Light-emitting device, display device, photoelectric conversion device, electronic device, lighting device, mobile object, and wearable device

Abstract

To provide technique advantageous for improvement of resolution in a light-emitting device.SOLUTION: Each of a plurality of pixels includes a light-emitting element and a driving circuit for driving the light-emitting element. The driving circuit is constituted by a plurality of transistors, and the plurality of transistors constitute a first group and a second group, each of which groups includes one or more transistors. Transistors of a first group, of the plurality of transistors are arranged along a first group virtual line in which a source region, a gate region and a drain region are in parallel with a first direction, and transistors of a second group, of the plurality of transistors are arranged along a second group virtual line in which a source region, a gate region and a drain region are in parallel with the first group virtual line. In each of the plurality of pixels, a virtual line that passes through gate electrodes of transistors of the first group, of the plurality of transistors and is in parallel with a second direction do not pass through gate electrodes of transistors of the second group, of the plurality of transistors.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a light-emitting device, a display device, a photoelectric conversion device, an electronic device, a lighting device, a moving object, and a wearable device. [Background technology]

[0002] There is known a light-emitting device that uses an organic EL (electroluminescence) element as a light-emitting element, which emits light with a luminance according to the current flowing through the element. In the light-emitting device, there is a demand for miniaturization and narrowing of the pitch of the driving circuit for driving the organic EL element in order to improve the resolution. Patent Document 1 shows that the layer above the gate electrode is effectively utilized to increase the density of pixels. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2014-186258 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] There is a limit to how miniaturized the transistors that make up the driver circuits can be made from the standpoint of pixel-to-pixel variation and the amount of current supplied to the organic EL elements.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a technique that is advantageous for improving the resolution in a light-emitting device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In view of the above problems, a light emitting device according to an embodiment of the present invention is a light emitting device having a plurality of pixels arranged on a substrate to form a plurality of columns parallel to a first direction and a plurality of rows parallel to a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, each of the plurality of pixels including a light emitting element and a drive circuit for driving the light emitting element, the drive circuit being configured with a plurality of transistors, the plurality of transistors being configured into a first group and a second group each including one or more transistors, the transistors of the first group among the plurality of transistors have source regions, gate regions and drain regions arranged along a first group virtual line parallel to the first direction, the transistors of the second group among the plurality of transistors have source regions, gate regions and drain regions arranged along a second group virtual line parallel to the first group virtual line, and in each of the plurality of pixels, a virtual line parallel to the second direction passing through a gate electrode of the transistors of the first group among the plurality of transistors passes through a gate electrode of the transistors of the second group among the plurality of transistors, the plurality of transistors include a first transistor and a third transistor included in the first group and a second transistor included in the second group, a gate electrode of the first transistor is electrically connected to a drain region of the second transistor, the drain region of the first transistor is electrically connected to an anode of the light-emitting element, and the drain region of the third transistor is electrically connected to a source region of the first transistor, and controls whether the light-emitting element emits light or not. It is characterized by: Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a technique that is advantageous for improving the resolution of a light emitting device. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of a light emitting device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of a pixel of the light-emitting device of FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a plan view of a drive circuit for the pixel in FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a drive circuit for the pixel in FIG. [Diagram 5] FIG. 3 is a plan view of a drive circuit for the pixel in FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a drive circuit for the pixel in FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 3 is a plan view of a drive circuit for the pixel in FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of a pixel of the light-emitting device of FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a plan view of a drive circuit for the pixel in FIG. 8 . [Figure 10] FIG. 9 is a plan view of a drive circuit for the pixel in FIG. 8 . [Figure 11] FIG. 9 is a plan view of a drive circuit for the pixel in FIG. 8 . [Figure 12] FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of a pixel of the light-emitting device of FIG. [Figure 13] FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of a pixel of the light-emitting device of FIG. [Figure 14] 13 is a plan view of a driving circuit for the pixel of FIG. 12; [Figure 15] 2 is a plan view of a driving circuit for a pixel of the light-emitting device of FIG. 1. [Figure 16] FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a display device using the light-emitting device in FIG. [Figure 17] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a photoelectric conversion device using the light-emitting device of FIG. [Figure 18] 1A to 1C are diagrams illustrating examples of electronic devices using the light-emitting device in FIG. [Figure 19] FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a display device using the light-emitting device in FIG. [Figure 20] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a lighting device using the light-emitting device in FIG. [Figure 21] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a moving object using the light emitting device of FIG. [Figure 22] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a wearable device using the light-emitting device of FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] Hereinafter, the embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. Note that the following embodiments do not limit the invention according to the claims. Although the embodiments describe a number of features, not all of these features are essential to the invention, and the features may be combined in any manner. Furthermore, in the attached drawings, the same reference numbers are used for the same or similar configurations, and duplicated descriptions are omitted.

[0010] In this embodiment, the light emitting device is one in which the light emitting elements arranged in each pixel are driven by a driving circuit corresponding to each light emitting element formed on a semiconductor substrate. The light emitting elements may be liquid crystal, organic light emitting diodes (OLED, organic EL), inorganic LEDs, quantum dots, or the like, and the material composition and structure of the elements are not important, but the light emission luminance can be electrically controlled by the driving circuit. In addition, the driving circuit and the light emitting elements are electrically connected and formed on the same semiconductor substrate, but there is no restriction on the geometric positional relationship between the driving circuit and the light emitting elements. The driving circuits are two-dimensionally arranged in consideration of the corresponding relationship with the light emitting elements, but the arrangement form of the light emitting elements is not important, such as a square arrangement or a hexagonal close-packed arrangement. In addition, the number of colors emitted by the light emitting device is not important.

[0011] The driving circuit is composed of circuit elements including a plurality of transistors per pixel, and the region formed on the semiconductor substrate where the transistors are arranged is called the transistor region. In other words, the substrate has a transistor region where a plurality of transistors constituting the driving circuit are arranged. One transistor region includes a region where the active regions and terminals of a plurality of transistors for driving one or a plurality of light-emitting pixels are arranged. Here, the terminals are the source region (source terminal), the drain region (drain terminal), and the gate region (gate terminal) if the transistor is a field effect transistor such as a MOSFET. Normally, the MOSFET is connected to the wiring layer above it by a via, but here, the via and the wiring layer are not included in the components of the transistor region. In addition, when the transistor is a MOSFET, a well terminal may be provided in each transistor region, and in this case, the well terminal is considered to be a component of the transistor in the transistor region. The transistor configurations inside each transistor region do not need to be uniform, and the transistor configurations may be different in the transistor regions between adjacent pixels. In addition, even if the transistor configurations are the same, the arrangement may be different, such as a mirror image arrangement.

[0012] When adjacent pixels have locations at the same potential, the driving circuits of different pixels may share terminals constituting transistors. In this case, the boundary between the transistor regions of the driving circuits may exist on the shared terminals.

[0013] The light emitting device of the present embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that all of the embodiments described below are merely examples of the present embodiment, and the numerical values, shapes, materials, components, arrangements and connection forms of the components, etc., do not limit the present embodiment.

