KR20060025242A - Organic electro-luminescence display device and fabricating method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an organic light emitting display device capable of easily reworking a protective partition and a method of manufacturing the same.

An organic electroluminescent display device according to the present invention comprises: a substrate on which an organic electroluminescent array is formed; A cap bonded to the seal line region of the substrate through a sealant; A protective partition wall formed to be parallel to the sealant while maintaining a predetermined distance from left and right of the seal line region; And a dummy insulating layer disposed between the protective barrier and the substrate.

Description

Organic electroluminescent display device and manufacturing method thereof {Organic Electro-Luminescence Display Device And Fabricating Method Thereof}             

1 is a plan view schematically illustrating a conventional organic electroluminescent display device.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating region A of the organic electroluminescent display device illustrated in FIG. 1 in detail.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines II ′ and II-II ′ of FIG. 2.

4 is a view for explaining the light emission principle of a conventional organic electroluminescent display device.

5 illustrates a portion of an organic electroluminescent display device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III ′ and line IV-IV ′ of FIG. 5.

7A to 7F illustrate a method of manufacturing an organic light emitting display device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

<Brief description of symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

2,102: substrate 4,104: anode electrode

12,112: cathode electrode 10,110: organic light emitting layer

6,106 insulating film 8,108 partition wall

52,125: second line 54,154: first line

25,125 Sealant 158 Protective bulkhead

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an organic electroluminescent display device, and more particularly, to an organic electroluminescent display device capable of easily reworking a protective partition and a manufacturing method thereof.

Recently, various flat panel displays have been developed to reduce weight and volume, which are disadvantages of cathode ray tubes. Such flat panel displays include liquid crystal displays, field emission displays, plasma display panels, and electro-luminescence (EL). Display elements).

In order to improve the display quality of such a flat panel display device and to attempt to make a large screen, there are active researches. Among these, the EL display element is a self-light emitting element that emits light by itself. The EL display element displays a video image by exciting fluorescent material using carriers such as electrons and holes.

This EL display element is roughly divided into an inorganic EL display element and an organic EL display element according to the material used.

The organic EL display element is driven at a lower voltage of about 5 to 20 V compared to the inorganic EL display element requiring a high voltage of 100 to 200 V, thus enabling direct current low voltage driving. In addition, the organic EL display element has excellent characteristics such as wide viewing angle, high-speed response, and high contrast ratio, so that it is used as a pixel of a graphic display, a pixel of a television image display or a surface light source. It can be used and is suitable for next-generation flat panel display because it is thin, light and good color.

FIG. 1 is a view schematically showing a general organic EL display device, FIG. 2 is a plan view specifically showing a part (area A) of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a line I-I 'and II-II' of FIG. This is a cross-sectional view shown by cutting.

1 through 3 illustrate a display area P1 in which an organic EL array including driving electrodes (for example, an anode electrode and a cathode electrode) is formed, and a display area P1. The non-display area P2 in which the pad part 25 for supplying a driving signal to the driving electrodes is positioned is provided.

The organic EL array formed in the display area P1 has a first electrode (or anode electrode 4) formed on the substrate 2 and a second electrode (or cathode electrode) formed in a direction crossing the anode electrode 4. 12)) is formed.

A plurality of anode electrodes 4 are spaced apart at predetermined intervals on the substrate 2. On the substrate 2 on which the anode electrode 4 is formed, an insulating film 6 having an opening for each EL cell EL region is formed. On the insulating film 6, a partition 8 for separating the organic light emitting layer 10 and the cathode electrode 12 to be formed thereon is positioned. The partition wall 8 is formed in a direction crossing the anode electrode 4 and has an overhang structure in which the upper end portion has a wider width than the lower end portion. On the insulating film 6 on which the partition 8 is formed, the organic light emitting layer 10 and the cathode electrode 12 made of an organic compound are sequentially deposited on the entire surface. The organic light emitting layer 10 is formed by stacking a hole injection layer, a hole transport layer, a light emitting layer, an electron transport layer and an electron injection layer on the insulating film (6).

