KR102058706B1 - Organic Light Emitting Display Device and Manufacturing Method of the same - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a display panel including a display area and a non-display area defined therein; Subpixels formed in the display area; And dummy pixels formed in the non-display area and helping to balance the vaporization of the solvent so that the ink type light emitting material formed on the sub pixels is uniformly dried, wherein one dummy pixel has a larger area than one sub pixel. An organic light emitting display device is provided.

Description

Organic Light Emitting Display Device and Manufacturing Method of the same

The present invention relates to an organic light emitting display device and a manufacturing method thereof.

The organic light emitting display device used in the organic light emitting display device is a self-light emitting device having a light emitting layer formed between two electrodes. In the organic light emitting device, electrons and holes are injected into the light emitting layer from an electron injection electrode and a hole injection electrode, respectively, and an exciton in which the injected electrons and holes combine is excited. The device emits light when it falls from the ground state to the ground state.

An organic light emitting display device using an organic light emitting display device includes a top emission type, a bottom emission type, and a dual emission type according to a direction in which light is emitted. According to this, it is divided into passive matrix type and active matrix type.

When the scan signal, the data signal, and the power are supplied to the plurality of subpixels arranged in a matrix form, the organic light emitting display device may display an image by emitting light of the selected subpixel.

Recently, in order to implement a large area organic light emitting display device, a solution method of forming an ink type light emitting material using an ink jet has been attracting attention. However, in this method, there is a problem in that the luminance is non-uniform and the lifetime is deteriorated due to the change in the ink layer profile due to the difference in the ink drying speeds of the center and the outer portion of the panel.

The present invention for solving the above problems of the background art is to form the same ink layer profile throughout the display area in a soluble process method that can solve the problem caused by the difference in the drying speed of the ink solvent between the center and the outer portion of the display area The present invention provides an organic light emitting display device and a method of manufacturing the same, which can improve luminance and improve lifetime.

According to the above-mentioned problem solving means, the present invention provides a display panel including a display area and a non-display area defined; Subpixels formed in the display area; And dummy pixels formed in the non-display area and helping to balance the vaporization of the solvent so that the ink type light emitting material formed on the sub pixels is uniformly dried, wherein one dummy pixel has a larger area than one sub pixel. An organic light emitting display device is provided.

One dummy pixel may correspond to an area in which a plurality of subpixels are integrated into one.

One dummy pixel may correspond to an area in which m (m is an integer of 2 or more) sub-pixels are integrated in the major axis direction.

One dummy pixel may correspond to an area in which n (n is an integer greater than or equal to 3) sub-pixels are integrated in a short axis direction.

One dummy pixel may correspond to an area in which all of the subpixels of i (i is an integer of 2 or more) or more lines included in one direction of the display area are integrated.

The dummy pixels may be formed in the form of four bars surrounding four sides of the display area.

The dummy pixels may be formed to surround four sides of the display area.

In another aspect, the present invention comprises the steps of forming a plurality of display cells on the mother substrate; And forming dummy pixels in a non-display area defined around the display area of the plurality of display cells to help balance the vaporization of the solvent so that the ink type light emitting material formed on the sub pixels is uniformly dried. The pixel provides a method of manufacturing an organic light emitting display device having a larger area than one subpixel.

One dummy pixel may correspond to an area in which a plurality of subpixels are integrated into one.

Forming the dummy pixels may further include forming sub-dummy pixels positioned on each side of the plurality of display cells and uniformizing the density of the ink solvent with respect to the entire mother substrate along with the dummy pixels.

