DISPLAY APPARATUS AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE DISPLAY APPARATUS

• US 20170047544A1
• Filed: 04/07/2016
• Published: 02/16/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Display Company Limited (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Display Company Limited (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Inventors: KANG, Kinyeng, CHANG, Seungwook, CHOI, Jonghyun
• Granted Patent: US 10,128,461 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G04B 19/04 Hands; Discs with a single mark or the like moving indicating arrangements which have scales or numbers with stationary hands or reading means G04B19/20; optical projection of the position of the hands G04B19/34
• CPC Class Codes: G04C 17/0091 Combined electro-optical and electro-mechanical displays see provisionally also G04G9/0082
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/844 Encapsulations
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/10 OLED displays
• 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 59/8731 multilayered coatings having a repetitive structure, e.g. having multiple organic-inorganic bilayers
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 71/00 Manufacture or treatment specially adapted for the organic devices covered by this subclass
• 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

A display apparatus includes a first display area including a first display unit configured to generate light and a first encapsulation unit disposed on the first display unit; a second display area including a second display unit configured to generate light and a second encapsulation unit disposed on the second display unit; and a through area disposed between the first display area and the second display area. The first encapsulation unit includes a first encapsulation layer covering a first side of an area of the first display unit corresponding to the through area. The second encapsulation unit includes a second encapsulation layer covering a second side of an area of the second display unit corresponding to the through area.

Claims

1. A display apparatus comprising:

a first display area comprising a first display unit configured to generate light and a first encapsulation unit disposed on the first display unit;

a second display area comprising a second display unit configured to generate light and a second encapsulation unit disposed on the second display unit; and

a through area disposed between the first display area and the second display area,

wherein the first encapsulation unit comprises a first encapsulation layer covering a first side of an area of the first display unit corresponding to the through area, and

wherein the second encapsulation unit comprises a second encapsulation layer covering a second side of an area of the second display unit corresponding to the through area.

2. The display apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a substrate,

wherein the first display area and the second display area are disposed on the substrate,

wherein the through area extends through at least a portion of a thickness of the substrate.

3. The display apparatus of claim 2, wherein at least one area of the first encapsulation unit and the second encapsulation unit is disposed on a top surface of the substrate.

4. The display apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first encapsulation unit or the second encapsulation unit is spaced apart from the through area.

5. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first encapsulation unit is formed to completely cover the first side or the second encapsulation unit is formed to completely cover the second side.

6. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first display area and the second display area are connected to each other in an area outside the through area.

7. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the through area extends to at least one edge of the display apparatus.

8. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the through area is one of a plurality of through areas.

9. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the through area comprises a first through area and a second through area;

the display apparatus further comprises a third display unit configured to generate light and a third display area comprising a third encapsulation unit disposed on the third display unit;

the first display area and the second display area are formed comprising the first through area disposed between the first display area and the second display area; and

the second display area and the third display area are formed comprising the second through area disposed between the second display area and the third display area.

10. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first encapsulation unit or the second encapsulation unit comprises a plurality of encapsulation layers.

11. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first encapsulation unit comprises:

the first encapsulation layer disposed on the first display unit;

a third encapsulation layer disposed on the first encapsulation layer; and

a first intermediate encapsulation layer disposed between the first encapsulation layer and the third encapsulation layer.

12. The display apparatus of claim 11, wherein the first encapsulation layer or the third encapsulation layer covers at least a portion of the first side.

13. The display apparatus of claim 11, wherein the first encapsulation layer and the third encapsulation layer contact one another in an area corresponding to the through area.

14. The display apparatus of claim 11, wherein the third encapsulation layer covers a side of an area of the first encapsulation layer corresponding to the through area.

15. The display apparatus of claim 11, wherein the first intermediate encapsulation layer is surrounded by the first encapsulation layer and the third encapsulation layer.

16. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second encapsulation unit comprises:

the second encapsulation layer disposed on the second display unit;

a fourth encapsulation layer disposed on the second encapsulation layer; and

a second intermediate encapsulation layer disposed between the second encapsulation layer and the fourth encapsulation layer.

17. The display apparatus of claim 16, wherein the second encapsulation layer or the fourth encapsulation layer covers at least a portion of the second side.

18. The display apparatus of claim 16, wherein the second encapsulation layer and the fourth encapsulation layer contact each other in an area corresponding to the through area.

19. The display apparatus of claim 16, wherein the fourth encapsulation layer covers a side of an area of the second encapsulation layer corresponding to the through area.

20. The display apparatus of claim 16, wherein the second intermediate encapsulation layer is surrounded by the second encapsulation layer and the fourth encapsulation layer.

21. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first display unit or the second display unit comprises:

a first electrode;

a second electrode disposed on the first electrode; and

an intermediate layer disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, the intermediate layer comprising an organic emission layer.

22. The display apparatus of claim 21, further comprising:

a first protection pattern disposed at a side of the second electrode of the first display unit.

23. The display apparatus of claim 22, wherein the first protection pattern is disposed between the second electrode and the first encapsulation unit.

24. The display apparatus of claim 22, wherein the first protection pattern comprises a material that does not mix with the second electrode.

25. The display apparatus of claim 22, wherein the first protection pattern is disposed on the intermediate layer.

26. The display apparatus of claim 21, further comprising:

a second protection pattern disposed at a side of the second electrode of the second display unit.

27. The display apparatus of claim 26, wherein the second protection pattern is disposed between the second electrode and the second encapsulation unit.

28. The display apparatus of claim 26, wherein the second protection pattern comprises a material that does not mix with the second electrode.

29. The display apparatus of claim 26, wherein the second protection pattern is disposed on the intermediate layer.

30. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the first display area further comprises a first lower structure; and

the first lower structure comprises;

one or more insulating layers; and

one or more thin film transistors.

