Organic light-emitting display apparatus

• US 9,741,773 B2
• Filed: 04/14/2016
• Issued: 08/22/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Display Company Limited (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Display Company Limited (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Inventors: Seo, Ilhun, Shin, Youngjun, Chung, Yunmo, Choi, Jaebeom
• Primary Examiner(s): HOANG, QUOC DINH
• Application Number:
  US15/098,401
• Publication Number:
  US 20170012087A1
• Time in Patent Office: 495 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 2102/3023 Direction of light emission
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 2102/3026 Top emission
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 2102/3035 Edge emission
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/813 characterised by their shape
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/818 Reflective anodes, e.g. ITO combined with thick metallic layers
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/82 Cathodes
• 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 59/1213 the pixel elements being TFTs
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/122 Pixel-defining structures or layers, e.g. banks
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/123 Connection of the pixel electrodes to the thin film transistors [TFT]
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/124 Insulating layers formed between TFT elements and OLED elements
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/126 Shielding, e.g. light-blocking means over the TFTs
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/13 comprising photosensors that control luminance
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/60 OLEDs integrated with inorganic light-sensitive elements, e.g. with inorganic solar cells or inorganic photodiodes

Abstract

An organic light-emitting display apparatus includes a display area including first and second pixels. A plurality of photo sensors is arranged in an outer area of the display area. The first pixel includes a first pixel electrode, an opposite electrode, and a first emission layer between the first pixel electrode and the opposite electrode. The first pixel electrode, the opposite electrode, and the first emission layer are arranged on a substrate. The second pixel includes a second pixel electrode, the opposite electrode having a reflectance less than a reflectance of the second pixel electrode, and a second emission layer between the second pixel electrode and the opposite electrode. The second pixel is closer to the plurality of photo sensors than the first pixel. The second pixel electrode includes a first portion in parallel with the substrate and a second portion having a slope with respect to the substrate.

Claims

1. An organic light-emitting display apparatus comprising:

a display area comprising a first pixel and a second pixel;

a plurality of photo sensors arranged in an outer area of the display area, wherein

the first pixel comprises a first pixel electrode, an opposite electrode having a reflectance less than a reflectance of the first pixel electrode, and a first emission layer between the first pixel electrode and the opposite electrode, wherein the first pixel electrode, the opposite electrode, and the first emission layer are arranged on a substrate,

the second pixel comprises a second pixel electrode, the opposite electrode having the reflectance less than a reflectance of the second pixel electrode, and a second emission layer between the second pixel electrode and the opposite electrode, wherein the second pixel electrode, the opposite electrode, and the second emission layer are arranged on the substrate,

the second pixel is closer to the plurality of photo sensors than the first pixel, and

the second pixel electrode comprises a first portion in parallel with the substrate and a second portion having a slope with respect to the substrate;

an encapsulation member arranged in the display area; and

a light blocking layer arranged between the encapsulation member and the second pixel.

2. The organic light-emitting display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second pixel is adjacent to an outer edge of the display area.

3. The organic light-emitting display apparatus of claim 1, wherein

a first thin-film transistor is arranged between the first pixel electrode and the substrate,

a second thin-film transistor is arranged between the second pixel electrode and the substrate, and

a first organic insulating layer is arranged between the first pixel electrode and the first thin-film transistor and between the second pixel electrode and the second thin-film transistor.

4. The organic light-emitting display apparatus of claim 3, wherein a top surface of the first organic insulating layer in the second pixel comprises a first portion in parallel with the substrate and a second portion having a slope with respect to the substrate.

5. The organic light-emitting display apparatus of claim 4, wherein

the first portion of the second pixel electrode is arranged on the first portion of the first organic insulating layer, and

the second portion of the second pixel electrode is arranged on the second portion of the first organic insulating layer.

6. The organic light-emitting display apparatus of claim 5, wherein

a first portion of the second emission layer is arranged on the first portion of the second pixel electrode, and

a second portion of the second emission layer is arranged on the second portion of the second pixel electrode.

7. The organic light-emitting display apparatus of claim 4, wherein the slope of the second portion of the first organic insulating layer forms an angle equal to or greater than 0 degrees and less than 90 degrees with a direction that is perpendicular to the substrate in the second portion of the first organic insulating layer.

