U.S. patent application number 14/037710 was filed with the patent office on 2014-11-27 for organic light emitting display device and manufacturing method thereof.
This patent application is currently assigned to SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO., LTD.. The applicant listed for this patent is SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Young-Mo KOO, Jae-Goo LEE, Min-Woo LEE, Ok-Keun SONG.
Application Number | 20140346453 14/037710 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 51870129 |
Filed Date | 2014-11-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140346453 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
KOO; Young-Mo ; et
al. |
November 27, 2014 |
ORGANIC LIGHT EMITTING DISPLAY DEVICE AND MANUFACTURING METHOD
THEREOF
Abstract
An organic light emitting display device includes a first
electrode on a substrate, an auxiliary electrode on the substrate,
the auxiliary electrode being spaced apart from the first
electrode, a protrusion on the auxiliary electrode, a pixel
defining layer overlapping end portions of the first electrode and
of the auxiliary electrode, the pixel defining layer separating the
first electrode from the auxiliary electrode, an organic layer on
the first electrode, and a second electrode on the organic layer,
the protrusion electrically connecting the second electrode to the
auxiliary electrode.
Inventors: |
KOO; Young-Mo; (Yongin-City,
KR) ; SONG; Ok-Keun; (Yongin-City, KR) ; LEE;
Min-Woo; (Yongin-City, KR) ; LEE; Jae-Goo;
(Yongin-City, KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO., LTD. |
Yongin-City |
|
KR |
|
|
Assignee: |
SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO., LTD.
Yongin-City
KR
|
Family ID: |
51870129 |
Appl. No.: |
14/037710 |
Filed: |
September 26, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
257/40 ;
438/34 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01L 51/5209 20130101;
H01L 2251/5315 20130101; H01L 27/3246 20130101; H01L 51/5212
20130101; H01L 51/5228 20130101; H01L 51/56 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
257/40 ;
438/34 |
International
Class: |
H01L 27/32 20060101
H01L027/32; H01L 51/56 20060101 H01L051/56 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 22, 2013 |
KR |
10-2013-0057818 |
Claims
1. An organic light emitting display device, comprising: a first
electrode on a substrate; an auxiliary electrode on the substrate,
the auxiliary electrode being spaced apart from the first
electrode; a protrusion on the auxiliary electrode; a pixel
defining layer overlapping end portions of the first electrode and
of the auxiliary electrode, the pixel defining layer separating the
first electrode from the auxiliary electrode; an organic layer on
the first electrode; and a second electrode on the organic layer,
the protrusion electrically connecting the second electrode to the
auxiliary electrode.
2. The organic light emitting display device as claimed in claim 1,
wherein the auxiliary electrode is between adjacent first
electrodes.
3. The organic light emitting display device as claimed in claim 2,
wherein the auxiliary electrode has a strip pattern extending in a
first direction.
4. The organic light emitting display device as claimed in claim 3,
further comprising an additional auxiliary electrode having a strip
pattern extending in a second direction intersecting the first
direction.
5. The organic light emitting display device as claimed in claim 1,
wherein the organic layer overlaps the auxiliary electrode, a
height of the protrusion on the auxiliary electrode being greater
than a thickness of the organic layer on the auxiliary
electrode.
6. The organic light emitting display device as claimed in claim 1,
wherein the protrusion has a shape of a cone, a cylinder, a
pyramid, and/or a prism.
7. The organic light emitting display device as claimed in claim 1,
wherein the protrusion is conductive.
8. The organic light emitting display device as claimed in claim 1,
wherein the protrusion includes at least one of indium tin oxide
(ITO), gold (Au), silver (Ag), copper (Cu), aluminum (Al),
molybdenum (Mo), tungsten (W), zinc oxide, tin oxide, indium oxide,
and gallium oxide.
9. The organic light emitting display device as claimed in claim 1,
wherein the organic layer includes an organic light emitting
layer.
10. The organic light emitting display device as claimed in claim
9, wherein the organic light emitting layer includes a red light
emitting layer, a green light emitting layer, and/or a blue light
emitting layer.
11. The organic light emitting display device as claimed in claim
10, wherein the organic light emitting layer further comprises a
white light emitting layer.
12. The organic light emitting display device as claimed in claim
9, further comprising a hole transport layer and a hole injection
layer between the first electrode and the organic light emitting
layer.
