[0001] The present invention relates to color display apparatus and, more particularly,
to color display apparatus which includes an EL panel and a color filter.
[0002] In the field of color display apparatus, there is an increasing tendency for small,
thin low-power consuming ones to be demanded, and pocket-size television sets using
liquid crystals as a shutter have become available to the public.
[0003] As shown in Fig. 18, a thin full-color display apparatus used in a conventional pocket-size
television set includes shutter means 100 in the form of a matrix of liquid crystal
cells 6, a light source 101 disposed behind the shutter means, and filter means 102
disposed before the shutter means and including a repeat of a red transparent filter
R, a green transparent filter G and a blue transparent filter B arranged in order
in correspondence to the liquid crystal cells. By controlling voltages applied to
the respective liquid crystal cells in accordance with image information, quantities
of light from the light source and passing through the liquid crystal cells are adjusted
to thereby adjust the luminance and chromaticity of the respective pixels.
[0004] However, in such thin film-color display apparatus, there is the problem that contrast
is not excellent due to the characteristics of the liquid crystal itself and the angle
of visual field being very narrow. In such apparatus, a light source as backlight
is needed, so that there is the problem that the entire apparatus would be thick although
the liquid crystal section itself is thin.
[0005] The thin-film EL elements each includes a thin transparent luminous layer which has
no granularity. Therefore, external incident light and light emitted within the luminous
layers are not scattered, so that they cause no halation or oozing, the display is
clear and provides high contrast. Therefore, they are highlighted as being used for
a display or illumination unit.
[0006] The basic structure of a thin-film EL element includes a double dielectric structure
which in turn includes, on a transparent substrate, a transparent electrode layer
of tin oxide (SnO₂), etc., a first dielectric layer of tantalum pentaoxide, etc.,
a thin luminous layer of zinc sulfide (ZnS), etc., and containing manganese (Mn),
etc., a second dielectric layer of tantalum pentaoxide, etc., and a rear electrode
layer of aluminum (A1), etc., laminated in order.
[0007] The process of luminescence is as follows. If a voltage is applied across the transparent
electrode and the rear electrode, the electrons trapped at the interface level are
pulled out and accelerated by an electric field induced within the luminous layer
so that they have energy enough to strike orbital electrons in Mn (the luminescent
center) to thereby excite same.
[0008] When the excited luminescent center returns to its ground state, it emits light.
[0009] Researches in which a multicolor display panel is fabricated using thin-film EL elements
have recently become popular and various researches have been made on making full
color panels.
[0010] A thin-film EL element emitting white light uses a luminous layer of zinc sulfide
containing praseodymium fluoride (PrF₃), as disclosed in Yoshihiro Hamakawa et al.,
The Institute of Electronics and Communication Engineers of Japan Technical Research Report,
CPM 82-10,
1982.
[0011] As shown in Fig. 19, the thin-film EL element using the luminous layer of zinc sulfide
containing praseodymium fluoride has peaks at about 500 and 650 nm in the emission
spectrum. The rays of light at 500 and 650 nm are in complementary-colour relationship
to each other and show as if they were white light. However, the light does not contain
three primary colours, so that it cannot be used for full colour display.
[0012] A thin-film EL element having such structure is all transparent except for its rear
electrode. Thus external incident light is reflected by the rear electrode and the
reflection interferes with the light from the luminous layer so that it does not provide
a satisfactory contrast ratio and thus only display devices having low display quality
would be provided.
[0013] As prior art there may also be mentioned: JP-U-61-57497, which discloses the pre-characterising
features of claim 1.
[0014] According to the present invention from one aspect, there is provided a colour display
apparatus comprising an EL element section, including a plurality of arranged cells,
each cell including a thin-film EL element formed so as to emit white light; and a
colour filter section including a plurality of predetermined colour filters corresponding
to the cells and disposed on the surface of the EL element section, respective voltages
applied to the thin-film EL elements being controlled in accordance with image information
for colour display, characterised in that the luminous layer of each cell in the EL
element section consists of a single white light emitting luminous layer.
[0015] According to the present invention from another aspect there is provided a method
of making a thin-film EL element comprising, on a baseplate, a transparent electrode,
a first dielectric layer, a luminous layer, a second dielectric layer and a rear electrode
laminated in order, characterized in that:
the step of forming the luminous layer comprises the step of:
forming a thin zinc sulphide film; and
implanting nitrogen ions in the zinc sulphide film by ion implantation.
