KR102440025B1 - Organic electro luminescent device - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a substrate comprising: a substrate on which a plurality of pixel regions are defined; a bank positioned along a boundary of the pixel area; a plurality of wirings provided at the boundary of the pixel region or within the pixel region; a thin film transistor provided in each pixel area on the substrate; an organic light emitting diode positioned on the thin film transistor; a crack suppression pattern positioned between a first metal pattern, which is one of the plurality of wirings, an electrode provided in the thin film transistor, and an electrode provided in the organic light emitting diode, and a second metal pattern, which is the other one; a first insulating layer interposed between the crack suppression pattern and the lower first metal pattern; and a second insulating layer interposed between the crack suppression pattern and the second metal pattern thereon, wherein the crack suppression pattern overlaps the first metal pattern and overlaps the bank. .

Description

Organic electro luminescent device

The present invention relates to an organic electroluminescent device, and in particular, during repair, suppression of short circuit defects between electrodes, between wires, or between electrodes and wires due to migration of a metal layer by laser beam irradiation It relates to an organic electroluminescent device and a repair method thereof.

An organic light emitting diode, which is one of flat panel displays (FPD), has high luminance and low operating voltage characteristics.

In addition, since it is a self-luminous type that emits light by itself, the contrast ratio is large, it is possible to realize an ultra-thin display, and it is easy to implement a moving image with a response time of several microseconds (㎲), there is no limitation of the viewing angle and even at low temperature. Since it is stable and driven with a low voltage of 5V to 15V of DC, it is easy to manufacture and design a driving circuit.

Accordingly, the organic electroluminescent device having the above-described advantages has recently been used in various IT devices such as TVs, monitors, and mobile phones.

Hereinafter, the basic structure of the organic EL device will be described in more detail.

The organic light emitting diode is largely composed of an array element and an organic light emitting diode. The array element includes a switching thin film transistor connected to a gate and a data line, and at least one driving thin film transistor connected to the organic light emitting diode, wherein the organic light emitting diode includes a first electrode connected to the driving thin film transistor and an organic light emitting layer and a second electrode.

In the organic light emitting device having such a configuration, the organic light emitting layer itself is formed of a light emitting material that emits red, green, and blue, respectively, to display full color, or the entire organic light emitting layer is formed of an organic light emitting material that emits white light. By emitting white light and forming a color filter pattern including red, green, and blue pigments corresponding to each pixel area, the white light emitted from the organic light emitting layer emitting white light passes through the red, green, and blue color filter patterns. Full color is displayed.

However, the organic electroluminescent device having the above-described configuration has a defect in which normal driving is not performed due to deterioration of characteristics of the thin film transistor or generation of an internal short circuit in the process of manufacturing wiring, switching and driving thin film transistors.

When the thin film transistor formed in one pixel area does not operate normally, current or voltage is not applied to the organic light emitting diode connected to the thin film transistor, and thus the light is darkened, or the source electrode and the drain electrode of the driving thin film transistor In case of a short circuit, the driving thin film transistor is not driven normally and the voltage applied to the source electrode is not turned on/off but is directly applied to the drain electrode, so that the driving pixel area is always on. It is becoming a flashlight.

When one specific pixel area is darkened or brightened in this way, the darkened pixel area cannot be repaired due to the current structural characteristics, so the darkened state is left. By irradiating a laser beam having a predetermined energy density and cutting the electrical connection part with the electrode or (and) the electrical connection part between the driving thin film transistor and the switching thin film transistor, the organic light emitting diode prevents current from flowing and darkens it.

Darkening the pixel area in which the brightly lit defect has occurred is a cause of lowering the display quality as the brightly lit defective has good visibility and is noticeable to the user. Although it cannot be commercialized, the darkened pixel area is hardly recognized by the user, so it can be commercialized as a display device even if about 10 to 20 are generated in the entire display area.

However, FIG. 1 (a schematic cross-sectional view of a part of a pixel area of a conventional organic light emitting device, showing that a short circuit occurred around a portion irradiating a laser beam with respect to a connection portion between a gate wiring and a switching thin film transistor) For reference, in the conventional organic light emitting device 1, a specific area in the pixel area in which the luminescent failure has occurred, that is, the driving thin film transistor (not shown) and the first electrode 60 of the organic light emitting diode (E). The laser beam is applied to at least one of the electrical connection part with The electrical connection is broken by irradiating and cutting the laser beam. When irradiating the laser beam, heat is generated around the cut part by the energy of the laser beam itself, and the insulating film 18, 40, 50 made of an inorganic or organic material is affected by this. ), cracks are occurring inside.

When cracks occur in the insulating layers 18, 40, and 50 as described above, electrodes (not shown) or wires (GL, DL) made of a metallic material positioned between the insulating layers 18, 40, and 50 as time elapses. ) between electrodes (not shown), electrodes (not shown) and wirings (GL, DL), or wiring ( GL and DL) are electrically connected, resulting in a short circuit failure.

In this way, a short circuit occurs between the electrodes (not shown) adjacent up and down with the insulating films 18, 40, and 50 interposed therebetween, between the electrodes (not shown) and the wirings GL and DL, or between the wirings GL and DL. In this case, the darkened pixel area may be brightened again, or a problem in that the entire pixel line is brightened or darkened by affecting neighboring pixel areas is generated.