[0014] 1 is a system diagram showing an outline of a light emitting device 101 of this embodiment. The light emitting device 101 has a plurality of pixels 102 arranged on a substrate so as to form a plurality of columns parallel to the row direction and a plurality of rows parallel to the column direction perpendicular to the row direction. Each of the plurality of pixels 102 includes a light emitting element and a drive circuit for driving the light emitting element. As inputs to the drive circuit, a control signal is sent from a vertical scanning circuit 104 via a scanning line 106, and a light emission signal is sent from a signal output circuit 105 via a signal line 107. An organic EL element is electrically connected to the drive circuit as a light emitting element, and light emission is controlled.

[0015] 2 shows a circuit diagram of a driving circuit of a pixel 102 in this embodiment. The pixel 102 includes an organic EL element 200 as a light-emitting element. The pixel 102 also includes four transistors, a driving transistor 201, a light-emitting control transistor 202, a writing transistor 203, and a reset transistor 204, and two electrostatic capacitances 205 and 206, as a driving circuit. The driving circuit is connected to power supply potentials Vdd and Vss. These four transistors constituting the driving circuit are each a P-type transistor, and control signals are input to the gate electrodes of the light-emitting control transistor 202, the writing transistor 203, and the reset transistor 204 via three scanning lines 106a, 106b, and 106c, respectively.

[0016] The signal line 107 is connected to the source region of the write transistor 203, and when the write transistor 203 is turned on, the voltage value of the signal line 107 is input to the gate electrode of the drive transistor 201. The value of the current flowing between the source region and the drain region of the drive transistor 201 is determined depending on this signal voltage, and the light emission brightness of the organic EL element 200 is controlled. The drain region of the drive transistor 201 is electrically connected to the anode of the organic EL element 200 and the source region of the reset transistor 204. When the reset transistor 204 is in the on state, no current flows through the organic EL element 200, and the organic EL element 200 does not emit light. The source region of the light emission control transistor 202 is connected to the power supply potential Vdd, and the drain region is electrically connected to the source region of the drive transistor 201, and controls whether the organic EL element 200 emits light or not. The cathode of the organic EL element 200 and the drain region of the reset transistor are connected to the power supply potential Vss and are at the same potential. The power supply potential Vdd is, for example, +10 volts with respect to the power supply potential Vss, but the setting of these potentials is determined by the photoelectric conversion characteristics of the organic EL element 200, which is a light-emitting element.

[0017] FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the arrangement on a substrate of the driving transistor 201, the light emission control transistor 202, the writing transistor 203, and the reset transistor 204 constituting the driving circuit in this embodiment. The horizontal (lateral) direction in FIG. 3 is the x direction, and the direction perpendicular to the x direction on the surface of the substrate (the vertical direction in FIG. 3) is the y direction. The light emission control transistor 202, the driving transistor 201, and the reset transistor 204 have their source regions, gate regions, and drain regions aligned on a straight line parallel to the y direction. The writing transistor 203 has a source region 408 and a drain region 410 separated from the other three transistors by an insulator, and the source region 408, the gate region, and the drain region 410 are arranged parallel to the y direction. In the circuit of FIG. 2, the drain region of the light emission control transistor 202 and the source region of the driving transistor 201 are at the same potential, and are arranged as a shared node sharing the same diffusion region 413 as shown in FIG. 3. Similarly, the drain region of the drive transistor 201 and the source region of the reset transistor 204 are at the same potential, and are therefore arranged as a shared node sharing the same diffusion region 415. The drain region 410 of the write transistor 203 and the gate electrode 414 of the drive transistor 201 are the same terminal in the circuit diagram of Fig. 2, and are therefore electrically connected via a wiring pattern 421 as shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a plan view of a semiconductor substrate, and therefore does not depict the connections shown in the circuit diagram of Fig. 2, but a wiring layer is laminated on each transistor of the semiconductor substrate, and the circuit shown in Fig. 2 is realized by the wiring patterns and through vias. The cross-sectional structure will be shown later in Fig. 4.

[0018] In the light emitting device 101 of this embodiment, drive circuits are arranged to correspond to the two-dimensionally arranged light emitting elements (organic EL elements 200). The arrangement form may be different from the arrangement of the light emitting elements, but the drive circuits are arranged at least as densely as or more densely than the arrangement density of the light emitting elements.

[0019] The transistor regions 301, 302, 303, and 304 surrounded by dashed lines shown in FIG. 3 are regions occupied by the active regions (gate regions), source regions, drain regions, and gate electrodes (gate terminals) of the four transistors constituting the driving circuit in the orthogonal projection onto the semiconductor substrate. The source region and the drain region may be defined, for example, as a region of the opposite conductivity type to the well layer. Also, for example, the source region and the drain region may be defined as a region of the opposite conductivity type to the active region when the transistor is in the off state. Also, for example, the source region and the drain region may be defined as a region having an impurity concentration 10 times or more higher than that of the active region when the transistor is in the off state. The active region may be defined as a region formed under the gate electrode, and a charge is transferred between the source region and the drain region in response to a change in the potential of the gate electrode. The active region may also be called a channel region. The gate electrode may be defined, for example, as a conductive pattern constituting the gate electrode. Also, the gate electrode may have various shapes depending on the layout of the pixel. Therefore, the transistor region may be a region occupied by active regions, source regions, and drain regions of a plurality of transistors constituting a drive circuit when orthogonally projected onto the semiconductor substrate. The transistors arranged in each of the transistor regions 301-304 constitute a circuit for driving one organic EL element 200. FIG. 3 shows a transistor region in which a plurality of transistors constituting a drive circuit corresponding to four pixels 102 (four organic EL elements 200) are arranged. The write transistor 203 is separated from the drive transistor 201, the emission control transistor 202, and the reset transistor 204 via an insulating separation portion, but includes the write transistor 203 to constitute one transistor region 301-304.

[0020] Here, the relationship between the transistor regions of the pixels 102 adjacent to each other in the y direction in FIG. 3 among the multiple pixels 102 will be described. In other words, the relationship between the transistor regions 301 and 302 adjacent to each other in the y direction. As shown in FIG. 3, a virtual line parallel to the y direction passing through the transistor region 302 passes through the transistor region 301. Although synonymous, the end of the transistor region 301 on the transistor region 302 side is arranged higher in the y direction in the arrangement of FIG. 3 than the end of the transistor region 302 on the transistor region 301 side. By providing an area where the transistor region 301 and the transistor region 302 overlap in the x direction, it is possible to increase the arrangement density of each transistor constituting the driving circuit. This allows the light emitting device 101 to have a high resolution without miniaturizing the transistors.

[0021] In this embodiment, among the plurality of transistors arranged in each of the transistor regions 301 to 304, the transistors whose source region, gate region, and drain region are arranged along a virtual line VL1 (first group virtual line) parallel to the y direction are called the first group of transistors. Specifically, the drive transistor 201, the light emission control transistor 202, and the reset transistor 204 are called the first group of transistors. Among the plurality of transistors arranged in each of the transistor regions 301 to 304, the transistors whose source region, gate region, and drain region are arranged along a virtual line VL2 (second group virtual line) parallel to the virtual line VL1 are called the second group of transistors. Specifically, the write transistor 203 is called the second group of transistors. The plurality of transistors arranged in each of the transistor regions 301 to 304 constitute a first group and a second group, each of which includes one or more transistors.

