JP2004355014A - Display device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve a power supply structure to one electrode constituting a pixel, prevent corrosion of the electrode, and enable high quality display.
SOLUTION: A light emitting element having a first electrode layer driven by an active element, an organic light emitting layer applied on the first electrode layer, and a second electrode layer CD formed on the organic light emitting layer A second electrode connection electrode layer CNTB, which is lower than the second electrode layer CD and is covered with an insulating or protective film, is provided on the substrate SUB of the display device having the structure shown in FIG. The CNT was connected to the second electrode connection electrode layer CNTB.
[Selection diagram] Fig. 1

Description

The present invention relates to an active matrix type display device, and more particularly to a pixel constituted by a light emitting element such as an EL (electroluminescence) element or an LED (light emitting diode) element which emits light by passing a current through a light emitting layer such as an organic semiconductor film. And a display device including a pixel circuit for controlling a light emitting operation of the pixel.

  In recent years, with the advent of the advanced information society, the demand for personal computers, car navigation systems, portable information terminals, information communication devices, or composite products thereof has been increasing. As a display means of these products, a thin, lightweight, low-power display device is suitable, and a liquid crystal display device or a display device using an electro-optical element such as a self-luminous EL element or LED is used. I have.

  The latter display device using a self-luminous electro-optical element has features such as good visibility, wide viewing angle characteristics, and high-speed response, which is suitable for displaying moving images. It is considered suitable. In particular, in recent years, a display using an organic EL element having an organic material as a light emitting layer (also referred to as an organic LED element; sometimes also referred to as OLED in some cases) is a network technology that enables rapid improvement in luminous efficiency and video communication. Combined with progress, expectations for OLED displays are high. OLEDs have a diode structure in which an organic light emitting layer is sandwiched between two electrodes.

  In order to increase power efficiency in an OLED display (display device) configured using such an OLED element, as will be described later, active matrix driving using a thin film transistor (hereinafter, also referred to as a TFT) as a pixel switching element is performed. It is valid. Techniques for driving an OLED display with an active matrix structure are described in, for example, JP-A-4-32891, JP-A-8-241048, and US Pat. No. 5,555,066. The voltage relationship is disclosed in International Patent Publication WO98 / 36407 and the like.

  A typical pixel structure of an OLED display is composed of two thin film transistors TFT (first TFT is a switching transistor, second TFT is a driver transistor) and one capacitor (storage capacitance: data) which are first and second active elements. A pixel driving circuit (hereinafter, also referred to as a pixel circuit) including a signal holding element controls the light emission luminance of the OLED. The pixel has M data lines to which a data signal (or an image signal) is supplied and N scanning lines to which a scanning signal is supplied (hereinafter, also referred to as a gate line) arranged in a matrix of N rows × M columns. Placed at each intersection.

  To drive the pixels, a scanning signal (gate signal) is sequentially supplied to the gate lines of N rows to turn on the switching transistor (turn on), and one vertical scan is completed within one frame period Tf. The turn-on voltage is again supplied to the first (first row) gate line.

  In this driving method, the time during which the turn-on voltage is supplied to one gate line is Tf / N or less. Generally, about 1/60 second is used as the value of one frame period Tf. When one frame is displayed in two fields, one field period is １ ／ of one frame period.

  While the turn-on voltage is being supplied to a certain gate line, all the switching transistors connected to the data line are in a conductive state (on state), and in synchronization with this, the data voltages (M) are simultaneously or sequentially applied to the data lines in the M columns. Image voltage). This is commonly used in active matrix liquid crystal devices.

  The data voltage is stored (held) in a storage capacitor (capacitor) while the gate line is supplied with a turn-on voltage (hereinafter, turn-on is also simply referred to as on; similarly, turn-off is also simply referred to as off). The period (or one field period, hereinafter the same) is kept substantially at those values. The voltage value of the storage capacitor defines the gate voltage of the driver transistor.

  Therefore, the value of the current flowing through the driver transistor is controlled, and the light emission of the OLED is controlled. The response time from when a voltage is applied to the OLED until the light emission starts is usually 1 μs or less, and the OLED can follow an image (moving image) with a fast movement. A current supply line is provided to supply a current to the driver transistor, and a current for display corresponding to the data signal held in the storage capacitor is supplied from the current supply line.

  By the way, in the active matrix driving, high efficiency is realized by emitting light over one frame period. The difference is clear when compared with the simple matrix drive in which the OLED diode electrodes are directly connected to the scanning line and the data line without the TFT.

