KR102203772B1 - Organic light emitting display - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an organic light emitting display device capable of increasing the lifespan by improving the aperture ratio. The organic light-emitting display device according to the present invention includes: first and second anode portions spaced apart from each other with an anode electrode of the organic light-emitting display device disposed therebetween; And a connection portion connecting the first and second anode portions. In particular, the spacing portion of the anode electrode formed in at least one of the red, green, blue, and white sub-pixel regions overlaps any one of the plurality of signal lines.

Description

Organic light emitting display device{ORGANIC LIGHT EMITTING DISPLAY}

The present invention relates to an organic light-emitting display device, and more particularly, to an organic light-emitting display device capable of increasing a lifetime by improving an aperture ratio.

A video display device that embodies a variety of information on a screen is a core technology in the information and communication era, and is developing in a direction of thinner, lighter, portable, and high-performance. Accordingly, as a flat panel display device capable of reducing the weight and volume, which is a disadvantage of a cathode ray tube (CRT), an organic light emitting diode display device that displays an image by controlling the amount of light emitted from the organic light emitting layer is in the spotlight.

The organic light-emitting display device displays images of various colors by configuring red, green, blue, and white sub-pixels as one unit pixel. Here, each sub-pixel includes a light emitting element and a pixel driving circuit including a plurality of transistors that independently drive the light emitting element.

When the aperture ratio of the organic light emitting diode display device is low, the image quality deteriorates. In particular, when the aperture ratio is low, the organic light-emitting display device must be driven by using a higher current in order to display a bright image, so there is a problem in that the lifespan is shortened.

The present invention is to solve the above problems, and the present invention is to provide an organic light emitting display device capable of increasing a lifetime by improving an aperture ratio.

In order to achieve the above object, the anode electrode of the organic light emitting diode display device according to the present invention includes first and second anode portions spaced apart from each other with the separation portion therebetween; And a connection portion connecting the first and second anode portions. In particular, the spacing portion of the anode electrode formed in at least one of the red, green, blue, and white sub-pixel regions overlaps any one of the plurality of signal lines.

In the organic light-emitting display device according to the present invention, spaced portions of the anode electrode and data lines overlap each other in the white and blue sub-pixel areas. Accordingly, in the white and blue sub-pixel regions having relatively poor lifespan characteristics, as the area of the anode electrode increases, the aperture ratio is improved by about 2% or more and the current density is lowered, thereby improving the lifespan and luminance.

1 is a plan view illustrating an organic light emitting display device according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a driving transistor and an organic light-emitting display device taken along lines "I-I" and "II-II" in FIG. 1.
3 is a plan view illustrating an organic light emitting display device according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an organic light emitting diode display taken along line "III-III" in FIG. 3.
5A to 5C are views illustrating a repair method of an organic light emitting diode display device according to the present invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a plan view illustrating an organic light emitting display device according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the organic light emitting display device according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of gate lines GL, data lines DL, high potential voltage lines PL, and reference voltage lines RL. And sub-pixel regions SPR, SPG, SPB, and SPW.

The plurality of sub-pixel areas are composed of a red sub-pixel area (SPR), a green sub-pixel area (SPG), a blue sub-pixel area (SPB), and a white sub-pixel area (SPW) to form a unit pixel. In FIG. 1, it is shown that the red sub-pixel area SPR, the white sub-pixel area SPW, the green sub-pixel area SPG, and the blue sub-pixel area SPB are arranged in order, but the order of their arrangement is for each unit. It varies greatly within a pixel, and can vary depending on color or structure. In the present invention, in order to increase light efficiency, a description will be made by taking as an example that a white sub-pixel area SPW having high transmittance is further provided as well as red, green, and blue sub-pixel areas SPR, SPG, and SPB.

Each of the red sub-pixel area SPR, green sub-pixel area SPG, blue sub-pixel area SPB, and white sub-pixel area SPW includes a pixel driving circuit 150, a pixel driving circuit 150, and It includes the connected light emitting devices (OLED1, OLED2).

The pixel driving circuit 150 includes a driving transistor DT, a switching transistor ST, a sensing transistor SET, and a storage capacitor Cst.

When the scan pulse is supplied to the gate line GL, the switching transistor ST is turned on and supplies the data signal supplied to the data line DL to the storage capacitor Cst and the gate electrode of the driving transistor DT. To this end, the gate electrode of the switching transistor ST is connected to the gate line GL, the source electrode is connected to the data line DL, and the drain electrode is connected to the gate electrode of the driving transistor DT and the storage capacitor Cst. do.

