Patent ID: 7348725

Claim:
A method of encapsulating an organic EL display device comprising: forming an organic EL element comprising a lower electrode, an organic EL layer, and an upper electrode that are sequentially stacked on a substrate; coating an adhesive on the substrate and/or a flat panel, wherein the substrate and/or the flat panel comprises a through hole; placing the substrate and the flat panel in contact with each other via the adhesive in a gas atmosphere, thereby forming an enclosed space filled with gas between the substrate and the flat panel; pressing the substrate and the flat panel together to attach the substrate and the flat panel to each other with the adhesive, thereby reducing a thickness of the adhesive, pressurizing the gas in the enclosed space, and causing some of the gas in the enclosed space to flow out through the through hole; curing the adhesive at a predetermined temperature that causes thermal expansion of the gas in the enclosed space, thereby causing some of the gas in the enclosed space to flow out through the through hole; and shutting the through hole.