8. The organic light-emitting display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second pixel electrode comprises a plurality of first portions and a plurality of second portions.

9. The organic light-emitting display apparatus of claim 8, wherein the plurality of first portions of the second pixel electrode each have different heights with respect to the substrate.

10. The organic light-emitting display apparatus of claim 8, wherein

a first thin-film transistor is arranged between the first pixel electrode and the substrate,

a second thin-film transistor is arranged between the second pixel electrode and the substrate, and

a first organic insulating layer is arranged between the first pixel electrode and the first thin-film transistor and between the second pixel electrode and the second thin-film transistor.

11. The organic light-emitting display apparatus of claim 10, wherein a top surface of the first organic insulating layer in the second pixel comprises a plurality of first portions in parallel with the substrate and a plurality of second portions having slopes with respect to the substrate.

12. The organic light-emitting display apparatus of claim 11, wherein

the plurality of first portions of the second pixel electrode are respectively arranged on the plurality of first portions of the first organic insulating layer, and

the plurality of second portions of the second pixel electrode are respectively arranged on the plurality of second portions of the first organic insulating layer.

13. The organic light-emitting display apparatus of claim 11, wherein

a plurality of first portions of the second emission layer are respectively arranged on the plurality of first portions of the second pixel electrode, and

a plurality of second portions of the second emission layer are respectively arranged on the plurality of second portions of the second pixel electrode.

14. The organic light-emitting display apparatus of claim 11, wherein each of the plurality of second portions of the second pixel electrode has an angle equal to or greater than 0 degrees and less than 90 degrees with respect to a direction that is perpendicular to the substrate in each of the plurality of second portions of the first organic insulating layer.

15. The organic light-emitting display apparatus of claim 11, wherein, in the second pixel, the first organic insulating layer has an asymmetrical shape with respect to a direction that is perpendicular to the substrate.

16. The organic light-emitting display apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a second organic insulating layer that covers both end portions of the first pixel electrode, wherein the second organic insulating layer covers one end portion of the second pixel electrode and does not cover another end portion of the second pixel electrode.

17. The organic light-emitting display apparatus of claim 16, wherein, in the second pixel, the second organic insulating layer has an asymmetrical shape with respect to a direction that is perpendicular to the substrate.

18. An organic light-emitting display apparatus comprising:

a display area pixel and a second pixel;

a plurality of photo sensors arranged in an outer area of the display area, wherein

the first pixel comprises a first pixel electrode, an opposite electrode having a reflectance less than a reflectance of the first pixel electrode, and a first emission layer between the first pixel electrode and the opposite electrode, wherein the first pixel electrode, the opposite electrode, and the first emission layer are arranged on a substrate,

the second pixel comprises a second pixel electrode, the opposite electrode having the reflectance less than a reflectance of the second pixel electrode, and a second emission layer between the second pixel electrode and the opposite electrode, wherein the second pixel electrode, the opposite electrode, and the second emission layer are arranged on the substrate,

the second pixel is closer to the plurality of photo sensors than the first pixel,

the second pixel electrode comprises a first portion in parallel with the substrate and a second portion having a slope with respect to the substrate; and

a second organic insulating layer that covers both end portions of the first pixel electrode,

wherein the second organic insulating layer covers one end portion of the second pixel electrode and does not cover another end portion of the second pixel electrode.

19. The organic light-emitting display apparatus of claim 18, wherein, in the second pixel, the second organic insulating layer has an asymmetrical shape with respect to a direction that is perpendicular to the substrate.

20. An organic light-emitting display apparatus comprising:

first and second pixels positioned in a display area, wherein the first pixel comprises a first pixel electrode and a first opposite electrode having a reflectance less than a reflectance of the first pixel electrode, and wherein the second pixel comprises a second pixel electrode and a second opposite electrode having a reflectance less than a reflectance of the second pixel electrode;

a photo sensor adjacent to the second pixel, wherein the second pixel comprises a sloped sidewall, wherein the second pixel electrode is disposed on the sloped sidewall, and wherein the second electrode faces the photo sensor;

an encapsulation member disposed on the second pixel; and

a light blocking layer disposed between the encapsulation member and the second pixel.