  In the simple matrix drive, a current flows through the OLED only during the period in which the scanning line is selected. Therefore, in order to obtain the same luminance as the light emission in one frame period only by the light emission in the short period, it is necessary to use the simple matrix drive as compared with the active matrix drive. Therefore, the light emission luminance is required to be approximately several times the number of scanning lines. In order to do so, the driving voltage and the driving current must be necessarily increased, and power consumption such as heat generation is increased, and power efficiency is reduced.

  As described above, it is considered that active matrix driving is superior to simple matrix driving in terms of reduction in power consumption.

In the above-described simple matrix type display device, the scanning lines and the data lines intersecting the display region on the substrate are drawn out of the display region as they are and connected to the driving circuit, and the driving circuit is connected to the external circuit. Terminal pads are provided. However, it is difficult to apply such a terminal configuration to an active matrix display device as it is.

  That is, in an OLED display device driven by an active matrix, a current supply to a capacitor for holding a display for one frame period is performed by connecting one electrode of the capacitor to an output terminal of a switching transistor and connecting the other electrode to a capacitor. Or a current supply line for supplying current to the OLED.

  FIG. 9 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a configuration example of a conventional display device using an OLED, and FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a pixel configuration in FIG. This display device (image display device) includes a display unit AR (dotted line in the figure) formed on a substrate SUB made of an insulating material such as glass in a matrix arrangement of a plurality of data lines DL and a plurality of gate lines, that is, scanning lines GL. A data drive circuit DDR, a scan drive circuit GDR, and a current supply circuit CSS are arranged around (inside enclosed by).

  The data driving circuit DDR includes a complementary circuit using N-channel and P-channel thin film transistors TFT, or a shift register circuit, a level shifter circuit, an analog switch circuit, and the like, which are composed of N-channel or P-channel single-channel thin-film transistors TFT. Become. It should be noted that the current supply circuit CSS may include only bus lines, and may be configured to be supplied from an external power supply.

  FIG. 9 shows a system in which a common potential line COML for a capacitor is provided in the display unit AR, and the other end electrode of the capacitor is connected to the common potential line COML. The common potential line COML is drawn from a terminal COMT of the common potential supply bus line COMB to an external common potential source. It is to be noted that a system in which a capacitor is connected to a current supply line without providing the common potential line COML is also known.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the pixel PX includes a first thin film transistor TFT1, which is a switching transistor, a second thin film transistor TFT2, which is a driver transistor, a capacitor CPR, which are arranged in a region surrounded by a data line DL and a gate line GL. And an organic light emitting element OLED. The gate of the thin film transistor TFT1 is connected to the gate line GL, and the drain is connected to the data line DL. The gate of the thin film transistor TFT2 is connected to the source of the thin film transistor TFT1, and this connection point is connected to one electrode (+ pole) of the capacitor CPR.

  FIG. 11 is a block diagram further illustrating the configuration of the display device of FIG. 9 having the pixel configuration of FIG. The drain of the thin film transistor TFT2 is connected to the current supply line CSL, and the source is connected to the first electrode (here, the anode) AD of the organic light emitting element OLED. The other end (-pole) of the capacitor CPR is connected to a common potential line COML branched from the common potential line bus line COMB. The data lines DL are driven by a data drive circuit DDR, and the scan lines (gate lines) GL are driven by a scan drive circuit GDR. The current supply line CSL is connected to the current supply circuit CSS of FIG. 8 via a current supply bus line CSLB or to an external current source via a terminal.

  10 and 11, when one pixel PX is selected by the scanning line GL and the thin film transistor TFT1 is turned on, an image signal supplied from the data line DL is accumulated in the capacitor CPR. Then, when the thin film transistor TFT1 is turned off, the thin film transistor TFT2 is turned on, the current from the current supply line CSL flows to the organic light emitting element OLED, and this current continues for almost one frame period. The current flowing at this time is defined by the signal charge stored in the capacitor CPR.

  The operation level of the capacitor CPR is defined by the potential of the common potential line COML. Thereby, the light emission of the pixel is controlled. The current flowing from the organic light emitting element OLED flows from the cathode CD to a current extraction line (not shown).

  In this method, it is necessary to provide the common potential line COML so as to penetrate a part of the pixel region, so that the so-called aperture ratio is reduced, and the improvement in brightness of the entire display device is suppressed.