The sensing transistor SET is turned on when a sensing pulse is supplied to the sensing line SEL to sense the threshold voltage of the driving transistor DT and the threshold voltage of the light emitting devices OLED1 and OLED2. That is, when the sensing transistor SET is turned on, a current path to the sensing transistor SET and the reference voltage line RL is formed. A data driver (not shown) or a timing controller (not shown) senses a current flowing through a current path to sense a threshold voltage of the driving transistor DT and a threshold voltage of the light emitting devices OLED1 and OLED2. The data voltage is compensated based on the sensed threshold voltage, and the compensated data voltage is supplied to the data line DL.

The driving transistor DT controls the current I supplied from the high-potential voltage line PL to the light-emitting elements OLED1 and OLED2 in response to the data signal supplied to the gate electrode, thereby controlling the amount of light emission of the light-emitting elements OLED1 and OLED2. Is adjusted. In addition, even if the switching transistor ST is turned off, the driving transistor DT supplies a constant current I until the data signal of the next frame is supplied due to the voltage charged in the storage capacitor Cst, so that the light emitting element ( OLED1,OLED2) keeps light emission.

To this end, the driving transistor DT includes a gate electrode 106 connected to the drain electrode 110 of the switching transistor ST, and a source electrode 108 connected to the high potential voltage line PL, as shown in FIG. 2. ), the drain electrode 110 facing the source electrode 108 and connected to the anode electrode 102 of the light emitting devices OLED1 and OLED2, and the gate insulating film 112 to form a channel portion between the source and drain electrodes 108 and 110 It includes an oxide semiconductor layer 114 formed thereon. Here, the driving transistor DT further includes an etch stopper 116 formed on the oxide semiconductor layer 114 to prevent damage to the oxide semiconductor layer 114 and protect it from being affected by oxygen. Meanwhile, in the present invention, the semiconductor layers of the driving transistor DT, the switching transistor ST, and the sensing transistor SET have been described as an example of being formed of an oxide semiconductor layer, but in addition, it may be formed of amorphous silicon or polysilicon.

A passivation layer for protecting the driving transistor DT, the switching transistor ST, and the sensing transistor SET is formed on the driving transistor DT. The passivation layer is formed in at least one layer structure including the organic passivation layer 128, and in the present invention, the case of including the inorganic passivation layer 118 and the organic passivation layer 128 formed on the inorganic passivation layer 118 will be described as an example. To

The inorganic passivation layer 118 blocks moisture from the outside through the organic passivation layer 128 to prevent corrosion of electrodes and semiconductor layers constituting the driving transistor DT, the switching transistor ST, and the sensing transistor SET. do.

Color filters 124R, 124G, and 12B corresponding to the sub-pixel area are formed on the inorganic passivation layer 118. That is, in the red sub-pixel region SPR, the red color filter 124R is formed on the inorganic protective layer 118 to emit red. In the green sub-pixel area SPG, a green color filter 124G is formed on the inorganic passivation layer 118 to emit green color. In the blue sub-pixel area SPB, a blue color filter 124B is formed on the inorganic passivation layer 118 to emit blue color. In the white sub-pixel area SPW, since a color filter is not formed on the inorganic protective layer 118, white light emitted from the organic common layer 134 is emitted as it is, thereby emitting white (W).

The organic passivation layer 128 is formed of an organic insulating material to flatten the step formed by the driving transistor DT, the switching transistor ST, the sensing transistor SET, and the color filters 124R, 124G, 12B, and thus can achieve high resolution. To be.

When a voltage is applied between the anode electrode 102 and the cathode electrode 136, the light-emitting elements OLED1 and OLED2 recombine holes from the anode electrode 102 and electrons from the cathode electrode 136. As a result, excitons are generated, and light is emitted to the bottom as the excitons fall to the ground state.

To this end, the light emitting devices OLED1 and OLED2 include an anode electrode 102 connected to the drain electrode 110 of the driving transistor DT, a bank insulating layer 130 having a bank hole exposing the anode electrode 102, and , An organic common layer 134 on the anode electrode 102 and a cathode electrode 136 formed on the organic common layer 134 are provided.

