Organic light emitting display device and method of manufacturing the same

• US 7,990,060 B2
• Filed: 05/19/2008
• Issued: 08/02/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Kim, Young Mi, Park, Jae Yong, Kim, Kyung Man, Kim, Ho Jin, Ahn, Byung Chul, Lee, Kang Ju
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel; Nimeshkumar D
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bowman; Mary Ellen
• Application Number:
  US12/153,421
• Publication Number:
  US 20080297042A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,170 Days
• Field of Search: 313/512, 445/25
• US Class Current: 313/512
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/8423 Metallic sealing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/8426 Peripheral sealing arrangements, e.g. adhesives, sealants
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/8428 Vertical spacers, e.g. arranged between the sealing arrangement and the OLED
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/844 Encapsulations
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/127 comprising two substrates, e.g. display comprising OLED array and TFT driving circuitry on different substrates
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/8721 Metallic sealing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/8722 Peripheral sealing arrangements, e.g. adhesives, sealants
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/8723 Vertical spacers, e.g. arranged between the sealing arrangement and the OLED
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/873 Encapsulations

Abstract

An organic light emitting display device that is capable of preventing the permeation of moisture by changing a sealing structure, thereby preventing the degradation of pixels and thus improving look-and-feel characteristics and a method of manufacturing the same are disclosed. The organic light emitting display device includes a first substrate and a second substrate being opposite to each other, the first substrate and the second substrate having a display region defined in the middle thereof and a non-display region defined at the edge thereof, respectively, a plurality of gate lines and data lines formed at the display region on the first substrate, the gate lines and the data lines crossing each other to define a pixel region, a thin film transistor formed at each of the intersections between the gate lines and data lines, an organic light emitting layer formed on the second substrate corresponding to the pixel region, and first and second electrodes located above and below the organic light emitting layer and a sealing structure connected between the first and second substrates, such that the first and second substrates are bonded to each other by the sealing structure, for preventing the permeation of moisture and gas.

Claims

1. An organic light emitting display device comprising:

a first substrate and a second substrate being opposite to each other, the first substrate and the second substrate having a display region defined in the middle thereof and a non-display region defined at the edge thereof, respectively;

a plurality of gate lines and data lines formed at the display region on the first substrate, the gate lines and the data lines crossing each other to define a pixel region;

a thin film transistor formed at each of the intersections between the gate lines and data lines;

an organic light emitting layer formed on the second substrate corresponding to the pixel region, and first and second electrodes located above and below the organic light emitting layer; and

a sealing structure connected between the first and second substrates, such that the first and second substrates are bonded to each other by the sealing structure, for preventing the permeation of moisture and gas,

wherein the sealing structure includes;

a first metal oxide film and a second metal oxide film formed on the first substrate and the second substrate, respectively, corresponding to the non-display regions between the first substrate and the second substrate in the shape of a closed loop, wherein the first metal oxide film and the second metal oxide film are opposite to each other, and

a connection electrode pattern formed between the first metal oxide film and the second metal oxide film such that the connection electrode pattern contacts the first metal oxide film and the second metal oxide film.

2. The organic light emitting display device according to claim 1, wherein the sealing structure includes a capsule film formed to surround front, rear, and side surfaces of the opposite first and second substrates.

3. The organic light emitting display device according to claim 2, wherein the capsule film is a fluorine resin based sealant.

4. The organic light emitting display device according to claim 2, wherein the capsule film has a transmissivity of 95% or more.

5. The organic light emitting display device according to claim 1, wherein the connection electrode pattern has a melting point of 100 to 300°

C.

6. The organic light emitting display device according to claim 5, wherein the connection electrode pattern is made of any one selected from a group consisting of In, Sn, Zn and Pb and an alloy thereof.

7. The organic light emitting display device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second metal oxide films are made of a metal oxide including at least one selected from a group consisting of In, Sn, Zn and Pb.

8. The organic light emitting display device according to claim 1, wherein the first electrode and the second metal oxide film are formed of one-body.

12. The organic light emitting display device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a seal line formed at the non-display regions between the first substrate and the second substrate in the shape of a closed loop, wherein the seal line being made of an ultraviolet seal curing material, a thermosetting seal material, and a metal seal material.