  FIG. 12 is a block diagram similar to FIG. 11, schematically illustrating another configuration example of a conventional display device using an OLED. In this example, the basic arrangement of the thin film transistors TFT1, TFT2 and the capacitor CPR constituting each pixel is the same as that of FIG. 9, except that the other end of the capacitor CPR is connected to the current supply line CSL.

  That is, when one pixel PX is selected by the scanning line GL and the thin film transistor TFT1 is turned on, the image signal supplied from the data line DL is accumulated in the capacitor CPR, and when the thin film transistor TFT2 is turned on when the thin film transistor TFT1 is turned off, The current from the current supply line CSL flows to the organic light emitting element OLED, and this current continues for almost one frame period (or one field period) as in FIG. The current flowing at this time is defined by the signal charge stored in the capacitor CPR. The operation level of the capacitor CPR is defined by the potential of the current supply line CSL. Thereby, the light emission of the pixel is controlled.

  In this type of display device described with reference to FIGS. 9 to 12, the source electrode of the thin film transistor TFT2 serving as a first electrode (for example, an anode, hereinafter also referred to as a first electrode layer) AD of the organic light emitting element OLED is formed of ITO (indium). (Tin oxide) or the like, and the first electrode AD of each pixel PX is individually separated.

  Further, since the second electrode (for example, a cathode, hereinafter also referred to as a second electrode layer) CD constituting the light-emitting element is located on the uppermost layer of the element, there is a possibility that corrosion may occur due to direct contact with outside air. Usually, the second electrode layer is formed of a solid film common to all pixels, and needs to be electrically connected to the outside. When a terminal for supplying current to the second electrode layer CD is drawn directly to a terminal portion (terminal pad) of the substrate by extension of the second electrode layer, contact with the outside air occurs near the terminal portion. Corrosion is likely to occur.

  FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a structure near one pixel of a display device using an organic light emitting element. This display device includes a polysilicon semiconductor layer PSI made of low-temperature polysilicon on a glass substrate SUB, a first insulating layer IS1, a gate wiring (gate electrode) GL serving as a scanning wiring, a second insulating layer IS2, A source electrode SD formed of aluminum wiring, a third insulating layer IS3, a protective film PSV, a first electrode layer AD, an organic light emitting layer OLE, and a second electrode layer CD are stacked.

  When a thin film transistor (the thin film transistor is a driver transistor) composed of the polysilicon semiconductor layer PSI, the gate wiring GL, and the source electrode SD is selected, the first electrode layer AD connected to the source electrode SD, the organic light emitting layer OLE, and the The organic light emitting element formed by the second electrode layer CD emits light, and the light L is emitted from the substrate SUB to the outside.

  At this time, if the second electrode layer CD of the pixel is partially corroded or deteriorated, the current flowing from the current supply line CSL is not supplied sufficiently, or flows around the pixel, resulting in insufficient light emission. Or no light emission at all. As a result, display defects such as so-called point defects and area defects are caused.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a display device in which a structure for supplying power to a second electrode layer constituting a pixel is improved, corrosion of the second electrode layer is prevented, and high quality display is possible. .

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, comprising the steps of: connecting a second electrode layer and a terminal pad formed at an end of one side of a substrate and electrically connected to the second electrode layer to the one side of the substrate; A second electrode connection electrode layer provided on the other side different from that of the second electrode connection electrode layer and covered with a protective film, and a contact hole in which the second electrode layer is in contact with the second electrode connection electrode layer is separated from the terminal pad position. Was.

