The present application claims priority to Japanese Priority Patent Application JP 2011-079619 filed in the Japan Patent Office on Mar. 31, 2011, the entire content of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
The present disclosure relates to a display unit having an organic EL (electroluminescence) device and a method of manufacturing the same.
Organic EL devices have a configuration in which a first electrode, an organic layer including a light emitting layer, and a second electrode are sequentially layered on a substrate. Examples of methods of forming the organic layer include a method of separately evaporating a red light emitting layer, a green light emitting layer, and a blue light emitting layer by using an evaporation mask and a method of layering the red light emitting layer, the green light emitting layer, and the blue light emitting layer without using the evaporation mask. In the display units expected to have high resolution and improved aperture ratio, the latter method may be mainstream in the future.
In the method of layering a plurality of light emitting layers, the organic layer is provided commonly to all organic EL devices. Therefore, drive current leakage between adjacent organic EL devices through a hole injection layer occurs. Thereby, a non-light emitting pixel slightly emits light being influenced by a light emitting pixel, which causes color mixture and lowered efficiency. To address such a disadvantage, for example, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2009-4347, in a region between organic EL devices, an inverse-tapered-shaped dividing wall is formed and a hole injection layer is subsequently formed, and thereby the hole injection layer is sectioned in parts.
In the existing method described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2009-4347, after the hole injection layer is formed, heat treatment is performed to deform the dividing wall in a forward-tapered shape in order not to section a second electrode in parts in forming the second electrode on the dividing wall. However, there has been a disadvantage that in the case where heat treatment is performed in the course of an evaporation step, characteristics are deteriorated in a higher rate.
It is desirable to provide a display unit capable of suppressing drive current leakage between adjacent organic EL devices without lowering characteristics and a method of manufacturing the same.
According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided a display unit including, on a substrate a plurality of organic EL devices, and an insulating film provided in an inter-device region between the plurality of organic EL devices, the insulating film including a groove in a position between the organic EL devices adjacent to each other.
In the display unit of the embodiment of the disclosure, the insulating film is provided in the inter-device region between the plurality of organic EL devices. The insulating film has a groove in a position between the organic EL devices adjacent to each other. Therefore, the thickness inside the groove of a layer having higher conductivity out of the organic layer such as a hole injection layer and a hole transport layer is smaller than the thickness outside the groove thereof, and resistance inside the groove thereof is increased. Therefore, drive current leakage between the organic EL devices adjacent to each other is suppressed.
According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided a method of manufacturing a display unit, the method including forming a plurality of organic EL devices on a substrate, and forming an insulating film in an inter-device region between the plurality of organic EL devices. In the forming of the insulating film, a groove is provided in a position between the organic EL devices adjacent to each other of the insulating film.
According to the display unit of the embodiment of the disclosure or the method of manufacturing a display unit of the embodiment of the disclosure, the insulating film is provided in the inter-device region between the plurality of organic EL devices. The groove is provided in the position between the organic EL devices adjacent to each other of the insulating film. Therefore, drive current leakage between the organic EL devices adjacent to each other is suppressed. Further, it is not necessary to perform the existing heat treatment, and accordingly, characteristics are allowed not to be deteriorated.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary, and are intended to provide further explanation of the technology as claimed.
Additional features and advantages are described herein, and will be apparent from the following Detailed Description and the figures.
The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the present disclosure, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate embodiments and, together with the specification, serve to explain the principles of the technology.
Embodiments of the present disclosure will be hereinafter described in detail with reference to the drawings. The description will be given in the following order.
1. First embodiment (example that a groove is provided in a position between adjacent organic EL devices, in an insulating film)
2. Second embodiment (example that in a step of forming an organic layer, position relation between a groove on a substrate and an evaporation source is defined)
3. Third embodiment (example that a groove is provided for each row of a plurality of organic EL devices in a column direction)
4. Fourth embodiment (example that width of a groove is changed in a two-step manner)
5. Fifth embodiment (example that a conductive film is provided on a bottom surface of a groove)
In the display region 110, a pixel drive circuit 140 is provided.
In the pixel drive circuit 140, a plurality of signal lines 120A are arranged in the column direction, and a plurality of scanning lines 130A are arranged in the row direction. Each cross section of each signal line 120A and each scanning line 130A corresponds to one of the organic EL devices 10R, 10G, and 10B (sub-pixel). Each signal line 120A is connected to the signal line drive circuit 120. An image signal is supplied to a source electrode of the writing transistor Tr2 from the signal line drive circuit 120 through the signal line 120A. Each scanning line 130A is connected to the scanning line drive circuit 130. A scanning signal is sequentially supplied to a gate electrode of the writing transistor Tr2 from the scanning line drive circuit 130 through the scanning line 130A.