9. An organic light emitting display device comprising:

a first substrate and a second substrate being opposite to each other, the first substrate and the second substrate having a display region defined in the middle thereof and a non-display region defined at the edge thereof, respectively;

a plurality of gate lines and data lines formed at the display region on the first substrate, the gate lines and the data lines crossing each other to define a pixel region;

a thin film transistor formed at each of the intersections between the gate lines and data lines;

an organic light emitting layer formed on the second substrate corresponding to the pixel region, and first and second electrodes located above and below the organic light emitting layer; and

a sealing structure connected between the first and second substrates, such that the first and second substrates are bonded to each other by the sealing structure, for preventing the permeation of moisture and gas,

wherein the sealing structure includes;

an organic filler formed on the second substrate corresponding to the non-display regions in the shape of a closed loop,

a first electrode pattern on the first substrate corresponding to the organic filler, and

a second electrode pattern formed at the non-display region on the second substrate, wherein the second electrode pattern contacts the first electrode pattern, for covering the organic filler.

10. The organic light emitting display device according to claim 9, wherein the first electrode pattern is made of a metal material having a melting point of 100 to 300°

C.

11. The organic light emitting display device according to claim 9, further comprising:

organic partition walls formed on the second substrate corresponding to the gate lines and the data lines, wherein

the organic filler is formed on the same layer as the organic partition walls.

13. A method of manufacturing an organic light emitting display device, comprising:

preparing a first substrate and a second substrate being opposite to each other, the first substrate and the second substrate having a display region defined in the middle thereof and a non-display region defined at the edge thereof, respectively;

forming a plurality of gate lines and data lines crossing each other to define a pixel region at the display region on the first substrate;

forming a thin film transistor at each of the intersections between the gate lines and data lines;

forming an organic light emitting layer on the second substrate corresponding to the pixel region, wherein first and second electrodes located above and below the organic light emitting layer; and

forming a sealing structure between the first and second substrates, at least at the side thereof, such that the first and second substrates are bonded to each other by the sealing structure, and, at the same time, the permeation of moisture and gas are prevented by the sealing structure,

wherein the step of forming the sealing structure includes;

forming a transparent electrode at the pixel region and a first metal oxide film in the shape of a closed loop at the non-display region on the first substrate, respectively,

forming a first electrode at the display region and a second metal oxide film in a shape corresponding to the first metal oxide film at the non-display region on the second substrate, respectively,

forming an organic light emitting layer on the first electrode corresponding to the pixel region and a second electrode on the organic light emitting layer,

forming a connection electrode pattern on the first metal oxide film, and

joining the connection electrode pattern and the second metal oxide film to each other while arranging the first and second substrates such that the first and second substrates are opposite to each other.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the step of joining the connection electrode pattern and the second metal oxide film to each other is carried out by irradiating laser to the rear surface of the first substrate or the second substrate or by applying heat at a temperature of 100 to 300°

C. using a hot plate.

15. A method of manufacturing an organic light emitting display device, comprising:

preparing a first substrate and a second substrate being opposite to each other, the first substrate and the second substrate having a display region defined in the middle thereof and a non-display region defined at the edge thereof, respectively;

forming a plurality of gate lines and data lines crossing each other to define a pixel region at the display region on the first substrate;

forming a thin film transistor at each of the intersections between the gate lines and data lines;

forming an organic light emitting layer on the second substrate corresponding to the pixel region, wherein first and second electrodes located above and below the organic light emitting layer; and

forming a sealing structure between the first and second substrates, at least at the side thereof, such that the first and second substrates are bonded to each other by the sealing structure, and, at the same time, the permeation of moisture and gas are prevented by the sealing structure,

forming organic partition walls formed on the first electrodes corresponding to the gate lines and the data lines, and forming an organic filler at the non-display region of the second substrate corresponding to the first electrode pattern,

forming an organic light emitting layer on the second substrate corresponding to the pixel region on each organic partition wall,

forming a second electrode pattern on the organic light emitting layer for covering the second electrode and the organic filler, and

joining the first and second electrode patterns to each other while arranging the first and second substrates such that the first and second substrates are opposite to each other.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the step of joining the first and second electrode patterns to each other is carried out by applying heat to the first substrate including the first electrode pattern using a hot plate or by irradiating laser to the rear surface of the first or second substrate at the non-display region thereof.