JP2000231993A - Electroluminescence element - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Problem] To provide an EL element used for illuminating a display unit or an operation unit of various electronic devices, which consumes less power and has good visibility of a display unit of a mounted device. With the goal. SOLUTION: On a light-transmitting insulating film 1, a light-transmitting electrode layer 12, a light-emitting layer 13, a first dielectric layer 14,
The first back electrode layer 15 is formed by sequentially overlapping, and one of the light transmissive electrode layer 12 and the first back electrode layer 15 is formed in a predetermined character or pattern to constitute an EL element. Thus, an EL element with low power consumption and good visibility of the display unit of the attached device can be obtained.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electroluminescence element (hereinafter, referred to as an EL element) used for displaying various electronic devices and illuminating an operation section.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, as various functions of electronic devices have been enhanced and diversified, EL devices have been used to illuminate the entire surface of a display or operation unit such as an LCD or a display panel of the device, as well as various characters. There are also increasing types of devices that illuminate only predetermined locations such as lights, symbols, patterns and picture shapes, and EL devices that emit light only at such predetermined locations are described in JP-A-61-7389. It has been known.

[0003] Such a conventional EL element is shown in FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG.

[0004] In order to make the configuration easy to understand, each drawing shows an enlarged dimension in the thickness direction.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a conventional EL element, and FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the same. In FIG. 5, reference numeral 1 denotes a transparent insulating film such as polyethylene terephthalate, which is oxidized by sputtering or vapor deposition on one entire surface. A light-transmissive electrode layer 2 of indium tin, tin oxide, indium oxide, or the like is formed. On this light-transmissive electrode layer 2, there is formed a circular portion 3A and a ring-shaped portion 3B surrounding the same, such as fluororubber or cyano. A luminescent layer 3 in which zinc sulfide or the like as a luminescent material is dispersed in a high dielectric resin such as a base resin is formed by printing.

Then, a dielectric layer 4 in which barium titanate or the like is dispersed in a high dielectric resin, and a conductive powder such as aluminum foil or silver or carbon are coated on the luminescent layer 3 with polyester or epoxy. A back electrode layer 5 formed by printing with a paste dispersed in a resin is sequentially stacked to form an EL element.

When the EL element having the above structure is mounted on the back of an LCD or display panel of an electronic device and a voltage is applied to the light-transmitting electrode layer 2 and the back electrode layer 5, the EL element is sandwiched between them. Voltage is applied to the entire surface of the light emitting layer 3 and the dielectric layer 4,
The circular portion 3A and the ring-shaped portion 3B surrounding the circular portion 3A emit light, and illuminate the display portion of the device in a double round shape.

[0008]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional EL device, a voltage is applied to the entire surface of the dielectric layer 4 and the portion other than the portion overlapping the circular portion 3A or the ring-shaped portion 3B of the light emitting layer 3 is used. A voltage is applied to a part that is not necessary for the illumination, which increases the power consumption. In addition, since the insulating film 1 and the light transmitting electrode layer 2 are transparent,
In the state where the L element does not emit light, the circular portion 3A and the ring-shaped portion 3B of the luminous body layer 3 are seen through, and this overlaps the display of the LCD or display panel with the EL element mounted on the back surface, thereby impairing visibility. There was a problem to do.

An object of the present invention is to solve such a conventional problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide an EL element which consumes less power and has good visibility of a display section of a mounted device.

[0010]

According to the present invention, there is provided a light-transmitting electrode film, a light-emitting layer, a first dielectric layer, and a first back surface on a light-transmitting insulating film. The EL element is formed by sequentially forming electrode layers and forming either the light-transmitting electrode layer or the first back electrode layer into a predetermined character or pattern.

As a result, it is possible to obtain an EL element which consumes less power and has good visibility of the display section of the mounted device.

