Organic light-emitting element

Abstract

To provide a technique to prevent a leakage current between a charge generating layer and an upper electrode in a pixel in an organic light-emitting device.SOLUTION: An organic light-emitting device of the present disclosure has: a first device that has a first lower electrode, a first luminous layer, a charge generating layer, a second luminous layer, and an upper electrode in this order on a substrate; and an insulating layer that covers an end of the first lower electrode. The first device has one or more organic layers between the first lower electrode and the charge generating layer, and has one or more organic layers between the charge generating layer and the upper electrode. The insulating layer has a groove on a surface contacting an organic layer which is arranged between the first lower electrode and the charge generating layer. At least one organic layer arranged between the charge generating layer and the upper electrode is formed in the groove.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The technology of the present disclosure relates to an organic light-emitting device.

Background Art

[0002] An organic light-emitting device (also referred to as an organic electroluminescence device (organic EL device)) is an electronic device having a pair of electrodes and an organic compound layer disposed between these electrodes. By injecting electrons and holes from a pair of electrodes, excitons of a light-emitting organic compound in the organic compound layer are generated, and when the excitons return to the ground state, the organic light-emitting device emits light. Recent progress in organic light-emitting devices is remarkable, with low driving voltage, various emission wavelengths, high-speed responsiveness, and thinning and weight reduction of light-emitting devices being advanced.

[0003] For high efficiency of this organic light-emitting device, a method of forming an organic layer for each color using a metal mask, photolithography, etc. (hereinafter referred to as a coating method) is known.

[0004] On the other hand, for improving the power consumption of an organic light-emitting device, a tandem-type organic light-emitting device in which a charge generation layer is provided between a plurality of light-emitting layers is known. When an electric field is applied between a lower electrode and an upper electrode, carriers are generated in the charge generation layer, and the carriers are supplied to each light-emitting unit. Therefore, the light-emitting layers included in each light-emitting unit can emit light efficiently.

[0005] Patent Document 1 describes an organic light-emitting device in which a light-emitting layer is formed by a coating method. Patent Document 1 describes an organic light-emitting device having a first light-emitting unit and a second light-emitting unit between a first electrode and a second electrode, and having a charge generation layer between the light-emitting units. Further, in Patent Document 1, by making the thickness of the layer between the light-emitting layer of the first light-emitting unit and the light-emitting layer of the second light-emitting unit larger than the thickness between the first light-emitting layer and the first electrode, the light-emitting efficiency can be increased by the microcavity effect.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0006] [Patent Document 1] U.S. Patent No. 9,209,422 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2012 - 216338 [Summary of the Invention] [Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

[0007] In the organic light - emitting device of Patent Document 1, a charge - generating layer is provided between a plurality of light - emitting layers. When the charge - generating layer is configured to be shared by a plurality of pixels, there is a possibility that leakage current may occur because the charges supplied from the charge - generating layer are supplied to adjacent pixels. In order to reduce such leakage current between pixels, Patent Document 2 proposes a technique of forming a groove between sub - pixels. Since the thickness of the organic compound layer inside the groove is thinner than the thickness of the organic compound layer outside the groove, the resistance inside the groove becomes high. As a result, the leakage current between adjacent sub - pixels is suppressed, and the color mixing of the emission colors of adjacent sub - pixels is suppressed.

[0008] However, in the organic light - emitting device of Patent Document 1, due to the micro - cavity effect, the organic film is configured to be thick, such as increasing the thickness between the light - emitting layer of the first light - emitting unit and the light - emitting layer of the second light - emitting unit. Therefore, before forming the charge - generating layer, the inside of the groove is filled with the organic film, so that the charge - generating layer is not formed inside the groove, and there is a possibility that the charges supplied from the charge - generating layer are supplied to the pixels.

[0009] The technology of the present disclosure has been made in view of the above problems, and provides a technology for suppressing the leakage current between the charge - generating layer and the upper electrode in a pixel while increasing the light - emitting efficiency due to the micro - cavity effect in an organic light - emitting device. [Means for Solving the Problems]

[0010] In order to achieve the above object, an organic light-emitting device according to the present disclosure includes, on a substrate, a first lower electrode, a first light-emitting layer that emits light of a first color, a charge generation layer, a second light-emitting layer that emits light of the first color, and an upper electrode, in this order, a first element, and an insulating layer that covers an end portion of the first lower electrode, wherein the first element has one or more organic layers between the first lower electrode and the charge generation layer, and one or more organic layers between the charge generation layer and the upper electrode, the insulating layer has a groove on a surface in contact with the organic layer disposed between the first lower electrode and the charge generation layer, the second light-emitting layer is formed in the groove, and at least one organic layer disposed between the first lower electrode and the charge generation layer is not formed in the groove. In addition, the organic light-emitting device according to the present disclosure includes a first element having, in this order on a substrate, a first lower electrode, a first light-emitting layer that emits light of a first color, a charge generation layer, a second light-emitting layer that emits light of the first color, and an upper electrode, and an insulating layer that covers an end portion of the first lower electrode. The first element has one or more organic layers between the first lower electrode and the charge generation layer, and one or more organic layers between the charge generation layer and the upper electrode. The insulating layer has a groove on a surface in contact with the organic layer disposed between the first lower electrode and the charge generation layer, the second light-emitting layer is formed in the groove, the thickest layer among the one or more organic layers disposed between the charge generation layer and the upper electrode is formed in the groove, the first element further has an electron transport layer between the charge generation layer and the upper electrode, and the electron transport layer is formed in the groove wherein the first element has one or more organic layers between the first lower electrode and the charge generation layer, and at least one organic layer disposed between the first lower electrode and the charge generation layer is not formed in the groove. The organic light-emitting device according to the present disclosure includes a first element having, in this order on a substrate, a first lower electrode, a first light-emitting layer that emits light of a first color, a charge generation layer, a second light-emitting layer that emits light of the first color, and an upper electrode, and an insulating layer that covers an end portion of the first lower electrode. The first element has one or more organic layers between the first lower electrode and the charge generation layer, and one or more organic layers between the charge generation layer and the upper electrode. The insulating layer has a groove on a surface in contact with the organic layer disposed between the first lower electrode and the charge generation layer, the second light-emitting layer is formed in the groove, and further includes a second element having, in this order on the substrate, a second lower electrode, a third light-emitting layer that emits light of a second color different from the first color, the charge generation layer, a fourth light-emitting layer that emits light of the second color, and the upper electrode. The second lower electrode is adjacent to the first lower electrode, and the second element has one or more organic layers between the charge generation layer and the upper electrode.

[0011] Further, in order to achieve the above object, a display device according to the present disclosure is a display device having a plurality of pixels, wherein at least one of the plurality of pixels includes the above organic light-emitting device and a transistor connected to the organic light-emitting device. Further, in order to achieve the above object, a photoelectric conversion device according to the present disclosure includes an optical unit having a plurality of lenses, an imaging element that receives light that has passed through the optical unit, and a display unit that displays an image captured by the imaging element, wherein the display unit includes the above organic light-emitting device. Further, in order to achieve the above object, an electronic device according to the present disclosure includes a display unit having the above organic light-emitting device, a housing provided with the display unit, and a communication unit provided in the housing and communicating with the outside. Further, in order to achieve the above object, a lighting device according to the present disclosure includes a light source having the above organic light-emitting device, and a light diffusing unit or an optical film that transmits light emitted by the light source. Further, in order to achieve the above object, a moving body according to the present disclosure includes a lighting device having the above organic light-emitting device, and a body provided with the lighting device.

Advantages of the Invention

[0012] According to the technology of the present disclosure, in an organic light-emitting device, it is possible to increase the light-emitting efficiency by the microcavity effect while suppressing the leakage current between the charge generation layer and the upper electrode in a pixel.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0013]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Figure 11

Figure 12

Figure 13

Figure 14

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0014] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the present disclosure is not limited to the following embodiments, and can be appropriately modified without departing from the gist thereof. In the drawings described below, those having the same function are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof may be omitted or simplified.