The cathode electrode 136 is formed on the entire surface of the substrate 101 on which the organic common layer 134 is formed, and is commonly connected to all sub-pixel areas. The cathode electrode 136 is formed of an opaque metal such as aluminum (Al) and silver (Ag) having a low work function, and is connected to a low potential voltage line supplying a low potential voltage VSS.

The organic common layer 134 is composed of a hole-related layer, a light-emitting layer, and an electron-related layer stacked on the anode electrode 102 in the order or reverse order. The organic common layer 134 is formed in a bank hole provided by the bank insulating layer 130 formed to separate each light emitting region to emit white light.

The anode electrode 102 includes first and second anode portions 102a and 102b, a connection portion 102c, and a spacer 102d.

The first anode part 102a is electrically connected to the drain electrode 110 of the driving transistor DT. The second anode portion 102b is electrically connected to the first anode portion 102a through a connection portion 102c.

Since the first anode part 102a overlaps the cathode electrode 136 with the organic common layer 134 therebetween, the first light-emitting device OLED1 is formed, and the second anode part 102b is an organic common layer ( The second light emitting device OLED2 is formed because it overlaps the cathode electrode 136 with the 134 interposed therebetween. In this case, the first and second light emitting devices OLED1 and OLED2 are connected in parallel between the same driving transistor DT and the low potential voltage VSS line through the connection part 102c. Accordingly, when any one of the first and second light-emitting devices OLED1 and OLED2 is defective, the defective light-emitting device and the normal light-emitting device are separated through a cutting process, and the separated normal light-emitting device is welded. Through a process, the driving transistors of the adjacent sub-pixels are connected. Accordingly, even if any one of the first and second light emitting devices OLED1 and OLED2 is defective, it is normally operated through a repair process including a cutting process and a welding process.

Meanwhile, in the present invention, the first and second anode portions 102a and 102b of the red and green sub-pixel regions SPR and SPG face up and down with a spacer 102d parallel to the gate line GL. . In addition, the data lines (DLR, DLG) supplying red and green data voltages to the red and green sub-pixel regions (SPR, SPG) are located in the non-emission region so as to be located at one side of the red and green sub-pixel regions (SPR, SPG). Is formed. Accordingly, in the red and green sub-pixel areas SPR and SPG, the spaced portion 102d is formed in an area allocated separately from the data line DL.

The first and second anode portions 102a and 102b of the white and blue sub-pixel regions SPW and SPB face left and right with the spacer 102d parallel to the data line DL interposed therebetween. In addition, the data lines DLW and DLB supplying white and blue data voltages to the white and blue sub-pixel areas SPW and SPB are formed to cross the white and blue sub-pixel areas SPW and SPB. In this case, the spaced portions 102d of the white and blue sub-pixel areas SPW and SPB are formed to overlap the data line GL along the data line GL.

In addition, the data lines DLW and DLB supplying white and blue data voltages are formed in a bent structure to be non-overlapping with the pixel driving circuit 150, so that the data lines DLW and DLB supplying white and blue data voltages are formed. Electrical short-circuit with the pixel driving circuit 150 may be prevented. do. In particular, the data lines DLW and DLB supplying the white and blue data voltages are formed so as not to overlap an area where the storage capacitor Cst is formed. The data lines DLW and DLB supplying the white and blue data voltages are formed in a symmetrical structure with the green sub-pixel area SPG interposed therebetween, and are bent in different directions, or bent in different directions. It is formed to be bent in the direction.

In this way, the spacing portion 102d of the anode electrode and the data line DL, which are factors for reducing the aperture ratio in each sub-pixel area, overlap each other in the white and blue sub-pixel areas SPW and SPB. In this case, the anode electrode 102 in the white and blue sub-pixel regions SPB and SPW has a larger area contributing to the aperture ratio compared to the conventional case in which the spaced portions of the anode electrode and the data line are non-overlapping. Accordingly, in the white and blue sub-pixel regions SPB and SPW, which have relatively poor lifetime characteristics, as the area of the anode electrode 102 contributing to the aperture ratio increases, the aperture ratio is improved and the current density decreases, thereby improving the lifetime.

