U.S. patent application number 16/655025 was filed with the patent office on 2020-02-13 for display apparatus.
The applicant listed for this patent is Samsung Display Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Jonghyun Choi, Kinyeng Kang, Sunkwang Kim, Suyeon Sim, Joosun Yoon.
Application Number | 20200051497 16/655025 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 56801452 |
Filed Date | 2020-02-13 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20200051497 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kang; Kinyeng ; et
al. |
February 13, 2020 |
DISPLAY APPARATUS
Abstract
A display apparatus includes a substrate, a display unit on the
substrate and including a display region including a first display
region having a plurality of first pixel circuits configured to
drive a plurality of first light-emitting devices, and a second
display region having a plurality of second pixel circuits
configured to drive a plurality of second light-emitting devices, a
plurality of scan lines crossing the display region in a first
direction, and a plurality of data lines crossing the display
region in a second direction, wherein resolutions of the first and
second display regions are different, wherein a total number of the
first light-emitting devices driven by one of the first pixel
circuits is different from a total number of the second
light-emitting devices driven by one of the second pixel circuits,
and wherein the display unit and the substrate define at least one
through portion in the second display region.
Inventors: |
Kang; Kinyeng; (Yongin-si,
KR) ; Choi; Jonghyun; (Yongin-si, KR) ; Kim;
Sunkwang; (Yongin-si, KR) ; Sim; Suyeon;
(Yongin-si, KR) ; Yoon; Joosun; (Yongin-si,
KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Samsung Display Co., Ltd. |
Yongin-si |
|
KR |
|
|
Family ID: |
56801452 |
Appl. No.: |
16/655025 |
Filed: |
October 16, 2019 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
16223054 |
Dec 17, 2018 |
10482811 |
|
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16655025 |
|
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|
15210842 |
Jul 14, 2016 |
10186191 |
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16223054 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G09G 2340/0407 20130101;
H01L 27/3276 20130101; H01L 27/326 20130101; G09G 2300/0426
20130101; G09G 2300/0439 20130101; G09G 2310/0232 20130101; H01L
51/5246 20130101; H01L 51/5253 20130101; G09G 2300/0819 20130101;
G09G 3/3233 20130101; G09G 2310/0262 20130101; G09G 3/3225
20130101 |
International
Class: |
G09G 3/3225 20060101
G09G003/3225; G09G 3/3233 20060101 G09G003/3233; H01L 51/52
20060101 H01L051/52; H01L 27/32 20060101 H01L027/32 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 2, 2015 |
KR |
10-2015-0170668 |
Claims
1. A display apparatus comprising: a substrate; a display unit on
the substrate and comprising: a display region comprising: a first
display region having therein a plurality of first pixel circuits,
and a plurality of first light-emitting devices configured to be
driven by the plurality of first pixel circuits; and a second
display region having therein a plurality of second pixel circuits,
and a plurality of second light-emitting devices configured to be
driven by the plurality of second pixel circuits; a plurality of
scan lines crossing the display region in a first direction; and a
plurality of data lines crossing the display region in a second
direction that is different from the first direction, wherein
resolutions of the first and second display regions are different,
wherein a total number of the first light-emitting devices driven
by one of the first pixel circuits is different from a total number
of the second light-emitting devices driven by one of the second
pixel circuits, and wherein the display unit and the substrate
collectively define at least one through portion in the second
display region.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 16/223,054, filed Dec. 17, 2018, which is a
continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/210,842, filed
Jul. 14, 2016, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,186,191, which claims priority
to and the benefit of Korean Patent Application No.
10-2015-0170668, filed Dec. 2, 2015, the entire content of all of
which is incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND
1. Field
[0002] One or more embodiments relate to a display apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
[0003] Applications of conventional display devices have
diversified. Also, due to their relatively small thickness and
light weight, the application range thereof has increased. In
particular, flat panel display devices have been recently
researched and manufactured.
[0004] Because display devices may be formed to be flat, various
methods may be used to design display devices of different shapes,
and the number of functions that may be applied or linked to the
display devices has increased.
SUMMARY
[0005] One or more embodiments include a display apparatus
including at least one through portion in a display region.
[0006] Additional aspects will be set forth in part in the
description that follows and, in part, will be apparent from the
description, or may be learned by practice of the presented
embodiments.
[0007] According to one or more exemplary embodiments, a display
apparatus includes a substrate, a display unit on the substrate and
including a display region including a first display region having
therein a plurality of first pixel circuits, and a plurality of
first light-emitting devices configured to be driven by the
plurality of first pixel circuits, and a second display region
having therein a plurality of second pixel circuits, and a
plurality of second light-emitting devices configured to be driven
by the plurality of second pixel circuits, a plurality of scan
lines crossing the display region in a first direction, and a
plurality of data lines crossing the display region in a second
direction that is different from the first direction, wherein
resolutions of the first and second display regions are different,
wherein a total number of the first light-emitting devices driven
by one of the first pixel circuits is different from a total number
of the second light-emitting devices driven by one of the second
pixel circuits, and wherein the display unit and the substrate
collectively define at least one through portion in the second
display region.
[0008] The total number of the first light-emitting devices driven
by the one of the first pixel circuits may be less than the total
number of the second light-emitting devices driven by the one of
the second pixel circuits.
[0009] A number of the first light-emitting device per unit area
may be equal to a number of the second light-emitting devices per
unit area.
[0010] The plurality of data lines may include a first data line
disconnected at the at least one through portion in the second
display region, and directly connected to the one of the second
pixel circuits, and a second data line continuously extending over
the first display region and the second display region,
electrically connected to the first data line by a first connection
line, and directly connected to the one of the first pixel
circuits.
[0011] The plurality of data lines may further include a third data
line aligned with the first data line, and separated from the first
data line by the at least one through portion, the second data line
and the third data line may be electrically connected to each other
by a second connection line, and a same data signal may be applied
to the first data line and the third data line.
[0012] The second data line may terminate at a boundary between the
first display region and the second display region.
[0013] Each of the second pixel circuits may include a thin film
transistor including an active layer, a gate electrode, a source
electrode, and a drain electrode, and a storage capacitor including
a second electrode, and a first electrode that includes the gate
electrode of the thin film transistor, and the first connection
line and the second connection line may be at a same layer as the
gate electrode, the source electrode, the drain electrode, or the
second electrode.
[0014] Each of the plurality of second light-emitting devices may
include a pixel electrode, and an intermediate layer including an
organic emission layer on the pixel electrode, at least two of the
second light-emitting devices may be simultaneously driven by one
second pixel circuit, and the pixel electrodes of the at least two
second light-emitting devices may be electrically connected to each
other.
[0015] The intermediate layers of the at least two second
light-emitting devices may be configured to emit light having a
same color.
[0016] The first pixel circuit may include a first thin film
transistor, the second pixel circuit may include a second thin film
transistor, and a magnitude of a driving current of the first thin
film transistor may be different from a magnitude of a driving
current of the second thin film transistor.
[0017] The display apparatus may further include a thin film
encapsulation layer that encapsulates the display unit, and that
includes at least one organic layer and at least one inorganic
layer, the display unit may include a non-display region at an edge
of the at least one through portion to surround the at least one
through portion, and the thin film encapsulation layer may extend
to the non-display region.
[0018] The display apparatus may further include a dam unit that
surrounds the at least one through portion at the non-display
region, an end of the organic layer may face or may contact a
lateral surface of the dam unit facing the display region, the
inorganic layer may cover the dam unit, and an end of the inorganic
layer may be closer to the at least one through portion than to the
dam unit.
