Display, photoelectric conversion device, and electronic apparatus

Abstract

To provide a technique that can reduce the difference in characteristics of organic EL elements such as the luminous efficacies and their lives.SOLUTION: A display of the present invention has a plurality of scan lines, a plurality of signal lines, and a display area in which a plurality of pixels are arranged in a two-dimensional state. The plurality of pixels each have a light emitting device and a pixel drive circuit that drives the light emitting device. The light-emitting device has a light emitting part in which an organic layer having a luminous layer is sandwiched between a first electrode and a second electrode in an opening of an insulating layer. The pixel drive circuit has a writing transistor, and a drive transistor that causes current to flow in the light emitting device according to signal voltage supplied from the writing transistor. The plurality of pixels have a first pixel and a second pixel arranged at a position closer to the center of the display area than the first pixel. The ratio of the area of a drive area of the first pixel to the area of a drive area of the second pixel is larger than the ratio of the area of one light emitting part of the first pixel to the area of one light emitting part of the second pixel.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a display device, a photoelectric conversion device, and an electronic device, and in particular to a flat panel type display device, a photoelectric conversion device, and an electronic device in which pixels including electro-optical elements are arranged two-dimensionally in a matrix. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, in the field of display devices that display images, flat-panel display devices, in which pixels (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "pixel drive circuits") each containing a light-emitting element are arranged two-dimensionally in a matrix, have rapidly become popular. One type of flat-panel display device is a display device that uses so-called current-driven electro-optical elements, whose light-emitting brightness changes depending on the value of the current flowing through the device, as the light-emitting elements of the pixels. A well-known example of a current-driven electro-optical element is an organic EL (Electro Luminescence) element, which utilizes the phenomenon of light emission when an electric field is applied to an organic thin film.

[0003] Organic EL display devices that use organic EL elements as pixel light-emitting elements have the following features: Organic EL elements consume little power because they can be driven with an applied voltage of 10 V or less. Because organic EL elements are self-emitting elements, they offer higher image visibility than liquid crystal display devices, which display images by controlling the light intensity from a light source for each pixel using liquid crystal. Furthermore, because they do not require a light source such as a backlight, they can be easily made lighter and thinner. Furthermore, because the response speed of organic EL elements is extremely fast, on the order of a few microseconds, afterimages when displaying moving images are suppressed to a level that is imperceptible to the human eye.

[0004] Like liquid crystal display devices, organic EL display devices can be driven by either a simple (passive) matrix system or an active matrix system. However, although simple matrix display devices have a simple structure, they have the problem that it is difficult to realize large, high-resolution display devices because the light-emitting period of the electro-optical elements decreases with an increase in the number of scanning lines (i.e., the number of pixels).

[0005] For this reason, in recent years, active matrix display devices have been actively developed, in which the current flowing through the electro-optical element is controlled by an active element, such as an insulated gate field effect transistor, provided in the same pixel as the electro-optical element.In active matrix display devices, the electro-optical element continues to emit light over the period of one frame, making it easy to realize large, high-resolution display devices.

[0006] In recent years, the display area has become increasingly finer in virtual reality (VR) systems, augmented reality (AR) systems, and other display systems that use organic electro-optical elements. As the display area becomes finer and higher in resolution, the amount of image data to be displayed increases, requiring faster transmission speeds and consuming more power.

[0007] To address this issue, for example, a layout can be adopted in which the center of the display area is configured with high-resolution pixels, while the rest of the area is configured with low-resolution pixels. This reduces the amount of display image data compared to the conventional method of configuring the entire display area with high-resolution pixels, and is more advantageous in terms of transmission speed and power consumption than conventional methods. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0008] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-162236 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-117553 [Patent Document 3] Special table 2019-507380 publication Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0009] In this method, since the pixel area of ​​a low-resolution pixel is larger, the area of ​​the light-emitting section of the organic EL element is generally made larger than that of a high-resolution pixel. However, the characteristics of the organic EL element depend on its film thickness, and for example, if the film thickness distribution within a single light-emitting section differs, the characteristics will change. This creates the problem that the light-emitting efficiency and lifespan of the organic EL element differ between the center and other parts of the display area.

[0010] The present invention aims to reduce differences in characteristics such as luminous efficiency and life span of organic EL elements within a display area, thereby suppressing image quality defects such as unevenness and burn-in. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] A first aspect of the present invention relates to a display device having a plurality of scanning lines extending in a first direction in a plan view with respect to a main surface of a substrate, a plurality of signal lines extending in a second direction intersecting the first direction in the plan view, and a display region in which a plurality of pixels are two-dimensionally arranged, each of the plurality of pixels having a light-emitting element and a pixel drive circuit that drives the light-emitting element, the light-emitting element having a light-emitting portion in which an organic layer having a light-emitting layer is sandwiched between a first electrode and a second electrode within an opening in an insulating layer, the pixel drive circuit having a write transistor connected to the signal lines and the scanning lines, and a drive transistor that causes a current to flow in the light-emitting element in response to a signal voltage supplied from the write transistor, a signal line and a scanning line connected to the write transistor of a pixel adjacent to the signal line with the drive transistor sandwiched therebetween, and a scanning line connected to the write transistor of a pixel adjacent to the scanning line with the drive transistor sandwiched therebetween, the driving region of the pixel is an area surrounded by the signal line and the scanning line, the plurality of pixels having a first pixel and a second pixel arranged closer to the center of the display region than the first pixel, and in the planar view, the ratio of the area of ​​the driving region of the first pixel to the area of ​​the drive region of the second pixel is greater than the ratio of the area of ​​one light-emitting portion of the first pixel to the area of ​​one light-emitting portion of the second pixel.

[0012] A second aspect of the present invention relates to a display device having a plurality of scanning lines extending in a first direction in a plan view with respect to a main surface of a substrate, a plurality of signal lines extending in a second direction intersecting the first direction in the plan view, and a display region in which a plurality of pixels are two-dimensionally arranged, each of the plurality of pixels having a light-emitting element and a pixel drive circuit that drives the light-emitting element, the light-emitting element having a light-emitting portion in which an organic layer having a light-emitting layer is sandwiched between a first electrode and a second electrode within an opening in an insulating layer, the pixel drive circuit having a write transistor connected to the signal lines and the scanning lines, and a drive transistor that causes a current to flow in the light-emitting element in response to a signal voltage supplied from the write transistor, In a pixel, the driving region of the pixel is an area surrounded by a signal line and a scanning line connected to the write transistor, a signal line connected to the write transistor of a pixel adjacent to the signal line with the drive transistor sandwiched therebetween, and a scanning line connected to the write transistor of a pixel adjacent to the scanning line with the drive transistor sandwiched therebetween, and the plurality of pixels include a first pixel and a second pixel arranged closer to the center of the display region than the first pixel, and in the planar view, the ratio of the area of ​​one light-emitting portion of the pixel to the area of ​​the drive region of the first pixel is smaller than the ratio of the area of ​​one light-emitting portion of the pixel to the area of ​​the drive region of the second pixel.

[0013] A third aspect of the present invention is a photoelectric conversion device having an optical unit, an imaging element that receives light that has passed through the optical unit, and a display device that displays an image captured by the imaging element, wherein the display device is the display device described above.

[0014] A fourth aspect of the present invention is an electronic device comprising the above-described display device, a housing in which the display device is provided, and a communication unit provided in the housing for communicating with the outside. [Effects of the Invention]

[0015] According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce differences in characteristics such as luminous efficiency and life span of organic EL elements within a display area, and to suppress image quality defects such as unevenness and burn-in. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram showing a display device according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] 3 shows an example of the arrangement of pixel driving circuits and light-emitting units according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3] 2 is an example of a circuit diagram of a pixel according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] 2 is an example of a planar layout diagram of a pixel driving circuit according to the first embodiment. [Figure 5] 1 is an example of a cross-sectional view of an organic EL element according to Embodiment 1. FIG. [Figure 6] 3 shows an example of the arrangement of pixel driving circuits and light-emitting units according to the first embodiment. [Figure 7] 3 shows an example of the arrangement of pixel driving circuits and light-emitting units according to the first embodiment. [Figure 8] 3 shows an example of the arrangement of pixel driving circuits and light-emitting units according to the first embodiment. [Figure 9] 3 shows an example of the arrangement of pixel driving circuits and light-emitting units according to the first embodiment. [Figure 10] 3 shows an example of the arrangement of pixel driving circuits and light-emitting units according to the first embodiment. [Figure 11] 10 is an example of an arrangement of pixel driving circuits and light-emitting units according to the second embodiment. [Figure 12] 10 is a comparative example of the arrangement of pixel driving circuits and light-emitting units according to the second embodiment. [Figure 13] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing an active matrix display device according to a third embodiment. [Figure 14] 10 is an example of an arrangement of pixel driving circuits and light-emitting units according to the third embodiment. [Figure 15] 10 is an example of a timing waveform diagram of the display device according to the third embodiment. [Figure 16] 1 is an example of a cross-sectional view of a display device according to first to third embodiments. [Figure 17] 1 is an example of a schematic cross-sectional view of a pixel of a display device according to any one of first to third embodiments. [Figure 18] 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a display component according to a fourth embodiment. FIG. [Figure 19] 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of an imaging device according to a fifth embodiment. FIG. [Figure 20] 13 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of an electronic device according to a sixth embodiment. FIG. [Figure 21] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a wearable device according to a seventh embodiment. [Figure 22] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an image observation device according to an eighth embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] (Embodiment 1) The following describes embodiments of a display device according to the present invention with reference to the drawings. Note that the following embodiments are merely examples of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the numerical values, shapes, materials, components, arrangement and connection of the components, etc.

[0018] 1 is a schematic diagram (a plan view of the main surface of a substrate) showing an example of a display device according to embodiment 1. A display device 10A has a pixel array section 100 and a driving section arranged around the pixel array section 100. The pixel array section 100 has a plurality of pixels 101 arranged two-dimensionally across a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns.

[0019] The driving section of the pixel 101 is provided with, for example, a scanning driving system made up of a write scanning circuit 201 and a signal supply system made up of a signal output circuit 300. In FIG. 1, the write scanning circuit 201 is arranged on the left side of the pixel array section 100. However, the present invention is not limited to this layout configuration. The write scanning circuit 201 may be arranged on the right side of the pixel array section 100. Alternatively, a layout configuration in which the write scanning circuits 201 are arranged on both the left and right sides of the pixel array section 100 can be adopted.

[0020] Here, with regard to pixels, generally, one pixel is composed of multiple sub-pixels, and these sub-pixels correspond to pixel 101. More specifically, one pixel is composed of three sub-pixels, for example, a sub-pixel emitting red (R) light, a sub-pixel emitting green (G) light, and a sub-pixel emitting blue (B) light. These sub-pixels may be referred to as a first color light, a second color light different from the first color light, or a third color light different from the first and second color lights. However, one pixel is not limited to a combination of sub-pixels of the three primary colors of RGB. That is, one pixel may be configured by adding sub-pixels of one or more colors to the three primary color sub-pixels. More specifically, for example, one pixel may be configured by adding a sub-pixel emitting white (W) light to improve brightness, or by adding at least one sub-pixel emitting a complementary color light to expand the color reproduction range.

[0021] In the pixel array unit 100, a plurality of first scanning lines (hereinafter also referred to as write scanning lines) 211-1 to 211-m extending in the row direction (sometimes referred to as the first direction) are wired for each pixel row with respect to the arrangement of m rows and n columns of pixels 101. In addition, a plurality of signal lines 310-1 to 310-n extending in the column direction (the direction in which pixels in a pixel row are arranged: a direction intersecting the first direction, sometimes referred to as the second direction) are wired for each pixel column.

[0022] The first scanning lines 211-1 to 211-m are respectively connected to output terminals of the corresponding rows of the write scanning circuit 201. The signal lines 310-1 to 310-n are respectively connected to output terminals of the corresponding columns of the signal output circuit 300.