[0016] The present invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to
the accompanying drawings, in which:-
Figs. 1(a) and (b) are a cross-section view and a plan view, respectively, of colour
display apparatus according to an example of the present invention;
Figs. 2(a) and (b) illustrate the principle of luminescence at the luminous layer
of the apparatus and a spectrum obtained from the luminous layer, respectively;
Fig. 3 is a diagram showing a contrast ratio in the apparatus;
Fig. 4 is a diagram showing the comparison in angle of visual field between the inventive
apparatus and a conventional apparatus;
Fig. 5 illustrates the emission spectrum of light from a luminous layer of another
example of the present invention;
Fig. 6 illustrates the structure of a thin-film EL element as a second example of
the present invention;
Fig. 7 is a diagram showing the emission spectrum of the thin-film EL element of the
second example;
Fig. 8 illustrates a thin-film EL element as a third example of the present invention;
Fig. 9 illustrates the transmittance of the second dielectric layer used in the EL
element of Fig. 8;
Fig. 10 is a diagram showing the comparison in contrast ratio between the thin-film
EL elements of the third example of the present invention and using a conventional
insulating film;
Fig. 11 illustrates a thin-film EL element having another structure using the insulating
film used in the EL element of the third example (a modification of the third example);
Fig. 12 is a diagram showing the relationship between the partial pressure of oxygen
and transmittance in the formation of an insulating layer of the Fig. 11 example;
Fig. 13 illustrates a thin-film EL element as a fourth example of the present invention;
Figs. 14(a) and (b) illustrate curves showing the relationship between oxygen quantity
and transmittance and the relationship between oxygen quantity and resistivity in
the formation of a tantalum oxide film;
Fig. 15 is a diagram showing a comparison in voltage-luminance characteristics between
the thin-film EL element of a fourth example of the present invention and a conventional
one;
Fig. 16 illustrates a modification of the fourth example;
Fig. 17 shows curves relating to control of the luminance for environmental illumination
to maintain within a predetermined range the contrast of the thin-film EL element
shown in Fig. 16;
Fig. 18 shows a conventional colour display apparatus; and
Fig. 19 illustrates the emission spectrum of a conventional thin-film EL element which
emits white light.
[0017] According to the present invention, a color display apparatus includes an EL panel
which in turn includes an array of thin-film EL elements which in turn includes a
single white light emitting layer, and a color filter.
[0018] For example, the apparatus includes a matrix of cells, each including an EL element,
disposed on a glass baseplate and a color filter unit arranged on the side of luminous
faces of the EL elements, the color filter unit including a repeat of a red, a green
and a blue transparent filter disposed in order, each filter corresponding to a respective
cell. By control of a voltage applied to each cell in accordance with image information,
light having a desired luminance and chromaticity is emitted through the corresponding
filter.
[0019] Since in this apparatus the EL elements which emit, for example, white light containing
three primary colors are used as a light source and there is light quantity adjusting
means without using any liquid crystal, contrast and the angle of visual field are
increased. Furthermore, no backlight is needed and thus the apparatus can be made
thin.
[0020] In color display apparatus according to the present invention, zinc sulfide containing
nitrogen may be used for luminous layers of the thin-film EL elements.
[0021] In the inventive method, the luminous layer may be formed by forming a thin-film
of zinc sulfide and implanting nitrogen ions in the thin-film.
[0022] By causing zinc sulfide to contain nitrogen, the electron orbit energy level in nitrogen
atoms and molecules are produced in the zinc sulfide and a plurality of defect levels
are generated in the zinc sulfide.
[0023] By applying an electric field across such luminous layer, electrons at the levels
mentioned above are excited by striking, and transitional luminescence occurs among
the levels, so that white light containing three primary colors which emit rays of
light having various wavelengths is obtained.
[0024] In the present invention, the second dielectric layer of the thin-film EL elements
may be continuously changed from a black tantalum oxide film to a transparent tantalum
oxide film.
[0025] For example, when the second dielectric layer is formed in a reactive chamber by
sputtering, using as a target tantalum pentaoxide (Ta₂O₅) and feeding a mixed gas
of argon (Ar) + oxygen (O₂), it is gradually changed from a black tantalum oxide (TaO
x where x < 2.5) film to a transparent tantalum oxide (Ta₂O₅) film by gradually increasing
the partial pressure of oxygen.