[0019] The inorganic layer may contact a lateral surface of the
substrate exposed by the at least one through portion.
[0020] According to one or more exemplary embodiments, a display
apparatus includes a substrate, a display unit on the substrate,
the substrate and the display unit collectively defining at least
one through portion, and a thin film encapsulation layer that
encapsulates the display unit, and that includes an organic layer
and an inorganic layer, wherein the display unit includes a display
region including first and second display regions having different
resolutions, a non-display region at an edge of, and surrounding,
the at least one through portion, and a dam unit within the
non-display region and surrounding the at least one through
portion, wherein the organic layer faces or contacts a lateral
surface of the dam unit that faces the display region, and wherein
the inorganic layer covers the dam unit, and contacts a lateral
surface of the substrate exposed by the at least one through
portion.
[0021] The display apparatus may further include a plurality of
first pixel circuits, a plurality of first light-emitting devices
configured to be driven by the plurality of first pixel circuits in
the first display region, a plurality of second pixel circuits, and
a plurality of second light-emitting devices configured to be
driven by the plurality of second pixel circuits in the second
display region, and a number of first light-emitting devices driven
by one of the first pixel circuits may be less than a number of
second light-emitting devices driven by one of the second pixel
circuits.
[0022] The at least one through portion may be in the second
display region.
[0023] The display unit may further include a plurality of scan
lines crossing the display region in a first direction, and a
plurality of data lines crossing the display region in a second
direction that is different from the first direction, the plurality
of data lines may include a first data line in the second display
region and disconnected at the at least one through portion, and a
second data line continuously extending over the first display
region and the second display region, and the first data line and
the second data line may be electrically connected to each other by
a first connection line.
[0024] The first data line may be directly connected only to the
one of the second pixel circuits, and the second data line may be
directly connected only to the one of the first pixel circuits.
[0025] The plurality of data lines may further include a third data
line aligned with the first data line, and separated from the first
data line by the at least one through portion, the second data line
and the third data line may be electrically connected to each other
by a second connection line, and the second data line may terminate
at a boundary between the first display region and the second
display region.
[0026] Each of the plurality of second pixel circuits may include a
thin film transistor including an active layer, a gate electrode, a
source electrode, and a drain electrode, and the first connection
line and the second connection line may be at a same layer as the
active layer, the gate electrode, the source electrode, or the
drain electrode.
[0027] Each of the plurality of second light-emitting devices may
include a pixel electrode, and an intermediate layer including an
organic emission layer on the pixel electrode, at least two of the
plurality of second light-emitting devices may be simultaneously
driven by one second pixel circuit, and the pixel electrodes of the
at least two second light-emitting devices may be electrically
connected to each other.
[0028] The intermediate layers of the at least two second
light-emitting devices may be configured to emit light having a
same color.
[0029] The first pixel circuit may include a first thin film
transistor, the second pixel circuit may include a second thin film
transistor, and a magnitude of a driving current of the first thin
film transistor may be different from a magnitude of a driving
current of the second thin film transistor.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0030] These and/or other aspects will become apparent, and will be
more readily appreciated, from the following description of the
exemplary embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings, in which:
[0031] FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a display apparatus
according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0032] FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of a display unit of the
display apparatus of FIG. 1;
[0033] FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram of an example of an equivalent
circuit of a first pixel included in a first display region of the
display unit of FIG. 2;
[0034] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line I-I of
FIG. 1;
[0035] FIG. 5 is a magnified plan view of an example of the portion
A of FIG. 2;
[0036] FIG. 6 is a magnified plan view of another example of the
portion A of FIG. 2;
[0037] FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram of an example of an equivalent
circuit of a second pixel included in a second display region of
the display unit of FIG. 2;
[0038] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II
of FIG. 1;
[0039] FIG. 9 is a magnified plan view of another example of the
portion A of FIG. 2;
[0040] FIG. 10 is a plan view illustrating an example in which
light-emitting devices are arranged within a display region of the
display apparatus of FIG. 1;
[0041] FIG. 11 is a plan view illustrating another example in which
light-emitting devices are arranged within a display region of the
display apparatus of FIG. 1; and
[0042] FIG. 12 is a schematic plan view of a display apparatus,
which is a modification of the display apparatus of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0043] Features of the inventive concept and methods of
accomplishing the same may be understood more readily by reference
to the following detailed description of embodiments and the
accompanying drawings. Hereinafter, example embodiments will be
described in more detail with reference to the accompanying
drawings, in which like reference numbers refer to like elements
throughout. The present invention, however, may be embodied in
various different forms, and should not be construed as being
limited to only the illustrated embodiments herein. Rather, these
embodiments are provided as examples so that this disclosure will
be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the aspects and
features of the present invention to those skilled in the art.
Accordingly, processes, elements, and techniques that are not
necessary to those having ordinary skill in the art for a complete
understanding of the aspects and features of the present invention
may not be described. Unless otherwise noted, like reference
numerals denote like elements throughout the attached drawings and
the written description, and thus, descriptions thereof will not be
repeated. In the drawings, the relative sizes of elements, layers,
and regions may be exaggerated for clarity.
[0044] It will be understood that, although the terms "first,"
"second," "third," etc., may be used herein to describe various
elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these
elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be
limited by these terms. These terms are used to distinguish one
element, component, region, layer or section from another element,
component, region, layer or section. Thus, a first element,
component, region, layer or section described below could be termed
a second element, component, region, layer or section, without
departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
[0045] Spatially relative terms, such as "beneath," "below,"
"lower," "under," "above," "upper," and the like, may be used
herein for ease of explanation to describe one element or feature's
relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in
the figures. It will be understood that the spatially relative
terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the
device in use or in operation, in addition to the orientation
depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures
is turned over, elements described as "below" or "beneath" or
"under" other elements or features would then be oriented "above"
the other elements or features. Thus, the example terms "below" and
"under" can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The
device may be otherwise oriented (e.g., rotated 90 degrees or at
other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used
herein should be interpreted accordingly.
[0046] It will be understood that when an element, layer, region,
or component is referred to as being "on," "connected to," or
"coupled to" another element, layer, region, or component, it can
be directly on, connected to, or coupled to the other element,
layer, region, or component, or one or more intervening elements,
layers, regions, or components may be present. In addition, it will
also be understood that when an element or layer is referred to as
being "between" two elements or layers, it can be the only element
or layer between the two elements or layers, or one or more
intervening elements or layers may also be present.
[0047] In the following examples, the x-axis, the y-axis and the
z-axis are not limited to three axes of a rectangular coordinate
system, and may be interpreted in a broader sense. For example, the
x-axis, the y-axis, and the z-axis may be perpendicular to one
another, or may represent different directions that are not
perpendicular to one another.
[0048] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing
particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of
the present invention. As used herein, the singular forms "a,"
"an," and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well,
unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further
understood that the terms "comprises," "comprising," "includes,"
and "including," when used in this specification, specify the
presence of the stated features, integers, steps, operations,
elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or
addition of one or more other features, integers, steps,
operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. As used
herein, the term "and/or" includes any and all combinations of one
or more of the associated listed items. Expressions such as "at
least one of," when preceding a list of elements, modify the entire
list of elements and do not modify the individual elements of the
list.
[0049] As used herein, the term "substantially," "about," and
similar terms are used as terms of approximation and not as terms
of degree, and are intended to account for the inherent deviations
in measured or calculated values that would be recognized by those
of ordinary skill in the art. Further, the use of "may" when
describing embodiments of the present invention refers to "one or
more embodiments of the present invention." As used herein, the
terms "use," "using," and "used" may be considered synonymous with
the terms "utilize," "utilizing," and "utilized," respectively.