[0023] The pixel array unit 100 is generally formed on a silicon substrate for high-definition AR or VR applications, but is not limited to this. For example, the pixel array unit 100 may be formed on a transparent insulating substrate such as a glass substrate.

[0024] The write scanning circuit 201 is configured with a shift register and the like that sequentially shifts (transfers) a start pulse (not shown) in synchronization with a clock pulse (not shown). The write scanning circuit 201 writes a video signal to each pixel 101 in the pixel array section 100. At this time, by sequentially supplying write scanning signals SEL (SEL_1 to SEL_m) to first scanning lines 211-1 to 211-m, each pixel 101 in the pixel array section 100 is scanned in order by row (line sequential scanning).

[0025] The signal output circuit 300 outputs a signal potential (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as a "signal voltage") Vsig of a video signal corresponding to luminance information supplied from a signal supply source (not shown). The signal output circuit 300 may be, for example, a well-known time-division driving circuit configuration. The time-division driving method is also called a selector method, in which a plurality of signal lines are assigned as a unit (group) to one output terminal of a driver (not shown), which is a signal supply source. These signal lines are then sequentially selected in a time-division manner. Meanwhile, the video signals output in time series for each output terminal of the driver are allocated and supplied to the selected signal lines in a time-division manner, thereby driving each signal line.

[0026] As an example, in the case of color display, three adjacent pixel columns of R, G, and B are used as a unit, and the R, G, and B video signals are input in time series from the driver within one horizontal period to the signal output circuit 300. The signal output circuit 300 is made up of multiplexers (selection switches) provided corresponding to the three pixel columns of R, G, and B, and the multiplexers are turned on sequentially in a time-division manner to output the R, G, and B video signals as corresponding signals. Write to the line in a time-sharing manner.

[0027] Here, three pixel columns (signal lines) of R, G, and B are used as a unit, but this is not limiting. For example, three sub-pixels of the same color may be used as a unit. By adopting this time-division driving method (selector method), when the number of time divisions is x (x is an integer of 2 or more), the number of driver outputs and the number of wirings between the driver and the signal output circuit 300 can be advantageously reduced to 1 / x of the number of signal lines.

[0028] The signal voltage Vsig output from the signal output circuit 300 is written into each pixel 101 of the pixel array section 100 row by row (line sequential writing) via signal lines 310-1 to 310-n.

[0029] Next, an example of the arrangement of pixels 101 in the pixel array section 100 described above will be described. FIG. 2A is an example of a plan view of the arrangement of pixel drive circuits 101A that constitute the pixel 101. FIG. 2B is an example of a plan view of the arrangement of light-emitting sections 101B of light-emitting elements that also constitute the pixel 101 (the light-emitting sections will be described later). FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate, as an example, the pixel arrangement of a display device in which one pixel is composed of three sub-pixels. The dot pattern indicates the pixel drive circuits and light-emitting sections of the light-emitting elements that emit red (R) light. The vertical stripe pattern indicates the pixel drive circuits and light-emitting sections of the light-emitting elements that emit green (G) light. The horizontal stripe pattern indicates the pixel drive circuits and light-emitting sections of the light-emitting elements that emit blue (B) light.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 2A , the pitch between the three left and right signal lines 310-1 to 310-3 and 310-10 to 310-12 is wider than the pitch between the six signal lines 310-4 to 310-9 located in the central portion 60 of the pixel array unit 100 (hereinafter also referred to as the display area central portion 60). Similarly, the pitch between the two upper and lower columns of write scan lines 211-1 and 211-2 and 211-7 and 211-8 is wider than the pitch between the four rows of write scan lines 211-3 to 211-6 located in the central portion 60 of the pixel array unit 100. This allows for a reduction in the number of signal lines and scan lines compared to when pixel drive circuits of the same size as the display area central portion 60 are arranged in an array across the entire display area, i.e., compared to when the entire display area is configured with high-resolution pixels as in the conventional case. This reduces the amount of display image data, resulting in advantages over conventional cases in terms of transmission speed and power consumption. Note that pixels located in the center of the display area may be referred to as second pixels, and pixels located in the periphery of the display area may be referred to as first pixels. That is, the second pixels are arranged closer to the center of the display area than the first pixels. The second pixels may be arranged, for example, within 5% of the distance from the center of the display area (where the distance from the center to the edge is taken as 100%). The first pixels may be arranged, for example, within 25% of the distance from the edge of the display area (where the distance from the edge to the center is taken as 100%).

[0031] Next, the pixel driving circuit 101A will be described. FIG. 3A shows an example of the configuration of a pixel driving circuit 101A. In this diagram, a pixel formed at the intersection of a write scanning line 211 and a signal line 310 generally includes a write transistor 23, a drive transistor 22, and a capacitance element 25. Of these, the write transistor 23 is connected between the signal line 310 and the gate electrode of the drive transistor 22. The gate electrode of the write transistor 23 is connected to the write scanning line 211 and is turned on by the scanning signal of the write scanning line 211, writing a signal voltage Vsig to the gate of the drive transistor 22. The drive transistor 22 passes a current to the organic EL element 21 in response to the signal voltage written to its gate, and the organic EL element 21 emits light at a brightness corresponding to the current that has flowed. The capacitance element 25 is provided between the gate electrode of the drive transistor 22 and a power supply PVDD and serves to hold the written signal voltage. As shown in FIG. 3B, a pixel includes a switching transistor 24 between the source electrode of the drive transistor 22 and the power supply PVDD. Alternatively, although not shown, an initialization transistor may be connected between the anode electrode of the organic EL element (sometimes called an organic light emitting element) and a power supply having a lower potential than the power supply PVDD, or another configuration may be used.

[0032] Next, the driving region of the pixel in this embodiment will be described. FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view of the pixel drive circuit shown in FIG. 3A. As shown in FIG. 4, in a given pixel, a region 29 surrounded by a signal line 310 and a write scanning line 211 to which a write transistor 23 is connected, a signal line to which a write transistor of a pixel adjacent to the signal line 310 is connected with a drive transistor 22 sandwiched therebetween, and a write scanning line connected to a write transistor of a pixel adjacent to the write scanning line 211 with a drive transistor 22 sandwiched therebetween is defined as a "drive region." Strictly speaking, the region in which the pixel drive circuit is disposed is different from region 29 (drive region). However, because the pitch of the pixel drive circuit in the row and column directions is approximately equal to the pitch of the write scanning lines and the signal lines, the area of ​​the pixel drive circuit is approximately equal to the area of ​​region 29 (drive region). In accordance with this definition, in FIG. 2A, the pixel drive region is larger in the peripheral portion than in the central portion 60 of the display area.

[0033] Next, the light emitting section will be described with reference to FIG. Generally, an organic EL element 21 has an anode electrode 31 as a first electrode and a cathode electrode 35 as a second electrode facing the anode electrode. The cathode electrode 35 is generally common to all display areas. As shown in FIG. 5 , the edge of the anode electrode 31 is covered with an insulating film 32. A functional layer 33 (also called an organic layer) such as a light-emitting layer or a hole-injection layer, and the cathode electrode 35 are formed thereon, and an insulating film 36 is further formed thereon. In the above structure, the portion of the anode electrode 31 not covered with the insulating film 32 (inside the opening in the insulating layer) emits light. Hereinafter, the portion of the anode electrode 31 not covered with the insulating film 32, where the functional layer 33 is directly sandwiched between the first electrode and the second electrode, is referred to as the light-emitting portion 101B. The organic EL element 21 may have a structure in which a color filter or a microlens is formed on the insulating film 36 formed on the cathode electrode 35.

[0034] Next, the light emitting portion in the display area will be described. As shown in FIG. 2B , the areas of the light-emitting portions 101B of the organic EL elements in the central portion 60 of the display area and the peripheral portion thereof are depicted as being approximately equal. However, they do not necessarily have to be equal. It is sufficient that the ratio of the area of ​​the driving region in the peripheral portion (first pixel) to the area of ​​the driving region in the central portion 60 of the display area (second pixel) is greater than the ratio of the area of ​​the light-emitting portion 101B in the peripheral portion (first pixel) to the area of ​​the light-emitting portion 101B in the central portion 60 of the display area (second pixel). In other words, it is sufficient that the ratio of the area of ​​one light-emitting portion to the area of ​​the driving region in the peripheral portion (first pixel) of the display area is smaller than the ratio of the area of ​​one light-emitting portion to the area of ​​the driving region in the central portion 60 of the display area (second pixel).

[0035] 2B, the number of light-emitting units 101B in one pixel drive circuit is determined by the area of ​​the drive region. In FIG. 2A, if the area of ​​the drive region in the central part 60 of the display region is 1, the area of ​​the drive region in its peripheral part is arranged so that it is 4. Accordingly, one light-emitting unit 101B is arranged in the central part 60 of the display region, and four light-emitting units 101B are arranged in the peripheral part.

[0036] The effects of this embodiment will be described below. As mentioned above, the light-emitting section 101B of the organic EL element generally has a structure in which the edge of the anode electrode 31 is covered with an insulating film 32, as shown in FIG. 5, and functional layers 33 such as a light-emitting layer and a hole injection layer that constitute the organic EL element 21 are formed on the entire surface of this structure. However, due to this structure, the center and edge (around the insulating film 32) of the light-emitting section 101B have a characteristic that the structure causes a problem. This results in differences in the film thickness of the functional layer 33 constituting the organic EL element 21. Generally, the current-voltage characteristics, luminous efficiency, and lifetime characteristics of an organic EL element vary depending on the film thickness of the functional layer. Therefore, due to these differences in film thickness, the current-voltage characteristics, luminous efficiency, and lifetime characteristics of the organic EL element differ between the center and the edges of a single light-emitting section. For this reason, if the size and shape of the light-emitting section 101B differs between the center 60 and its peripheral areas in Figure 2B, the ratio of the center to the edges in a single light-emitting section will differ. This results in differences in the organic EL element's characteristics, such as luminous efficiency and reliability, leading to image quality defects such as uneven light emission and burn-in due to differences in lifetime characteristics between light-emitting areas. While uneven light emission can be corrected by adjusting the signal voltage for each display area, burn-in due to differences in lifetime characteristics cannot be corrected because its characteristics cannot be predicted.

[0037] In contrast, in Figure 2B, the size (area) of each light-emitting section is approximately equal in the central section 60 of the display area and in its peripheral sections. Also, by determining the number of light-emitting sections according to the size (area) of the driving area, consideration is given to minimizing the difference in characteristics of the organic EL elements across the entire display area. This makes it possible to predict the characteristics of the organic EL elements across the entire display area, and the aforementioned problems such as unevenness and burn-in do not occur.

[0038] Although the above describes an example in which the number of light-emitting units corresponds to the area of ​​the driving region, the number of light-emitting units does not necessarily have to be determined according to the area of ​​the driving region. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, a configuration in which only one light-emitting unit 101B is provided in the central portion 60 of the display region and its peripheral portion may be adopted. In this case, too, it is sufficient that the ratio of the area of ​​one light-emitting unit 101B in the peripheral portion (first pixel) to the area of ​​one light-emitting unit 101B in the central portion 60 (second pixel) of the display region is smaller than the ratio of the area of ​​the driving region in the peripheral portion (first pixel) to the area of ​​the driving region in the central portion 60 (second pixel). Desirably, if the areas of the light-emitting units 101B in the central portion 60 and its peripheral portion are the same, the difference in characteristics of the light-emitting units 101B across the entire display region can be minimized. This makes it possible to predict the characteristics of the organic EL elements, and by performing corrections according to the life characteristics of the light-emitting units 101B, the aforementioned image quality defects such as burn-in do not occur.

[0039] 2A and 2B are used as examples to describe the arrangement and size of the pixel drive circuit and the light-emitting unit, but the arrangement of the pixel drive circuit and the light-emitting unit is not limited to this. For example, the arrangements shown in Figures 7, 8, 9, and 10 are also acceptable. In either case, the number of signal lines or write scanning lines can be reduced compared to when pixels of the same size as those in the central part of the display area are arranged in an array across the entire display area, thereby reducing drive power.