[0026] Since the stoichiometric ratio changes continuously, no dielectric breakdown occurs
at the interface, and no reduction of contrast due to reflection at the interface
occurs, so that thin-film EL elements are provided having high contrast and high dielectric
strength.
[0027] The second dielectric layer of each thin-film EL element may be constituted by a
single black layer of insulating oxide or nitride in which a proportion in composition
of oxygen or nitrogen is reduced stoichiometrically.
[0028] It is considered that a stoichiometric reduction of the proportion in composition
of oxygen or nitrogen will result in defects at portions lacking oxygen or nitrogen,
so that light is absorbed by this defect level and hence that the dielectric layer
will become black.
[0029] For example, tantalum pentaoxide (Ta₂O₅) may be used for a transparent insulating
film. If the partial pressure of oxygen is reduced and the proportion in composition
of oxygen is reduced in the formation of this film, the tantalum pentoxide changes
to TaO
x where x<2.5 and a black insulating film results. In this way, contrast is improved.
[0030] Examples of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference
to the drawings.
Example 1:
[0031] Figs. 1(a) and (b) show a thin film color display apparatus as an example of the
present invention. (Fig. 1(a) is a cross section view taken along the line A-A of
Fig. 1(b)).
[0032] The apparatus includes an EL element section
1 which in turn includes a multiplicity of thin-film EL elements or cells arranged
in a matrix and corresponding to pixels, and a color filter section
2 disposed integrally on a surface of the EL element section such that the rays of
light from the respective cells are output through the color filter section.
[0033] The EL element section
1 includes, on a glass substrate 3, a transparent electrode 4 of indium tin oxide (ITO)
disposed so as to form a like number of first stripe lines ℓ₁,......ℓ
n at predetermined intervals, a first dielectric layer 5 of tantalum pentaoxide (Ta₂O₅),
a luminous layer 6 having a single layer structure comprising a strontium sulphide
(SrS) layer containing cerium (Ce) and europium (Eu) as an activator and potassium
(K) as a coactivator, a second dielectric layer 7 of tantalum pentaoxide, and a rear
electrode 8 in the form of an aluminium (A1) layer comprising a plurality of second
stripe lines V₁,...., V
n disposed orthogonal to the first stripe lines ℓ₁,....,ℓ
n such that by applying a voltage corresponding to image information across any particular
one of the stripe lines of the transparent electrode 4 and any particular one of the
stripe lines of the rear electrode 8, the luminous layer portion located at the intersection
of those particular stripe lines is caused to emit light. The principle of luminescence
is as shown in Fig. 2(a) and thus rays of light having respective wavelengths are
emitted. Fig. 2(b) shows the emission spectrum of the rays of light emitted from this
luminous layer. One of the intersections constitutes a cell here.
[0034] The color filter section 2 is disposed on the glass baseplate side of the EL element
section and includes a repeat of a red transparent filter R, a green transparent filter
G and a blue transparent filter B arranged in order, each filter including a dyeable
polymer layer and corresponding to a respective cell, as shown in plan view in Fig.
1(b).
[0035] The contrast characteristic of this color display apparatus is shown in Fig. 3. As
will be clear from Fig. 3, the contrast ratio is about 1 : 100 for less than 1000
1x so that the characteristic is extremely satisfactory and greatly improved compared
to the conventional one with a ratio of 1 : 10.
[0036] Fig. 4 shows a visual angle-dependent luminance characteristic. The characteristic
of color display apparatus according to the present invention is shown by the solid
line, which exhibits that the luminance does not lower up to more than 60 degrees.
It is understood that the inventive apparatus is of high visual angle compared to
the conventional apparatus whose characteristic is shown by a broken line.
[0037] This display apparatus does not need backlight and is very thin, i.e. at most about
1 mm thick, even inclusive of the glass baseplate.
[0038] While in the particular example the respective cells are formed integrally, the luminous
layer as well as the respective layers may be provided separately for each cell. This
applies to the electrodes.
[0039] The luminous layer is not limited to a strontium sulphide (SrS) layer containing
cerium (Ce), europium (Eu)and potassium (K). The use of a single luminous layer of
zinc sulphide containing nitrogen (N); CaSrS containing cerium (Ce), europium (Eu)
and potassium (K); BaSe; ZnS; ZnCdS; ZnF₂; SrTiO₃; or BaTiO₃ would result in the emission
of white light. Fig. 5 shows the emission spectrum of SrS containing Ce, Eu and K.