[0022] The source regions, gate regions, and drain regions of the first and second groups of transistors are arranged in parallel in the y direction, and as shown in FIG. 3, a virtual line along the x direction passing through the gate electrodes 412, 414, and 416 of the first group of transistors does not pass through the gate electrode 409 of the second group of transistors. In FIG. 3, the gate electrodes are areas indicated by diagonal lines. For example, a virtual line parallel to the x direction passing through the gate electrodes 412, 414, and 416 of the first group of transistors arranged in the same transistor region 302 does not pass through the gate electrode 409 of the second group of transistors. Also, for example, a virtual line parallel to the x direction passing through the gate electrodes 412, 414, and 416 of the first group of transistors arranged in the transistor region 302 does not pass through the gate electrode 409 of the second group of transistors arranged in the transistor region 301.

[0023] In the case of the transistor shape shown in FIG. 3, the distance between the gate electrodes of each transistor may determine the arrangement density of the transistors. By arranging each transistor so that the gate electrodes do not face each other in the x direction, the arrangement density of the driving circuits in the x direction of FIG. 3 can be further increased. However, in the y direction of FIG. 3, the driving circuits are arranged to extend long, so that the lower ends of the transistor regions (e.g., the transistor region 302) adjacent in the y direction are arranged below the position of the source region 408 of the write transistor 203 arranged in the transistor region 301, and the gate electrodes of the transistor regions 301 and 302 are arranged so as not to face each other, thereby enabling the driving circuits to be arranged closely in the y direction as well. In the configuration shown in FIG. 3, a virtual line parallel to the x direction passing through the source region 418 of the light emission control transistor 202 arranged in the transistor region 302 passes through the gate electrode 409 of the write transistor 203 in the transistor region 301.

[0024] In this embodiment, since an example in which light-emitting elements of three colors are arranged is assumed, the ratio of the arrangement interval in the x direction of the transistor regions 301-304 in which the driving circuits are arranged to the arrangement interval in the y direction is 1:3. As a result, when the pixels 102 of three colors are regarded as one "display pixel", the arrangement interval of the "display pixel" in the x direction and the y direction becomes equal. In other words, when each of the transistor regions 301-304 in which the driving circuits corresponding to one organic EL element 200 are arranged is regarded as the region of one pixel 102, it can be said that the pitch of the pixels 102 arranged in the y direction among the multiple pixels 102 is wider than the pitch of the pixels 102 arranged in the x direction among the multiple pixels 102. Also, here, attention is paid to the transistor regions (for example, the transistor region 301 and the transistor region 303) corresponding to two pixels 102 adjacent to each other in the x direction. At this time, as shown in FIG. 3, the transistor region 303 can be arranged at a position obtained by translating the transistor region 301 in the x direction.

[0025] A driving circuit including a driving transistor 201, a light emission control transistor 202, a writing transistor 203, and a reset transistor 204 for driving an organic EL element 200, which is a single light emitting element, is arranged as described above. This makes it possible to increase the arrangement density of each transistor of the driving circuit on the substrate. This makes it possible to increase the density of the organic EL element 200, which is a light emitting element, without miniaturizing the transistors, and thus makes it possible to realize a light emitting device 101 with higher resolution.

[0026] A cross section taken along the line A-A' in FIG. 3 is shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 4 shows an example of a cross-sectional structure of a driving circuit (driving transistor 201, light-emitting control transistor 202, writing transistor 203, reset transistor 204), an organic EL element 200 as a light-emitting element, a wiring layer, and electrostatic capacitances 205 and 206 in this embodiment. The light-emitting device 101 in this embodiment is configured to include a semiconductor substrate 401, a wiring layer 402 formed on the substrate 401, and a light-emitting element layer 403. The substrate 401 is based on a single-crystal P-type silicon substrate 407, an N-type well layer 406 is formed thereon, and a MOSFET as a transistor is formed thereon. The N-type well layer 406 is electrically connected to a power supply voltage Vdd. Transistors that do not share a terminal are insulated and isolated by an insulator isolation portion 405. In this embodiment, the insulator isolation portion 405 is realized by an STI (Shallow Trench Isolation) structure. The insulator isolation 405 can be replaced by LOCOS (Local Oxidation Of Silicon) isolation, Deep Trench Isolation (DTI), N-type diffusion layer isolation, or the like. The STI structure in this embodiment is formed from silicon oxide to a depth of about 0.3 microns to 1.0 microns from the surface of the substrate 401. The driving transistor 201, the light emission control transistor 202, the writing transistor 203, and the reset transistor 204 each have a polysilicon gate electrode 414, 412, 409, and 416 on a thin insulating film formed on the substrate 401. The source region and the drain region of the driving transistor 201, the light emission control transistor 202, the writing transistor 203, and the reset transistor 204 are formed by a P-type diffusion layer, and are electrically connected to the wiring layer by a through via.

[0027] The power supply voltage of the power supply Vdd shown in FIG. 2 is supplied to the source region 411 of the light emission control transistor 202 through a wiring layer 402 composed of a plurality of patterned metal layers and an insulating layer including a through via that electrically connects the layers. The wiring layer 402 includes upper electrode patterns 442, 445 and thin insulating layers 443, 446 that constitute the capacitances 205, 206 in addition to the wiring pattern. The thin insulating layers 443, 446 that constitute the capacitances 205, 206 have a thickness of about several tens of nanometers. For the metal wiring pattern and vias of the wiring layer 402, tungsten, molybdenum, titanium, aluminum, neodymium, chromium, cobalt, copper, gold, laminations, compounds and alloys thereof, and compounds and alloys with metals such as silicon and copper can be used. For the insulating layer of the wiring layer 402, silicon oxide or silicon nitride can be used.

[0028] A light emitting element layer 403 is formed on the wiring layer 402. The light emitting element layer 403 includes an anode 451 of the organic EL element 200, an organic light emitting layer 452, a cathode 453, and a bank portion 454. The bank portion 454 has a function of suppressing electrical crosstalk between adjacent pixels 102 (light emitting elements). The light is emitted toward the top in FIG. 4, and the cathode 453 has sufficient light transparency in the emission wavelength region.

[0029] The scanning signal via the scanning line 106a is input to the gate electrode 412 of the light-emission control transistor 202 via the wiring pattern inside the wiring layer 402, and controls the light-emission control transistor 202. When the light-emission control transistor 202 is in the ON state, a power supply potential Vdd is applied to the source region (diffusion region 413) of the drive transistor 201.