[0040] 7 shows a configuration in which the arrangement of pixel drive circuits 101A and light-emitting units 101B in the peripheral parts of the display area is changed from the configuration shown in Figures 2A and 2B. In Figure 7, the drive area in central part 60 of the display area is designated as 1, the drive areas above, below, left and right of the central part of the display area are designated as 2, and the drive areas near the four corners of the display area are designated as 4.

[0041] Accordingly, the number of light-emitting elements per pixel drive circuit is also configured to be one in the central portion 60 of the display area, two above, below, left, and right of the central portion, and four near the four corners of the display area. By arranging the pixel drive circuit 101A as shown in FIG. 7, the color of one sub-pixel is continuously arranged above and below the central portion 60 of the display area. This makes it difficult to see the seam between the central portion 60 of the display area and the areas above and below it, even when the display is not lit. As a result, uniform image quality without uneven brightness can be achieved when the display is lit.

[0042] 7 corresponds to the drive area above the center of the display area. Also, the drive area below the center of the display area corresponds to the drive area below the center of the display area. On the other hand ... The driving region having pixel driving circuits 101A connected to signal lines 310-3 corresponds to the driving region on the left side of the center of the display region, and the driving region having pixel driving circuits 101A connected to signal lines 310-10 to 310-12 corresponds to the driving region on the right side of the center of the display region.

[0043] To express the upper and lower central portions of the display area in another way, for example, the display area can be divided into three regions in the first direction (row direction) as a first region, a second region, and a third region between the first and second regions. The region adjacent to the third region in the second direction (column direction) is a fourth region. In this case, the fourth region corresponds to the central portion, and the third region corresponds to the region above or below the central portion. For example, the first pixel described above may be arranged in any one of the first to third regions, and the second pixel may be arranged in the fourth region. As shown in FIG. 7, the pitch of the signal lines connected to the write transistors of the pixels arranged in the third region, including the first pixel, is the same as the pitch of the signal lines connected to the write transistors of the pixels arranged in the fourth region, including the second pixel.

[0044] In FIG. 8, the pixel driving circuit 101A is arranged in the same manner as in FIG. 7, but the arrangement of the light-emitting units on the left and right sides of the central portion of the display area is different from that in FIG. 7. Specifically, in the right diagram of FIG. 7, two sets of light-emitting units of the same color (red, red, green, green, blue, and blue) are arranged consecutively in the column direction, whereas in the right diagram of FIG. 8, light-emitting units of the same color (red, green, blue, red, green, and blue) are arranged consecutively in the column direction, and the arrangement is the same as that in the central portion 60 of the display area. The light-emitting units 1R, 2R, 3R, and 4R shown in FIG. 8 are connected to the same pixel driving circuit 1r. While it is desirable that the anode electrodes of these light-emitting units 1R, 2R, 3R, and 4R be connected by a wiring layer, it is also possible to adopt a configuration in which at least one light-emitting unit is independent from the other light-emitting units and the independent light-emitting unit is connected to at least one driving transistor.

[0045] 8, light-emitting units 101B are aligned in the same manner as central unit 60 of the light-emitting unit throughout the entire display area, making it difficult to see the seams between central unit 60 of the light-emitting unit and the left and right units. As a result, uniform image quality without uneven brightness can be achieved when the display is turned on.

[0046] FIG. 9 shows the same arrangement of light-emitting elements as FIG. 8, but employs a different arrangement of pixel drive circuits 101A. In the pixel drive circuit arrangement shown in FIG. 9, there are two types of pixels in the display area: those connected to signal lines with a narrow pitch and those connected to signal lines with a wide pitch. The area of ​​the drive area connected to signal lines with a narrow pitch is set to 1, while the area of ​​the drive area connected to signal lines with a wide pitch is set to 2. Furthermore, in the pixel drive circuit configuration shown in FIG. 9, the signal lines and write scanning lines for pixel drive circuits with the same drive area area are all arranged in the same manner. By adopting this configuration, if the drive area area is the same, the parasitic capacitance existing between the signal lines and write scanning lines and the pixel drive circuit can be made uniform, thereby suppressing brightness unevenness due to parasitic capacitance. Note that in FIG. 9, the areas of the central portion 60 and the drive areas above and below the central portion are the same, but the areas of the drive areas on the left and right sides of the central portion and near the four corners are at least larger than the area of ​​the drive area in the central portion 60. This ratio is greater than the ratio of the area of ​​the light-emitting portion 101B in the central portion 60 to the peripheral portion of the display area.

[0047] 9, 12 write scanning lines (211-1 to 211-12) are arranged. A plurality of write scanning lines (211-1 to 211-4, 211-9 to 211-12) other than the write scanning lines 211-5 to 211-8 connected to the center 60 of the display area may be driven simultaneously. This configuration further reduces the amount of display image data, which is advantageous in terms of transmission speed and power consumption.

[0048] 10, as in FIG. 9, the arrangement of the light-emitting sections is the same as in FIG. 8, but the arrangement of the pixel driving circuit 101A is different. There are two types of pixels: those connected to write scan lines with a narrow pitch and those connected to write scan lines with a wide pitch. The area of ​​the drive region connected to write scan lines with a narrow pitch is set to 1, while the area of ​​the drive region connected to write scan lines with a wide pitch is set to 2. In Figure 10, as in Figure 9, the pixel drive circuit configuration has the same arrangement of signal lines and write scan lines for the pixel drive circuit of the same drive region. By adopting this configuration, if the drive region area is the same, the parasitic capacitance existing between the signal lines and write scan lines and the pixel drive circuit can be made uniform, thereby suppressing brightness unevenness caused by parasitic capacitance. Note that in Figure 10, as in Figure 9, the areas of the drive regions in the central portion 60 and the left and right of the central portion are the same, but the areas of the drive regions at the top, bottom, and four corners of the central portion are at least larger than the area of ​​the drive region in the central portion 60. This ratio can be said to be larger than the ratio of the areas of the light-emitting portions 101B in the central portion 60 and the peripheral portions of the display region.

[0049] 10, 18 signal lines (310-1 to 310-18) are wired, but the number of write scanning lines is 8. Compared to when drive regions with the same area as the central part of the display area are arranged in an array, the number of write scanning lines can be reduced across the entire display area, thereby reducing drive power.

[0050] 10, signal lines (310-1 to 310-6, 310-13 to 310-18) other than the signal lines 310-7 to 310-12 connected to the central portion 60 of the display area may be driven simultaneously in multiple rows. This configuration can further reduce the amount of display image data, which is advantageous in terms of transmission speed and power consumption.

[0051] In Figures 2 and 6 to 12, the display area is divided into three parts in the first direction (row direction) and the second direction (column direction), with the central area being the central part and the eight areas around it being the peripheral part, but the display device of this embodiment is not limited to this. The ratio of the area occupied by the central and peripheral areas can be set appropriately depending on the design of each display device. For example, in display devices such as immersive displays, the central area of ​​the field of view is made high-resolution and the peripheral area is made low-resolution to create a sense of realism. Human visual fields are known to include discriminative visual fields (excellent visual function, capable of receiving high-resolution information), effective visual fields (capable of instantly receiving target information through eye movement alone), induced visual fields (low information discrimination ability, but affecting sense of direction), and auxiliary visual fields (enough to recognize visual information). Taking into account the characteristics of each field of view, the central area where the second pixel is located may be within 30% or even 5% of the center of the display area (assuming the distance from the center to the edge is 100%). The peripheral area where the first pixel is located may be within 25%, 50%, or 70% of the edge of the display area (assuming the distance from the edge to the center is 100%). Note that, although an example is shown here in which the display region has a central portion where the second pixels are arranged and a peripheral portion where the first pixels are arranged, the display device of this embodiment is not limited to this. For example, the peripheral portion may have a region where pixels with larger drive regions than the first pixels are arranged outside the region where the first pixels are arranged. Also, a region where pixels with smaller drive regions than the first pixels are arranged may be arranged between the central portion and the region where the first pixels are arranged. Also, a region with so-called dummy pixels that do not contribute to display may be arranged between the display region and the drive portion. The above example is merely an example, and the layout of the pixel drive circuits and the layout of the light emitting units are not limited to those described above. The layout of the pixel drive circuits and the layout of the light emitting units can be selected and used as appropriate.

[0052] Next, we will discuss the pixel drive circuit in the periphery of the display area. Generally, the current value that flows through the organic EL element to obtain a certain brightness is determined according to the pixel size. For example, if the pixel size is quadrupled, the current required to obtain the same brightness will be four times as large. For this reason, it is desirable that the current drive capacity of the drive transistor be greater in the periphery than in the center of the display area. For example, if the pixel size is quadrupled, it is desirable that the current drive capacity of the drive transistor be four times as large. .

[0053] One possible solution to this problem is to increase the signal voltage input to the pixel drive circuits in the peripheral part of the display area compared to the central part, allowing the pixel drive circuits in the peripheral part of the display area to pass more current. However, increasing the signal voltage in the peripheral part of the display area increases the difference between the signal voltage required to achieve the maximum brightness (maximum brightness voltage) and the signal voltage required to achieve the minimum brightness (minimum brightness voltage), which increases the drive power of the signal output circuit.

[0054] Generally, the current driving capability of a transistor is determined by the input voltage and the ratio of the transistor's channel width W to its channel length L (W / L). Therefore, by increasing the channel width to channel length ratio in the peripheral area compared to the central area, it is possible to increase the current driving capability of pixel driving circuits located in the peripheral area. Specifically, if the pixel size is four times larger, a fourfold increase in the channel width to channel length ratio will allow four times the current to flow. In this case, to quadruple the current driving capability of the driving transistor, a single driving transistor with a fourfold larger channel width W or a single driving transistor with a quarter-fold larger channel length L may be used. Alternatively, multiple transistors with the same channel width W and channel length L may be used. Generally, due to factors such as the short channel effect, the characteristics of a transistor are not strictly proportional to the ratio of the channel width W to the channel length L. Therefore, it is desirable to use multiple driving transistors identical to those in the central pixel driving circuit for the pixel driving circuits located in the peripheral area of ​​the display area. In this case, it is not necessary to use a plurality of write transistors, and it is desirable to use one transistor with the same channel width and channel length in the central and peripheral parts of the display area.

[0055] Furthermore, it is preferable that all light-emitting units driven by one pixel drive circuit arranged on the periphery of the display area are connected, but it is not necessary that all of them are connected. However, each unconnected light-emitting unit must be connected to at least one drive transistor.

[0056] (Embodiment 2) Next, a second embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figure 11. Figure 11 shows the same arrangement of light-emitting units (red, green, blue from left) as those shown in Figures 8, 9, and 10. However, the arrangement of pixel drive circuits is different between a central portion 60 of the display area and at least a part of its peripheral portion. The peripheral portion is also characterized by a difference in the arrangement of light-emitting units (red, green, blue from left) and the arrangement of pixel drive circuits (red, blue, green from left).

[0057] In this embodiment, too, the number of signal lines and write scanning lines in the display area can be reduced, which is advantageous in terms of transmission speed and power consumption compared to the conventional case in which pixels of the same size as those in the center of the display area are arranged in an array across the entire display area.

[0058] The effect of the configuration of embodiment 2 shown in Fig. 11 will be specifically described using Fig. 12 as a comparative example. In Fig. 12, pixel drive circuits are arranged in the row direction in the order of red (first subpixel), green (second subpixel), and blue (third subpixel) throughout the entire display area. On the other hand, in Fig. 11, the pixel drive circuits are arranged in the order of red, green, and blue in the central part of the display area, while in at least a part of the periphery they are arranged in the order of red, blue, and green.