In addition, in the present invention, a data line (DLR) supplying a red data voltage is positioned between the red and white sub-pixel areas (SPR, SPG), and the reference voltage (Vref) is disposed between the white and green sub-pixel areas (SPW, SPG). A reference voltage line RL supplying) is positioned, a data line DLG supplying a green data voltage is positioned between the green and blue sub-pixel areas SPG and SPB, and the blue and red sub-pixel areas SPB A high-potential voltage line PL for supplying a high-potential voltage VDD is positioned between ,SPR). As described above, since the data line DL, the reference voltage line RL, or the high potential voltage line PL is positioned between adjacent sub-pixel areas implementing different colors, the color filters 124R formed in the adjacent sub-pixel areas ,124G,124B) can be prevented from being mixed.

The connection part 102c electrically connects the first and second anode parts 102a and 102b of the normal sub-pixel. The connection portion 102c is used as a repair pattern for electrically separating the first and second anode portions 102a and 102b of the defective sub-pixel during the repair process. In this case, in order to increase the efficiency of the cutting process for separating the first and second light emitting devices OLED1 and OLED2 during the repair process, the connection part 102c has a narrower width than the first and second anode parts 102a and 102b. Is formed.

Here, the connection part 102c of the red and green sub-pixel regions SPR and SPG overlaps the red and green color filters 124R and 124G and is positioned between the first and second anode parts 102a and 102b. Is formed in

The connection portion 102c of the white and blue sub-pixel areas SPW and SPB is formed in a non-emission area between the first and second anode portions 102a and 102b and the gate line GL, respectively. At this time, the gate line GL adjacent to the connection portion 102c of the white and blue sub-pixel regions SPW and SPB is greater than the width of the gate line GL corresponding to the other red and green sub-pixel regions SPR and SPG. It is formed in a narrow width.

Accordingly, when laser cutting the connection portion 102c of the white and blue sub-pixel regions SPW and SPB for the repair process, it is possible to prevent the gate line GL from being damaged by the laser. In addition, since the connection portion 102c of the anode electrode 102 is located in the non-emission area of the white and blue sub-pixel areas (SPW, SPB) while being non-overlapping with the gate line GL, cutting the connection portion 102c after laser cutting The area can be prevented from being recognized.

3 is a plan view illustrating an organic light-emitting display device according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the organic light-emitting display device taken along line "III-III" in FIG. 3.

The organic light emitting display device illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 is a data line DL that supplies a data voltage in the white and blue sub-pixel regions SPW and SPB compared to the organic light emitting display device illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. The same components are provided, except that the line open part 140 formed in the is further provided. Accordingly, detailed descriptions of the same components will be omitted.

The connection portion 102c of the white and blue sub-pixel areas SPW and SPB is formed between the first and second anode portions 102a and 102b. In this case, the data line DL for supplying the data voltage to the white and blue sub-pixel areas SPW and SPB includes the line open part 140 from which the data line DL is removed in the area overlapping the connection part 102c. Equipped. Accordingly, the first and second light emitting devices OLED1 and OLED2 in the white and blue sub-pixel areas SPW and SPB are separated by irradiating the laser that has passed through the line open part 140 to the connection part 102c during the repair process. do. In other words, the line open part 140 prevents the laser from being blocked by the data line DL when laser cutting the connection part 102c of the white and blue sub-pixel areas SPW and SPB for the repair process. have.

In the organic light-emitting display device according to the second embodiment of the present invention, in the white and blue sub-pixel regions SPW and SPB, the separation portion 102d of the anode electrode and the data line DL overlap each other. Accordingly, in the white and blue sub-pixel regions SPW and SPB, which have relatively poor lifetime characteristics, the aperture ratio increases as the area of the anode electrode contributing to the aperture ratio increases, thereby lowering the current density, thereby improving the lifetime.

5A to 5C are views for explaining a repair process of an organic light emitting display device according to the present invention.

First, as shown in FIG. 5A, shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 having first and second light emitting devices OLED1 and OLED2 connected in parallel through a connection part to the same driving transistor DT for each sub-pixel area. The organic light emitting display device as described above is provided. Then, if a defect occurs in the driving transistor DT or any one of the first and second light emitting devices OLED1 and OLED2 through the inspection process, the connection portion of the defective sub-pixel in which the defect has occurred, as shown in FIG. 5B. The first and second light-emitting elements OLED1 and OLED2 are separated through a cutting process in which the laser is irradiated to 102c. Then, as shown in FIG. 5C, the repair pattern RP extended from the second anode 102b of the defective sub-pixel and the drain electrode of the driving transistor DT of the sub-pixel vertically adjacent to the defective sub-pixel are They are connected to each other through a welding process that irradiates a laser to the overlapping area.