Also, the term "exemplary" is intended to refer to an example or
illustration.
[0050] When a certain embodiment may be implemented differently, a
specific process order may be performed differently from the
described order. For example, two consecutively described processes
may be performed substantially at the same time or performed in an
order opposite to the described order.
[0051] The electronic or electric devices and/or any other relevant
devices or components according to embodiments of the present
invention described herein may be implemented utilizing any
suitable hardware, firmware (e.g. an application-specific
integrated circuit), software, or a combination of software,
firmware, and hardware. For example, the various components of
these devices may be formed on one integrated circuit (IC) chip or
on separate IC chips. Further, the various components of these
devices may be implemented on a flexible printed circuit film, a
tape carrier package (TCP), a printed circuit board (PCB), or
formed on one substrate. Further, the various components of these
devices may be a process or thread, running on one or more
processors, in one or more computing devices, executing computer
program instructions and interacting with other system components
for performing the various functionalities described herein. The
computer program instructions are stored in a memory which may be
implemented in a computing device using a standard memory device,
such as, for example, a random access memory (RAM). The computer
program instructions may also be stored in other non-transitory
computer readable media such as, for example, a CD-ROM, flash
drive, or the like. Also, a person of skill in the art should
recognize that the functionality of various computing devices may
be combined or integrated into a single computing device, or the
functionality of a particular computing device may be distributed
across one or more other computing devices without departing from
the spirit and scope of the exemplary embodiments of the present
invention.
[0052] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and
scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly
understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the present
invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such
as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be
interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their
meaning in the context of the relevant art and/or the present
specification, and should not be interpreted in an idealized or
overly formal sense, unless expressly so defined herein.
[0053] FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a display apparatus 1
according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is
a schematic plan view of a display unit 200 of the display
apparatus 1 of FIG. 1.
[0054] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the display apparatus 1 may
include a substrate 100, the display unit 200 on the substrate 100,
and at least one through portion H penetrating through the display
unit 200 and the substrate 100.
[0055] The display unit 200 may include a display region DA where
an image is realized, a plurality of scan lines SL that cross the
display region DA in a first direction, and a plurality of data
lines DL that cross the display region DA in a second direction
that is different from the first direction. For example, the first
direction and the second direction may be perpendicular to each
other. A plurality of pixels Px1 and Px2 may be respectively
positioned at crossing regions CA of the plurality of data lines DL
and the plurality of scan lines SL.
[0056] For example, the plurality of scan lines SL may transmit
scan signals, which are received from a first scan driving unit 20
and from a second scan driving unit 30, to the plurality of pixels
Px1 and Px2. For example, some of the plurality of scan lines SL
may receive a scan signal from the first scan driving unit 20, and
the remaining ones of the plurality of scan lines SL may receive a
scan signal from the second scan driving unit 30. The first scan
driving unit 20 and the second scan driving unit 30 may be
synchronized with each other by a synchronized clock signal.
[0057] The plurality of data lines DL may receive a data signal
from a data driving unit 10, and may transmit the data signal to
the plurality of pixels Px1 and Px2.
[0058] A controller 40 may change an externally-received image
signal to an image data signal, and may transmit the image data
signal to the data driving unit 10. The controller 40 may receive a
synchronization signal and a clock signal to generate control
signals for controlling the first scan driving unit 20, the second
scan driving unit 30, and the data driving unit 10, and may
respectively transmit the control signals to the first scan driving
unit 20, the second scan driving unit 30, and the data driving unit
10.
[0059] The display region DA may include a first display region DA1
and a second display region DA2 having different resolutions. The
first pixels Px1 may be positioned in the first display region DA1.
The second pixels Px2 may be positioned in the second display
region DA2. For example, the resolution of the first display region
DA1 may be higher than that of the second display region DA2. In
other words, in separate identically sized areas of the first and
second display regions DA1 and DA2, the number of first pixels Px1
may be higher than that of second pixels Px2.
[0060] The at least one through portion H may be positioned within
the second display region DA2. A camera, a sensor, and the like may
be mounted in the at least one through portion H. The at least one
through portion H may be a space for an extra member for a function
of the display apparatus 1, or for an extra member capable of
adding a new function to the display apparatus 1. The second
display region DA2 and the at least one through portion H are not
limited to the example shown in FIG. 1. In other words, the second
display region DA2 may be at any of various places, such as a
center portion or a lower portion of the display region DA, and the
second display region DA2 may also be set to have various sizes.
The at least one through portion H need not be circular, and may
instead have various shapes, such as a triangular or polygonal
shape. Further, the shape, size, and location of the at least one
through portion H may vary. For example, the at least one through
portion H may be adjacent the first display region DA. For example,
the second display region DA2 may partially surround the through
portion H. Thus, in plan view, the through portion H may extend up
to the edge of the substrate 100.
[0061] Because some of the plurality of data lines DL and the
plurality of scan lines SL overlap the at least one through portion
H, a disconnection in the data lines DL and the scan lines SL
occurs due to the at least one through portion H. Because the
plurality of scan lines SL receive the scan signals from both of
the first scan driving unit 20 and the second scan driving unit 30,
which are located on opposite sides of the display unit 200, the
plurality of scan lines SL are not affected by the disconnection
due to the at least one through portion H. However, when a data
line DL is disconnected due to the at least one through portion H,
a data signal is not transmitted to the second pixels Px2 located
on the side of the at least one through portion H that is opposite
the data driving unit 10, and thus the quality of the second
display region DA2 may degrade.
[0062] To address this problem, a data line DL that overlaps the
through portion H may have a curved shape to avoid the through
portion H. However, when the data line DL has the curved shape and
is located along an exterior circumference of the through portion
H, an additional space may be used to dispose the data line DL
having the curved shape around the through portion H. Thus, the
area of a non-display region NDA' around the through portion H may
increase (e.g., see FIG. 8).
[0063] However, according to the present embodiment, because some
of the plurality of data lines DL are not directly connected to the
second pixels Px2 in the second display region DA2, a data line DL
disconnected due to the through portion H may be connected to
another data line DL that is not directly connected to the second
pixels Px2 by a first connection line CL1 (e.g., see FIG. 5), and
may receive a data signal.
[0064] Accordingly, because a pre-existing data line DL is used as
a passage for avoiding the through portion H, the area of the
non-display region NDA' around the through portion H (e.g., see
FIG. 8) may be reduced or minimized, and manufacturing efficiency
of the display apparatus 1 may improve. This will be described
later in more detail with reference to FIG. 5.
[0065] FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram of an example of an equivalent
circuit of a first pixel Px1 included in the first display region
DA1 of the display unit 200 of FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 is a
cross-sectional view taken along the line I-I of FIG. 1.
[0066] Referring to FIG. 3, the first pixel Px1 may include a first
pixel circuit C1 and a first light-emitting device OLED1. The first
light-emitting device OLED1 may emit red light, green light, blue
light, or white light.
[0067] For example, the first pixel circuit C1 may include a
plurality of thin film transistors T1-T7 and at least one storage
capacitor Cst. The first pixel circuit C1 may be electrically
connected to the first light-emitting device OLED1. The first
light-emitting device OLED1 may receive a driving current via the
first pixel circuit C1, and may emit light.
[0068] The plurality of thin film transistors T1-T7 may include a
driving thin film transistor T1, a switching thin film transistor
T2, a compensating thin film transistor T3, a first initializing
thin film transistor T4, a first light-emission control thin film
transistor T5, a second light-emission control thin film transistor
T6, and a second initializing thin film transistor T7.