Three organic EL devices 10R, 10G, and 10B adjacent to each other compose one pixel 10. The respective organic EL devices 10R, 10G, and 10B compose one sub-pixel. Pitch (center distance) p in the row direction of the plurality of organic EL devices 10R, 10G, and 10B is, for example, equal to or smaller than 30 μm. Specifically, one pixel 10 is a square having, for example, each side of about 10 μm, and the pitch p of the plurality of organic EL devices 10R, 10G, and 10B is, for example, about 3.3 μm.
An insulating film 20 is provided in an inter-device region 10A between the plurality of organic EL devices 10R, 10G, and 10B. The insulating film 20 has a groove 30 in a position between adjacent organic EL devices 10R and 10G (or adjacent organic EL devices 10G and 10B, or adjacent organic EL devices 10B and 10R). Thereby, in the display unit, drive current leakage between adjacent organic EL devices 10R and 10G (or adjacent organic EL devices 10G and 10B, or adjacent organic EL devices 10B and 10R) is allowed to be suppressed.
The groove 30 is provided, for example, continuously from the upper end to the lower end of the display region 110 over the plurality of rows of the plurality of organic EL devices 10R, 10G, and 10B in the column direction. Thereby, if an after-mentioned second electrode 15 of the organic EL devices 10R, 10G, and 10B is sectioned in the row direction by the groove 30, the second electrode 15 is allowed to exist as a continuous common electrode in the column direction. For details of the groove 30, a description will be given later.
The first insulating film 21 is intended to planarize the surface of the substrate 11 on which the pixel circuit layer 12 is formed. The first insulating film 21 has a thickness of, for example, from 100 nm to 1000 nm both inclusive, and is made of silicon oxide nitride (SiON) or silicon oxide (SiO2 or SiO). In the case where component material of the first insulating film 21 is a silicon-based material such as SiON, SiO2, and SiO, the groove 30 that is deep in the thickness direction of the first insulating film 21 is allowed to be formed easily by etching. The first insulating film 21 is provided with a contact hole 21A for connecting to the drive transistor Tr1 of the pixel drive circuit 140 of the drive circuit layer 12. The contact hole 21A is provided with a plug 21B made of conductive metal.
The second insulating film 22 is intended to secure insulation between the first electrode 13 and the second electrode 15, and to obtain a desired shape of the light emitting region accurately. The second insulating film 22 covers not only the inter-device region 10A but also the top face end of the first electrode 13, and has an aperture 22A corresponding to the light emitting region of the first electrode 13. The second insulating film 22 has a thickness of, for example, from 100 nm to 200 nm both inclusive, and is made of SiON. In the case where the component material of the second insulating film 22 is a silicon-based material such as SiON, the groove 30 that is deep in the thickness direction of the second insulating film 22 is allowed to be formed easily by etching.
The organic EL devices 10R, 10G, and 10B are provided on the first insulating film 21. In the organic EL devices 10R, 10G, and 10B, the first electrode 13, an organic layer 14 including a light emitting layer, and the second electrode 15 are layered in this order of closeness to the substrate 11. In
The organic EL devices 10R, 10G, and 10B are covered with a protective film 16. Further, a sealing substrate 40 made of glass or the like is bonded to the whole surface of the protective film 16 with an adhesive layer 17 in between, and thereby the organic EL devices 10R, 10G, and 10B are sealed.
The first electrode 13 is provided for each of the plurality of organic EL devices 10R, 10G, and 10B. The first electrode 13 has a thickness of, for example, about 100 nm, is made of aluminum (Al) as a high reflective material or an alloy containing aluminum (Al), and extracts light generated in the light emitting layer from the second electrode 15 side (top emission). The thickness of the first electrode 13 is preferably a value with which the light generated in the light emitting layer is not transmitted therethrough and light extraction efficiency is allowed to be retained, for example, in the range from 30 nm to 200 nm both inclusive. Examples of component material of the first electrode 13 include a reflecting electrode made of aluminum (A1), an alloy thereof, and a simple substance or an alloy of metal elements such as gold (Au), platinum (Pt), nickel (Ni), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), tungsten (W), molybdenum (Mo), titanium (Ti), tantalum (Ta), and silver (Ag).