[0015] <First Embodiment> The light-emitting element used in the first embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a first sub-pixel 100a, a second sub-pixel 100b, and a third sub-pixel 100c of the light-emitting element 1 according to the present embodiment.

[0016] The light-emitting element 1 in FIG. 1 is composed of lower electrodes 102a to 102c, a first organic layer 103, a second organic layer 104, first light-emitting layers 105a to 105c, and a third organic layer 106 in this order on a substrate 101. Further, the light-emitting element 1 is composed of a charge generation layer 107, a fourth organic layer 108, second light-emitting layers 109a to 109c, a fifth organic layer 110, an upper electrode 111, and a protective layer 112 in this order on the third organic layer 106. Further, as shown in the figure, an insulating layer 113 that covers both ends of the lower electrode 102a is provided, and the insulating layer 113 is also called a pixel isolation film or a bank. Similarly, insulating layers that cover both ends of the lower electrodes 102b and 102c are provided.

[0017] And a groove 114 is formed in the insulating layer 113 as a separation structure. Here, the first sub-pixel 100a is an example of the first element, the lower electrode 102a corresponds to the first lower electrode, the first light-emitting layer 105a corresponds to the first light-emitting layer that emits light of the first color, and the second light-emitting layer 109a corresponds to the second light-emitting layer that emits light of the first color. Further, the second sub-pixel 100b is an example of the second element, the lower electrode 102b corresponds to the second lower electrode, the first light-emitting layer 105b corresponds to the third light-emitting layer that emits light of the second color, and the second light-emitting layer 109b corresponds to the fourth light-emitting layer that emits light of the second color.

[0018] In the light-emitting element 1 of the present embodiment, the first light-emitting layers 105a to 105c and the second light-emitting layer 109 are formed by a so-called painting method. That is, for example, organic layers are formed for each color using a metal mask, photolithography, or the like. As a result, the first light-emitting layers 105a to 105c emit different colors respectively. Also, the second light-emitting layers 109a to 109c emit different colors respectively. Further, in the present embodiment, at least one of the first organic layer 103, the second organic layer 104, the third organic layer 106, the fourth organic layer 108, and the fifth organic layer 110 is formed by the painting method.

[0019] The light-emitting element 1 of the present embodiment is a so-called tandem type light-emitting element in which a charge generation layer is provided between a plurality of light-emitting layers, and has a charge generation layer 107. The charge generation layer 107 is a layer that generates holes and electrons when a voltage is applied between the lower electrode and the upper electrode. The charge generation layer 107 contains a compound that easily accepts electrons from other organic compounds. For example, the charge generation layer 107 can be formed by a combination of an alkali metal and a compound having a lowest unoccupied molecular orbital energy level of -5.0 eV or less, and can function as a charge generation layer. The alkali metal constituting the charge generation layer 107 may be Li, and Li may be used as a simple metal, as a part of a compound, or as a part of an organometallic complex.

[0020] Also, the compound having a lowest unoccupied molecular orbital energy level of -5.0 eV or less used for the charge generation layer 107 may be a hexaazatriphenylene compound, a radialene compound, hexafluorobenzidine, or the like, but is not limited thereto. The lowest unoccupied molecular orbital energy level is lower than the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) of the alkali metal so that charge generation can be performed by pulling out electrons.

[0021] As a result, positive and negative charges are generated in the charge generation layer 107, so that the charge generation layer 107 can supply positive or negative charges to the layers above and below the charge generation layer 107. That is, when an electric field is applied between the lower electrode and the upper electrode, carriers are generated in the charge generation layer 107, and the carriers are supplied to the first light-emitting layers 105a to 105c and the second light-emitting layers 109a to 109c, and both light-emitting layers can emit light efficiently.

[0022] By adopting a coating method, the light-emitting element 1 of the present embodiment is configured such that the sets of the first light-emitting layers 105a to 105c and the second light-emitting layers 109a to 109c each emit the same color light. For example, the set of the first light-emitting layer 105a and the second light-emitting layer 109a may be configured to emit red light, the set of the first light-emitting layer 105b and the second light-emitting layer 109b may be configured to emit green light, and the set of the first light-emitting layer 105c and the second light-emitting layer 109c may be configured to emit blue light.

[0023] Furthermore, the light-emitting element 1 of the present embodiment also has a so-called microcavity structure. That is, when the optical path length from the upper surface of the lower electrodes 102a to 102c to the light-emitting positions of the first light-emitting layers 105a to 105c corresponding to the lower electrodes 102a to 102c is Lr and the phase shift at the lower electrode 102 is Φr, the following formula (1) holds. Lr=(2m-(Φr / π))×(λ / 4) ···(1) Here, m is an integer of 0 or more. The optical distances of the first organic layer 103 and the second organic layer 104 can be optimized for each color so as to satisfy the above formula (1).

[0024] Also, when the optical distance Ls between the light-emitting position and the reflection surface of the upper electrode 111 and the phase shift Φs when light with a wavelength λ is reflected at the incident surface are considered, the following formula (2) holds. Here, m' is an integer of 0 or more, and in the present embodiment, m' = 0. Ls=(2m’-(Φs / π))×(λ / 4)=-(Φs / π)×(λ / 4) ···(2)

[0025] Therefore, for the total layer interference L, the condition shown in the following formula (3) is satisfied. L = Lr + L = (2m - Φ / π)×(λ / 4) ···(3) Here, Φ is the sum Φr + Φs of the phase shifts when light with wavelength λ is reflected by the lower electrode 102 and the upper electrode 111.

[0026] In the above, the case of the first light-emitting layers 105a to 105c was shown, but the same relationship also holds for the second light-emitting layers 109a to 109c. Therefore, by configuring both the first light-emitting layers 105a to 105c and the second light-emitting layers 109a to 109c as microcavity structures, the light-emitting element 1 can achieve higher-efficiency light emission than the light-emitting element according to the prior art.

[0027] [Suppression of leakage current between charge generation layer and upper electrode] FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the groove 114 in FIG. 1. The groove 114 is provided in the insulating layer 113, and the first organic layer 103, the third organic layer 106, the charge generation layer 107, the fourth organic layer 108, the fifth organic layer 110, and the upper electrode 111 are provided inside the groove 114. In the present embodiment, by forming the fourth organic layer 108 and the fifth organic layer 110 inside the groove 114, it is suppressed that the thickness (denoted as "a" in the figure) of the organic film from the charge generation layer 107 to the upper electrode 111 on the side wall portion inside the groove 114 becomes thin. By suppressing that the organic film from the charge generation layer 107 to the upper electrode 111 on the side wall portion inside the groove 114 becomes thin, the leakage current between the charge generation layer 107 and the upper electrode 111 is suppressed.

[0028] FIG. 7 shows a cross-sectional view of a conventional organic light-emitting element 5 as a comparative example of the light-emitting element 1 of the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 7, in the light-emitting element 5, on the substrate 501, from the substrate 501 side, the lower electrode It is formed in the order of the cathode 502, the first organic layer 503, the second organic layer 504, the first light-emitting layer 505a, the third organic layer 506, the charge generation layer 507, and the fourth organic layer 508. Further, in the light-emitting element 5, on the fourth organic layer 508, from the substrate 501 side, the second light-emitting layer 509a, the fifth organic layer 510, the upper electrode 511, and the protective layer 512 are formed in this order. Also, in the light-emitting element 5, an insulating layer 513 that covers the end of the lower electrode 502 is provided, and a groove 514 is formed in the insulating layer 513.

[0029] Further, FIG. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the groove 514 in FIG. 7. As shown in FIG. 8, only the fifth organic layer 510 is formed between the charge generation layer 507 and the upper electrode 511. The thickness of the fifth organic layer 510 at the inner sidewall portion of the groove 514 (「a’」 in the figure) is thinner than the thickness of the fifth organic layer 510 at the flat portion outside the groove 514 (「b’」 in the figure). As a result, the leakage current between the charge generation layer 507 and the upper electrode 511 at the inner sidewall portion of the groove 514 increases. When the leakage current between the charge generation layer 507 and the upper electrode 511 is large, it becomes impossible to supply charges to the light-emitting layer at low current, and there is a possibility that the luminance decreases.

