KR20060132361A - Apparatus and method for aging of organic electro luminescence display device - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus and a method for aging of an organic electro luminescence display device are provided to detect and repair foreign matters placed between a second electrode and an organic electroluminescence layer by oxidizing a mixture area of the foreign matters by applying a current relatively bigger than a current during a normal operation to only a scan line and the second electrode. In an apparatus for aging of an organic electro luminescence display device, the organic electroluminescence display device includes a plurality of organic light emission cells(OLED) which is arranged at an intersection area of scan lines(S1 to Sn) and data lines(D1 to Dm) in an electrically floating state in a shape of matrix. A current supply device supplies a current to the scan lines(S1 to Sn) for the aging. A magnitude of the aging current supplied to the scan lines(S1 to Sn) is relatively bigger than a current when the organic electroluminescence display device is in a normal operation.

Description

Aging device and method of organic electroluminescent display device {Apparatus And Method For Aging of Organic Electro Luminescence Display Device}

1 is an equivalent circuit diagram of a part of a conventional organic electroluminescent display.

2 is a view illustrating in detail the structure of an organic light emitting cell (OLED) arranged in a matrix form on an organic electroluminescent display.

3 is a view for explaining aging using a conventional voltage

Figure 4 is a view for explaining the aging by the conventional normal drive

5 is a view illustrating an aging apparatus and method of an organic light emitting display device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

6 is a view for explaining the aging method according to the present invention in conjunction with an organic light emitting cell (OLED)

7 illustrates a case where impurities are located between the second electrode and the organic light emitting layer.

8 is a view showing that an oxide film is formed by aging according to an embodiment of the present invention.

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

4: first electrode (anode electrode) 10: organic light emitting layer

12: second electrode (cathode electrode) 50,150: alignment mark

52,152: Short Bar

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an organic electroluminescent display device, and more particularly, to an aging of an organic electroluminescent display device for detecting and repairing line defects of the organic electroluminescent display device.

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 (hereinafter referred to as "LCDs"), field emission displays (FEDs), plasma display panels (hereinafter referred to as PDPs), and electroluminescence. Nessence ("EL") display device, etc. There are active researches to improve the display quality of such a flat panel display device and attempt to enlarge the screen.

Among them, PDP is attracting attention as the most advantageous display device for light and small size and large screen because of its simple structure and manufacturing process, but it has the disadvantages of low luminous efficiency, low luminance and high power consumption. On the other hand, an active matrix LCD having a thin film transistor (hereinafter referred to as a TFT) as a switching element has a disadvantage in that it is difficult to large screen due to the semiconductor process and consumes a lot of power due to the backlight unit. , Optical prism sheet, diffusion plate, etc. are characterized by high optical loss and narrow viewing angle.

In contrast, the EL display device is classified into an inorganic light emitting device and an organic light emitting device according to the material of the light emitting layer. The EL display device is a self-light emitting device that emits light, and has an advantage of fast response speed and high luminous efficiency, luminance, and viewing angle. In comparison with the organic light emitting device, the inorganic light emitting device has a high power consumption and cannot obtain high luminance, and cannot emit various colors of R, G, and B. On the other hand, the organic light emitting diode is driven at a low DC voltage of several tens of volts, has a fast response speed, high brightness, and can emit various colors of R, G, and B, which is suitable for next-generation flat panel display devices. .

FIG. 1 is an equivalent circuit diagram of a part of an organic EL display device, and FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a structure of an organic light emitting cell OLED arranged in a matrix form in an organic EL display device.

1 and 2, an organic EL display includes a plurality of data lines D1 through Dm and a plurality of scan lines S1 through Sn, and data lines D1 through Dm that are orthogonal to each other. Organic EL cells OLED are formed at intersections between the lines S1 to Sn.

The data lines D1 to Dm are connected to the first electrode 4 of the organic EL element OLED to supply a data current to the first electrode 4 of the organic EL element OLED.

The scan lines S1 to Sn are connected to the second electrode 12 of the organic EL cell OECD to supply a scan pulse synchronized with the data current to the second electrode 12 of the organic EL cell OLED.

The organic EL cell OLED emits light in proportion to the current flowing between the anode and the cathode during the display period in which the scan pulse is applied.

Organic EL Cell OLED As shown in FIG. 2, the organic light emitting layer 10 includes an organic light emitting layer 10 formed between the first electrode (or anode electrode) 4 and the second electrode (or cathode electrode) 12. The organic light emitting layer 10 includes an electron injection layer 10a, an electron transport layer 10b, a light emitting layer 10c, a hole transport layer 10d, and a hole injection layer 10e.

