Display device and method of manufacturing the same

• US 10,707,280 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2017
• Issued: 07/07/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Display Company Limited (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Display Company Limited (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Inventors: Jeong, Hwan-hee, Kwak, Wonkyu
• Primary Examiner(s): Merkoulova, Olga V
• Application Number:
  US15/845,439
• Publication Number:
  US 20180308903A1
• Time in Patent Office: 932 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04102 Flexible digitiser, i.e. constructional details for allowing the whole digitising part of a device to be flexed or rolled like a sheet of paper
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04103 Manufacturing, i.e. details related to manufacturing processes specially suited for touch sensitive devices
• 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 3/04164 Connections between sensors and controllers, e.g. routing lines between electrodes and connection pads
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0418 for error correction or compensation, e.g. based on parallax, calibration or alignment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0443 using a single layer of sensing electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0445 using two or more layers of sensing electrodes, e.g. using two layers of electrodes separated by a dielectric layer
• 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 50/8445 multilayered coatings having a repetitive structure, e.g. having multiple organic-inorganic bilayers
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/86 Arrangements for improving contrast, e.g. preventing reflection of ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/1201 Manufacture or treatment
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/131 Interconnections, e.g. wiring lines or terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/40 OLEDs integrated with touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/8731 multilayered coatings having a repetitive structure, e.g. having multiple organic-inorganic bilayers
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/8791 Arrangements for improving contrast, e.g. preventing reflection of ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/88 Dummy elements, i.e. elements having non-functional features

Abstract

A display device includes a display panel and an input sensing unit disposed on the display panel. The display panel includes a base layer, a first signal line, a light emitting element, a first encapsulation inorganic layer, and a signal pad. The first signal line overlaps a display area and a non-display area and is connected to a transistor disposed in the display area. The first encapsulation inorganic layer is disposed on a second electrode of the light emitting element and overlaps the display area and the non-display area. The signal pad is electrically connected to the first signal line and disposed in the non-display area. The signal pad is connected to the first signal line through a first contact hole defined through the first encapsulation inorganic layer.

Claims

1. A display device comprising:

a display panel comprising a display area and a non-display area; and

an input sensing unit disposed on the display panel, the display panel comprising;

a base layer;

a first signal line overlapped with the display area and the non-display area and connected to a transistor disposed in the display area;

a light emitting element comprising a first electrode, a second electrode disposed on the first electrode, and a light emitting layer disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode;

a first encapsulation inorganic layer disposed on the second electrode and overlapped with the display area and the non-display area; and

a signal pad electrically connected to the first signal line, disposed on the first encapsulation inorganic layer and disposed in the non-display area,

wherein the signal pad is connected to the first signal line through a first contact hole defined through the first encapsulation inorganic layer.

2. The display device of claim 1, wherein the input sensing unit is directly disposed on the display panel and comprises:

a sensing electrode;

a second signal line connected to the sensing electrode; and

at least one insulating layer overlapped with the display area and the non-display area.

3. The display device of claim 2, wherein the display panel further comprises a dummy pad disposed in the non-display area, the second signal line comprises a line part overlapped with the display area and the non-display area and a pad part connected to the line part and overlapped with the dummy pad, and the at least one insulating layer is disposed between the dummy pad and the pad part of the second signal line.

4. The display device of claim 3, wherein the pad part of the second signal line is connected to the dummy pad through a second contact hole defined through the first encapsulation inorganic layer and the at least one insulating layer.

5. The display device of claim 4, wherein the dummy pad is disposed in a same layer as the first signal line.

6. The display device of claim 2, wherein the at least one insulating layer is disposed between the signal pad and the first signal line, and the first contact hole further penetrates through the at least one insulating layer.

7. The display device of claim 2, wherein the signal pad is disposed in a same layer as the second signal line.

8. The display device of claim 2, wherein the sensing electrode comprises a first sensing electrode and a second sensing electrode crossing the first sensing electrode, each of the first sensing electrode and the second sensing electrode comprises sensor parts and connection parts each of which connects the sensor parts adjacent to each other, and the connection parts of the first sensing electrode are connected to the adjacent sensor parts of the first sensing electrode through second contact holes defined through the at least one insulating layer.