The present invention has the effect of providing an organic light emitting display device capable of forming the same ink layer profile over the entire display area to make the luminance uniform and improve the lifespan. In addition, the present invention has the effect of providing a solution processing method that can solve the problem caused by the difference in the drying speed of the ink solvent between the center portion and the outer portion of the display area.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an organic light emitting display device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is an exemplary circuit configuration of a subpixel.
3 to 6 are diagrams for explaining the structure for improving the problem of the solution method according to the experimental example.
7 is a plan view of a display panel according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
8 is a plan view of a display panel according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
9 is a plan view of a display panel according to a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
10 is a plan view of a display panel according to a modified example of the third embodiment of the present invention.
11 is a plan view of a mother substrate according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
12 is an enlarged view of the Z region of FIG. 11.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, the specific content for the practice of the present invention will be described.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an organic light emitting display device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an exemplary circuit configuration diagram of a subpixel.

As shown in FIG. 1, an organic light emitting display device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes an image processor 110, a timing controller 120, a data driver 130, a gate driver 140, and a display panel 150.

The image processor 110 outputs a data enable signal DE and the like together with the data signal DATA supplied from the outside. The image processor 110 may output one or more of a vertical synchronization signal, a horizontal synchronization signal, and a clock signal in addition to the data enable signal DE, but these signals are omitted for convenience of description.

The timing controller 120 receives a data signal DATA from the image processor 110 along with a drive signal including a data enable signal DE or a vertical synchronization signal, a horizontal synchronization signal, a clock signal, and the like. The timing controller 120 may include a gate timing control signal GDC for controlling the operation timing of the gate driver 140 and a data timing control signal DDC for controlling the operation timing of the data driver 130 based on the driving signal. Outputs

The data driver 130 samples, latches, and converts the data signal DATA supplied from the timing controller 120 into a gamma reference voltage in response to the data timing control signal DDC supplied from the timing controller 120. . The data driver 130 outputs the data signal DATA through the data lines DL1 to DLn. The data driver 130 is formed in the form of an integrated circuit (IC).

The gate driver 140 outputs the gate signal while shifting the level of the gate voltage in response to the gate timing control signal GDC supplied from the timing controller 120. The gate driver 140 outputs a gate signal through the gate lines GL1 to GLm. The gate driver 140 is formed in the form of an integrated circuit (IC) or a gate in panel (Gate In Panel) method in the display panel 150.

The display panel 150 displays an image in response to the data signal DATA and the gate signal supplied from the data driver 130 and the gate driver 140. The display panel 150 includes subpixels SP for displaying an image. The subpixels are formed in a top-emission method, a bottom-emission method, or a dual-emission method according to the structure. The subpixels SP include a red subpixel, a green subpixel and a blue subpixel or include a white subpixel, a red subpixel, a green subpixel, and a blue subpixel. The subpixels SP may have one or more different emission areas according to emission characteristics.

As shown in FIG. 2, one subpixel includes a switching transistor SW, a driving transistor DR, a capacitor Cst, a compensation circuit CC, and an organic light emitting diode OLED. The organic light emitting diode OLED operates to emit light according to the driving current formed by the driving transistor DR.

The switching transistor SW performs a switching operation such that the data signal supplied through the first data line DL1 is stored as a data voltage in the capacitor Cst in response to the gate signal supplied through the first gate line GL1. The driving transistor DR operates so that a driving current flows between the first power line VDD and the second power line GND according to the data voltage stored in the capacitor Cst. The compensation circuit CC compensates for the threshold voltage and the like of the driving transistor DR.

The compensation circuit CC is composed of one or more transistors and a capacitor. The configuration of the compensation circuit CC is very diverse according to the compensation method, so detailed examples and explanations thereof will be omitted. In FIG. 2, the compensation circuit CC is included in one subpixel as an example. However, the compensation circuit CC may be omitted when the subject of compensation is located outside the sub-pixel, such as the data driver 130. That is, one subpixel basically has a 2T (transistor) 1C (capacitor) structure including a switching transistor SW, a driving transistor DR, a capacitor Cst, and an organic light emitting diode OLED, but a compensation circuit. If (CC) is added, it may consist of 3T1C, 4T2C, 5T2C, and the like.