In the non-display area P2, a data pad for supplying a data voltage to the anode electrode 4 through the first line 54 extending from the anode electrode 4 of the display area P1 and the first line 52. Are formed, and a second line 52 connected to the cathode electrode 12 and a scan pad for supplying a scan voltage through the second line 52 are provided. Here, an opaque conductive layer (not shown) may be further formed on the second line 52 to improve the conductivity of the second line 52. Such a data pad is connected to a TCP in which a first driving circuit for generating a data voltage is mounted to supply a data voltage to each anode electrode 4. Scan pads are formed on both sides of the data pad. The scan pad is connected to the TCP in which the second driving circuit which generates the scan voltage is connected to supply the scan voltage to each cathode line 12.

The organic EL array in the display area P1 is easily deteriorated by moisture and oxygen. In order to solve this problem, an encapsulation process is performed to bond the substrate 2 and the cap 28 on which the organic EL array such as the anode electrode 2 is formed and the sealant 25 such as an epoxy resin. Here, the sealant 25 is surrounded by the protective partition 58. That is, the protective barriers 58 are formed side by side while maintaining a predetermined distance from the left and right of the sealant 25, respectively. The protective barrier wall 58 is formed of the same material as the barrier wall 8 of the display area P1 and prevents the sealant 25 from flowing into the organic EL array of the display area P1. It serves to prevent outflow to the outer region of the seal line region P3.

In the conventional organic EL display device having such a structure, when voltage is applied between the anode electrode 4 and the cathode electrode 12, as shown in FIG. 4, electrons (or cathode) generated from the cathode electrode 12 are generated. Is moved toward the light emitting layer 10c through the electron injection layer 10a and the electron transport layer 10b. In addition, holes (or anodes) generated from the anode electrode 4 move toward the light emitting layer 10c through the hole injection layer 10d and the hole transport layer 10d. Accordingly, in the light emitting layer 10c, excitons are formed by recombination of electrons and electrons supplied from the electron transport layer 10b and the hole transport layer 10e, and the excitons are excited to the ground state and emit light of constant energy. The image is displayed by being discharged to the outside through the anode electrode 4.

On the other hand, such an organic EL display device has a problem in that the protective partition 58 is directly formed on the substrate 2 so that rework is not easily performed.

In more detail, when the protective barrier 58 is formed adjacent to the sealant 25, the protective barrier 58 is not frequently formed due to a process deviation. In this case, a rework is carried out including a process of removing or separating the protective partition 58 from the substrate 2. However, since the protective partition 58 is formed of the photosensitive organic material, it is not easy to separate from the substrate 2 after being formed on the substrate 2. Accordingly, there is a demand for a method capable of easily reworking the protective partition 58.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an organic light emitting display device capable of easily reworking a protective partition and a method of manufacturing the same.

In order to achieve the above objects, the organic electroluminescent display device according to the present invention comprises a substrate formed with an organic electroluminescent array; A cap bonded to the seal line region of the substrate through a sealant; A protective partition wall formed to be parallel to the sealant while maintaining a predetermined distance from left and right of the seal line region; And a dummy insulating layer disposed between the protective barrier and the substrate.

The method may further include a transparent electrode pattern positioned on the substrate and the dummy insulating layer.

The dummy insulating layer has a wider line width than the protective barrier, and the transparent electrode pattern has a wider line width than the dummy insulating layer.

The organic light emitting array includes a first electrode formed on a substrate; An insulating film partially exposing the first electrode; An organic light emitting layer formed on the first electrode; And a second electrode formed to intersect the first electrode with the organic light emitting layer interposed therebetween, wherein the insulating layer is made of the same material as the dummy insulating layer, and the transparent electrode pattern is made of the same material as the first electrode. do.

A method of manufacturing an organic light emitting display device according to the present invention includes the steps of forming a first electrode positioned in a display area of a substrate and a transparent electrode pattern positioned in a non-display area of the substrate; Forming an insulating film exposing a light emitting region on the first electrode and a dummy insulating film on the transparent electrode pattern; Forming a barrier rib formed on the display area, the barrier rib crossing the first electrode, and a protective barrier wall parallel to the seal line area while maintaining a predetermined distance between left and right sides of the seal line area of the substrate; Forming an organic light emitting layer in a light emitting region on the first electrode; Forming a second electrode formed to intersect the first electrode with the organic light emitting layer interposed therebetween; And bonding the cap and the substrate to each other using a sealant positioned in the seal line region.

The dummy insulating layer may be formed to have a wider line width than the protective barrier, and the transparent electrode pattern may be formed to have a wider line width than the dummy insulating layer.

 Other objects and features of the present invention in addition to the above object will become apparent from the description of the accompanying examples.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 7F.