[0030] On the other hand, in the light-emitting element 1 of the present embodiment, at least one of the fourth organic layer 108 and the second light-emitting layer 109 between the charge generation layer 107 and the upper electrode 111 is formed inside the groove 114 by a painting method. Thereby, the organic film from the charge generation layer 107 to the upper electrode 111 at the inner sidewall portion of the groove 114 becomes thick, and the leakage current is suppressed.

[0031] Also, the thickest layer among the organic layer or the light-emitting layer formed by the painting method between the charge generation layer 107 and the upper electrode 111 may be formed in the groove 114. By forming the thickest layer in the groove 114, the organic layer formed between the charge generation layer 107 and the upper electrode 111 becomes thicker at the inner sidewall portion of the groove 114. Thereby, the leakage current generated between the charge generation layer 107 and the upper electrode 111 is further suppressed.

[0032] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 3, the fourth organic layer 108, the second light-emitting layer 109, and the fifth organic layer 110 may be formed inside the groove 114. As shown in FIG. 2, the organic layer from the charge generation layer 107 to the upper electrode 111 on the inner sidewall portion of the groove 114 becomes thicker, and the leakage current between the charge generation layer 107 and the upper electrode 111 can be suppressed.

[0033] Furthermore, after the fifth organic layer 110 is formed, the groove 114 is filled with the organic layer, and the upper electrode 111 is formed flat on the upper part of the groove 114. By making the upper electrode 111 flat, the resistance of the upper electrode 111 is reduced, and the driving voltage of the light-emitting element 1 can be reduced.

[0034] <Second Embodiment> Next, the light-emitting element according to the second embodiment will be described. In the following description, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed descriptions thereof are omitted.

[0035] FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view illustrating an example of the first sub-pixel 200a, the second sub-pixel 200b, and the third sub-pixel 200c of the light-emitting element 2 according to the present embodiment. As shown in the figure, the light-emitting element 2 has a substrate 201, lower electrodes 202a to 202c, a first organic layer 203, and first light-emitting layers 205a to 205c, similar to the light-emitting element 1. Further, the light-emitting element 2 has a third organic layer 206, a charge generation layer 207, a fourth organic layer 208, second light-emitting layers 209a to 209c, a fifth organic layer 210, an upper electrode 211, a protective layer 212, and an insulating layer 213, similar to the light-emitting element 1.

[0036] In the light-emitting element 2 of the present embodiment, reflection layers 215a to 215c and optical adjustment layers 216a to 216c are further formed with respect to the light-emitting element 1 of the first embodiment. Further, in the light-emitting element 2, a groove 214 is formed in the insulating layer 213 as a separation structure. The optical adjustment layers 216a to 216c can be formed of an insulating layer. Further, the lower electrodes 202a to 202c can be formed of transparent electrodes. Note that the optical adjustment layer 216a is an example of the first optical adjustment layer, and the optical adjustment layer 216b is an example of the second optical adjustment layer.

[0037] In the light-emitting element 2 of this embodiment, a microcavity structure may be adopted so that the thicknesses of the optical adjustment layers 216a to 216c are different for each sub-pixel. For example, the thickness of the optical adjustment layer 216a can be set to satisfy the interference conditions for red, the thickness of the optical adjustment layer 216b can be set to satisfy the interference conditions for green, and the thickness of the optical adjustment layer 216c can be set to satisfy the interference conditions for blue.

[0038] Also, let the optical path length from the upper surface of the reflective layer 215a to the light-emitting position of the first light-emitting layer 205a be L1a. The optical path length L1a is the sum of the optical distance from the upper surface of the lower electrode 202a to the first light-emitting layer 205a, the optical distance of the thickness of the lower electrode 202a, and the optical distance of the thickness of the optical adjustment layer 216a. Also, let the optical path length from the upper surface of the reflective layer 215b to the light-emitting position of the first light-emitting layer 205b be L1b. The optical path length L1b is the sum of the optical distance from the upper surface of the lower electrode 202b to the first light-emitting layer 205b, the optical distance of the thickness of the lower electrode 202b, and the optical distance of the thickness of the optical adjustment layer 216b. Also, let the optical path length from the upper surface of the reflective layer 215c to the light-emitting position of the first light-emitting layer 205c be L1c. The optical path length L1c is the sum of the optical distance from the upper surface of the lower electrode 202c to the first light-emitting layer 205c, the optical distance of the thickness of the lower electrode 202c, and the optical distance of the thickness of the optical adjustment layer 216c.

[0039] Similarly, let the optical path length from the upper surface of the reflective layer 215a to the light-emitting position of the second light-emitting layer 209a be L2a. The optical path length L2a is the sum of the optical distance between the upper surface of the lower electrode 202a and the second light-emitting layer 209a, the optical distance of the thickness of the lower electrode 202a, and the thickness of the optical adjustment layer 216a. Also, let the optical path length from the upper surface of the reflective layer 215b to the light-emitting position of the second light-emitting layer 209b be L2b. The optical path length L2b is the sum of the optical distance between the upper surface of the lower electrode 202b and the second light-emitting layer 209b, the optical distance of the thickness of the lower electrode 202b, and the thickness of the optical adjustment layer 216b. Also, let the optical path length from the upper surface of the reflective layer 215c to the light-emitting position of the second light-emitting layer 209c be L2c. The optical path length L2c is the sum of the optical distance between the upper surface of the lower electrode 202c and the second light-emitting layer 209c, the optical distance of the thickness of the lower electrode 202c, and the thickness of the optical adjustment layer 216c.

[0040] Thus, in the light-emitting element 2 of the present embodiment, between the reflective layer 215a and the first light-emitting layer 205a, an optical resonator structure is provided that resonates the light emitted from the first light-emitting layer 205a by reflecting it with the reflective layer 215a. Also, between the reflective layer 215b and the first light-emitting layer 205b, an optical resonator structure is provided that resonates the light emitted from the first light-emitting layer 205b by reflecting it with the reflective layer 215b. Also, between the reflective layer 215c and the first light-emitting layer 205c, an optical resonator structure is provided that resonates the light emitted from the first light-emitting layer 205c. In the light-emitting element 2 of the present embodiment, for each of the lower electrodes 202a to 202c and the optical adjustment layers 216a to 216c corresponding to the lower electrodes 202a to 202c, the total film thickness of the organic layer is reduced by the optical distance of the respective thicknesses. The smaller the total film thickness of the organic layer, the smaller the voltage applied to the organic light-emitting element. And for each of the lower electrodes 202a to 202c and the optical adjustment layers 216a to 216c corresponding to the lower electrodes 202a to 202c, the total film thickness of the organic layer is reduced by the optical distance of the respective thicknesses, and the driving voltage is suppressed, thereby reducing the power consumption.

[0041] Further, FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the groove 214 in FIG. 4. In the light-emitting element 2 of the present embodiment, in the groove 214, a fourth organic layer 208, a second light-emitting layer 209a, and a fifth organic layer 210 are formed between the charge generation layer 207 and the upper electrode 211.

[0042] By forming the fourth organic layer 208, the second light-emitting layer 209a, and the fifth organic layer 210 inside the groove 214, the thickness (denoted as "a" in the figure) of the organic layer between the charge generation layer 207 and the upper electrode 21 1 is suppressed from becoming thin on the side wall portion inside the groove 214. That is, according to the light-emitting element 2 of the present embodiment, the thickness of the organic layer between the charge generation layer 207 and the upper electrode 211 can be made thicker than the thickness of the organic layer in the light-emitting element 5 in the prior art.

[0043] From the above, according to the light-emitting element 2, the thickness of the organic layer between the charge generation layer 207 and the upper electrode 211 on the side wall portion inside the groove 214 is suppressed from becoming thin, and the leakage current between the charge generation layer 207 and the upper electrode 211 is suppressed.