[0069] The first pixel circuit C1 may include a first scan line 14
for transmitting a first scan signal Sn to the switching thin film
transistor T2 and to the compensating thin film transistor T3. The
first pixel circuit C1 may also include a second scan line 24 for
transmitting a second scan signal Sn-1 to the first initializing
thin film transistor T4, a third scan line 34 for transmitting a
third scan signal Sn+1 to the second initializing thin film
transistor T7, a light-emission control line 15 for transmitting a
light-emission control signal En to the first light-emission
control thin film transistor T5 and to the second light-emission
control thin film transistor T6, a data line 16 for transmitting a
data signal Dm, a driving voltage line 26 for transmitting a first
power supply voltage ELVDD, and an initializing voltage line 22 for
transmitting an initializing voltage VINT for initializing the
driving thin film transistor T1.
[0070] A drain electrode of the driving thin film transistor T1 may
be electrically connected to the first light-emitting device OLED1
via the second light-emission control thin film transistor T6. The
driving thin film transistor T1 may receive the data signal Dm
according to a switching operation of the switching thin film
transistor T2, and may supply the driving current to the first
light-emitting device OLED1.
[0071] A gate electrode of the switching thin film transistor T2
may be connected to the first scan line 14. A source electrode of
the switching thin film transistor T2 may be connected to the data
line 16. A drain electrode of the switching thin film transistor T2
may be connected to a source electrode of the driving thin film
transistor T1, and may also be connected to the driving voltage
line 26 via the first light-emission control thin film transistor
T5.
[0072] The switching thin film transistor T2 is configured to be
turned on according to the first scan signal Sn received via the
first scan line 14, and is configured to perform a switching
operation for transmitting the data signal Dm received from the
data line 16 to the source electrode of the driving thin film
transistor T1.
[0073] A gate electrode of the compensating thin film transistor T3
may be connected to the first scan line 14. A source electrode of
the compensating thin film transistor T3 may be connected to the
drain electrode of the driving thin film transistor T1, and may
also be connected to a pixel electrode 221 (see FIG. 4) of the
first light-emitting device OLED1 via the second light-emission
control thin film transistor T6. A drain electrode of the
compensating thin film transistor T3 is connected to a first
electrode CE1 (see FIG. 4) of the storage capacitor Cst, a source
electrode of the first initializing thin film transistor T4, and
the gate electrode of the driving thin film transistor T1. The
compensating thin film transistor T3 is configured to be turned on
in response to the first scan signal Sn received via the first scan
line 14, and is configured to connect the gate electrode of the
driving thin film transistor T1 to the drain electrode of the
driving thin film transistor T1, such that the driving thin film
transistor T1 is diode-connected.
[0074] A gate electrode of the first initializing thin film
transistor T4 may be connected to the second scan line 24. A drain
electrode of the first initializing thin film transistor T4 may be
connected to the initializing voltage line 22. The source electrode
of the first initializing thin film transistor T4 may be connected
to the first electrode CE1 (see FIG. 4) of the storage capacitor
Cst, to the drain electrode of the compensating thin film
transistor T3, and to the gate electrode of the driving thin film
transistor T1. The first initializing thin film transistor T4 may
be turned on according to the second scan signal Sn-1 received via
the second scan line 24, and may transmit the initializing voltage
VINT to the gate electrode of the driving thin film transistor T1
to thereby perform an initialization operation by initializing a
voltage of the gate electrode of the driving thin film transistor
T1.
[0075] A gate electrode of the first light-emission control thin
film transistor T5 may be connected to the light-emission control
line 15. A source electrode of the first light-emission control
thin film transistor T5 may be connected to the driving voltage
line 26. A drain electrode of the first light-emission control thin
film transistor T5 is connected to the source electrode of the
driving thin film transistor T1, and to the drain electrode of the
switching thin film transistor T2.
[0076] A gate electrode of the second light-emission control thin
film transistor T6 may be connected to the light-emission control
line 15. A source electrode of the second light-emission control
thin film transistor T6 may be connected to the drain electrode of
the driving thin film transistor T1 and to the source electrode of
the compensating thin film transistor T3. A drain electrode of the
second light-emission control thin film transistor T6 may be
electrically connected to the pixel electrode 221 (see FIG. 4) of
the first light-emitting device OLED1. The first light-emission
control thin film transistor T5 and the second light-emission
control thin film transistor T6 are configured to be simultaneously
turned on according to the light-emission control signal En
received via the light-emission control line 15, and thus the first
power supply voltage ELVDD is able to be transmitted to the first
light-emitting device OLED1 when the driving current flows in the
first light-emitting device OLED1.
[0077] A gate electrode of the second initializing thin film
transistor T7 may be connected to the third scan line 34. A source
electrode of the second initializing thin film transistor T7 may be
connected to the pixel electrode 221 (see FIG. 4) of the first
light-emitting device OLED1. A drain electrode of the second
initializing thin film transistor T7 may be connected to the
initializing voltage line 22. The second initializing thin film
transistor T7 may be turned on according to the third scan signal
Sn+1 received via the third scan line 34, and may initialize the
pixel electrode 221 of the first light-emitting device OLED1.
[0078] A second electrode CE2 (see FIG. 4) of the storage capacitor
Cst may be connected to the driving voltage line 26. The first
electrode CE1 (see FIG. 4) of the storage capacitor Cst may be
connected to the gate electrode of the driving thin film transistor
T1, to the drain electrode of the compensating thin film transistor
T3, and to the source electrode of the first initializing thin film
transistor T4.
[0079] An opposite electrode 223 (see FIG. 4) of the first
light-emitting device OLED1 may be connected to a second power
supply voltage ELVSS. The first light-emitting device OLED1 may
receive a driving current from the driving thin film transistor T1,
and may emit light.
[0080] FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a circuit that drives the
first pixel Px1, and the first light-emitting device OLED1 may be
operated by various other circuit structures.
[0081] Because FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view schematically
illustrating a cross-section of the first pixel Px1, FIG. 4
illustrates a first pixel circuit C1 including the driving thin
film transistor T1, the switching thin film transistor T2, and the
storage capacitor Cst, for convenience of explanation.
[0082] Referring to FIG. 4, the substrate 100 may include various
materials. For example, the substrate 100 may be formed of a glass
material containing SiO.sub.2 as a main component. However, the
material used to form the substrate 100 is not limited thereto, and
the substrate 100 may be formed of a plastic material. The plastic
material may be polyethersulphone (PES), polyacrylate (PAR),
polyetherimide (PEI), polyethyelenen napthalate (PEN),
polyethyeleneterepthalate (PET), polyphenylene sulfide (PPS),
polyallylate, polyimide, polycarbonate (PC), cellulose triacetate
(TAC), cellulose acetate propionate (CAP), cyclic olefin polymer,
cyclic olefin copolymer, or the like.
[0083] A buffer layer 201 is formed on the substrate 100. The
buffer layer 201 may reduce or prevent infiltration of a foreign
material, moisture, or ambient air from below the substrate 100,
and may provide a flat surface on the substrate 100. The buffer
layer 201 may include an inorganic material (such as oxide or
nitride), an organic material, or an organic and inorganic
compound, and may be formed as a single layer or as multiple layers
of inorganic and organic material.
[0084] A first thin film transistor T1 may be a driving thin film
transistor, and may include an active layer A1, a gate electrode
G1, a source electrode S1, and a drain electrode D1. A second thin
film transistor T2 may be a switching thin film transistor, and may
include an active layer A2, a gate electrode G2, a source electrode
S2, and a drain electrode D2.