[0030] The scanning signal through the scanning line 106b is input to the gate electrode 412 of the write transistor 203 through the wiring pattern inside the wiring layer 402, and controls the write transistor 203. When the write transistor 203 is in the ON state, a signal potential through the signal line 107 is applied to the gate electrode 414 of the drive transistor 201. Since the write transistor 203 is insulated from the drive transistor 201 by the insulator separation part 405, the drain region 410 of the write transistor 203 and the gate electrode 414 of the drive transistor 201 are connected through the wiring pattern 421 in the wiring layer 402. The drain current of the drive transistor 201, that is, the current flowing through the organic EL element 200, which is a light-emitting element, is controlled by the potential of the gate electrode 414 of the drive transistor 201, and the light emission brightness is determined. The drain region (diffusion region 415) of the drive transistor 201 is connected to the anode 451 of the organic EL element 200 through the wiring pattern in the wiring layer 402 or the like.

[0031] The scanning signal via the scanning line 106c is input to the gate electrode 416 of the reset transistor 204 via the wiring pattern inside the wiring layer 402, and controls the reset transistor 204. When the reset transistor 204 is in the ON state, the anode 451 that is conductive to the source region (diffusion region 415) of the reset transistor 204 becomes the power supply voltage Vss. The cathode 453 of the organic EL element 200 may be an electrode common to all the organic EL elements 200, and is supplied with the power supply potential Vss. Therefore, when the reset transistor 204 is in the ON state, the anode 451 and the cathode 453 of the organic EL element 200 become the same potential, light emission stops, and the organic EL element 200 is reset.

[0032] 5 and 6 show modified examples of the arrangement of the drive circuit including the drive transistor 201, the emission control transistor 202, the write transistor 203, and the reset transistor 204 shown in Fig. 3. In the configuration shown in Fig. 3, the emission control transistor 202, the drive transistor 201, and the reset transistor 204 are arranged in this order from the transistor region 301 side in the transistor region 302. On the other hand, in the configuration shown in Fig. 5, the reset transistor 204, the drive transistor 201, and the emission control transistor 202 are arranged in this order from the transistor region 311 side in the transistor region 312.

[0033] Here, attention is paid to transistor regions (for example, the transistor region 311 and the transistor region 312) corresponding to two pixels 102 adjacent to each other in the y direction. In the configuration shown in FIG. 5, a virtual line parallel to the x direction passing through the drain region 471 of the reset transistor 204 arranged in the transistor region 312 passes through the gate electrode 462 of the write transistor 203 in the transistor region 311. Also, a virtual line parallel to the x direction passing through the gate electrode 462 of the write transistor 203 in the transistor region 311 does not pass through the gate electrodes 465, 467, 469 of the first group of transistors (the drive transistor 201, the emission control transistor 202, and the reset transistor 204) arranged in the transistor region 311. Also, a virtual line parallel to the x direction passing through the gate electrode 462 of the write transistor 203 in the transistor region 311 does not pass through the gate electrodes of the first group of transistors (the drive transistor 201, the emission control transistor 202, and the reset transistor 204) arranged in the transistor region 312. With this configuration, it is possible to arrange the driving circuits for driving the organic EL elements 200, which are light-emitting elements, at a high density, as in the configuration shown in Fig. 3. This makes it possible to achieve high resolution for the light-emitting device 101, also in the configuration shown in Fig. 5.

[0034] A cross section taken along line B-B' in Fig. 5 is shown in Fig. 6. The configuration and materials of each layer may be similar to those of the cross section shown in Fig. 4 described above, but the arrangement of the light-emitting control transistor 202 and the reset transistor 204 is different. Accordingly, the configuration of the wiring layer 402 is also partially different. The structure of the organic EL element 200, which is a light-emitting element, may be equivalent to the configuration in Fig. 4.

[0035] A scanning signal via the scanning line 106a is input to a gate electrode 469 of the light-emission control transistor 202 via a wiring pattern inside the wiring layer 402, and controls the light-emission control transistor 202. When the light-emission control transistor 202 is in an ON state, a power supply potential Vdd is applied to a source region 468 of the drive transistor 201.

[0036] The scanning signal through the scanning line 106b is input to the gate electrode 462 of the write transistor 203 through the wiring pattern inside the wiring layer 402, and controls the write transistor 203. When the write transistor 203 is in the ON state, a signal potential through the signal line 107 is applied to the gate electrode 467 of the drive transistor 201. Since the write transistor 203 is insulated from the drive transistor 201 by the insulator separation part 405, the drain region 463 of the write transistor 203 and the gate electrode 467 of the drive transistor 201 are connected through the wiring pattern 421 in the wiring layer 402. The drain current of the drive transistor 201, that is, the current flowing through the organic EL element 200, which is a light-emitting element, is controlled by the potential of the gate electrode 467 of the drive transistor 201, and the light emission brightness is determined. The drain region (diffusion region 466) of the drive transistor 201 is connected to the anode 451 of the light-emitting element 200 through the wiring pattern in the wiring layer 402 or the like.

[0037] The scanning signal via the scanning line 106c is input to the gate electrode 465 of the reset transistor 204 via the wiring pattern inside the wiring layer 402, and controls the reset transistor 204. When the reset transistor 204 is in the ON state, the anode 451 that is conductive to the source region (diffusion region 466) of the reset transistor 204 becomes the power supply voltage Vss. The cathode 453 of the organic EL element 200 may be an electrode common to all the organic EL elements 200, and is supplied with the power supply potential Vss. Therefore, when the reset transistor 204 is in the ON state, the anode 451 and the cathode 453 of the organic EL element 200 become equipotential, light emission stops, and the organic EL element 200 is reset.

[0038] In the configuration shown in Fig. 5, the positions of the drive transistor 201, the light emission control transistor 202, and the reset transistor 204 are inverted relative to the configuration shown in Fig. 3. However, this is not limited to this, and for example, in the configuration shown in Fig. 5, the source region 408 and the drain region 410 of the write transistor 203 may be inverted. In the configuration shown in Fig. 3, the source region 408 and the drain region 410 of the write transistor 203 may also be inverted.

[0039] 7 shows a further modified example of the arrangement of the drive circuit including the drive transistor 201, the light emission control transistor 202, the write transistor 203, and the reset transistor 204 shown in FIGS. 3 and 5. In the configuration shown in FIG. 7, the transistor regions 321 to 324 are arranged in mirror symmetry on an alternating row basis.

[0040] 7, in the transistor region 321 on the Nth row, the transistors are arranged in the order of the emission control transistor 202, the drive transistor 201, and the reset transistor 204 from the transistor region 322 side. On the other hand, in the transistor region 322 on the N+1th row, the transistors are arranged in the order of the emission control transistor 202, the drive transistor 201, and the reset transistor 204 from the transistor region 322 side.

[0041] In this case, in the transistor regions (e.g., the transistor region 321 and the transistor region 322) of two pixels 102 adjacent to each other in the y direction, the source region of the emission control transistor 202 in the transistor region 321 and the source region of the emission control transistor 202 in the transistor region 322 may share one diffusion region 480. In this case, the boundary between the transistor region 321 and the transistor region 322 passes over the diffusion region 480. Therefore, a virtual line parallel to the x direction that passes through the source region of the emission control transistor 202 in the transistor region 321 and the source region of the emission control transistor 202 in the transistor region 322 passes through the gate electrode of the write transistor 203 in the transistor region 322.