Further, the first electrode 13 may have a contact layer (not illustrated) being about 20 nm thick that is made of titanium (Ti), tungsten (W), copper (Cu), tantalum (Ta), molybdenum (Mo), or the like as a base of the foregoing reflecting electrode. The contact layer also has a function as a reflective supplementary layer to retain high reflectance even if the thickness of the first electrode 13 is decreased. In the case where the contact layer is provided, it is enough that the thickness of the first electrode 13 is equal to or larger than 15 nm.
Further, the first electrode 13 may have a three-layer laminated structure composed of a titanium layer as the contact layer or the reflective supplementary layer, the foregoing reflecting electrode made of aluminum, an alloy thereof, or the like, and a titanium layer or a tantalum layer. Otherwise, the first electrode 13 may be formed of a composite film composed of the foregoing reflecting electrode and a transparent electrode made of ITO (Indium Tin Oxide), IZO (registered trademark) (indium zinc composite oxide), SnO2, or the like.
The organic layer 14 is provided on the first electrode 13 and the second insulating film 22 commonly to the plurality of organic EL devices 10R, 10G, and 10B. The organic layer 14 has, for example, a configuration in which a hole injection layer 14A, a hole transport layer 14B, a light emitting layer 14C, and an electron transport layer 14D are layered in order of closeness to the first electrode 13 as illustrated in
The hole injection layer 14A is intended to improve hole injection efficiency, and is a buffer layer to prevent leakage. The hole injection layer 14A has a thickness of, for example, from 2 nm to 10 nm both inclusive, and is composed of hexatrilazatriphenylene shown in Chemical formula 1.
The hole transport layer 14B is intended to improve hole injection efficiency to the light emitting layer 14C. The hole transport layer 14B has a thickness of, for example, 30 nm, and is composed of a material shown in Chemical formula 2.
The light emitting layer 14C is a white light emitting layer in which a red light emitting layer being 10 nm thick (not illustrated), a light emitting separation layer being 10 nm thick (not illustrated), a blue light emitting layer being 10 nm thick (not illustrated), and a green light emitting layer being 10 nm thick (not illustrated) are layered in order of closeness to the first electrode 13. The red light emitting layer generates red light by recombination of part of holes injected from the first electrode 13 through the hole injection layer 14A and the hole transport layer 14B and part of electrons injected from the second electrode 15 through the electron transport layer 14D by being applied with an electric field. The light emitting separation layer is intended to decrease electron supply amount to the red light emitting layer. The blue light emitting layer generates blue light by recombination of part of holes injected from the first electrode 13 through the hole injection layer 14A, the hole transport layer 14B, and the light emitting separation layer and part of electrons injected from the second electrode 15 through the electron transport layer 14D by being applied with an electric field. The green light emitting layer generates green light by recombination of part of holes injected from the first electrode 13 through the hole injection layer 14A, the hole transport layer 14B, and the light emitting separation layer and part of electrons injected from the second electrode 15 through the electron transport layer 14D by being applied with an electric field. The red light emitting layer, the green light emitting layer, and the blue light emitting layer emit light in a region corresponding to the aperture 22A of the second insulating film 22.
The red light emitting layer contains one or more of a red light emitting material, a hole transport material, an electron transport material, and a both-electric-charge transport material. The red light emitting material may be a fluorescent material or a phosphorescent material. Specifically, the red light emitting layer has a thickness of, for example, about 5 nm, and is composed of a mixture obtained by mixing 30 wt % of 2,6-bis[(4′-methoxydiphenylamino)styryl]-1,5 dicyanonaphthalene (BSN) in 4,4-bis(2,2-diphenylvinyl)biphenyl (DPVBi).
The light emitting separation layer is composed of a material shown in Chemical formula 3, for example.
The green light emitting layer contains, for example, one or more of a green light emitting material, a hole transport material, an electron transport material, and a both-electric-charge transport material. The green light emitting material may be a fluorescent material or a phosphorescent material. Specifically, the green light emitting layer has a thickness of, for example, about 10 nm, and is composed of a mixture obtained by mixing 5 wt % of coumarin 6 in DPVBi.
The blue light emitting layer contains, for example, one or more of a blue light emitting material, a hole transport material, an electron transport material, and a both-electric-charge transport material. The blue light emitting material may be a fluorescent material or a phosphorescent material. Specifically, the blue light emitting layer has a thickness of, for example, about 30 nm, and is composed of a mixture obtained by mixing 2.5 wt % of 4,4′-bis [2-{4-(N,N-diphenylamino)phenyl}vinyl]biphenyl (DPAVBi) in DPVBi.
The electron transport layer 14D is intended to improve efficiency to inject electrons into the light emitting layer 14C. The electron transport layer 14D has a thickness of, for example, about 20 nm, and is composed of 8-hydroxyquinolinealuminum (Alq3).
