Display device and manufacturing method thereof

• US 10,741,629 B2
• Filed: 07/11/2018
• Issued: 08/11/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Display Company Limited (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Display Company Limited (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Inventors: Kim, Hyoeng Ki, Woo, Jun Hyuk
• Primary Examiner(s): Fourson, III, George R
• Application Number:
  US16/032,242
• Publication Number:
  US 20190131375A1
• Time in Patent Office: 762 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/86 Arrangements for improving contrast, e.g. preventing reflection of ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/1201 Manufacture or treatment
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/122 Pixel-defining structures or layers, e.g. banks
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/124 Insulating layers formed between TFT elements and OLED elements
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/131 Interconnections, e.g. wiring lines or terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/35 comprising red-green-blue [RGB] subpixels
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/38 comprising colour filters or colour changing media [CCM]
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/40 OLEDs integrated with touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/8791 Arrangements for improving contrast, e.g. preventing reflection of ambient light

Abstract

A display device includes a substrate including a display region and non-display region, and at least one pixel disposed in the display region. The at least one pixel includes an emission region that emits a light, a non-emission region that does not emit the light, a light emitting element disposed in the emission region, and a pixel circuit that drives the light emitting element. The display device further includes a passivation layer disposed between the pixel circuit and the light emitting element. The passivation layer covers the pixel circuit and includes a concave pattern disposed in the non-emission region. The display device further includes a power supply line disposed on the passivation layer in the non-emission region and connected to the light emitting element. The power supply line includes an uneven pattern corresponding to the concave pattern.

Claims

1. A display device, comprising:

a substrate comprising a display region and non-display region;

at least one pixel disposed in the display region,

wherein the at least one pixel comprises an emission region that emits a light, a non-emission region that does not emit the light, a light emitting element disposed in the emission region and comprising a pixel definition layer, and a pixel circuit that drives the light emitting element;

a passivation layer disposed between the pixel circuit and the light emitting element,

wherein the passivation layer covers the pixel circuit, and comprises a concave pattern disposed in the non-emission region and having a recessed shape facing away from the substrate,

wherein a rounded bottom of the concave pattern is concave into the passivation layer; and

a power supply line disposed on the passivation layer in the non-emission region and connected to the light emitting element,

wherein the power supply line comprises an uneven pattern corresponding to the concave pattern,

wherein the power supply line is electrically connected to the light emitting element through a via hole that passes through the pixel definition layer.

2. The display device of claim 1, wherein the light emitting element comprises:

a first electrode disposed on the passivation layer in the emission region, wherein the first electrode is electrically connected to the pixel circuit,

wherein the pixel definition layer exposes a portion of the first electrode;

an emission layer disposed on the exposed first electrode; and

a second electrode disposed on the emission layer.

3. The display device of claim 2, wherein the power supply line is electrically connected to the second electrode through the via hole that passes through the pixel definition layer.

4. The display device of claim 3, wherein the pixel circuit comprises at least one transistor, and the at least one transistor comprises:

an active pattern disposed on the substrate;

a source electrode and a drain electrode respectively connected to the active pattern; and

a gate electrode disposed on the active pattern, wherein a gate insulation layer is disposed between the gate electrode and the active pattern.

5. The display device of claim 4, wherein the concave pattern has the recessed shape in a direction from one surface of the passivation layer to an opposite surface of the passivation layer under which the at least one transistor is disposed, and the uneven pattern has a shape corresponding to the concave pattern.

6. The display device of claim 5, wherein a width of the concave pattern is between about 1.2 μ

m and about 2 μ

m, and a depth of the concave pattern is between about 0.3 μ

m and about 0.5 μ

m.

7. The display device of claim 5, wherein the passivation layer comprises a flat portion in the emission region.

8. The display device of claim 2, wherein the uneven pattern causes an irregular reflection of an external light incident on the light emitting element.

9. A display device, comprising:

a substrate comprising a display region and a non-display region disposed on at least one side of the display region;

at least one pixel disposed in the display region,

wherein the at least one pixel comprises an emission region that emits a light, a non-emission region that does not emit the light, a light emitting element disposed in the emission region and comprising a pixel definition layer, and a pixel circuit that drives the light emitting element;

a passivation layer disposed on the pixel circuit;

a power supply line disposed on the passivation layer in the non-emission region and connected to the light emitting element;

a thin film encapsulation layer disposed on the light emitting element;

a touch sensor disposed on the thin film encapsulation layer; and

a window disposed on the touch sensor,

wherein the power supply line comprises an uneven pattern having a recessed shape facing away from the substrate that causes an irregular reflection of an external light incident on the light emitting element,

wherein a rounded bottom of the uneven pattern is concave into the passivation layer,

wherein the power supply line is electrically connected to the light emitting element through a via hole that passes through the pixel definition layer.

10. The display device of claim 9, wherein the uneven pattern has the recessed shape in a direction from one surface of the power supply line to an opposite surface of the power supply line under which the pixel circuit is disposed.

11. The display device of claim 10, wherein the light emitting element comprises:

a first electrode disposed on the passivation layer in the emission region, wherein the first electrode is electrically connected to the pixel circuit;

the pixel definition layer disposed on the first electrode and exposing a portion of the first electrode;

an emission layer disposed on the first electrode; and

a second electrode disposed on the emission layer,

wherein the power supply line is electrically connected to the second electrode through the via hole that passes through the pixel definition layer.

12. The display device of claim 11, wherein a width of the uneven pattern is between about 1.2 μ

m and about 2 μ

m.

13. The display device of claim 11, wherein the passivation layer comprises:

a flat portion disposed in the emission region; and

a concave pattern disposed in the non-emission region and corresponding to the uneven pattern of the power supply line.

14. The display device of claim 9, further comprising:

a polarization film disposed between the touch sensor and the window.

15. The display device of claim 9, further comprising:

a color conversion layer disposed between the touch sensor and the window, wherein the color conversion layer converts the light emitted from the light emitting element into a specific color of light.

16. The display device of claim 15, wherein the color conversion layer comprises a color filter disposed in the emission region, and a light blocking pattern disposed in the non-emission region.

17. A method of manufacturing a display device, comprising:

forming a pixel circuit on a substrate, wherein the pixel circuit comprises at least one transistor;

forming a passivation layer on the pixel circuit,

wherein the passivation layer comprises a through hole that exposes a portion of the pixel circuit, and a concave pattern disposed on the pixel circuit and having a recessed shape facing away from the substrate,

wherein a rounded bottom of the concave pattern is concave into the passivation layer,

wherein forming the passivation layer comprising coating an insulating material layer on the pixel circuit, and exposing and developing a portion of the insulating material layer to form a through hole and the concave pattern simultaneously;

forming a first electrode connected to the at least one transistor;

forming a power supply line spaced apart from the first electrode on the passivation layer;

forming a pixel definition layer that exposes a portion of the first electrode on the first electrode and the power supply line;

forming an emission layer that emits a light on the first exposed electrode;

forming a second electrode on the emission layer; and

forming a thin film encapsulation layer on the second electrode,

wherein the power supply line is disposed on the passivation layer in a non-emission region that excludes the emission layer, and comprises an uneven pattern corresponding to the concave pattern of the passivation layer,

wherein the light is not emitted in the non-emission region.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the concave pattern has the recessed shape in a direction from one surface of the passivation layer to an opposite surface of the passivation layer under which the at least one transistor is disposed, and the uneven pattern has a shape corresponding to the concave pattern.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein a width of the concave pattern is between about 1.2 μ

m and about 2 μ

m, and a depth of the concave pattern is between about 0.3 μ

m and about 0.5 μ

m.