[0059] In the configuration shown in FIG. 12, red and green light-emitting units are arranged on the pixel drive circuit of the first sub-pixel (red) in the peripheral part of the display area. Also, blue and red light-emitting units are arranged on the pixel drive circuit of the second sub-pixel (green). And green and blue light-emitting units are arranged on the pixel drive circuit of the third sub-pixel (blue). In contrast to this, in the configuration shown in FIG. 11, a light-emitting unit for obtaining red light emission can be arranged on the pixel drive circuit of the first sub-pixel (red). A light-emitting unit for obtaining blue light emission can be arranged on the pixel drive circuit for the third subpixel (blue). A light-emitting unit for obtaining green light emission can be arranged on the pixel drive circuit for the second subpixel (green). Therefore, the pixel drive circuit layout configuration in the peripheral portion of the display area shown in FIG. 11 can reduce the number of light-emitting units of other colors laid out on its own pixel drive circuit compared to the pixel drive circuit layout shown in FIG. 12. As a result, degradation in image quality due to voltage fluctuations in the light-emitting units of other colors can be reduced. Furthermore, in the layout shown in FIG. 11, subpixels connected to a certain signal line (e.g., 310-6) in the central portion of the display area and above and below it are subpixels of the same color. Therefore, it is not necessary to change the color information of the signal voltage output to the signal line above, below, and in the central portion of the display area. This simplifies the configuration of the signal output circuit and achieves low power consumption. Furthermore, as mentioned above, the number of subpixels in the peripheral portion can also be reduced, which can be said to be superior to conventional methods in terms of transmission speed and power consumption.

[0060] (Embodiment 3) Fig. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a schematic system diagram of an active matrix display device 10B according to a third embodiment of the present invention, in which the same parts as those in Fig. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals. For the pixel 101 in the schematic diagram shown in Fig. 13, a pixel drive circuit having a switching transistor for controlling the light emission period as shown in Fig. 3B is desirable.

[0061] FIG. 14 shows an example of a schematic arrangement of pixel drive circuits 101A and light-emitting sections 101B that constitute pixels 101 in the display device 10B shown in FIG.

[0062] In the third embodiment, a current-driven display device in which the light emission luminance changes depending on the value of the current flowing through the pixel drive circuit (i.e., depending on the current-carrying state) will be described as an example. For example, an active matrix organic EL display device using organic EL elements as light-emitting elements of pixels (pixel drive circuits) will be described as an example.

[0063] 13, second scanning lines 212-1 to 212-m are newly wired for each pixel row along the row direction for the arrangement of m rows and n columns of pixels 101. The second scanning lines 212-1 to 212-m are respectively connected to the output terminals of the light emission drive scanning circuit 202 corresponding to the rows.

[0064] Like the write scanning circuit 201, the light emission drive scanning circuit 202 is also configured with a shift register and the like that sequentially shifts a start pulse (not shown) in synchronization with a clock pulse (not shown). The light emission drive scanning circuit 202 supplies light emission drive signals SW (SW_1 to SW_m) that drive the pixels 101 to emit light to the second scanning line in synchronization with the line sequential scanning by the write scanning circuit 201. The light emission drive signals SW control whether the pixels 101 emit light or not.

[0065] The second scan line 212 is connected to the gate of the switching transistor 24 in the pixel drive circuit shown in Fig. 3B. The switching transistor 24 switches between conductive and non-conductive states depending on the potential of the second scan line 212 (hereinafter also referred to as the light-emitting drive scan line 212), becoming conductive when emitting light and becoming non-conductive when not emitting light. Displays used in VR and AR products generally use a light-emitting control transistor to switch between emitting and not emitting light within one frame due to the requirement for high video response.

[0066] Fig. 15 shows an outline of the driving in this embodiment. Fig. 15 also shows control pulses given to each scanning line. In the driving shown in Fig. 15, signals of the light emission driving scanning lines connected to the pixel driving circuit in the central part 60 of the display area have the same timing for multiple rows (two rows in Fig. 15). One example of realizing such a configuration is to use one shift register for multiple rows that constitutes the light emission driving scanning circuit 202 to which the light emission driving scanning lines 212-3 to 212-6 including the central part 60 of the display area are connected.

[0067] The effects of this embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, as described above, two rows in the central portion 60 of the display area emit light simultaneously. Specifically, in FIG. 15, the light emission drive scanning lines 212-3 and 212-4, and the light emission timing of the light emission drive scanning lines 212-5 and 212-6 are the same. Here, the pixels connected to the light emission drive scanning lines 212-3 and 212-5 are only six sub-pixels in the central portion 60 of the display area. On the other hand, the pixels connected to the light emission drive scanning lines 212-4 and 212-6 are six sub-pixels in the central portion 60 of the display area and six sub-pixels in the peripheral area. Therefore, if the pixels connected to the light emission drive scanning lines 212-3 and 212-4 are caused to emit light separately, the number of pixels connected to the light emission drive scanning lines will be different, resulting in a difference in the amount of current flowing from the power supply at the start of light emission.

[0068] Specifically, the pixels connected to light emission drive scanning lines 212-3 and 212-5 are equivalent to 6 pixels when converted into the pixel size within central portion 60 of the display area. The pixels connected to light emission drive scanning lines 212-4 and 212-6 are equivalent to 30 pixels when converted into the pixel size within central portion 60 of the display area. Similarly, the pixels connected to light emission drive scanning lines 212-1, 212-2, 212-7, and 212-8 are equivalent to 36 pixels when converted into the pixel size within central portion 60 of the display area.

[0069] The amount of current flowing from the power supply at the start of light emission depends on the number of pixels connected to the light emission drive scanning lines. Therefore, when considering the pixels connected to the light emission drive scanning lines 212-1 to 212-4, the amount of current flowing from the power supply at the start of light emission is greatest when the pixels connected to the light emission drive scanning lines 212-1 and 2 are caused to emit light. This is followed by the pixels connected to the light emission drive scanning line 212-4, and then the pixels connected to the light emission drive scanning line 212-3. Due to this amount of current, the fluctuation amount ΔV of the power supply voltage at the start of light emission varies from row to row. This causes image quality defects such as unevenness and streaks in the image.

[0070] In contrast, in this embodiment, the timing of the light emission drive scanning lines 212-3 and 212-4, and the timing of the light emission drive scanning lines 212-5 and 212-6 are set to cause two rows to emit light simultaneously. As described above, the number of pixels connected to the light emission drive scanning lines 212-3 and 212-5 is equivalent to six pixels in the central portion 60 of the display area. The number of pixels connected to the light emission drive scanning lines 212-4 and 212-6 is equivalent to 30 pixels in the central portion 60 of the display area. Therefore, by simultaneously emitting light from these pixels, the amount of current flowing from the power supply at the start of light emission is the same as when the pixels connected to the light emission drive scanning lines 212-1 and 2 are caused to emit light. In other words, the amount of fluctuation ΔV in the power supply voltage at the start of light emission does not change from row to row. This allows the amount of fluctuation in the power supply voltage at the start of light emission to be constant, resulting in uniform image quality without unevenness.

[0071] 15, the phase difference between the pulse applied to the write scanning line 211-1 of the first row and the pulse applied to the light emission drive scanning line 212-1 is different from the phase difference between the pulse applied to the write scanning line 211-8 of the eighth row and the pulse applied to the light emission control line 212-8. With this configuration, the amount of current at the start of light emission can be made uniform continuously for each horizontal period from the first row. This prevents problems such as jerky motion pictures when row light emission becomes discontinuous.

[0072] In this embodiment, a plurality of rows of pixels in the center of the display area are caused to emit light simultaneously, and it is desirable that signal writing and correction operations generally performed before signal writing be performed for each row.

[0073] [Organic light-emitting element] Next, an example of an organic light-emitting element that can be used in the display devices according to the first to third embodiments will be described.

[0074] In the display devices according to the first to third embodiments, the organic light-emitting element includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and an organic compound layer disposed between these electrodes. One of the first electrode and the second electrode is an anode, and the other is a cathode. In the first to third embodiments, the organic compound layer may be a single layer or a laminate consisting of multiple layers, as long as it includes an emitting layer. When the organic compound layer is a laminate consisting of multiple layers, the organic compound layer may include a hole injection layer, a hole transport layer, an electron blocking layer, a hole / exciton blocking layer, an electron transport layer, an electron injection layer, and the like, in addition to the emitting layer. The emitting layer may be a single layer or a laminate consisting of multiple layers. When the emitting layer includes multiple layers, a charge generation layer may be disposed between the emitting layers. The charge generation layer may be composed of a compound having a lower LUMO than the hole transport layer, and the LUMO of the charge generation layer may be lower than the HOMO of the hole transport layer. Here, the molecular orbital energy of the organic compound layer may be the molecular orbital energy of the organic compound having the largest weight ratio in the organic compound layer.

[0075] In the first to third embodiments, when an organic compound is contained in the light-emitting layer, the light-emitting layer may be a layer consisting of only the organic compound, or may be a layer consisting of an organometallic complex and other compounds. When the light-emitting layer is a layer consisting of an organometallic complex and other compounds, the organic compound may be used as a host or a guest of the light-emitting layer. It may also be used as an assist material that can be contained in the light-emitting layer. Here, the host is the compound with the largest mass ratio among the compounds constituting the light-emitting layer. The guest is the compound with a mass ratio smaller than that of the host among the compounds constituting the light-emitting layer, and is responsible for the main emission of light. The assist material is the compound with a mass ratio smaller than that of the host among the compounds constituting the light-emitting layer, and assists the emission of the guest. The assist material is also called a second host. The host material can also be called a first compound, and the assist material can also be called a second compound.

[0076] Here, the organic compound may be used in combination with conventionally known low-molecular-weight and high-molecular-weight hole-injecting or hole-transporting compounds, host compounds, light-emitting compounds, electron-injecting or electron-transporting compounds, etc., as needed.

[0077] The hole injection / transport material is preferably a material with high hole mobility that facilitates the injection of holes from the anode and transports the injected holes to the light-emitting layer. Furthermore, a material with a high glass transition temperature is preferred to reduce deterioration of film quality, such as crystallization, in the organic light-emitting device.

[0078] The electron transporting material can be arbitrarily selected from those capable of transporting electrons injected from the cathode to the light-emitting layer, and is selected in consideration of the balance with the hole mobility of the hole transporting material, etc. The electron transporting material is also preferably used in the hole blocking layer.

[0079] The electron-injecting material can be arbitrarily selected from those that allow easy injection of electrons from the cathode, and is selected in consideration of the balance with hole-injecting properties, etc. It can also be used in combination with an electron-transporting material.

[0080] [Configuration of organic light-emitting element] An organic light-emitting element is provided by forming an insulating layer, a first electrode, an organic compound layer (sometimes called a functional layer), and a second electrode on a substrate. A protective layer, a color filter, a microlens, etc. may be provided on the cathode. When a color filter is provided, a planarizing layer may be provided between the protective layer. The planarizing layer may be made of acrylic resin, etc. The same applies when a planarizing layer is provided between the color filter and the microlens.

[0081] [substrate] Examples of the substrate include quartz, glass, silicon wafer, resin, and metal. The substrate may also be provided with switching elements such as transistors and wiring, and an insulating layer (sometimes called an insulating film) thereon. When a silicon wafer is used as the substrate, the active layer, source region, and drain region of the transistor are formed within the substrate. This is also preferred because it allows for densely arranged transistors.

[0082] Any material can be used for the insulating layer as long as it allows for the formation of contact holes so that wiring can be formed between the first electrode and the insulating layer, and ensures insulation from wiring that is not connected. For example, resins such as polyimide, silicon oxide, silicon nitride, etc. can be used.

[0083] [electrode] A pair of electrodes can be used. The pair of electrodes may be an anode (sometimes referred to as an anode electrode) and a cathode (sometimes referred to as a cathode electrode). When an electric field is applied in the direction in which the organic light-emitting element emits light, the electrode with a higher potential is the anode, and the other is the cathode. It can also be said that the electrode that supplies holes to the light-emitting layer is the anode, and the electrode that supplies electrons is the cathode.