13. The organic light emitting display device as claimed in claim
9, further comprising an electron transport layer and an electron
injection layer between the organic light emitting layer and the
second electrode.
14. A manufacturing method of an organic light emitting display
device, the method comprising: forming a first electrode and an
auxiliary electrode on a substrate, the auxiliary electrode being
spaced apart from the first electrode; forming a protrusion on the
auxiliary electrode; forming a pixel defining layer overlapping end
portions of the first electrode and of the auxiliary electrode, the
pixel defining layer separating the first electrode from the
auxiliary electrode; forming an organic layer on the first
electrode; and forming a second electrode on the organic layer, the
protrusion electrically connecting the second electrode to the
auxiliary electrode.
15. The manufacturing method of the organic light emitting display
device of claim 14, wherein forming the protrusion on the auxiliary
electrode includes: forming a protrusion-forming material on the
substrate, on which the first electrode and the auxiliary electrode
are formed; and patterning the protrusion-forming material, such
that the protrusion are only on the auxiliary electrode.
16. The manufacturing method of the organic light emitting display
device as claimed in claim 15, wherein forming the
protrusion-forming material includes a sputtering process or a
chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.119
to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2013-0057818, filed on May 22,
2013, with the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure
of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Field
[0003] The present disclosure relates to an organic light emitting
display device and a manufacturing method thereof, and more
particularly, to a top-emission type organic light emitting display
device and a manufacturing method thereof.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] An organic light emitting display device is a self-emission
display device, which has an organic light emitting diode that
emits light to display an image. Since the organic light emitting
display device does not require a separate light source, e.g.,
unlike a liquid crystal display, it is possible to reduce relative
thickness and weight thereof. Further, the organic light emitting
display device is in the spotlight as an advanced display device by
virtue of other features, e.g., low power consumption, high
luminance, rapid response speed, and the like.
[0006] A conventional organic light emitting diode may include a
hole injection electrode, an organic light emitting layer, and an
electron injection electrode. A hole injected from the hole
injection electrode and an electron injected from the electron
injection electrode combine with each other in the organic light
emitting layer to form an exciton, and light is emitted by energy
that is generated when the exciton falls to the ground state.
[0007] The organic light emitting display device using such an
organic light emitting diode may be classified into a top emission
type and a bottom emission type, in accordance with a direction in
which the generated light is emitted from the organic light
emitting layer to the outside (output). That is, the bottom
emission organic light emitting display device outputs light in a
direction of the hole injection electrode by using a transparent
hole injection electrode and a reflective electron injection
electrode. The top emission organic light emitting display device
outputs light in a direction of the electron injection electrode by
using a reflective hole injection electrode and a transflective
(semi-transmissive) electron injection electrode.
SUMMARY
[0008] The present disclosure has been made in an effort to provide
a top emission organic light emitting display device with a
transmissive electron injection electrode, such that a
predetermined voltage may be applied to the electron injection
electrode by reducing sheet resistance of the electron injection
electrode.
[0009] An embodiment of the present disclosure provides an organic
light emitting display device, including a first electrode on a
substrate, an auxiliary electrode on the substrate, the auxiliary
electrode being spaced apart from the first electrode, a protrusion
on the auxiliary electrode, a pixel defining layer overlapping end
portions of the first electrode and of the auxiliary electrode, the
pixel defining layer separating the first electrode from the
auxiliary electrode, an organic layer on the first electrode and
separated by the pixel defining layer, and a second electrode on
the organic layer, the protrusion electrically connecting the
second electrode to the auxiliary electrode.
[0010] The auxiliary electrode may be between adjacent first
electrodes.
[0011] The auxiliary electrode may have a strip pattern extending
in a first direction.
[0012] The organic light emitting display device may further
include an additional auxiliary electrode having a strip pattern
extending in a second direction intersecting the first
direction.
[0013] The organic layer may overlap the auxiliary electrode, a
height of the protrusion on the auxiliary electrode being greater
than a thickness of the organic layer on the auxiliary
electrode.
[0014] The protrusion may have a shape of a cone, a cylinder, a
pyramid, and/or a prism.
[0015] The protrusion may be conductive.
[0016] The protrusion may include at least one of indium tin oxide
(ITO), gold (Au), silver (Ag), copper (Cu), aluminum (Al),
molybdenum (Mo), tungsten (W), zinc oxide, tin oxide, indium oxide,
and gallium oxide.
