US 11,812,634 B2
Organic electroluminescent device and method for producing same
Katsuhiko Kishimoto, Osaka (JP)
Assigned to Sakai Display Products Corporation, Osaka (JP)
Filed by Sakai Display Products Corporation, Sakai (JP)
Filed on Jun. 22, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/354,387.
Application 17/354,387 is a continuation of application No. 16/872,347, filed on May 11, 2020, granted, now 11,075,361.
Application 16/872,347 is a continuation of application No. 16/076,157, granted, now 10,693,104, previously published as PCT/JP2017/046605, filed on Dec. 26, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2021/0313543 A1, Oct. 7, 2021
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. H10K 50/844 (2023.01); H10K 59/122 (2023.01); H10K 59/12 (2023.01)
CPC H10K 50/844 (2023.02) [H10K 59/122 (2023.02); H10K 59/1201 (2023.02)] 12 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An organic electroluminescent device including an active region that includes a plurality of organic electroluminescent elements and also including a peripheral region located in a region other than the active region, the organic electroluminescent device comprising:
an element substrate including a flexible substrate, and the plurality of organic electroluminescent elements supported by the flexible substrate; and
a thin film encapsulation structure covering the plurality of organic electroluminescent elements,
wherein the thin film encapsulation structure includes a first inorganic barrier layer, an organic barrier layer in contact with a top surface of the first inorganic barrier layer, and a second inorganic barrier layer in contact with the top surface of the first inorganic barrier layer and a top surface of the organic barrier layer,
wherein the peripheral region includes a first protruding structure supported by the flexible substrate, the first protruding structure including a portion extending along at least one side of the active region, a second protruding structure between the active region and the first protruding structure, the second protruding structure including a portion extending along at least one side of the active region, and an extending portion, of the first inorganic barrier layer, extending onto the first protruding structure,
wherein the first protruding structure has a height larger than a thickness of the first inorganic barrier layer,
wherein the first protruding structure includes a first portion extending along a first side included in the at least one side, the first portion including a plurality of first sub structures adjacent to each other with a gap,
wherein the second protruding structure includes a second portion extending along the first side, the second portion including a plurality of second sub structures adjacent to each other with a gap,
wherein the first protruding structure is in direct contact with the first inorganic barrier layer,
wherein the first inorganic barrier layer and the second inorganic barrier layer are in direct contact with each other on a side surface of the first protruding structure,
wherein the second protruding structure is in direct contact with the first inorganic barrier layer,
wherein the first inorganic barrier layer and the second inorganic barrier layer are in direct contact with each other on a side surface of the second protruding structure,
a surface of the first inorganic barrier layer includes a first protruding portion that reflects a shape of the first protruding structure, a second protruding portion that reflects a shape of the second protruding structure, and a flat portion between the first protruding portion and the second protruding portion,
the first inorganic barrier layer and the second inorganic barrier layer are in direct contact with each other at a position at which the first protruding portion and the flat portion are in contact with each other, and
the first inorganic barrier layer and the second inorganic barrier layer are in direct contact with each other at a position at which the second protruding portion and the flat portion are in contact with each other,
wherein the element substrate further includes a plurality of gate bus lines each connected with any of the plurality of organic electroluminescent elements, and a plurality of source bus lines each connected with any of the plurality of organic electroluminescent elements,
wherein the peripheral region includes a plurality of terminals provided in a region in the vicinity of a certain side other than the first side of the active region, and a plurality of lead wires connected each of the plurality of terminals and either one of the plurality of gate bus lines or either one of the plurality of source bus lines to each other, and
wherein the first protruding structure and the second protruding structure do not include any portion that overlaps the plurality of lead wires as seen in a direction normal to the flexible substrate.