With this configuration, a highly reliable display device that prevents corrosion of the cathode and enables high-quality display is provided. A more specific configuration example of the present invention is described below. That is,
(1) A plurality of pixels PX provided at each intersection of a plurality of scanning lines GL arranged in a matrix in a sealing region SL on a substrate SUB and a plurality of data lines DL intersecting the plurality of scanning lines GL. Display area AR, consisting of
A scan drive circuit GDR that supplies a scan signal to the plurality of scan lines GL provided inside the sealing region SL and outside the display region AR on the substrate SUB, and supplies a data signal to the plurality of data lines DL. Data drive circuit DDR,
A plurality of current supply lines CSL for supplying a current to the light emitting element OLED provided in each of the pixels PX; and the scanning drive circuit provided outside the sealing region SL on the first side of the substrate SUB. A first terminal pad PAD1 electrically connected to the GDR, a second terminal pad PAD2 electrically connected to the data driving circuit DDR, and a second terminal pad PAD2 electrically connected to the plurality of current supply lines CSL. In a display device having three terminal pads PAD3,
For each of the plurality of pixels PX, a first active element TFT1 turned on by the scan signal supplied to one of the plurality of scan lines GL, and the first active element TFT1 is turned on in response to turn-on of the first active element TFT1. A data holding element CPR holding a data signal supplied from one of the data lines DL, and supplying a current from the current supply line CSL to the light emitting element OLED according to the data signal held in the data holding element CPR. A pixel circuit having a second active element TFT2 for causing the light emitting element OLED to emit light;
A light-emitting element OLED provided in each of the plurality of pixels PX, a first electrode layer AD formed on a protective film PSV covering the pixel circuit and receiving the current from the second active element TFT2; An organic light emitting layer OLE formed on the first electrode layer AD, and a second electrode layer CD formed on the organic light emitting layer OLE and covering the plurality of pixels PX;
In the sealing region SL along a second side different from the first side of the substrate SUB, a second electrode connection electrode layer CNTB electrically connected to the second electrode layer CD is provided. The second electrode layer CD is formed below the electrode layer CD and covered with the protective film PSV, and the second electrode layer CD is brought into contact with the second electrode connection electrode layer CNTB through the contact hole CNT formed in the protective film PSV. ,
The sealing region SL on the first side of the substrate SUB is formed by a second electrode connecting electrode routing line CNTL extending from the second side to the first side of the substrate SUB. It was electrically connected to the fourth terminal pads PAD4 provided on the outer sides.

(2) In (1), the plurality of current supply lines CSL are formed by being covered with the protective film PSV in the sealing region SL on another side different from the first side of the substrate SUB. Electrically connected to the current supply line bus line CSB,
The current supply line bus line CSB was electrically connected to a third terminal pad PAD3 by a current supply line routing line CSLL extending from the other side of the substrate SUB to the first side.

(3) In (2), both the second electrode connection electrode layer CNTB and the current supply line bus line CSB are provided on the insulating layer IS formed in the pixel circuit, and are covered with the protective film PSV. did.

(4) In (2), the second side of the substrate SUB is adjacent to the first side of the substrate SUB, and the other side of the substrate SUB is adjacent to the second side of the substrate SUB. And oppose the first side via the display area AR.

(5) In (4), the current supply line routing line CSLL is connected to the display area AR and the second electrode on the side along the second side of the substrate SUB in the sealing area SL. It was formed so as to be sandwiched between the electrode layer CNTB.

(6) In (5), the scanning drive circuit GDR and the data drive circuit DDR are connected to the first side of the substrate SUB and the second side adjacent to the first side and via the display area AR. Is provided on the third side opposite to.

(7) In (2), both the second side and the other side of the substrate SUB are opposed to the first side of the substrate SUB via the display area AR.

(8) In (7), the current supply line bus line CSB is connected to the display area AR and the second electrode connection electrode layer CNTB in the sealing area SL along the second side of the substrate SUB. It was formed so as to be sandwiched between them.

(9) In (8), the second electrode connection electrode lead line CNTL and the current supply line lead line CSLL are connected to the third side of the substrate SUB adjacent to the first side and the second side, respectively. The current supply line routing line CSLL is formed between the display region AR and the second electrode connection electrode routing line CNTL.

  It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above configuration and the configuration of the embodiment described later, and it is needless to say that various modifications can be made without departing from the technical idea of the present invention. Other objects and configurations of the present invention will become apparent from the description of the embodiments below.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, since a corrosion in the electrode layer which comprises the pixel of a display apparatus or its vicinity is prevented, a display defect does not generate | occur | produce. In addition, it is possible to provide a display device that can supply a current stably and sufficiently through a current supply line and that enables high-quality display.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Although not shown, the organic light emitting layer of each pixel described below emits light in a color (including white) depending on the organic material with a luminance proportional to the current value, and performs monochrome or color display. There is a type in which color display is performed by combining a white light-emitting organic layer with a color filter of red, green, blue, or the like.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically illustrating the configuration of a first embodiment of the display device according to the present invention. The display device of the present embodiment has a scanning drive circuit GDR and a data drive circuit DDR on a glass substrate SUB.

  Then, one pixel is formed in a region surrounded by the scanning line GL driven (scanned) by the scanning driving circuit GDR formed in the matrix, the data line DL driven by the data driving circuit DDR, and the current supply line CSL. Is done. On one side of the substrate SUB, terminal pads PAD1 and PAD2 for supplying signals and voltages from the external circuit to the scan drive circuit GDR and the data drive circuit DDR are formed.

  FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a pixel circuit of one pixel in FIG. In the schematic configuration of this embodiment, one pixel is formed in a region surrounded by the data line DL (m + 1), the scanning lines GL (n + 1) and GL (n), and the current supply line CSL. Here, a description will be given assuming that the currently scanned (selected) scanning line is GL (n + 1).

  Attention is paid to the pixel PX among the plurality of pixels selected by the scanning line GL (n + 1). The first thin film transistor TFT1, which is an active element, is a switching transistor, and the second thin film transistor TFT2 is a driver transistor. The gate of the first thin film transistor TFT1 is connected to the scanning line GL (n + 1), the drain is connected to the data line DL (m + 1), and the source is connected to the gate of the second thin film transistor TFT2.

  The drain of the second thin film transistor TFT2 is connected to the current supply line CSL to which a current is supplied from the current supply line bus line CSB shown in FIG. The source is connected to the first electrode layer AD of the OLED 24. One terminal of a capacitor CPR as a data signal holding element is connected to a connection point between the source of the first thin film transistor TFT1 and the gate of the second thin film transistor TFT2, and the other terminal is connected to the immediately preceding scanning line GL (n). Have been.

  In the circuit configuration of one pixel shown in FIG. 2, one terminal of the capacitor CPR connected to the connection point between the source of the first thin film transistor TFT1 and the gate of the second thin film transistor TFT2 is a positive electrode, and the scanning line GL ( The other terminal connected to n) is a negative pole.

  The organic light emitting element OLED has a configuration in which an organic light emitting layer (not shown) is sandwiched between a first electrode layer AD and a second electrode layer CD, and the first electrode layer AD is formed of a second thin film transistor TFT2. The second electrode layer CD is solidly formed over all the pixels and is connected to the second electrode connection electrode layer CNTB in FIG.

  The second electrode connection electrode layer CNTB is a so-called current extraction wiring (electrode), is formed in the same layer as the terminal pads PAD1 and PAD2 below the substrate, and connects the second electrode layer CD with the contact hole CNT. The terminal pads PAD1 and PAD2 are connected to a terminal PAD4 formed on the same layer as the terminal pads PAD1 and PAD2 by a second electrode connection electrode lead line CNTL.

  The current supply line CSL, which is a wiring of the first electrode layer, is also connected to a terminal PAD3 formed on the same layer as the terminal pads PAD1, PAD2 by a current supply line bus line CSB and a current supply line routing line CSLL. I have. The second electrode connection electrode layer CNTB is disposed outside the substrate and inside the sealing region SL of the substrate indicated by the dotted line, relative to the current supply line bus line CSB.

  As described above, by arranging the second electrode connection electrode layer CNTB connecting the second electrode layer CD by the contact hole CNT outside the substrate SUB and inside the seal region from the current supply line bus line CSB, The layout on the board in a system in which one side is connected to an external circuit via a flexible printed board is facilitated.

  The data signal written into the capacitor CPR when the first thin film transistor TFT1 is turned on and held as an electric charge is converted from the current from the current supply line CSL when the second thin film transistor TFT2 is turned on when the first thin film transistor TFT1 is turned off. An electric current is supplied to the organic light emitting element OLE as a current amount controlled by the electric charge amount (indicating the gradation of the data signal) held in the CPR.

  The organic light emitting element OLED emits light with a luminance substantially proportional to the amount of supplied current and a color depending on the material of the organic light emitting layer OLE constituting the organic light emitting element. In the case of color display, usually, the organic light emitting layer material is changed for each of red, green, and blue pixels, or a combination of a white organic light emitting layer material and a color filter of each color is used.

  The data signal may be supplied in an analog amount or a time-division digital amount. Further, the gradation control may be combined with an area gradation method in which the area of each pixel of red, green and blue is divided.

  In the present embodiment, the current supply line bus line CSB and the second electrode, which is a current extraction wiring formed in the lower layer of the substrate and common to all pixels, is formed by applying a current flowing from the second electrode layer CD after the light emission operation of each pixel circuit. The connection electrode layer CNTB is configured to flow out from the terminal pad PAD4 to an external circuit through the second electrode connection electrode leading line CNTL.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, the second electrode layer CD which is formed on the upper layer and is common to all pixels is connected to the second electrode connection electrode layer CNTB through the contact hole CNT. The second electrode connection electrode routing line CNTL is also formed in the same layer as the second electrode connection electrode layer CNTB.