[0042] Similarly, in the transistor regions of two pixels 102 adjacent to each other in the y direction, the drain regions of the reset transistors 204 are also connected to the power supply voltage Vss of the same potential, and therefore the diffusion region may be shared. In this case, the boundary between the transistor regions of the two pixels 102 adjacent to each other in the y direction passes over the shared diffusion region that functions as the drain region of the reset transistor 204. Therefore, a virtual line parallel to the x direction that passes through the source region that shares the diffusion region of the emission control transistor 202 in the transistor regions 321 of the two pixels 102 adjacent to each other in the y direction passes through the gate electrode of the write transistor 203 in any of the transistor regions.

[0043] 7, it is not necessary to electrically isolate the driving circuits for each pixel 102 as shown in Figures 3 and 5. This allows for a more dense arrangement of the driving circuits, and enables the light emitting device 101 to have a higher resolution.

[0044] Fig. 8 is a diagram showing a modified example of the drive circuit of the pixel 102 shown in Fig. 2. The configuration shown in Fig. 8 is different from the configuration shown in Fig. 2 in that the reset transistor 204 is not provided. Other configurations may be the same as the configuration shown in Fig. 2.

[0045] Specifically, the pixel 102 includes an organic EL element 600 as a light-emitting element. The pixel 102 also includes three transistors, a drive transistor 601, a light-emission control transistor 602, and a write transistor 603, as a drive circuit, and two electrostatic capacitances 605 and 606. The drive circuit is connected to power supply potentials Vdd and Vss. These four transistors constituting the drive circuit are P-type transistors, and control signals are input to the gate electrodes of the light-emission control transistor 202 and the write transistor 203 via two scanning lines 106a and 106b, respectively.

[0046] The signal line 107 is connected to the drain region of the write transistor 603, and when the write transistor 603 is turned on, the voltage value of the signal line 107 is input to the gate electrode of the drive transistor 601. The value of the current flowing between the source terminal and drain terminal of the drive transistor 601 is determined depending on this signal voltage, and the light emission brightness of the organic EL element 600 is controlled. The drain terminal of the drive transistor 701 is electrically connected to the anode of the organic EL element 700. The power supply potential Vdd is +10 volts based on the power supply potential Vss, and the settings of these potentials are determined by the photoelectric conversion characteristics of the organic EL element 600, which is a light emitting element.

[0047] FIG. 9 is a plan view showing the arrangement on a substrate of a driving transistor 601, a light emission control transistor 602, and a writing transistor 603 which constitute the driving circuit shown in FIG. 8. The light emission control transistor 602 and the driving transistor 601 have their source regions, gate regions, and drain regions aligned on a straight line parallel to the y direction. The writing transistor 603 has its source region 616 and drain region 618 separated from the light emission control transistor 602 and the driving transistor 601 by an insulator, and its source region 616, gate region, and drain region 618 are arranged parallel to the y direction. In the circuit of FIG. 8, the drain region of the light emission control transistor 602 and the source region of the driving transistor 601 are at the same potential, and are arranged as a shared node sharing the same diffusion region 613 as shown in FIG. 9. The drain region of the writing transistor 603 and the gate electrode of the driving transistor 601 are the same terminal in the circuit diagram of FIG. 8, and are therefore electrically connected via a wiring pattern 619 as shown in FIG. 9. Since FIG. 9 is a plan view on a semiconductor substrate, the wire connections shown in the circuit diagram of FIG. 8 are not drawn, but a wiring layer is stacked on each transistor of the semiconductor substrate, and the circuit shown in FIG. 8 is realized by the wiring pattern and through vias.

[0048] Here, attention is paid to transistor regions (for example, the transistor region 331 and the transistor region 332) corresponding to two pixels 102 adjacent to each other in the y direction. In the configuration shown in FIG. 9, a virtual line parallel to the x direction passing through the drain region 620 of the light emission control transistor 602 arranged in the transistor region 332 passes through the gate electrode 617 of the write transistor 603 in the transistor region 331. Also, a virtual line parallel to the x direction passing through the gate electrode 617 of the write transistor 603 in the transistor region 311 does not pass through the gate electrodes 612, 613 of the first group of transistors (the drive transistor 601, the light emission control transistor 602) arranged in the transistor region 331. Also, a virtual line parallel to the x direction passing through the gate electrode 617 of the write transistor 603 in the transistor region 311 does not pass through the gate electrodes of the first group of transistors (the drive transistor 601, the light emission control transistor 602) arranged in the transistor region 332. With this configuration, as with the above-described configurations, it is possible to arrange the drive circuits for driving the organic EL elements 600, which are light-emitting elements, at a high density. This makes it possible to achieve high resolution for the light-emitting device 101, even with the configuration shown in FIG.

[0049] 10 is a modified example of the arrangement of the drive circuit including the drive transistor 601, the light emission control transistor 602, and the write transistor 603 shown in FIG. 9. In the configuration shown in FIG. 9, the light emission control transistor 602 and the drive transistor 601 are arranged in this order from the transistor region 331 side in the transistor region 332. On the other hand, in the configuration shown in FIG. 10, the drive transistor 601 and the light emission control transistor 602 are arranged in this order from the transistor region 341 side in the transistor region 342. The rest of the configuration may be the same as that shown in FIG. 9, so a description thereof will be omitted here. In the configuration shown in FIG. 10, the effect of increasing the density of the drive circuit similar to that of the configuration shown in FIG. 9 can be obtained, and as a result, the resolution of the light emitting device 101 can be increased.

[0050] In the configuration shown in Fig. 10, the positions of the drive transistor 601 and the light emission control transistor 602 are inverted relative to the configuration shown in Fig. 9. However, this is not limiting, and for example, in the configuration shown in Fig. 10, the source region and the drain region of the write transistor 603 may be inverted. Similarly, in the configuration shown in Fig. 9, the source region 616 and the drain region 618 of the write transistor 603 may be inverted.

[0051] 11 shows a further modified example of the arrangement of the drive circuit including the drive transistor 601, the light emission control transistor 602, and the write transistor 603 shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. In the configuration shown in FIG. 11, the transistor regions 351 to 354 are arranged in mirror symmetry on an alternating row basis.

[0052] 11, in the transistor region 351 on the Nth row, the transistors are arranged in the order of the emission control transistor 602 and the drive transistor 601 from the transistor region 352 side. On the other hand, in the transistor region 352 on the N+1th row, the transistors are arranged in the order of the emission control transistor 602 and the drive transistor 601 from the transistor region 352 side.

[0053] In this case, in the transistor regions (for example, the transistor region 351 and the transistor region 352) of two pixels 102 adjacent to each other in the y direction, the source region of the emission control transistor 602 in the transistor region 351 and the source region of the emission control transistor 602 in the transistor region 352 may share one diffusion region 621. In this case, the boundary between the transistor region 351 and the transistor region 352 passes over the diffusion region 621. Therefore, a virtual line parallel to the x direction passing through the source region of the emission control transistor 602 in the transistor region 351 and the source region of the emission control transistor 602 in the transistor region 352 passes through the gate electrode of the write transistor 603 in the transistor region 352.

[0054] 11, it is no longer necessary to electrically isolate the driving circuits for each pixel 102 as shown in Figures 9 and 10. This allows for a more dense arrangement of the driving circuits, thereby enabling the light emitting device 101 to have a higher resolution.