[0085] Although FIG. 4 illustrates an example in which the first
thin film transistor T1 and the second thin film transistor T2 are
top gate type thin film transistors, in which the gate electrodes
G1 and G2 thereof are respectively on the active layers A1 and A2
with a gate insulating layer 203 interposed therebetween,
embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto, and
the first thin film transistor T1 and the second thin film
transistor T2 may be bottom gate type thin film transistors.
[0086] The active layers A1 and A2 of the first thin film
transistor T1 and the second thin film transistor T2 may include
amorphous silicon or polycrystalline silicon. According to another
embodiment, the active layers A1 and A2 may include oxide of at
least one selected from the group consisting of indium (In),
gallium (Ga), stannum (Sn), zirconium (Zr), vanadium (V), hafnium
(Hf), cadmium (Cd), germanium (Ge), chromium (Cr), titanium (Ti),
and zinc (Zn). The active layers A1 and A2 may include a channel
region, and may also include a source region and a drain region
doped with impurities.
[0087] The gate insulating layer 203 may be on the active layers A1
and A2. The gate insulating layer 203 may include an inorganic
material including oxide or nitride. For example, the gate
insulating layer 203 may include silicon oxide (SiO.sub.2), silicon
nitride (SiNx), silicon oxynitride (SiON), aluminum oxide
(Al.sub.2O.sub.3), titanium oxide (TiO.sub.2), tantalum oxide
(Ta.sub.2O.sub.5), hafnium oxide (HfO.sub.2), zinc oxide
(ZnO.sub.2), or the like.
[0088] The gate electrodes G1 and G2 respectively of the first thin
film transistor T1 and the second thin film transistor T2 may be
positioned on the gate insulating layer 203. The gate electrodes G1
and G2 may include a low resistance metal material. For example,
the gate electrodes G1 and G2 may include molybdenum (Mo), aluminum
(Al), copper (Cu), and titanium (Ti), and may be formed as a single
layer or as a multi-layer.
[0089] The gate electrode G1 of the first thin film transistor T1
may also form the first electrode CE1 of the storage capacitor
Cst.
[0090] A first interlayer insulating layer 205 on the gate
electrodes G1 and G2 may include an inorganic material including
oxide or nitride. For example, the first interlayer insulating
layer 205 may include silicon oxide (SiO.sub.2), silicon nitride
(SiNx), silicon oxynitride (SiON), aluminum oxide
(Al.sub.2O.sub.3), titanium oxide (TiO.sub.2), tantalum oxide
(Ta.sub.2O.sub.5), hafnium oxide (HfO.sub.2), zinc oxide
(ZnO.sub.2), or the like.
[0091] The second electrode CE2 of the storage capacitor Cst is
positioned on the first interlayer insulating layer 205 to overlap
the first electrode CE1. Because the first electrode CE1 is the
gate electrode G1 of the first thin film transistor T1, the storage
capacitor Cst may be positioned to overlap the first thin film
transistor T1.
[0092] The second electrode CE2 may include a conductive material
including molybdenum (Mo), aluminum (Al), copper (Cu), and titanium
(Ti), and may be formed as a multi-layer or as a single layer
including the aforementioned materials.
[0093] A second interlayer insulating layer 207 is positioned on
the second electrode CE2, and the source electrodes S1 and S2 and
the drain electrodes D1 and D2 respectively of the first thin film
transistor T1 and the second thin film transistor T2 are positioned
on the second interlayer insulating layer 207.
[0094] For example, the second interlayer insulating layer 207 may
include silicon oxide (SiO.sub.x), silicon nitride (SiNx), silicon
oxynitride (SiON), aluminum oxide (Al.sub.2O.sub.3), titanium oxide
(TiO.sub.2), tantalum oxide (Ta.sub.2O.sub.5), hafnium oxide
(HfO.sub.2), zinc oxide (ZnO.sub.2), or the like.
[0095] The source electrodes S1 and S2 and the drain electrodes D1
and D2 of the first thin film transistor T1 and the second thin
film transistor T2 may include a highly-conductive material. For
example, each of the source electrodes S1 and S2 and the drain
electrodes D1 and D2 may include a conductive material including
molybdenum (Mo), aluminum (Al), copper (Cu), and titanium (Ti), and
may be formed as a multi-layer or as a single layer including the
aforementioned materials. For example, each of the source
electrodes S1 and S2 and the drain electrodes D1 and D2 may be
formed as a multi-layer of Ti/Al/Ti. A data line DL may be formed
on the same layer as a layer on which the source electrodes S1 and
S2 and the drain electrodes D1 and D2 are formed.
[0096] The source electrodes S1 and S2 and the drain electrodes D1
and D2 may respectively contact source regions and drain regions of
the active layers A1 and A2 via contact holes.
[0097] A planarization layer 208 may be positioned on the source
electrodes S1 and S2 and the drain electrodes D1 and D2, and the
first light-emitting device OLED1 may be positioned on the
planarization layer 208.
[0098] The planarization layer 208 may be a single layer including
an organic material layer or including a multi-layer formed by
stacking single layers including an organic material. The organic
material may include a commercial polymer, such as polymethyl
methacrylate (PMMA) or polystyrene (PS), a polymer derivative
having a phenol-based group, an acryl-based polymer, an imide-based
polymer, an acryl ether-based polymer, an amide-based polymer, a
fluorine-based polymer, a p-xylene-based polymer, a vinyl
alcohol-based polymer, a blend thereof, or the like. The
planarization layer 208 may be a stack of an inorganic insulation
layer and an organic insulation layer.
[0099] The first light-emitting device OLED1 may include the pixel
electrode 221, the opposite electrode 223, and an intermediate
layer 222 between the pixel electrode 221 and the opposite
electrode 223.
[0100] The pixel electrode 221 may be electrically connected to the
drain electrode D1 of the first thin film transistor T1 via the
second light-emission control thin film transistor T6 of FIG. 3.
The pixel electrode 221 may have various shapes. For example, the
pixel electrode 221 may be patterned to have an island shape.
[0101] For example, the pixel electrode 221 may be a reflection
electrode. For example, the pixel electrode 221 may include a
reflection layer formed of silver (Ag), magnesium (Mg), aluminum
(Al), platinum (Pt), palladium (Pd), gold (Au), nickel (Ni),
neodymium (Nd), iridium (Ir), chromium (Cr), or a compound thereof,
and may include a transparent or semi-transparent electrode layer
on the reflection layer. The transparent or semi-transparent
electrode layer may include at least one selected from the group
consisting of indium tin oxide (ITO), indium zinc oxide (IZO), zinc
oxide (ZnO), indium oxide (In.sub.2O.sub.3), indium gallium oxide
(IGO), and/or aluminum zinc oxide (AZO).
[0102] A pixel defining layer 212 is formed of an insulating
material partially located on the pixel electrode 221. The pixel
defining layer 212 may include at least one organic insulating
material selected from the group consisting of polyimide, polyamide
(PA), acryl resin, benzocyclobutene (BCB) and a phenolic resin, by
using a method such as spin coating. The pixel defining layer 212
exposes an area of the pixel electrode 221. The intermediate layer
222 including an organic emission layer is positioned on the
exposed area of the pixel electrode 221.
[0103] The organic emission layer included in the intermediate
layer 222 may include a low molecular organic material or of a high
molecular organic material, and the intermediate layer 222 may
further include one or more functional layers, such as a hole
transport layer (HTL), an hole injection layer (HIL), an electron
transport layer (ETL), and/or an electron injection layer (EIL), in
addition to the organic emission layer.
