Display device including sub-metal layers and tip

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12207491-B2
Application number	US-202217850909-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 27, 2022
Priority date	Jun 21, 2019
Publication date	Jan 21, 2025
Grant date	Jan 21, 2025

Abstract

A display device includes: a substrate having an opening; a plurality of display elements at a display area adjacent to the opening, the plurality of display elements each including a pixel electrode, an opposite electrode, and an intermediate layer between the pixel electrode and the opposite electrode; and a metal stacked structure between the opening and the display area, and including: a first sub-metal layer having a first hole; and a second sub-metal layer under the first sub-metal layer and having a second hole, the second hole overlapping with the first hole and having a width greater than a width of the first hole.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A display panel comprising:
a substrate including a top surface and a bottom surface opposite to the top surface, the substrate having an opening that passes from the top surface to the bottom surface;
a buffer layer on the top surface of the substrate;
a display element on the buffer layer and comprising a pixel electrode, an opposite electrode, and an intermediate layer between the pixel electrode and the opposite electrode, the display element being arranged in a display area;
an encapsulation layer on the display element and comprising a first inorganic encapsulation layer, a second inorganic encapsulation layer on the first inorganic encapsulation layer, and an organic encapsulation layer between the first inorganic encapsulation layer and the second inorganice encapsulation layer;
a first partition wall in a first non-display area between the display area and the opening of the substrate; and
a plurality of tips arranged in the first non-display area, wherein a metal stacked structure includes a first sub-metal layer and a second sub-metal layer under the first sub-metal layer, and wherein each of the plurality of tips corresponds to a portion of the first sub-metal layer that extends beyond a lateral surface of the second sub-metal layer,
wherein the plurality of tips comprises two adjacent tips arranged between the first partition wall and the opening of the substrate,
wherein at least one organic material layer of the intermediate layer or the opposite electrode is separated into a plurality of portions by the two adjacent tips, and
wherein the plurality of portions comprises:
a first portion and a second located on the two adjacent tips, respectively; and
a third portion between the two adjacent tips and located on the buffer layer, and
wherein a portion of the second inorganic encapsulation layer and a portion of the first inorganic encapsulation layer are in direct contact with each other and overlap with the third portion.

2. The display panel of claim 1 , wherein a material of the first sub-metal layer is different from a material of the second sub-metal layer.

3. The display panel of claim 2 , wherein the first sub-metal layer comprises titanium (Ti) and the second sub-metal layer comprises aluminum (Al).

4. The display panel of claim 1 , wherein the at least one organic material layer of the intermediate layer comprises at least one of a hole transport layer, a hole injection layer, an electron transport layer, or an electron injection layer.

5. The display panel of claim 1 , further comprising a second partition wall in the first non-display area, wherein the second partition wall is closer to the opening of the substrate than the first partition wall is.

6. The display panel of claim 5 , wherein an edge of the organic encapsulation layer is closer to the display area than the second partition wall is.

7. The display panel of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of tips comprises other two adjacent tips arranged between the first partition wall and the display area,
wherein the plurality of portions further comprises a fourth portion that is located between the other two adjacent tips, and a portion of the organic encapsulation layer overlaps with the fourth portion.

8. The display panel of claim 1 , further comprising:
a plurality of data lines comprising a first data line and a second data line,
wherein a portion of the first data line and a portion of the second data line are located in a portion of the first non-display area between the first partition wall and the display area.

9. The display panel of claim 8 , wherein the portion of the first data line in the first non-display area is above an insulation layer and the portion of the second data line in the first non-display area is below the insulation layer.

10. An electronic apparatus comprising:
a display panel including an opening area; and
a component under the display panel and corresponding to the opening area of the display panel,
wherein the display panel comprises:
a substrate including a top surface and a bottom surface opposite to the top surface, the substrate having an opening that passes from the top surface to the bottom surface;
a buffer layer on the top surface of the substrate;
a display element on the buffer layer and comprising a pixel electrode, an opposite electrode, and an intermediate layer between the pixel electrode and the opposite electrode, the display element being arranged in a display area;
an encapsulation layer on the display element and comprising a first inorganic encapsulation layer, a second inorganic encapsulation layer on the first inorganic encapsulation layer, and an organic encapsulation layer between the first inorganic encapsulation layer and the second inorganic encapsulation layer;
a first partition wall in a first non-display area between the display area and the opening of the substrate; and
a plurality of tips arranged in the first non-display area, wherein a metal stacked structure includes a first sub-metal layer and a second sub-metal layer under the first sub-metal layer, and wherein each of the plurality of tips corresponds to a portion of the first sub-metal layer that extends beyond a lateral surface of the second sub-metal layer,
wherein the plurality of tips comprises two adjacent tips arranged between the first partition wall and the opening of the substrate,
wherein at least one organic material layer of the intermediate layer or the opposite electrode is separated into a plurality of portions by two adjacent tips, and
wherein one of the plurality of portions comprises:
a first portion and a second portion located on the two adjacent tips, respectively; and
a third portion between the two adjacent tips on the buffer layer, and

wherein a portion of the second inorganic encapsulation layer and a portion of the first inorganic encapsulation layer are in direct contact with each other and overlap with the third portion.

11. The electronic apparatus of claim 10 , wherein a material of the first sub-metal layer is different from a material of the second sub-metal layer.

12. The electronic apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the first sub-metal layer comprises titanium (Ti) and the second sub-metal layer comprises aluminum (Al).

13. The electronic apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the at least one organic material layer of the intermediate layer comprises at least one of a hole transport layer, a hole injection layer, an electron transport layer, or an electron injection layer.

14. The electronic apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the display panel further comprises a second partition wall in the first non-display area, wherein the second partition wall is closer to the opening of the substrate than the first partition wall is.

15. The electronic apparatus of claim 14 , wherein an edge of the organic encapsulation layer is closer to the display area than the second partition wall is.

16. The electronic apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of tips comprises other two adjacent tips arranged between the first partition wall and the display area,
wherein the plurality of portions further comprises a fourth portion that is located between the other two adjacent tips, and a portion of the organic encapsulation layer overlaps with the fourth portion.

17. The electronic apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the display panel further comprises:
a plurality of data lines comprising a first data line and a second data line,
wherein a portion of the first data line and a portion of the second data line are l

Assignees

• Samsung Display Co Ltd

Inventors

• Seon Jongbaek
• Lee Jaehak
• Shin Juncheol
• Choi Jieun

Classifications

• H10K59/131

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

• H10K50/17

  Carrier injection layers · CPC title

• H10K50/16

  Electron transporting layers · CPC title

• H10K50/15

  Hole transporting layers · CPC title

• H10K59/873 Primary

  Encapsulations · CPC title