[0055] Fig. 12 is a diagram showing a modified example of the drive circuit of the pixel 102 shown in Figs. 2 and 8. Compared to the configuration shown in Fig. 2, the configuration shown in Fig. 10 does not include the emission control transistor 202 and the reset transistor 204. In addition, since the emission control transistor 202 is not provided, the electrostatic capacitance 206 is also not provided. Other configurations may be the same as the configuration shown in Fig. 2.

[0056] Specifically, the pixel 102 includes an organic EL element 700 as a light-emitting element. The pixel 102 also includes two transistors, a drive transistor 701 and a write transistor 703, and one capacitance 705 as a drive circuit. The drive circuit is connected to power supply potentials Vdd and Vss. These two transistors constituting the drive circuit are both P-type transistors, and a control signal is input to the gate electrode of the write transistor 703 via the scanning line 106b.

[0057] The signal line 107 is connected to the drain region of the write transistor 703, and when the write transistor 703 is turned on, the voltage value of the signal line 107 is input to the gate electrode of the drive transistor 701. The value of the current flowing between the source terminal and drain terminal of the drive transistor 701 is determined depending on this signal voltage, and the light emission brightness of the organic EL element 700 is controlled. The drain terminal of the drive transistor 701 is connected to the anode terminal of the organic EL element 700. The power supply potential Vdd is +10 volts based on the power supply potential Vss, and the settings of these potentials are determined by the photoelectric conversion characteristics of the organic EL element 700, which is a light emitting element.

[0058] Fig. 13 is a modification of Fig. 12. In each of the above-mentioned configurations, an example has been shown in which a P-type transistor is used as the transistor used in the drive circuit of the pixel 102. However, this is not limited to this. Fig. 13 shows an example in which the drive transistor 801 and the write transistor 803 are configured by N-type transistors. Therefore, the electrostatic capacitance 805 is connected between the gate and source of the drive transistor 801. In each of the above-mentioned configurations, an N-type transistor may be used instead of the P-type transistor.

[0059] FIG. 14 is a plan view showing the arrangement on a substrate of a driving transistor 701 and a writing transistor 703 constituting the driving circuit shown in FIG. 12. FIG. 14 will be described in correspondence with the circuit diagram of FIG. 12, but the arrangement of the transistors may be similar to that of the circuit diagram of FIG. 13, except that the polarity of the PN of the transistor is different. The driving transistor 701 has a source region, a gate region, and a drain region arranged on a straight line parallel to the y direction. The writing transistor 603 has a source region and a drain region separated from the driving transistor 601 by an insulator, and the source region, the gate region, and the drain region are arranged parallel to the y direction. The drain region of the writing transistor 603 and the gate electrode of the driving transistor 601 are the same terminal on the circuit diagram of FIG. 8, so they are conducted via a wiring pattern as shown in FIG. 9. Since FIG. 9 is a plan view on a semiconductor substrate, the connections shown in the circuit diagram of FIG. 8 are not drawn, but a wiring layer is laminated on each transistor of the semiconductor substrate, and the circuit shown in FIG. 8 is realized by the wiring pattern and the through via.

[0060] Here, attention is paid to the transistor regions (for example, the transistor region 371 and the transistor region 372) corresponding to two pixels 102 adjacent to each other in the y direction. In the configuration shown in FIG. 14, a virtual line parallel to the x direction passing through the drain region or source region of the driving transistor 701 arranged in the transistor region 372 passes through the gate electrode of the writing transistor 703 in the transistor region 371. Also, a virtual line parallel to the x direction passing through the gate electrode of the writing transistor 703 in the transistor region 371 does not pass through the gate electrode of the first group of transistors (the driving transistor 701) arranged in the transistor region 371. Also, a virtual line parallel to the x direction passing through the gate electrode of the writing transistor 703 in the transistor region 371 does not pass through the gate electrode of the first group of transistors (the driving transistor 701) arranged in the transistor region 372. With this configuration, as with each of the above-mentioned configurations, it is possible to arrange the driving circuits for driving the organic EL element 700, which is a light-emitting element, at a high density. As a result, even in the configuration shown in FIG. 14, it is possible to increase the resolution of the light-emitting device 101.

[0061] Fig. 15 is a plan view showing a modified example of the arrangement on a substrate of the drive transistor 701 and the write transistor 703 constituting the drive circuit shown in Fig. 14. In the configuration shown in Fig. 15, the drive transistor 701 and the write transistor 703 are aligned on a straight line parallel to the y direction. Moreover, the drive transistors 701 and the write transistors 703 adjacent to each other in the x direction are arranged alternately in the y direction so that their gate terminals do not face each other.

[0062] Here, attention is paid to a transistor region (for example, transistor region 381 and transistor region 382) corresponding to two pixels 102 adjacent to each other in the y direction, and a transistor region (for example, transistor region 383) corresponding to a pixel 102 adjacent to each other in the x direction with respect to the two pixels 102 adjacent to each other in the y direction. At this time, a virtual line parallel to the x direction passing through the transistor region 383 passes through the transistor region 381 or the transistor region 382. Furthermore, a virtual line parallel to the x direction passing through the gate electrodes of the multiple transistors in the transistor region 383 does not pass through the transistor region 381 and the gate electrodes of the multiple transistors in the transistor region 381. This allows the drive circuits to be arranged with high density in the x direction and y direction as well. The configuration shown in FIG. 15 also allows the light emitting device 101 to have a high resolution.

[0063] Here, application examples in which the light-emitting device 101 of the present embodiment is applied to a display device, a photoelectric conversion device, an electronic device, a lighting device, a mobile object, and a wearable device will be described with reference to Figs. 16 to 22. In addition, the light-emitting device 101 can be used as an exposure light source for an electrophotographic image forming device, a backlight for a liquid crystal display device, a light-emitting device having a color filter in a white light source, and the like. The display device 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, or the like, an information processing unit that processes the input information, and displays the input image on a display unit. The display unit of a camera or an inkjet printer may have a touch panel function. The driving method of this touch panel function may be an infrared type, a capacitance type, a resistive film type, or an electromagnetic induction type, and is not particularly limited. The display device may be used in the display unit of a multifunction printer.

[0064] FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a display device using the light-emitting device 101 of this embodiment. The display device 1000 may have a touch panel 1003, a display panel 1005, a frame 1006, a circuit board 1007, and a battery 1008 between an upper cover 1001 and a lower cover 1009. Flexible printed circuits FPC1002 and 1004 are connected to the touch panel 1003 and the display panel 1005. An active element such as a transistor is disposed on the circuit board 1007. The battery 1008 may not be disposed if the display device 1000 is not a portable device, and even if the display device 1000 is a portable device, it is not necessary to dispose the battery 1008 at this position. The above-mentioned light-emitting device 101 can be applied to the display panel 1005. The light-emitting device 101 functioning as the display panel 1005 is connected to an active element such as a transistor disposed on the circuit board 1007 and operates.