[0017] The organic layer may include an organic light emitting
layer.
[0018] The organic light emitting layer may include a red light
emitting layer, a green light emitting layer, and/or a blue light
emitting layer.
[0019] The organic light emitting layer may further include a white
light emitting layer.
[0020] The organic light emitting display device may further
include a hole transport layer and a hole injection layer between
the first electrode and the organic light emitting layer.
[0021] The organic light emitting display device may further
include an electron transport layer and an electron injection layer
between the organic light emitting layer and the second
electrode.
[0022] An embodiment of the present disclosure also provides a
manufacturing method of an organic light emitting display device,
the method including forming a first electrode and an auxiliary
electrode on a substrate, the auxiliary electrode being spaced
apart from the first electrode, forming a protrusion on the
auxiliary electrode, forming a pixel defining layer overlapping end
portions of the first electrode and of the auxiliary electrode, the
pixel defining layer separating the first electrode from the
auxiliary electrode, forming an organic layer on the first
electrode and separated by the pixel defining layer, and forming a
second electrode on the organic layer, the protrusion electrically
connecting the second electrode to the auxiliary electrode.
[0023] Forming the protrusion on the auxiliary electrode may
include forming a protrusion-forming material on the substrate, on
which the first electrode and the auxiliary electrode are formed,
and patterning the protrusion-forming material, such that the
protrusion are only on the auxiliary electrode.
[0024] Forming the protrusion-forming material may include a
sputtering process or a chemical vapor deposition (CVD)
process.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0025] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an organic
light emitting display device according to an embodiment of the
present disclosure.
[0026] FIGS. 2 and 3 are diagrams schematically illustrating a
configuration of an auxiliary electrode in an organic light
emitting display device according to an embodiment of the present
disclosure.
[0027] FIGS. 4 to 7 are diagrams illustrating a protrusion form in
an organic light emitting display device according to an embodiment
of the present disclosure.
[0028] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an organic
light emitting display device according to another embodiment of
the present disclosure.
[0029] FIGS. 9 and 10 are diagrams schematically illustrating a
configuration of an auxiliary electrode in an organic light
emitting display device according to another embodiment of the
present disclosure.
[0030] FIGS. 11A to 11E are diagrams illustrating a manufacturing
method of an organic light emitting display device according to an
embodiment of the present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0031] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with
reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the scope of the
embodiments is not limited to the following description or the
drawings. The accompanying drawings are only for illustration of
embodiments selected from among the various embodiments of the
present disclosure, and thus, should not limit the scope of the
embodiments.
[0032] In the drawings, certain elements or shapes may be
simplified or exaggerated to better illustrate the disclosure, and
other elements present in an actual product may also be omitted.
Thus, the drawings are intended to facilitate the understanding of
the disclosure.
[0033] Throughout the disclosure, like reference numerals refer to
like elements throughout the various figures and embodiments. In
addition, when a layer or element is referred to as being "on"
another layer or element, the layer or element may be directly on
the other layer or element, or one or more intervening layers or
elements may be interposed therebetween.
[0034] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an organic
light emitting display device according to an embodiment of the
present disclosure.
[0035] Referring to FIG. 1, an organic light emitting display
device 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may
include a substrate 110, a plurality of first electrodes 120 on the
substrate 110, an auxiliary electrode 130 formed on the substrate
110 and spaced apart from the first electrode 120, a protrusion 140
on the auxiliary electrode 130, a pixel defining layer 150
overlapping end portions of the first electrode 120 and the
auxiliary electrode 130 and separating the first electrode 120 from
the auxiliary electrode 130, an organic layer 160 on the substrate
110 on which the first electrode 120, the auxiliary electrode 130,
and the pixel defining layer 150 are formed, and a second electrode
170 on the organic layer 160.
[0036] As illustrated in FIG. 1, in the organic light emitting
display device 100 according to an embodiment of the present
disclosure, the auxiliary electrode 130 may be provided between two
adjacent first electrodes 120. For example, with respect to the
auxiliary electrode 130 according to an embodiment of the present
disclosure, one auxiliary electrode 130 may be provided for a
single first electrode 120. In another example, with respect to the
auxiliary electrode 130 according to another embodiment of the
present disclosure, one auxiliary electrode 130 may be provided for
more than two first electrodes 120. A configuration of the
auxiliary electrode 130 will be described below in detail.