[0084] The material for the anode should have as high a work function as possible. Examples of suitable materials include simple metals such as gold, platinum, silver, copper, nickel, palladium, cobalt, selenium, vanadium, and tungsten. Mixtures containing these metals, alloys of these metals, and metal oxides such as tin oxide, zinc oxide, indium oxide, indium tin oxide (ITO), and zinc indium oxide can also be used. Conductive polymers such as polyaniline, polypyrrole, and polythiophene can also be used.

[0085] These electrode materials may be used alone or in combination of two or more. The anode may be composed of one layer or multiple layers.

[0086] When used as a reflective electrode, for example, chromium, aluminum, silver, titanium, tungsten, molybdenum, or alloys or laminates thereof can be used. The above materials can also function as a reflective film without functioning as an electrode. When used as a transparent electrode, transparent conductive oxide layers such as indium tin oxide (ITO) and indium zinc oxide can be used, but are not limited to these. Photolithography techniques can be used to form the electrode.

[0087] On the other hand, materials with a low work function are preferable for the cathode. Examples include alkali metals such as lithium, alkaline earth metals such as calcium, and metals such as aluminum, titanium, manganese, silver, lead, and chromium, as well as mixtures containing these metals. Alloys combining these metals can also be used. Examples include magnesium-silver, aluminum-lithium, aluminum-magnesium, silver-copper, and zinc-silver. Metal oxides such as indium tin oxide (ITO) can also be used.

[0088] These electrode materials may be used alone or in combination of two or more. The cathode may have a single layer or a multi-layer structure. Among these, silver is preferably used, and a silver alloy is more preferable to reduce silver aggregation. The alloy ratio is not important as long as it can reduce silver aggregation. For example, the silver:other metal ratio may be 1:1, 3:1, etc.

[0089] The cathode may be a top-emitting element using an oxide conductive layer such as ITO, or a bottom-emitting element using a reflective electrode such as aluminum (Al). The method for forming the cathode is not particularly limited, but DC and AC sputtering methods are preferred because they provide good film coverage and make it easier to reduce resistance.

[0090] [Pixel isolation layer] The pixel separation layer is formed of a silicon nitride (SiN) film, a silicon oxynitride (SiON) film, or a silicon oxide (SiO) film formed using a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method. To increase the in-plane resistance of the organic compound layer, it is preferable that the organic compound layer, particularly the hole transport layer, be thinly formed on the sidewalls of the pixel separation layer. Specifically, the thickness of the sidewalls can be made thin by increasing the taper angle of the sidewalls of the pixel separation layer or the thickness of the pixel separation layer, thereby increasing vignetting during deposition.

[0091] On the other hand, it is preferable to adjust the sidewall taper angle and film thickness of the pixel separation layer to such an extent that voids are not formed in the protective layer formed on top of it. Since voids are not formed in the protective layer, the occurrence of defects in the protective layer can be reduced. Since the occurrence of defects in the protective layer is reduced, it is possible to reduce deterioration in reliability, such as the occurrence of dark spots and poor conduction of the second electrode.

[0092] By adjusting the taper angle of the sidewall of the pixel separation layer, it is possible to effectively suppress charge leakage to adjacent pixels. For example, a taper angle between 60 degrees and 90 degrees can sufficiently reduce charge leakage. The thickness of the pixel separation layer is preferably between 10 nm and 150 nm. Similar effects can also be achieved by using only pixel electrodes without a pixel separation layer. However, in this case, it is preferable to make the thickness of the pixel electrode less than half that of the organic layer or to make the edge of the pixel electrode forward tapered by less than 60 degrees, as this reduces short circuits in the organic light-emitting element.

[0093] [Organic compound layer (functional layer)] The organic compound layer may be formed as a single layer or as multiple layers. When multiple layers are included, they may be called hole injection layer, hole transport layer, electron blocking layer, light-emitting layer, hole blocking layer, electron transport layer, or electron injection layer depending on their functions. The organic compound layer is mainly composed of organic compounds but may also contain inorganic atoms or inorganic compounds. For example, the organic compound layer may contain copper, lithium, magnesium, aluminum, iridium, platinum, molybdenum, zinc, or the like. The organic compound layer may be disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, or may be disposed in contact with the first electrode and the second electrode.

[0094] When the device has multiple light-emitting layers, a charge generation section may be provided between the first and second light-emitting layers. The charge generation section may have an organic compound with a lowest unoccupied molecular orbital energy (LUMO) of -5.0 eV or less. The same applies when the charge generation section is provided between the second and third light-emitting layers.

[0095] [Protective layer] A protective layer such as an insulating film may be provided on the second electrode. For example, by adhering glass provided with a moisture absorbent on the second electrode, it is possible to reduce the penetration of water and the like into the organic compound layer and reduce the occurrence of display defects. In another embodiment, a passivation film such as silicon nitride may be provided on the cathode to reduce the penetration of water and the like into the organic compound layer. For example, after forming the cathode, the cathode may be transferred to another chamber without breaking the vacuum, and a silicon nitride film with a thickness of 2 μm may be formed by a CVD method to serve as a protective layer. A protective layer may be provided using atomic layer deposition (ALD) after the film is formed by CVD. The material of the film formed by the ALD method is not limited, and may be silicon nitride, silicon oxide, aluminum oxide, etc. Silicon nitride may be further formed by a CVD method on the film formed by the ALD method. The film formed by the ALD method may have a thickness smaller than that of the film formed by the CVD method. Specifically, the thickness may be 50% or less, or even 10% or less. That's fine.

[0096] [Color Filter] A color filter may be provided on the protective layer. For example, a color filter taking into consideration the size of the organic light-emitting element may be provided on a separate substrate and then bonded to the substrate on which the organic light-emitting element is provided, or a color filter may be patterned on the protective layer described above using photolithography technology. The color filter may be made of a polymer.

[0097] [Planarization layer] A planarization layer may be provided between the color filter and the protective layer. The planarization layer is provided for the purpose of reducing the unevenness of the underlying layer. It may also be called a material resin layer without limiting its purpose. The planarization layer may be composed of an organic compound, and may be either a low molecular weight or a high molecular weight, but a high molecular weight is preferred.

[0098] The planarizing layer may be provided above or below the color filter, and may be made of the same or different materials, such as polyvinyl carbazole resin, polycarbonate resin, polyester resin, ABS resin, acrylic resin, polyimide resin, phenol resin, epoxy resin, silicone resin, and urea resin.

[0099] [Microlens] The display device may have an optical component such as a microlens on its light-emitting side. The microlens may be made of acrylic resin, epoxy resin, or the like. The purpose of the microlens may be to increase the amount of light extracted from the display device and to control the direction of the extracted light. The microlens may have a hemispherical shape. When the microlens has a hemispherical shape, among the tangents to the hemisphere, there is a tangent that is parallel to the insulating layer, and the point of contact between this tangent and the hemisphere is the vertex of the microlens. The vertex of the microlens can be determined in the same way in any cross-sectional view. In other words, among the tangents to the semicircle of the microlens in the cross-sectional view, there is a tangent that is parallel to the insulating layer, and the point of contact between this tangent and the semicircle is the vertex of the microlens.

[0100] It is also possible to define the midpoint of a microlens. In the cross section of the microlens, a line segment is imagined from the point where an arc shape ends to the point where another arc shape ends, and the midpoint of this line segment can be called the midpoint of the microlens. The cross section for determining the vertex and midpoint may be a cross section perpendicular to the insulating layer.

[0101] The microlens has a first surface having a convex portion and a second surface opposite the first surface. The second surface is preferably disposed closer to the functional layer than the first surface. To achieve this configuration, it is necessary to form the microlens on the display device. When the functional layer is an organic layer, it is preferable to avoid processes that result in high temperatures during the manufacturing process. Furthermore, when the second surface is disposed closer to the functional layer than the first surface, it is preferable that the glass transition temperatures of all organic compounds that make up the organic layer are 100°C or higher, and more preferably 130°C or higher.

[0102] [Counter substrate] An opposing substrate may be provided on the planarization layer. The opposing substrate is called the opposing substrate because it is provided at a position corresponding to the aforementioned substrate. The constituent material of the opposing substrate may be the same as that of the aforementioned substrate. When the aforementioned substrate is defined as the first substrate, the opposing substrate may be the second substrate.

[0103] [Organic layer] The organic compound layers (hole injection layer, hole transport layer, electron blocking layer, light emitting layer, hole blocking layer, electron transport layer, electron injection layer, etc.) constituting the organic light emitting device are formed by the following method.

[0104] The organic compound layer constituting the organic light-emitting device can be formed by dry processes such as vacuum deposition, ionization deposition, sputtering, plasma, etc. Alternatively to the dry process, a wet process can be used in which the compound is dissolved in an appropriate solvent and a layer is formed by a known coating method (e.g., spin coating, dipping, casting, LB method, inkjet method, etc.).

[0105] Here, when a layer is formed by a vacuum deposition method, a solution coating method, etc., crystallization is unlikely to occur and the layer has excellent stability over time. When a film is formed by a coating method, the film can also be formed by combining with an appropriate binder resin.

[0106] Examples of the binder resin include, but are not limited to, polyvinylcarbazole resin, polycarbonate resin, polyester resin, ABS resin, acrylic resin, polyimide resin, phenol resin, epoxy resin, silicone resin, and urea resin.

[0107] These binder resins may be used singly or in combination as homopolymers or copolymers, and may further contain known additives such as plasticizers, antioxidants, and ultraviolet absorbers, if necessary.

[0108] [Pixel driving circuit] The display device has a pixel drive circuit connected to a light-emitting element. The pixel drive circuit may be an active matrix type that controls the light emission of a first light-emitting element and a second light-emitting element independently. The active matrix type circuit may be voltage-programmed or current-programmed. The display device has a pixel drive circuit for each pixel. The pixel drive circuit may include a light-emitting element, a transistor that controls the light emission brightness of the light-emitting element, a transistor that controls the light emission timing, a capacitor that holds the gate voltage of the transistor that controls the light emission brightness, and a transistor for connecting to GND without going through the light-emitting element.

[0109] The display device has a display region and a peripheral region arranged around the display region. The display region has a pixel driving circuit, and the peripheral region has a display control circuit. The mobility of a transistor constituting the pixel driving circuit may be smaller than the mobility of a transistor constituting the display control circuit.

[0110] The slope of the current-voltage characteristics of the transistors that make up the pixel drive circuit may be smaller than the slope of the current-voltage characteristics of the transistors that make up the display control circuit. The slope of the current-voltage characteristics can be measured using the so-called Vg-Ig characteristics.

[0111] The transistors that make up the pixel driving circuit are transistors that are connected to the light-emitting elements, such as the first light-emitting element.

[0112] [Pixels] The display device has a plurality of pixels, each of which has sub-pixels that emit different colors, and each of which may emit, for example, RGB colors.

[0113] A pixel has an area, also called a pixel aperture, that emits light. This area is the same as the light-emitting portion in the above-described embodiment. The diameter of the pixel aperture may be 15 μm or less, or 5 μm or more. More specifically, it may be 11 μm, 9.5 μm, 7.4 μm, 6.4 μm, etc. The distance between subpixels (from center to center of adjacent subpixels) may be 10 μm or less, or more specifically, 8 μm, 7.4 μm, 6.4 μm, or less.

[0114] The pixels may be arranged in a known manner in a plan view. For example, they may be in a stripe arrangement, a delta arrangement (honeycomb arrangement), a pentile arrangement, or a Bayer arrangement. The shape of the subpixels in a plan view may be any known shape. For example, they may be rectangular, quadrilaterals such as diamonds, or hexagons. Of course, a shape that is close to a rectangle, rather than an exact shape, is included in the rectangle. The shape of the subpixels and the pixel arrangement may be combined.

[0115] [Use of the display device according to the first to third embodiments] The display devices according to the first to third embodiments can be used as components of various devices and equipment, etc. For example, they can be used as display devices having a white light source and a color filter.

[0116] A device having the display device according to any one of the first to third embodiments may be an image information processing device having an image input unit that inputs image information from an area CCD, a linear CCD, a memory card, etc., an information processing unit that processes the input information, and displays the input image on a display unit. The display unit may have the display device according to any one of the first to third embodiments.