Meanwhile, an organic light emitting diode (OLED) that emits light in the display panel 150 may use a solution method in which a light emitting material including a hole injection layer, a hole transport layer, and a light emitting layer is formed using an ink jet. . As a solution, a method of forming an electron transport layer and an electron injection layer as well as a hole injection layer, a hole transport layer, and a light emitting layer has been proposed.

Since the soluble method uses an inkjet, it is easy to implement a large area organic light emitting display device compared to the deposition method. However, this method has a problem in that the ink layer profile is changed due to the difference in the ink drying speeds of the center portion and the outer portion of the display panel, resulting in non-uniform brightness and deterioration of lifetime.

As described above, the cause of the difference in the drying speed of the ink in the center portion and the outer portion of the display panel was found to be due to the difference in density of the ink solvent in each region.

3 to 6 are diagrams for explaining a structure for improving the problem of the solution method according to the experimental example.

In order to improve the problem of the soluble method as shown in FIG. 3, dummy pixels DP are formed in the display panel 150 in the experimental example. In this case, the dummy pixels DP are formed in the non-display area NA including the first to fourth non-display areas NAx1 to NAy2 to surround the display area AA.

Subsequently, profiles of the subpixels positioned in the central portion C of the display area AA and the subpixels positioned in the outer portion B of the display area AA shown in FIG. 4 are obtained. When the light emitting material is formed on the dummy pixels DP having the same size as the sub-pixels SP included in the display area AA in the same solvable manner, the display area AA and the non-display area NA It was expected that the density difference of the ink solvent could be lowered.

FIG. 5A illustrates a luminance image and a 3D profile of a subpixel located at the center C of the display area AA illustrated in FIG. 4, and FIG. 5B illustrates the display region illustrated in FIG. A luminance image and a 3D profile of a sub-pixel located at the outer portion B of AA).

Referring to FIG. 5A, since the sub-pixel positioned in the central portion C of the display area AA has a uniform profile (thicker than that of FIG. 5B), the light intensity pl1 has a uniform thickness th1 of the light emitting material. ) Was detected to have a stable state. In contrast, referring to FIG. 5B, the sub-pixel located in the outer portion B of the display area AA has a profile (thinner than that of FIG. 5A) in which the thickness th2 of the light emitting material is non-uniform. Therefore, it was detected that the brightness pl2 had an unstable state.

Referring to the above experiment with reference to the graph of FIG. 6, the drying process proceeds slowly due to the high density of the ink solvent in the central portion C of the display area AA, but the outer portion B of the display area AA is ink. As the density of the solvent is lower than that of the central portion (C), it is analyzed that the above result is obtained because the drying proceeds rapidly.

As a result of the above analysis, when the density of the ink solvent, such as the central portion C of the display area AA, is high, drying proceeds slowly, so that the ink forms a uniform layer, but with the outer portion B of the display area AA, As a result, when the density of the ink solvent is low, the drying proceeds quickly, so that the ink forms a non-uniform layer.

As a result, even when the light emitting material is formed in the same soluble method in the dummy pixels DP having the same size as the sub-pixels SP included in the display area AA, as in the experimental example, the center and the outer parts of the display panel are formed. There is a lack in improving the problem that the ink layer profile is changed due to the difference in ink drying speed.

Based on the above experimental example, the present invention uses dummy pixels having a larger area than the subpixels so that the ink type light emitting material formed on the subpixels is uniformly dried.

First Embodiment

7 is a plan view of a display panel according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 7, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the display panel 150 includes dummy pixels DP that help to balance the evaporation of the solvent so that the ink type light emitting material formed on the sub-pixels SP is uniformly dried. Is formed.

The dummy pixels DP are formed in the non-display area NA including the first to fourth non-display areas NAx1 to NAy2 so as to surround the display area AA. One or more dummy pixels DP are formed on each surface of the non-display area NA. In this case, the dummy pixels DP may have a similar area so that the vaporization balance of the solvent may be the same on all surfaces of the non-display area NA.

