Sony Patent | Display Device And Electronic Apparatus

Patent: Display Device And Electronic Apparatus

Publication Number: 20200185639

Publication Date: 20200611

Applicants: Sony

Abstract

A display device includes: an organic EL layer formed over a circuit section formed over a substrate, an insulating layer interposed between the circuit section and the organic EL layer; a cathode electrode formed over the organic EL layer in common for all pixels; and a contact electrode that is provided at an outer peripheral portion of an effective pixel region and that electrically connects the cathode electrode and the circuit section. In the display device, the cathode electrode is electrically connected to the contact electrode, on an inner side as compared to an end surface of a film formation area of the organic EL layer.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a display device and an electronic apparatus.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] Of display devices in recent years, the mainstream is flat panel type display devices. As one of the flat panel type display devices, there is a display device in which what is generally called a current driving type electrooptical element that has a light emission luminance varying according to the current passed through the device are used as a light emitting section (light emitting element) of a pixel. As the current driving type electrooptical element, there is known an organic electroluminescence (EL) element in which EL of an organic material is utilized and the phenomenon of light emission upon application of an electric field to an organic thin film is used.

[0003] An organic EL display device using an organic EL element as a light emitting section of a pixel generally has a configuration in which an insulating film is provided in a state covering a circuit section formed over a substrate by using thin-film transistors (TFTs), and organic EL elements are arranged and formed over this insulating film. In addition, a cathode electrode as an upper electrode is formed over the organic EL elements in common for all pixels. The cathode electrode should be electrically connected to the circuit section.

[0004] In order to electrically connect the cathode electrode with the circuit section, in the past, a configuration has been adopted in which a contact region is provided at an outer peripheral portion of an effective pixel region (display region), and electrical connection between the cathode electrode and the circuit section is made at the contact region (see, for example, PTL 1).

CITATION LIST

Patent Literature

[PTL 1]

[0005] Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2014-199739

SUMMARY

Technical Problem

[0006] Incidentally, the contact region provided at the outer peripheral portion of the effective pixel region for the purpose of providing electrical connection between the cathode electrode and the circuit section constitutes a rate-determining factor for the width of a frame of the display panel (panel peripheral edge portion). When the frame width of the display panel is large, it leads to a rise in manufacturing cost due to a reduction in theoretical yield, and, since there are limitations on the design of the display device mounting product, mechantability as a device is lowered.

[0007] In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present disclosure to provide a display device capable of narrowing a frame of a display panel, in providing a contact region for electrical connection between a cathode electrode and a circuit section at an outer peripheral portion of an effective pixel region, and an electrical apparatus including the display device.

Solution to Problem

[0008] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, according to the present disclosure, there is provided a display device including:

[0009] an organic EL layer formed over a circuit section formed over a substrate, with an insulating film interposed between the circuit section and the organic EL layer;

[0010] a cathode electrode formed over the organic EL layer in common for all pixels;* and*

[0011] a contact electrode that is provided at an outer peripheral portion of an effective pixel region and electrically connects the cathode electrode with the circuit section,* in which*

[0012] the cathode electrode is electrically connected to the contact electrode, on an inner side as compared to an end surface of a film formation area of the organic EL layer. In addition, an electronic apparatus according to the present disclosure to achieve the above-mentioned object includes the display device configured as described above.

[0013] The configuration in which the cathode electrode is electrically connected to the contact electrode on an inner side as compared to the end surface of the film formation area of the organic EL layer makes it unnecessary to form the cathode electrode in a size larger than the film formation area of the organic EL layer, and, therefore, manufacturing variability of the end surface of the film formation region of the organic EL layer and manufacturing variability of the end surface of the film formation area of the cathode electrode 109 are not required to be taken into account on an addition basis. As a result, the area of the contact region required on the outer side of the effective pixel region can be reduced as compared to the case where the electrical contact of the cathode electrode with the contact electrode is secured on an outer side as compared to the end surface of the film formation area of the organic EL layer.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

[0014] According to the present disclosure, in providing the contact region for electrical connection between the cathode electrode and the circuit section at an outer peripheral portion of the effective pixel region, it is possible to reduce the area of the contact region, and, therefore, it is possible to narrow the frame of the display panel. Note that the effects described herein are not limitative, and any of the effects described herein may be present. In addition, the effects described herein are merely illustrative, and are not limitative, and additional effects may be present.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0015] FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram schematically depicting the configuration of an active matrix type organic EL display device of the present disclosure.

[0016] FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram depicting an example of a circuit configuration of a pixel (pixel circuit) in the active matrix type organic EL display device of the present disclosure.

[0017] FIG. 3 is a sectional view depicting an example of a sectional structure of a peripheral section of a display panel.

[0018] FIG. 4 is a sectional view depicting an example of a sectional structure of an organic EL layer.

[0019] FIG. 5A is a schematic configuration diagram, in plan view, explaining a contact structure of a cathode electrode according to an example in related art, and FIG. 5B is a sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 5A, depicting a sectional structure.

[0020] FIG. 6A is a schematic configuration diagram, in plan view, depicting a contact structure of a cathode electrode according to Example 1, FIG. 6B is a sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 6A, depicting a sectional structure, and FIG. 6C is a sectional view taken along line B-B of FIG. 6A, depicting a sectional structure.

[0021] FIG. 7A is a schematic configuration diagram, in plan view, depicting an example of another shape of projected portions of a projected and recessed shape in a contact structure of a cathode electrode according to Example 2, and FIG. 7B is a schematic configuration diagram, in plan view, depicting another example of the other shape.

[0022] FIG. 8 is a schematic configuration diagram, in plan view, depicting a contact structure of a cathode electrode according to Example 3.

[0023] FIG. 9A is a diagram depicting a difference in light emission luminance attendant on a voltage drop difference between a central portion and a peripheral portion of a display panel, and FIG. 9B is a diagram depicting a difference in light emission luminance attendant on a difference in distance from a cathode contact electrode to a power source supply terminal.

[0024] FIG. 10 is a schematic configuration diagram, in plan view, depicting a contact structure of a cathode electrode according to Example 4.

[0025] FIG. 11A is a front view of a digital still camera of a lens interchangeable single-lens reflex type according to Specific Example 1 of an electronic apparatus of the present disclosure, and FIG. 11B is a back elevation thereof.

[0026] FIG. 12 is an external view depicting an example of a head-mounted display according to Specific Example 2 of the electronic apparatus of the present disclosure.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0027] Modes for carrying out the technology of the present disclosure (hereinafter referred to as “embodiments”) will be described in detail below referring to the drawings. The technology of the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments, and various numerical values, materials and so forth in the embodiments are illustrative. In the following description, the same elements or elements having the same functions will be denoted by the same reference signs, and repeated descriptions will be omitted. Incidentally, description will be made in the following order. [0028] 1. General description of display device and electronic apparatus of the present disclosure [0029] 2.* Display device of the present disclosure*

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