[0104] The opposite electrode 223 may be a transparent or
semi-transparent electrode, and may include a metal thin film
having a small work function, including Li, Ca, LiF/Ca, LiF/Al, Al,
Ag, Mg, or a combination thereof. An auxiliary electrode layer or a
bus electrode may include a transparent electrode forming material,
such as ITO, IZO, ZnO, or In.sub.2O.sub.3, on the metal thin film.
Accordingly, the opposite electrode 223 may transmit light emitted
by the organic emission layer included in the intermediate layer
222. In other words, the light emitted by the organic emission
layer may travel directly toward the opposite electrode 223, or may
be reflected by the pixel electrode 221 and then travel toward the
opposite electrode 223.
[0105] A thin film encapsulation layer 300 is on the opposite
electrode 223. The thin film encapsulation layer 300 may entirely
cover the display unit 200 to prevent external oxygen and moisture
from permeating the display unit 200.
[0106] The thin film encapsulation layer 300 may include at least
one organic layer (e.g., an organic layer 320), and may include at
least one inorganic layer (e.g., inorganic layers 310 and 330). The
organic layer 320 and the inorganic layers 310 and 330 may be
alternately stacked one on another. Although the thin film
encapsulation layer 300 includes the two inorganic layers 310 and
330 and the single organic layer 320 in FIG. 4, embodiments of the
present invention are not limited thereto. In other words, the thin
film encapsulation layer 300 may further include a plurality of
additional inorganic layers and a plurality of additional organic
layers that are alternately stacked one on another, and the number
of inorganic layers stacked and the number of organic layers
stacked are not limited.
[0107] The inorganic layers 310 and 330 may include at least one
selected from silicon nitride, aluminum nitride, zirconium nitride,
titanium nitride, hafnium nitride, tantalum nitride, silicon oxide,
aluminum oxide, titanium oxide, tin oxide, cerium oxide, and/or
silicon oxynitride (SiON).
[0108] The organic layer 320 may planarize steps caused by the
pixel defining layer 212, and may reduce stresses generated on the
inorganic layers 310 and 330. The organic layer 320 may include
PMMA, PC, PS, acryl-based resin, epoxy-based resin, polyimide,
and/or polyethylene.
[0109] The inorganic layers 310 and 330 may have larger areas than
the organic layer 320. Thus, the inorganic layers 320 and 330 may
contact each other at an edge of the organic layer 320, and
accordingly, permeation of external oxygen or moisture may be
effectively prevented.
[0110] The display apparatus 1 may further include a dam unit D
surrounding the display region DA, and located in a non-display
region NDA around the display region DA.
[0111] During formation of the organic layer 320 of the thin film
encapsulation layer 300, the dam unit D may block an organic
material used to form the organic layer 320 from flowing toward an
edge of the substrate 100, thereby preventing formation of an edge
tale of the organic layer 320. The dam unit D may surround the
display region DA.
[0112] The dam unit D may include the same material used to form at
least one of the planarization layer 208 and the pixel defining
layer 212. For example, the dam unit D may include a first layer
including the material used to form the planarization layer 208,
and may include a second layer including the material used to form
the pixel defining layer 212. However, embodiments of the present
invention are not limited thereto, and the dam unit D may include a
single layer. A plurality of dam units D may be included. When a
plurality of dam units D is included, each of the dam units D has a
height increasing in a direction toward the edge of the substrate
100.
[0113] FIG. 5 is a magnified plan view of an example of the portion
A of FIG. 2, FIG. 6 is a magnified plan view of another example of
the portion A of FIG. 2, FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram of an example
of an equivalent circuit of a second pixel Px2 included in the
second display region DA2 of the display unit 200 of FIG. 2, and
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II of FIG.
1.
[0114] Referring to FIGS. 2-5, the display region DA may include
the first display region DA1 and the second display region DA2
having different resolutions.
[0115] The first display region DA1 may be defined as a region
where the first pixels Px1 are consecutively arranged in a first
direction that is parallel to the plurality of scan lines SL, and
in a second direction that is parallel to the plurality of data
lines DL, and are arranged among the crossing regions CA between
the plurality of data lines DL and the plurality of scan lines SL.
The second display region DA2 may be defined as the remaining
region.
[0116] As described above, because each of the first pixels Px1
includes the first pixel circuit C1 of FIG. 3 and the first
light-emitting device OLED1 of FIG. 3, the first display region DA1
may be defined as a region where the first pixel circuits C1 of
FIG. 3 are consecutively arranged in the first direction and in the
second direction among the crossing regions CA between the
plurality of data lines DL and the plurality of scan lines SL.
[0117] For example, as shown in FIG. 2, when the second display
region DA2 covers entirely one side (e.g., an upper side) of the
display region DA in a direction parallel to the scan lines SL, the
first display region DA1 and the second display region DA2 may be
defined by a first scan line SL1, which is connected to all of the
first pixel circuits C1 of FIG. 3 at the crossing regions CA
between the first scan line SL1 and the plurality of data lines DL,
and which is closest to the at least one through portion H. In
other words, the crossing regions CA between the first scan line
SL1 and the plurality of data lines DL may be, or may be at, an
edge of the first display region DA1, and accordingly the first
display region DA1 and the second display region DA2 may be divided
by the first scan line SL1.
[0118] However, embodiments of the present invention are not
limited thereto, and the first display region DA1 and the second
display region DA2 may be divided in various forms. As another
example, as shown in FIG. 6, crossing regions CA in which the first
pixels Px1 are consecutively arranged in the first direction may
also extend in the second direction around the through portion H.
Accordingly, a boundary between the first display region DA1 and
the second display region DA2 may have a step shape in a plan view,
and the first display region DA1 may have a shape that surrounds a
portion of the through portion H.
[0119] The resolution of the second display region DA2 may be lower
than that of the first display region DA1. The second display
region DA2 includes a plurality of second pixels Px2, and each of
the plurality of second pixels Px2 may include one second pixel
circuit C2 (see FIG. 7), and may include a plurality of second
light-emitting devices OLED2. Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, more
second pixels Px2 may be arranged between the first scan line SL1
and the through portion H.
[0120] In the second display region DA2, some of the plurality of
data lines DL are not directly connected to the second pixels Px2.
Thus, no second pixel circuits C2 of FIG. 7 are in some of the
crossing regions CA between the plurality of data lines DL and the
plurality of scan lines SL. Accordingly, the number of second pixel
circuits C2 of FIG. 7 per unit area is smaller than the number of
first pixel circuits C1 of FIG. 3 per unit area.
[0121] However, the first light-emitting devices OLED1 of FIG. 4
included in the first display region DA1 and in the second
light-emitting devices OLED2 included in the second display region
DA2 may be formed equally. In other words, the number of first
light-emitting devices OLED1 of FIG. 3 per unit area may be equal
to that of second light-emitting devices OLED2, and thus the number
of first light-emitting devices OLED1 of FIG. 3 driven by one first
pixel circuit C1 of FIG. 3 may be different from that of second
light-emitting devices OLED2 driven by one second pixel circuit C2
of FIG. 7.
[0122] For example, FIG. 5 illustrates an example in which one
second pixel Px2 includes two second light-emitting devices OLED2.
However, a first pixel Px1 includes one first light-emitting device
OLED1 of FIG. 3. Thus, the number of first light-emitting devices
OLED1 of FIG. 3 driven by one first pixel circuit C1 of FIG. 3 is
less than that of second light-emitting devices OLED2 driven by one
second pixel circuit C2 of FIG. 7, and consequently, within
identically sized areas, the number of second pixels Px2 is less
than that of first pixels Px1. Thus, resolution of the second
display region DA2 may be lower than that of the first display
region DA1. In the second display region DA2, one scan signal may
be used for two scan lines SL.