[0117] The display unit of an imaging device or an inkjet printer may include the display device of any of the first to third embodiments. The display unit may have a touch panel function. The driving method for this touch panel function may be an infrared method, a capacitance method, a resistive film method, or an electromagnetic induction method, and is not particularly limited. The display device may also be used in the display unit of a multifunction printer.

[0118] Next, a cross section of an example of a part of the display devices according to the first to third embodiments will be described with reference to Fig. 16. For convenience of explanation, different reference numerals may be used for elements and the like already mentioned above.

[0119] The display device includes a substrate 11, an insulating layer 14, and a light-emitting element 1700. The insulating layer 14 is located on the substrate 11. The light-emitting element 1700 is located on the insulating layer 14. In other words, the insulating layer 14 is located between the substrate 11 and the light-emitting element 1700.

[0120] The substrate 11 has a main surface (the upper surface in FIG. 16) on which a drive transistor 1701, a write transistor 1703, and a light-emitting control transistor 1702 are formed. The substrate 11 may be formed of, for example, a P-type semiconductor. An N-type well region 13 is formed on the main surface side of the substrate 11 (i.e., the upper side of the substrate 11). The substrate 11 other than the well region 13 becomes a P-type semiconductor region 12.

[0121] The substrate 11 has a plurality of impurity regions that function as source regions or drain regions of the transistors in the well region 13. The conductivity type of the impurity regions can be, for example, P type.

[0122] A conductive layer 1765, a conductive layer 1763G, and a conductive layer 1764G are arranged on the main surface (top surface) of the substrate 11. The conductive layer 1763G functions as the gate of the light-emitting control transistor 1763. One of the P-type impurity regions functions as the source 1763S of the light-emitting control transistor 1763, and another of the P-type impurity regions functions as the drain 1763D. The conductive layer 1765 functions as the gate of the driving transistor 1761. The impurity region that functions as the drain 1763D of the light-emitting control transistor 1763 also functions as the source 1768 of the driving transistor 1701. Another one of the P-type impurity regions functions as the drain 1767 of the driving transistor 1701.

[0123] Furthermore, the conductive layer 1764G functions as the gate of the reset transistor 1764. The impurity region that functions as the source 1768 of the drive transistor 1701 also functions as the drain 1764D of the reset transistor 1764. In addition, another P-type impurity region One of the solid regions serves as the source 1764S of the reset transistor 1764.

[0124] The substrate 11 further has an element isolation portion 1730 formed between adjacent pixels. As the element isolation portion 1730, STI (Shallow Trench Isolation), LOCOS (LOCal Oxidation of Silicon) isolation, N-type diffusion layer isolation, or the like may be used.

[0125] The light-emitting element has a cathode 1716, an organic light-emitting layer 1715, and an anode 1714. The cathode 1716 is electrically connected to the power line 1708. The anode 1714 is electrically connected to the main terminal (here, the drain) of the driving transistor 1701. The organic light-emitting layer 1715 is located between the cathode 1716 and the anode 1714. A bank portion 1717 is arranged at the end of the anode 1714. The bank portion 1717 prevents the current flowing between the anode 1714 and the cathode 1716 from leaking to adjacent pixels.

[0126] Conductive patterns, electrodes of capacitor elements, and plugs are embedded in the insulating layer 14. The insulating layer 14 may be, for example, silicon oxide. Each of the conductive patterns may be a wiring layer. For example, as shown in FIG. 16, the conductive pattern may have wiring WR1, wiring WR2, and wiring WR3.

[0127] The capacitor 1705 has electrodes 1705a and 1705b, and the capacitor 1706 has electrodes 1706a and 1706b. In the insulating layer 14, the electrodes 1705a and 1706a may be disposed on the same insulating layer. The electrodes 1705b and 1706b may be disposed on the same insulating layer. The electrodes 1705a and 1705b face each other with the insulating layer sandwiched between them. The electrodes 1706a and 1706b face each other with the insulating layer sandwiched between them. This forms a capacitor with an MIM (Metal-Insulator-Metal) structure.

[0128] The multiple plugs may include, for example, plug PL1, plug PL2, plug PL3, plug PL4, and plug PL5. The multiple plugs may all have the same thickness or may have different thicknesses, or some may have the same thickness and some may have different thicknesses.

[0129] The plug PL1 may connect the wiring WR1 to a terminal (gate, source, or drain) of the transistor. The plug PL2 may connect the wiring WR2 to the wiring WR2. The lower electrode of the capacitor (1705 or 1706) may be connected to the driving transistor 1701 via the plug PL3, the wiring WR2, the plug PL2, the wiring WR1, and the plug PL1. The upper electrode of the capacitor (1705 or 1706) may be connected to the wiring WR3 via the plug PL5.

[0130] The wiring WR3 may be connected to a transistor (in FIG. 16, any one of the drive transistor, current control transistor, and reset transistor) via a plug PL4, wiring R2, plug PL2, wiring WR1, and plug PL1. The anode 1714 may be connected to the drain 1767 of the drive transistor 1701 via a plug PL6, wiring WR3, plug PL4, wiring WR2, plug PL2, wiring WR1, and plug PL1.

[0131] The plugs may be formed in a separate process from the wiring, or may be formed in the same process as the wiring disposed on the plugs. For example, the wiring WR2 and the plug PL2 may be formed in the same process and made of the same material. Also, the wiring WR3 and the plug PL4 may be formed in the same process and made of the same material. The wiring and the plugs may be formed using a metal such as copper, tungsten, aluminum, or titanium, or an alloy thereof.

[0132] In this way, by using a semiconductor substrate as the substrate and using MOS transistors as the transistors in each pixel, the transistors can be arranged more densely than when thin film transistors are used. Therefore, by configuring the display device of embodiment 1 to have a semiconductor substrate and MOS transistors as the transistors, the display device can have higher resolution or be made smaller.

[0133] FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a display device having an organic light-emitting element and a transistor connected to the organic light-emitting element. A transistor is an example of an active element. Here, an example is shown in which the transistor is a thin-film transistor (TFT), but a MOSFET using a semiconductor substrate can also be used. By using a MOSFET, the transistors in each pixel can be arranged in a smaller area.

[0134] 17 shows an example of a pixel, which is a component of the display devices according to Embodiments 1 to 3. The pixel has sub-pixels 10. The sub-pixels are divided into 10R, 10G, and 10B based on their light emission. The emitted colors may be distinguished by the wavelength of light emitted from the light-emitting layer, or the light emitted from the sub-pixels may be selectively transmitted or color-converted using a color filter or the like. Each sub-pixel has a reflective electrode 2, which is a first electrode, on an interlayer insulating layer 1, an insulating layer 3 covering the edge of the reflective electrode 2, an organic compound layer 4 covering the second electrode and the insulating layer, a second electrode 5, a protective layer 6, and a color filter 7.

[0135] A transistor and a capacitor may be disposed below or inside the interlayer insulating layer 1. The transistor and the first electrode may be electrically connected via a contact hole or the like (not shown).

[0136] The insulating layer 3 is also called a bank or a pixel separation film. It covers the edges of the first electrode and surrounds the first electrode. The part where the insulating layer is not provided contacts the organic compound layer 4 and becomes the light-emitting region.

[0137] The organic compound layer 4 includes a hole injection layer 41 , a hole transport layer 42 , a first light-emitting layer 43 , a second light-emitting layer 44 , and an electron transport layer 45 .

[0138] The second electrode 5 may be a transparent electrode, a reflective electrode, or a semi-transparent electrode.

[0139] The protective layer 6 reduces the penetration of moisture into the organic compound layer. Although the protective layer is illustrated as a single layer, it may be a multi-layer. Each layer may be an inorganic compound layer and an organic compound layer.

[0140] The color filters 7 are divided into 7R, 7G, and 7B depending on their colors. The color filters may be formed on a planarization film (not shown). A resin protective layer (not shown) may be provided on the color filters. The color filters may be formed on a protective layer 6. Alternatively, the color filters may be provided on an opposing substrate such as a glass substrate and then bonded thereto.

[0141] (Embodiment 4) 18 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a display component according to embodiment 4. A display device 1900 may include a touch panel 1903, a display panel 1905, a frame 1906, a circuit board 1907, and a battery 1908 between an upper cover 1901 and a lower cover 1909. Flexible printed circuits FPCs 1902 and 1904 are connected to the touch panel 1903 and the display panel 1905.

[0142] The display panel 1905 has the display device of embodiment 1. A transistor is printed on a circuit board 1907. The battery 1908 may not be provided if the display component is not used in a portable device, or may be provided in a different location if the display component is used in a portable device.

[0143] The display component according to the fourth embodiment may have color filters having red, green, and blue colors, which may be arranged in a delta arrangement.

[0144] The display component according to the fourth embodiment may be used in a display unit of a mobile terminal. In this case, the display unit may have both a display function and an operation function. Examples of the mobile terminal include a mobile phone such as a smartphone, a tablet, and a head-mounted display.

[0145] The display component according to the fourth embodiment may be used in a display unit of an imaging device having an optical unit with a plurality of lenses and an imaging element that receives light that has passed through the optical unit. The imaging device may have a display unit that displays information acquired by the imaging element. The display unit may be a display unit exposed to the outside of the imaging device or a display unit disposed within the viewfinder. The imaging device may be a digital camera or a digital video camera.

[0146] (Embodiment 5) 19A is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of an imaging device according to the fifth embodiment. The imaging device 2000 may include a viewfinder 2001, a rear display 2002, an operation unit 2003, and a housing 2004. The viewfinder 2001 may include the display device according to the first embodiment. In this case, the display device may display not only an image to be captured, but also environmental information, imaging instructions, and the like. The environmental information may include the intensity of external light, the direction of external light, the speed at which the subject is moving, the possibility that the subject will be blocked by an obstruction, and the like.

[0147] Since the optimum timing for capturing an image is very short, it is better to display information as quickly as possible. Therefore, it is preferable to use a display device using organic light-emitting elements, because organic light-emitting elements have a fast response speed. When display speed is required, a display device using organic light-emitting elements can be used more preferably than a liquid crystal display device.

[0148] The imaging device 2000 has an optical section (not shown). The optical section has multiple lenses, which form an image on an imaging element housed in a housing 2004. The focus of the multiple lenses can be adjusted by adjusting their relative positions. This operation can also be performed automatically. The imaging device may also be called a photoelectric conversion device. Instead of sequentially capturing images, the photoelectric conversion device may include an imaging method that detects the difference from the previous image, or a method of cutting out an image from a constantly recorded image, etc.

[0149] (Embodiment 6) 19B is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of an electronic device according to embodiment 6. The electronic device 2010 has a display unit 2011, an operation unit 2012, and a housing 2013. The housing 2013 may include a circuit, a printed circuit board having the circuit, a battery, and a communication unit.

[0150] The display unit 2011 may have the display device according to embodiment 1. The operation unit 2012 may be a button or a touch panel type reaction unit. The operation unit may be a biometric recognition unit that recognizes a fingerprint to unlock the device, etc. An electronic device having a communication unit may also be called a communication device. The electronic device may further have a camera function by including a lens and an image sensor. An image captured by the camera function is displayed on the display unit. Examples of the electronic device include a smartphone, a laptop computer, etc.

[0151] 20A is a schematic diagram illustrating an example (monitor) of an electronic device according to embodiment 6. An image display device 2100 in FIG. 20A is a television monitor, a PC monitor, or the like. The image display device 2100 has a frame 2101 and a display unit 2102 surrounded by the frame 2101. The display unit 2102 may have the display device according to embodiment 1.

[0152] The image display device 2100 further includes a frame 2101 and a base 2103 that supports the display unit 2102. The base 2103 is not limited to the form shown in Fig. 20A. For example, the bottom side of the frame 2101 may also serve as the base.

[0153] The frame 2101 and the display unit 2102 may be curved. The radius of curvature may be 5000 mm or more and 6000 mm or less.