The present invention has been devised to solve the above problems, and even if cracks are generated in the insulating film during repair through laser beam irradiation, between electrodes, between wirings, or An object of the present invention is to provide an organic electroluminescent device capable of suppressing a short circuit between an electrode and a wiring.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a substrate having a plurality of pixel regions defined therein; a bank positioned along a boundary of the pixel area; a plurality of wirings provided at the boundary of the pixel region or within the pixel region; a thin film transistor provided in each pixel area on the substrate; an organic light emitting diode positioned on the thin film transistor; a crack suppression pattern positioned between the first metal pattern and the second metal pattern; a first insulating layer interposed between the crack suppression pattern and the lower first metal pattern; and a second insulating film interposed between the crack suppression pattern and the second metal pattern on the crack suppression pattern, wherein the first metal pattern includes the plurality of wires and the electrodes provided in the thin film transistor and the organic light emitting diode. one of the electrodes provided, the second metal pattern is the other one of the plurality of wirings, the electrodes provided in the thin film transistor, and the electrodes provided in the organic light emitting diode, and the crack suppression pattern is the first metal An organic electroluminescent device overlapping the pattern and overlapping the bank is provided.

Here, the crack suppression pattern may overlap the second metal pattern.

The crack suppression pattern may not overlap the semiconductor layer of the thin film transistor.

The crack suppression pattern may be made of a metal material.

A portion of the first metal pattern overlapping the crack suppression pattern may be cut.

A crack may be formed in a portion of the first insulating layer overlapping the crack suppression pattern.

In the organic electroluminescent device according to an embodiment of the present invention, cracks in the insulating film are limitedly generated even when a laser beam is irradiated during a repair process to darken a pixel region that has been ignited due to a defect, Even if the metal material is transferred through these cracks, the short circuit between electrodes, between wires, or between electrodes and between wires with the insulating film interposed therebetween by the crack prevention pattern can be fundamentally suppressed, so it is a key to reduce repair failure. is effective.

1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a portion of a pixel region of a conventional organic light emitting device, showing that a short circuit occurs around a portion irradiating a laser beam with respect to a connection portion between a gate wiring and a switching thin film transistor.
FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of one pixel region of an organic light emitting diode having one general switching thin film transistor and one driving thin film transistor; FIG.
3 is a circuit diagram of one pixel region of an organic EL device including one switching thin film transistor, one driving thin film transistor, and one sense thin film transistor as an auxiliary thin film transistor.
4 is a schematic circuit diagram of one pixel region of an organic light emitting device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and a portion cut by irradiating a laser beam for darkening and a crack expansion prevention pattern, which is a characteristic configuration of the present invention. drawing together.
5 is a cross-sectional view of a portion in which a driving thin film transistor is formed in an organic light emitting device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
6 is a cross-sectional view of a connection portion between a gate wiring irradiated with a laser beam for repair and a switching thin film transistor and components positioned around the same in the organic light emitting diode according to an embodiment of the present invention.
7 is a cross-sectional view of a connection portion between a sense thin film transistor to which a laser beam for repair is irradiated and a second auxiliary wiring in the organic electroluminescent device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and components positioned around the same.
8 is a cross-sectional view of an organic light emitting diode according to a modified example of an embodiment of the present invention and an organic light emitting diode having a pattern made of a metal material with one insulating layer interposed therebetween, and repair through laser beam irradiation. A drawing showing the progress of the process.

Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

First, the basic structure and operating characteristics of the organic EL device will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of one pixel region of an organic electroluminescent device including one general switching thin film transistor and one driving thin film transistor.

As shown, in one pixel region P in the organic electroluminescent device ELD1 having one switching thin film transistor Tr1 and one driving thin film transistor Tr2, a switching thin film transistor Tr1 and a driving thin film transistor (Tr2), a storage capacitor (StgC), and an organic light emitting diode (E).

That is, the gate line GL is formed in a first direction, the gate line GL is formed in a second direction crossing the first direction to define the pixel region P, and the data line DL is formed, and the data line is formed. A power supply line PL for applying the power supply voltage VDD is formed spaced apart from the DL.

In addition, a switching thin film transistor Tr1 is formed in a portion where the data line DL and the gate line GL intersect, and a driving thin film transistor Tr2 electrically connected to the switching thin film transistor Tr1 is formed. have.

The first electrode, which is one terminal of the organic light emitting diode (E), is connected to the drain electrode of the driving thin film transistor (Tr2), the second electrode, which is the other terminal, is grounded, and the source of the driving thin film transistor (Tr2) The electrode is connected to the power supply wiring PL, and thus the power supply wiring PL transmits the power supply voltage VDD to the organic light emitting diode E.

A storage capacitor StgC is formed between the gate electrode and the source electrode of the driving thin film transistor Tr2.

*Therefore, when a signal is applied through the gate line GL, the switching thin film transistor Tr1 is turned on, and the signal of the data line DL is transmitted to the gate electrode of the driving thin film transistor Tr2 to drive the driving Since the thin film transistor Tr2 is turned on, light is output through the organic light emitting diode E.

