# US 9,041,026 B2 · Light-emitting unit, light-emitting device, lighting device, and method for manufacturing light-emitting unit > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,041,026 B2 - Document ID: US9041026B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/337,631 - Filed: 2011-12-27 - Published: 2012-06-28 - Granted: 2015-05-26 - Earliest claimed: 2010-12-28 - Assignees: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Shunpei Yamazaki - Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9041026B2 ## CPC - H10K 59/86: Series electrical configurations of multiple OLEDs - H10K 59/173: comprising banks or shadow masks - H10K: ORGANIC ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES ## Abstract A light-emitting unit with small energy loss is provided. Further, a light-emitting unit with high reliability is provided. A light-emitting unit is provided in the following manner: a separation layer including a leg portion and a stage portion, which protrudes over an electrode is formed so that a projected area of the stage portion is larger than that of the leg portion; a layer containing a light-emitting organic compound, an upper electrode of the first light-emitting element, and an upper electrode of the second light-emitting element are formed; and the upper electrode of the first light-emitting element is electrically connected to a lower electrode of the second light-emitting element in a region overlapping with the stage portion of the separation layer. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A light-emitting unit comprising: a first light-emitting element over an insulating surface; a second light-emitting element over the insulating surface; a separation layer; a first partition wall; and a second partition wall, the first light-emitting element comprising: a first electrode; a second electrode overlapping with the first electrode; and a first light-emitting layer between the first electrode and the second electrode, the second light-emitting element comprising: a third electrode; a fourth electrode overlapping with the third electrode; and a second light-emitting layer between the third electrode and the fourth electrode, wherein: the first partition wall covers an edge portion of the first electrode; the second partition wall is formed over the third electrode; the first electrode and the third electrode are island-shaped; the first electrode and the third electrode are formed from the same layer that is capable of transmitting light emitted by the first light-emitting layer; the first partition wall and the second partition wall are formed from the same layer; the second electrode and the fourth electrode are formed from the same layer; the first light-emitting layer is at least partially in direct contact with each of a top surface of the first partition wall, a side surface of the first partition wall, a top surface of the third electrode, a side surface of the third electrode and a part of the insulating surface; the part of the insulating surface is between the first partition wall and the third electrode; the separation layer is formed over the third electrode; the separation layer comprises a leg portion and a stage portion over the leg portion; a projected area of the stage portion is larger than a projected area of the leg portion; a first edge portion of the second partition wall is covered with the second light-emitting layer, and a second edge portion of the second partition wall is in direct contact with the separation layer; the second electrode is configured to extend beyond the edge portion of the first electrode with the first partition wall interposed therebetween; and the second electrode is electrically connected to the third electrode in a region overlapping with the stage portion. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The light-emitting unit according to claim 1, wherein in a cross section of the separation layer, a space is provided between the second electrode and the leg portion. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The light-emitting unit according to claim 1, further comprising: a first side wiring configured to overlap with the first light-emitting layer and the second electrode, and to be in direct contact with the first electrode; and a second side wiring configured to overlap with the second light-emitting layer and the fourth electrode, and to be in direct contact with the third electrode, wherein: the first side wiring comprises a metal with higher conductivity than the first electrode, and the second side wiring comprises a metal with higher conductivity than the third electrode. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A light-emitting device comprising a converter, wherein the light-emitting unit according to claim 1 is driven by an output voltage of the converter. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A lighting device comprising the light-emitting unit according to claim 1 in a light-emitting portion. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The light-emitting unit according to claim 1, wherein: the first light-emitting element comprises a wiring; and the wiring is at least partially in direct contact with each of a side surface of the first light-emitting layer and a bottom surface of the third electrode. ### Claim 7 A light-emitting unit comprising: a first light-emitting element over an insulating surface; a second light-emitting element over the insulating surface; a separation layer; a first partition wall; and a second partition wall, the first light-emitting element comprising: a first electrode; a second electrode overlapping with the first electrode; and a first light-emitting layer between the first electrode and the second electrode, the second light-emitting element comprising: a third electrode; a fourth electrode overlapping with the third electrode; a second light-emitting layer between the third electrode and the fourth electrode; and an auxiliary wiring electrically connected to the third electrode; wherein: the first partition wall covers an edge portion of the first electrode; the second partition wall is formed over the third electrode; the first electrode and the third electrode are island-shaped; the first electrode and the third electrode are formed from the same layer that is capable of transmitting light emitted by the first light-emitting layer; the first partition wall and the second partition wall are formed from the same layer; the second electrode and the fourth electrode are formed from the same layer; the first light-emitting layer is at least partially in direct contact with each of a top surface of the first partition wall, a side surface of the first partition wall, a top surface of the auxiliary wiring, a side surface of the auxiliary wiring and a part of the insulating surface; the part of the insulating surface is between the first partition wall and the auxiliary wiring; the separation layer overlaps with the auxiliary wiring and the third electrode; the separation layer comprises a leg portion and a stage portion over the leg portion; a projected area of the stage portion is larger than a projected area of the leg portion; a first edge portion of the second partition wall is covered with the second light-emitting layer, and a second edge portion of the second partition wall is in direct contact with the separation layer; the second electrode is configured to extend beyond the edge portion of the first electrode with the first partition wall interposed therebetween; and the second electrode is electrically connected to the auxiliary wiring in a region overlapping with the stage portion. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The light-emitting unit according to claim 7, wherein in a cross section of the separation layer, a space is provided between the second electrode and the leg portion. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The light-emitting unit according to claim 7, further comprising: a first side wiring configured to overlap with the first light-emitting layer and the second electrode, and to be in direct contact with the first electrode; and a second side wiring configured to overlap with the second light-emitting layer and the fourth electrode, and to be in direct contact with the third electrode, wherein: the first side wiring comprises a metal with higher conductivity than the first electrode, and the second side wiring comprises a metal with higher conductivity than the third electrode. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) A light-emitting device comprising a converter, wherein the light-emitting unit according to claim 7 is driven by an output voltage of the converter. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) A lighting device comprising the light-emitting unit according to claim 7 in a light-emitting portion.