[0123] Two or more second light-emitting devices OLED2 connected to
one second pixel circuit C2 of FIG. 7 may be simultaneously driven.
This will be described later in more detail with reference to FIGS.
7 and 8.
[0124] Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the plurality of data lines DL
may include a first data line DL1 disconnected by at least one
through portion H, and positioned within the second display region
DA2, and may also include a second data line DL2 continuously
extending over the first display region DA1 and the second display
region DA2. Although FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate one first data line
DL1 and one second data line DL2 for convenience of explanation, it
should be understood that a plurality of first data lines DL1
and/or a plurality of second data lines DL2 may be included.
[0125] The first data line DL1 is connected to a second pixel Px2.
On the other hand, the second data line DL2 may be connected to
first pixels Px1 within the first display region DA1, and might not
be connected to any second pixel Px2 within the second display
region DA2.
[0126] Within the second display region DA2, the first data line
DL1 may be electrically connected to the second data line DL2 by a
first connection line CL1. Accordingly, the data signal applied to
the second data line DL2 may be equally applied to the first data
line DL1, and the second pixel Px2 connected to the first data line
DL1 may be normally driven.
[0127] The first connection line CL1 may be on the same layer as
the gate electrodes G1 and G2 of FIG. 4, the same layer as the
source and drain electrodes S1, S2, D1, and D2 of FIG. 4, or the
same layer as the second electrode CE2 of the storage capacitor
Cst. Accordingly, because an additional process for forming the
first connection line CL1 is not necessary, and because the
pre-existing second data line DL2 is used as a passage for avoiding
the through portion H, the area of the non-display region NDA' of
FIG. 8 around the through portion H may be reduced or minimized,
and manufacturing efficiency of the display apparatus 1 may
improve.
[0128] The first connection line CL1 may cross over the display
region DA, or may have a length necessary for connecting the first
data line DL1 to the second data line DL2. The second data line DL2
may also elongate in the second direction, or may have only
sufficient length for connection with the first connection line
CL1.
[0129] FIG. 7 illustrates an equivalent circuit of a second pixel
Px2 of FIG. 5, and FIG. 8 illustrates a schematic cross-section of
the second pixel Px2 of FIG. 5. Although FIGS. 5, 7, and 8
illustrate, for convenience of explanation, an example in which one
second pixel Px2 includes two second light-emitting devices OLED2,
embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto, and
one second pixel Px2 may include three or more second
light-emitting devices OLED2 that may be simultaneously driven.
[0130] The second pixel circuit C2 may be the same as the first
pixel circuit C1 of FIG. 3. In other words, the second pixel
circuit C2 may include a driving thin film transistor T1', a
switching thin film transistor T2', a compensating thin film
transistor T3', a first initializing thin film transistor T4', a
first light-emission control thin film transistor T5', a second
light-emission control thin film transistor T6', a second
initializing thin film transistor T7', and at least one storage
capacitor Cst'.
[0131] The driving thin film transistor T1' may be electrically
connected to the second light-emitting devices OLED2 via the second
light-emission control thin film transistor T6' to supply a driving
current. Pixel electrodes 221' (see FIG. 8) of the second
light-emitting devices OLED2 may be connected to each other.
[0132] The magnitude of the driving current flowing in the second
pixel circuit C2 may be different from that of the driving current
flowing in the first pixel circuit C1 of FIG. 3. In other words,
because the second pixel circuit C2 needs to simultaneously drive
two or more second light-emitting devices OLED2, a driving current
that is greater than the driving current flowing in the first pixel
circuit C1 of FIG. 3 may flow in the second pixel circuit C2.
[0133] To this end, for example, channels of the plurality of thin
film transistors T1'-T7' included in the second pixel circuit C2
may be wider than those of the plurality of thin film transistor
T1-T7 included in the first pixel circuit C1 of FIG. 3.
Alternatively, the channels of the plurality of thin film
transistors T1'-T7' included in the second pixel circuit C2 may be
shorter than those of the plurality of thin film transistor T1-T7
included in the first pixel circuit C1 of FIG. 3. Alternatively,
the channels of the plurality of thin film transistors T1'-T7'
included in the second pixel circuit C2 may include a material
having a greater charge mobility than a material used to form the
channels of the plurality of thin film transistor T1-T7 included in
the first pixel circuit C1 of FIG. 3. Alternatively, the gate
insulating layer 203 of FIG. 4 positioned on the channels of the
plurality of thin film transistors T1'-T7' included in the second
pixel circuit C2 may be thinner than that positioned on the
channels of the plurality of thin film transistor T1-T7 of FIG. 3
included in the first pixel circuit C1 of FIG. 3.
[0134] FIG. 8 illustrates a second pixel circuit C2 including only
the driving thin film transistor T1', the switching thin film
transistor T2', and the storage capacitor Cst' for convenience of
explanation. The driving thin film transistor T1', the switching
thin film transistor T2', and the storage capacitor Cst' may be the
same as the driving thin film transistor T1, the switching thin
film transistor T2, and the storage capacitor Cst of FIG. 4,
respectively. However, a larger current may flow in a channel of
the driving thin film transistor T1' than the current flowing in
the channel of the driving thin film transistor T1 of FIG. 4.
[0135] Each of the two second light-emitting devices OLED2 may
include the pixel electrode 221', an opposite electrode 223', and
an intermediate layer 222' between the pixel electrode 221' and the
opposite electrode 223'.
[0136] The pixel electrodes 221' of the two second light-emitting
devices OLED2 may be electrically connected to each other so that
the two second light-emitting devices OLED2 may be simultaneously
driven by the single second pixel circuit C2. When the two second
light-emitting devices OLED2 are adjacent each other, the pixel
electrodes 221' of the two second light-emitting devices OLED2 may
be integrally formed with each other.
[0137] Alternatively, the pixel electrodes 221' of the two second
light-emitting devices OLED2 may be electrically connected to each
other by an additional line. The additional line may be formed at
the same layer as the active layers A1 and A2, the gate electrodes
G1 and G2, the source and drain electrodes S1, S2, D1, and D2, or
the second electrode CE2 of the storage capacitor Cst of FIG.
4.
[0138] The intermediate layers 222' of the two second
light-emitting devices OLED2 that are simultaneously driven may
emit light having the same color. Accordingly, the second pixel Px2
may emit red light, green light, blue light, or white light, for
example.
[0139] A space between the through portion H and the display region
DA is the non-display area NDA'. In other words, the non-display
region NDA' may surround a through portion H. In this case, the
thin film encapsulation layer 300 may extend up to the non-display
region NDA'.
[0140] The display apparatus 1 may further include a dam unit D'
surrounding the through portion H, in the non-display region NDA'.
Because the dam unit D' is the same as the dam unit D of FIG. 4,
the dam unit D' may prevent the organic layer 320 of the thin film
encapsulation layer 300 from flowing toward the through portion
H.
[0141] In other words, the organic layer 320 faces or contacts a
lateral surface of the dam unit D' facing the display region DA
from among lateral surfaces of the dam unit D', and thus the
organic layer 320 is prevented from moving toward, or into, the
through portion H. On the other hand, the inorganic layers 310 and
330 may cover the dam unit D', and ends of the inorganic layers 310
and 330 may be closer to the through portion H than to the dam unit
D'. At least one of the inorganic layers 310 and 330 may contact a
lateral surface S of the substrate 100 that is exposed by the
through portion H. Accordingly, in the non-display region NDA',
edges of the inorganic layers 310 and 330 may be peeled off, and
thus encapsulation characteristics of the thin film encapsulation
layer 300 may be prevented from being weakened or removed.
