Organic electroluminescent device and method of manufacturing the same

• US 7,671,532 B2
• Filed: 10/14/2005
• Issued: 03/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Kim, Woo Chan
• Primary Examiner(s): Macchiarolo; Peter J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Raleigh; Donald L
• Application Number:
  US11/249,403
• Publication Number:
  US 20060087229A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,600 Days
• Field of Search: 313498-512, 3151691-1693, 428690-691, 428/917, 438 26- 29, 438/34, 438/82, 257/40, 257/72, 257 98-100, 257642-643, 257/759, 427/66, 427532-535, 427/539, 427/58, 427/64, 445 24- 25
• US Class Current: 313/509
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 21/02118 carbon based polymeric organic or inorganic material, e.g. polyimides, poly cyclobutene or PVC polymers per se C08G, photoresist per se G03F
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 21/312 Organic layers, e.g. photoresist H01L21/3105, H01L21/32 take precedence; photoresists per se G03C
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/8426 Peripheral sealing arrangements, e.g. adhesives, sealants
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/844 Encapsulations
• 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

The present invention relates to a thin organic electroluminescent device capable of preventing permeation of oxygen or moisture. The organic electroluminescent device according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a substrate, a plurality of pixels and a planarization layer. The substrate has grooves formed at the periphery of an active area. The pixels are formed in the active area. The planarization layer covers the pixels on the substrate. The passivation layer covers the planarization layer and the grooves. Since the organic electroluminescent device includes the grooves or path extending sections, oxygen (O₂), water (H₂O), etc. are not permeated into the inside of a passivation layer.

Claims

1. An organic electroluminescent device comprising:

a substrate having grooves formed at the periphery of an active area;

a plurality of pixels formed in the active area;

a planarization layer formed on the pixels on the substrate, wherein at least a portion of the planarization layer is directly contacted with the substrate; and

a passivation layer formed on the planarization layer and the grooves, wherein at least a portion of the passivation layer is directly contacted with the substrate,

wherein the passivation layer is filled in the grooves.

2. The organic electroluminescent device of claim 1, wherein the planarization layer is a non-conducting organic layer.

3. The organic electroluminescent device of claim 2, wherein the planarization layer contains BenzoCyclo-Butene or SiLK.

4. The organic electroluminescent device of claim 1, wherein the passivation layer is an inorganic layer as a layer for preventing oxygen and water.

6. The organic electroluminescent device of claim 1, further including a permeation-preventing layer formed between the planarization layer and the passivation layer.

7. The organic electroluminescent device of claim 6, wherein the planarization layer is a non-conducting organic layer.

8. The organic electroluminescent device of claim 7, wherein the planarization layer contains BenzoCyclo-Butene or SiLK.

9. The organic electroluminescent device of claim 6, wherein the passivation layer is an inorganic layer as a layer for preventing oxygen and water.

10. The organic electroluminescent device of claim 6, wherein the permeation preventing layer includes aluminium (Al), titanium (Ti), or titanium nitride (TiN).

11. The organic electroluminescent device of claim 6, wherein the permeation-preventing layer is an oxide layer.

5. A method of manufacturing an organic electroluminescent device comprising:

forming a plurality of grooves at a periphery of an active area on a substrate;

forming a plurality of pixels in the active area;

forming a planarization layer on the pixels so that at least a portion of the planarization layer is directly contacted with the substrate; and

forming a passivation layer on the planarization layer and the grooves so that at least a portion of the passivation layer is directly contacted with the substrate and the passivation layer is filled in the grooves.