The second electrode 15 illustrated in
The protective film 16 illustrated in
The sealing substrate 40 illustrated in
The sealing substrate 40 is provided with, for example, a color filter 41 and a light shielding film 42 as a black matrix. The color filter 41 is intended to extract white light generated in the organic EL devices 10R, 10G, and 10B as red, green, or blue light, and has a red filter 41R, a green filter 41G, and a blue filter (not illustrated). The red filter 41R, the green filter 41G, and the blue filter (not illustrated) are sequentially arranged correspondingly to the organic EL devices 10R, 10G, and 10B. The red filter 41R, the green filter 41G, and the blue filter (not illustrated) are respectively made of a resin mixed with a pigment. Adjustment is made by selecting a pigment so that light transmittance in the intended red, green, or blue wavelength region is high, and light transmittance in the other wavelength regions is low.
The light shielding film 42 is intended to absorb outside light reflected by the organic EL devices 10R, 10G, and 10B and wiring therebetween, and to improve contrast. The light shielding film 42 is composed of, for example, a black resin film having an optical density equal to or larger than 1 in which a black colorant is mixed, or a thin film filter by using thin film interference. Of the foregoing, the light shielding film 42 is preferably composed of the black resin film, since thereby the film is allowed to be formed inexpensively and easily. The thin film filter is obtained by layering one or more thin films composed of metal, metal nitride, or metal oxide, and is intended to attenuate light by using thin film interference. Specific examples of the thin film filter include a filter in which chromium and chromium oxide (III)(Cr2O3) are alternately layered.
The groove 30 illustrated in
Influence of such a leakage current in the inter-device region 10A is more significant as size of the organic EL devices 10R, 10G, and 10B is smaller. For example, discussion will be given of leakage current IL flowing in square region 10A1 sandwiched between a long side of the organic EL device 10R and a long side of the adjacent organic EL device 10G in
In this case, by providing the groove 30 in the inter-device region 10A, as illustrated in
Width w of the groove 30 is preferably equal to or smaller than the total film thickness of the organic layer 14, and specifically, is preferably from 10 nm to 150 nm both inclusive. Thereby, as illustrated in
A description will be hereinafter given of relation between the pitch of the organic EL devices 10R, 10G, and 10B and a necessary resistance value.
Discussion will be given of two similar figure pixels having different pitches, where respective pitches are p and p′; respective light emitting areas are S and S′; respective drive currents are I0 and I0′; respective leakage currents are IL and IL′; and respective necessary resistance values are R and R′.
Respective current densities at certain luminance are identical. Therefore, the following expression is established:
Where the ratio of the leakage current IL to the necessary drive current I0 is r and r′, the following expressions are established:
I
L
=rI
0
I
L
′=rI
0,
where r′=r
Further, respective drive voltages are identical, which is V. Therefore, the following expression is established:
Accordingly, the following expression is established:
R′/R=(p/p′)2
As can be seen from
Further, comparing Example 1-1 to Example 1-2, as the depth d of the groove 30 was deeper, the luminance ratio of the adjacent device was lower for the following possible reason. That is, the thickness t1 inside the groove 30 of the hole injection layer 14A and the hole transport layer 14B is extremely thin, and resistance of the section with such a thin thickness t1 is increased. Therefore, as the depth d of the groove 30 is deeper, resistance of the entire inter-device region 10A is increased. That is, it is found that, as the depth d of the groove 30 is deeper, drive current leakage between the adjacent organic EL devices 10R, 10G, and 10B is allowed to be suppressed.
The display unit is allowed to be manufactured, for example, as follows.
Subsequently, for example, a titanium film and an aluminum alloy film (not illustrated) are formed on the first insulating film 21 by, for example, a sputtering method. After that, the titanium film and the aluminum alloy film are formed in a determined shape by, for example, a photolithography method and a dry etching method to form the first electrode 13 for each of the plurality of organic EL devices 10R, 10G, and 10B as illustrated in
After the first electrode 13 is formed, an SiON film having, for example, a thickness from 10 nm to 200 nm both inclusive is formed on the first electrode 13 and the first insulating film 21 by a PECVD method. The SiON film is formed in a determined shape by, for example, a photolithography method and a dry etching to form the second insulating film 22 having the aperture 22A as illustrated in
After the second insulating film 22 is formed, as illustrated in
After the groove 30 is provided, as illustrated in
Subsequently, as illustrated in
Subsequently, as illustrated in
Further, as illustrated in
After that, as illustrated in
In the display unit, the scanning signal is supplied to each pixel through the gate electrode of the writing transistor Tr2 from the scanning line drive circuit 130, and the image signal from the signal line drive circuit 120 is retained in the retentive capacitance Cs through the writing transistor Tr2. That is, the drive transistor Tr1 is on/off-controlled according to the signal retained in the retentive capacitance Cs, and thereby drive current Ids is injected into the respective organic EL devices 10R, 10G, and 10B, electron-hole recombination is generated, and thereby light is emitted. The light is transmitted through the second electrode 15, the protective film 16, the adhesive layer 17, the color filter 41, and the sealing substrate 40 (top emission), and is extracted.