[0065] The display device 1000 shown in Fig. 16 may be used as a display unit of a photoelectric conversion device (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 and photoelectrically converts it into an electrical signal. The photoelectric conversion 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 photoelectric conversion device, or may be a display unit disposed within a viewfinder. The photoelectric conversion device may be a digital camera or a digital video camera.

[0066] FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a photoelectric conversion device using the light emitting device 101 of this embodiment. The photoelectric conversion device 1100 may have a viewfinder 1101, a rear display 1102, an operation unit 1103, and a housing 1104. The photoelectric conversion device 1100 may also be called an imaging device. The above-mentioned light emitting device 101 can be applied to the viewfinder 1101, which is a display unit. In this case, the light emitting device 101 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 moving speed of the subject, and the possibility that the subject will be blocked by an obstruction.

[0067] Since the timing suitable for capturing an image is often short, it is better to display information as soon as possible. Therefore, a light emitting device 101 containing an organic light emitting material such as an organic EL element 200 as a light emitting element can be used in the viewfinder 1101. This is because organic light emitting materials have a fast response speed. A light emitting device 101 using an organic light emitting material can be used more suitably than a liquid crystal display device for such devices that require a high display speed.

[0068] The photoelectric conversion device 1100 has an optical section (not shown). The optical section has a plurality of lenses, and forms an image on a photoelectric conversion element (not shown) housed in a housing 1104 that receives light that has passed through the optical section. The focal points of the plurality of lenses can be adjusted by adjusting their relative positions. This operation can also be performed automatically.

[0069] The light emitting device 101 may be applied to a display unit of an electronic device. In that case, the light emitting device 101 may have both a display function and an operation function. Examples of the portable terminal include a mobile phone such as a smartphone, a tablet, and a head mounted display.

[0070] FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an electronic device using the light emitting device 101 of this embodiment. The electronic device 1200 has a display unit 1201, an operation unit 1202, and a housing 1203. The housing 1203 may have a circuit, a printed circuit board having the circuit, a battery, and a communication unit. The operation unit 1202 may be a button or a touch panel type reaction unit. The operation unit 1202 may be a biometric recognition unit that recognizes a fingerprint and releases a lock. A portable device having a communication unit can also be called a communication device. The above-mentioned light emitting device 101 can be applied to the display unit 1201.

[0071] 19(a) and 19(b) are schematic diagrams showing an example of a display device using the light emitting device 101 of this embodiment. FIG. 19(a) shows a display device such as a television monitor or a PC monitor. The display device 1300 has a frame 1301 and a display unit 1302. The above-mentioned light emitting device 101 can be applied to the display unit 1302. The display device 1300 may have a base 1303 that supports the frame 1301 and the display unit 1302. The base 1303 is not limited to the form shown in FIG. 19(a). For example, the lower side of the frame 1301 may also serve as the base 1303. The frame 1301 and the display unit 1302 may be curved. The radius of curvature may be 5000 mm or more and 6000 mm or less.

[0072] FIG. 19(b) is a schematic diagram showing another example of a display device using the light-emitting device 101 of this embodiment. The display device 1310 of FIG. 19(b) is configured to be bendable, and is a so-called foldable display device. The display device 1310 has a first display unit 1311, a second display unit 1312, a housing 1313, and a bending point 1314. The above-mentioned light-emitting device 101 can be applied to the first display unit 1311 and the second display unit 1312. The first display unit 1311 and the second display unit 1312 may be one display unit without a joint. The first display unit 1311 and the second display unit 1312 can be separated by the bending point. The first display unit 1311 and the second display unit 1312 may display different images, or the first display unit and the second display unit may display one image.

[0073] FIG. 20 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an illumination device using the light emitting device 101 of this embodiment. The illumination device 1400 may have a housing 1401, a light source 1402, a circuit board 1403, an optical film 1404, and a light diffusion unit 1405. The above-mentioned light emitting device 101 can be applied to the light source 1402. The optical film 1404 may be a filter that improves the color rendering of the light source. The light diffusion unit 1405 can effectively diffuse the light of the light source, such as for lighting up, and deliver the light to a wide range. If necessary, a cover may be provided on the outermost part. The illumination device 1400 may have both the optical film 1404 and the light diffusion unit 1405, or only one of them.

[0074] The lighting device 1400 is, for example, a device that illuminates a room. The lighting device 1400 may emit white light, neutral white light, or any other color from blue to red. It may have a dimming circuit that adjusts the light intensity. The lighting device 1400 may have a power supply circuit connected to the light emitting device 101 that functions as the light source 1402. The power supply circuit is a circuit that converts AC voltage into DC voltage. Moreover, white has a color temperature of 4200K, and neutral white has a color temperature of 5000K. Moreover, the lighting device 1400 may have a color filter. Moreover, the lighting device 1400 may have a heat dissipation unit. The heat dissipation unit dissipates heat inside the device to the outside of the device, and examples of the heat dissipation unit include metals with high specific heat and liquid silicon.

[0075] FIG. 21 is a schematic diagram of an automobile having a tail lamp, which is an example of a vehicle lamp using the light emitting device 101 of this embodiment. The automobile 1500 may have a tail lamp 1501, and may be configured to turn on the tail lamp 1501 when braking or the like is performed. The light emitting device 101 of this embodiment may be used as a head lamp as a vehicle lamp. An automobile is an example of a moving body, and the moving body may be a ship, a drone, an aircraft, a railroad car, or the like. The moving body may have a body and a lamp provided thereon. The lamp may indicate the current position of the body.

[0076] The above-described light emitting device 101 can be applied to the tail lamp 1501. The tail lamp 1501 may have a protective member that protects the light emitting device 101 functioning as the tail lamp 1501. The protective member may be made of any material as long as it has a certain degree of strength and is transparent, and may be made of polycarbonate or the like. The protective member may be made by mixing a furandicarboxylic acid derivative, an acrylonitrile derivative, or the like with polycarbonate.

[0077] Automobile 1500 may have a body 1503 and a window 1502 attached thereto. The window may be a window for checking the front and rear of the automobile, or may be a transparent display. The transparent display may use the above-mentioned light-emitting device 101 in which the light-emitting layer of organic layer 305 contains an organic light-emitting material and functions as a light-emitting device. In this case, constituent materials such as electrodes of light-emitting device 101 are made of transparent materials.

[0078] 22(a) and 22(b), further application examples of the light emitting device 101 of each of the above-mentioned embodiments will be described. The light emitting device 101 can be applied to a system that can be worn as a wearable device, such as smart glasses, HMD, and smart contacts. An image capturing and displaying device used in such application examples has an image capturing device capable of photoelectrically converting visible light, and a light emitting device capable of emitting visible light.

[0079] 13(a) illustrates glasses 1600 (smart glasses) according to one application example. An imaging device 1602 such as a CMOS sensor or a SPAD is provided on the front side of a lens 1601 of the glasses 1600. In addition, the light emitting device 101 according to each of the above-mentioned embodiments is provided on the back side of the lens 1601.

[0080] The glasses 1600 further include a control device 1603. The control device 1603 functions as a power source that supplies power to the image capture device 1602 and the light emitting device 101 according to each embodiment. The control device 1603 also controls the operations of the image capture device 1602 and the light emitting device 101. The lens 1601 is formed with an optical system for focusing light on the image capture device 1602.