At this time, when the driving thin film transistor Tr2 is turned on, the level of the current flowing from the power supply wiring PL to the organic light emitting diode E is determined, and thus the organic light emitting diode E is It is possible to implement a gray scale, and the storage capacitor StgC serves to constantly maintain the gate voltage of the driving thin film transistor Tr2 when the switching thin film transistor Tr1 is turned off. By doing so, even if the switching thin film transistor Tr1 is turned off, the level of the current flowing through the organic light emitting diode E can be constantly maintained until the next frame.

The organic electroluminescent device ELD1 having such a configuration is the most basic, and it is shown that one switching thin film transistor Tr1 and one driving thin film transistor Tr2 are provided in each pixel region P.

However, in the organic light emitting device, the driving thin film transistor Tr2 may further include a plurality of auxiliary thin film transistors in order to reliably and stably realize the luminance characteristics in consideration of its stable driving or the position of the pixel region within the display region. In this case, the connection between the plurality of auxiliary thin film transistors and the driving thin film transistor and the connection between the plurality of auxiliary thin film transistors and the switching thin film transistor or power wiring may be variously modified.

3 is a circuit diagram of one pixel region of an organic electroluminescent device including one switching thin film transistor, one driving thin film transistor, and one sense thin film transistor as an auxiliary thin film transistor.

As shown, in the display area of the organic electroluminescent device ELD2 provided with three thin film transistors Tr1, Tr2, and Tr3 in the pixel area P, the gate line GL and the data line DL intersect each other. this is being formed

In addition, a first auxiliary line SL is formed in parallel with the gate line GL, and a power line PL and a second auxiliary line for applying a power voltage VDD parallel to the data line DL. (Vref) is being formed.

At this time, in the device area DA in each pixel area P, the switching thin film transistor Tr1 connected to the gate line GL and the data line DL, the switching thin film transistor Tr1 and the power line PL ) connected to the driving thin film transistor Tr2, and a sense thin film transistor Tr3 connected to the driving thin film transistor Tr2 and the first auxiliary wiring SL and the second auxiliary wiring Vref.

The first auxiliary line SL is connected to the gate electrode of the sense thin film transistor Tr3, and the second auxiliary line Vref is electrically connected to the source electrode of the sense thin film transistor Tr3.

In more detail, looking at the connection relationship between the components provided in each pixel region P, the source electrode of the driving thin film transistor Tr2 is connected to the power supply line PL, and the driving thin film transistor Tr2 is connected to the power supply line PL. The drain electrode of the sense thin film transistor Tr3 is connected to the drain electrode and the storage capacitor StgC, and the drain electrode of the switching thin film transistor Tr1 is connected to the gate electrode of the driving thin film transistor Tr2 .

The first auxiliary line SL serves the same role as the gate line GL for applying a scan voltage to the gate electrode of the switching thin film transistor Tr1, and is a gate electrode of the sense thin film transistor Tr3. It serves as a sense wiring that applies a sense voltage.

In addition, the second auxiliary line Vref serves as a reference line for applying a common voltage, which is a reference voltage.

And connected to the drain electrode of the driving thin film transistor (Tr2) is provided with an organic light emitting diode (E) comprising a first electrode, an organic light emitting layer and a second electrode, the drain electrode of the driving thin film transistor (Tr2) and the The first electrode of the organic light emitting diode (E) is configured to be connected to each other.

In this case, when a single sense thin film transistor Tr3 connected to the first auxiliary line SL and the second auxiliary line Vref is further provided in one pixel region P, switching and driving without the sense thin film transistor The display quality can be improved because the power applied to the organic light emitting diode (E) can be controlled more stably compared to the organic light emitting diode (ELD1 of FIG. 2) having a thin film transistor (Tr1, Tr2 in FIG. 2) .

Since the organic electroluminescent device (ELD2) including these components has to implement such a plurality of components, a foreign material defect or static electricity occurs during the manufacturing process, or changes in the environment or process conditions during the manufacturing process. is not normally formed and defects such as short circuit or disconnection may occur. Due to the occurrence of such short circuit or disconnection defect, the pixel area in which the defect is finally generated becomes bright or dark.

In particular, one sense thin film transistor (Tr3) and two auxiliary wirings (SL, Vref) compared to the organic electroluminescent device (ELD1 in FIG. 2) having two thin film transistors (Tr1, Tr2 in FIG. 2) disclosed in FIG. In the case of the organic electroluminescent device (ELD2 of FIG. 3 ) disclosed in FIG. 3 having a relatively more complicated configuration, which is further provided, relatively more luminescent or dark lighting defects occur.

Hereinafter, the organic electroluminescent device (ELD2) disclosed in FIG. 3 having a relatively complex structure and having a high repair frequency will be mainly described. In this case, the idea of the invention according to the present invention is not only the organic electroluminescent device (ELD2) shown in FIG. 3, but also an organic electroluminescent device having two thin film transistors (Tr1, Tr2 in FIG. It will be obvious that it can also be applied to EDL1) of FIG. 2 .

On the other hand, the organic electroluminescent device ELD2 having the above-described configuration is disconnected through laser beam irradiation for a specific region, particularly in the brightly lit pixel region P, when a short circuit or disconnection defect occurs in the pixel region P. The repair process is in progress so that it darkens by sieving.