In this case, the insulating film 20 (the first insulating film 21 and the second insulating film 22) is provided in the inter-device region 10A between the plurality of organic EL devices 10R, 10G, and 10B. The insulating film 20 has the groove 30 in a position between adjacent organic EL devices 10R and 10G (adjacent organic EL devices 10G and 10B, or adjacent organic EL devices 10B and 10R). Therefore, the thickness t1 inside the groove 30 of a layer having higher conductivity out of the organic layer 14 such as the hole injection layer 14A and the hole transport layer 14B becomes smaller than the thickness t2 outside the groove 30 thereof, and resistance inside the groove 30 is increased. Therefore, drive current leakage between adjacent organic EL devices 10R, 10G, and 10B is suppressed.
As described above, in the display unit of this embodiment, the insulating film 20 (the first insulating film 21 and the second insulating film 22) is provided in the inter-device region 10A between the plurality of organic EL devices 10R, 10G, and 10B. The groove 30 is provided in a position between adjacent organic EL devices 10R and 10G (or adjacent organic EL devices 10G and 10B, or adjacent organic EL devices 10B and 10R) in the insulating film 20. Therefore, drive current leakage between adjacent organic EL devices 10R, 10G, and 10B is allowed to be suppressed. In addition, differently from the existing display unit, it is not necessary to submit the inverse-tapered-shaped dividing wall to heat treatment to change the shape thereof to forward-tapered shape in the course of an evaporation step, and accordingly characteristics lowering is avoided.
In the foregoing embodiment, the description has been given of the case in which the first insulating film 21 and the second insulating film 22 are layered as the insulating film 20. However, it is possible that the second insulating film 22 is omitted and only the first insulating film 21 is provided as the insulating film 20.
The display unit is allowed to be manufactured, for example, as follows. For manufacturing steps similar to those of the first embodiment, a description will be given with reference to
First, as illustrated in
Next, as illustrated in
Subsequently, as illustrated in
After that, as illustrated in
After the groove 30 is provided, as illustrated in
In the step of forming the organic layer 14, as illustrated in
X/Y>w/d [Mathematical expression 1]
In the expression, X represents offset distance from the entrance edge of the groove 30 to the evaporation source 50, Y represents distance between the substrate 11 and the evaporation source 50, w represents width of the groove, and d represents depth of the groove 30.
Mathematical expression 1 expresses tan θ>tan α, that is, θ>α in
As an evaporation method, for example, a rotary evaporation method or a linear evaporation method may be used. The rotary evaporation method is a method in which the cell type evaporation source 50 is used and film formation is performed while the substrate 11 is rotated above the evaporation source 50. At this time, the evaporation source 50 is arranged so that the position relation between the groove 30 on the substrate 11 and the evaporation source 50 satisfies Mathematical expression 1. Further, as long as Mathematical expression 1 is satisfied during part or all of a time period in which the substrate 11 is rotated once, the foregoing effect of decreasing film thickness of the hole injection layer 14A and the hole transport layer 14B is allowed to be obtained.
In the rotary evaporation method, a material is put in a crucible (not illustrated) of the evaporation source, and the material is evaporated by heating the crucible by a heater. As a material of the crucible, ceramics such as PBN and alumina, Ta, and the like are desirable. Evaporated molecules linearly fly according to directivity of the evaporation source 50 (n value), and are deposited on the substrate 11. In this case, the n value represents ratio (A/A0) of evaporation density A in a given position with respect to evaporation density A0 at the center, and is a value obtained by approximation with cos nθ.
For example, as illustrated in
Further, in the step of forming the hole injection layer 14A or the hole transport layer 14B out of the organic layer 14, Mathematical expression 1 is preferably satisfied for the following reason. Out of the organic layer 14, the hole injection layer 14A and the hole transport layer 14B have comparatively high conductivity, and a leakage path is easily formed between the adjacent organic EL devices 10R, 10G, and 10B.