One dummy pixel DP corresponds to an area in which a plurality of subpixels are integrated into one to have a larger area than one subpixel SP. Specifically, one dummy pixel DP corresponds to an area in which m (m is an integer greater than or equal to 2) subpixels SP are integrated in the long axis direction. For example, one dummy pixel DP corresponds to an area in which two sub-pixels SP neighboring up and down are integrated in the long axis direction. That is, 1DP = 2SP.

The following method may be used to correspond to an area in which one dummy pixel DP is integrated with m (m is an integer greater than or equal to 2) subpixels SP in a long axis direction, but is not limited thereto.

In the first embodiment, the openings of the m dummy pixels DP adjacent in the long axis direction are connected by different patterning methods of the insulating layer or the bank layer. In the second example, lasers are irradiated to the insulating film or the bank layer to connect the openings of the m dummy pixels DP neighboring in the long axis direction (m is an integer of 2 or more).

As in the first embodiment of the present invention, when the area of one dummy pixel DP corresponds to the area in which m (m is an integer of 2 or more) subpixels SP are integrated in the major axis direction, It is possible to increase the amount of ink dropping.

As described above, when the area of the dummy pixel DP is increased and the ink drop amount is increased, the density of the ink solvent in the non-display area NA can be increased than in the experimental example. Therefore, when the dummy pixels DP are configured in the same manner as in the first embodiment of the present invention, the problem caused by the difference in the density of the ink solvent between the center portion and the outer portion of the display area AA can be improved.

Second Embodiment

8 is a plan view of a display panel according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 8, according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the display panel 150 includes dummy pixels DP which help to balance the evaporation of the solvent so that the ink type light emitting material formed on the sub pixels SP is uniformly dried. Is formed.

The dummy pixels DP are formed in the non-display area NA including the first to fourth non-display areas NAx1 to NAy2 so as to surround the display area AA. One or more dummy pixels DP are formed on each surface of the non-display area NA. In this case, the dummy pixels DP may have a similar area so that the vaporization balance of the solvent may be the same on all surfaces of the non-display area NA.

One dummy pixel DP corresponds to an area in which a plurality of subpixels are integrated into one to have a larger area than one subpixel SP. Specifically, one dummy pixel DP corresponds to an area in which n (n is an integer greater than or equal to 3) subpixels SP are integrated in a short axis direction. For example, one dummy pixel DP corresponds to an area in which three sub-pixels SP neighboring left and right are integrated in a short axis direction. That is, 1DP = 3SP.

The following method may be used to correspond to an area in which one dummy pixel DP integrates n (n is an integer greater than or equal to 3) subpixels SP in a short axis direction, but is not limited thereto.

In the first embodiment, the openings of the n dummy pixels DP adjacent to each other in the short direction are connected by different patterning methods of the insulating layer or the bank layer. In the second example, lasers are irradiated to the insulating film or the bank layer to connect the openings of the n (n is an integer of 3 or more) dummy pixels DP adjacent to each other in the short axis direction.

As in the second embodiment of the present invention, when the area of one dummy pixel DP corresponds to the area in which n (n is an integer greater than or equal to 2) subpixels SP are integrated in a short axis direction, It is possible to increase the amount of ink dropping.

As described above, when the area of the dummy pixel DP is increased and the ink drop amount is increased, the density of the ink solvent in the non-display area NA can be increased than in the experimental example. Therefore, if the dummy pixels DP are configured in the same manner as in the second embodiment of the present invention, the problem caused by the difference in the density of the ink solvent between the center portion and the outer portion of the display area AA can be improved.

Third Embodiment

9 is a plan view of a display panel according to a third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 10 is a plan view of a display panel according to a modified example of the third embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 9, according to the third exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the display panel 150 includes dummy pixels DP that help to balance the evaporation of the solvent so that the ink type light emitting material formed on the subpixels SP is uniformly dried. Is formed.

