Abstract: To improve the light emission characteristics of a device when a transition metal oxide is used for the hole injection layer, in particular, to enhance the electron blocking characteristics of a transition metal oxide. An organic electroluminescence element comprising an anode, a cathode and a plurality of functional layers formed between the anode and the cathode, the functional layer containing a layer with a light-emitting function composed of at least one kind of an organic semiconductor and, between the anode and the layer with a light-emitting function, a charge injection layer composed of at least one kind of a transition metal oxide, wherein the ratio of the metal to oxygen at the anode side of the transition metal oxide layer is smaller than the stoichiometric ratio and at the same time, the ratio of the metal to oxygen at the layer with a light-emitting function side is greater than that at the anode side.

Abstract: To provide an organic electroluminescence element including a structure that facilitates manufacturing of a large scale organic EL panel and a manufacturing method thereof, the organic electroluminescence element includes: an anode; a cathode; an organic luminescent layer located between the anode and the cathode; and a hole injection layer located between the anode and the organic luminescent layer. The hole injection layer comprises a mixture of molybdenum oxide and tungsten oxide that contains a molybdenum element in a range of 9 atomic percent to 35 atomic percent.

Abstract: An organic light-emitting element includes an anode, a functional layer, and a hole injection layer between the anode and the functional layer. The functional layer contains an organic material. The hole injection layer injects holes to the functional layer. The hole injection layer comprises tungsten oxide and includes an occupied energy level that is approximately 1.8 electron volts to approximately 3.6 electron volts lower than a lowest energy level of a valence band of the hole injection layer in terms of binding energy.

Abstract: A resin material layer including photosensitive resin material is formed on an interlayer on an underlayer. By partially exposing and developing the resin material layer using developer in which the resin material layer and the interlayer are soluble, an uncured portion of the resin material layer is removed to form an opening penetrating to the interlayer, and the developer infiltrates into the interlayer via the opening to remove at least surfaces of first and second portions of the interlayer. The first portion corresponds to the opening. The second portion surrounds the first portion. Each bank is formed by heating a remaining portion of the resin material layer to soften an overhanging portion above a space formed by the surface of the second portion being removed, so that the overhanging portion flows downward to fill the space, cover an exposed portion of the interlayer, and contact the underlayer or the interlayer.

Abstract: An image sensor comprises, a substrate, a plurality of photoelectric converters mounted on the substrate, for each of which a photoelectric conversion layer is formed of an organic compound layer and is sandwiched between an anode and a cathode so as to perform photoelectric conversion based on incident light, drive circuits for detecting output provided by a signal current generated by the photoelectric converters and for reading signal charges, and a wiring for electrically connecting the photoelectric converters and the drive circuits, wherein, for the plurality of the photoelectric converters that form one read pixels, the size of a photoelectric conversion area differs in accordance with a sensitivity of each of the plurality of photoelectric converters.

Abstract: A light emitter and method for manufacturing a light emitter. The light emitter includes a first electrode, a charge injection transport layer, a light-emitting layer, and a second electrode that are layered in this order. At least the light-emitting layer is defined by bank. The charge injection transport layer includes a recessed portion having an inner bottom surface in contact with a bottom surface of the light-emitting layer and an inner side surface continuous with the inner bottom surface and in contact at least partly with a side surface of the light-emitting layer. The inner side surface has a lower edge continuous with the inner bottom surface, and an upper edge is aligned with a portion of a bottom periphery of the bank, the portion being in contact with the light-emitting layer or in contact with a bottom surface of the bank.

Abstract: A light emitter and a method of manufacturing a light emitter. The light emitter includes a first electrode, a charge injection transport layer, a light-emitting layer, and a second electrode that are layered in this order. At least the light-emitting layer is defined by a bank that has at least one liquid-repellent surface. The charge injection transport layer is principally composed of a metal compound that is more liquid-philic than the surface of the bank. The charge injection transport layer includes a recessed structure so that in a region defined by the bank, the charge injection transport layer is lower than a bottom surface of the bank.

Abstract: Detection is made as to at least one of a ratio between a tracking error and a focus error, and a duty cycle of an off-track signal with respect to an optical disc. A decision is made as to whether or not the optical disc is playable on the basis of the detected at least one of the ratio and the duty cycle. The ratio is a ratio of the focus error to the tracking error or a ratio of the tracking error to the focus error.

Abstract: To provide an organic electroluminescence element including a structure that facilitates manufacturing of a large scale organic EL panel and a manufacturing method thereof, the organic electroluminescence element includes: an anode; a cathode; an organic luminescent layer located between the anode and the cathode; and a hole injection layer located between the anode and the organic luminescent layer. The hole injection layer comprises a mixture of molybdenum oxide and tungsten oxide that contains a molybdenum element in a range of 9 atomic percent to 35 atomic percent.

Abstract: To improve the light emission characteristics of a device when a transition metal oxide is used for the hole injection layer, in particular, to enhance the electron blocking characteristics of a transition metal oxide. An organic electroluminescence element comprising an anode, a cathode and a plurality of functional layers formed between the anode and the cathode, the functional layer containing a layer with a light-emitting function composed of at least one kind of an organic semiconductor and, between the anode and the layer with a light-emitting function, a charge injection layer composed of at least one kind of a transition metal oxide, wherein the ratio of the metal to oxygen at the anode side of the transition metal oxide layer is smaller than the stoichiometric ratio and at the same time, the ratio of the metal to oxygen at the layer with a light-emitting function side is greater than that at the anode side.