9. The display device of claim 2, wherein the display panel further comprises a dummy pad disposed in the non-display area, the second signal line comprises a line part overlapped with the display area and the non-display area and a pad part connected to the line part and overlapped with the dummy pad, the pad part of the second signal line is connected to the dummy pad through a second contact hole defined through the first encapsulation inorganic layer, and the at least one insulating layer is not overlapped with the pad part of the second signal line.

10. The display device of claim 2, wherein the sensing electrode has a mesh shape.

11. The display device of claim 2, wherein the sensing electrode comprises a first sensing electrode and a second sensing electrode crossing the first sensing electrode, and the at least one insulating layer is disposed between the first sensing electrode and the second sensing electrode.

12. The display device of claim 2, wherein the input sensing unit further comprises a dummy electrode overlapped with the sensing electrode.

13. The display device of claim 2, wherein the sensing electrode comprises first sensing electrodes and second sensing electrodes respectively corresponding to the first sensing electrodes, each of the second sensing electrodes comprises a plurality of sensor parts disposed in a same layer as the first sensing electrodes and disposed to be spaced apart from each other, and

the second signal line comprises first line parts disposed in a same layer as the first sensing electrodes and connected to the first sensing electrodes and the sensor parts, and second line parts disposed on a different layer from the first sensing electrodes and connected to some first line parts connected to the sensor parts among the first line parts through second contact holes defined through the at least one insulating layer.

14. The display device of claim 2, wherein the sensing electrode is disposed in a same layer as the second signal line, and the at least one insulating layer directly covers the sensing electrode and the second signal line.

15. The display device of claim 1, further comprising an anti-reflection unit to reduce a reflectance of an external light, wherein the anti-reflection unit is disposed on the first encapsulation inorganic layer.

16. The display device of claim 1, wherein the first encapsulation inorganic layer is entirely disposed on the base layer.

17. The display device of claim 1, wherein the display panel further comprises:

a second encapsulation inorganic layer disposed on the first encapsulation inorganic layer; and

an encapsulation organic layer overlapped with the display area and disposed between the first encapsulation inorganic layer and the second encapsulation inorganic layer.

18. The display device of claim 1, wherein the input sensing unit comprises:

a first sensing electrode comprising first sensor parts and first connection parts connecting the first sensor parts, the first sensing electrode being disposed on a base surface defined on the display panel; and

a second sensing electrode comprising second sensor parts and second connection parts connecting the second sensor parts, the second sensing electrode being disposed on the base surface defined on the display panel,

wherein the first sensor parts are disposed in a same layer as the second sensor parts, one of the first connection parts and the second connection parts is disposed in a same layer as the first sensor parts, and the first connection parts cross the second connection parts such that an insulating layer is disposed between the first connection parts and the second connection parts.

19. The display device of claim 1, wherein the input sensing unit is directly disposed on the display panel and comprises:

a sensing electrode having a mesh shape; and

a second signal line connected to the sensing electrode,

the second signal line comprises a layer comprising a same material as that of the sensing electrode.

20. The display device of claim 1, wherein the input sensing unit comprises at least one insulating layer comprising a polymer, first sensing electrodes, and second sensing electrodes insulated from the first sensing electrodes while crossing the first sensing electrodes, and

the at least one insulating layer insulates the first sensing electrodes from the second sensing electrodes.

21. The display device of claim 1, further comprising a polarizing film disposed on the display panel, wherein the input sensing unit comprises a base film and sensing electrodes disposed on at least one surface of the base film, and the polarizing film is disposed between the display panel and the input sensing unit.

22. The display device of claim 1, further comprising a polarizing film disposed on the display panel, wherein the input sensing unit comprises a base film and sensing electrodes disposed on at least one surface of the base film, and the input sensing unit is disposed between the display panel and the polarizing film.

23. The display device of claim 1, further comprising a polarizing film disposed on the display panel, wherein the input sensing unit comprises a base film and sensing electrodes disposed on a lower surface of the base film, and the polarizing film is disposed between the display panel and the input sensing unit.

24. The display device of claim 1, further comprising a polarizing film disposed on the display panel, wherein the input sensing unit comprises a base film, a base insulating layer disposed on the base film, and sensing electrodes disposed on the base insulating layer, and the input sensing unit is disposed between the display panel and the polarizing film.