Accordingly, the defective sub-pixel positioned below the gate line GL may share a driving current supplied to the light emitting element OLED of the normal sub-pixel positioned above the gate line GL. . That is, when a defect occurs in a sub-pixel positioned below the gate line GL, the second anode portion 102b of the defective sub-pixel and the anode electrode 122 of the normal sub-pixel are electrically connected through the repair process. By being connected, the driving current supplied to the normal sub-pixel is transmitted to the second anode portion 102b of the defective sub-pixel through the repair pattern RP, so that the defective pixel operates normally.

Meanwhile, in the present invention, a case where the signal line overlapping the spacer 102d in the white and blue sub-pixel regions is the data line DL is described as an example, but in addition to the reference voltage line RL and the high potential voltage line PL ) May be any one of.

In addition, in the present invention, the white and blue sub-pixel regions (SPW, SPB) have been described as an example in which the spaced portion 102d of the anode electrode overlaps the data line (DL). ), as well as in the red and green sub-pixel regions SPR and SPG, the spacing 102d of the anode electrode may overlap the data line DL to improve the aperture ratio of the red and green sub-pixels.

In addition, the organic light-emitting display device according to the present invention has been described with an example of a pixel structure having three transistors and one storage capacitor, but is not limited thereto and can be applied to various pixel structures.

The above description is only illustrative of the present invention, and various modifications may be made without departing from the technical spirit of the present invention by those of ordinary skill in the technical field to which the present invention belongs. Therefore, the embodiments disclosed in the specification of the present invention do not limit the present invention. The scope of the present invention should be interpreted by the following claims, and all technologies within the scope equivalent thereto should be interpreted as being included in the scope of the present invention.

102: anode electrode 134: organic common layer
136: cathode electrode 150: pixel driving circuit

Claims (7)

A substrate having red, green, blue, and white sub-pixel regions;
A plurality of signal lines disposed on the substrate to provide the sub-pixel area;
And a light emitting device disposed in each of the sub-pixel regions and having an anode electrode and a cathode electrode,
An anode electrode disposed in each of the sub-pixel areas
First and second anode portions spaced apart from each other with the separation portion therebetween;
And a connection portion connecting the first and second anode portions,
The separation portion of the anode electrode disposed in at least one of the red, green, blue, and white sub-pixel areas overlaps with any one of the plurality of signal lines. The method of claim 1,
The spaced portions of the anode electrode disposed in each of the blue and white sub-pixel areas are disposed to cross the emission areas of the blue and white sub-pixel areas,
The separation portion of the anode electrode disposed in each of the blue and white sub-pixel areas overlaps at least one of a data line, a high potential voltage line, and a reference voltage line among the plurality of signal lines. The method of claim 2,
Further comprising a pixel circuit unit including a plurality of transistors for driving light emitting elements disposed in each of the sub-pixel regions,
The data line for supplying a data voltage to the blue and white sub-pixel regions overlaps with the spacing portion located in the emission region and non-overlaps with the pixel circuit portion located in the non-emission region of the blue and white sub-pixel regions. An organic light-emitting display device formed in a bent structure. The method of claim 2,
The data line for supplying a data voltage to the red sub-pixel region is positioned between the red and white sub-pixel regions,
The reference voltage line is positioned between the white and green sub-pixel regions,
The data line for supplying a data voltage to the green sub-pixel region is positioned between the green and blue sub-pixel regions,
The high potential voltage line is positioned between the blue and red sub-pixel regions. The method of claim 1,
The organic light-emitting display device of the connecting portion having a width narrower than that of each of the first and second anode portions. The method of claim 1,
The plurality of signal lines include a gate line,
A connection part of the anode electrode disposed in each of the blue and white sub-pixel regions is disposed in parallel with the gate line in a non-emission region between each of the first and second anode parts and the gate line,
A width of the gate line adjacent to the connection portion of the anode electrode disposed in each of the blue and white sub-pixel areas is thinner than that of the gate line disposed in other sub-pixel areas. The method of claim 1,
The plurality of signal lines include data lines,
The data line includes a line open part from which the data line is removed in a region overlapping a connection part of the anode electrode disposed in each of the blue and green sub-pixel regions.

Images