Electric lamp and discharge devices: systems – Plural power supplies – Plural cathode and/or anode load device
Reexamination Certificate
2002-01-31
2004-08-10
Clinger, James (Department: 2821)
Electric lamp and discharge devices: systems
Plural power supplies
Plural cathode and/or anode load device
C313S504000, C313S505000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06774575
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an organic electroluminescence display and, particularly, to an organic electroluminescence display of a simple matrix type.
BACKGROUND ART
FIG. 6
schematically illustrates an organic electroluminescence (hereinafter abbreviated as EL) display of a simple matrix type. The organic EL display diagramed here has, arranged therein, plural rows (e.g., of a number n) of scanning lines L
1
, L
2
, . . . , Ln and plural columns (e.g., of a number of m) of signal lines S
1
, S
2
, . . . , Sm at right angles therewith. Pixels
10
including an organic EL layer that is not show are arranged at the portions where the scanning lines L
1
, L
2
, . . . , Ln and the signal lines S
1
, S
2
, . . . , Sm are overlapping one upon the other. Here, the organic EL layer includes at least an organic light-emitting layer. The number of pixels in this organic EL display is n×m.
In the thus constituted organic EL display, the lines are successively driven; i.e., the scanning lines L
1
, L
2
, . . . , Ln are successively selected with the passage of time, and light is emitted from only those pixels
10
on the selected scanning lines L
1
, L
2
, . . . , Ln.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an organic EL display which makes it possible to improve the resolution without changing either the maximum light-emitting brightness of the organic light-emitting layer or the maximum brightness required for displaying the picture.
Therefore, though not diagramed here, there has been proposed an organic EL display of a constitution in which the signal lines are divided in a direction in which they are extending (e.g., divided into two) and are separately taken out. In the organic EL display of this constitution, the scanning lines corresponding to the divided signal lines are simultaneously selected (e.g., two scanning lines are simultaneously selected when the signal line is divided into two), in order to increase a maximum number N of the scanning lines (e.g., to double the number when the signal line is divided into two) and to improve the resolution.
In the organic EL display of the above-mentioned constitution, however, it becomes difficult to take out the signal lines to the external electrodes if the signal lines are divided into three or more (i.e., it becomes difficult to connect the intermediate signal lines that are divided to the drive circuit). Therefore, limitation is imposed on increasing a maximum number of the scanning lines by dividing the signal lines, and it becomes difficult to further improve the resolution of the organic EL display and to further increase the size of the screen by increasing the number of the scanning lines while maintaining the same pitch among the pixels.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an organic EL display which makes it possible to improve the resolution without changing either the maximum light-emitting brightness of the organic light-emitting layer or the maximum brightness required for displaying the picture.
The present invention is concerned with an organic electroluminescence display in which plural rows of scanning lines and plural columns of signal lines are arranged, and pixels are arranged at portions where said scanning lines intersect said signal lines, said pixels having an organic electroluminescence layer inclusive of an organic light-emitting layer held between first pixel electrodes constituted by said scanning lines and second pixel electrodes connected to said signal lines, wherein said second pixel electrodes are overlapped on said scanning lines in a direction in which said signal lines are extending.
The second pixel electrodes can be arranged over plural neighboring signal lines.
According to this constitution, each scanning line is shared by plural pixels in a direction in which the scanning lines are arranged, and plural rows of pixel strings are arranged for a row (each) of the scanning lines. This decreases the number of the scanning lines on the display having the same pixel arrangement and, hence, increases the duty. As a result, it is allowed to increase a maximum number of the scanning lines without changing either the maximum light-emitting brightness of the organic light-emitting layer or the maximum brightness required for displaying the picture on the organic EL display. It is, therefore, allowed to improve the resolution and to increase the size of the screen.
According to the present invention, therefore, it is allowed to arrange the second pixel electrodes over the two neighboring scanning lines among the scanning lines arranged on the organic EL a display.
The second pixel electrodes arranged over the two scanning lines are shared by the two pixels arranged neighboring to each other in a direction in which the signal lines are extending. It is, therefore, allowed to decrease the number of the second pixel electrodes and to decrease the number of the portions where the pixels are connected to the signal lines, making it possible to increase the yield of the products.
According to the present invention, each of the signal lines can be divided into plural signal lines in the direction in which the signal lines extend on the organic electroluminescence display.
When each of the signal lines is divided into plural signal lines in the direction in which the signal lines extend, each of the scanning lines in each of the divided regions can be selected and displayed simultaneously, making it possible to further increase a maximum number of the scanning lines, to further improve the resolution and to increase the size of the screen.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5612549 (1997-03-01), Nelson et al.
patent: 6429599 (2002-08-01), Yokoyama
patent: 0675 541 (1995-10-01), None
patent: 7-281618 (1995-10-01), None
patent: 9-106887 (1997-04-01), None
Clinger James
Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal LLP
Tran Thuy Vinh
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