[0044] <Third Embodiment> Next, a light-emitting element according to the third embodiment will be described. In the following description, the same components as those in the above embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed descriptions thereof are omitted.

[0045] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of the first sub-pixel 300a, the second sub-pixel 300b, and the third sub-pixel 300c of the light-emitting element 3 according to the present embodiment. As shown in the figure, the light-emitting element 3, like the light-emitting element 2, has a substrate 301, lower electrodes 302a to 302c, a first organic layer 303, and first light-emitting layers 305a to 305c. Further, the light-emitting element 3, like the light-emitting element 2, has a third organic layer 306, a charge generation layer 307, a fourth organic layer 308, second light-emitting layers 309a to 309c, a fifth organic layer 310, an upper electrode 311, a protective layer 312, and an insulating layer 313. Further, the light-emitting element 3, like the light-emitting element 2, has reflection layers 315a to 315c and optical adjustment layers 316a to 316c.

[0046] In the light-emitting element 3 of this embodiment, a planarization layer 317 is formed with respect to the light-emitting element 2 of the second embodiment, and color filters 318a to 318c corresponding to the sub-pixels 300a to 300c are arranged on the planarization layer 317. The color filters 318a, 318b, and 318c are color filters that transmit different colors. Note that the color filters 318a, 318b, and 318c may not be provided in the light-emitting element 3.

[0047] Furthermore, microlenses 319a to 319c corresponding to the sub-pixels 300a to 300c are formed on the color filters 318a to 318c. Therefore, according to the light-emitting element 3 of this embodiment, while suppressing the leakage current between the charge generation layer 307 and the upper electrode 311, the microlenses 319a to 319c can efficiently extract the light of each color output from the sub-pixels 300a to 300c.

[0048] [Configuration of Organic Light-Emitting Element] The organic light-emitting element of this embodiment is provided by forming an insulating layer, a lower electrode, a functional layer including a light-emitting layer, and an upper electrode on a substrate. A protective layer, a color filter, a microlens, etc. may be provided on the upper electrode. When providing a color filter, a planarization layer may be provided between the protective layer. The planarization layer can be made of an acrylic resin or the like. The same applies when providing a planarization layer between the color filter and the microlens.

[0049] [Substrate] Examples of the material of the substrate constituting the organic light-emitting element include at least one of quartz, glass, silicon, resin, and metal. Further, a switching element such as a transistor or wiring may be provided on the substrate, and an insulating layer may be provided thereon. As the insulating layer, the material is not limited as long as a contact hole can be formed so that wiring can be formed between the insulating layer and the first electrode, and insulation from non-connected wiring can be ensured. For example, resins such as polyimide, silicon oxide, silicon nitride, etc. can be used.

[0050] [Electrode] For the electrodes of an organic light-emitting device, a pair of electrodes can be used. The pair of electrodes may be an anode and a cathode. When an electric field is applied in the direction in which the organic light-emitting device emits light, the electrode with a higher potential is the anode and the other is the cathode. Also, it can 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.

[0051] As the constituent material of the anode, those with as large a work function as possible are preferable. For example, simple metals such as gold, platinum, silver, copper, nickel, palladium, cobalt, selenium, vanadium, tungsten, etc., and mixtures containing these can be used for the anode. Alternatively, alloys combining these simple metals, metal oxides such as tin oxide, zinc oxide, indium oxide, indium tin oxide (ITO), indium zinc oxide, etc. may be used for the anode. Also, conductive polymers such as polyaniline, polypyrrole, polythiophene, etc. can be used for the anode.

[0052] Any of these electrode materials may be used alone, or two or more types of materials may be used in combination. Also, the anode may be composed of a single layer or may be composed of multiple layers.

[0053] When the electrode of the organic light-emitting device is configured as a reflective electrode, for example, chromium, aluminum, silver, titanium, tungsten, molybdenum, or alloys or laminates thereof can be used as the electrode material. With the above materials, it is also possible to function as a reflective film without having the role of an electrode. Also, when used as a transparent electrode, an oxide transparent conductive layer such as indium tin oxide (ITO) or indium zinc oxide can be used, but it is not limited thereto. For the formation of the electrode, photolithography technology can be used.

[0054] On one hand, as the constituent material of the cathode, those with a small work function are preferable. For example, alkali metals such as lithium, alkaline earth metals such as calcium, simple metals such as aluminum, titanium, manganese, silver, lead, chromium, or mixtures containing these can be mentioned. Alternatively, alloys formed by combining these simple metals can also be used. For example, magnesium-silver, aluminum-lithium, aluminum-magnesium, silver-copper, zinc-silver, etc. can be used. The use of metal oxides such as indium tin oxide (ITO) is also possible. These electrode materials may be used alone or in combination of two or more types. Also, the cathode may have a single-layer structure or a multi-layer structure. Among them, it is preferable to use silver, and in order to reduce the aggregation of silver, it is more preferable to use a silver alloy. As long as the aggregation of silver can be reduced, the ratio of the alloy does not matter. For example, silver: other metals may be 1:1, 3:1, etc.

[0055] The cathode may be a top emission element using an oxide conductive layer such as ITO, or a bottom emission element using a reflective electrode such as aluminum (Al), and is not particularly limited. As the method for forming the cathode, although not particularly limited, it is more preferable to use direct current and alternating current sputtering methods, etc., because the film coverage is good and the resistance is easily reduced.

[0056] [Pixel isolation layer] The pixel isolation layer is formed of a silicon nitride (SiN) film, a silicon oxynitride (SiON) film, or a silicon oxide (SiO) film formed using chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method. In order to increase the in-plane resistance of the organic compound layer, the organic compound layer, especially the hole transport layer, is preferably formed thinly on the sidewalls of the pixel isolation layer. Specifically, by increasing the taper angle of the sidewalls of the pixel isolation layer and the film thickness of the pixel isolation layer and increasing the peeling during evaporation, the film thickness of the sidewalls can be formed thinly.

[0057] On the other hand, the pixel isolation layer is such that no voids are formed in the protective layer formed thereon, and the pixel It is preferable to adjust the sidewall taper angle of the isolation layer and the film thickness of the pixel isolation layer. 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 the occurrence of dark spots and the degradation of reliability such as the occurrence of poor conduction of the second electrode.

[0058] According to the present embodiment, even if the taper angle of the sidewall of the pixel isolation layer is not steep, it is possible to effectively suppress charge leakage to adjacent pixels. As a result of studies by the inventors of the present application, it has been found that if the taper angle is in the range of 60 degrees or more and 90 degrees or less, it can be sufficiently reduced. The film thickness of the pixel isolation layer is desirably 10 nm or more and 150 nm or less. Further, the same effect can be obtained even if it is composed only of pixel electrodes without a pixel isolation layer. However, in this case, it is preferable to make the film thickness of the pixel electrode half or less of the organic layer or to make the end of the pixel electrode a forward taper of less than 60 degrees in order to reduce the short circuit of the organic light-emitting element.

[0059] [Organic compound layer] The organic compound layer of the organic light-emitting element may be formed as a single layer or as a plurality of layers. When having a plurality of layers, depending on its function, it may be called a hole injection layer, a hole transport layer, an electron blocking layer, a light-emitting layer, a hole blocking layer, an electron transport layer, an electron injection layer. The organic compound layer is mainly composed of an organic compound, but may contain an inorganic atom or an inorganic compound. For example, it may have copper, lithium, magnesium, aluminum, iridium, platinum, molybdenum, zinc, etc. The organic compound layer may be disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, and may be disposed in contact with the first electrode and the second electrode.

[0060] [Protective layer] In the organic light-emitting device of this embodiment, a protective layer may be provided on the second electrode. For example, by bonding glass provided with a moisture absorbent on the second electrode, the intrusion of water or the like into the organic compound layer can be reduced, and the occurrence of display defects can be reduced. Further, as another embodiment, a passivation film such as silicon nitride may be provided on the cathode to reduce the intrusion of water or the like into the organic compound layer. For example, after forming the cathode, it may be transported to another chamber without breaking the vacuum, and a silicon nitride film with a thickness of 2 μm may be formed by CVD method to serve as a protective layer. A protective layer using atomic layer deposition (ALD method) may be provided after the film formation by CVD method. The material of the film by ALD method is not limited, but may be silicon nitride, silicon oxide, aluminum oxide, etc. Silicon nitride may be further formed by CVD method on the film formed by ALD method. The film by ALD method may have a smaller film thickness than the film formed by CVD method. Specifically, it may be 50% or less, and further 10% or less.