In the organic EL cell OLED of the conventional organic EL display device, impurities, etc., are mixed between the second electrode 12 and the organic light emitting layer 10 due to a predetermined particle or process defect during the manufacturing process. Happens frequently. In the case where the organic EL display device is driven in the state where impurities are located, impurities are grown after a predetermined time and a short is generated in which the second electrode 12 and the first electrode 4 are electrically connected.

Accordingly, in the related art, an aging process is performed to check such a problem early and repair it.

In the aging process, as shown in FIG. 3, a voltage is applied through the scan pad unit 17 for a predetermined time on the mother substrate 22 having a plurality of organic EL display devices 15 in which a driving circuit or the like is not mounted. By detecting the defect between the second electrode 12 and the organic light emitting layer 10 and repair it. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 4, the drive circuit (IC) 27 is connected to the organic EL display device 15, and then normal driving is performed to detect and repair defects.

However, such a conventional aging process can be easily used for the inspection and repair of relatively large impurities, but when a relatively small particle or the like is located between the second electrode 12 and the organic light emitting layer 10. Is not inspected in the conventional manner. Such inspection by a small particle or the like is detected only when a relatively large current is applied, or when an aging process is performed for a long time, defects are inspected and repaired. However, when the aging process time is increased in the current process, there is a problem that the productivity is lowered, and when the current is largely applied, the organic light emitting layer 10 is deteriorated.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an aging apparatus and method of an organic light emitting display device capable of detecting and repairing defects in signal lines at an early stage.

In order to achieve the above object, the aging device for an organic light emitting display device according to the present invention includes an organic light emitting display device comprising an organic light emitting cell arranged in a matrix form at the intersection of the scan line and the data line in the electrically floating state. Wow; And a current supply device for supplying current for aging to the scan line, wherein the size of the aging current supplied to the scan line is relatively larger than the current during normal driving of the organic light emitting display device.

One side of the scan line may be electrically connected to the positive terminal of the current supply device, and the other side of the scan line may be electrically connected to the negative terminal of the current supply device.

The amount of aging current supplied to the scan line is 1.5 to 10 times larger than the current at normal driving.

The organic light emitting cell includes a cathode electrode connected to the scan line; An anode electrode connected to the data line; And an organic light emitting layer positioned between the cathode electrode and the anode electrode, and when an impurity is located between the cathode electrode and the organic light emitting layer, the aging current forms an oxide film in the impurity position region to form the oxide electrode and the anode. It is characterized in that the electrode is electrically separated.

An aging method of an organic light emitting display device according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises the steps of providing an organic light emitting display device comprising an organic light emitting cells arranged in a matrix form at the intersection of the scan line and the data line in the electrically floating state Wow; And supplying an aging current having a magnitude greater than that of the normal operation of the organic light emitting display device to the scan line.

The amount of aging current supplied to the scan line is 1.5 to 10 times larger than the current at normal driving.

The organic light emitting cell includes a cathode electrode connected to the scan line; An anode electrode connected to said data line; And an organic light emitting layer positioned between the cathode electrode and the anode electrode, and when an impurity is located between the cathode electrode and the organic light emitting layer, the aging current forms an oxide film in the impurity position region to form the oxide electrode and the anode. It is characterized in that the electrode is electrically separated.

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. 5 to 8.

5 is an equivalent circuit diagram of an organic EL display device and an aging device used for the aging process according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 6 shows an organic light emitting cell (OLED) of the organic EL display device in detail Drawing.

5 and 6, an organic EL display includes a plurality of data lines D1 to Dm and a plurality of scan lines S1 to Sn, data lines D1 to Dm, and a scan line that are orthogonal to each other. Organic EL cells OLED are formed at intersections between the electrodes S1 to Sn. The data lines D1 to Dm are connected to the first electrode 104 of the organic EL element OLED to supply a data current to the first electrode 104 of the organic EL element OLED.

The scan lines S1 to Sn are connected to the second electrode 112 of the organic EL cell OECD to supply a scan pulse synchronized with the data current to the second electrode 112 of the organic EL cell OLED.

The organic EL cell OLED emits light in proportion to the current flowing between the anode and the cathode during the display period in which the scan pulse is applied.

As shown in FIG. 6, the organic EL cell OLED includes an organic light emitting layer 110 formed between the first electrode (or anode electrode) 104 and the second electrode (or cathode electrode) 112. The organic light emitting layer 110 includes an electron injection layer 110a, an electron transport layer 110b, a light emitting layer 110c, a hole transport layer 110d, and a hole injection layer 110e.