  Usually, this type of display device employs a sealing structure using a can or the like in order to ensure reliability. The substrate SUB is provided with a seal area for bonding the sealing can. The second electrode connection electrode layer CNTB and the second electrode connection electrode wiring line CNTL are formed inside the seal region. Then, at least the second electrode connection electrode layer CNTB is arranged outside the current supply line bus line CSB.

  The second electrode connection electrode layer CNTB and the like are formed in a lower layer of the substrate, and an insulating layer and a protective film are laminated thereon, so that the second electrode and the second electrode connection electrode layer, preferably the second electrode connection electrode layer are formed. Since there is no contact with the outside air including the turning line and its corrosion is prevented, it is possible to provide a display device with improved reliability and high quality display. Although the number of the above-mentioned contact holes may be one, a plurality of the contact holes are provided in this embodiment because a larger amount of the current can be supplied stably.

  FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a light emitting mechanism of a display device according to the present invention in the vicinity of one pixel, and FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a connection portion between a second electrode layer and a second electrode connection electrode layer. The same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1 correspond to the same parts. The arrow indicated by the reference numeral I in the drawing indicates the path of a current that contributes to light emission.

  The thin film transistor TFT2 is a driver transistor. When the thin film transistor TFT2 is selected by the gate line GL, a current I of a gradation value corresponding to the data signal held in the capacitor is supplied from the current supply line branched from the current supply line bus line through the thin film transistor TFT2. The light is supplied to the first electrode layer AD of the light emitting element OLED.

  In the organic light emitting element OLED, electrons from the second electrode layer CD and holes from the first electrode layer AD are recombined in the organic light emitting layer OLE, and the spectrum according to the material characteristics of the organic light emitting layer OLE is obtained. The light L is emitted. The first electrode layer AD is independent for each pixel, but the second electrode layer CD is formed in a solid film for all pixels. The current I passing from the thin film transistor TFT2 through the organic light emitting element OLED passes from the second electrode layer CD through the second electrode connection electrode layer CNTB shown in FIG. 4 to the terminal pad PAD4 from the second electrode connection electrode routing line CNTL of FIG. leak. A large number of such pixels are arranged in a matrix to form a two-dimensional display device.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram schematically illustrating the configuration of a second embodiment of the display device according to the present invention. The same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1 correspond to the same functional parts. In this embodiment, the two terminal pads PAD3 and PAD3 'of the current supply line bus line CSB connecting the current supply line CSL and the terminal pad PAD4 of the second electrode connection electrode layer CNTB are used as the terminal pad PAD1 of the data drive circuit and the scanning. The terminal pad PAD2 of the drive circuit GDR was provided on the side opposite to the side of the substrate on which the terminal pad PAD2 was disposed.

  Also according to the present embodiment, the second electrode connection electrode layer CNTB connecting the second electrode layer CD with the contact hole CNT is disposed outside the substrate SUB and inside the seal region with respect to the current supply line bus line CSB. This facilitates layout on the substrate.

  As in the present embodiment, the current supply line routing line CSLL that extends from the current supply line bus line CSB to the terminal pads PAD3 and PAD3 ′, and the second electrode that connects the second electrode connection electrode layer CNTB and the terminal pad PAD4. Since the length of the connection electrode routing line CNTL on the substrate is reduced, more uniform current supply and current extraction are possible. Thereby, the light emission distribution in the display area becomes uniform, and higher quality display can be obtained. Although the number of the current supply line routing lines CSLL is two, any one of them may be used. As shown in FIG. 5, when two current supply line routing lines CSLL are drawn out from one and the other of the current supply line bus lines CSB, respectively, there is an effect that symmetry is improved.

  According to the present embodiment, the second electrode connection electrode layer CNTB that connects the second electrode layer CD with the contact hole CNT is disposed outside the substrate SUB and inside the seal region from the current supply line bus line CSB. In addition, the layout on the board in the method of connecting to the external circuit on the two sides facing each other via the flexible printed board is facilitated.

  In addition, since the wiring pattern in the vicinity of the sealing region is reduced by employing the configuration of the present embodiment, the number of shielding objects of UV light when the sealing material is cured by UV is reduced, and the sealing material is effectively cured. be able to. As a result, reliable sealing becomes possible, and the reliability of the display device can be further improved.

  FIG. 6 is a block diagram schematically illustrating the configuration of a third embodiment of the display device according to the present invention. The same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1 correspond to the same functional parts. In this embodiment, the pad PAD3 of the current supply line bus line CSB connecting the current supply line CSL and the terminal pad PAD4 of the second electrode connection electrode layer CNTB are connected to the terminal pad PAD1 of the data drive circuit and the terminal pad PAD2 of the scan drive circuit GDR. Are arranged at both ends of one side of the substrate on which the are arranged.