[0012]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The invention according to claim 1 of the present invention provides a light-transmitting insulating film, a light-transmitting electrode layer formed on one surface of the insulating film, and a light-transmitting electrode layer formed on one side of the insulating film. A light-emitting layer, a first dielectric layer, and a first back electrode layer, which are sequentially formed on top of each other, and one of the light-transmitting electrode layer and the first back electrode layer is formed by a predetermined character. A light-transmitting electrode layer or a first back electrode layer is formed in a predetermined character or pattern shape, and a voltage is applied only to a necessary portion to emit light. Therefore, the power consumption can be reduced, and one of the light-transmitting light-transmitting electrode layer and the light-emitting layer and the first back electrode layer sandwiching the first dielectric layer are fixed to a predetermined size. Since the EL element is not emitting light because it is formed in characters and patterns In such an action it obscure the visibility of the display on the LCD and the display panel or the like equipped with EL elements it is possible to obtain satisfactory EL device.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, either one of the light-transmitting electrode layer and the first back electrode layer is provided with a plurality of characters and patterns and a bridge connecting them. A portion is provided, and a cutout or a hole is provided in a portion corresponding to the other cross section, and a plurality of characters or patterns are provided on one of the light transmitting electrode layer and the first back electrode layer. And by providing a bar connecting them, various light emitting shapes can be obtained, and by providing a notch or a hole at a location corresponding to the other bar, the bar does not emit light, such as characters and patterns. There is an effect that light can be emitted only at necessary places.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect, a second dielectric layer and a second back electrode layer are sequentially stacked on the first back electrode layer. It is formed by printing, and by providing two dielectric layers and a back electrode layer, for example, a predetermined character or pattern is formed on the first back electrode layer, and the light transmitting electrode layer and the first back electrode layer are formed. When a voltage was applied to the electrode layer, a predetermined character or pattern was emitted, the second back electrode layer was formed over the entire surface, and a voltage was applied to the light transmitting electrode layer and the second back electrode layer. In this case, there is an effect that a plurality of various kinds of light emission can be performed, such as making the entire surface of the EL element emit light.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention.
This will be described with reference to FIG.

In addition, in order to make the configuration easy to understand, each drawing shows an enlarged dimension in the thickness direction.

The same components as those described in the section of the related art are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description will be omitted.

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an EL device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the EL device, where 1 is a transparent insulating film such as polyethylene terephthalate. Then, indium tin oxide, tin oxide, indium oxide, or a phenoxy resin, an epoxy resin, a fluororubber or the like in which these are dispersed are printed on the entire surface of one side by sputtering or vapor deposition to form the light transmitting electrode layer 12.
Is formed on the light-transmitting electrode layer 12 by printing a light-emitting layer 13 in which zinc sulfide or the like as a light-emitting material is dispersed in a high dielectric resin such as fluororubber or cyano-based resin. I have.

On the light emitting layer 13, a first dielectric layer 14 in which barium titanate or the like is dispersed in a highly dielectric resin, a circular portion 15A and a ring-shaped portion 15B surrounding the first dielectric layer 14A are formed. A first back electrode layer 15 in which a conductive powder such as silver or carbon is dispersed in a resin such as polyester or epoxy is sequentially formed by printing.

The circular portion 15 of the first back electrode layer 15
A and the ring-shaped portion 15B are connected by a crosspiece 15C, and the light-transmitting electrode layer 12 emits light at a position corresponding to the crosspiece 15C via the light-emitting layer 13 and the dielectric layer 14 at the time of printing. A hole 12A into which the body layer 13 enters is provided to constitute an EL element.

In the above configuration, when this EL element is mounted on the back of an LCD or display panel of an electronic device and a voltage is applied to the light transmitting electrode layer 12 and the first back electrode layer 15, the light emitting layer 13 and the first dielectric layer 14, the voltage is applied only to the portion between the circular portion 15 A and the ring-shaped portion 15 B of the first back electrode layer 15 and the light transmitting electrode layer 12. Emits light in a double circle, illuminating the display of the device.

At this time, a voltage is also applied to the cross section 15C of the first back electrode layer 15, but a hole 12A is provided in the light transmitting electrode layer 12 corresponding to the cross section 15C. Since no voltage is applied to the luminous body layer 13 of the luminous body layer, the hole 12A corresponding to the crosspiece 15C and the luminous body layer 13 above the hole 12A do not emit light, and the luminous body layer at the circular part 15A and the ring-shaped part 15B Only 13 emits light in a double round shape.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the first back electrode layer 15 is formed in a predetermined character or pattern such as the circular portion 15A or the ring-shaped portion 15B, and a voltage is applied only to a necessary portion. Since the light emitting device is configured to emit light, power consumption can be reduced, and characters and patterns are formed on the first back electrode layer 15 with the light emitting layer 13 and the first dielectric layer 14 interposed therebetween. In the state where the EL element does not emit light, it is difficult to see them, and it is possible to obtain an EL element with good visibility in display of an LCD, a display panel or the like to which the EL element is mounted.