[0037] Further, a height of the protrusion 140 on the auxiliary
electrode 130 has a higher value than a thickness of the organic
layer 160 on the auxiliary electrode 130. Therefore, the auxiliary
electrode 130 and the second electrode 170 may be electrically
connected to each other by the protrusion 140.
[0038] A transparent insulating substrate may be used as the
substrate 110. For example, the substrate 110 may be formed of a
glass substrate, a quartz substrate, a transparent resin substrate,
and the like. The transparent resin substrate which may be used as
the substrate 110 may include, e.g., a polyimide resin, an acrylic
resin, a polyacrylate resin, a polycarbonate resin, a polyether
resin, a polyethylene terephthalate resin, a sulfonic acid resin,
and the like, which may be used alone or in combination with each
other. The substrate 110 may be selected by a person skilled in the
art as necessary.
[0039] Although not illustrated in FIG. 1, a thin film transistor
layer (not shown), which is electrically connected to the first
electrode 120, may be provided on the substrate 110. A
semiconductor device including a gate electrode, a source
electrode, and a drain electrode may be provided on the thin film
transistor layer. The drain electrode may be electrically connected
to the first electrode 120. An insulating layer (not shown) having
a thickness, which may be sufficient to cover the semiconductor
device, may be provided on the thin film transistor layer.
[0040] The first electrode 120 may be provided on the substrate
110. A reflective electrode may be provided as the first electrode
120 in the organic light emitting display device 100 according to
an embodiment of the present disclosure. The reflective electrode
may include a metal, e.g., gold (Au), platinum (Pt), silver (Ag),
aluminum (Al), nickel (Ni), tungsten (W), chromium (Cr), molybdenum
(Mo), iron (Fe), cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), palladium (Pd), titanium
(Ti), and a compound thereof, which may be used alone or in
combination with each other. Further, the first electrode 120 may
be provided in a single layer structure or a multilayer structure,
which includes the above-mentioned metals and/or a compound
thereof.
[0041] The auxiliary electrode 130, which is spaced apart from the
first electrode 120, may be provided on the substrate 110. The
auxiliary electrode 130 may be formed of a conductive material. The
conductive material may include a metal, e.g., gold (Au), platinum
(Pt), silver (Ag), aluminum (Al), nickel (Ni), tungsten (W),
chromium (Cr), molybdenum (Mo), iron (Fe), cobalt (Co), copper
(Cu), palladium (Pd), titanium (Ti), and a compound thereof, which
may be used alone or in combination with each other.
[0042] FIGS. 2 and 3 are plan views schematically illustrating a
configuration of the auxiliary electrode 130 in the organic light
emitting display device 100 according to an embodiment of the
present disclosure.
[0043] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the plurality of first
electrodes 120 may be provided in a grid structure on the substrate
110, e.g., each first electrode 120 may include a plurality of
segments spaced apart from each other along a first direction,
e.g., d1 direction. For example, the first electrodes 120 may be
spaced apart from each other along a second direction, e.g., d2
direction. For example, the plurality of segments of the plurality
of first electrodes 120 may define a matrix pattern in the first
and second directions. AS illustrated in FIG. 1, the auxiliary
electrode 130 may be provided, e.g., directly, on a same element as
the first electrodes 120, e.g., directly on the substrate 110, and
may be spaced apart from the first electrodes 120 along a
horizontal direction, i.e., a direction perpendicular to a normal
to the substrate 110.
[0044] For example, referring to FIG. 2, the auxiliary electrode
130 may be provided between two first electrodes 120 adjacent to
each other in the organic light emitting display device according
to an embodiment of the present disclosure. For example, as
illustrated in FIG. 2, the auxiliary electrode 130 according to an
embodiment of the present disclosure may have a strip form extended
in a first direction, i.e., along a dl direction, between two first
electrodes 120 adjacent to each other along a d2 direction.
[0045] In another example, the auxiliary electrode 130 according to
another embodiment of the present disclosure may have a strip form
extended in a second direction, i.e., along the d2 direction,
between two first electrodes 120 adjacent to each other along the
dl direction.
[0046] In another example, referring to FIG. 3, the organic light
emitting display device according to an embodiment of the present
disclosure may include a first auxiliary electrode 131 having a
strip form extended in the first direction (dl) between two first
electrodes 120 adjacent to each other, and a second auxiliary
electrode 132 having a strip form extended in a second direction
(d2) crossing the first direction (dl). For example, each one of
the plurality of segments of the plurality of first electrodes 120
may be separated from an adjacent segment along the first and
second direction by the second and first auxiliary electrodes 132
and 131, respectively.
