DISPLAY PANEL APPARATUS AND METHOD OF FABRICATING DISPLAY PANEL APPARATUS

• US 20120268002A1
• Filed: 04/12/2012
• Published: 10/25/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: JDI Design and Development GK
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: ONO, Shinya, NISHIYAMA, Seiji, OSAKO, Takashi
• Granted Patent: US 8,952,609 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 313/504
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/814 combined with auxiliary electrodes, e.g. ITO layer combined with metal lines
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/824 combined with auxiliary electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/122 Pixel-defining structures or layers, e.g. banks
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/123 Connection of the pixel electrodes to the thin film transistors [TFT]
• 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 71/00 Manufacture or treatment specially adapted for the organic devices covered by this subclass

Abstract

A display panel apparatus has a structure which is less likely to seal a planarizing film even when an electrode plate is provided on the planarizing film, and the display panel apparatus includes: a planarizing film formed on a substrate; a pixel formed on the planarizing film and including: a lower electrode; an organic layer; and an upper electrode; an auxiliary electrode electrically insulated from the lower electrode and electrically connected to the upper electrode; a display section including a plurality of the pixels; an electrode plate electrically connected to the auxiliary electrode and arranged to cover the planarizing film outside the display section; and a power supply section electrically connected to the electrode plate, and the electrode plate has a hole exposing a part of a surface of the planarizing film.

Claims

1. A display panel apparatus comprising:

a substrate;

a planarizing film formed on the substrate;

a pixel formed on the planarizing film and including;

a lower electrode;

an organic layer; and

an upper electrode;

an auxiliary electrode electrically insulated from the lower electrode and electrically connected to the upper electrode;

a display section including a plurality of the pixels;

an electrode plate electrically connected to the auxiliary electrode and arranged to cover the planarizing film outside the display section; and

a power supply section electrically connected to the electrode plate,

wherein the electrode plate has a hole exposing a part of a surface of the planarizing film,

the hole is a rectangular opening with a longer side parallel with a side of the display section near the hole, and

the hole is open along flow of current between the power supply section and a part connecting the auxiliary electrode and the electrode plate.

2. The display panel apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the hole is for outgassing the planarizing film.

3. The display panel apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the organic layer is formed in a region partitioned by banks which partition the pixels,

the lower electrode is formed between the organic layer and the planarizing film,

the auxiliary electrode is formed with a predetermined interval from the lower electrode, outside of a region in which the lower electrode is formed;

and

the hole is an opening having a width corresponding to the predetermined interval between the lower electrode and the auxiliary electrode.

4. The display panel apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the power supply section has a shape of trapezoid having an upper base facing the display section, and receives current flowing along the hole from the display section at legs of the trapezoid.

5. The display panel apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the power supply section has a shape of triangle having a vertex pointed toward the display section, and receives current flowing along the hole from the display section at sides of the triangle, which meet at the vertex.

9. The display panel apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the organic layer is formed in a region partitioned by banks which partition the pixels,

the banks are formed in a predetermined direction in the display section, and

the auxiliary electrode is formed in the predetermined direction, outside of a region in which the lower electrode is formed.

10. The display panel apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the organic layer is formed in a region partitioned by banks which partition the pixels,

the banks are formed in a predetermined direction in the display section, and

the auxiliary electrode is formed in a direction perpendicular to the predetermined direction, outside of a region in which the lower electrode is formed.

11. The display panel apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the organic layer is formed in a region partitioned by banks which partition the pixels,

the banks are formed parallel with each other in a predetermined direction in the display section, and

the auxiliary electrode is formed in the predetermined direction and a direction perpendicular to the predetermined direction, outside of a region in which the lower electrode is formed.

12. The display panel apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the organic layer is formed in a region partitioned by banks which partition the pixels,

the banks are formed in the display section in a row direction along the pixels and a column direction along the pixels, and

the auxiliary electrode is formed, in the row direction or the column direction, outside of a region in which the lower electrode is formed.

13. The display panel apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the lower electrode is formed below the organic layer and on an upper surface of the planarizing film, and

the auxiliary electrode is provided in a same layer as the lower electrode and on the upper surface of the planarizing film.

14. The display panel apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the auxiliary electrode is provided above or below the lower electrode.

15. The display panel apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising

an insulating film provided between the organic layer and the planarizing film,

wherein the lower electrode is formed below the organic layer and on an upper surface of the insulating film, and

the auxiliary electrode is formed below the lower electrode and on an upper surface of the planarizing film.

16. The display panel apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the organic layer includes an organic EL layer containing an organic luminescent material.

17. The display panel apparatus according to claim 16,

wherein the upper electrode is a cathode,

the lower electrode is an anode, and

the organic layer includes one of a hole injection layer which injects holes from the lower electrode to the organic EL layer and an electron transport layer which transports electrons from the upper electrode to the organic EL layer.

18. The display panel apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising

a TFT layer having a driver element which drives the pixel, the TFT layer being provided between the substrate and the planarizing film.

19. A display apparatus comprising

the display panel apparatus according to claim 16,

wherein the pixels in the display panel apparatus are disposed in a matrix.

