Organic electroluminescent illumination panel, manufacturing method thereof, and organic electroluminescent illumination device with spacers protruding from a second electrode

A method for manufacturing an organic electroluminescent illumination panel comprising a pair of first and second electrode layers, at least one of which is transparent, the pair of the first and second electrode layers being positioned between a flexible film substrate and a flexible film sealing material, at least one of the flexible film substrate and the flexible film sealing material being on a same side as a transparent electrode layer of the first and second electrode layers, at least one of the flexible film substrate and the flexible film sealing material being transparent, the organic electroluminescent illumination panel further comprising an organic layer containing an organic electroluminescence, the organic layer being sandwiched between the first and second electrode layers, the method comprising:

• laminating the first electrode layer on the flexible film substrate, the first electrode layer extending to front and back surfaces of the flexible film substrate to form a first connection part with a wiring member;
• applying a spacer material on the first electrode layer by dispense coating, inkjet coating, or screen-, flexo-, or gravure-printing to form spacers having a cylindrical shape so as to have a height to pass through the organic layer and the second electrode layer with distal ends thereof being protruded from the second electrode layer;
• laminating the organic layer and the second electrode layer in this order on the first electrode layer so that the second electrode layer is formed on the flexible film substrate, wherein the second electrode layer is extended to the both end surfaces of the flexible film substrate to form a second connection part with a wiring member;
• and
• providing the flexible film sealing material via a seal part formed at front and back end portions of the first electrode layer and at two side end portions of the second electrode layer which are formed on the flexible film substrate so that the flexible film sealing material is not in contact with the distal ends of the spacers, and that the seal part exists inside of the first and second connection parts.

An organic electroluminescent illumination panel comprising:

• a pair of first and second electrode layers, at least one of which is transparent, the pair of the first and second electrode layers being positioned between a flexible film substrate and a flexible film sealing material, at least one of the flexible film substrate and the flexible film sealing material being on a same side as a transparent electrode layer of the first and second electrode layers, at least one of the flexible film substrate and the flexible film sealing material being transparent, the organic electroluminescent illumination panel further comprising an organic layer containing an organic electroluminescence, the organic layer being sandwiched between the first and second electrode layers,
• wherein the first electrode layer is disposed on the flexible film substrate, and is extended to front and back surfaces of the flexible film substrate, and is a first connection part with a wiring member;
• wherein the organic electroluminescent illumination panel further comprises multiple spacers having a cylindrical shape fixed on the first electrode layer so as to pass through the organic layer and the second electrode layer, each of the multiple spacers having an unattached end that is free to move, and a seal part formed on front and back end portions of the first electrode layer and two side portions of the second electrode layer which are formed on the flexible film substrate so that the flexible film sealing material is not in contact with respective distal ends of the multiple spacers, and that the seal part exists inside of the first and the second connection parts;
• wherein the organic layer and the second electrode layer are laminated in this order on the first electrode layer so that the second electrode layer is formed on the flexible film substrate extended to two side end surfaces of the flexible film substrate, and the two side end surfaces being a second connection part with a wiring member.