Organic electroluminescent device and method of manufacturing the same

• US 20060087229A1
• Filed: 10/14/2005
• Published: 04/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Kim, Woo Chan
• Granted Patent: US 7,671,532 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 313/509
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 21/02118 carbon based polymeric organic or inorganic material, e.g. polyimides, poly cyclobutene or PVC polymers per se C08G, photoresist per se G03F
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 21/312 Organic layers, e.g. photoresist H01L21/3105, H01L21/32 take precedence; photoresists per se G03C
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/8426 Peripheral sealing arrangements, e.g. adhesives, sealants
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/844 Encapsulations
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 77/10 Substrates, e.g. flexible substrates
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/549 Organic PV cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product

Abstract

The present invention relates to a thin organic electroluminescent device capable of preventing permeation of oxygen or moisture. The organic electroluminescent device according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a substrate, a plurality of pixels and a planarization layer. The substrate has grooves formed at the periphery of an active area. The pixels are formed in the active area. The planarization layer covers the pixels on the substrate. The passivation layer covers the planarization layer and the grooves. Since the organic electroluminescent device includes the grooves or path extending sections, oxygen (O₂), water (H₂O), etc. are not permeated into the inside of a passivation layer.

Claims

1. An organic electroluminescent device comprising:

a substrate having grooves formed at the periphery of an active area;

a plurality of pixels formed in the active area;

a planarization layer covering the pixels on the substrate; and

a passivation layer covering the planarization layer and the grooves.

2. The organic electroluminescent device of claim 1, wherein the planarization layer is a non-conducting organic layer.

3. The organic electroluminescent device of claim 2, wherein the planarization layer contains BenzoCyclo-Butene or SiLK.

4. The organic electroluminescent device of claim 1, wherein the passivation layer is an inorganic layer as a layer for preventing oxygen and water.

5. An organic electroluminescent device comprising:

a substrate including a plurality of pixels formed in an active area;

a planarization layer covering the pixels;

a permeation-preventing layer covering the planarization layer; and

a passivation layer formed on the permeation preventing layer.

6. The organic electroluminescent device of claim 5, wherein groove is formed at the periphery of the active area on the substrate, and wherein the permeation-preventing section covers the groove.

7. The organic electroluminescent device of claim 5, further including:

a path extending section formed at the periphery of the active area,

wherein the permeation-preventing section covers the path-extending section.

8. The organic electroluminescent device of claims 5, wherein the permeation-preventing layer contains aluminium (Al), titanium (Ti), or titanium nitride (TiN).

9. The organic electroluminescent device of claim 5, wherein the permeation-preventing layer is an oxide layer.

10. An organic electroluminescent device having a plurality of pixels formed on a substrate comprising:

a planarization layer covering the pixels;

a plurality of path extending sections formed on the substrate at the periphery of the planarization layer; and

a passivation layer covering the planarization layer and the path extending sections.

11. The organic electroluminescent device of claim 10, wherein each of the path extending sections has a trapezoid shape.

12. The organic electroluminescent device of claim 10, wherein each of the path extending sections has a rectangular shape.

13. The organic electroluminescent device of claim 10, further including a permeation-preventing layer formed between the planarization layer, the path extending sections and the passivation layer.

14. The organic electroluminescent device of claim 13, wherein the permeation preventing layer includes aluminium (Al), titanium (Ti), or titanium nitride (TiN).

15. The organic electroluminescent device of claim 13, wherein the permeation-preventing layer is an oxide layer.

16. A method of manufacturing an organic electroluminescent device comprising:

producing a substrate having a plurality of grooves at the periphery of an active area by patterning the subatate;

forming a plurality of pixels in the active area;

forming a planarization layer on the pixels so that the pixels are covered by the planarization layer; and

forming a passivation layer on the planarization layer and the grooves so that the planarization layer and the grooves are covered by the passivation layer.

17. The method of manufacturing an organic electroluminescent device of claim 16, wherein forming the planarization layer includes:

depositing a planarization material on the pixels so that the pixels are covered by the planarization material; and

polishing an upper side of the deposited planarization material.

18. The method of manufacturing an organic electroluminescent device of claim 17, wherein the grooves are formed by patterning the substrate on which the planarization layer is formed.

19. The method of manufacturing an organic electroluminescent device of claim 18, wherein the grooves are formed in a vacuum atmosphere.

20. The method of manufacturing an organic electroluminescent device of claim 16, further including:

forming a permeation-preventing layer on the planarization layer and the grooves so that the permeation-preventing layer is located between the planarization layer, the grooves and the passivation layer.

21. The method of manufacturing an organic electroluminescent device of claim 20, wherein forming the permeation-preventing layer includes:

forming a metal layer on the planarization layer and the grooves; and

oxidizing the metal layer in an oxygen atmosphere to form an oxide layer.

22. A method of manufacturing an organic electroluminescent device having a plurality of pixels formed on a substrate comprising:

forming a planarization layer on the pixels so that the pixels are covered by the planarization layer;

forming a plurality of path extending sections on the substrate at the periphery of an area in which the planarization layer is formed; and

forming a passivation layer on the planarization layer and the path extending sections.

23. The method of manufacturing an organic electroluminescent device of claim 22, wherein the pixels are formed by:

forming in sequence an indium tin oxide film, an insulating layer, and a dam on the substrate; and

forming in sequence an organic layer and a cathode electrode layer on the anode electrode layer,

wherein the path extending sections are formed when the dam is formed.

24. The method of manufacturing an organic electroluminescent device of claim 23, wherein the path extending sections include a same material as the dam.

25. The method of manufacturing an organic electroluminescent device of claim 22, further including:

forming a permeation-preventing layer on the planarization layer and the path extending sections,

wherein the permeation-preventing layer is located between the planarization layer, the path extending sections and the passivation layer.

26. The method of manufacturing an organic electroluminescent device of claim 25, wherein forming the permeation preventing layer includes:

forming a metal layer on the planarization layer and the path extending layers; and

oxidizing the metal layer in an oxygen atmosphere to form an oxide layer.

27. A method of manufacturing an organic electroluminescent device having a plurality of pixels comprising:

forming a planarization layer on the pixels so that the pixels are covered by the planarization layer;

forming a permeation-preventing layer on the planarization layer so that the planarization layer is covered by the permeation-preventing layer; and

forming a passivation layer on the permeation-preventing layer.

28. The method of manufacturing an organic electroluminescent device of claim 27, wherein forming a permeation-preventing layer includes:

forming a metal layer on the planarization layer; and

oxidizing the metal layer in an oxygen atmosphere to form an oxide layer.

29. The method of manufacturing an organic electroluminescent device of claim 27, wherein forming the permeation-preventing layer includes:

depositing an oxide layer on the planarization layer.