4 is a schematic circuit diagram of one pixel region of an organic electroluminescent device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and a portion cut by irradiating a laser beam for darkening and a crack suppression pattern, which is a characteristic configuration of the present invention, together It is the drawing shown.

At this time, the organic electroluminescent device 101 according to the embodiment of the present invention disclosed in FIG. 4 has the same components as the organic electroluminescent device (ELD2 in FIG. 3) except for the crack suppression pattern, and these components Since the arrangement and connection relationship between them have been described with reference to FIG. 3 , the description thereof will be omitted.

As one of the most characteristic components of the organic EL device 101 according to the embodiment of the present invention, a crack is generated in the insulating film (not shown) in the vicinity of which the laser beam is irradiated by laser beam irradiation for repair, and thus As time goes by, the electrode or wiring (GL, DL, PL, SL, Vref) made of a metallic material transitions through the crack to prevent a short circuit with other electrodes or wiring (GL, DL, PL, SL, Vref). In order to suppress the occurrence of the laser beam, it is made of a metal material around it, including the portions (A1, A2, A3) irradiated with the laser beam, and serves to suppress crack expansion in the form of an island spaced apart from other components and not in contact It is characterized in that crack suppression patterns SM1, SM2, SM3 are provided.

At this time, the portions A1, A2, and A3 to which the laser beam is irradiated for dark ignition are the connection portion A1 between the switching thin film transistor Tr1 and the gate wiring GL, the driving thin film transistor Tr2 and the organic light emitting diode. It serves as a connection part A2 between (E) and a connection part A3 between the sense thin film transistor Tr3 which is an auxiliary thin film transistor and the second auxiliary wiring Vref.

Therefore, in each part (A1, A2, A3) irradiated with a laser beam for dark ignition, the electrode or wiring (GL, DL, PL, SL, Vref) made of a metal material to be cut by the laser beam is covered. and crack suppression patterns SM1, SM2, SM3 having an area larger than the area of the portions A1, A2, A3 directly irradiated with the laser beam on the insulating film and having a floating island shape on the insulating film are provided, It is characterized by having

Since these crack suppression patterns SM1 , SM2 , and SM3 are not electrically connected to components provided in each pixel region P, the circuit driving of one pixel region P is the organic electroluminescence disclosed in FIG. 3 . The same operation as the device (ELD2 in FIG. 3) is performed, and these crack suppression patterns SM1, SM2, and SM3 are cross-sectional areas of electrodes or wirings (GL, DL, PL, SL, Vref) cut by laser beam irradiation. Since it is characterized in that the stacked arrangement structure is changed according to a change in position, it will be described in more detail with reference to the cross-sectional view below.

5 is a cross-sectional view of a portion in which a driving thin film transistor is formed in the organic EL device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a laser beam for repair in the organic EL device according to an embodiment of the present invention. A cross-sectional view of a connection part between the gate wiring and the switching thin film transistor and components positioned around it, and FIG. 7 is a sense thin film transistor irradiated with a laser beam for repair in the organic electroluminescent device according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a cross-sectional view of the connection part between the and the second auxiliary wiring and the components located in the periphery thereof.

At this time, the connection part (A2 in FIG. 4 ) between the organic light emitting diode (E) and the driving thin film transistor (Tr2), which is a part to which another laser beam is irradiated, has a substantially stacked structure of the sense thin film transistor (Tr3) and the second Since it is the same as the connection part A3 between the two auxiliary wirings Vref, this is omitted.

In addition, since both the switching and driving thin film transistor (not shown, Tr2) and the sense thin film transistor Tr3 formed in the device region DA in each pixel region P have the same cross-sectional configuration, representatively, the driving thin film transistor Tr2 only the cross-sectional configuration of the , and for convenience of explanation, among the components constituting the switching and driving thin film transistors (not shown, Tr2) and the sense thin film transistor (Tr3), each of these thin film transistors (not shown, Tr2, Tr3) is Components formed only correspondingly, that is, the gate electrode 115, the oxide semiconductor layer 120, and the source electrode 133 and the drain electrode 136 spaced apart from each other are given the same reference numerals and switched at the same time. The driving and sensing thin film transistors (not shown, Tr2, Tr3) are given a, b, and c together at the end of each number in the order, and the gate insulating film 118, the interlayer insulating film 123, and the protective film 140 are in the display area. Since the components are formed in a state of being connected to each other over the entire surface, only reference numerals of the same number are given.

As shown, the organic electroluminescent device 101 according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a first substrate 110 provided with a plurality of thin film transistors (not shown, Tr3, Tr2) and an organic electroluminescent diode (E); , and a second substrate 170 for encapsulation to protect the organic light emitting diode (E) and prevent the inflow of moisture or oxygen from the outside.

At this time, although not shown in the drawing, a printed circuit board (not shown) provided with a driving circuit (not shown) for driving is mounted in a non-display area outside the display area of the first substrate 110 .

On the other hand, although the second substrate 170 is provided in a form facing and spaced apart from the first substrate 110 in the organic electroluminescent device 101 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the second substrate 170 may be configured to be in contact with the second electrode 168 provided on the uppermost layer of the first substrate 110 in the form of a film including an adhesive layer, or may be disposed on the second electrode 168 . An insulating layer (not shown) or an inorganic insulating layer (not shown) is further provided and thus used as an encapsulation layer (not shown) by itself, and thus may be omitted.