[0081] FIG. 13(b) illustrates glasses 1610 (smart glasses) according to one application example. The glasses 1610 have a control device 1612, and the control device 1612 is equipped with an imaging device corresponding to the imaging device 1602 and a light emitting device 101. The lens 1611 is formed with an imaging device in the control device 1612 and an optical system for projecting light emitted from the light emitting device 101, and an image is projected onto the lens 1611. The control device 1612 functions as a power source that supplies power to the imaging device and the light emitting device 101, and controls the operation of the imaging device and the light emitting device 101. The control device 1612 may have a line of sight detection unit that detects the line of sight of the wearer. Infrared light may be used to detect the line of sight. The infrared light emission unit emits infrared light toward the eyeball of a user gazing at a display 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 providing a reduction unit that reduces the amount of light from the infrared light emitting unit to the display unit in a plan view, degradation of image quality is reduced.

[0082] The gaze of the user with respect to the displayed image is detected from an image of the eyeball obtained by capturing infrared light. Any known method can be applied to gaze detection using the image of the eyeball. As an example, a gaze detection method based on a Purkinje image formed by reflection of irradiated light on the cornea can be used.

[0083] More specifically, the gaze detection process is performed based on the pupil-corneal reflex method. Using the pupil-corneal reflex method, a gaze vector that indicates the direction (rotation angle) of the eyeball is calculated based on the pupil image and the Purkinje image included in the captured image of the eyeball, thereby detecting the user's gaze.

[0084] A light emitting device 101 according to an embodiment of the present invention may have an imaging device having a light receiving element, and may control a display image based on information about a user's line of sight from the imaging device.

[0085] Specifically, the light emitting device 101 determines a first field of view area to which the user gazes and a second field of view area other than the first field of view area based on the line of sight information. The first field of view area and the second field of view area may be determined by a control device of the light emitting device 101, or may be received from an external control device. In the display area of ​​the light emitting device 101, the display resolution of the first field of view area may be controlled to be higher than the display resolution of the second field of view area. In other words, the resolution of the second field of view area may be lower than that of the first field of view area.

[0086] The display area includes a first display area and a second display area different from the first display area, and an area having a high priority is determined from the first display area and the second display area based on line-of-sight information. The first viewing area and the second viewing area may be determined by a control device of the light-emitting device 101, or may be determined by an external control device and received. The resolution of the area having a high priority may be controlled to be higher than the resolution of areas other than the area having a high priority. In other words, the resolution of an area having a relatively low priority may be lowered.

[0087] AI may be used to determine the first field of view area and areas with high priority. The AI ​​may be a model configured to estimate the angle of the line of sight and the distance to an object at the end of the line of sight from the image of the eyeball, using as teacher 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 light-emitting device 101, the imaging device, or an external device. If included in an external device, it is transmitted to the light-emitting device 101 via communication.

[0088] When display control is performed based on visual recognition detection, the present invention is preferably applicable to smart glasses that further include an imaging device for capturing images of the outside world. The smart glasses can display captured outside information in real time.

[0089] The invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and variations are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the following claims are appended to apprise the public of the scope of the invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0090] 101: light emitting device, 102: pixels, 301-304, 311-314, 321-324, 331-334, 341-344, 351-354, 371-374, 381-388: transistor regions

Claims

1. A light-emitting device having a plurality of pixels arranged on a substrate to form a plurality of columns parallel to a first direction and a plurality of rows parallel to a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, Each of the plurality of pixels includes a light-emitting element and a drive circuit for driving the light-emitting element; the drive circuit is composed of a plurality of transistors, the plurality of transistors are divided into a first group and a second group each including one or more transistors; The first group of transistors among the plurality of transistors has a source region, a gate region, and a drain region arranged along a first group imaginary line parallel to the first direction, The second group of transistors among the plurality of transistors has a source region, a gate region, and a drain region arranged along a second group imaginary line parallel to the first group imaginary line, in each of the plurality of pixels, a virtual line parallel to the second direction, which passes through a gate electrode of the transistor of the first group among the plurality of transistors, does not pass through a gate electrode of the transistor of the second group among the plurality of transistors, the plurality of transistors includes a first transistor and a third transistor included in the first group, and a second transistor included in the second group; a gate electrode of the first transistor and a drain region of the second transistor are electrically connected to each other; the drain region of the first transistor and the anode of the light-emitting element are electrically connected; The third transistor has a drain region electrically connected to a source region of the first transistor, and controls whether the light-emitting element emits light or not.

2. 2 . The light emitting device according to claim 1 , wherein a pitch of the pixels arranged in the first direction among the plurality of pixels is wider than a pitch of the pixels arranged in the second direction among the plurality of pixels.

3. the plurality of pixels each include a transistor included in the first group among the plurality of transistors, and include a first pixel and a second pixel adjacent to each other in the first direction; 3. The light emitting device according to claim 1, wherein a source region of the third transistor of the first pixel and a source region of the third transistor of the second pixel share a single diffusion region.

4. 4. The light-emitting device according to claim 3, wherein a virtual line parallel to the second direction passing through a source region of the third transistor of the first pixel and a source region of the third transistor of the second pixel passes through a gate electrode of the second transistor of the second pixel.

5. the plurality of transistors further includes a fourth transistor included in the first group; 5. The light emitting device according to claim 4, wherein the fourth transistor has a source region electrically connected to the drain region of the first transistor and an anode of the light emitting element, and resets the light emitting element.

6. 6. The light-emitting device according to claim 5, wherein an imaginary line parallel to the second direction that passes through a drain region of the fourth transistor of the first pixel passes through a gate electrode of the second transistor of the second pixel.

7. 6. The light emitting device according to claim 5, wherein a drain region of the fourth transistor of the first pixel and a drain region of the fourth transistor of the second pixel share a single diffusion region.

8. 6. The light-emitting device according to claim 5, wherein a virtual line parallel to the second direction passing through the drain region of the fourth transistor of the first pixel and the drain region of the fourth transistor of the second pixel passes through a gate electrode of the second transistor of the second pixel.

9. A display device comprising: a light-emitting device according to claim 1; and an active element connected to the light-emitting device.

10. The imaging device includes an optical unit having a plurality of lenses, an image sensor that receives light that has passed through the optical unit, and a display unit that displays an image, 9. A photoelectric conversion device, comprising: the display unit for displaying an image captured by the imaging element; and the light-emitting device according to claim 1.

11. A display device having a housing and a communication unit provided in the housing for communicating with an external device, 9. An electronic device, comprising: a display unit comprising the light-emitting device according to claim 1.

12. A lighting device having a light source and at least one of a light diffusion unit and an optical film, An illumination device, characterized in that the light source comprises a light emitting device according to claim 1 .

13. A moving body having a body and a lighting device provided on the body, A moving body, comprising: a lighting device comprising: a light emitting device according to claim 1 .

14. A wearable device having a display device for displaying an image, A wearable device, comprising: a display device comprising the light-emitting device according to claim 1 .

Images