After the organic layer 14 is formed, as illustrated in
Subsequently, as illustrated in
As can be seen from
As can be seen from
As can be seen from
That is, it is found that, in the case where Mathematical expression 1 is satisfied in the step of forming the organic layer 14, the thickness t1 inside the groove 30 of the hole injection layer 14A and the hole transport layer 14B is allowed to be more decreased, the resistance is allowed to be more increased, and drive current leakage between the adjacent organic EL devices 10R, 10G, and 10B is allowed to be more suppressed.
For example, each groove 30 with almost the same length as that of the long side of the organic EL devices 10R, 10G, and 10B is provided in a region between columns of the adjacent organic EL devices 10R, 10G, and 10B. Distance L is provided between the grooves 30 in the column direction.
Meanwhile,
As can be seen from
Further, comparing the case that the distance L in the column direction between the grooves 30 is 1.0 μm and the case that the distance L in the column direction between the grooves 30 is 2.4 μm, the resistance R2 in the row direction of the second electrode 15 in the case that the distance L is 2.4 μm is higher. That is, it is found that, in the case where the distance L in the column direction between the grooves 30 is wider, the resistance R2 in the row direction of the second electrode 15 is allowed to be decreased.
As can be seen from
Further, if comparison is made among the case that the distance L in the column direction between the grooves 30 is 1.0 μm, the case that the distance L in the column direction between the grooves 30 is 2.15 μm, and the case that the distance L in the column direction between the grooves 30 is 2.4 μm, the drop voltage is lower in the case that the distance L is wider. In the case where the distance L in the column direction between the respective grooves 30 is 1.0 μm, the thickness of the Mg—Ag alloy layer of the second electrode 15 may need to be equal to or larger than 4.6 nm in order to obtain crosstalk equal to or smaller than the reference value. Meanwhile, in the case where the distance L in the column direction between the grooves 30 is 2.15 μm and in the case where the distance L in the column direction between the grooves 30 is 2.4 μm, even if the thickness of the Mg—Ag alloy layer of the second electrode 15 is 4.0 nm, crosstalk is equal to or smaller than the reference value. That is, it is found that, in the case where the distance L in the column direction between the grooves 30 is wider, the drop voltage is allowed to be decreased to improve image quality.
The first insulating film 21 has, for example, a thickness from 100 nm to 1000 nm both inclusive, and is composed of silicon oxide nitride (SiON) or silicon oxide (SiO2 or SiO) as in the first embodiment.
In this embodiment, the second insulating film 22 is preferably composed of SiO2 formed at high temperature for the following reason. That is, in the case where the film density of SiO2 is increased, the rate at the time of etching is lower than that of the first insulating film 21, and a canopy section 32A is formed. To be formed at high temperature herein specifically means that a film is formed at about from 400 deg C. to 500 deg C. both inclusive. SiO2 of the first insulating film 21 is formed, for example, at from 250 deg C. to 350 deg C. both inclusive.
Width w2 of the second groove 32 is narrower than width w1 of the first groove 31. In other words, the canopy section 32A jettying toward the center of the first groove 31 is provided at the periphery of the second groove 32. Thereby, as illustrated in
The width w2 of the groove 32 is preferably, for example, equal to or smaller than the total film thickness of the organic layer 14, and specifically, is preferably from 10 nm to 150 nm both inclusive. Thereby, as illustrated in
The display unit is allowed to be manufactured, for example, as follows. For manufacturing steps similar to those of the first embodiment, a description will be given with reference to
First, as illustrated in
Next, as illustrated in
Subsequently, as illustrated in
After that, the second groove 32 penetrating the second insulating film 22 is provided and the first groove 31 is provided in the first insulating film 21 by, for example, a photolithography method and dry etching.
After the second groove 32 is provided, further, wet etching of the first groove 31 and the second groove 32 is performed. As a chemical used for the wet etching, hydrofluoric acid is preferably used. Thereby, the width w1 of the first groove 31 is increased in the first insulating film 21 in which the wet etching rate is high, while the width w2 of the second groove 32 is narrower than the width w1 of the first groove 31, in the second insulating film 22 in which the wet etching rate is low. At the periphery of the second groove 32, the canopy section 32A jettying toward the center of the first groove 31 is formed.
Regarding the planar shape of the groove 30, it is possible that the groove 30 is provided continuously over a plurality of rows of the plurality of organic EL devices 10R, 10G, and 10B as in the first embodiment. Further, it is possible that the groove 30 is provided for each row of the plurality of organic EL devices 10R, 10G, and 10B as in the third embodiment.
