EL display device

Abstract

An EL display device capable of reducing an average film resistance of an anode in an EL device as well as displaying an image with high definition, and electrical equipment including such an EL display device are provided. A light-shielding metal film 109 is provided on an anode 108 so as to conceal gaps between the pixels. Thus, an average film resistance of the anode 108 in the EL device is reduced. Furthermore, light leakage from the gaps between the pixels can be prevented, resulting in an image display with high definition.

1 - 36 . (canceled)  
   
   
       37 . A method of manufacturing a display device comprising: 
 forming a semiconductor layer, a gate insulating film, and a gate electrode over a substrate;    forming an insulating film over the gate electrode and the semiconductor layer;    forming a pixel electrode on the insulating film, wherein the pixel electrode is electrically connected to the semiconductor layer;    forming an EL layer over the pixel electrode;    forming an electrode over the pixel electrode; and    forming a metal film on a portion of the electrode.    
   
   
       38 . A method of manufacturing a display device according to  claim 37 , wherein the electrode comprises a compound of indium oxide and tin oxide.  
   
   
       39 . A method of manufacturing a display device according to  claim 37 , wherein the pixel electrode comprises aluminum.  
   
   
       40 . A method of manufacturing a display device according to  claim 37 , wherein the gate electrode is formed over the semiconductor layer.  
   
   
       41 . A method of manufacturing a display device according to  claim 37 , wherein the metal film comprises a lamination of titanium and aluminum.  
   
   
       42 . A method of manufacturing a display device according to  claim 37 , wherein the display device is an EL display device.  
   
   
       43 . A method of manufacturing a display device according to  claim 37 , wherein the display device is incorporated in at lease one selected from the group consisting of a video camera, a head mount display, an image reproduction apparatus, a portable computer, a personal computer, a car navigation system, a mobile telephone, and a car audio equipment.  
   
   
       44 . A method of manufacturing a display device comprising: 
 forming a semiconductor layer, a gate insulating film, and a gate electrode over a substrate;    forming an insulating film over the gate electrode and the semiconductor layer;    forming a pixel electrode on the insulating film, wherein the pixel electrode is electrically connected to the semiconductor layer;    forming an EL layer over the pixel electrode;    forming an anode over the pixel electrode; and    forming a metal film on a portion of the electrode.    
   
   
       45 . A method of manufacturing a display device according to  claim 44 , wherein the anode comprises a compound of indium oxide and tin oxide.  
   
   
       46 . A method of manufacturing a display device according to  claim 44 , wherein the pixel electrode comprises aluminum.  
   
   
       47 . A method of manufacturing a display device according to  claim 44 , wherein the gate electrode is formed over the semiconductor layer.  
   
   
       48 . A method of manufacturing a display device according to  claim 44 , wherein the metal film comprises a lamination of titanium and aluminum.  
   
   
       49 . A method of manufacturing a display device according to  claim 44 , wherein the display device is an EL display device.  
   
   
       50 . A method of manufacturing a display device according to  claim 44 , wherein the display device is incorporated in at lease one selected from the group consisting of a video camera, a head mount display, an image reproduction apparatus, a portable computer, a personal computer, a car navigation system, a mobile telephone, and a car audio equipment.  
   
   
       51 . A method of manufacturing a display device comprising: 
 forming a semiconductor layer, a gate insulating film, and a gate electrode over a substrate;    forming an insulating film over the gate electrode and the semiconductor layer;    forming a pixel electrode on the insulating film, wherein the pixel electrode is electrically connected to the semiconductor layer;    forming an EL layer over the pixel electrode;    forming an electrode over the pixel electrode;    forming a metal film on the electrode; and    etching the metal film so as to be formed on a portion of the electrode.    
   
   
       52 . A method of manufacturing a display device according to  claim 51 , wherein the electrode comprises a compound of indium oxide and tin oxide.  
   
   
       53 . A method of manufacturing a display device according to  claim 51 , wherein the pixel electrode comprises aluminum.  
   
   
       54 . A method of manufacturing a display device according to  claim 51 , wherein the gate electrode is formed over the semiconductor layer.  
   
   
       55 . A method of manufacturing a display device according to  claim 51 , wherein the metal film comprises a lamination of titanium and aluminum.  
   
   
       56 . A method of manufacturing a display device according to  claim 51 , wherein the display device is an EL display device.  
   
   
       57 . A method of manufacturing a display device according to  claim 51 , wherein the display device is incorporated in at lease one selected from the group consisting of a video camera, a head mount display, an image reproduction apparatus, a portable computer, a personal computer, a car navigation system, a mobile telephone, and a car audio equipment.  
   
   
       58 . A method of manufacturing a display device comprising: 
 forming a semiconductor layer, a gate insulating film, and a gate electrode over a substrate;    forming an insulating film over the gate electrode and the semiconductor layer;    forming a pixel electrode on the insulating film, wherein the pixel electrode is electrically connected to the semiconductor layer;    forming an EL layer over the pixel electrode;    forming an electrode over the pixel electrode; and    forming a metal film on an edge of the electrode.    
   
   
       59 . A method of manufacturing a display device according to  claim 58 , wherein the electrode comprises a compound of indium oxide and tin oxide.  
   