[0154] FIG. 20B is a schematic diagram illustrating another example of an electronic device according to embodiment 6. The image display device 2110 in FIG. 20B is configured to be foldable, and is a so-called foldable image display device. The image display device 2110 has a first display unit 2111, a second display unit 2112, a housing 2113, and a bending point 2114. The first display unit 2111 and the second display unit 2112 may include the display devices according to embodiment 1. The first display unit 2111 and the second display unit 2112 may be a single, seamless image display device. The first display unit 2111 and the second display unit 2112 can be separated by the bending point. The first display unit 2111 and the second display unit 2112 may display different images, or the first and second display units may display a single image.

[0155] (Embodiment 7) 21A and 21B, application examples of the display devices according to the first to third embodiments will be described. The display device can be applied to systems that can be worn as wearable devices, such as smart glasses, HMDs, and smart contact lenses. The image capture device and display device used in such application examples can be an image capture device capable of photoelectrically converting visible light, and a display device capable of emitting visible light.

[0156] 21A illustrates glasses 2200 (smart glasses) according to one application example. An imaging device 2202 such as a CMOS sensor or SPAD is provided on the front side of a lens 2201 of the glasses 2200. Furthermore, a display device 2204 according to any one of the first to third embodiments is provided on the back side of the lens 2201.

[0157] The glasses 2200 further include a control device 2203. The control device 2203 functions as a power source that supplies power to the image capture device 2202 and the display device 2204. The control device 2203 also controls the operations of the image capture device 2202 and the display device 2204. The lens 2201 has an optical system formed therein for focusing light onto the image capture device 2202.

[0158] 21B illustrates glasses 2210 (smart glasses) according to one application example. The glasses 2210 have a control device 2212. The control device 2212 is equipped with an imaging device corresponding to the imaging device 2202 and a display device 2214 corresponding to the display device 2204. An optical system for projecting light emitted by the display device 2214 in the control device 2212 is formed in the lens 2211, and an image is projected onto the lens 2211. The control device 2212 functions as a power source that supplies power to the imaging device and the display device 2214, and also controls the operations of the imaging device and the display device 2214.

[0159] The control device 2212 may have a gaze detection unit that detects the gaze of the wearer. The gaze detection may be performed using infrared rays. The infrared light emitting unit emits infrared light toward the eyes of the user who is gazing at the displayed image. The emitted infrared light is reflected from the eyes by an imaging unit having a light receiving element. By detecting the infrared light, a captured image of the eyeball can be obtained. By providing a reduction unit that reduces light from the infrared light emitting unit to the display unit in a planar view, degradation of image quality can be reduced.

[0160] The gaze of the user relative to the displayed image is detected from an image of the eyeball obtained by capturing infrared light. Any known method can be used for gaze detection using an image of the eyeball. One example is a gaze detection method based on the Purkinje image formed by reflection of irradiated light on the cornea.

[0161] More specifically, gaze detection processing is performed based on the pupil-corneal reflex method, which calculates a gaze vector representing the direction (rotation angle) of the eyeball based on the pupil image and Purkinje image included in the captured image of the eyeball, thereby detecting the user's gaze.

[0162] The glasses 2210 may have an imaging device with a light receiving element, and may control the image displayed on the display device based on information about the user's line of sight from the imaging device.

[0163] Specifically, the display device 2214 determines a first display area on which the user gazes and a second display area other than the first display area based on the line-of-sight information. The first display area and the second display area may be determined by a control device of the glasses 2210, or may be determined by an external control device and received. In the display area of ​​the display device 2214, the display resolution of the first display area may be controlled to be higher than the display resolution of the second display area. In other words, the resolution of the second display area may be lower than that of the first field of view area.

[0164] The display area includes a first display area and a second display area different from the first display area, and a high-priority area is determined from the first display area and the second display area based on line-of-sight information. The first and second view areas may be determined by a control device of the display device, or may be determined by an external control device and received. The resolution of the high-priority area may be controlled to be higher than the resolution of areas other than the high-priority area. In other words, the resolution of an area with a relatively low priority may be lowered.

[0165] Note that AI may be used to determine the first display area and the area with high priority. The AI ​​may be a model configured to estimate the angle of gaze and the distance to an object in the line of sight from the image of the eyeball, using as training data an image of the eyeball and the direction in which the eyeball in the image was actually looking. The AI ​​program may be included in the display device, the imaging device, or an external device. If included in the external device, it is transmitted to the display device via communication.

[0166] When display control is performed based on visual recognition detection, the smart glasses can be preferably applied to smart glasses that further include an imaging device for capturing images of the outside world. The smart glasses can display captured external information in real time.

[0167] (Embodiment 8) FIG. 22A is a diagram showing the configuration of an HMD (head-mounted display) 2301 as an image observation device according to the seventh embodiment. The HMD 2301 is worn on the head of an observer. Reference numeral 2302 denotes the observer's right eye, and reference numeral 2303 denotes the observer's left eye. Display lenses 2304 and 2305 constitute an eyepiece optical system for the right eye OR1, and display lenses 2306 and 2307 constitute an eyepiece optical system for the left eye OL1. Each eyepiece optical system is a coaxial optical system composed of multiple (two) display lenses. The observer's right eye 2302 is positioned at the exit pupil ER1 of the eyepiece optical system for the right eye OR1, and the observer's left eye 2303 is positioned at the exit pupil EL1 of the eyepiece optical system for the left eye OL1. The exit pupil ER1 is located at a distance E1 from the eyepiece optical system for the right eye OR1. Similarly, the exit pupil EL1 is located at a distance E1 from the eyepiece optical system for the left eye OL1. The surface of the right eye eyepiece optical system OR1 (the surface on the right eye 2302 side) and the left eye eyepiece An optical film 2314 for lens protection, light collection, etc. is provided on the surface of the optical system OL1 (the surface on the left eye 2303 side).

[0168] Reference numerals 2308 and 2309 denote display devices for the right and left eyes, respectively. These display devices may be the display devices according to embodiment 1. FIG. 22B is a diagram showing the appearance of an HMD 2301 and a personal computer 2350 connected thereto. Each display device displays a display image (original image) corresponding to an image signal output from the personal computer 2350. In this embodiment, the display devices are connected by wire, but they may also be connected wirelessly. Furthermore, the HMD 2301 may be a device that incorporates an image processing device and operates as a stand-alone device.

[0169] The eyepiece optical systems OR1 and OL1 guide light from the display devices 2308 and 2309 to the exit pupils ER1 and EL1, respectively, to project enlarged virtual images of the displayed image onto the observer's right eye 2302 and left eye 2303. This allows the observer to observe the display images (virtual images of the images) displayed on the display devices 2308 and 2309 through the eyepiece optical systems OR1 and OL1.

[0170] Although not shown, the HMD 2301 may have a control device. The control device functions as a power source that supplies power to the display devices 2308 and 2309, and also controls the operations of the display devices 2308 and 2309.

[0171] The control device may have a gaze detection unit that detects the gaze of the wearer. The gaze detection may use infrared rays. The infrared light emitting unit emits infrared light toward the eyeball of the user who is gazing at the displayed image. An imaging unit having a light receiving element detects the reflected light of the emitted infrared light from the eyeball, thereby obtaining an image of the eyeball. By having a reduction means that reduces light from the infrared light emitting unit to the display unit in a planar view, degradation of image quality is reduced.

[0172] The gaze of the user relative to the displayed image is detected from an image of the eyeball obtained by capturing infrared light. Any known method can be used for gaze detection using an image of the eyeball. One example is a gaze detection method based on the Purkinje image formed by reflection of irradiated light on the cornea.

[0173] More specifically, gaze detection processing is performed based on the pupil-corneal reflex method, which calculates a gaze vector representing the direction (rotation angle) of the eyeball based on the pupil image and Purkinje image included in the captured image of the eyeball, thereby detecting the user's gaze.

[0174] Specifically, the display devices 2308 and 2309 determine a first display area where the user gazes and a second display area other than the first display area based on the line-of-sight information. The first and second display areas may be determined by the control device, or may be determined by an external control device and received. In the display areas of the display devices 2308 and 2309, the display resolution of the first display area may be controlled to be higher than the display resolution of the second display area. In other words, the resolution of the second display area may be lower than that of the first field of view area.

[0175] The display area includes a first display area and a second display area different from the first display area, and a high-priority area is determined from the first display area and the second display area based on line-of-sight information. The first display area and the second display area may be determined by a control device of the display device, or may be determined by an external control device and received. The resolution of the high-priority area may be controlled to be higher than the resolution of areas other than the high-priority area. In other words, the resolution of an area with a relatively low priority may be lowered.

[0176] It should be noted that AI may be used to determine the first display area and the area with high priority. The AI ​​program may be a model configured to estimate the gaze angle and the distance to an object in the line of sight from an image of the eyeball, using as training data an image of the eyeball and the actual gaze direction of the eyeball in the image. The AI ​​program may be included in the display device, the imaging device, or an external device. If included in an external device, it is transmitted to the display device via communication.

[0177] In this way, the display device according to at least one of the first to third embodiments can be applied to various photoelectric conversion devices, electronic devices, and the like according to this embodiment.

[0178] The embodiments described above can be modified as appropriate without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The disclosure of this specification includes not only what is described in this specification, but also all matters that can be understood from this specification and the drawings attached hereto.

