MASK FRAME ASSEMBLY AND MANUFACTURING METHOD THEREOF

• US 20170365822A1
• Filed: 06/07/2017
• Published: 12/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2016
• 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, Sanghoon
• Granted Patent: US 10,236,475 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 14/042 using masks
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 16/042 using masks
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/8428 Vertical spacers, e.g. arranged between the sealing arrangement and the OLED
• 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 59/8723 Vertical spacers, e.g. arranged between the sealing arrangement and the OLED
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 71/00 Manufacture or treatment specially adapted for the organic devices covered by this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 71/166 using selective deposition, e.g. using a mask

Abstract

A mask frame assembly including a frame, a mask coupled to the frame and including a pattern region for deposition, and a partitioning stick coupled to the frame and configured to partition the pattern region of the mask into unit cell patterns. The partitioning stick includes a pair of opposing fixing ends fixed to sides of the frame, and a narrow width portion connecting the pair of fixing ends and including a first partitioning portion and a second partitioning portion respectively recessed inwards from both edges of the fixing ends in a width direction.

Claims

1. A mask frame assembly comprising:

a frame;

a mask coupled to the frame and comprising a pattern region for deposition; and

a partitioning stick coupled to the frame and configured to partition the pattern region of the mask into unit cell patterns,

wherein the partitioning stick comprises;

a pair of opposing fixing ends fixed to sides of the frame; and

a narrow width portion connecting the pair of fixing ends and comprising a first partitioning portion and a second partitioning portion respectively recessed inwards from both edges of the fixing ends in a width direction.

2. The mask frame assembly of claim 1, wherein:

the first partitioning portion defines a first boundary line of the unit cell patterns; and

the second partitioning portion defines a second boundary line of the unit cell patterns opposing the first boundary line.

3. The mask frame assembly of claim 1, wherein:

the first partitioning portion non-linearly connects the pair of fixing ends; and

the second partitioning portion linearly connects the pair of fixing ends.

4. The mask frame assembly of claim 3, wherein the first partitioning portion comprises a concave portion and a protruding portion alternately disposed with each other.

5. The mask frame assembly of claim 4, wherein a slope is formed with respect to the width direction between the concave portion and the protruding portion.

6. The mask frame assembly of claim 3, wherein the second partitioning portion comprises:

a pair of step portions recessed in parallel to the width direction and inward from the pair of fixing ends; and

a linear portion linearly connecting the pair of step portions.

7. The mask frame assembly of claim 1, wherein the mask crosses the partitioning stick at right angles.

8. A method of manufacturing a mask frame assembly, the method comprising:

forming a frame;

forming a mask comprising a pattern region for deposition; and

forming a partitioning stick comprising;

a pair of fixing ends each disposed on end sides of the partitioning stick; and

a narrow width portion connecting the pair of fixing ends and comprising a first partitioning portion and a second partitioning portion respectively recessed inwards from both edges of the fixing ends in a width direction;

fixing the pair of fixing ends of the partitioning stick to the frame; and

fixing the mask to the frame such that the pattern region is partitioned into unit cell patterns by the first partitioning portion and the second partitioning portion of the partitioning stick.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein:

the first partitioning portion defines a first boundary line of the unit cell patterns; and

the second partitioning portion defines a second boundary line of the unit cell patterns opposing the first boundary line.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein:

the first partitioning portion non-linearly connects the pair of fixing ends; and

the second partitioning portion linearly connects the pair of fixing ends.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the first partitioning portion comprises a concave portion and a protruding portion alternately disposed with each other.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein a slope is formed with respect to the width direction between the concave portion and the protruding portion.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the second partitioning portion comprises:

a pair of step portions recessed in parallel to the width direction and inward from the pair of fixing ends; and

a linear portion linearly connecting the pair of step portions.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the mask crosses the partitioning stick at right angles.

15. A mask frame assembly comprising:

a frame;

a plurality of masks each comprising a pattern region; and

a partitioning stick crossing the masks and comprising;

fixing ends fixed to the frame and having a first width; and

a narrow width portion connecting the fixing ends and having a second width less than the first width.

16. The mask frame assembly of claim 15, wherein the narrow width portion comprises an upper non-linear side and a lower linear side.

17. The mask frame assembly of claim 16, wherein the upper non-linear side comprises protrusions each formed between adjacent masks.

18. The mask frame assembly of claim 16, wherein the narrow width portion comprises a slanted portion overlapping each pattern region of the masks.

19. The mask frame assembly of claim 15, wherein:

the partitioning stick divides pattern regions of the masks into a plurality of unit cells in plan view; and

each of the unit cells has a greater height at a middle portion thereof than an end portion thereof.