After the step-like groove 30 having the first groove 31 and the second groove 32 is provided, as illustrated in
After the organic layer 14 is formed, as illustrated in
Subsequently, as illustrated in
In the foregoing embodiment, the description has been given of the case that the side surface of the second groove 32 is a vertical surface. However, the side surface of the second groove 32 may be of an inverse-tapered shape as illustrated in
As described above, the conductive film 60 is connected to a determined electric potential such as a ground electric potential and an electric potential (cathode electric potential) of the second electrode 15. Thereby, a leakage current propagated through the hole injection layer 14A and the hole transport layer 14B is short-circuited to the conductive film 60, and a leakage current between the adjacent organic EL devices 10R, 10G, and 10B is almost totally suppressed. The second electrode 15 is connected to an auxiliary wiring (not illustrated) in a region outside the display region 110 for the following reason. That is, since the organic layer 14 is provided commonly to the plurality of organic EL devices 10R, 10G, and 10B, it is not possible to connect the second electrode 15 with the auxiliary wiring for each of the organic EL devices 10R, 10G, and 10B.
The conductive film 60 is made of a conductive material such as titanium nitride (TiN). The conductive film 60 is preferably a light shielding layer that blocks light entrance to the drive transistor Tr1 or the writing transistor Tr2 of the pixel drive circuit 140 of the drive circuit layer 12.
Regarding the planar shape of the groove 30, it is possible that the groove 30 is provided continuously over a plurality of rows of the plurality of organic EL devices 10R, 10G, and 10B as in the first embodiment. Further, it is possible that the groove 30 is provided for each row of the plurality of organic EL devices 10R, 10G, and 10B as in the third embodiment.
The display unit is allowed to be manufactured, for example, as follows. For manufacturing steps similar to those of the first embodiment, a description will be given with reference to
First, as illustrated in
Next, as illustrated in
Subsequently, as illustrated in
After the first insulating film 21 is formed, as illustrated in
After the first electrode 13 is formed, as illustrated in
After the groove 30 is provided, as illustrated in
After the organic layer 14 is formed, as illustrated in
Subsequently, as illustrated in
A description will be given of application examples of the display unit described in the foregoing embodiments. The display unit of the foregoing embodiments is applicable to a display unit of an electronic device in any field for displaying a video signal inputted from outside or a video signal generated inside as an image or a video such as a television device, a digital camera, a notebook personal computer, a portable terminal device such as a mobile phone, and a video camcorder.
The display unit of the foregoing embodiment is incorporated in electronic devices such as after-mentioned first and second application examples as a module as illustrated in
While the present disclosure has been described with reference to the embodiments, the present disclosure is not limited to the foregoing embodiments, and various modifications may be made. For example, in the foregoing embodiments, the description has been given of the case that a leakage current between the organic light emitting devices 10R, 10G, and 10B is suppressed by decreasing the thickness inside the groove 30 of the hole injection layer 14A and the hole transport layer 14B. However, it is enough that at least the thickness inside the groove 30 of the hole injection layer 14A or the hole transport layer 14B is decreased. Further, out of the organic layer 14, conductivity of the hole injection layer 14A is particularly high. Therefore, a leakage current between the organic light emitting devices 10R, 10G, and 10B is allowed to be decreased by decreasing at least the thickness inside the groove 30 of the hole injection layer 14A. Further, in the case where the hole transport layer 14B is omitted, a leakage current between the organic light emitting devices 10R, 10G, and 10B is allowed to be decreased by decreasing the thickness inside the groove 30 of the hole injection layer 14A.
Further, in the foregoing embodiments, the description has been given of the case that light generated in the light emitting layer is extracted from the second electrode 15 side (top emission) as an example. However, it is possible that light generated in the light emitting layer is extracted from the first electrode 13 side (bottom emission). In this case, the first electrode 13 is formed of a transparent electrode made of ITO, IZO (registered trademark), SnO2, or the like. The second electrode 15 is formed of a reflecting electrode composed of a simple body or an alloy of a metal element such as gold (Au), platinum (Pt), nickel (Ni), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), tungsten (W), aluminum (Al), molybdenum (Mo), and silver (Ag). Further, the second electrode 15 may be composed of a composite film of the foregoing reflecting electrode and the foregoing transparent electrode. Further, in the case of the bottom emission type, the color filter 41 and the light shielding film 42 may be provided on the substrate 11 side, for example, may be provided between the drive circuit layer 12 and the first insulating film 21.
Further, for example, the material, the thickness, the film-forming method, the film-forming conditions, and the like of each layer are not limited to those described in the foregoing embodiments, and other material, other thickness, other film-forming method, and other film-forming conditions may be adopted.