[0061] [Color filter] In the organic light-emitting device of this embodiment, a color filter may be provided on the protective layer. For example, a color filter considering the size of the organic light-emitting device may be provided on another substrate, and it may be bonded to the substrate provided with the organic light-emitting device, or a color filter may be patterned on the above-mentioned protective layer using photolithography technology. The color filter may be composed of a polymer.

[0062] [Planarization layer] In the organic light-emitting device of this embodiment, 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. Note that when the purpose is not limited, the planarization layer may sometimes be called a resin layer. The planarization layer may be composed of an organic compound, and may be a low molecule or a polymer, but a polymer is preferable.

[0063] The planarization layer may be provided above and below the color filter, and its constituent materials may be the same or different. Specifically, polyvinylcarbazole resin, polycarbonate resin, Examples include polyester resin, ABS resin, acrylic resin, polyimide resin, phenolic resin, epoxy resin, silicone resin, urea resin, etc.

[0064] [Micro lens] The organic light-emitting element may have an optical member such as a micro lens on its light-emitting side. The micro lens can be made of acrylic resin, epoxy resin, etc. The micro lens may be for the purpose of increasing the amount of light extracted from the organic light-emitting element and controlling the direction of the extracted light. The micro lens may have a hemispherical shape. When having a hemispherical shape, among the tangents in contact with the hemisphere, there is a tangent parallel to the insulating layer, and the contact point between the tangent and the hemisphere is the vertex of the micro lens. The vertex of the micro lens can be determined in the same way in any cross-sectional view. That is, among the tangents in contact with the semi-circle of the micro lens in the cross-sectional view, there is a tangent parallel to the insulating layer, and the contact point between the tangent and the semi-circle is the vertex of the micro lens.

[0065] Also, the midpoint of the micro lens can be defined. In the cross-section of the micro lens, a line segment from the point where the arc shape ends to the point where another arc shape ends is imagined, and the midpoint of the line segment can be called the midpoint of the micro lens. The cross-section for discriminating the vertex and the midpoint may be a cross-section perpendicular to the insulating layer.

[0066] The micro lens has a first surface with a convex portion and a second surface opposite to the first surface. It is preferable that the second surface is arranged closer to the functional layer side than the first surface. To adopt such a configuration, it is necessary to form a micro lens on the light-emitting element. When the functional layer is an organic layer, it is preferable to avoid processes that reach a high temperature in the manufacturing process. Also, when adopting a configuration where the second surface is arranged closer to the functional layer side than the first surface, it is preferable that the glass transition temperatures of all the organic compounds constituting the organic layer are 100°C or higher, and more preferably 130°C or higher.

[0067] [Counter substrate] In the organic light-emitting device of this embodiment, a counter substrate may be provided on the planarization layer. Since the counter substrate is provided at a position corresponding to the aforementioned substrate, it is called a counter substrate. The constituent material of the counter substrate may be the same as that of the above substrate. When the above substrate is used as the first substrate, the counter substrate can be used as the second substrate.

[0068] [Organic layer] The functional layers (such as a hole injection layer, a hole transport layer, an electron blocking layer, a light-emitting layer, a hole blocking layer, an electron transport layer, an electron injection layer, etc.) including the light-emitting layer that constitutes the organic light-emitting device of this embodiment are formed by the methods shown below.

[0069] The organic compound layer that constitutes the organic light-emitting device of this embodiment can be formed using dry processes such as vacuum evaporation, ionization evaporation, sputtering, and plasma. Alternatively, instead of the dry process, a wet process can be used in which the layer is formed by dissolving it in an appropriate solvent and using a known coating method (for example, spin coating, dipping, casting method, LB method, inkjet method, etc.).

[0070] Here, when a layer is formed by a method such as vacuum evaporation or solution coating method, crystallization and the like are less likely to occur and the stability over time is excellent. Also, when forming a film by the coating method, a film can be formed in combination with an appropriate binder resin.

[0071] 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, urea resin, etc. Also, these binder resins may be used alone as a homopolymer or copolymer, or two or more kinds may be mixed and used. Furthermore, additives such as known plasticizers, antioxidants, and ultraviolet absorbers may be used in combination as needed.

[0072] [Pixel circuit] The light-emitting device having the organic light-emitting element of this embodiment may have a pixel circuit connected to the organic light-emitting element. The pixel circuit may be an active matrix type that independently controls the light emission of the first organic light-emitting element and the second organic light-emitting element. The active matrix type circuit may be voltage programming or current programming. The driving circuit has a pixel circuit for each pixel. The pixel circuit may have an organic light-emitting element, a transistor that controls the light emission luminance of the organic 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 luminance, and a transistor for connecting to GND without passing through the light-emitting element.

[0073] The light-emitting device has a display area and a peripheral area arranged around the display area. The display area has a pixel circuit, and the peripheral area has a display control circuit. The mobility of the transistors constituting the pixel circuit may be smaller than the mobility of the transistors constituting the display control circuit. The slope of the current-voltage characteristics of the transistors constituting the pixel circuit may be smaller than the slope of the current-voltage characteristics of the transistors constituting the display control circuit. The slope of the current-voltage characteristics can be measured by so-called Vg-Ig characteristics. The transistors constituting the pixel circuit are transistors connected to a light-emitting element such as the first organic light-emitting element.

[0074] [Pixel] The organic light-emitting element of this embodiment has a plurality of pixels. The pixels have sub-pixels that emit different colors from each other. The sub-pixels may have, for example, light emission colors of RGB respectively. The pixels emit light in a region also called a pixel aperture. This region is the same as the first region. The pixel aperture may be 15 μm or less and may be 5 μm or more. More specifically, it may be 11 μm, 9.5 μm, 7.4 μm, 6.4 μm, etc. The distance between sub-pixels may be 10 μm or less, and specifically, it may be 8 μm, 7.4 μm, 6.4 μm.

[0075] In a plan view, the pixels can take a known arrangement form. For example, it may be a stripe arrangement, a delta arrangement, a pentile arrangement, or a Bayer arrangement. The shape of the sub-pixels in the plan view may be any known shape. For example, it may be a rectangle, a quadrilateral such as a rhombus, a hexagon, etc. Note that if the shape of the sub-pixel is approximately rectangular, it is considered to be included in a rectangle. Therefore, the shape of the sub-pixel may be any shape approximated to the above-known shapes. The pixel can be configured by combining the shape of the sub-pixel and the pixel array.

[0076] [Applications of Organic Light-Emitting Elements] The organic light-emitting element according to this embodiment can be used as a component of a display device or a lighting device. In addition, examples of the applications of the organic light-emitting element include an exposure light source of an electrophotographic image forming device, a backlight of a liquid crystal display device, and a light-emitting device having a color filter for a white light source.

[0077] The display device may be an image information processing device that has an image input unit for inputting image information from an area CCD, a linear CCD, a memory card, etc., has an information processing unit for processing the input information, and displays the input image on a display unit.

[0078] In addition, the display unit of an imaging device or an inkjet printer may have a touch panel function. The driving method of 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. Also, the display device may be used for the display unit of a multifunction printer.

[0079] Next, a display device including the organic light-emitting element according to the above embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. FIGS. 9A and 9B are schematic cross-sectional views showing an example of a display device having an organic light-emitting element and a transistor connected to this organic light-emitting element. The transistor is an example of an active element. The transistor may be a thin film transistor (TFT).