Since the organic electroluminescent device 101 according to the embodiment of the present invention has structural characteristics in the first substrate 110 , the configuration of the first substrate 110 will be mainly described hereinafter.

The first substrate 110 includes a switching thin film transistor (not shown) and three thin film transistors (not shown, Tr2, Tr3) including a switching thin film transistor (not shown) and driving and sense thin film transistors Tr2 and Tr3 in each pixel region P. and is connected to the driving thin film transistor (Tr2) and provided with an organic light emitting diode (E).

In addition, a gate line GL and a data line DL that are connected to the switching thin film transistor (not shown) and cross each other are provided, and are spaced apart from the gate line GL or the data line DL in parallel with a power line. (PL in FIG. 4) and first and second auxiliary wirings (SL and Vref in FIG. 4) are further provided.

At this time, the driving thin film transistor (Tr2) is connected to the switching thin film transistor (not shown) and the sense thin film transistor (Tr3) and at the same time connected to the power supply wiring (PL in FIG. 4) and the organic light emitting diode (E), , the sense thin film transistor Tr3 is connected to the first and second auxiliary wirings (SL and Vref in FIG. 4 ) together with the driving thin film transistor Tr2 .

The driving thin film transistor Tr2 includes a gate electrode 115b, a gate insulating layer 118, an oxide semiconductor layer 120b, an interlayer insulating layer 123 having a semiconductor layer contact hole 125, and the interlayer insulating layer. It includes a source electrode 133b and a drain electrode 136b spaced apart from each other on 123 and contacting the oxide semiconductor layer 120b through the semiconductor layer contact hole 125, respectively.

In addition, the switching thin film transistor (not shown) and the sense thin film transistor Tr3 also have the same stacked structure as the driving thin film transistor Tr2.

At this time, on the same layer on which the gate electrode 115b of the driving thin film transistor Tr2 is formed, that is, on the first substrate 1410, the gate wiring ( GL) and the first auxiliary wiring (not shown) are formed in parallel and spaced apart therefrom.

In addition, on the same layer on which the source and drain electrodes 133b and 136b of the driving thin film transistor Tr2 are formed, that is, on the interlayer insulating film 123, the same metal material as that of the source and drain electrodes 133b and 136b is formed and the gate The data line DL is formed extending in a direction crossing the line GL, and the power line PL in FIG. 4 and the second auxiliary line Vref are spaced apart from the data line DL and parallel to each other. is being formed

Meanwhile, a gate electrode (not shown) of the switching thin film transistor (not shown) is connected to the gate line GL, and a source electrode (not shown) of the switching thin film transistor (not shown) is connected to the data line DL. is connected with

The first auxiliary line (SL in FIG. 4) is connected to the gate electrode 115c of the sense thin film transistor Tr3, and the second auxiliary line Vref is the source electrode of the sense thin film transistor Tr3. 133c, and the power wiring (PL in FIG. 4) is connected to the source electrode 133b of the driving thin film transistor Tr2.

Meanwhile, in the drawings, the switching and driving thin film transistor (not shown, Tr2) and the sense thin film transistor (Tr3) form a bottom gate structure as an example, but the switching and driving thin film transistor (not shown, Tr2) and the sense It will be obvious that the stacked configuration of the thin film transistor Tr3 can be variously modified.

For example, the switching and driving thin film transistor (not shown, Tr2) and the sense thin film transistor Tr3 may have a polysilicon semiconductor layer and may be configured as a top gate type.

In this case, the switching and driving thin film transistor (not shown, Tr2) and the sense thin film transistor (Tr3) have a semiconductor layer comprising an active region of pure polysilicon and source and drain regions of polysilicon doped with impurities on both sides thereof; An interlayer insulating film having a gate insulating film, a gate electrode formed to overlap the active region, a semiconductor layer contact hole exposing the source and drain regions, respectively, and the source and drain regions are in contact with the source and drain regions through the semiconductor layer contact hole, respectively It is configured to include source and drain electrodes spaced apart from each other.

On the other hand, although not shown in the drawing, the power wiring (PL of FIG. 4 ) is formed on the same layer on which the data wiring DL is formed, that is, the interlayer insulating film 123 , and this power wiring (PL of FIG. 4 ) is the It is connected to the source electrode 133b of the driving thin film transistor Tr2.

At this time, the gate electrode 115b and the gate wiring GL, the data line DL and the power wiring (PL in FIG. 4 ), the source and drain electrodes 133b and 136b, and the first and second auxiliary wirings ( FIG. 4 ). 4, SL, Vrf) is a metal material with low resistance properties, such as copper (Cu), copper alloy (AlNd), aluminum (Al), aluminum alloy (AlNd), molybdenum (Mo) and molybdenum (Mo) MoTi) is formed of one or more materials selected from the group consisting of a single layer or a multi-layer structure of more than double layers.

On the other hand, a protective film 140 made of an inorganic insulating material, for example, silicon oxide (SiO ₂ ) or silicon nitride (SiNx) is formed on the switching and driving thin film transistor (not shown, Tr2) and the sense thin film transistor (Tr3). .