  As in the first and second embodiments, the second electrode connection electrode layer CNTB connecting the second electrode layer CD with the contact hole CNT is located outside the substrate SUB with respect to the current supply line bus line CSB and in the sealing area. Placed inside. Other configurations are the same as those in FIG.

  Also according to the present embodiment, the second electrode connection electrode layer CNTB connecting the second electrode layer CD with the contact hole CNT is disposed outside the substrate SUB and inside the seal region with respect to the current supply line bus line CSB. This facilitates the layout on the board in a system in which one side is connected to an external circuit via a flexible printed board.

  FIG. 7 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a configuration of a fourth embodiment of the display device according to the present invention. The same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1 correspond to the same functional parts. In this embodiment, the pad PAD3 of the current supply line bus line CSB connecting the current supply line CSL and the terminal pad PAD4 of the second electrode connection electrode layer CNTB are connected to the terminal pad PAD1 of the data drive circuit and the terminal pad PAD2 of the scan drive circuit GDR. Is provided on the side opposite to the one side of the substrate on which is disposed.

  As in the first to third embodiments, the second electrode connection electrode layer CNTB connecting the second electrode layer CD with the contact hole CNT is located outside the substrate SUB with respect to the current supply line bus line CSB and the sealing area. Placed inside.

  Also according to the present embodiment, the second electrode connection electrode layer CNTB connecting the second electrode layer CD with the contact hole CNT is disposed outside the substrate SUB and inside the seal region with respect to the current supply line bus line CSB. This facilitates the layout on the board in a method of connecting to an external circuit on two sides facing each other via the flexible printed board. Other configurations are the same as those in FIG.

  As in the present embodiment, the current supply line routing line CSLL that extends from the current supply line bus line CSB to the terminal pad PAD3, and the second electrode connection electrode connection that connects the second electrode connection electrode layer CNTB and the terminal pad PAD4. Since the length of the routing line CNTL on the substrate is reduced, more uniform current supply and current extraction are possible. Thereby, the light emission distribution in the display area becomes uniform, and higher quality display can be obtained.

  In addition, since the wiring pattern in the vicinity of the sealing region is reduced by employing the configuration of the present embodiment, the number of shielding objects of UV light when the sealing material is cured by UV is reduced, and the sealing material is effectively cured. be able to. As a result, reliable sealing becomes possible, and the reliability of the display device can be further improved.

  In the second to fourth embodiments described above, the current supply line routing line CSLL and the second electrode connection electrode routing line CNTL, which are current paths, each form a sufficiently thick wiring in a wide area on the substrate. As a result, a stable current path can be secured. In particular, when the distance between the pad and the pad is short as in the second and fourth embodiments, a more stable current path can be secured.

  FIG. 8 is a block diagram schematically illustrating the configuration of a fifth embodiment of the display device according to the present invention. The same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1 correspond to the same functional parts. In the present embodiment, on the substrate, the second electrode connection electrode layer CNTB is adjacent to the side where the terminals PAD1 to PAD4 are arranged, the side opposite to the gate scanning drive circuit GDR, and the current supply line routing line. It was provided outside CSLL.

  According to this embodiment, the second electrode connection electrode layer CNTB connecting the second electrode layer CD with the contact hole CNT is connected to the current supply line bus line CSB to the terminal pad PAD3. By arranging it outside and inside the seal region, the layout becomes symmetrically arranged with the gate scanning drive circuit GDR, and the arrangement can be balanced as a whole. Other configurations are the same as those in FIG.

  Further, as in the present embodiment, the length of the terminal pad PAD4 and the second electrode connection electrode wiring line CNTL on the substrate is shortened, so that more uniform current supply and current extraction are possible. Thereby, the light emission distribution in the display area becomes uniform, and higher quality display can be obtained.

