DISPLAY DEVICE

• US 20190319076A1
• Filed: 04/09/2019
• Published: 10/17/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Display Company Limited (Samsung Group)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Display Company Limited (Samsung Group)
• Inventors: LEE, Hyeonbum, BAE, Joonwoo
• Granted Patent: US 10,840,312 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04111 Cross over in capacitive digitiser, i.e. details of structures for connecting electrodes of the sensing pattern where the connections cross each other, e.g. bridge structures comprising an insulating layer, or vias through substrate
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04112 Electrode mesh in capacitive digitiser: electrode for touch sensing is formed of a mesh of very fine, normally metallic, interconnected lines that are almost invisible to see. This provides a quite large but transparent electrode surface, without need for ITO or similar transparent conductive material
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0443 using a single layer of sensing electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0446 using a grid-like structure of electrodes in at least two directions, e.g. using row and column electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/844 Encapsulations
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/865 comprising light absorbing layers, e.g. light-blocking layers
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/122 Pixel-defining structures or layers, e.g. banks
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/40 OLEDs integrated with touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/873 Encapsulations
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/8792 comprising light absorbing layers, e.g. black layers
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 71/166 using selective deposition, e.g. using a mask

Abstract

A display device may include a display panel and an input sensor. The input sensor including a sensing electrode and an insulating layer. The display panel may include a light emitting element and a pixel definition layer. The light emitting element may include a first electrode in contact with a base surface, a second electrode, and a light emitting layer between the first electrode and the second electrode. The pixel definition layer may include a first portion defining an opening exposing the first electrode, and a second portion provided on and at least partially overlapping with the first portion. The sensing electrode is provided on the plurality of thin films overlapped with the first portion of the pixel definition layer and defining an open region at least partially overlapping the second portion of the pixel definition layer.

Claims

1. A display device, comprising:

a display panel; and

an input sensor directly disposed on the display panel, the input sensor including a sensing electrode and an insulating layer,

wherein the display panel comprises;

a light emitting element including a first electrode in contact with a base surface, a second electrode, and a light emitting layer disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode;

a pixel definition layer disposed below the second electrode in contact with the base surface, the pixel definition layer including a first portion defining an opening exposing the first electrode, and a second portion disposed on and at least partially overlapping with the first portion; and

a plurality of thin films disposed on the second electrode,

wherein the sensing electrode is provided on the plurality of thin films overlapped with the first portion of the pixel definition layer and defining an open region at least partially overlapping the second portion of the pixel definition layer.

2. The display device of claim 1, wherein the insulating layer covers the sensing electrode,

the input sensor further comprises a bridge connector disposed on the insulating layer and overlapping the open region, and

the bridge connector being connected to the sensing electrode through a contact hole defined in the insulating layer.

3. The display device of claim 1, wherein the sensing electrode comprises a first sensing electrode and a second sensing electrode intersecting each other and being insulated from each other,

the first sensing electrode comprises first sensor portions and a first connecting portion connecting the first sensor portions to each other,

the second sensing electrode comprises second sensor portions and a second connecting portion connecting the second sensor portions to each other,

the insulating layer comprises a first insulating layer provided between the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion.

4. The display device of claim 3, wherein the first connecting portion is disposed below the first insulating layer, and

the first sensor portions, the second sensor portions, and the second connecting portion are disposed on the first insulating layer.

5. The display device of claim 4, wherein the insulating layer further comprises a second insulating layer, which is disposed on the first insulating layer to cover the first sensor portions, the second sensor portions, and the second connecting portion,

the input sensor further comprises a bridge connector disposed on the second insulating layer,

the bridge connector is connected to the first sensor portions or the second sensor portions through a contact hole defined in the second insulating layer, and

the bridge connector is at least partially overlapped with the open region.

6. The display device of claim 5, wherein a thickness of the second insulating layer is substantially equal to a thickness of the second portion.

7. The display device of claim 1, wherein a thickness of the first portion of the pixel definition layer is substantially equal to a thickness of the second portion of the pixel definition layer.

8. The display device of claim 1, wherein the second portion of the pixel definition layer is not overlapped with the sensing electrode.

9. The display device of claim 1, wherein a length of a side or a diameter of the second portion ranges from about 10 μ

m to about 25 μ

m.

10. The display device of claim 1, wherein the first portion and the second portion of the pixel definition layer are integrated.

11. The display device of claim 1, wherein the sensing electrode has a mesh-shaped structure, in which an opening corresponding to the opening of the first portion is defined.

12. The display device of claim 1, further comprising an anti-reflection unit directly disposed on the input sensor,

wherein the anti-reflection unit includes a light blocking layer, an opening partially overlapping the opening of the first portion of the pixel definition layer is defined in the light blocking layer.

13. The display device of claim 1, further comprising an anti-reflection unit disposed between the display panel and the input sensor,

wherein the anti-reflection unit includes a light blocking layer, an opening partially overlapping the opening of the first portion of the pixel definition layer is defined in the light blocking layer.

14. The display device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of thin films comprise a first inorganic layer in contact with the second electrode, a second inorganic layer disposed on the first inorganic layer, an organic layer disposed on the second inorganic layer, a third inorganic layer disposed on the organic layer, and a fourth inorganic layer disposed on the third inorganic layer, and

the sensing electrode is in contact with the fourth inorganic layer.

15. A display device, comprising:

a display panel; and

an input sensor disposed on the display panel, the input sensor including a sensing electrode and an insulating layer,

wherein the display panel comprises;

a plurality of light emitting elements disposed on a base surface;

a pixel definition layer in contact with the base surface, the pixel definition layer including a first portion having a plurality of openings exposing first electrodes of the plurality of light emitting elements, and a plurality of second portions located adjacent to the first portion and having a thickness greater than a thickness of the first portion; and

a plurality of thin films disposed on the plurality of light emitting elements,

wherein the sensing electrode is disposed on the plurality of thin films overlapping with the first portion and defining a plurality of open regions at least partially overlapping the plurality of second portions.

16. The display device of claim 15, wherein the first electrodes comprise first-type electrodes, each of the first-type electrodes has a first area, second-type electrodes, each of the second-type electrodes has a second area larger than the first area, and third-type electrodes, each of the third-type electrodes has a third area larger than the second area,

the plurality of openings comprise first-type openings corresponding to the first-type electrodes, second-type openings corresponding to the second-type electrodes, and third-type openings corresponding to the third-type electrodes, and

each of the plurality of second portions is surrounded with two of the first-type openings, one of the second-type openings, and one of the third-type openings.

17. The display device of claim 16, wherein the sensing electrode has a mesh-shaped structure defining first openings corresponding to the first-type openings, second openings corresponding to the second-type openings, and third openings corresponding to the third-type openings.

18. The display device of claim 15, wherein the insulating layer covers the sensing electrode,

the input sensor further comprises bridge connectors disposed on the insulating layer,

the bridge connectors are connected to the sensing electrode through contact holes defined in the insulating layer, and

the bridge connectors overlap the plurality of open regions.

19. The display device of claim 18, wherein the bridge connectors comprise bridge patterns, each of the sensing electrode and the bridge patterns has a mesh line, and

a line width of the mesh line of the sensing electrode is substantially equal to a line width of the mesh line of each of the bridge patterns.

20. The display device of claim 18, wherein a difference in thickness between the second portion and the first portion is substantially equal to a thickness of the insulating layer.