Organic El display having auxiliary electrodes formed adjacent light extraction layer

• US 7,291,973 B2
• Filed: 02/26/2002
• Issued: 11/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Samsung Display Company Limited (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Aratani, Sukekazu, Adachi, Masaya, Ishihara, Shingo
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams; Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): MACCHIAROLO, PETER J
• Application Number:
  US10/082,183
• Publication Number:
  US 20030048072A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,079 Days
• Field of Search: 313498-506, 313/512, 257/13, 257/83, 257/86
• US Class Current: 313/505
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 2102/3026 Top emission
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/814 combined with auxiliary electrodes, e.g. ITO layer combined with metal lines
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/828 Transparent cathodes, e.g. comprising thin metal layers
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/844 Encapsulations
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/85 Arrangements for extracting light from the devices
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/80524 Transparent cathodes, e.g. comprising thin metal layers
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/873 Encapsulations
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/875 Arrangements for extracting light from the devices

Abstract

An organic light-emitting display is provided which includes an organic electroluminescent (EL) substrate, a drive layer formed on the substrate, a first electrode formed on the drive layer; organic layers formed on the first electrode, a second electrode formed on the organic layers, and a plurality of pixels. A counter substrate is formed adjacent the organic EL substrate, and a light extraction layer is formed between the substrate and the counter substrate. Each of the pixels includes sub-pixels and is disposed such that an auxiliary electrode of the second electrode is disposed in a part of one of the sub-pixels. The auxiliary electrode is formed on a same level as the first electrode and is connected to a current supply line within the drive layer via a contact hole formed in an inter-layer insulating layer formed over the drive layer.

Claims

1. An organic light-emitting display comprising:

an organic electroluminescent (EL) substrate having a drive layer formed on the organic EL substrate;

a first electrode formed on the drive layer;

organic layers formed on the first electrode;

a second electrode formed on the organic layers; and

a plurality of pixels;

a counter substrate formed adjacent the organic EL substrate; and

a light extraction layer formed between the organic EL substrate and the counter substrate;

wherein each of the plurality of pixels includes a plurality of sub-pixels and is disposed such that an auxiliary electrode of the second electrode is disposed in a part of one of the sub-pixels, wherein the auxiliary electrode is formed on a same level as the first electrode and is connected to a current supply line within the drive layer via a contact hole formed in an inter-layer insulating layer formed over the drive layer.

2. The organic light-emitting display according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of sub-pixels comprises a red organic light-emitting layer, a green organic light-emitting layer and a blue organic light-emitting layer.

3. The organic light-emitting display according to claim 1, further comprising a rib for controlling a thickness of the light extraction layer.

4. The organic light-emitting display according to claim 3, wherein the rib is formed on the counter substrate.

5. The organic light-emitting display according to claim 3, wherein the rib is formed of a glass or a photo-curing resin.

6. The organic light-emitting display according to claim 3, wherein the rib is formed on a sealing portion of the counter substrate and the organic EL substrate.

7. The organic light-emitting display according to claim 1, wherein a color filter is disposed between the organic EL substrate and the counter substrate.

8. An organic light-emitting display comprising:

an organic electroluminescent (EL) substrate having a drive layer formed on the organic EL substrate;

a first electrode formed on the drive layer;

organic layers formed on the first electrode;

a second electrode formed on the organic layers; and

a plurality of pixels;

a counter substrate formed adjacent the organic EL substrate; and

a light extraction layer formed between the organic EL substrate and the counter substrate;

wherein each of the plurality of pixels includes a plurality of sub-pixels and is disposed such that an auxiliary electrode of the second electrode is disposed in a part of one of the sub-pixels, wherein the auxiliary electrode is formed on a same level as the first electrode and is connected to a current supply line within the drive layer via a contact hole formed in an inter-layer insulating layer formed over the drive layer,

further comprising a rib for controlling a thickness of the light extraction layer.

9. The organic light-emitting display according to claim 8 wherein the plurality of sub-pixels comprises a red organic light-emitting layer, a green organic light-emitting layer and a blue organic light-emitting layer.

10. The organic light-emitting display according to claim 8, wherein the rib is formed on the counter substrate.

11. The organic light-emitting display according to claim 8, wherein the rib is formed of a glass or photo-curing resin.

12. The organic light-emitting display according to claim 8, wherein the rib is formed on a sealing portion of the counter substrate and the organic EL substrate.

13. The organic light-emitting display according to claim 8, wherein a color filter is disposed between the organic EL substrate and the counter substrate.