The contents of impurities which are the luminescent center of each luminous layer
in the example may be changed as needed. The kind of impurities used may be changed
as needed.
[0040] For the color filter section, a dyeable polymer layer directly coated on the glass
baseplate may be used as in the particular example. Alternatively, color filters formed
separately may be attached, namely, a different color filter structure may be used
as needed.
[0041] A protective film or the like may be provided as needed.
Example 2:
[0042] Another example of a thin-film EL element for use in color display apparatus will
now be described.
[0043] The thin-film EL element includes a single luminous layer which can emit white light.
As shown in Fig. 6, a luminous layer 11 of thin-film EL elements having a double dielectric
structure is composed of a 5000 Å-thick thin-film layer of zinc sulphide containing
nitrogen.
[0044] It is formed by laminating in order on a transparent glass baseplate 12, a transparent
electrode 13 in the form of of a tin oxide (SnO₂) layer, etc., a first dielectric
layer 14, a luminous layer 11 of zinc sulphide containing nitrogen as mentioned above,
a second dielectric layer 15, and a rear electrode 16 in the form of a thin aluminum
(A1) film.
[0045] For the formation of the luminous layer, a process is employed in which a zinc sulphide
layer is formed by sputtering and nitrogen is then implanted in the zinc sulphide
layer by ion implantation.
[0046] The emission spectrum of the luminescence obtained by applying an alternating electric
field across the thin-film EL element has a wide range of luminescent wavelengths
covering three primary colors as shown in Fig. 7.
[0047] As just described above, according to the thin-film EL element, true white light
is provided and a full-color display panel can be fabricated.
[0048] While for the formation of the luminous layer the process including the implantation
of nitrogen ions after the formation of the zinc sulfide film has been used, the present
invention is not limited to this process. A process for forming the luminous layer
by sputtering or CVD in an atmosphere of nitrogen may be used. Namely, it may be selected
as needed.
Example 3:
[0049] A further example of the thin-film EL element for use in color display apparatus
will be described.
[0050] As shown in Fig. 8, the thin-film EL element has a double dielectric layer structure
which includes on a transparent glass baseplate 21 a transparent electrode 22 in the
form of a tin oxide layer (SnO₂), etc., a first dielectric layer 23, a luminous layer
24 of ZnS: Mn, a second black dielectric layer 25 of tantalum oxide (TaO
x where x < 2.5) and a rear electrode 26 in the form of a thin aluminum (A1) film laminated
in order.
[0051] The second dielectric layer has the relationship between wavelength and transmittance
as shown in Fig. 9, which shows that the transmittance is less than 10 % in a visual
light area.
[0052] A curve
a in Fig. 10 shows the relationship between luminance and contrast ratio of the thin-film
element (cd/m²).
[0053] For comparison purposes, a curve
b in Fig. 10 shows the relationship between luminance (cd/m²) and contrast ratio of
a conventional thin-film EL element using tantalum pentaoxide (Ta₂O₅) as a material
constituting the second dielectric layer.
[0054] It will be clear from comparison that in order to obtain a contrast ratio of 1 :
10 (at an illumination of 1000 1x), the conventional thin-film EL element requires
a luminance of 200 cd/m² while the inventive element only requires 20 cd/m², which
illustrates that the contrast is greatly improved.
[0055] The black tantalum oxide film can be easily obtained by only changing partial conditions
of a process for forming a transparent tantalum pentaoxide layer used conventionally
- for example, by lowering only the partial pressure of oxygen under the same conditions
as those in the sputtering process. Thus, manufacturing work is performed efficiently.
[0056] While in the particular example the black tantalum oxide film is used instead of
the conventional transparent tantalum pentaoxide film, a composite film 25' of a black
tantalum oxide layer 25a and a different dielectric layer 25b may be formed as the
second dielectric layer as shown in Fig. 11. It may be applicable to other oxides
and nitrides such as yttrium oxides, silicon oxides, silicon nitrides, etc., as in
a thin-film transistor.
[0057] The materials constituting the luminous layer, transparent electrode and rear electrode
are not limited to those of the particular example, and other materials are effective,
of course.