In this case, a first drain contact hole 143 exposing the drain electrode 136b of the driving thin film transistor Tr2 is provided in the passivation layer 140 .

At this time, as one of the most characteristic components of the organic electroluminescent device 101 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the portions A1, A2, and A3 to which the laser beam is irradiated during the repair process, that is, the switching thin film transistor (not shown) ) and the connection portion A1 between the gate wiring GL, the connection portion between the driving thin film transistor Tr2 and the organic light emitting diode E (not shown), and the sense thin film transistor Tr3 and the second auxiliary wiring Vref. The connection portion A3 between the two is made of a metallic material, and the gate insulating film 118, the interlayer insulating film 123, or the switching and driving thin film transistor (not shown, Tr2) and the sense thin film transistor (Tr3) An island-shaped crack suppression pattern SM1 (not shown, SM3) that is not connected to any component constituting the organic light emitting device 101 is provided in a floating form on the protective film 140 provided to cover the It is characterized by having

The crack suppression pattern SM1 (not shown, SM3) has an area larger than the area to which the laser beam is irradiated, overlaps the electrode or wiring Vref, GL to be cut by irradiating the laser beam, and has an upper portion thereof It is characterized in that it is formed on the insulating films 118 , 123 , 140 located in the .

In the drawing, a first crack suppression pattern SM1 is provided on the gate insulating layer 118 corresponding to the connection portion A1 between the switching thin film transistor (not shown) and the gate wiring GL, and the sense thin film transistor Tr3 ) and the second auxiliary wiring Vref, the third crack suppression pattern SM3 is provided on the passivation layer 140 in the connection portion A3.

At this time, although not shown in the drawing, the second crack suppression pattern (in FIG. 4 ) also corresponds to the connection portion (A2 in FIG. 4 ) between the driving thin film transistor Tr2 and the organic light emitting diode E (A2 in FIG. 4 ). SM2) is available.

The crack suppression pattern SM1 (not shown, SM3) may be made of the same metal material having a low resistance characteristic constituting the gate line GL or the data line DL, or has a low resistance characteristic because an electrical connection is not made. It may be made of other metal materials other than the metal material having

The crack suppression pattern SM1 (not shown, SM3) is an insulating film 118 made of an inorganic material or an organic material located on the electrode or wiring (GL, Vref) portion cut by the laser beam irradiation at the time when the portion is cut. High thermal energy is transferred to 123 , 140 , and 150 to generate cracks. Only the insulating films 118 and 123 positioned above the electrodes or wirings GL and Vref to which the laser beam is irradiated are crack-inhibiting patterns SM1. . do

At this time, the laser beam irradiation is characterized in that it is made through the bottom surface of the first substrate (110). The second electrode 168 constituting the organic light emitting diode E is formed on the uppermost portion of the first substrate 110 over the entire display area, so it is not easy to determine the position when irradiating the laser beam.

And when the laser beam is irradiated through the second substrate 170, the second electrode 168 itself is damaged.

In addition, since the second electrode 170 must pass through and irradiated to the electrodes or wirings GL and Vref positioned below it, the energy density of the laser beam is relatively higher than that of irradiating through the first substrate 110 . becomes higher, and in this case, cracks are further generated in the insulating layers 118 , 123 , 140 , and 150 .

Therefore, in order to prevent this, the laser beam is irradiated through the bottom surface of the first substrate 110 so that a laser beam having an energy density of a level capable of cutting only one electrode or wiring GL and Vref is irradiated.

Therefore, even if the laser beam for repair is irradiated through the bottom surface of the first substrate 110, the insulating film 118, which is in contact with the electrode or wiring (GL, Vref) to which the laser beam is irradiated, is in contact therewith and is located on the top thereof. 123), the crack is prevented by the crack suppression pattern SM1 (not shown, SM3), so that the crack is not able to proceed upward any more.

Therefore, even if the electrode or wiring (GL, Vref) made of a metal material is transferred through the cracked portion, the insulating films 18, 23, and 40 are formed with each other as in the conventional organic electroluminescent device (1 in FIG. 1). Short circuits between adjacent electrodes, between wirings (GL and DL in Fig. 1) or between electrodes and wirings adjacent to each other can be suppressed.

In the organic EL device 101 according to the embodiment of the present invention, cracks are also generated in the insulating layers 118 and 123 in a limited manner, and the metal material forming the electrodes or wirings GL and Vref is transferred through these cracks.

However, the metal material is transferred only to the crack suppression pattern SM1 (not shown, SM3), and the electrode or wiring (GL, Vref) and the crack suppression pattern are formed by the metal material transferred through the cracked portion. Although a short circuit with (SM1, not shown, SM3) occurs, the crack suppression pattern (SM1, not shown, SM3) has an island shape and is floated on the insulating films 118 and 123 and is formed without electrical connection with any component. Therefore, there is no problem in circuit driving within each pixel area.

Therefore, a short circuit between the electrode or wiring (GL, Vred), in which the transition of the metal material has occurred through the crack, and the crack suppression pattern (SM1, not shown, SM3) is not a problem at all. It serves to suppress the occurrence of a short circuit between the components of the organic light emitting device 101 made of a material.

