DISPLAY DEVICE

• US 20180081249A1
• Filed: 09/15/2017
• Published: 03/22/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Display Company Limited (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Display Company Limited (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Inventors: CHOI, Chaun-Gi, MOON, Jeong-Woo
• Granted Patent: US 10,739,659 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133509 Filters, e.g. light shielding masks
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133553 Reflecting elements associated to illuminating devices G02F1/133605
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/155 Electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/157 Structural association of cells with optical devices, e.g. reflectors or illuminating devices
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/163 Operation of electrochromic cells, e.g. electrodeposition cells; Circuit arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2001/1552 Inner electrode, e.g. the electrochromic layer being sandwiched between the inner electrode and the support substrate
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2201/44 Arrangements combining different electro-active layers, e.g. electrochromic, liquid crystal or electroluminescent layers
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/12 Active-matrix OLED [AMOLED] displays
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/50 OLEDs integrated with light modulating elements, e.g. with electrochromic elements, photochromic elements or liquid crystal elements

Abstract

A display device may include a first substrate, an encapsulation substrate overlapping the substrate, a display unit disposed between the first substrate and the encapsulation substrate, a first electrode disposed between the display unit and the encapsulation substrate and having a first reflectance, a second electrode overlapping the first electrode and having a second reflectance greater than the first reflectance, and an electrochromic unit disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode.

Claims

1. A display device, comprising:

a first substrate;

an encapsulation substrate overlapping the first substrate;

a display unit between the first substrate and the encapsulation substrate;

a first electrode disposed between the display unit and the encapsulation substrate and having a first reflectance;

a second electrode overlapping the first electrode and having a second reflectance greater than the first reflectance; and

an electrochromic unit disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode.

2. The display device of claim 1, wherein the first electrode comprises a transparent conductive oxide.

3. The display device of claim 1, wherein the second electrode comprises a metal.

4. The display device of claim 3, wherein a thickness of the second electrode is in a range from 40 angstrom (Å

) to 500 Å

.

5. The display device of claim 1, wherein the first electrode transmits an external light incident through the encapsulation substrate,

wherein the second electrode reflects some rays of the external light and transmits other rays of the external light.

6. The display device of claim 1, comprising:

a transparent protective electrode directly contacting the second electrode.

7. The display device of claim 6, wherein the transparent protective electrode comprises a transparent conductive oxide.

8. The display device of claim 6, wherein a thickness of the transparent conductive oxide is in a range from 10 Å

to 1000 Å

.

9. The display device of claim 1, wherein the electrochromic unit comprises an electrochromic material and an electrolyte.

10. The display device of claim 1, wherein the electrochromic unit comprises an electrolyte layer and an electrochromic layer directly contacting the electrolyte layer.

11. The display device of claim 1, further comprising:

a sealing unit disposed between the first substrate and the encapsulation substrate, directly contacting each of the encapsulation substrate and the first substrate, and being spaced from at least one of the display unit and the electrochromic unit.

12. The display device of claim 11, comprising:

a first pad disposed between a first portion of the sealing unit and the encapsulation substrate and electrically connected to the first electrode; and

a second pad disposed between a second portion of the sealing unit and the encapsulation substrate, spaced from the first pad, and electrically connected to the second electrode.

13. The display device of claim 12, wherein each of a material of the first pad and a material of the second pad is identical to a material of the first electrode.

14. The display device of claim 12, wherein at least one of the first pad and the second pad comprises a transparent conductive oxide.

15. The display device of claim 12, wherein a material of the first pad is identical to a material of the first electrode, and

wherein a material of the second pad is identical to a material of the second electrode.

16. The display device of claim 12, wherein the first pad comprises a transparent conductive oxide, and

wherein the second pad comprises a metal.

17. The display device of claim 16, comprising:

an insulation layer disposed between the second pad and the second portion of the sealing unit and covering the second pad.

18. The display device of claim 16, wherein at least one opening is formed in the second pad, the at least one opening overlapping the sealing unit.

19. The display device of claim 11, wherein the sealing unit comprises a frit.

20. A display device, comprising:

a first substrate;

an encapsulation substrate overlapping the first substrate;

a display unit disposed between the first substrate and the encapsulation substrate;

a first electrode disposed between the display unit and the encapsulation substrate;

a transflective electrode overlapping the first electrode; and

an electrochromic layer disposed between the first electrode and the transflective electrode,

wherein the transflective electrode and the first electrode are configured to form an electric field for controlling light transmittance of the electrochromic layer.