The dummy pixels DP are formed in the non-display area NA including the first to fourth non-display areas NAx1 to NAy2 so as to surround the display area AA. One or more dummy pixels DP are formed on each surface of the non-display area NA. In this case, the dummy pixels DP may have a similar area so that the vaporization balance of the solvent may be the same on all surfaces of the non-display area NA.

One dummy pixel DP corresponds to an area in which a plurality of subpixels are integrated into one to have a larger area than one subpixel SP. In detail, one dummy pixel DP corresponds to an area in which all of the subpixels SP of i (i is an integer of 2 or more) or more lines included in one direction of the display area AA are integrated. For example, one dummy pixel DP corresponds to an area in which all of the neighboring sub-pixels SP are integrated to the left and right of two adjacent lines. That is, one dummy pixel DP has a bar shape.

As in the third embodiment of the present invention, an area of one dummy pixel DP is integrated in all subpixels SP including i (i is an integer of 2 or more) including one area of the display area AA in one direction. Corresponding to the area, it is possible to increase the amount of ink dripping than the experimental example when forming the light emitting material.

As shown in FIG. 10, according to a modified example of the third embodiment of the present invention, the dummy pixel DP has a bar shape as shown in FIG. 9, but takes a shape divided into two on each side of the non-display area NA. It may be.

As described above, when the area of the dummy pixel DP is increased and the ink drop amount is increased, the density of the ink solvent in the non-display area NA can be increased than in the experimental example. Therefore, when the dummy pixels DP are configured in the same manner as in the third embodiment of the present invention, the problem caused by the difference in the density of the ink solvent between the center portion and the outer portion of the display area AA can be improved.

Fourth Embodiment

On the other hand, since the display panels shown in the first to third embodiments are formed on the mother substrate, sub dummy pixels may be further added to make the density of the ink solvent uniform throughout the mother substrate. same.

11 is a plan view of a mother substrate according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 12 is an enlarged view of the Z region of FIG.

According to the third embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of display cells 150C are formed on the mother substrate MG. In addition, the ink type light emitting material formed on the subpixels is uniformly dried in a non-display area defined around the display area of the plurality of display cells 150C by using the structure of one of FIGS. 7 to 10. Dummy pixels DP may be formed to help the vaporization balance. In addition, the sub dummy pixels SDP are formed on each surface of the display cell 150C. The sub dummy pixels SDP are located outside the dummy pixels DP.

Accordingly, as illustrated in FIG. 11, six display cells 150C constituting the display panel and sub dummy pixels SDP are formed on each surface of the display cell 150C on the mother substrate MG. The sub dummy pixels SDP are formed in a long axis direction and a short axis direction between the planes and planes of the display cells 150C. For example, three sub-dummy pixels SDP may be arranged in the y-axis direction in the long axis direction and eight in the x-axis direction in the short axis direction.

The sub dummy pixels SDP are formed to make the density of the ink solvent uniform throughout the mother substrate in the same manner as the dummy pixels shown in the first to third embodiments. However, some of the sub dummy pixels SDP may be used to monitor the thickness of the ink type light emitting material.

To this end, as shown in FIG. 12, at least some of the sub-dummy pixels SDP include the region A1 in which only the hole injection layer HIL is formed, and the region in which the hole injection layer HIL and the hole transport layer HTL are formed ( A2) and the region A3 in which the hole injection layer HIL, the hole transport layer HTL, and the light emitting layer EML are formed.

The present invention has the effect of providing an organic light emitting display device capable of forming the same ink layer profile over the entire display area to make the luminance uniform and improve the lifespan. In addition, the present invention has the effect of providing a solution processing method that can solve the problem caused by the difference in the drying speed of the ink solvent between the center portion and the outer portion of the display area.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings, the technical configuration of the present invention described above may be modified in other specific forms without changing the technical spirit or essential features of the present invention by those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains. It will be appreciated that it may be practiced. Therefore, the embodiments described above are to be understood as illustrative and not restrictive in all aspects. In addition, the scope of the present invention is shown by the claims below, rather than the above detailed description. In addition, all changes or modifications derived from the meaning and scope of the claims and equivalent concepts should be construed as being included in the scope of the present invention.