FIG. 5 is a view showing a part of an organic EL display device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III 'and line IV-IV' of FIG. 5.

5 and 6 illustrate a display area P1 in which an organic EL array including an anode electrode and the like is formed, and a pad unit for supplying driving signals to driving electrodes in the display area P1. The non-display area P2 is provided.

The display area P1 includes a first electrode (or anode electrode 104) formed on the substrate 102 and a second electrode (or cathode electrode 112) formed in a direction crossing the anode electrode 104. An organic EL array is formed.

A plurality of anode electrodes 104 are formed on the substrate 102 spaced apart from each other at predetermined intervals. On the substrate 102 on which the anode electrode 104 is formed, an insulating film 106 including an opening defining an emission region for each EL cell EL region is formed. On the insulating layer 106, a partition 108 having an overhang structure having an upper end wider than the lower end is formed.

The partition 108 serves to separate the organic light emitting layer 110 and the cathode line 112 to be formed thereon.

On the insulating layer 106 on which the partition 108 is formed, the organic light emitting layer 110 and the cathode electrode 112 made of an organic compound are sequentially deposited on the entire surface. The organic light emitting layer 110 is formed by stacking a hole injection layer, a hole transport layer, a light emitting layer, an electron transport layer, and an electron injection layer on the insulating film 106.

In the non-display area P2, a first line (not shown) extending from the anode electrode 104 of the display area P1 and data pads supplying a data voltage to the anode electrode 104 through the first line are formed. The second line 152 connected to the cathode electrode 112 and a scan pad for supplying a scan voltage through the second line 152 are provided. Here, the cathode electrode 112 may be connected to the second line 152, and an opaque conductive layer (not shown) may be further formed on the second line 152 to improve conductivity of the second line 152. .

The data pad is connected to a TCP in which a first driving circuit for generating a data voltage is mounted to supply a data voltage to each anode electrode 104. Scan pads are formed on both sides of the data pad. The scan pad is connected to the TCP in which the second driving circuit which generates the scan voltage is connected to supply the scan voltage to each cathode line 112.

The non-display area P2 is formed to surround the display area P1 including the organic EL array, thereby forming a protective partition 158 that protects the organic EL array. That is, the protective barrier wall 158 is formed side by side while maintaining a predetermined distance from the left and right of the seal line region P3 in which the sealant 125 is positioned to surround the sealant 125. The protective barrier wall 158 is formed of the same material as the barrier wall 108 of the display area P1 and prevents the sealant 125 from flowing into the organic EL array of the display area P1. It serves to prevent the sealant 25 from leaking to the outer area.

The transparent electrode pattern 103 and the dummy insulating layer 105 are sequentially formed between the protective barrier rib 158 and the substrate 102. The dummy insulating layer 105 serves to facilitate rework by preventing direct contact between the partition wall 108 and the substrate 102. That is, when the protective barrier rib 158 is not formed in the correct position, the dummy insulating layer 105 disposed under the protective barrier rib 158 may be formed even if the protective barrier rib 158 is not directly removed or separated from the substrate 102. By separating from the 102, the protective barrier 158 formed on the dummy insulating layer 105 may also be separated or removed on the substrate 102. As a result, the rework of the protective partition 158 can be easily performed.

The transparent electrode pattern 103 is positioned between the dummy insulating film 105 and the substrate 102 to prevent direct contact between the dummy insulating film 105 and the substrate 102. When the dummy insulating film 105 is directly formed on the substrate 102 because the dummy insulating film 105 is not good adhesion due to the difference in the interfacial energy, material properties, etc. with the substrate 102, the dummy insulating film 105 Peeling phenomenon such as partial separation on the substrate 102 will appear. In order to prevent such a phenomenon, the transparent electrode pattern 103 may be further formed on the substrate 102 and the dummy insulating film 105 to facilitate formation of the dummy insulating film 105.

Here, the dummy insulating layer 105 is formed to have a wider line width than the protective barrier wall 158, and the transparent electrode pattern 103 is formed to have a wider line width than the dummy insulating layer 105.

As described above, in the organic electroluminescent display device according to the present invention, the transparent electrode pattern 103 and the dummy insulating film 105 are formed under the protective barrier wall 158 to prevent inflow and outflow of the sealant 125. Accordingly, when the rework of the protective barrier rib 158 is performed, the dummy insulating layer 105 is separated from the substrate 102 without directly removing the protective barrier rib 158 and on the dummy insulating layer 105. It is possible to remove the protective barrier 158 is located together. This makes it possible to easily rework.