[0047] It is noted that FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate that the first
direction (dl) and the second direction (d2) cross each other to
form a grid. However, the first direction (dl) and the second
direction (d2) are not limited thereto, and may be a diagonal
direction according to a form of the first electrode 120.
[0048] Further, an end portion of the auxiliary electrode 130
having the strip form may include a voltage applying means (not
shown) to apply voltage to the auxiliary electrode 130.
[0049] Referring back to FIG. 1, the protrusion 140 may be provided
on the auxiliary electrode 130. The protrusion 140 may be formed of
a conductive material in the organic light emitting display device
100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The
conductive material may include, e.g., indium tin oxide (ITO), gold
(Au), silver (Ag), copper (Cu), aluminum (Al), molybdenum (Mo),
tungsten (W), zinc oxide, tin oxide, indium oxide, and gallium
oxide, and the like, which may be used alone or in combination with
each other.
[0050] FIGS. 4 to 7 are diagrams illustrating shapes of the
protrusion 140 in the organic light emitting display device 100
according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0051] In the organic light emitting display device 100 according
to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the protrusion 140 may
have a variety of shapes. For example, the protrusion 140 may be
provided to have a shape of a cone (FIG. 4), a cylinder (FIG. 5), a
pyramid (FIG. 6), a prism (FIG. 7), etc. Further, the protrusion
140 may include a combination of shapes. It is noted that the
shapes of the protrusion 140 illustrated in FIGS. 4 to 7 are mere
examples, and are not restricted thereto.
[0052] A height of the protrusion 140, e.g., along a normal to the
substrate 110, may be larger than a thickness of the organic layer
160, e.g., along a normal to the substrate 110, on the auxiliary
electrode 130. Accordingly, the protrusion 140 may penetrate
through the organic layer 160, and may electrically connect the
auxiliary electrode 130 and the second electrode 170 through the
organic layer 160, which is laminated on the auxiliary electrode
130.
[0053] For example, when the protrusion 140 has a sharp tip facing
the organic layer 160, e.g., in a shape such as a cone or a
pyramid, it is possible to prevent the organic layer 160 from being
laminated onto an upper part of the protrusion 140. As such, during
deposition of the organic layer 160 on the first electrodes 120 and
the auxiliary electrodes 130, penetration of the protrusion 140
through the organic layer 160 may be facilitated. Therefore,
physical and electrical contact between the protrusion 140 and the
second electrode 170 may be ensured, so the protrusion 140 may be
physically and electrically connected directly between the second
electrode 170 and the auxiliary electrode 130.
[0054] Referring back to FIG. 1, the pixel defining layer 150 may
be provided between the plurality of first electrodes 120, and
between the first electrode 120 and the auxiliary electrode 130.
The pixel defining layer 150 is formed of a conductive material,
and may be provided to overlap end portions of the first electrode
120 and the auxiliary electrode 130.
[0055] The pixel defining layer 150 defines a sub-pixel area by
dividing the first electrode 120 into a sub-pixel unit. In other
words, an emitting region area and a non-emitting region area may
be separated from each other in the organic light emitting display
device 100 by the pixel defining layer 150. Further, the pixel
defining layer 150 may electrically insulate the first electrode
120 from the auxiliary electrode 130.
[0056] The organic layer 160 may be provided on the first electrode
120 and the auxiliary electrode 130, which are separated by the
pixel defining layer 150. The organic layer 160 may include an
organic light emitting layer 163. The organic light emitting
display device 100 according to an embodiment of the present
disclosure may include a red light emitting layer, a green light
emitting layer, and a blue light emitting layer as the organic
light emitting layer 163. The organic light emitting display device
100 according to another embodiment of the present disclosure may
further include a white light emitting layer as the organic light
emitting layer 163.
[0057] A hole auxiliary layer 161 may be provided between the first
electrode 120 and the organic light emitting layer 163. The hole
auxiliary layer 161 may include a hole injection layer (HIL) and a
hole transport layer (HTL). An electron auxiliary layer 165 may be
provided between the organic light emitting layer 163 and the
second electrode 170. The electron auxiliary layer 165 may include
an electron transport layer (ETL) and an electron injection layer
(EIL).