[0179] The disclosure of this embodiment includes the following configuration. (Configuration 1) a plurality of scanning lines extending in a first direction in a plan view of the main surface of the substrate; a plurality of signal lines extending in a second direction intersecting the first direction in the plan view; a display area in which a plurality of pixels are arranged two-dimensionally; each of the plurality of pixels includes a light emitting element and a pixel driving circuit that drives the light emitting element; the light-emitting element has a light-emitting portion in which an organic layer having a light-emitting layer is sandwiched between a first electrode and a second electrode within an opening in an insulating layer; the pixel drive circuit includes a write transistor connected to the signal line and the scan line, and a drive transistor that causes a current to flow through the light emitting element in response to a signal voltage supplied from the write transistor; In one pixel of the plurality of pixels, a region surrounded by a signal line and a scanning line connected to the write transistor, a signal line connected to the write transistor of a pixel adjacent to the signal line with the drive transistor sandwiched therebetween, and a scanning line connected to the write transistor of a pixel adjacent to the scan line with the drive transistor sandwiched therebetween is defined as a drive region of the pixel, the plurality of pixels include a first pixel and a second pixel disposed at a position closer to the center of the display area than the first pixel; A display device, wherein, in the planar view, the ratio of the area of ​​the driving region of the first pixel to the area of ​​the driving region of the second pixel is greater than the ratio of the area of ​​one light-emitting section of the first pixel to the area of ​​one light-emitting section of the second pixel. (Configuration 2) 2. The display device according to configuration 1, wherein the light emitted from the first pixel and the light emitted from the second pixel have the same color. (Configuration 3) 3. The display device according to configuration 1 or 2, wherein the area of ​​one light-emitting portion of the first pixel and the area of ​​one light-emitting portion of the second pixel are the same. (Configuration 4) 4. The display device according to any one of configurations 1 to 3, wherein the number of light-emitting portions of the first pixel is greater than the number of light-emitting portions of the second pixel. (Configuration 5) 5. The display device according to any one of configurations 1 to 4, wherein the first pixel is arranged at a distance from the center of the display area within 5% of the distance from the center to the edge of the display area. (Configuration 6) The display device according to any one of configurations 1 to 5, wherein the second pixel is arranged within 25% of the distance from the edge of the display device to the center of the display area. Place. (Configuration 7) 7. The display device according to any one of configurations 1 to 6, wherein in the peripheral portion of the display area, light-emitting portions of pixels that emit light of a first color, light-emitting portions of pixels that emit light of a second color different from the first color, and light-emitting portions of pixels that emit light of a third color different from the light of the first color and the light of the second color are continuous in the column direction, and the arrangement of the light-emitting portions in the peripheral portion is the same as that of the light-emitting portions in the central portion. (Configuration 8) the display area includes a first area, a second area, and a third area between the first area and the second area in the first direction, and a fourth area adjacent to the third area in the second direction; the first pixel is disposed in the third region, and the second pixel is disposed in the fourth region; 8. The display device according to any one of configurations 1 to 7, wherein the pitch of signal lines connected to write transistors of pixels arranged in the third region including the first pixel is the same as the pitch of signal lines connected to write transistors of pixels arranged in the fourth region including the second pixel. (Configuration 9) 9. The display device according to configuration 7 or 8, wherein, in the peripheral portion of the display area, a light-emitting unit that emits light of a second color different from the first color is disposed on a pixel drive circuit of a pixel that emits light of a first color in at least a portion of the pixel drive circuit. (Configuration 10) 10. The display device according to any one of configurations 1 to 9, wherein the pixel drive circuits and the light-emitting sections are arranged differently in the periphery of the display area. (Configuration 11) 11. The display device according to any one of configurations 1 to 10, wherein the number of drive transistors in the first pixel is greater than the number of write transistors. (Configuration 12) 12. The display device according to any one of configurations 1 to 11, wherein the number of drive transistors in the first pixel is greater than the number of drive transistors in the second pixel. (Configuration 13) 13. The display device according to any one of configurations 1 to 12, wherein the driving transistor in the first pixel has the same channel width and channel length as the driving transistor in the second pixel. (Configuration 14) 14. The display device of any one of configurations 1 to 13, further comprising a switching transistor that determines whether or not to pass a current to the light-emitting element depending on the conduction state of a pixel drive circuit, wherein the second pixel passes a current to the light-emitting element for a plurality of rows simultaneously. (Configuration 15) a plurality of scanning lines extending in a first direction in a plan view of the main surface of the substrate; a plurality of signal lines extending in a second direction intersecting the first direction in the plan view; a display area in which a plurality of pixels are arranged two-dimensionally; each of the plurality of pixels includes a light emitting element and a pixel driving circuit that drives the light emitting element; the light-emitting element has a light-emitting portion in which an organic layer having a light-emitting layer is sandwiched between a first electrode and a second electrode within an opening in an insulating layer; the pixel drive circuit includes a write transistor connected to the signal line and the scan line, and a drive transistor that causes a current to flow through the light emitting element in response to a signal voltage supplied from the write transistor; In one pixel of the plurality of pixels, a signal line and a scanning line connected to the write transistor, and a write transistor of a pixel adjacent to the signal line with the drive transistor interposed therebetween a signal line connected to the write transistor of a pixel adjacent to the scanning line with the driving transistor interposed therebetween, and a scanning line connected to the write transistor of a pixel adjacent to the scanning line, the scanning line being a driving region of the pixel; the plurality of pixels include a first pixel and a second pixel disposed at a position closer to the center of the display area than the first pixel; A display device, wherein, in the planar view, the ratio of the area of ​​one light-emitting portion of the first pixel to the area of ​​the driving region of the first pixel is smaller than the ratio of the area of ​​one light-emitting portion of the second pixel to the area of ​​the driving region of the second pixel. (Configuration 16) 16. The display device according to configuration 15, wherein the area of ​​one light-emitting portion of the first pixel and the area of ​​one light-emitting portion of the second pixel are the same. (Configuration 17) 17. The display device according to configuration 15 or 16, wherein the number of light-emitting portions of the first pixel is greater than the number of light-emitting portions of the second pixel. (Configuration 18) 18. The display device of any one of configurations 15 to 17, wherein in the peripheral portion of the display area, light-emitting portions of pixels that emit light of a first color, light-emitting portions of pixels that emit light of a second color different from the first color, and light-emitting portions of pixels that emit light of a third color different from the light of the first color and the light of the second color are continuous in the column direction, and the arrangement of the light-emitting portions in the peripheral portion is the same as that of the light-emitting portions in the central portion. (Configuration 19) the display area includes a first area, a second area, and a third area between the first area and the second area in the first direction, and a fourth area adjacent to the third area in the second direction; the first pixel is disposed in the third region, and the second pixel is disposed in the fourth region; 19. The display device according to any one of configurations 15 to 18, wherein the pitch of signal lines connected to drive transistors of pixels arranged in the third region including the first pixel is the same as the pitch of signal lines connected to write transistors of pixels arranged in the fourth region including the second pixel. (Configuration 20) 20. The display device according to configuration 18 or 19, characterized in that, in the peripheral portion of the display area, a light-emitting unit that emits light of a second color different from the first color is arranged on a pixel drive circuit of a pixel that emits light of a first color in at least a part of the pixel drive circuit. (Configuration 21) an optical unit; an imaging element that receives light that has passed through the optical unit; a display device that displays an image captured by the imaging element; and The display device is a display device according to any one of configurations 1 to 20. A photoelectric conversion device characterized by: (Configuration 22) The display device according to any one of configurations 1 to 20, a housing in which the display device is provided; a communication unit provided in the housing for communicating with an external device; An electronic device comprising: [Explanation of symbols]

[0180] 10A display device 21 Organic EL element 22 Drive transistor 23 Write transistor 31 1st electrode 32 Insulating layer 33 Organic layer 35 2nd electrode 101 pixels 101A Pixel driving circuit 101B Light-emitting part 211 scan lines 310 Signal Line

Claims

1. a plurality of scanning lines extending in a first direction in a plan view of the main surface of the substrate; a plurality of signal lines extending in a second direction intersecting the first direction in the plan view; a display area in which a plurality of pixels are arranged two-dimensionally; each of the plurality of pixels includes a light emitting element and a pixel driving circuit that drives the light emitting element; the light-emitting element has a light-emitting portion in which an organic layer having a light-emitting layer is sandwiched between a first electrode and a second electrode within an opening in an insulating layer; the pixel drive circuit includes a write transistor connected to the signal line and the scan line, and a drive transistor that causes a current to flow through the light emitting element in response to a signal voltage supplied from the write transistor; In one pixel of the plurality of pixels, a region surrounded by a signal line and a scanning line connected to the write transistor, a signal line connected to the write transistor of a pixel adjacent to the signal line with the drive transistor sandwiched therebetween, and a scanning line connected to the write transistor of a pixel adjacent to the scan line with the drive transistor sandwiched therebetween is defined as a drive region of the pixel, the plurality of pixels include a first pixel and a second pixel disposed at a position closer to the center of the display area than the first pixel; A display device, wherein, in the planar view, a ratio of an area of ​​the driving region of the first pixel to an area of ​​the driving region of the second pixel is greater than a ratio of an area of ​​one light-emitting portion of the first pixel to an area of ​​one light-emitting portion of the second pixel.

2. The display device according to claim 1 , wherein the light emitted from the first pixel and the light emitted from the second pixel have the same color.

3. The display device according to claim 1 , wherein the area of ​​one light-emitting portion of the first pixel is the same as that of one light-emitting portion of the second pixel.

4. The display device according to claim 1 , wherein the number of light-emitting portions of the first pixel is greater than the number of light-emitting portions of the second pixel.

5. 2. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the first pixel is disposed at a distance from the center of the display area within 5% of the distance from the center to the edge of the display area.

6. 2. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the second pixel is arranged within 25% of the distance from the edge of the display device to the center of the display area.

7. 2. The display device according to claim 1, wherein in the peripheral portion of the display area, the light-emitting portions of pixels that emit light of a first color, the light-emitting portions of pixels that emit light of a second color different from the first color, and the light-emitting portions of pixels that emit light of a third color different from the light of the first color and the light of the second color are continuous in the column direction, and the arrangement of the light-emitting portions in the peripheral portion is the same as that of the light-emitting portions in the central portion.

8. the display area includes a first area, a second area, and a third area between the first area and the second area in the first direction, and a fourth area adjacent to the third area in the second direction; the first pixel is disposed in the third region, and the second pixel is disposed in the fourth region; The pitch of the signal lines connected to the write transistors of the pixels arranged in the third region including the first pixel is set to be equal to the pitch of the signal lines connected to the write transistors of the pixels arranged in the fourth region including the second pixel.

2. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the pitch of the signal lines connected to the display device is the same as that of the signal lines connected to the display device.

9. 8. The display device according to claim 7, wherein, in the peripheral portion of the display area, a light-emitting portion that emits light of a second color different from the first color is arranged on a pixel drive circuit of a pixel that emits light of a first color in at least a part of the pixel drive circuit.

10. 2. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the pixel drive circuits and the light-emitting sections are arranged differently in the periphery of the display area.

11. 2. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the number of drive transistors in the first pixel is greater than the number of write transistors.

12. 2. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the number of drive transistors in the first pixel is greater than the number of drive transistors in the second pixel.

13. 2. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the driving transistor in the first pixel has the same channel width and channel length as the driving transistor in the second pixel.

14. The display device according to claim 1, further comprising a switching transistor that determines whether or not to pass a current to the light-emitting element depending on the conduction state of a pixel drive circuit, and the second pixel passes a current to the light-emitting element for a plurality of rows simultaneously.

15. a plurality of scanning lines extending in a first direction in a plan view of the main surface of the substrate; a plurality of signal lines extending in a second direction intersecting the first direction in the plan view; a display area in which a plurality of pixels are arranged two-dimensionally; each of the plurality of pixels includes a light emitting element and a pixel driving circuit that drives the light emitting element; the light-emitting element has a light-emitting portion in which an organic layer having a light-emitting layer is sandwiched between a first electrode and a second electrode within an opening in an insulating layer; the pixel drive circuit includes a write transistor connected to the signal line and the scan line, and a drive transistor that causes a current to flow through the light emitting element in response to a signal voltage supplied from the write transistor; In one pixel of the plurality of pixels, a region surrounded by a signal line and a scanning line connected to the write transistor, a signal line connected to the write transistor of a pixel adjacent to the signal line with the drive transistor sandwiched therebetween, and a scanning line connected to the write transistor of a pixel adjacent to the scan line with the drive transistor sandwiched therebetween is defined as a drive region of the pixel, the plurality of pixels include a first pixel and a second pixel disposed at a position closer to the center of the display area than the first pixel; A display device, wherein, in the planar view, a ratio of an area of ​​one light-emitting portion of the first pixel to an area of ​​a driving region of the first pixel is smaller than a ratio of an area of ​​one light-emitting portion of the second pixel to an area of ​​a driving region of the second pixel.

16. The display device of claim 15, wherein the area of ​​one light-emitting portion of the first pixel is the same as that of one light-emitting portion of the second pixel.

17. The display device according to claim 15 , wherein the number of light-emitting portions of the first pixel is greater than the number of light-emitting portions of the second pixel.

18. a light-emitting portion of a pixel that emits light of a first color in a peripheral portion of the display area; 16. The display device according to claim 15, wherein the light-emitting portions of the pixels that emit light of a second color different from the first color and the light of a third color different from the light of the first color and the light of the second color are continuous in the column direction, and the arrangement of the light-emitting portions in the peripheral portion is the same as that of the light-emitting portions in the central portion.

19. the display area includes a first area, a second area, and a third area between the first area and the second area in the first direction, and a fourth area adjacent to the third area in the second direction; the first pixel is disposed in the third region, and the second pixel is disposed in the fourth region; 16. The display device according to claim 15, wherein the pitch of signal lines connected to drive transistors of pixels arranged in the third region including the first pixel is the same as the pitch of signal lines connected to write transistors of pixels arranged in the fourth region including the second pixel.

20. 19. The display device according to claim 18, wherein, in the peripheral portion of the display area, a light-emitting portion that emits light of a second color different from the first color is disposed on a pixel drive circuit of a pixel that emits light of a first color in at least a portion thereof.

21. an optical unit; an imaging element that receives light that has passed through the optical unit; a display device that displays an image captured by the imaging element; and The display device is a display device according to any one of claims 1 to 20. A photoelectric conversion device characterized by:

22. A display device according to any one of claims 1 to 20; a housing in which the display device is provided; a communication unit provided in the housing for communicating with an external device; An electronic device comprising:

Images