The data lines D1 to Dm of the organic EL display device are in a floating state in which a constant current is not supplied, and one side of the scan lines S1 to Sn is connected to a positive terminal (+) of a separate power source. The side is electrically connected to the negative terminal (-) of the power supply, respectively.

In the present invention, the aging process applies a current only to the scan lines S1 to Sn of the organic EL display device illustrated in FIG. 5 to connect the second electrode 112 and the organic light emitting layer (connected to the scan lines S1 to Sn). Inspect and repair impurities between 110).

In more detail, each of the scan lines S1 to Sn is connected to the positive terminal (+) and the negative terminal (-) of the power supply, respectively, so that the current supplied to the power source is supplied to the scan lines (S1). To Sn). The aging current Ia supplied from the power source is 1.5 to 10 times larger than the amount of current generally used to drive a conventional organic EL display device. In this case, since the data lines D1 to Dm are all in a floated state, the current Ia supplied to the scan lines S1 to Sn is as shown in FIG. 6. The current path is not formed by the one electrode 104. As a result, a current having a relatively larger magnitude than a current when driving a normal device supplied from a power source is connected to the current path only within the scan line and the second electrode 112 without passing through the organic light emitting layer 110 and the first electrode 104. It can be formed. In this case, the current Ia flowing through the scan line and the second electrode 112 may electrically impact the impurities 150 existing between the second electrode 112 and the organic light emitting layer 110 as shown in FIG. 7. Will be added. Here, since the magnitude of the current Ia is considerably larger than that of the normal driving current, the electric shock applied to the impurity 150 is very large. As a result, the oxide film 190 can be formed in the impurity region as shown in FIG. 8 for a time shorter than the aging time in the conventional aging process. Since the oxide film 190 has a strong insulating property, it is possible to prevent the second electrode 112 and the first electrode 104 from being electrically connected.

As described above, the aging apparatus and the aging method of the organic EL display device according to the present invention supply a relatively large constant current to the scan lines of the organic EL display device as compared with the constant current at the time of normal driving and also plot the data lines. As a result, the current path is formed only in the scan line and the second electrode 112, and the oxide film 190 is formed in the region where the impurity 150 is located by the relatively large current. Accordingly, impurities between the second electrode 112 and the organic light emitting layer 110 can be inspected and repaired at an early stage.

As described above, in the aging apparatus and the aging method of the organic EL display device according to the present invention, the impurity is mixed between the second electrode and the organic light emitting layer by applying a current relatively larger than the current at the normal driving only to the scan line and the second electrode. The area is oxidized. As a result, impurities between the second electrode and the organic light emitting layer can be inspected and repaired early.

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 (7)

An organic light emitting display device including organic light emitting cells arranged in a matrix at an intersection area of a scan line and an electrically floating data line; It is provided with a current supply device for supplying a current for aging to the scan line, The aging current supplied to the scan line is relatively larger than the current at the time of normal driving of the organic light emitting display device. The method of claim 1, Aging device of the organic light emitting display device, characterized in that one side of the scan line is electrically connected to the positive terminal of the current supply device, the other side of the scan line is electrically connected to the negative terminal of the current supply device. . The method of claim 1, The aging current supplied to the scan line is an aging device for an organic light emitting display device, characterized in that 1.5 to 10 times larger than the current in the normal driving. The method of claim 1, The organic light emitting cell A cathode electrode connected to the scan line; An anode electrode connected to the data line; An organic light emitting layer disposed between the cathode electrode and the anode electrode; When an impurity is located between the cathode electrode and the organic light emitting layer, the aging current forms an oxide film in the impurity position region to electrically separate the cathode electrode and the anode electrode. Aging device. Providing an organic light emitting display device including organic light emitting cells arranged in a matrix at an intersection area of a scan line and an electrically floating data line; An aging method for an organic light emitting display device, comprising supplying an aging current having a magnitude greater than that of a normal driving current of the organic light emitting display device to the scan line. The method of claim 5, The aging current supplied to the scan line is 1.5 to 10 times larger than the current at the normal driving aging method for an organic light emitting display device. The method of claim 5, The organic light emitting cell A cathode electrode connected to the scan line; An anode electrode connected to the data line; An organic light emitting layer disposed between the cathode electrode and the anode electrode; When an impurity is located between the cathode electrode and the organic light emitting layer, the aging current forms an oxide film in the impurity position region to electrically separate the cathode electrode and the anode electrode. Aging method.

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