[0058] The organic layer 160 may be provided on the auxiliary
electrode 130 separated by the pixel defining layer 150. The
organic layer 160 on the auxiliary electrode 130 may include the
hole auxiliary layer 161 and the electron auxiliary layer 165.
[0059] The second electrode 170 may be provided on the organic
layer 160. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the second electrode 170 may
be provided on, e.g., to overlap, the upper part of the organic
light emitting layer 163, and may be extended to, e.g., overlap, an
upper part of the pixel defining layer 150.
[0060] The second electrode 170 may be provided to be a
transmissive electrode. The transmissive electrode may include at
least one of, e.g., indium tin oxide, indium zinc oxide, zinc tin
oxide, zinc oxide, tin oxide, gallium oxide, and the like, which
may be used alone or in combination with each other.
[0061] In a top emission organic light emitting display device 100
according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the second
electrode 170 is provided to be a transmissive electrode, and may
exhibit a high value of sheet resistance due to characteristics of
its transmissivity.
[0062] In a conventional organic light emitting display device, a
predetermined voltage may not be properly applied to a transmissive
second electrode. In other words, a difference arises in the
applied voltage between an area close to a portion applying voltage
to the second electrode and another area far from the portion
applying voltage to the second electrode. The larger the size of
the organic light emitting display device 100, the greater the
voltage difference.
[0063] However, according to the present disclosure, the auxiliary
electrode 130 improves conductivity of the second electrode 170, as
the auxiliary electrode 130 is electrically connected to the second
electrode 170 via the protrusion 140. Accordingly, voltage
difference in the second electrode 170 may be prevented.
[0064] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an organic
light emitting display device 200 according to another embodiment
of the present disclosure. Duplicate description with respect to
the organic light emitting display device 100 will be omitted.
[0065] Referring to FIG. 8, an organic light emitting display
device 200 according to another embodiment of the present
disclosure may include a substrate 210, a plurality of first
electrodes 220 on the substrate 210, an auxiliary electrode 230
formed on the substrate 210 and spaced apart from the first
electrode 220, a protrusion 240 on the auxiliary electrode 230, a
pixel defining layer 250 overlapping end portions of the first
electrode 220 and the auxiliary electrode 230 and separating the
first electrode 220 from the auxiliary electrode 230, an organic
layer 260 on the substrate 210 on which the first electrode 220,
the auxiliary electrode 230, and the pixel defining layer 250 are
formed, and a second electrode 270 on the organic layer 260.
[0066] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the
auxiliary electrode 230 may be provided between the two first
electrodes 220 adjacent to each other. With respect to the
auxiliary electrode 230 according to an embodiment of the present
disclosure, one auxiliary electrode may be provided for a single
first electrode 220. With respect to the auxiliary electrode 230
according to another embodiment of the present disclosure, one
auxiliary electrode may be provided for more than two first
electrodes 220.
[0067] As illustrated in FIG. 8, with respect to the auxiliary
electrode 230 of the organic light emitting display device
according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, one auxiliary
electrode 230 may be provided for one pixel. In this embodiment,
the pixel includes at least two or more sub-pixels, and is the
smallest element for color implementation.
[0068] FIG. 8 exemplifies that the pixel includes red, green, and
blue sub-pixels, but the pixel in the organic light emitting
display device 200 according to an embodiment of the present
disclosure is not necessarily limited thereto. For example, the
pixel may include red, green, blue, and white sub-pixels, or at
least two or more sub-pixels among the red, green, blue, and white
sub-pixels may be combined with each other to form the pixel.
[0069] FIGS. 9 and 10 are diagrams schematically illustrating a
configuration of the auxiliary electrode 230 in an organic light
emitting display device 200 according to another embodiment of the
present disclosure.
[0070] Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, the organic light emitting
display device 200 according to an embodiment of the present
disclosure may include the plurality of first electrodes 220
provided to have a grid structure on the substrate 210 and the
auxiliary electrode 230 provided to be spaced apart from the first
electrode 220.
[0071] Referring to FIG. 9, in the organic light emitting display
device 200 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure,
the auxiliary electrode 230 may be provided between the two pixels
adjacent to each other. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 9, the
auxiliary electrode 230 may have a strip form extending in the
first direction (dl) between two pixels adjacent to each other
along the second direction (d2). In another example, the auxiliary
electrode 230 may have a strip form extending in the second
direction (d2) between two pixels adjacent to each other along the
first direction (dl).
