KR20060102092A - Apparatus and method of clamping mask for organic electro luminescence display device - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for clamping a mask for an organic light emitting display device capable of minimizing the strain of the mask to form a thin film pattern in place.

A clamping apparatus for a mask for an organic electroluminescent display device of the present invention comprises: a mask for selectively transmitting a deposit to form a thin film on a substrate; A stretching device disposed around the mask to stretch the mask; A mask frame having a rectangular frame shape for supporting the stretched mask; At least one laser device for welding the mask and the mask frame by irradiating a laser, characterized in that the welding line formed in the mask by the welding is partially disconnected.

Description

Clamping apparatus and method for masks for organic light emitting display devices {APPARATUS AND METHOD OF CLAMPING MASK FOR ORGANIC ELECTRO LUMINESCENCE DISPLAY DEVICE}

1 is a view showing one pixel of a conventional organic electroluminescent display device.

2 shows the welding of the mask with the mask frame after the mask has been stretched by the mask clamping device.

3 is a view illustrating a deformation of a mask in the mask welding process of FIG. 2.

4 is a plan view showing a mask clamping device in the present invention.

It is a figure which shows the mask welding process in this invention.

FIG. 6 is a view illustrating a mask and a mask frame by welding illustrated in FIG. 5.

7 illustrates an organic electroluminescent display device formed using a mask formed by a mask clamping device according to the present invention.

    <Explanation of symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

2,102: substrate 4,104: anode electrode

108: partition 10,110: organic light emitting layer

10c: light emitting layer 122, 112: cathode electrode

63,163: Gripper 171: Power Tree Lever

169: power transmission unit 167: ball screw box

166: motor 60160: mask

80,180: mask frame 90,190: laser device

The present invention relates to an organic electroluminescent display device, and more particularly, to an apparatus and method for clamping a mask for an organic electroluminescent display device.

Recently, various flat panel display devices that can reduce weight and volume, which are disadvantages of cathode ray tubes, have emerged. Such flat panel displays include a liquid crystal display, a field emission display, a plasma display panel, and an organic electroluminescence display. Etc.

Among these, organic EL display devices are self-luminous devices that emit phosphors by recombination of electrons and holes, and are classified into inorganic ELs using inorganic compounds and organic ELs using organic compounds. Such an EL display element has an advantage that the response speed is as fast as that of a cathode ray tube as compared to a passive light emitting element requiring a separate light source such as a liquid crystal display device. In addition, the EL display element has many advantages such as low voltage driving, self-luminous, thin film type, wide viewing angle, fast response speed, high contrast, and the like, and is expected to be the next generation display device.

1 is a cross-sectional view showing a general organic EL cell structure for explaining the light emission principle of an organic EL display element. The organic EL cell has an organic light emitting layer 10 positioned between the anode electrode 4 and the cathode electrode 12, and the organic light emitting layer 10 includes an electron injection layer 10a, an electron transport layer 10b, and a light emitting layer 10c. ), A hole transport layer 10d, and a hole injection layer 10e.

When a voltage is applied between the anode electrode 4 and the cathode electrode 12, electrons generated from the cathode electrode 12 move toward the light emitting layer 10c through the electron injection layer 10a and the electron transport layer 10b. In addition, holes generated from the anode electrode 4 move toward the light emitting layer 10c through the hole injection layer 10e and the hole transport layer 10d. Accordingly, in the light emitting layer 10c, light is generated by collision and recombination of electrons and holes supplied from the electron transport layer 10b and the hole transport layer 10d, and the light is emitted to the outside through the anode electrode 4. To display an image.

Meanwhile, the light emitting layer 10c of the conventional organic EL display device is formed by a thermal deposition and vacuum deposition process using a grill mask, and the grill mask used at this time is manufactured by a separate process and then used by a mask clamp device. After stretching to the desired size and fixed to the mask frame is used to form the light emitting layer (10c).

2 is a view showing a process in which the mask is fixed to the mask frame by a welding process after the mask is stretched by the mask gripping device.

First, after the mask 60 is loaded into a predetermined system, the mask 60 is aligned in an area where the glyph 63 for stretching the mask is positioned by vertical movement. Thereafter, the glyph 63 advances and the mask 60 is stretched by clamping the mask 60.

Then, when the mask 60 is stretched to a size set by the user, the mask frame 80 is aligned by the mask 160 and masked by welding using the laser 92 irradiated from the four laser apparatuses 90. 60 is attached to the mask frame 80.

Each laser device is positioned one by one for each side of the mask 60 to perform welding of one side of the mask 60. Here, the welding start point S of each laser device 90 becomes the melting point end point F of the laser device 90 in charge of the neighboring side. Accordingly, the four laser devices 90 perform the welding process at the same time so that each side of the mask 60 is welded.

