Thin film EL display device having multiple EL layers

Claim 1

A multi-color thin film EL display device for selectively illuminating multiple EL layers comprising, in order, a front, transparent conductive film formed on a transparent susbstrate in parallel with a display plane of the display device; a first EL emission film formed on the front transparent conductive film directly or by way of an insulation film, a pair of intermediate electrodes lying in one intermediate plane in parallel with the display plane of the display device, said intermediate electrodes being separated from said front transparent conductive film by a first depthwise gap, said intermediate electrodes being spaced apart by an intermediate widthwise gap so as to be not connected electrically with each other and being formed on said first EL emission film directly or by way of an insulation film, a second EL emission film formed on said pair of intermediate electrodes directly or by way of an insulation film, a rear conductive film formed on said second EL emission film directly or by way of an insulation film in parallel with the display plane of the display device which is separated from said plane of said intermediate electrodes by a second depthwise gap, and means for connecting an alternating voltage to said pair of intermediate electrodes so as to create a first electric field between said front transparent conductive film as an equipotential surface and said intermediate electrodes for causing said first EL emission film to emit a first color of light, and a second, different electric field between said intermediate electrodes and said rear conductive film as another equipotential surface for causing said second EL emission film to emit a second color of light.