It is possible to achieve at least the following configurations from the above-described exemplary embodiments and the modifications of the disclosure.
(1) A display unit comprising, on a substrate:
a plurality of organic EL devices; and
an insulating film provided in an inter-device region between the plurality of organic EL devices, the insulating film including a groove in a position between the organic EL devices adjacent to each other.
(2) The display unit according to (1), wherein the organic EL device includes
a first electrode provided for each of the plurality of organic EL devices,
an organic layer being provided on the first electrode and the insulating film commonly to the plurality of organic EL devices, and including a hole injection layer or a hole transport layer and a light emitting layer, and
a second electrode being provided on the organic layer commonly to the plurality of organic EL devices, and
thickness inside the groove of the hole injection layer or of the hole transport layer is smaller than thickness outside the groove thereof.
(3) The display unit according to (2), wherein the thickness inside the groove of the hole injection layer or of the hole transport layer becomes smaller toward a depth direction of the groove.
(4) The display unit according to any one of (1) to (3), wherein the plurality of organic EL devices have a rectangle shape extending in one direction, and are arranged in a row direction parallel with a short side thereof and in a column direction parallel with a long side thereof, and
the groove is provided continuously over a plurality of rows of the plurality of organic EL devices in the column direction.
(5) The display unit according to any one of (1) to (3), wherein the plurality of organic EL devices have a rectangle shape, and are arranged in a row direction parallel with a short side thereof and in a column direction parallel with a long side thereof, and
the groove is provided for each row of the plurality of organic EL devices in the column direction.
(6) The display unit according to (4) or (5), wherein pitch in the row direction of the plurality of organic EL devices is equal to or smaller than about 30 μm.
(7) The display unit according to any one of (1) to (6), wherein the insulating film includes a first insulating film and a second insulating film, the first insulating film being provided between the substrate and the plurality of organic EL devices, and the second insulating film being provided in the inter-device region on the first insulating film, and
the groove includes a first groove and a second groove, the first groove being provided in the first insulating film, and the second groove being provided in the second insulating film, communicating with the first groove, and having width narrower than width of the first groove.
(8) The display unit according to any one of (2) to (6), including a conductive film on a bottom surface of the groove,
wherein the conductive film is connected to a determined electric potential.
(9) The display unit according to (8), wherein the determined electric potential is a ground electric potential or an electric potential of the second electrode.
(10) The display unit according to (8) or (9) comprising:
a drive circuit including a transistor between the substrate and the plurality of organic EL devices, and between the substrate and the insulating film,
wherein the conductive film is a light shielding layer.
(11) The display unit according to any one of (1) to (10), wherein the light emitting layer is a white light emitting layer, and
the organic EL device includes a color filter extracting the white light as red light, green light, or blue light.
(12) A method of manufacturing a display unit, the method comprising:
forming a plurality of organic EL devices on a substrate; and
forming an insulating film in an inter-device region between the plurality of organic EL devices,
forming a first electrode for each of the plurality of organic EL devices,
forming an organic layer including a hole injection layer or a hole transport layer and a light emitting layer commonly to the plurality of organic EL devices on the first electrode and the insulating film, and
forming a second electrode commonly to the plurality of organic EL devices on the organic layer, and
wherein the forming of the organic layer is performed after providing the groove in the insulating film.
(14) The method of manufacturing a display unit according to (13), wherein in the forming of the organic layer is performed by an evaporation method, and Mathematical expression 1 is satisfied,
X/Y>w/d (Mathematical expression 1)
where X represents offset distance from an entrance edge of the groove to an evaporation source, Y represents distance between the substrate and the evaporation source, w represents width of the groove, and d represents depth of the groove.
(15) The method of manufacturing a display unit according to (14), wherein in the forming of the organic layer, the evaporation method is a rotary evaporation method in which film formation is performed while the substrate is rotated, and the Mathematical expression 1 is satisfied during part or all of a time period in which the substrate is rotated once.
(16) The method of manufacturing a display unit according to (14), wherein in the forming of the organic layer, the evaporation method is a linear evaporation method in which film formation is performed while the evaporation source and the substrate are relatively moved in one direction, and the Mathematical expression 1 is satisfied during part or all of a time period in which the substrate passes the evaporation source.
(17) The method of manufacturing a display unit according to any one of (14) to (16), wherein in the forming of the hole injection layer or the hole transport layer out of the organic layer, the Mathematical expression 1 is satisfied.
It should be understood that various changes and modifications to the presently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present subject matter and without diminishing its intended advantages. It is therefore intended that such changes and modifications be covered by the appended claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2011-079619 | Mar 2011 | JP | national |