[0058] The tantalum oxide film may be selected as needed among ones having transmittance
of 30% or less in a visual area. If a film having a transmittance of more than 30%
is used, it would reduce the contrast ratio.
[0059] The relationship between partial pressure of oxygen and transmittance is also ascertained
from experiments such as those shown below.
[0060] A TaO
x film was formed on a glass baseplate by using Ta₂O₅ as the target and changing the
partial pressure of oxygen in a high frequency (RF) sputtering process.
[0061] Fig. 12 shows the results of measurement of the relationship between the partial
pressure of oxygen at the film formation and transmittance of the formed TaO
x film when the partial pressure of argon (Ar) was 5 x 10⁻³ (Torr). (In Fig, 12, the
axis of abscissae represents the partial pressure of oxygen x 10⁻⁵ (Torr) and the
axis of ordinates the transmittance (%)).
[0062] It will be clear from Fig. 12 that by reducing the partial pressure of oxygen and
the proportion in composition of oxygen the transmittance is reduced. The transmittance
of the TaO
x film formed at the partial pressure of oxygen = 0 was about 2%.
[0063] According to the present invention, the proportion in composition of oxygen or nitrogen
in insulating oxides or nitrides is reduced stoichiometrically, so that the manufacturing
process is not substantially changed and a black insulating film can be very easily
provided.
Example 4:
[0064] Another example of the thin-film EL element for use in color display apparatus will
be described.
[0065] Fig. 13 shows a thin-film EL element as an example of the present invention.
[0066] The EL element includes on a transparent glass baseplate 31 a transparent electrode
32 in the form of a tin oxide (SnO₂) layer, etc., a first dielectric layer 33 of yttrium
oxide (Y₂O₃), a luminous layer 34 of zinc sulphide (ZnS): manganese (Mn), a second
dielectric layer 35, the proportion in composition of which continuously changes from
black to transparent, and a rear electrode 36 in the form of an aluminum layer, laminated
in order.
[0067] The second dielectric layer has a proportion in composition continuously changing
stoichiometrically from a black tantalum oxide film (TaO
x where x < 2.5) 3000 Å thick to a transparent tantalum pentaoxide (Ta₂O₅) film and
has a thickness of 5000 Å in total.
[0068] The second dielectric layer is formed by RF sputtering. Tantalum pentaoxide is used
as the target. Initially, a tantalum oxide (TaO
x where < 2.5) film 3000 Å thick is deposited under reduced partial pressure of oxygen,
and the partial pressure of oxygen is then gradually increased to thereby deposit
continuously a tantalum oxide (TaO
x, where

) film 2000 Å thick.
[0069] Figs. 14(a) and Fig. 14(b) show the relationship between oxide content of a tantalum
oxide film and its transmittance (%) to light having a wavelength λ = 600 nm and the
relationship between oxygen content and resistivity (Ω cm), respectively, when the
tantalum oxide film is formed using tantalum pentaoxide as the target by RF sputtering
and when the oxygen content is changed. As will be clear from these Figures, as the
oxygen content decreases, the transmittance as well as resistivity is reduced whereas
as the oxygen content increases, the resistivity also increases.
[0070] A curve
a in Fig. 15 shows the luminance-voltage characteristic of the thin-film EL element
thus formed. For comparison purposes, curves
b and
c in Fig. 15 show the luminance-voltage characteristics of a thin-film EL element having
the same structure as example 4 except for the second dielectric layer which consists
of a single (black) tantalum oxide (TaO
x where x < 2.5) film 5000 Å thick and another thin-film EL element having the same
structure as example 4 except for the second dielectric layer having a two-layered
structure which consists of a black tantalum oxide (TaO
x where x < 2.5) film 4000 Å thick and a transparent tantalum pentaoxide film (Ta₂O₅)
1000 Å thick. Curves
a and
b are substantially equal in contrast and the curve
c is somewhat lower. (In Fig. 15, the axis of ordinates represents luminance and the
axis of abscissa applied voltage). It will be understood that the voltages which the
elements can withstand for a long time (dielectric strength) are 165 V for
a, 125 V for
b and 150 V for
c and that the thin-film EL element of the inventive example in which the second dielectric
layer is continuously changed has a greatly improved dielectric strength.
[0071] As just described above, the thin-film EL element according to the inventive examples
exhibits high contrast and high breakdown voltage.
