Organic light emitting display apparatus having a sealing layer

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11424428-B2
Application number	US-201916656165-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 17, 2019
Priority date	Nov 8, 2018
Publication date	Aug 23, 2022
Grant date	Aug 23, 2022

Abstract

Display devices and methods of manufacturing display devices are provided in which a sealing layer is provided on a metal layer, and the metal layer may be removed thereby facilitating removal of the sealing layer, for example, during a repair process. A display device includes a first substrate and a display assembly on the first substrate. The display assembly includes a plurality of sub-pixels, and a portion of the first substrate extends laterally beyond a periphery of the display assembly. A protective layer is provided on the portion of the first substrate that extends laterally beyond the periphery of the display assembly, and a sealing layer is disposed on the protective layer.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A display device, comprising:
a first substrate;
a display assembly on the first substrate, the display assembly including a plurality of sub-pixels, a portion of the first substrate extending laterally beyond a periphery of the display assembly;
a second substrate on the display assembly;
a protective layer on the portion of the first substrate extending laterally beyond the periphery of the display assembly;
a metal layer on the protective layer; and
a sealing layer on the metal layer,
wherein the protective layer, the metal layer and the sealing layer are disposed in a non-active area only,
wherein the metal layer contacts side surfaces of the second substrate.

2. The display device of claim 1 , wherein the metal layer is formed of a metal material which can be ionized by reaction with a halogen solution.

3. The display device of claim 1 , wherein the display assembly is disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate.

4. The display device of claim 3 wherein the sealing layer contacts the side surfaces of the second substrate.

5. The display device of claim 1 , wherein the second substrate is formed of a metal material, and a portion of the second substrate at side surfaces of the second substrate includes an oxide of the metal material.

6. The display device of claim 1 , wherein the metal layer laterally surrounds the second substrate.

7. The display device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a buffer layer on the first substrate;
an encapsulation layer on the display assembly, the encapsulation layer contacting the buffer layer; and
an adhesive layer on the encapsulation layer, the adhesive layer spaced apart from the buffer layer by the display assembly and the encapsulation layer,
wherein the metal layer and the sealing layer contact side surfaces of the adhesive layer.

8. The display device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first electrical pad on the portion of the first substrate extending laterally beyond the periphery of the display assembly;
a flexible film including a second electrical pad disposed over the first electrical pad; and
a conductive adhesive layer extending between the first electrical pad and the second electrical pad,
wherein the protective layer contacts portions of the conductive adhesive layer and the flexible film.

9. The display device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a buffer layer on the first substrate;
an encapsulation layer on the display assembly, the encapsulation layer contacting the buffer layer; and
an adhesive layer on the encapsulation layer, the adhesive layer contacting the buffer layer,
wherein the protective layer laterally surrounds the adhesive layer and contacts the buffer layer.

10. The display device of claim 9 wherein the adhesive layer includes a moisture absorbent material.

11. The display device of claim 1 wherein the protective layer is formed of a ceramic material, and a portion of the protective layer at a surface of the protective layer that is opposite the first substrate includes an oxide of the ceramic material.

12. A method, comprising:
forming a display assembly in a display area of a substrate, the display assembly including a plurality of sub-pixels, the substrate having a non-display area extending laterally beyond a periphery of the display assembly;
forming a second substrate on the display assembly;
forming a protective layer on the substrate in the non-display area;
forming a first metal layer on the protective layer in the non-display area; and
forming a first sealing layer on the first metal layer in the non-display area,
wherein the protective layer, first metal layer, and the first sealing layer are disposed in the non-display area only,
wherein the first metal layer contacts side surfaces of the second substrate.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
removing the first metal layer;
removing the first sealing layer; and
forming a second sealing layer on the protective layer in the non-display area.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the removing the first metal layer includes removing the first metal layer by exposing the first metal layer to a halogen solution.

15. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
forming a second metal layer on the protective layer in the non-display area, subsequent to the removing the first metal layer and the removing the first sealing layer,
wherein the forming the second sealing layer includes forming the second sealing layer on the second metal layer.

16. The method of claim 12 wherein the protective layer, the first metal layer, and the first sealing layer are formed by a coating process.

17. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
disposing a flexible film in the non-display area of the substrate, the protective layer covering at least a portion of the flexible film.

18. An organic light emitting display apparatus, comprising:
a first substrate having an active area and a non-active area at least partially surrounding the active area;
a display assembly on the first substrate in the active area;
a second substrate on the first substrate, the second substrate overlapping the active area;
a flexible film disposed in the non-active area;
a protective layer disposed in the non-active area, the protective layer covering at least a portion of the flexible film;
a metal layer disposed on the protective layer; and
a sealing layer disposed on the metal layer,
wherein the protective layer, the metal layer and the sealing layer are disposed in the non-active area only,
wherein the metal layer contacts side surfaces of the second substrate.

19. The organic light emitting display apparatus of claim 18 wherein the first substrate is formed of a material having flexibility.

20. The organic light emitting display apparatus of claim 18 wherein the protective layer is formed of a ceramic material.

21. The organic light emitting display apparatus of claim 18 wherein at least a portion of the protective layer at a surface that is opposite the first substrate includes an oxide of a material constituting the protective layer.

22. The organic light emitting display apparatus of claim 18 wherein the metal layer is formed of a material which can be ionized by reaction with a halogen solution.

23. The organic light emitting display apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the protective layer, the metal layer, and the sealing layer are disposed in the non-active area and laterally surround the active area.

24. The organic light emitting display apparatus of claim 18 , further comprising:
an inorganic insulating layer disposed in the active area and the non-active area;
a plurality of pads disposed in the non-active area; and
a conductive adhesive layer that electrically connects the plurality of pads to the flexible film and fixes the flexible film to the first substrate,
wherein the protective layer is in direct contact with the inorganic insulating layer, the flexible film, and the conductive adhesive layer, the protective layer having a substantially planar surface opposite the first substrate.

25. The organic light emitting display apparatus of claim 18 , further comprising:
an adhesive layer on the first substrate, the adhesive layer fixes positions of the first substrate and the second substrate relative to one another,
wherein the protective layer and the sealing layer are disposed in

Assignees

• Lg Display Co Ltd

Inventors

• Oh Yeonjun
• Kim Jaehyeong

Classifications

• H10K71/00

  Manufacture or treatment specially adapted for the organic devices covered by this subclass · CPC title

• H10K59/873

  Encapsulations · CPC title

• H10K59/8722 Primary

  Peripheral sealing arrangements, e.g. adhesives, sealants · CPC title

• H10K71/40

  Thermal treatment, e.g. annealing in the presence of a solvent vapour · CPC title

• H10K59/131

  Interconnections, e.g. wiring lines or terminals · CPC title