Patent ID: 7687987

Claim:
An organic electroluminescent element comprising: a substrate, an anode layer formed on the substrate, an organic electroluminescent layer formed on the anode layer and containing at least a light emitting layer, a semitransparent cathode layer formed on the organic electroluminescent layer, a transparent buffer layer formed on the semitransparent cathode layer and haying an impact buffering function, and a transparent electroconductive protection layer formed on the transparent buffer layer and having an oxidation preventing function, wherein a contact region in which the semitransparent cathode layer and the transparent electroconductive protection layer contact with each other is provided in a non-display area, and wherein a value obtained by dividing a resistivity of the transparent electroconductive protection layer provided on the non-display area by a film thickness of the transparent electroconductive protection layer is less than that obtained by dividing a resistivity of the semitransparent cathode layer provided on the non-display area by a film thickness the semitransparent cathode layer, and the transparent electroconductive protection layer provided on the non-display area functions as a bus electrode of the semitransparent cathode layer.