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 5, 2003
From: NISHIKAWA, RYUJI; SUZUKI, KOJI; ICHIKAWA, SHINJI
To: SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 013948/0675 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2002-158178 · May 30, 2002 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20040012870A1 · Jan 22, 2004