7A to 7F are views for explaining a method for manufacturing an organic EL display device according to the present invention.

First, a metal transparent conductive material is deposited on a substrate 102 formed using soda lime or hardened glass, and then patterned by a photolithography process and an etching process to form an anode electrode 104 as shown in FIG. 7A. ), A transparent electrode pattern 103 and first and second lines (not shown) are formed. Here, indium tin oxide or SnO 2 may be used as the metal material. Thereafter, an opaque conductive layer (not shown) may be formed on the second line to improve conductivity of the second line.

The photosensitive insulating material is coated on the substrate 102 on which the anode electrode 104 and the transparent electrode pattern 103 are formed by spin-coating and then patterned by a photolithography process and an etching process. As shown in FIG. 7B, a dummy insulating layer 105 is formed on the insulating layer 106 exposing the light emitting region of the display region P1 and the transparent electrode pattern 103 of the non-display region P2.

After the photosensitive organic material is deposited on the insulating film and the dummy insulating film 106 and 105 and patterned by a photolithography process and an etching process, the partition wall 108 and the protective partition wall 158 are formed as shown in FIG. 7C.

The partition 108 is formed in the non-light emitting area of the display area P1 so as to intersect the plurality of anode electrodes 4 so as to distinguish the pixels, and the protective partition 158 is the display area P1 including the organic EL array. It is formed so as to surround the, maintaining a predetermined distance from the left and right of the seal line region (P3) and formed parallel to the seal line region (P3).

Thereafter, the organic light emitting layer 110 is formed on the light emitting region on the anode electrode 104 as shown in FIG. 7D.

As the metal material is deposited on the substrate 102 on which the organic light emitting layer 110 is formed, as shown in FIG. 7E, the cathode electrode 112 is formed to be parallel to the partition 108 and connected to the second line 152. do.

Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 7F, the substrate 102 on which the organic EL array is formed is bonded to the cap 128 through the sealant 125.

As described above, the organic EL display device and the method of manufacturing the same according to the present invention have a dummy insulating film and a transparent electrode pattern under the protective barrier wall for preventing the sealant from flowing into the organic EL array and outward from the seal line region. Is formed. Accordingly, when reworking the protective barrier rib, the protective barrier rib positioned on the insulating layer can be removed by separating the dummy insulating layer on the substrate without directly removing the protective barrier rib. This makes it possible to easily rework.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the technical spirit of the present invention. Therefore, the technical scope of the present invention should not be limited to the contents described in the detailed description of the specification but should be defined by the claims.

Claims (6)

A substrate on which an organic light emitting array is formed; A cap bonded to the seal line region of the substrate through a sealant; A protective partition wall formed to be parallel to the sealant while maintaining a predetermined distance from left and right of the seal line region; And a dummy insulating layer disposed between the protective barrier rib and the substrate. The method of claim 1, And a transparent electrode pattern disposed on the substrate and the dummy insulating layer. The method of claim 2, And the dummy insulating film has a wider line width than the protective barrier and the transparent electrode pattern has a wider line width than the dummy insulating film. The method of claim 2, The organic electroluminescent array is A first electrode formed on the substrate; An insulating film partially exposing the first electrode; An organic light emitting layer formed on the first electrode; A second electrode formed to intersect the first electrode with the organic light emitting layer interposed therebetween, The insulating layer is made of the same material as the dummy insulating layer, and the transparent electrode pattern is the same material as the first electrode. Forming a first electrode in a display area of the substrate and a transparent electrode pattern in a non-display area of the substrate; Forming an insulating film exposing a light emitting region on the first electrode and a dummy insulating film on the transparent electrode pattern; Forming a barrier rib formed on the display area, the barrier rib crossing the first electrode, and a protective barrier wall parallel to the seal line area while maintaining a predetermined distance between left and right sides of the seal line area of the substrate; Forming an organic light emitting layer in a light emitting region on the first electrode; Forming a second electrode formed to intersect the first electrode with the organic light emitting layer interposed therebetween; And bonding the cap and the substrate to each other using a sealant positioned in the seal line region. The method of claim 5, wherein The dummy insulating layer is formed to have a line width wider than that of the protective barrier, and the transparent electrode pattern is formed to have a wider line width than the dummy insulating layer.

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