[0072] It is to be noted that the ratio in film thickness of the black layer, continuous
layer and transparent layer of the second dielectric layer is not limited to the particular
examples and may be changed as needed.
[0073] The materials of the other respective layers are not limited to the particular examples
and may be changed as needed. In addition, the inventive thin-film EL elements may
be used as a light source for writing signals into, reading signals out of and erasing
signals in a recording medium for illuminating purposes in addition to the display
apparatus applications.
[0074] With thin-film EL elements used in an display apparatus under environmental conditions
in which the environmental brightness changes, there is the problem that contrast
is lowered and the display becomes difficult to view when the environmental brightness-illumination
increases whereas the display is excessively bright if the luminance is constant when
the illumination is extremely low. In order to cope with this problem, for example
as shown in Fig. 16, a photosensor 37 may be provided. The voltage applied to the
thin-film EL element is controlled in accordance with a signal from the photosensor
to change the luminance to thereby maintain the contrast constant and improve the
display effect.
[0075] As shown in Fig. 17, control of the applied voltage is easy if it is provided so
as to change the applied voltage stepwise to thereby maintain the contrast within
a predetermined range (a - b) when the signal from the photosensor exceeds a predetermined
value.
[0076] For example, assume that the thin-film EL element is emitting light at a certain
luminance of A. The luminance is changed stepwise as shown by A, B, C, D. If the environmental
illumination or the detection output from the photosensor 7 becomes 1000 1x, the applied
voltage is increased such that the luminance becomes B; if the illumination further
increases to about 5000 1x, the luminance changes to C and so on. In this way, the
contrast can be maintained within a substantially constant range without being influenced
by the environmental illuminations.
[0077] The applied voltage may be changed continuously in accordance with the detection
output from the photosensor.
1. A colour display apparatus comprising an EL element section (1), including a plurality
of arranged cells, each cell including a thin-film EL element (3,4,5,6,7,8) formed
so as to emit white light; and
a colour filter section (2) including a plurality of predetermined colour filters
corresponding to the cells and disposed on a surface of the EL element section, respective
voltages applied to the thin-film EL elements being controlled in accordance with
image information for colour display, characterised in that:
the luminous layer (6) of each cell in the EL element section consists of a single
white light emitting luminous layer.
2. A colour display apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the respective
thin-film EL elements are arranged on the same glass baseplate (3), and each thin-film
EL element has a double dielectric structure in which a transparent electrode (4),
a first dielectric layer (5), the luminous layer (6), a second dielectric layer (7)
and a rear electrode (8) are laminated in order.
3. A colour display apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that each of the
cells of the EL element section includes a first dielectric layer (5), the luminous
layer (6) and a second dielectric layer (7) formed integrally, and that a transparent
electrode (4) and a rear electrode (8) are orthogonal to each other, each electrode
including a plurality of stripe lines (l or V) arranged at predetermined intervals, light being emitted at the intersections
of the orthogonal stripe lines.
4. A colour display apparatus according to any preceding claim, characterized in that
the luminous layer (6) consists of a white light emitting layer which contains nitrogen
(N) as an activator.
5. A colour display apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that the luminous
layer (6) consists of a zinc sulphide film doped with nitrogen as an activator.
6. A colour display apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that the luminous
layer (6) consists of a strontium sulphide (SrS) layer containing cerium (Ce) and
europium (Eu) as an activator.
7. A colour display apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that
the luminous layer (6) is a white light emitting luminous layer containing cerium
(Ce) and europium (Eu) as the luminous center in the basic luminous material.
8. A colour display apparatus according to claim 7, characterised in that the basic luminous
material is one of calcium strontium sulphide (CaSrS), barium selenide (BaSe), zinc
sulphide (ZnS), zinc cadmium sulphide (ZnCdS), zinc fluoride (ZnF₂), stronium titanate
(SrTiO₃) and barium titanate (BaTiO₃).
9. A colour display apparatus according to any preceding claim, characterized in that
the colour filter section (2) includes a dyeable polymer layer dyed by respective
colours.
10. A method of making a thin-film EL element comprising, on a baseplate (3), a transparent
electrode (4), a first dielectric layer (5), a luminous layer (6), a second dielectric
layer (7) and a rear electrode (8) laminated in order, characterized in that:
the step of forming the luminous layer comprises the step of:
forming a thin zinc sulphide film; and
implanting nitrogen ions in the zinc sulphide film by ion implantation.