ELECTROLUMINESCENT DEVICE

Abstract

An electroluminescent device includes a substrate and a plurality of electroluminescent elements disposed on the substrate. Each electroluminescent element includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and a function layer including a luminescent layer and disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. The electroluminescent elements are grouped into a plurality of groups each including at least one electroluminescent element. Barrier layers are disposed in an island-shaped manner corresponding to regions where the electroluminescent elements are disposed, and each barrier layer prevents water from transferring from the substrate to the electroluminescent element in the corresponding group.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like numbers reference like elements.

FIG. 1 is a top view of an organic electroluminescent device according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2A is a schematic representation of the structure of an organic electroluminescent device according to a first embodiment of the invention, and FIG. 2B is a sectional view of the structure.

FIGS. 3A to 3C are schematic representations of a method for manufacturing the organic electroluminescent device according to the first embodiment.

FIGS. 4A to 4C are schematic representations of the method for manufacturing the organic electroluminescent device according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a comparative organic electroluminescent device.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of another comparative organic electroluminescent device.

FIG. 7 is a schematic representation of the structure of an organic electroluminescent device according to a second embodiment of the invention.

Claims

1. An electroluminescent device comprising: a substrate;a plurality of electroluminescent elements disposed on the substrate, each including a first electrode, a second electrode, and a function layer including a luminescent layer and disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, the electroluminescent elements being grouped into a plurality of groups each including at least one electroluminescent element;barrier layers disposed in an island-shaped manner corresponding to regions where the electroluminescent elements are disposed, each barrier layer preventing water from transferring from the substrate to the at least one electroluminescent element in the corresponding group.

2. The electroluminescent device according to claim 1, further comprising a light reflection layer between the first electrode and each barrier layer, the light reflection layer reflecting light emitted from the luminescent layer to direct the light to the second electrode, wherein the second electrode is optically transparent.

3. The electroluminescent device according to claim 1, further comprising an insulating layer isolating the electroluminescent elements from each other on the substrate, the insulating layer being made of a constituent material of the substrate.

4. The electroluminescent device according to claim 1, wherein the barrier layers are made of silicon nitride.

5. The electroluminescent device according to claim 1, wherein the barrier layers are made of silicon oxynitride.

6. The electroluminescent device according to claim 2, further comprising an optically transparent light transmission layer between the light reflection layer and the first electrode, wherein the second electrode is optically semitransparent, and the light transmission layer adjusts the optical distance between the second electrode and the light reflection layer.

7. A electroluminescent device comprising: a substrate;a plurality of electroluminescent elements disposed on the substrate, each including a first electrode, an optically transparent second electrode, and a function layer including a luminescent layer and disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, the electroluminescent elements being grouped into a plurality of groups each including at least one electroluminescent element and;light reflection layers disposed in an island-shaped manner corresponding to regions where the electroluminescent elements are disposed, each light reflection layer functioning for the at least one electroluminescent element in the corresponding group so as to reflect light emitted from the luminescent layer to direct the light to the second electrode, the light reflection layer having a sufficient thickness to prevent water from transferring from the substrate.

8. The electroluminescent device according to claim 7, wherein the light reflection layers are made of aluminum and have a thickness in the range of about 100 to 5,000 Å.