110: image processor 120: timing controller
130: data driver 140: gate driver
150: display panel DP: dummy pixels
AA: display area NA: non-display area
MG: ledger substrate SDP: sub-dummy pixels

Claims (13)

A display panel in which a display area and a non-display area are defined;
Subpixels formed in the display area and including an organic light emitting diode having an ink type hole injection layer, a hole transport layer, a light emitting layer, an electron transport layer, and an electron injection layer;
Dummy pixels formed in the non-display area and helping to balance the evaporation of the solvent such that the light emitting material including the hole injection layer, the hole transport layer, and the light emitting layer of the ink type formed in the sub pixels is uniformly dried; And
A sub dummy pixel having a first sub dummy pixel for uniformizing the density of the solvent and a second sub dummy pixel for thickness monitoring of a light emitting material including the hole injection layer, the hole transport layer, and the light emitting layer of the ink type Including,
One dummy pixel has a larger area than one subpixel,
The second sub dummy pixel may include a first region in which only the hole injection layer is formed;
A second region in which the hole injection layer and the hole transport layer are formed;
And a third region in which the hole injection layer, the hole transport layer and the light emitting layer are formed. The method of claim 1,
The one dummy pixel
An organic light emitting display device, characterized in that corresponding to an area in which a plurality of sub pixels are integrated into one. The method of claim 2,
The one dummy pixel
An organic light emitting display device corresponding to an area in which m (m is an integer of 2 or more) is integrated in a long axis direction. The method of claim 2,
The one dummy pixel
An organic light emitting display device corresponding to an area in which n (n is an integer of 3 or more) is integrated in a short axis direction. The method of claim 2,
The one dummy pixel
And an area corresponding to an area in which all the subpixels of i (i is an integer of 2 or more) included in one direction of the display area are integrated. The method of claim 1,
The dummy pixels
The organic light emitting display device of claim 4, wherein the organic light emitting display device is formed in four bars surrounding four surfaces of the display area. The method of claim 2,
The dummy pixels
And an organic light emitting display device surrounding the four surfaces of the display area. Forming a plurality of display cells on the mother substrate including sub-pixels comprising an organic light emitting diode having an ink-type hole injection layer, a hole transport layer, a light emitting layer, an electron transport layer and an electron injection layer;
Vaporization of the solvent to uniformly dry the light emitting material including the hole injection layer, the hole transport layer, and the light emitting layer of the ink type formed in the subpixels in a non-display area defined around the display area of the plurality of display cells. Forming dummy pixels to help balance;
A sub dummy pixel having a first sub dummy pixel for uniformizing the density of the solvent and a second sub dummy pixel for thickness monitoring of a light emitting material including the hole injection layer, the hole transport layer, and the light emitting layer of the ink type Comprising the steps of:
One dummy pixel has a larger area than one subpixel,
The second sub dummy pixel may include a first region in which only the hole injection layer is formed;
A second region in which the hole injection layer and the hole transport layer are formed;
And a third region in which the hole injection layer, the hole transport layer, and the light emitting layer are formed. The method of claim 8,
The one dummy pixel
A method of manufacturing an organic light emitting display device, characterized in that it corresponds to an area in which a plurality of sub pixels are integrated into one. delete The method of claim 1,
The sub dummy pixels
An organic light emitting display device positioned outside the dummy pixels. The method of claim 1,
The second area is positioned below the first area, and the third area is located below the second area. The method of claim 1,
The sub dummy pixels
An organic light emitting display device disposed in a sequence of a blue sub dummy pixel, a red sub dummy pixel, and a green sub dummy pixel with respect to one side.

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