In the repair process, a laser beam having an energy density sufficient to cut only the electrodes or wirings (GL, Vref) made of a metal material constituting one layer is irradiated. Since it does not have sufficient energy to cut all of the metal layers, the crack suppression pattern SM1, not shown, SM3 made of a metal material itself is not cut by laser beam irradiation, thereby preventing the crack suppression pattern ( SM1 (not shown, SM3) is not cracked in the insulating film positioned on the upper part.

Meanwhile, on the passivation layer 140 , a planarization layer 150 having a flat surface is formed over the entire display area.

At this time, the planarization layer 150 is provided with a second drain contact hole 153 for exposing the drain electrode 136b of the driving thin film transistor Tr2 corresponding to the driving thin film transistor Tr2, and the second drain contact hole 153 is provided. is overlapped with the first drain contact hole 143 exposing the drain electrode 136b of the driving thin film transistor Tr2 in order to improve the aperture ratio of the pixel region P.

In addition, the transparent conductive material contacts the drain electrode 136b through the first and second drain contact holes 143 and 153 connected to each other for each pixel region P on the planarization layer 150 and has a large work function value. The first electrode 160 is formed of a material, for example, indium-tin-oxide (ITO), which serves as an anode electrode.

Meanwhile, a bank 163 is formed at the boundary of each pixel region P above the first electrode 160 .

In this case, the bank 163 is formed to surround each pixel region P, overlap the edge of the first electrode 160 with a predetermined width, and expose the central portion of the first electrode 160 .

The bank 163 having such a configuration is made of a transparent organic insulating material, for example, poly imide, or a black material, for example, black resin.

In addition, an organic emission layer 165 is formed on the first electrode 160 surrounded by the bank 163 in each pixel region P. As shown in FIG.

In addition, on the organic light emitting layer 165 and the bank 163, a metal material having a relatively small work function value, for example, aluminum (Al), an aluminum alloy (AlNd), The second electrode 168 is formed of any one of silver (Ag), magnesium (Mg), gold (Au), and aluminum magnesium alloy (AlMg) or a mixture of two or more materials.

Meanwhile, in each pixel area, the first and second electrodes 160 and 168 and the organic light emitting layer 165 formed therebetween form an organic light emitting diode (E).

Although not shown in the drawings, a multilayer structure is provided between the first electrode 160 and the organic emission layer 165 and between the organic emission layer 165 and the second electrode 168 to improve the luminous efficiency of the organic emission layer 165 , respectively. A first emission compensation layer (not shown) and a second emission compensation layer (not shown) may be further formed.

In this case, the multi-layered first emission compensation layer (not shown) is sequentially stacked on the first electrode 160 and may include a hole injection layer and a hole transport layer, and Two emission compensation layers (not shown) are sequentially stacked from the organic emission layer 165 and may include an electron transporting layer and an electron injection layer.

Meanwhile, although the first emission compensation layer (not shown) and the second emission compensation layer (not shown) have a double-layer structure as an example, it is not necessarily necessary to form a double-layer structure. That is, the first emission compensation layer (not shown) may be a hole injection layer or a hole transport layer to form a single layer structure, and the second emission compensation layer (not shown) may also become an electron injection layer or an electron transport layer to form a single layer. structure can be achieved.

In addition, the first emission compensation layer (not shown) may further include an electron blocking layer, and the second emission compensation layer (not shown) may further include a hole blocking layer.

Meanwhile, although not shown in the drawing, the organic electroluminescent device 101 according to the embodiment of the present invention has a pixel region P in each pixel region P between the passivation layer 140 and the planarization layer 150 . ), a color filter pattern (not shown) having any one of red, green, and blue colors may be further provided.

In this way, when a color filter pattern (not shown) having any one of red, green, and blue is provided between the passivation layer 140 and the planarization layer 150 , the organic emission layer 165 is formed for each pixel area P. It is characterized by forming a white organic light emitting layer 165 that emits white light from the entire display area without distinction, and the white light emitted from the organic light emitting layer 165 transmits the red, green, and blue color filter patterns (not shown) to allow full color will implement

In this case, the pixel area not provided with the red, green, and blue color filter patterns (not shown) realizes white, thereby further improving the contrast ratio of white and black by implementing four colors of red, green, blue and white. has

Meanwhile, the red, green, and blue color filter patterns (not shown) may be omitted as in the organic electroluminescent device 101 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and in this case, the organic light emitting layer 165 is formed in the pixel region P ) by sequentially repeating a configuration that emits red, green, and blue or a configuration that emits red, green, blue and white light, full color can be realized.

And the organic light emitting diode 101 according to an embodiment of the present invention corresponds to the first substrate 110 having the above-described configuration, and a second substrate (not shown) for encapsulation of the organic light emitting diode E. city) is available.

In this case, an adhesive (not shown) made of a sealant or a frit is provided along the edges of the first substrate 110 and the second substrate (not shown), and the first substrate is formed by the adhesive (not shown). 110 and the second substrate (not shown) are bonded to each other to maintain the panel state.

In this case, a vacuum state or an inert gas atmosphere may be formed between the first substrate 110 and the second substrate (not shown) spaced apart from each other by being filled with an inert gas.