On the other hand, thermal welding of the mask 60 occurs in the scanning direction of the laser 60 by the laser 92 during such welding. As the deformation of the mask 60 increases as the progress of the scanning of the laser 92 increases, the deformation starts at the welding start point S at which the scanning of the laser 92 is started and the scanning is finished. At the end point F, the deformation of the mask 60 reaches its maximum. As a result, the welding between the mask 60 and the mask frame 80 is not easy, and the strain in the edge region of the mask 60 is concentrated, so that a thin film cannot be formed at a proper position.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a clamping apparatus and method for a mask for an organic light emitting display device which can minimize the strain of the mask to form a thin film pattern in place.

In order to achieve the above object, the clamping device of the mask for an organic electroluminescent display device according to the present invention comprises a mask for selectively transmitting the deposit to form a thin film on the substrate; A stretching device disposed around the mask to stretch the mask; A mask frame having a rectangular frame shape for supporting the stretched mask; At least one laser device for welding the mask and the mask frame by irradiating a laser, characterized in that the welding line formed in the mask by the welding is partially disconnected.

The disconnected region in the welding line is located in the corner region of the mask.

The length of the disconnection region of the welding line is characterized in that about 0.5 ~ 3cm2.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of clamping a mask for an organic light emitting display device, the method comprising: stretching a mask for selectively transmitting a deposit to form a thin film on a substrate; Irradiating a laser at a predetermined interval on the mask to weld the stretched mask to a rectangular frame-shaped mask frame, and welding the mask to the mask frame is formed in the mask by the welding. And irradiating the laser to partially disconnect the welding line.

The disconnected region in the welding line is located in the corner region of the mask.

Other objects and features of the present invention in addition to the above object will be apparent from the description of the embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 7.

4 is a view showing a part of an apparatus for manufacturing an organic EL display device according to an embodiment of the present invention, that is, a mask clamping device.

The mask clamping device 130 shown in FIG. 4 is located on the long side and short side of the mask 160 to supply power to the glyph 163 and the mask 160 to be bit the mask 160. A power transmission unit 169 positioned between the power supply unit 165 and the power supply unit 165 and the gripper 163 to transfer the power supplied from the power supply unit 165 to the gripper 163. Equipped. Such a mask clamp device 130 is supported by a clamp die (not shown).

The mask 160 is a grill mask used for forming the light emitting layer of the organic EL display device and includes an effective region 160a and an invalid region 160b except for the effective region 160a. In the effective region 160a of the mask 160, a plurality of array regions P1 for selectively transmitting the formation regions of the light emitting layers for implementing R, G, and B are formed. 160 A number of points 161 are formed that provide a reference during stretching. That is, the user sets the degree of stretching of the mask 160 based on the plurality of points 161 displayed on the mask 160, and then stretches the mask 160 with a force having a corresponding size. The non-effective area 60b is an outer area excluding the effective area 60a so as to be bitten by the glyph 163 so as to receive the tensile force first when stretching.

About 10 glippers 163 are arranged on the long side of the mask 60 and about 8 on the short side, for example. The gripper 163 is also equipped with an adjustment screw for adjusting the frictional resistance of the gripper 163.

The power supply unit 165 includes a plurality of motors 166 connected to the power transmission unit 169 and three motors 166 connected to the power transmission unit 169 so as to be arranged at each side of the mask 160, respectively. It is comprised by the ball screw box 167 which converts the rotational motion of 166 into linear motion.

The power transmission unit 169 is formed by a combination of a power tree lever 171 and a plurality of power tree levers 171, and each power tree lever 171 has a plurality of branches 172. ) Is a combination of

Hereinafter, the clamping operation and method of the mask will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6 by using the mask clamping device 130 shown in FIG. 4.

First, the mask 160 is loaded into a given system and then aligned with the region where the glyph 163 is located by vertical motion. Thereafter, the gripper 163 moves forward to clamp the mask 160, and the motor 166 is driven to convert the rotational motion of the motor 166 into a linear motion by the ball screw box 167, thereby driving power. It is transmitted to the glyph 163 via this power transmission unit 169. At this time, when the power transmission unit 169 received the power of the motor 166 is reversed, the gripper 163 is reversed, and accordingly, the gripper 163 clamps the mask 160 to clamp the mask 160. ) Is stretched.

Subsequently, when the mask 160 is extended to a size set by the user, the rectangular frame-shaped mask frame 180 is aligned with the bottom of the mask 160, and then the mask 160 is formed using at least four laser devices 190. ) Is welded to the mask frame 180.

Each laser device 190 is positioned at each side of the mask 160 to perform welding of one side of the mask 160.