25. The display device of claim 1, further comprising a polarizing film disposed on the display panel, wherein the input sensing unit comprises a base film, sensing electrodes disposed on a lower surface of the base film, and signal lines connected to the sensing electrodes, the input sensing unit is disposed between the display panel and the polarizing film, and pad parts of the signal lines are electrically connected to input pads of the display panel by a conductive member.

26. The display device of claim 1, wherein the input sensing unit comprises a sensing electrode disposed on a base surface defined on the display panel and an insulating layer disposed on one side of an upper side or a lower side of the sensing electrode, the insulating layer comprises a high-refractive index insulating layer and a low-refractive index insulating layer, and the low-refractive index insulating layer is disposed more adjacent to the sensing electrode than the high-refractive index insulating layer.

27. A display device comprising:

a display panel comprising a first area, a second area, and a third area disposed between the first area and the second area in a plan view in an unfolded state and having a curvature in a folded state; and

an input sensing unit disposed on the display panel, the display panel comprising;

a base layer overlapped with the first area, the second area, and the third area;

a first signal line overlapped with the first area, the second area, and the third area and connected to a transistor disposed in the first area;

a light emitting element disposed in the first area and comprising a first electrode, a second electrode disposed on the first electrode, and a light emitting layer disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode;

an encapsulation inorganic layer disposed on the second electrode and overlapped with the first area and the second area; and

a signal pad electrically connected to the first signal line and disposed in the second area, wherein the signal pad is connected to the first signal line through a contact hole defined through the encapsulation inorganic layer.

28. The display device of claim 27, wherein the input sensing unit comprises:

a sensing electrode disposed in the first area;

a second signal line connected to the sensing electrode and overlapped with the first area, the second area, and the third area; and

at least one insulating layer overlapped with the first area, the second area, and the third area, and the input sensing unit is directly disposed on the display panel.

29. The display device of claim 27, wherein the display panel further comprises a bank disposed in the third area and comprising a plurality of organic insulating patterns stacked one another, the bank extends in a direction substantially parallel to a bending axis defined in the third area, and an opening area is defined through the encapsulation inorganic layer to correspond to the bank.

30. The display device of claim 27, wherein the first area comprises a display area and a non-display area disposed adjacent to the display area, the display panel further comprises a dam part disposed in the non-display area, and the display area is disposed inside the dam part.

31. The display device of claim 30, wherein the display panel further comprises crack dam parts disposed outside the dam part, the crack dam parts extend in a direction in which the first signal line extends, and an opening area is defined though the encapsulation inorganic layer to overlap the crack dam parts.

32. A method of manufacturing a display device, the method comprising:

forming a first conductive pattern on an encapsulation inorganic layer of a display panel, the encapsulation inorganic layer of the display panel overlapped with a display area and a non-display area of the display panel;

forming an insulating layer on the encapsulation inorganic layer to overlap the display area and the non-display area of the display panel and cover the first conductive pattern;

defining a first contact hole to expose the first conductive pattern;

defining a second contact hole disposed in the non-display area of the display panel to expose a dummy pad disposed under the encapsulation inorganic layer; and

providing a second conductive pattern on the insulating layer to be connected to the first conductive pattern and the dummy pad.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the defining the first contact hole and the defining the second contact hole are performed by a same process.

34. The method of claim 32, wherein the second conductive pattern comprises a signal pad connected to the dummy pad through the second contact hole in the providing the second conductive pattern.

35. The method of claim 32, wherein the defining the first contact hole comprises:

removing a portion of the insulating layer, which overlaps the first conductive pattern, and the defining the second contact hole comprises;

removing a portion of the insulating layer, which overlaps the dummy pad; and

removing a portion of the encapsulation inorganic layer, which overlaps the dummy pad.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the removing the portion of the insulating layer, which overlaps the first conductive pattern, and the removing the portion of the insulating layer, which overlaps the dummy pad, are performed by a same process.

37. The method of claim 32, wherein the first conductive pattern comprises first connection parts, and the second conductive pattern comprises first sensor parts each being connected to corresponding first connection parts of the first connection parts through the first contact hole, second connection parts crossing the first connection parts, and second sensor parts connected to the second connection parts.