[0072] Referring to FIG. 10, the organic light emitting display
device 200 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may
include a first auxiliary electrode 231 having a strip form
extending in the first direction (dl) between the two pixels
adjacent to each other and a second auxiliary electrode 232 having
a strip form extending in the second direction (d2) crossing the
first direction (dl).
[0073] FIGS. 9 and 10 exemplify that the first direction (dl) and
the second direction (d2) cross each other to form a grid. However,
the first direction (dl) and the second direction (d2) are not
limited thereto, and may be a diagonal direction according to an
area form of the pixel.
[0074] Further, an end portion of the auxiliary electrode 230
having a strip form illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10 may include a
voltage applying means (not shown) to apply voltage to the
auxiliary electrode 230.
[0075] Referring back to FIG. 8, the organic layer 260 may be
provided on the first electrode 220 and the auxiliary electrode 230
separated by the pixel defining layer 250. The organic layer 260
may include an organic light emitting layer 263R, 263G, 263B. The
organic light emitting layer 263R, 263G, 263B may include a red
light emitting layer 263R, a green light emitting layer 263G, and a
blue light emitting layer 263B.
[0076] A hole auxiliary layer 261 may be provided between the first
electrode 220 and the organic light emitting layer 263R, 263G,
263B. The hole auxiliary layer 261 may include a hole injection
layer (HIL) and a hole transport layer (HTL). An electron auxiliary
layer 265 may be provided between the organic light emitting layer
263R, 263G, 263B and the second electrode 270. The electron
auxiliary layer 265 may include an electron transport layer (ETL)
and an electron injection layer (EIL).
[0077] The organic layer 260 may be provided on the auxiliary
electrode 230 separated by the pixel defining layer 250. The
organic layer 260 on the auxiliary electrode 230 may include the
hole auxiliary layer 261 and the electron auxiliary layer 265.
[0078] In a top emission organic light emitting display device 200
according to another embodiment of the present disclosure, the
second electrode 270 is provided to be a transmissive electrode,
and may exhibit a high value of sheet resistance due to
characteristics of the transmissive electrode.
[0079] In a conventional organic light emitting display device, a
predetermined voltage may not be properly applied to a transmissive
second electrode. In other words, a difference arises in the
applied voltage between an area close to a portion applying voltage
to the second electrode and another area far from the portion
applying voltage to the second electrode. The larger the size of
the organic light emitting display device 100, the greater the
voltage difference.
[0080] However, according to the present disclosure, the auxiliary
electrode 230 is provided to improve conductivity of the second
electrode 270, as the auxiliary electrode 230 is electrically
connected to the second electrode 270 by using the protrusion 240.
Therefore, the voltage difference in the second electrode 270 may
be prevented or substantially minimized.
[0081] FIGS. 11A to 11E are diagrams illustrating stages in a
manufacturing method of an organic light emitting display device
according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0082] An embodiment of the present disclosure provides a
manufacturing method of the organic light emitting display device.
In detail, the manufacturing method may include forming the first
electrode 120 and the auxiliary electrode 130 on the substrate 110
(see FIG. 11A), forming the protrusion 140 on the auxiliary
electrode 130 (see FIG. 11B), forming the pixel defining layer 150
between the first electrode 120 and the auxiliary electrode 130 to
overlap end portions of the first electrode 120 and the auxiliary
electrode 130 (see FIG. 11C), forming an organic layer 160 on the
substrate 110 whereon the first electrode 120, the auxiliary
electrode 130, and the pixel defining layer 150 are formed (see
FIG. 11D), and forming a second electrode 170 on the organic layer
160 (see FIG. 11E).
[0083] Referring to FIG. 11A, the first electrode 120 and the
auxiliary electrode 130 may be formed on the substrate 110.
According to an embodiment, the first electrode 120 and the
auxiliary electrode 130 may be formed by forming a material layer
(not shown in the drawing) to form a first electrode and an
auxiliary electrode on the substrate 110, and patterning the
material to form the first electrode 120 and the auxiliary
electrode 130. The first electrode 120 and the auxiliary electrode
130 may be formed by using the same material or may be formed of
different materials.