  In each of the above embodiments, the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer can correspond to the cathode layer and the anode layer, respectively. However, the present invention similarly applies to a structure in which these are replaced. Applicable. Further, the present invention is not limited to the display device using the above-described OLED, but can be similarly applied to other display devices that perform display by the same light emitting operation as the OLED.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a configuration of a first embodiment of a display device according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a pixel circuit of one pixel in FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a schematic view illustrating the vicinity of one pixel for explaining a light emission mechanism of a display device according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a connection portion between a second electrode layer and a second electrode connection electrode layer of the display device according to the present invention. FIG. 7 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a configuration of a second embodiment of the display device according to the present invention. FIG. 11 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a configuration of a third embodiment of the display device according to the present invention. FIG. 14 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a configuration of a fourth embodiment of the display device according to the present invention. FIG. 14 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a configuration of a fifth embodiment of the display device according to the present invention. FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a conventional display device using an organic light emitting element. It is explanatory drawing of the pixel structure in FIG. FIG. 11 is a block diagram further illustrating the configuration of the display device of FIG. 9 having the pixel configuration of FIG. 10. FIG. 12 is a block diagram similar to FIG. 11, schematically illustrating another configuration example of a conventional display device using an organic light emitting element. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a structure near one pixel of a display device using an organic light emitting element.

Explanation of reference numerals

SUB substrate GL Gate line (scan line)
DL Data line CSL Current supply line CSB Current supply line bus line CSLL Current supply line lead line CD Cathode CDT Contact hole CNTB Cathode connection electrode layer CNTL Cathode connection electrode lead line AD Anode OLE Organic light emitting layer OLED Organic light emitting element.

Claims (9)

A display region consisting of a plurality of pixels provided at each intersection of a plurality of scans arranged in a matrix in a sealing region on the substrate and a plurality of data lines intersecting the plurality of scan lines,
A scan drive circuit that supplies a scan signal to the plurality of scan lines provided in the sealing area and outside the display area on the substrate, and a data drive circuit that supplies a data signal to the plurality of data lines;
A plurality of current supply lines for supplying a current to a light emitting element provided in each of the pixels; and a plurality of current supply lines electrically connected to the scan driving circuit provided outside the sealing region on a first side of the substrate. A first terminal pad, a second terminal pad electrically connected to the data driving circuit, and a third terminal pad electrically connected to the plurality of current supply lines.
Each of the plurality of pixels has a first active element that is turned on by the scan signal supplied to one of the plurality of scan lines, and a data line that is turned on in response to turn-on of the first active element. A data holding element for holding a data signal supplied from one of them, and a second light source for supplying a current from the current supply line to the light emitting element in accordance with the data signal held in the data holding element to cause the light emitting element to emit light. A pixel circuit having an active element of
A light emitting element provided on each of the plurality of pixels, a first electrode layer formed on a protective film covering the pixel circuit and receiving the current from the second active element; An organic light emitting layer formed on the layer, and a second electrode layer formed on the organic light emitting layer and covering the plurality of pixels,
A second electrode connecting electrode layer electrically connected to the second electrode layer is provided in the sealing region along a second side different from the first side of the substrate. Forming a lower layer and being covered with the protective film, wherein the second electrode layer is in contact with the second electrode connection electrode layer through a contact hole formed in the protective film;
The second electrode connection electrode layer is provided outside the sealing region on the first side of the substrate by a second electrode connection electrode wiring line extending from the second side to the first side of the substrate. A display device electrically connected to the fourth terminal pad. The plurality of current supply lines are electrically connected to a current supply line bus line formed by being covered with the protective film in the sealing region on another side different from the first side of the substrate,
The current supply line bus line is electrically connected to a third terminal pad by a current supply line routing line extending from the other side of the substrate to the first side. 2. The display device according to 1.   3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the second electrode connection electrode layer and the current supply line bus line are both provided on an insulating layer formed in the pixel circuit, and are covered with the protective film. The display device according to the above.   The second side of the substrate is adjacent to the first side of the substrate, and the other side of the substrate is adjacent to the second side of the substrate and faces the first side via the display area. The display device according to claim 2, wherein:   The current supply line routing line is formed on a side along the second side of the substrate in the sealing region, and is formed between the display region and the second electrode connection electrode layer. The display device according to claim 4, wherein   The scan drive circuit and the data drive circuit are provided on the first side of the substrate and on a third side adjacent to the first side and facing the second side via the display area. The display device according to claim 5, wherein:   The display device according to claim 2, wherein the second side and the other side of the substrate both face the first side of the substrate via the display area.   The current supply line bus line is formed in the sealing region along the second side of the substrate, being sandwiched between the display region and the second electrode connection electrode layer. Item 8. The display device according to Item 7. The second electrode connection electrode routing line and the current supply line routing line are formed in the sealing region along a third side adjacent to the first side and the second side of the substrate, respectively. The display device according to claim 8, wherein a current supply line routing line is disposed between the display region and the second electrode connection electrode routing line.

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