[0142] FIG. 9 is a magnified plan view of another example of the
portion A of FIG. 2.
[0143] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 9, the plurality of data lines DL
may include a first data line DL1 disconnected by at least one
through portion H, and positioned within the second display region
DA2, may also include a second data line DL2 continuously extending
over the first display region DA1 and the second display region
DA2, and may also include a third data line DL3 aligned with the
first data line DL1 and disconnected from the first data line DL1
by the at least one through portion H.
[0144] Although FIG. 9 illustrates one first data line DL1, one
second data line DL2, and one third data line DL3 for convenience
of explanation, it should be understood that a plurality of first
data lines DL1, a plurality of second data lines DL2, and a
plurality of third data lines DL3 may be included.
[0145] The first data line DL1 is connected to a second pixel Px2.
On the other hand, the second data line DL2 may be connected to
first pixels Px1 within the first display region DA1, and might not
be connected to any second pixel Px2 within the second display
region DA2.
[0146] A first connection line CL1 may electrically connect the
first data line DL1 to the second data line DL2, and a second
connection line CL2 may electrically connect the second data line
DL2 to the third data line DL3. Accordingly, the data signal
applied to the third data line DL3 may be equally applied to the
first data line DL1, and the second pixel Px2 connected to the
first data line DL1 may normally emit light.
[0147] The first connection line CL1 and the second connection line
CL2 may be formed at the same layer as the gate electrodes G1 and
G2, the source and drain electrodes S1, S2, D1, and D2, or the
second electrode CE2 of the storage capacitor Cst of FIG. 4.
[0148] When the first data line DL1 is electrically connected to
the third data line DL3, the second data line DL2 may be cut off
(e.g., may terminate) at a boundary between the first display
region DA1 and the second display region DA2 (e.g., at a cut point
CP) to prevent a short-circuit between the second data line DL2 and
the third data line DL3.
[0149] Because the second data line DL2 is not connected to the
second pixels Px2 within the second display region DA2, the cutting
off of second data line DL2 at the boundary between the first
display region DA1 and the second display region DA2 does not
create any problems. Because a portion of the second data line DL2
to which no second data signals are applied due to the cutting is
used as a passage for avoiding the through portion H, the area of
the non-display region NDA' of FIG. 8 around the through portion H
may be reduced or minimized, and manufacturing efficiency of the
display apparatus 1 may improve.
[0150] Because the second pixels Px2 each include a plurality of
second light-emitting devices OLED2 that are simultaneously driven
and that emit light having the same color, resolution of the second
display region DA2 may be lower than that of the first display
region DA1.
[0151] FIGS. 10 and 11 are plan views illustrating examples in
which light-emitting devices are arranged within the display region
DA of the display apparatus 1 of FIG. 1.
[0152] FIG. 10 illustrates an example in which the light-emitting
devices are arranged in a pentile manner. The arrangement manner of
the light-emitting devices may be equally applied to the first
display region DA1 of FIG. 1 and the second display region DA2 of
FIG. 1.
[0153] Within the first display region DA1 of FIG. 1, one
light-emitting device may be connected to one first pixel circuit
C1 of FIG. 3 to form one first pixel Px1. On the other hand, within
the second display region DA2 of FIG. 1, a plurality of
light-emitting devices may be connected to one second pixel circuit
C2 of FIG. 7. The plurality of light-emitting devices connected to
the single second pixel circuit C2 of FIG. 7 may emit light having
the same color.
[0154] For example, as shown in FIG. 10, when the light-emitting
devices are arranged in a pentile manner, four green (G)
light-emitting devices may be simultaneously driven by one second
pixel circuit C2 of FIG. 7, two red (R) light-emitting devices may
be simultaneously driven by another second pixel circuit C2 of FIG.
7, and two blue (B) light-emitting devices may be simultaneously
driven by another second pixel circuit C2 of FIG. 7. Accordingly,
the 8 light-emitting devices may be driven by the three second
pixel circuits C2 of FIG. 7. However, embodiments of the present
invention are not limited thereto, and the number of light-emitting
devices simultaneously driven by one second pixel circuit C2 of
FIG. 7 may vary in other embodiments. As another example, in the
same pentile structure, two green light-emitting devices may be
simultaneously driven by one second pixel circuit C2 of FIG. 7,
while the other two green light-emitting devices may be
simultaneously driven by another second pixel circuit C2. In other
words, the 8 light-emitting devices may be driven by four second
pixel circuits C2 of FIG. 7.
[0155] FIG. 11 illustrates an example in which the light-emitting
devices are arranged in a stripe manner. In FIG. 11, two
light-emitting devices that emit red light are connected to each
other, two light-emitting devices that emit blue light are
connected to each other, and two light-emitting devices that emit
green light are connected to each other. In other words, 6
light-emitting devices are driven by three second pixel circuits C2
of FIG. 7. However, embodiments of the present invention are not
limited thereto, and the number of light-emitting devices
simultaneously driven by one second pixel circuit C2 of FIG. 7 may
vary. As another example, when the light-emitting devices are
arranged in the same stripe manner, four light-emitting devices
that emit red light may be connected to one another, four
light-emitting devices that emit blue light may be connected to one
another, and four light-emitting devices that emit green light may
be connected to one another.
[0156] FIG. 12 is a schematic plan view of a display apparatus 2,
which is a modification of the display apparatus 1 of FIG. 1.
[0157] A description of FIG. 12 that is the same as given above
with reference to FIG. 1 will not be repeated herein, and only
differences between the display apparatuses 1 and 2 respectively of
FIGS. 1 and 12 will be described.
[0158] The display apparatus 2 of FIG. 12 may include the display
unit 200 on the substrate 100, and the display unit 200 may include
the display region DA including the first display region DA1 and
the second display region DA2 having different resolutions. In the
second display region DA2, at least one through portion H
penetrating through the substrate 100 and the display unit 200 may
be formed. Because some of the data lines in the second display
region DA2 are not directly connected to any second pixel circuit
C2 of FIG. 7 to be used as a passage for avoiding the through
portion H, resolution of the second display region DA2 may be lower
than that of the first display region DA1.
[0159] The second display region DA2 may have a reduced or
minimized area that surrounds the through portion H. The areas of
the second display region DA2 may vary according to the number of
data lines disconnected by the through portion H. Accordingly, the
display apparatus 2 of FIG. 12 may include the high-resolution
first display region DA1 having an increased area.
[0160] A camera, a sensor, an LED, and the like may be mounted in
the at least one through portion H. In other words, the camera, the
sensor, the LED, and the like are arranged in the through portion H
formed in the second display region DA2, the display region DA of
the display apparatus 2 that displays an image may widen.
[0161] According to embodiments of the present invention, a through
portion H in which a camera and the like may be mounted is
positioned within a display region of a display apparatus, and thus
the display region for displaying an image may widen.
[0162] Moreover, because data lines that extend over the through
portion H do not need to have a curved shape in order to avoid the
through portion H, the display apparatus may have a reduced
non-display region around the through portion H and may provide
improved manufacturing efficiency.
[0163] It should be understood that embodiments described herein
should be considered in a descriptive sense only and not for
purposes of limitation. Descriptions of features or aspects within
each embodiment should typically be considered as available for
other similar features or aspects in other embodiments.
[0164] While one or more embodiments have been described with
reference to the figures, it will be understood by those of
ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details
may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope as
defined by the following claims and their equivalents.
* * * * *