Method of manufacturing organic EL element, organic EL element, and organic EL display device

Abstract

A method of manufacturing an organic EL element according to the present invention comprises the steps of forming pixel electrodes ( 801 ), ( 802 ), ( 803 ) on a transparent substrate ( 804 ) and forming on the pixel electrodes by patterning luminescent layers ( 806 ), ( 807 ), ( 808 ) made of an organic compound by means of an ink-jet method. According to this method, it is possible to carry out a high precise patterning easily and in a short time, thereby enabling to carry out optimization for a film design and luminescent characteristic easily as well as making it easy to adjust a luminous efficiency.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of manufacturing an organic EL element, comprising the steps of: 
 forming pixel electrodes on a transparent substrate;    forming on said pixel electrodes by patterning at least one luminescent layer having a certain color and made of an organic compound; and    forming a counter electrode opposing the pixel electrodes, wherein the formation of the luminescent layer is performed by means of an ink-jet method.    
     
     
         2 . The method of manufacturing an organic EL element as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the organic compound is a polymer organic compound.  
     
     
         3 . The method of manufacturing an organic EL element as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the polymer organic compound is a hole injection and transfer type material.  
     
     
         4 . The method of manufacturing an organic EL element as claimed in  claim 2  or  3 , wherein the polymer organic compound is a polyparaphenylene vinylene or its derivative or a copolymer which contains at least either one of these compounds.  
     
     
         5 . The method of manufacturing an organic EL element as claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  4 , wherein said at least one luminescent layer comprises three luminescent layers having diff erent three colors, and at least two luminescent layers in the three luminescent layers are formed by patterning by means of an ink-jet method.  
     
     
         6 . The method of manufacturing an organic EL element as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said three colors include red, green and blue, and the red luminescent layer and the green luminescent layer are formed by patterning by means of an ink-jet method.  
     
     
         7 . The method of manufacturing an organic EL element as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the blue luminescent layer is formed by a vacuum deposition method.  
     
     
         8 . The method of manufacturing an organic EL element as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the blue luminescent layer is made of an electron injection and transfer type material.  
     
     
         9 . The method of manufacturing an organic EL element as claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  8 , wherein said at least one luminescent layer is laminated with a hole injection and transfer layer.  
     
     
         10 . The method of manufacturing an organic EL element as claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  9 , further comprising the step of forming a protective film on the counter electrode.  
     
     
         11 . The method of manufacturing an organic EL element as claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  10 , further comprising the step of forming on said transparent substrate electrodes for driving the respective pixels.  
     
     
         12 . The method of manufacturing an organic EL element as claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  11 , wherein said pixel electrodes are transparent pixel electrodes.  
     
     
         13 . An organic EL element, comprising: 
 a transparent substrate;    pixel electrodes provided on the transparent substrate;    at least one luminescent layer having a certain color and made of an organic compound, said luminescent layer being patterned on the pixel electrodes by an ink-jet system; and    a counter electrode formed on the luminescent layer.    
     
     
         14 . The organic EL element, as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the organic compound is a polymer organic compound.  
     
     
         15 . The organic EL element as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the polymer organic compound is a hole injection and transfer type material.  
     
     
         16 . The organic EL element as claimed in  claim 14  or  15 , wherein the polymer organic compound is a polyparaphenylene vinylene or its derivative or a copolymer which contains at least either one of these compounds.  
     
     
         17 . The organic EL element as claimed in any one of  claims 13  to  16 , wherein said at least one luminescent layer comprises three luminescent layers having different three colors, and at least two luminescent layers in the three luminescent layers are formed by patterning by means of an ink-jet method.  
     
     
         18 . The organic EL element as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein said three colors include red, green and blue, and the red luminescent layer and the green luminescent layer are patterned by means of an ink-jet method.  
     
     
         19 . The organic EL element as claimed in any one of  claims 13  to  18 , wherein the blue luminescent layer is formed by a vacuum deposition method.  
     
     
         20 . The organic EL element as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the blue luminescent layer is made of an electron injection and transfer type material.  
     
     
         21 . The organic EL element as claimed in any one of  claims 13  to  20 , wherein said at least one luminescent layer is laminated with an electron injection and transfer type material.  
     
     
         22 . The organic EL element as claimed in any one of  claims 13  to  31 , further comprising a protective film formed on the counter electrode.  
     
     
         23 . The organic EL element as claimed in any one of claims  13  to  22 , wherein said pixel electrodes are transparent pixel electrodes.  
     
     
         24 . An organic EL display device comprising the organic EL element as claimed in any one of  claims 13  to  23 .