31. The display apparatus of claim 30, wherein:

the first display unit comprises;

a first electrode;

a second electrode; and

an intermediate layer disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, the intermediate layer comprising an organic emission layer; and

the first electrode is electrically connected to a thin film transistor of the one or more thin film transistors of the first lower structure.

32. The display apparatus of claim 30, wherein a portion of the one or more insulating layers of the first lower structure contacts an area of the first encapsulation unit facing the through area.

33. The display apparatus of claim 30, wherein:

lateral sides of the one or more insulating layers of the first lower structure face the through area; and

the lateral sides are spaced apart from a lateral side of the first encapsulation unit, the lateral side of the first encapsulation unit facing the through area.

34. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the second display area further comprises a second lower structure; and

the second lower structure comprises;

one or more insulating layers; and

one or more thin film transistors.

35. The display apparatus of claim 34, wherein:

the second display unit comprises;

a first electrode;

a second electrode; and

an intermediate layer disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, the intermediate layer comprising an organic emission layer; and

the first electrode is electrically connected to a thin film transistor of the one or more thin film transistors of the second lower structure.

36. The display apparatus of claim 34, wherein a portion of the one or more insulating layers of the second lower structure contacts an area of the second encapsulation unit facing the through area.

37. The display apparatus of claim 34, wherein:

lateral sides of the one or more insulating layers of the second lower structure face the through area; and

the lateral sides are spaced apart from a lateral side of the second encapsulation unit, the lateral side of the second encapsulation unit facing the through area.

38. The display apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

an insertion member disposed in correspondence with the through area.

39. The display apparatus of claim 38, further comprising:

a connection member connected to the insertion member, the connection member being disposed outside the through area.

40. The display apparatus of claim 39, further comprising:

a motion member connected to the connection member.

41. The display apparatus of claim 38, further comprising:

a base member connected to the insertion member,

wherein the first display unit and the second display unit are disposed between the base member and the first encapsulation unit and the second encapsulation unit.

42. A method of manufacturing a display apparatus, the method comprising:

forming a first display area comprising a first display unit configured to generate light and a first encapsulation unit disposed on the first display unit;

forming a second display area comprising a second display unit configured to generate light and a second encapsulation unit disposed on the second display unit; and

forming a through area between the first display area and the second display area,

wherein the first encapsulation unit comprises a first encapsulation layer covering a first side of an area of the first display unit corresponding to the through area, and

wherein the second encapsulation unit comprises a second encapsulation layer covering a second side of an area of the second display unit corresponding to the through area.

43. The method of claim 42, further comprising:

preparing a substrate, the first display area and the second display area being formed on the substrate,

wherein forming the through area comprises forming a preliminary through area partially extending through a thickness of the first display unit and the second display unit, and

wherein the method further comprises removing, after forming the preliminary through area, at least one area of a thickness of the substrate disposed in association with the preliminary through area.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein the preliminary through area is formed after forming a material for forming the first display unit and a material for forming the second display unit.

45. The method of claim 43, wherein:

each of the first display unit and the second display unit are formed comprising;

a first electrode;

a second electrode disposed on the first electrode; and

an intermediate layer disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, the intermediate layer comprising an organic emission layer; and

the preliminary through area is formed after forming both a material for forming the intermediate layer of the first display unit and the second display unit and a material for forming the second electrode of the first display unit and the second display unit.

46. The method of claim 43, wherein the first encapsulation unit and the second encapsulation unit are formed after forming the preliminary through area.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein:

each of the first encapsulation unit and the second encapsulation unit are formed comprising;

a first encapsulation layer disposed on the first display unit or the second display unit;

a second encapsulation layer disposed on the first encapsulation layer; and

an intermediate encapsulation layer disposed between the first encapsulation layer and the second encapsulation layer; and

forming the first encapsulation layer and the second encapsulation layer of the first encapsulation unit and the second encapsulation unit comprises;

removing, after forming materials for forming the first encapsulation layer and the second encapsulation layer in an area corresponding to the preliminary through area, an area corresponding to the through area as part of removing the at least one area of the thickness of the substrate disposed in association with the preliminary through area.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein forming the intermediate encapsulation layer of the first encapsulation unit and the second encapsulation unit comprises:

patterning the intermediate encapsulation layer to be spaced apart from the preliminary through area.

49. The method of claim 43, wherein:

each of the first display unit and the second display unit is formed comprising;

a first electrode;

a second electrode disposed on the first electrode; and

an intermediate layer disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, the intermediate layer comprising an organic emission layer;

the display apparatus further comprises;

a first protection pattern formed at a side of the second electrode of the first display unit; and

a second protection pattern formed at a side of the second electrode of the second display unit; and

the preliminary through area is formed after forming a preliminary protection pattern for forming the first protection pattern and the second protection pattern on a preliminary intermediate layer for forming the intermediate layer and forming the second electrode adjacent to the preliminary protection pattern.

50. The method of claim 49, wherein forming the second electrode comprises:

patterning the second electrode disposed adjacent to the preliminary protection pattern.

51. The method of claim 43, wherein:

the first display area is formed further comprising a first lower structure, the first lower structure being formed comprising;

one or more first insulating layers; and

one or more first thin film transistors;

the second display area is formed further comprising a second lower structure, the second lower structure being formed comprising;

one or more second insulating layers; and

one or more second thin film transistors; and

forming the first lower structure and the second lower structure comprises;

removing, after forming a preliminary lower structure for forming the first lower structure and the second lower structure before forming the preliminary through area, an area corresponding to the through area as part of removing the at least one area of the thickness of the substrate disposed in association with the preliminary through area.