   
       60 . A method of manufacturing a display device according to  claim 58 , wherein the pixel electrode comprises aluminum.  
   
   
       61 . A method of manufacturing a display device according to  claim 58 , wherein the gate electrode is formed over the semiconductor layer.  
   
   
       62 . A method of manufacturing a display device according to  claim 58 , wherein the metal film comprises a lamination of titanium and aluminum.  
   
   
       63 . A method of manufacturing a display device according to  claim 58 , wherein the display device is an EL display device.  
   
   
       64 . A method of manufacturing a display device according to  claim 58 , wherein the display device is incorporated in at lease one selected from the group consisting of a video camera, a head mount display, an image reproduction apparatus, a portable computer, a personal computer, a car navigation system, a mobile telephone, and a car audio equipment.  
   
   
       65 . A method of manufacturing a display device comprising: 
 forming a semiconductor layer, a gate insulating film, and a gate electrode over a substrate;    forming an insulating film over the gate electrode and the semiconductor layer;    forming a pixel electrode on the insulating film, wherein the pixel electrode is electrically connected to the semiconductor layer;    forming an EL layer over the pixel electrode;    forming an anode over the pixel electrode; and    forming a metal film on an edge of the electrode.    
   
   
       66 . A method of manufacturing a display device according to  claim 65 , wherein the anode comprises a compound of indium oxide and tin oxide.  
   
   
       67 . A method of manufacturing a display device according to  claim 65 , wherein the pixel electrode comprises aluminum.  
   
   
       68 . A method of manufacturing a display device according to  claim 65 , wherein the gate electrode is formed over the semiconductor layer.  
   
   
       69 . A method of manufacturing a display device according to  claim 65 , wherein the metal film comprises a lamination of titanium and aluminum.  
   
   
       70 . A method of manufacturing a display device according to  claim 65 , wherein the display device is an EL display device.  
   
   
       71 . A method of manufacturing a display device according to  claim 65 , wherein the display device is incorporated in at lease one selected from the group consisting of a video camera, a head mount display, an image reproduction apparatus, a portable computer, a personal computer, a car navigation system, a mobile telephone, and a car audio equipment.  
   
   
       72 . A method of manufacturing a display device comprising: 
 forming a semiconductor layer, a gate insulating film, and a gate electrode over a substrate;    forming an insulating film over the gate electrode and the semiconductor layer;    forming a pixel electrode on the insulating film, wherein the pixel electrode is electrically connected to the semiconductor layer;    forming an EL layer over the pixel electrode;    forming an electrode over the pixel electrode;    forming a metal film on the electrode; and    etching the metal film so as to be formed on an edge of the electrode.    
   
   
       73 . A method of manufacturing a display device according to  claim 72 , wherein the electrode comprises a compound of indium oxide and tin oxide.  
   
   
       74 . A method of manufacturing a display device according to  claim 72 , wherein the pixel electrode comprises aluminum.  
   
   
       75 . A method of manufacturing a display device according to  claim 72 , wherein the gate electrode is formed over the semiconductor layer.  
   
   
       76 . A method of manufacturing a display device according to  claim 72 , wherein the metal film comprises a lamination of titanium and aluminum.  
   
   
       77 . A method of manufacturing a display device according to  claim 72 , wherein the display device is an EL display device.  
   
   
       78 . A method of manufacturing a display device according to  claim 72 , wherein the display device is incorporated in at lease one selected from the group consisting of a video camera, a head mount display, an image reproduction apparatus, a portable computer, a personal computer, a car navigation system, a mobile telephone, and a car audio equipment.  
   
   
       79 . A method of making a light emitting OLED display, comprising the steps of: 
 a) providing a substrate;    b) forming a patterned electrode above the substrate, defining a plurality of light emitting elements having gaps between the light emitting elements;    c) disposing a layer of OLED material above the patterned electrode;    d) disposing a continuous transparent electrode above the layer of OLED material; and    e) locating a light-absorbing auxiliary electrode that is thermally and electrically conductive and in electrical and thermal contact with the continuous transparent electrode over the gaps between the light emitting elements of the display.    
   
   
       80 . The method claimed in  claim 79 , wherein the display is an active-matrix display, and further comprising the step of forming a layer of active-matrix circuitry on the substrate under the patterned electrode.  
   
   
       81 . The method claimed in  claim 79 , wherein the auxiliary electrode is located above the transparent electrode.  
   
   
       82 . The method claimed in  claim 79 , wherein the auxiliary electrode comprises a uniform light-absorbing material that is thermally and electrically conductive.  
   
   
       83 . The method claimed in  claim 81 , wherein the auxiliary electrode comprises a thermally and electrically conductive material coated with a thermally conductive light-absorbing layer.  
   
   
       84 . The method claimed in  claim 79 , wherein the auxiliary electrode comprises light absorbing silver.  
   
   
       85 . The method claimed in  claim 83 , wherein the electrically and thermally conductive layer is comprised of aluminum, copper, silver, or titanium.  
   
   
       86 . The method claimed in  claim 79 , wherein the auxiliary electrode is sputtered.