6. A display panel apparatus comprising:

a substrate;

a planarizing film formed on the substrate;

a pixel formed on the planarizing film and including;

a lower electrode;

an organic layer; and

an upper electrode;

an auxiliary electrode electrically insulated from the lower electrode and electrically connected to the upper electrode;

a display section including a plurality of the pixels;

an electrode plate electrically connected to the auxiliary electrode and arranged to cover the planarizing film outside the display section; and

a power supply section electrically connected to the electrode plate,

wherein the electrode plate has a hole exposing a part of a surface of the planarizing film,

the power supply section has a shape of triangle having a vertex pointed toward the display section,

among a plurality of the holes, a predetermined hole provided between a side of the triangle and the display section has a rectangular opening with a longer side parallel with a side of the display section near the predetermined hole, and

the predetermined hole is open along flow of current between the power supply section and a part connecting the auxiliary electrode and the electrode plate.

7. A display panel apparatus comprising:

a substrate;

a planarizing film formed on the substrate;

a pixel formed on the planarizing film and including;

a lower electrode;

an organic layer; and

an upper electrode;

an auxiliary electrode electrically insulated from the lower electrode and electrically connected to the upper electrode;

a display section including a plurality of the pixels;

an electrode plate electrically connected to the auxiliary electrode and arranged to cover the planarizing film outside the display section; and

a power supply section electrically connected to the electrode plate,

wherein the electrode plate has a hole exposing a part of a surface of the planarizing film,

the power supply section has a shape of trapezoid having an upper base facing the display section,

among a plurality of the holes, a predetermined hole provided between the upper base of the trapezoid and the display section has a rectangular opening with a shorter side parallel with a side of the display section near the predetermined hole, and

the predetermined hole is open along flow of current between the power supply section and a part connecting the auxiliary electrode and the electrode plate.

8. A display panel apparatus comprising:

a substrate;

a planarizing film formed on the substrate;

a pixel formed on the planarizing film and including;

a lower electrode;

an organic layer; and

an upper electrode;

an auxiliary electrode electrically insulated from the lower electrode and electrically connected to the upper electrode;

a display section including a plurality of the pixels;

an electrode plate electrically connected to the auxiliary electrode and arranged to cover the planarizing film outside the display section; and

a power supply section electrically connected to the electrode plate,

wherein the electrode plate has a hole exposing a part of a surface of the planarizing film,

the power supply section has a shape of trapezoid having an upper base facing the display section,

among a plurality of the holes, a predetermined hole provided between a leg of the trapezoid and the display section has a rectangular opening with a longer side parallel with a side of the display section near the predetermined hole, and

the predetermined hole is open along flow of current between the power supply section and a part connecting the auxiliary electrode and the electrode plate.

20. A method of fabricating a display panel apparatus comprising:

a first process of forming a TFT layer including a driver element which causes an organic EL layer containing an organic luminescent material to emit light;

a second process of forming a planarizing film which planarizes an upper surface of the TFT layer;

a third process of forming a lower electrode in a display section of a display panel above the planarizing film, an electrode plate in a region around the display section of the display panel above the planarizing film, and an auxiliary electrode outside of a region in which the lower electrode is formed in the display section of the display panel above the planarizing film, the auxiliary electrode being electrically insulated from the lower electrode and electrically connected to the electrode plate;

a fourth process of forming, above the lower electrode, banks for partitioning pixels;

a fifth process of forming the organic EL layer in regions partitioned by the banks; and

a sixth process of forming, above the organic EL layer, an upper electrode for causing the organic layer to emit light by a current supply to and from the lower electrode, the upper electrode being electrically connected to the auxiliary electrode,

wherein the electrode plate has a hole exposing a part of a surface of the planarizing film,

in at least one of the third process and the fourth process, the planarizing film is outgassed through the holes of the electrode plate,

the electrode plate has a power supply section which receives current through the electrode plate, and

the hole is a rectangular opening with a longer side parallel with a side of the display section near the hole, and

the hole is open along flow of current between the power supply section and a part connecting the auxiliary electrode and the electrode plate.

21. The method of fabricating a display panel apparatus according to claim 20,

wherein at least one of the third process and the fourth process includes a heat treatment, and

with the heat treatment in the at least one of the third process and the fourth process, the planarizing film is outgassed through the hole of the electrode plate.

22. The method of fabricating a display panel apparatus according to claim 21,

wherein the heat treatment in the third process is annealing the lower electrode, the electrode plate, and the auxiliary electrode.

23. The method of fabricating a display panel apparatus according to claim 21,

wherein the heat treatment in the fourth process is annealing the banks.

24. The method of fabricating a display panel apparatus according to claim 20, further comprising

a seventh process of forming a pixel regulating layer for partitioning the pixels above the lower electrode, the electrode plate, and the auxiliary electrode, the seventh process being performed between the third process and the fourth process.

25. The method of fabricating a display panel apparatus according to claim 24,

wherein the upper electrode is a cathode,

the lower electrode is an anode, and

the method of fabricating the display panel apparatus further comprises

an eighth process of forming, between the lower electrode and the organic EL layer, a hole injection layer which injects holes from the lower electrode to the organic EL layer, the eighth process being performed between the seventh process and the fourth process,

wherein the eighth process includes a heat treatment, and

with the heat treatment, the planarizing film is outgassed through the hole in the electrode plate.

26. The method of fabricating a display panel apparatus according to claim 25,

wherein the heat treatment in the eighth process is annealing the hole injection layer.

27. The method of fabricating a display panel apparatus according to claim 20,

wherein the upper electrode is a cathode,

the lower electrode is an anode, and

the method of fabricating the display panel apparatus further comprises

a ninth process of forming, between the upper electrode and the organic EL layer, an electron transport layer which transport electrons from the upper electrode to the organic EL layer, the ninth process being performed between the fifth process and the sixth process.