Sealed Structure, Light-Emitting Device, Electronic Device, and Lighting Device

Abstract

A sealed structure with high sealing capability, in which a pair of substrates is attached to each other with a glass layer is provided. The sealed structure has a first and second substrates, a first surface of the first substrate facing a first surface of the second substrate, and the glass layer which is in contact with the first and second substrates, defines a space between the first and second substrates, and is provided along the periphery of the first surface of the first substrate. The first substrate has a corner portion. The area of the first surface of the first substrate is smaller than or equal to that of the first surface of the second substrate. In at least one of respective welded regions between the glass layer and the first or second substrate, the width of the corner portion is larger than that of the side portion.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A light-emitting device comprising:
 a first substrate and a second substrate, a first surface of the first substrate facing a first surface of the second substrate;   a glass layer interposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, defining a sealed space between the first substrate and the second substrate, and provided along a periphery of the first surface of the first substrate so as to form a closed loop; and   a light-emitting element in the sealed space, the light-emitting element including an EL layer interposed between two electrodes,   wherein the glass layer comprises a welded region,   wherein the welded region includes a corner portion and a side portion,   wherein a width of the corner portion of the welded region is larger than a width of the side portion of the welded region.   
     
     
         3 . The light-emitting device according to  claim 2 ,
 wherein a radius of an outer contour of the corner portion of the welded region is smaller than or equal to a radius of an inner contour of the corner portion of the welded region.   
     
     
         4 . The light-emitting device according to  claim 2 ,
 wherein a radius of an outer contour of the corner portion is in the order of 100 μm.   
     
     
         5 . The light-emitting device according to  claim 2 ,
 wherein a radius of an outer contour of the corner portion is greater than 0 and smaller than or equal to 100 μm.   
     
     
         6 . The light-emitting device according to  claim 2 , wherein at least one of the first substrate and the second substrate comprises a film formed over the first surface thereof. 
     
     
         7 . A light-emitting device comprising:
 a first substrate and a second substrate, a first surface of the first substrate facing a first surface of the second substrate, and an area of the first surface of the second substrate being smaller than or equal to an area of the first surface of the first substrate;   a glass layer interposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, defining a sealed space between the first substrate and the second substrate, and provided along a periphery of the first surface of the first substrate so as to form a closed loop; and   a light-emitting element on the first substrate in the sealed space, the light-emitting element including an EL layer interposed between two electrodes,   wherein the glass layer comprises a welded region,   wherein the welded region includes a corner portion and a side portion,   wherein a width of the corner portion of the welded region is larger than a width of the side portion of the welded region.   
     
     
         8 . The light-emitting device according to  claim 7 ,
 wherein a radius of an outer contour of the corner portion of the welded region is smaller than or equal to a radius of an inner contour of the corner portion of the welded region.   
     
     
         9 . The light-emitting device according to  claim 7 ,
 wherein a radius of an outer contour of the corner portion is in the order of 100 μm.   
     
     
         10 . The light-emitting device according to  claim 7 ,
 wherein a radius of an outer contour of the corner portion is greater than 0 and smaller than or equal to 100 μm.   
     
     
         11 . The light-emitting device according to  claim 7 , wherein at least one of the first substrate and the second substrate comprises a film formed over the first surface thereof. 
     
     
         12 . An active matrix light-emitting device comprising:
 a first substrate and a second substrate, a first surface of the first substrate facing a first surface of the second substrate, and an area of the first surface of the second substrate being smaller than or equal to an area of the first surface of the first substrate;   a glass layer interposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, defining a sealed space between the first substrate and the second substrate, and provided along a periphery of the first surface of the first substrate so as to form a closed loop;   a light-emitting portion comprising a light-emitting element on the first substrate in the sealed space, the light-emitting element including an EL layer interposed between two electrodes; and   a driver circuit portion on the first substrate and functionally connected to the light-emitting portion,   wherein the light-emitting portion and the driver circuit portion are in the sealed space,   wherein the glass layer comprises a welded region,   wherein the welded region includes a corner portion and a side portion,   wherein a width of the corner portion of the welded region is larger than a width of the side portion of the welded region.   
     
     
         13 . The active matrix light-emitting device according to  claim 12 ,
 wherein a radius of an outer contour of the corner portion is in the order of 100 μm.   
     
     
         14 . The active matrix light-emitting device according to  claim 12 ,
 wherein a radius of an outer contour of the corner portion is greater than 0 and smaller than or equal to 100 pill.   
     
     
         15 . The active matrix light-emitting device according to  claim 12 , wherein at least one of the first substrate and the second substrate comprises a film formed over the first surface thereof.