In the present invention, the welding line 194 partitioned by the welding by the laser is formed to be partially disconnected. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the welding end point S of each laser device 190 is adjacent to the welding start point S, and the melting point end point F of the laser device 190 is set at a predetermined distance d1. Will be located. Accordingly, the strain in the corner region of the mask 160 is minimized to form the thin film at the correct position.

This will be described in more detail as follows.

Conventionally, since the welding start point S at which the laser 192 scanning is started and the welding end point F at which scanning is finished are positioned substantially adjacent to each other, concentration of strain in the edge region of the mask 160 occurs. In order to solve this conventional problem, a predetermined distance d1 is provided between the welding start point S and the melting point end point F. Accordingly, the deformation of the mask 160 is smoothed as shown in FIG. 5. Here, the deformation of the mask 160 is not transferred to the transmissive portion and the blocking region for selectively transmitting the deposit in the mask 160, so that an error in the formation position of the thin film pattern is very small. As a result, the thin film of the organic EL display element can be formed at the correct position. Here, the length d1 of the disconnection area of a welding line is about 0.5-3 cm <2>.

Here, the energy of the laser 192 is 1.0 to 2.0 [J], preferably 1.4 [J], and the frequency is 20 to 30 [Pulse Per Sec], preferably 28 [Pulse Per Sec].

The mask frame 180 with the mask 160 formed as described above is used when forming a thin film of the organic EL display device. For example, at least one of the light emitting regions implementing at least one of red, green, and blue may be selectively exposed to form an organic material on a predetermined substrate.

As described above, in the mask clamping device and method for an organic EL display device according to the present invention, the welding line formed on the mask is partially disconnected by welding using a laser. As a result, the concentration of deformation in one region of the mask can be prevented. As a result, the welding process between the mask and the mask frame is facilitated, and the thin film can be formed in place.

7 is a perspective view showing an organic EL display element formed using the apparatus for manufacturing an organic electroluminescent display element according to the present invention.

In the organic EL display device shown in FIG. 7, the first electrode (or anode) 104 and the second electrode (or cathode) 112 are formed on the substrate 102 in a direction crossing each other.

The first electrode 104 is formed on the substrate 102 spaced apart by a predetermined interval. On the substrate 102 on which the first electrode 104 is formed, an insulating film (not shown) having an opening for each EL cell EL region is formed. On the insulating layer, a partition 108 for separating the organic light emitting layer 110 and the second electrode 112 to be formed thereon is positioned. The partition 108 is formed in a direction crossing the second electrode 104 and has a reverse taper structure in which the upper end portion has a wider width than the lower end portion. On the insulating film on which the partition 108 is formed, the organic light emitting layer 110 and the second electrode 112 made of an organic compound are sequentially deposited on the entire surface. As shown in FIG. 1, the organic light emitting layer 110 is formed by stacking a hole injection layer 10e, a hole transport layer 10d, a light emitting layer 10c, an electron transport layer 10b, and an electron injection layer 10a.

Here, in the light emitting layer 10c of the organic light emitting layer, light emitting layers for R, G, and B are sequentially formed by using the mask 160 stretched using the manufacturing apparatus of the present invention.

As described above, in the clamping apparatus and method of the mask for an organic light emitting display device according to the present invention, the welding line formed on the mask is partially disconnected by welding using a laser. Accordingly, by preventing the concentration of deformation in one region of the mask, the welding process between the mask and the mask frame is facilitated, and the thin film can be formed in a proper position.

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 mask for selectively transmitting the deposit to form a thin film on the substrate; A stretching device disposed around the mask to stretch the mask; A mask frame having a rectangular frame shape for supporting the stretched mask; At least one laser device for irradiating a laser to weld the mask with the mask frame, And a welding line formed in the mask by the welding is partially disconnected. The method of claim 1, The disconnected area in the welding line is And a clamping device of an organic light emitting display device according to claim 1, wherein the mask is located at an edge of the mask. The method of claim 1, The length of the disconnection region of the welding line is a clamping device of the mask for an organic light emitting display device, characterized in that about 0.5 ~ 3cm2. Selectively permeating the deposit to stretch the mask to form a thin film on the substrate; Irradiating a laser beam on the mask at predetermined intervals to weld the stretched mask to a rectangular frame frame mask; Welding the mask to the mask frame And irradiating the laser so that a welding line formed in the mask is partially disconnected by the welding. The method of claim 4, wherein The disconnected region of the welding line is located in the corner region of the mask clamping method of the mask for an organic light emitting display device. The method of claim 4, wherein The length of the disconnection region of the welding line is a clamping method of the mask for an organic light emitting display device, characterized in that about 0.5 ~ 3cm2.

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