[0084] Referring to FIG. 11B, the protrusion 140 may be formed on
the auxiliary electrode 130. According to an embodiment of the
present disclosure, forming the protrusion 140 may include forming
a protrusion-forming material layer (not shown in the drawing) on
the substrate 110, on which the first electrode 120 and the
auxiliary electrode 130 are patterned, and leaving the protrusion
140 only on the auxiliary electrode 130 by patterning the formed
protrusion-forming material layer.
[0085] Forming the protrusion-forming material layer may include,
e.g., a sputtering process, a vacuum deposition process, a chemical
vapor deposition (CVD) process, a pulsed laser deposition process,
a printing process, an atomic layer deposition (ALD) process, and
the like. Forming the protrusion-forming material layer may include
forming the protrusion 140 in any suitable shape by adjusting,
e.g., temperature, time, pressure, and the like, during formation.
In order to form the protrusion 140 only on the auxiliary electrode
130, a photolithography process may be used.
[0086] Referring to FIG. 11C, the pixel defining layer 150 may be
formed between the first electrode 120 and the auxiliary electrode
130 including the protrusion 140. The pixel defining layer 150 may
be formed by using an organic material or an inorganic material.
For example, the pixel defining layer 150 are formed of an organic
material, such as photoresist, polyacrylic resin, polyimide resin,
acrylic resin, and the like, or may include an inorganic material,
such as a silicone compound. The pixel defining layer 150 may be
formed by forming a pixel defining layer-forming material layer
(not shown in the drawing) on the substrate 110, whereon the first
electrode 120 and the auxiliary electrode 130 including the
protrusion 140 are formed, and by partially etching the pixel
defining layer-forming material layer.
[0087] Referring to FIG. 11D, the organic layer 160 may be formed
on the substrate 110, on which the first electrode 120, the
auxiliary electrode 130, and the pixel defining layer 150 are
formed. The organic layer 160 on the first electrode 120 may have a
multilayer structure including the hole auxiliary layer 161, the
organic light emitting layer 163, and the electron auxiliary layer
165. As the hole auxiliary layer 161, the hole injection layer
(HIL) and the hole transport layer (HTL) may be formed. As the
electron auxiliary layer 165, the electron transport layer (ETL)
and the electron injection layer (EIL) may be formed.
[0088] According to an embodiment, the organic light emitting layer
163 may include at least one of a red light emitting layer, a green
light emitting layer, and a blue light emitting layer. According to
another embodiment, the organic light emitting layer 163 may
further include a white light emitting layer.
[0089] An organic layer 160 on the auxiliary electrode 130 may
include the hole auxiliary layer 161 and the electron auxiliary
layer 165. In the organic light emitting display device according
to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the organic layer 160
is formed after the auxiliary electrode 130 and the protrusion 140
are formed, and thus damage to the organic layer 160 may be
prevented in the manufacturing process.
[0090] Referring to FIG. 11E, the second electrode 170 may be
formed on the organic layer 160. According to an embodiment of the
present disclosure, the second electrode 170 may be formed only on
an upper part of the organic layer 160, or as illustrated in FIG.
11E, the second electrode 170 may be formed on the upper part of
the organic layer 160 and may extend to an upper part of the pixel
defining layer 150.
[0091] According to an embodiment, a top emission organic light
emitting display device may include an auxiliary electrode
electrically connected to a transmissive electron injection
electrode, so the sheet resistance of the electron injection
electrode may be reduced. Further, since the auxiliary electrode
and the electron injection electrode are electrically and
physically connected to each other without any additional process,
the manufacturing process may be simplified. In addition, as the
organic layer is formed after the auxiliary electrode and a
protrusion are formed, damage to the organic layer may be minimized
during the manufacturing process.
[0092] In contrast, a conventional top emission organic light
emitting display device includes a transmissive electron injection
electrode with a high sheet resistance. However, the increased
sheet resistance may cause non uniform voltage application to the
electron injection electrode. In other words, a difference arises
in the applied voltage between a region of the electron injection
electrode close to a portion applying voltage to the electron
injection electrode and a region of the electron injection
electrode far from a portion applying voltage to the electron
injection electrode.
[0093] From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that various
embodiments of the present disclosure have been described herein
for purposes of illustration, and that various modifications may be
made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present
disclosure. Accordingly, the various embodiments disclosed herein
are not intended to be limiting, with the true scope and spirit
being indicated by the following claims.
* * * * *