[0080] FIG. 9A is an example of a pixel which is a component of a display device having a light-emitting element according to the above-described embodiment. The pixel has sub-pixels 30. The sub-pixels 30 are divided into 30R, 30G, and 30B by their light emission. The emission color may be distinguished by the wavelength emitted from the light-emitting layer, or the light emitted from the sub-pixels may be selectively transmitted or color-converted by a color filter or the like. Each sub-pixel has a reflective electrode 32 which is a first electrode on an interlayer insulating layer 31, and an insulating layer 33 covering an end of the reflective electrode 32. Further, the sub-pixel 30 has an organic compound layer 34 covering the reflective electrode 32 and the insulating layer 33, a transparent electrode 35 which is a second electrode, a protective layer 36, and color filters 37R, 37G, and 37B.

[0081] The interlayer insulating layer 31 may have a transistor and a capacitor element disposed in its lower layer or inside. Also, the transistor and the first electrode may be electrically connected via a contact hole or the like (not shown).

[0082] The insulating layer 33 is also called a bank or a pixel isolation film. It covers an end of the first electrode and is disposed surrounding the first electrode. A portion where the insulating layer is not disposed is in contact with the organic compound layer 34 and becomes a light-emitting region. The organic compound layer 34 has a hole injection layer 341, a hole transport layer 342, a first light-emitting layer 343, a second light-emitting layer 344, and an electron transport layer 345.

[0083] The transparent electrode 35 may be a transparent electrode, a reflective electrode, or a semi-transmissive electrode as the second electrode. The protective layer 36 reduces the penetration of moisture into the organic compound layer. The protective layer 36 is shown as a single layer, but may be a plurality of layers. Each layer may be an inorganic compound layer or an organic compound layer. The color filter is divided into a color filter 37R, a color filter 37G, and a color filter 37B according to its color. The color filter may be formed on a planarization film (not shown). Also, it may have a resin protective layer (not shown) on the color filter. Further, the color filter may be formed on the protective layer 36. Alternatively, the color filter may be provided on a counter substrate such as a glass substrate and then bonded.

[0084] Figure 9B shows a display device 60 having the light-emitting element according to the above-described embodiment. The display device 60 includes an organic light-emitting element 76 and a TFT 68 as an example of a transistor. A substrate 61 such as glass or silicon has an insulating layer 62 provided thereon. On the insulating layer 62, active elements 68 such as TFTs are arranged, and a gate electrode 63, a gate insulating film 64, and a semiconductor layer 65 of the active element are arranged. The TFT 68 is also composed of a semiconductor layer 65, a drain electrode 66, and a source electrode 67. An insulating film 69 is provided on the TFT 68. The anode 71 constituting the organic light-emitting element 76 and the source electrode 67 are connected through a contact hole 70 provided in the insulating film 69.

[0085] Note that the method of electrical connection between the electrodes (anode, cathode) included in the organic light-emitting element 76 and the electrodes (source electrode, drain electrode) included in the TFT 68 is not limited to the mode shown in FIG. 12B. That is, any one of the anode or the cathode and any one of the TFT source electrode or the drain electrode may be electrically connected. Here, the TFT refers to a thin-film transistor.

[0086] In the display device 60 of FIG. 9B, the organic compound layer 72 is shown as one layer, but the organic compound layer 72 may be a plurality of layers. On the cathode 73, a first protective layer 74 and a second protective layer 75 for reducing the deterioration of the organic light-emitting element are provided.

[0087] In the display device 60 of FIG. 9B, a transistor is used as a switching element, but another switching element may be used instead. Further, the transistor used in the display device 60 of FIG. 9B is not limited to a transistor using a single-crystalline silicon wafer, and may be a thin-film transistor having an active layer on an insulating surface of a substrate. Examples of the active layer include non-single-crystalline silicon such as single-crystalline silicon, amorphous silicon, and microcrystalline silicon, and non-single-crystalline oxide semiconductors such as indium zinc oxide and indium gallium zinc oxide. Note that the thin-film transistor is also called a TFT element.

[0088] ​The transistor included in the display device 60 of FIG. 9B may be formed within a substrate such as a Si substrate. Here, forming within the substrate means fabricating the transistor by processing the substrate itself such as a Si substrate. That is, having a transistor within the substrate may mean that the substrate and the transistor are integrally formed.

[0089] The organic light-emitting element according to the above embodiment has its emission luminance controlled by a TFT which is an example of a switching element, and an image can be displayed according to the respective emission luminance by providing the organic light-emitting elements in a plurality of planes. Note that the switching element used here is not limited to a TFT, and may be a transistor formed of low-temperature polysilicon or an active matrix driver formed on a substrate such as a Si substrate. Here, on the substrate includes the meaning of within the substrate. Whether to provide a transistor within the substrate or use a TFT is selected according to the size of the display portion. For example, if the size is about 0.5 inches, it is preferable to provide the organic light-emitting element on the Si substrate.

[0090] Next, FIG. 10 shows a schematic diagram showing an example of a display device having the organic light-emitting element according to the above embodiment. The display device 1000 may include 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. The touch panel 1003 and the display panel 1005 are connected to flexible printed circuits FPC 1002 and 1004. A transistor is printed on the circuit board 1007. The battery 1008 may not be provided if the display device is not a portable device, or may be provided at another position even if it is a portable device.

[0091] The display device 1000 may have a color filter having red, green, and blue. The red, green, and blue of the color filter may be arranged in a delta array. Further, the display device 1000 may be used for the display unit of a mobile terminal. In that case, it may have both a display function and an operation function. Examples of the mobile terminal include mobile phones such as smartphones, tablets, and head-mounted displays.

[0092] Further, the display device 1000 may be used for the display unit of an imaging device having an optical unit having 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. Further, the display unit may be a display unit exposed to the outside of the imaging device or a display unit disposed in the viewfinder. The imaging device may be a digital camera or a digital video camera.

[0093] Next, FIG. 11A shows a schematic diagram showing an example of an imaging device having an organic light-emitting element according to the above-described embodiment. The imaging device 1100 may have a viewfinder 1101, a rear display 1102, an operation unit 1103, and a housing 1104. The viewfinder 1101 may have the above-described display device. In that case, the display device may display not only the 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 moves, the possibility that the subject is blocked by an obstacle, and the like.

[0094] Since the timing suitable for imaging is a very short time, it is better to display information earlier. Therefore, it is preferable to configure a display device having a high response speed using the organic light-emitting element of the above-described embodiment. The display device using the organic light-emitting element of the above-described embodiment can be preferably used more than these devices and liquid crystal display devices that require a display speed.

[0095] The imaging device 1100 has an optical unit (not shown). The optical unit has a plurality of lenses and forms an image on an imaging element housed in the housing 1104. The plurality of lenses can adjust the focus by adjusting their relative positions. This operation can also be performed automatically. The imaging device may be called a photoelectric conversion device. The photoelectric conversion device may include, as imaging methods, a method of detecting the difference from a previous image instead of performing sequential imaging, a method of cutting out from an image that is always recorded, and the like.

[0096] FIG. 11B is a schematic diagram showing an example of an electronic device having an organic light-emitting element according to the above 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 reaction unit of a touch panel method. The operation unit may be a biometric recognition unit that recognizes a fingerprint and performs unlocking or the like. An electronic device having a communication unit may also be called a communication device. The electronic device 1200 may further have a camera function by including a lens and an imaging element. An image captured by the camera function is displayed on the display unit. Examples of the electronic device include a smartphone, a notebook personal computer, and the like.

[0097] Next, FIG. 12A shows a schematic diagram showing an example of a display device having an organic light-emitting element according to the above embodiment. FIG. 12A shows a display device 1300 such as a TV monitor or a PC monitor. The display device 1300 has a frame 1301 and a display unit 1302. The organic light-emitting element according to the above embodiment may be used for the display unit 1302. Further, the display device 1300 has a frame 1301 and a base 1303 that supports the display unit 1302. The base 1303 is not limited to the form of FIG. 12A. The lower side of the frame 1301 may also serve as the base. Further, the frame 1301 and the display unit 1302 may be bent. The radius of curvature may be 5000 mm or more and 6000 mm or less.