The second substrate (not shown) for the encapsulation may be made of plastic having a flexible characteristic, or may be made of a glass substrate.

Meanwhile, the organic electroluminescent device 101 according to the embodiment of the present invention may have a configuration in which the second substrate (not shown) for encapsulation is omitted.

That is, the second substrate (not shown) may be configured to contact the second electrode 168 provided on the uppermost layer of the first substrate 110 in the form of a film including an adhesive layer, or An organic insulating film (not shown) or an inorganic insulating film (not shown) may be further provided on the electrode 168 to form a capping film, and the organic insulating film (not shown) or the inorganic insulating film (not shown) is encapsulated by itself. It may also be used as a layer film (not shown), and in this case, the second substrate (not shown) is omitted.

In the organic light emitting diode 101 according to the embodiment of the present invention having such a configuration, even if a laser beam is irradiated during the repair process to make the brightly lit pixel region P darkly lit due to defects, the insulating film Cracks are limitedly generated inside the cracks 118 and 123, and even if the metal material is transferred through these cracks, the cracks are generated in the insulating layers 118 and 123 by the crack suppression pattern SM1 (not shown, SM3). ) between electrodes or between electrodes and wiring can be fundamentally suppressed, so it has the effect of reducing repair failure.

On the other hand, in the organic light emitting device 101 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the crack suppression pattern SM1, not shown, SM3 is a gate insulating film 118 which is an insulating film provided for implementing the organic light emitting device 101 . Alternatively, it is shown that it is formed on the passivation layer 140 .

In this way, the crack suppression pattern SM1 (not shown, Sm3) may be formed on the interlayer insulating film 123 together with the gate insulating film 118 and the protective film 140, which are components of the organic light emitting diode 101, 8 (a cross-sectional view of an organic electroluminescent device having a pattern made of a metal material with one insulating layer interposed therebetween according to an organic electroluminescent device according to a modified example of an embodiment of the present invention and repair through laser beam irradiation; Referring to the drawing showing the process proceeding), as an organic electroluminescent device (ELD3) according to a comparative example, an electrode or wiring (hereinafter referred to as a first metal pattern) on which a laser beam is irradiated for repair on a stacked structure of a thin film transistor (not shown). For (referred to as MP1), one insulating film (hereinafter referred to as the first insulating film IL1) exists on the upper portion thereof, and another electrode or wiring (hereinafter referred to as the second metal pattern (hereinafter referred to as the second metal pattern) on the first insulating film IL1 MP2)), even if a crack suppression pattern is formed on the first insulating layer IL1, the first insulating layer IL1 is positioned on the same layer as the second metal pattern MP2. When a crack is generated in the junction, a short circuit between the first metal pattern MP1 and the second metal pattern MP2 cannot be suppressed.

Therefore, in order to solve this problem, the organic electroluminescent device 201 according to a modified example of the embodiment of the present invention is provided with a separate product between the first insulating layer IL1 and the second metal pattern MP2 positioned thereon. After restarting the second insulating layer IL2, the area between the first insulating layer IL1 and the added second insulating layer IL2 corresponds to the portion SM4 to which the laser beam is irradiated, and has a larger area than that of other components. It is characterized in that the configuration provided with the island-shaped crack suppression pattern SM4 that is not connected to the .

Since other configurations are the same as those of the organic electroluminescent device according to the embodiment of the present invention described above, a description thereof will be omitted below.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and modifications, and can be implemented with various modifications without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

101: organic electroluminescent device
110: first substrate
118: gate insulating film
123: interlayer insulating film
140: shield
150: planarization layer
160: first electrode
156: organic light emitting layer
168: second electrode
170: second substrate
A1: Laser beam irradiation part 1
DL: data wiring
E: organic light emitting diode
GL: gate wiring

Claims (6)

a substrate having a plurality of pixel regions defined thereon;
a bank positioned along a boundary of the pixel area;
a plurality of wirings provided at the boundary of the pixel region or within the pixel region;
a thin film transistor provided in each pixel area on the substrate;
an organic light emitting diode positioned on the thin film transistor;
a crack suppression pattern positioned between the first metal pattern and the second metal pattern;
a first insulating layer interposed between the crack suppression pattern and the lower first metal pattern;
a second insulating layer interposed between the crack suppression pattern and the second metal pattern thereon
includes,
The first metal pattern is one of the plurality of wirings, an electrode provided in the thin film transistor, and an electrode provided in the organic light emitting diode,
The second metal pattern is the other one of the plurality of wires and the electrodes provided in the thin film transistor and the electrodes provided in the organic light emitting diode,
The crack suppression pattern overlaps the first metal pattern and overlaps the bank.
organic electroluminescent device. The method of claim 1,
The crack suppression pattern overlaps the second metal pattern.
organic electroluminescent device. The method of claim 1,
The crack suppression pattern does not overlap the semiconductor layer of the thin film transistor
organic electroluminescent device. The method of claim 1,
The crack suppression pattern is made of a metallic material.
organic electroluminescent device. The method of claim 1,
The portion of the first metal pattern overlapping the crack suppression pattern is cut
organic electroluminescent device. 6. The method of claim 5,
A crack is formed in a portion of the first insulating layer overlapping the crack suppression pattern.
organic electroluminescent device.

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