Abstract: To provide an actuator which is easily made a small size and flexible, and has a large displacement. The actuator comprises a rod-shaped actuator element, having one axial end thereof fixed, including a dielectric film made of a dielectric elastomer and a plurality of electrodes arranged via the dielectric film, in the actuator element, the dielectric film extends as a voltage applied across the electrodes becomes large, and a load member connected to the other axial end of the actuator element and fixed in a state in which the actuator element is permitted to be extended axially, characterized in that making large the voltage applied across the electrodes causes the dielectric film to be extended, whereby the actuator element is extended axially according to the tension of the load member.

Abstract: A photoelectric conversion sensor according to the invention comprises: a substrate; a plurality of organic photoelectric conversion pixel parts arranged on the substrate for converting incident light to an electric signal; a light transmissive substrate for transmitting incident light; an optical filter arranged on the light transmissive substrate for limiting the wavelength range of incident light to the plurality of organic photoelectric conversion pixel parts; and a support part for supporting the substrate and the light transmissive substrate in a state where the organic photoelectric conversion pixel parts are separated from the optical filter.

Abstract: An image sensor 1 includes a glass substrate 10, a plurality of photoelectric converting elements 20 made of an organic material, a plurality of IC chips 30 on which driving circuits made of single crystal silicon are respectively mounted, and wirings 40 which connect the plurality of photoelectric converting elements 20 to the respective driving circuits mounted on the IC chips 30. The plurality of photoelectric converting elements 20 are integrally and seamlessly formed with a predetermined arrangement pitch over a predetermined sensor length. The arrangement pitch of a plurality of detecting means formed on the driving circuits mounted on the IC chips 30 is equal to or less than that of the photoelectric converting elements.

Abstract: The organic photoelectric conversion element according to the invention has enhanced the light-absorbing property by incorporating two or more kinds of electron donating organic materials 4a and 4b in the photoelectric conversion region 14. With such measure, it has become possible to efficiently absorb the incident light and enhance the photoelectric conversion characteristic. In addition, a light-to-light conversion material 7 is incorporated in the photoelectric conversion region, too. With this measure, even the light of such a wavelength that an electron donating organic material cannot inherently absorb comes to be absorbed since the light-to-light conversion material 7 converts the wavelength, thus enabling the light to be utilized for carrier generation. Accordingly, an organic photoelectric conversion element with a high conversion efficiency can be obtained.

Abstract: The organic photoelectric conversion element in accordance with the invention comprises at least one pair of electrodes 12 and 16, a photoelectric conversion region (layer) 15 arranged between the electrodes and containing at least an electron donating organic material and an electron accepting organic material, and a buffer layer 14 containing at least one inorganic matter and inserted between the photoelectric conversion region and at least one electrode of the above-cited pair of electrodes.

Abstract: An organic information reading sensor comprising a plurality of light receiving sections for interposing at least one kind of organic material between electrodes and converting a light signal into an electric signal, wherein a non-translucent insulator is provided between the light receiving sections.

Abstract: The organic photoelectric conversion element according to the invention has enhanced the light-absorbing property by incorporating two or more kinds of electron donating organic materials 4a and 4b in the photoelectric conversion region 14. With such measure, it has become possible to efficiently absorb the incident light and enhance the photoelectric conversion characteristic. In addition, a light-to-light conversion material 7 is incorporated in the photoelectric conversion region, too. With this measure, even the light of such a wavelength that an electron donating organic material cannot inherently absorb comes to be absorbed since the light-to-light conversion material 7 converts the wavelength, thus enabling the light to be utilized for carrier generation. Accordingly, an organic photoelectric conversion element with a high conversion efficiency can be obtained.

Abstract: An organic photoelectric conversion element includes: at least two electrodes and a photoelectric conversion region made of at least one electron-donative organic material and one electron-accepting material provided between the electrodes on a substrate, wherein the visible light transmittance of the substrate is 85% or more or the product of the visible light transmittance of the substrate and one of the electrodes formed on the substrate is 80% or more. In this arrangement, external light can be efficiently taken in the photoelectric conversion region, making it possible to enhance the photoelectric conversion efficiency.

Abstract: An organic electroluminescent (OEL) element includes a scanning electrode and a signal electrode, which crosses the scanning electrode at right angles, on a substrate. The signal electrodes are formed of N-layer electrodes laminated like steps, where respective layers are insulated from each other. The scanning electrodes are formed on the signal electrodes via an organic thin film layer. As a result, a display area is divided into sections corresponding to laminated numbers, and the divided each section is scanned independently. A duty ratio for driving the OEL element becomes large and less power consumption thus can be expected.

Abstract: The invention provides an information reading unit including a light emitting section for irradiating a light on an object, and a light receiving section for converting a light reflected from the object into an electric signal, wherein at least a part of the light receiving section has a light transmitting property, and the light receiving section and the light emitting section are laminated or the light receiving section and the light emitting section are provided on the same optical axis, and an information reading device wherein an electric signal obtained by the light receiving section is converted into a digital signal by using the information reading unit.