[0098] FIG. 12B is a schematic diagram showing another example of a display device having the organic light-emitting element according to the above-described embodiment. The display device 1310 in FIG. 12B is configured to be foldable and is a so-called foldable display device. The display device 1310 includes a first display unit 1311, a second display unit 1312, a housing 1313, and a bending point 1314. The first display unit 1311 and the second display unit 1312 may include the organic light-emitting element according to the above-described embodiment. The first display unit 1311 and the second display unit 1312 may be a single seamless display device. The first display unit 1311 and the second display unit 1312 can be separated at the bending point. The first display unit 1311 and the second display unit 1312 may display different images, or may display one image together with the first display unit and the second display unit.

[0099] Next, FIG. 13A shows a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a lighting device having the organic light-emitting element according to the above-described embodiment. The lighting device 1400 may include a housing 1401, a light source 1402, a circuit board 1403, an optical film 1404, and a light diffusing unit 1405. The light source includes the organic light-emitting element according to the above-described embodiment. The optical filter may be a filter that improves the color rendering property of the light source. The light diffusing unit can effectively diffuse the light of the light source, such as lighting up, and deliver the light to a wide range. The optical filter and the light diffusing unit may be provided on the light emission side of the illumination. If necessary, a cover may be provided on the outermost side.

[0100] The lighting device 1400 is, for example, a device for illuminating a room. The lighting device may emit any color from white, day white, or other blue to red. It may have a dimming circuit for dimming them. The lighting device 1400 may include the organic light-emitting element according to the above-described embodiment and a power supply circuit connected thereto. The power supply circuit is a circuit that converts an AC voltage into a DC voltage. Also, white has a color temperature of 4200K and day white has a color temperature of 5000K. Further, the lighting device 1400 may include a color filter. Further, the lighting device 1400 may have a heat radiating portion. The heat radiating portion releases the heat inside the device to the outside of the device, and examples thereof include a metal having a high specific heat and liquid silicon.

[0101] FIG. 13B is a schematic diagram of an automobile which is an example of a moving body having the organic light-emitting element according to the above-described embodiment. The automobile has a tail lamp which is an example of a lamp. The automobile 1500 may have a tail lamp 1501 and may be configured to turn on the tail lamp when a brake operation or the like is performed.

[0102] The tail lamp 1501 has the organic light-emitting element according to the above-described embodiment. The tail lamp may have a protective member for protecting the organic EL element. The protective member has a certain degree of strength and may be made of any material as long as it is transparent, but is preferably made of polycarbonate or the like. A phthalic acid derivative, an acrylonitrile derivative or the like may be mixed into the polycarbonate.

[0103] The automobile 1500 may have a vehicle body 1503 and a window 1502 attached thereto. The window may be a transparent display as long as it is not a window for checking the front and rear of the automobile. The transparent display may have the organic light-emitting element according to the above-described embodiment. In this case, constituent materials such as electrodes of the organic light-emitting element are made of transparent members.

[0104] Further, the moving body having the organic light-emitting element according to the above-described embodiment may be a ship, an aircraft, a drone or the like. The moving body may have a fuselage and a lamp provided on the fuselage. The lamp may emit light for notifying the position of the fuselage. The lamp has the organic light-emitting element according to the above-described embodiment.

[0105] Further, the display device having the organic light-emitting element of the above-described embodiment can be applied to a system that can be worn as a wearable device such as smart glasses, an HMD, or smart contacts. The imaging display device used in such an application example has an imaging device capable of photoelectrically converting visible light and a display device capable of emitting visible light.

[0106] FIG. 14A shows glasses 1600 (smart glasses) according to an application example of a display device having the organic light-emitting element of the above-described embodiment. An imaging device 1602 such as a CMOS sensor or a SPAD is provided on the front surface side of the lens 1601 of the glasses 1600. Further, any of the above-described display devices is provided on the back surface side of the lens 1601.

[0107] The glasses 1600 further include a control device 1603. The control device 1603 functions as a power source that supplies power to the imaging device 1602 and the display device according to each embodiment. Further, the control device 1603 controls the operations of the imaging device 1602 and the display device. An optical system for condensing light onto the imaging device 1602 is formed in the lens 1601.

[0108] Further, FIG. 14B shows glasses 1610 (smart glasses) according to another application example of a display device having the organic light-emitting element of the above-described embodiment. The glasses 1610 have a control device 1612. An imaging device corresponding to the imaging device 1602 and a display device are mounted on the control device 1612. An optical system for projecting light emitted from the display device in the control device 1612 is formed in the lens 1611, 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 display device, and controls the operations of the imaging device and the display device. The control device may have a gaze detection unit that detects the wearer's gaze. Infrared rays may be used for gaze detection. The infrared light emitting unit emits infrared light to the eyeball of the user who is gazing at the display image. An imaging image of the eyeball can be obtained by detecting the reflected light of the emitted infrared light from the eyeball with an imaging unit having a light receiving element. By having a reducing means for reducing the light from the infrared light emitting unit to the display unit in a plan view, a decrease in image quality can be reduced.

[0109] The user's gaze with respect to the display image is detected from the imaging image of the eyeball obtained by imaging infrared light. Any known method can be applied to gaze detection using the imaging image of the eyeball. As an example, a gaze detection method based on a Purkinje image by reflection of irradiation light on the cornea can be used. More specifically, a gaze detection process based on the pupil corneal reflex method is performed. Using the pupil corneal reflex method, a gaze vector representing the orientation (rotation angle) of the eyeball is calculated based on the image of the pupil and the Purkinje image included in the captured image of the eyeball, thereby detecting the user's gaze.

[0110] The display device having the organic light emitting element according to the above embodiment may have an imaging device having a light receiving element, and may control the display image of the display device based on the user's gaze information from the imaging device.

[0111] Specifically, the display device determines a first visual field region that the user gazes at and a second visual field region other than the first visual field region based on the gaze information. The first visual field region and the second visual field region may be determined by the control device of the display device, or the display device may receive those determined by an external control device. In the display region of the display device, the display resolution of the first visual field region may be controlled to be higher than that of the second visual field region. That is, the resolution of the second visual field region may be made lower than that of the first visual field region.

[0112] Further, the display region has a first display region and a second display region different from the first display region, and the display device may select a region with a higher priority from the first display region and the second display region based on the gaze information. The first visual field region and the second visual field region may be determined by the control device of the display device, or the display device may receive those determined by an external control device. Also, the display device may control the resolution of the region with a higher priority to be higher than the resolution of the region other than the region with a higher priority. That is, the display device may lower the resolution of the region with a relatively lower priority.

[0113] Note that the display device may use AI (Artificial Intelligence) to determine the first visual field region or a region with high priority. The AI may be a model configured to estimate the angle of the line of sight and the distance to the object at the end of the line of sight from the eye image, using the eye image and the direction in which the eye in the image is actually looking as teacher data. Also, the AI program may be possessed by the display device, the imaging device, or an external device. When the external device has the AI program, the AI program is transmitted from the external device to the display device via communication.

[0114] When the display device performs display control based on visual recognition detection, it is preferably applicable to smart glasses that further include an imaging device for imaging the outside. The smart glasses can display the captured external information in real time.