The first back electrode layer 15 has a circular portion 15.
By providing a plurality of characters and patterns such as A and a ring-shaped portion 15B, and a crosspiece 15C connecting them, a plurality of various light-emitting shapes can be obtained, and a plurality of light emission shapes can be obtained, which correspond to the crosspiece 15C of the light-transmitting electrode layer 12. By providing the holes 12A at the locations, the beam 15C can emit light only at necessary locations such as characters and patterns without emitting light.

In the above description, a plurality of characters and patterns, such as a circular portion 15A and a ring-shaped portion 15B, and a cross section 15C connecting these characters are formed on the first back electrode layer 15 by the light transmitting electrode layer 12. The configuration in which the hole 12A is provided at a position corresponding to the crosspiece 15C has been described. Conversely, a character or a pattern and a crosspiece connecting them are provided in the light-transmitting electrode layer 12, and the first back electrode layer 15C is formed. The present invention is also applicable to a configuration in which a notch or a hole is provided at a position corresponding to the crosspiece.

(Embodiment 2) FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an EL element according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the same. A light-transmissive electrode layer 12 is formed, and a light-emitting layer 13 and a first dielectric layer 14 are formed on the light-transmissive electrode layer 12, and a light-transmitting electrode layer 12 includes a circular portion 15A, a ring-shaped portion 15B, and a beam 15C. Although one back electrode layer 15 is formed by printing sequentially in the same manner as in the first embodiment, a second dielectric layer 18 is formed on the first back electrode layer 15. The second back electrode layer 19 is further formed by printing to form an EL element.

In the above configuration, the light transmitting electrode layer 12
When a voltage is applied to the first back electrode layer 15 and the first back electrode layer 15, the first back electrode layer 15
A voltage is applied only to the portion between the circular portion 15A and the ring-shaped portion 15B and the light-transmitting electrode layer 12,
Emits light in a double circular shape as in the first embodiment, except that the light-transmitting electrode layer 12 and the second back electrode layer 19
When a voltage is applied to the entire surface of the light emitting layer 13, a voltage is applied to the entire surface of the light emitting layer 13 because the second back electrode layer 19 is printed and formed on the entire surface.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the second dielectric layer 18 and the second back electrode layer 19 are provided on the first back electrode layer 15 on which predetermined characters and patterns are formed. Thereby, the light transmissive electrode layer 12 and the first back electrode layer 1
5, a predetermined character or pattern is caused to emit light, and when a voltage is applied to the light transmissive electrode layer 12 and the second back electrode layer 19, the entire EL element is caused to emit light. Can emit various light.

In the above description, a configuration is described in which the first back electrode layer 15 is provided with the circular portion 15A and the ring-shaped portion 15B, and the light emitting layer 13 emits light in a double round shape. The present invention can be implemented by various characters, symbols, patterns, pictures, or a combination thereof.

[0030]

As described above, according to the present invention, an EL having low power consumption and good visibility of a display section of a mounted device is provided.
An advantageous effect that an element can be obtained is obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an EL device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the same.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of an EL element according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the same.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional EL element.

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the same.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Insulating film 12 Light transmissive electrode layer 12A hole 13 Light emitting layer 14 First dielectric layer 15 First back electrode layer 15A Circular part 15B Ring part 15C Bar part 18 Second dielectric layer 19 Second Back electrode layer

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Shinji Okuma 1006 Kazuma Kadoma, Osaka Prefecture Inside Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. F term (reference) 3K007 AB05 AB17 BA07 CA06 CB01 CC00 DA04 DA05 DB02 EA02 EB04 EC01 5C096 AA00 AA01 BA04 BC20 CA06 CA12 CA22 CB07 CC07 CC26 DD01 EA06 EB19 FA16 FA17 FA18

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A light-transmitting insulating film, a light-transmitting electrode layer formed on one surface of the insulating film, a light-emitting layer formed on the light-transmitting electrode layer, An electroluminescent device comprising a dielectric layer and a first back electrode layer, wherein one of the light transmissive electrode layer and the first back electrode layer is formed in a predetermined character or pattern. 2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising: providing a plurality of characters or patterns on one of the light-transmitting electrode layer and the first back electrode layer; The electroluminescent device according to claim 1, wherein a notch or a hole is provided. 3. The electroluminescent element according to claim 1, wherein a second dielectric layer and a second back electrode layer are further formed on the first back electrode layer by printing.