[0115] The disclosure of this embodiment includes the following configurations. (Configuration 1) A first element having, in this order on a substrate, a first lower electrode, a first light-emitting layer that emits light of a first color, a charge generation layer, a second light-emitting layer that emits light of the first color, and an upper electrode, an insulating layer that covers an end portion of the first lower electrode, and having, the first element has one or more organic layers between the first lower electrode and the charge generation layer, and one or more organic layers between the charge generation layer and the upper electrode, the insulating layer has a groove on a surface in contact with the organic layer disposed between the first lower electrode and the charge generation layer, at least one organic layer disposed between the charge generation layer and the upper electrode is formed in the groove An organic light-emitting element characterized by the above. (Configuration 2) The organic light-emitting element according to Configuration 1, characterized in that the thickest layer among the one or more organic layers disposed between the charge generation layer and the upper electrode is formed in the groove. (Configuration 3) The organic light-emitting device according to Configuration 1 or 2, wherein the second light-emitting layer is formed in the groove. (Configuration 4) The first element further has an electron transport layer between the charge generation layer and the upper electrode, wherein the electron transport layer is formed in the groove The organic light-emitting device according to any one of Configurations 1 to 3, characterized in that. (Configuration 5) At least one organic layer disposed between the first lower electrode and the charge generation layer is not formed in the groove The organic light-emitting device according to any one of Configurations 1 to 4, characterized in that. (Configuration 6) The first element has one or more organic layers between the first lower electrode and the charge generation layer, The organic light-emitting device according to any one of Configurations 1 to 5, characterized in that at least one organic layer disposed between the first lower electrode and the charge generation layer is not formed in the groove. (Configuration 7) The substrate further has a second element having, in this order, a second lower electrode, a third light-emitting layer that emits light of a second color different from the first color, the charge generation layer, a fourth light-emitting layer that emits light of the second color, and the upper electrode, wherein the second lower electrode is adjacent to the first lower electrode, The organic light-emitting device according to any one of Configurations 1 to 6, characterized in that the second element has one or more organic layers between the charge generation layer and the upper electrode. (Configuration 8) The organic light-emitting device according to Configuration 7, characterized in that the fourth light-emitting layer is formed in the groove. (Configuration 9) The second element has one or more organic layers between the second lower electrode and the charge generation layer, At least one organic layer disposed between the second lower electrode and the charge generation layer is not formed in the groove The organic light-emitting device according to Configuration 7 or 8, characterized in that. (Configuration 10) The first element has a reflective layer and a first optical adjustment layer, The second element has the reflective layer and a second optical adjustment layer The organic light-emitting device according to any one of Configurations 7 to 9, characterized in that. (Configuration 11) The organic light-emitting device according to any one of Configurations 1 to 10, further comprising a lens on the light-emitting side of the organic light-emitting device. (Configuration 12) A display device having a plurality of pixels, At least one of the plurality of pixels has an organic light-emitting device according to any one of Configurations 1 to 11 and a transistor connected to the organic light-emitting device. A display device characterized by that. (Configuration 13) An optical unit having a plurality of lenses, An image sensor that receives light that has passed through the optical unit, A display unit that displays an image captured by the image sensor, Having, The display unit has an organic light-emitting device according to any one of Configurations 1 to 11. A photoelectric conversion device characterized by that. (Configuration 14) A display unit having an organic light-emitting device according to any one of Configurations 1 to 11, A housing provided with the display unit, A communication unit provided in the housing and communicating with the outside, An electronic device characterized by having. (Configuration 15) A light source having an organic light-emitting device according to any one of Configurations 1 to 11, A light diffusing unit or an optical film that transmits light emitted by the light source, An illumination device characterized by having. (Configuration 16) A lighting fixture having an organic light-emitting device according to any one of Configurations 1 to 11, A body provided with the lighting fixture, A moving body characterized by having.

Description of Symbols

[0116] 1 Light-emitting element, 102a to 102c Lower electrodes, 103, 104, 106, 108, 110 Organic layers, 105a to 105c First light-emitting layers, 107 Charge generation layer, 109a to 109c Second light-emitting layers, 111 Upper electrode

Claims

1. A first element having, in this order, a first lower electrode, a first light-emitting layer that emits light of a first color, a charge generation layer, a second light-emitting layer that emits light of the first color, and an upper electrode, on a substrate; An insulating layer that covers an end portion of the first lower electrode; and having; The first element has one or more organic layers between the first lower electrode and the charge generation layer, and one or more organic layers between the charge generation layer and the upper electrode, The insulating layer has a groove on a surface in contact with the organic layer disposed between the first lower electrode and the charge generation layer, The second light-emitting layer is formed in the groove, At least one organic layer disposed between the first lower electrode and the charge generation layer is not formed in the groove An organic light-emitting element, characterized in that.

2. The organic light-emitting element according to claim 1, characterized in that the thickest layer among the one or more organic layers disposed between the charge generation layer and the upper electrode is formed in the groove.

3. The first element further has an electron transport layer between the charge generation layer and the upper electrode, The electron transport layer is formed in the groove The organic light-emitting element according to claim 2, characterized in that.

4. Further having a second element having, in this order, a second lower electrode, a third light-emitting layer that emits light of a second color different from the first color, the charge generation layer, a fourth light-emitting layer that emits light of the second color, and the upper electrode, on the substrate, The second lower electrode is adjacent to the first lower electrode, The organic light-emitting element according to claim 1, characterized in that the second element has one or more organic layers between the charge generation layer and the upper electrode.

5. The organic light-emitting element according to claim 4, characterized in that the fourth light-emitting layer is formed in the groove Organic light-emitting device.

6. The second element has one or more organic layers between the second lower electrode and the charge generation layer, and at least one organic layer disposed between the second lower electrode and the charge generation layer is not formed in the groove The organic light-emitting device according to claim 5, characterized in that.

7. The first element has a reflective layer and a first optical adjustment layer, The second element has the reflective layer and a second optical adjustment layer The organic light-emitting device according to claim 4, characterized in that.

8. The organic light-emitting device according to claim 1, further comprising a lens on the light-emitting side of the organic light-emitting device.

9. On a substrate, a first lower electrode, a first light-emitting layer that emits light of a first color, a charge generation layer, a second light-emitting layer that emits light of the first color, and an upper electrode are provided in this order. A first element, An insulating layer that covers an end portion of the first lower electrode, having, The first element has one or more organic layers between the first lower electrode and the charge generation layer, and one or more organic layers between the charge generation layer and the upper electrode, The insulating layer has a groove on a surface in contact with the organic layer disposed between the first lower electrode and the charge generation layer, The second light-emitting layer is formed in the groove, The thickest layer among the one or more organic layers disposed between the charge generation layer and the upper electrode is formed in the groove, The first element further has an electron transport layer between the charge generation layer and the upper electrode, The electron transport layer is formed in the groove, The first element has one or more organic layers between the first lower electrode and the charge generation layer, At least one organic layer disposed between the first lower electrode and the charge generation layer is not formed in the groove. An organic light-emitting device characterized by this.

10. On a substrate, a first element having, in this order, a first lower electrode, a first light-emitting layer that emits light of a first color, a charge generation layer, a second light-emitting layer that emits light of the first color, and an upper electrode, An insulating layer that covers an end portion of the first lower electrode, having, The first element has one or more organic layers between the first lower electrode and the charge generation layer, and has one or more organic layers between the charge generation layer and the upper electrode. The insulating layer has a groove on a surface in contact with the organic layer disposed between the first lower electrode and the charge generation layer. The second light-emitting layer is formed in the groove. On the substrate, there is further a second element having, in this order, a second lower electrode, a third light-emitting layer that emits light of a second color different from the first color, the charge generation layer, a fourth light-emitting layer that emits light of the second color, and the upper electrode. The second lower electrode is adjacent to the first lower electrode. An organic light-emitting device characterized in that the second element has one or more organic layers between the charge generation layer and the upper electrode.

11. A display device having a plurality of pixels, wherein at least one of the plurality of pixels has the organic light-emitting device according to any one of Claims 1 to 10 and a transistor connected to the organic light-emitting device. A display device characterized by this.

12. An optical unit having a plurality of lenses, An imaging element that receives light that has passed through the optical unit, A display unit that displays an image captured by the imaging element, having, The display unit has the organic light-emitting element according to any one of claims 1 to 10. A photoelectric conversion device, characterized in that.

13. A display unit having the organic light-emitting element according to any one of claims 1 to 10, A housing provided with the display unit, A communication unit provided in the housing and communicating with the outside, An electronic device, characterized by having.

14. A light source having the organic light-emitting element according to any one of claims 1 to 10, A light diffusing portion or an optical film that transmits the light emitted by the light source, An illumination device, characterized by having.

15. A lighting fixture having the organic light-emitting element according to any one of claims 1 to 10, A body provided with the lighting fixture, A moving body, characterized by having.

Images