Oled panel with trench overhang structures

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2025268025-A1
Application number	US-202318857420-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 31, 2023
Priority date	Apr 29, 2022
Publication date	Aug 21, 2025
Grant date	—

Abstract

Embodiments described herein generally relate to sub-pixel circuits that may be utilized in a display such as an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display. The device includes substrate, pixel-defining layer (PDL) structures disposed over the section of the substrate, inorganic or metal overhang structures disposed on an upper surface of the PDL structures, and a plurality of sub-pixels. The PDL structures include a trench disposed in the top surface of the PDL structure. Each sub-pixel includes an anode, an OLED material disposed over and in contact with the anode, and a cathode disposed over the OLED material. The inorganic or metal overhang structures have an overhang extension that extends laterally over the trench. An encapsulation layer is disposed over the cathode and extends under at least a portion of the inorganic or metal overhang structures and along a top surface of the PDL structures.

First claim

1 . A device having a plurality of sub-pixels, each sub-pixel comprising:
a section of a substrate; first and second pixel-defining layer (PDL) structures having a trench disposed therein; first and second overhangs, each of the first and second overhangs defined by an overhang extension of a layer at least disposed on sidewalls and an upper surface of the first and second PDL structures, the overhang extension extending laterally past the trench to define the first and second overhangs; an anode; an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) material disposed over the anode and the overhang extension; and a cathode disposed over the OLED material disposed over:
the anode;
the layer; and
the overhang extension.

2 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising an encapsulation layer disposed over:
the cathode; and a portion of a top surface of the trench disposed between peripheral portions each of the first and second PDL structures.

3 . The device of claim 2 , further comprising a global passivation layer disposed over the encapsulation layer and the first and second PDL structures.

4 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the device comprises a line-type architecture.

5 . The device of claim 4 , wherein the cathode of each sub-pixel in the line-type architecture contacts a common cathode.

6 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the first and second PDL structures include a non-conductive material that is an organic material.

7 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the first and second PDL structures include a non-conductive material that is an inorganic material.

8 . The device of claim 7 , wherein the inorganic material comprises silicon oxide (SiO 2 ), silicon nitride (Si 3 N 4 ), silicon oxynitride (Si 2 N 2 O), magnesium fluoride (MgF 2 ) or combinations thereof.

9 . A device having a plurality of sub-pixels, each sub-pixel comprising:
a section of a substrate; first and second pixel-defining layer (PDL) structures having a trench disposed therein; first and second overhangs, each of the first and second overhangs defined by an overhang extension of an inorganic layer disposed at least an upper surface of the first and second PDL structures, the overhang extension extending laterally past the trench to define the first and second overhangs; an anode; an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) material disposed over the anode and the overhang extension of the first and second PDL structures; and a cathode disposed over the OLED material disposed over:
the anode;
the inorganic layer; and
the overhang extension.

10 . The device of claim 9 , further comprising an encapsulation layer disposed over:
the cathode; and a portion of a top surface of the trench disposed between peripheral portions each of the first and second PDL structures.

11 . The device of claim 9 , wherein the device comprises a line-type architecture or a dot-type architecture.

12 . (canceled)

13 . (canceled)

14 . The device of claim 9 , wherein the inorganic layer comprises titanium (Ti), molybdenum (Mo), aluminum (AI), copper (Cu), transparent conductive oxide (TCO), or combinations thereof.

15 . The device of claim 14 , wherein the TCO comprises indium zinc oxide (IZO), indium tin oxide (ITO), indium gallium zinc oxide (IGZO), or combinations thereof.

16 . A device having a plurality of sub-pixels, each sub-pixel comprising:
a section of a substrate; first and second pixel-defining layer (PDL) structures comprising an inorganic material, each of the first and second PDL structures having a trench disposed between peripheral portions of an upper surface of each of the first and second PDL structures; first and second overhangs, each of the first and second overhangs defined by an overhang extension of a layer disposed on the peripheral portions of the upper surface of the first and second PDL structures, the overhang extension extending laterally past the trench to define the first and second metal overhangs; an anode; an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) material disposed over the anode, sidewalls of the first and second PDL structures, the layer disposed over the peripheral portions of the upper surface, and the overhang extension; and a cathode disposed on the OLED material disposed over:
the anode;
the sidewalls of the first and second PDL structures;
the layer disposed over the peripheral portions of the upper surface of the first and second PDL structures; and
the overhang extension of the layer.

17 . The device of claim 16 , further comprising an encapsulation layer disposed over:
the cathode; sidewalls of the cathode, the OLED material, and the overhang extension of the layer; an underside surface of each overhang extension of the metal layer; and a portion of a top surface of the trench disposed between peripheral portions each of the first and second PDL structures.

18 . The device of claim 16 , wherein the device comprises a line-type architecture or a dot-type architecture.

19 . The device of claim 16 , wherein the device comprises a local cathode contact.

20 . The device of claim 16 , wherein the inorganic material comprises silicon nitride (Si 3 N 4 ), silicon oxynitride (SiON), magnesium fluoride (MgF2), silicon oxide (SiO 2 ), or combinations thereof.

21 . The device of claim 16 , wherein the layer comprises Ti, Mo, Al, Cu, TCO, or combinations thereof.

22 . The device of claim 21 , wherein the TCO comprises IZO, ITO, IGZO, or combinations thereof.

23 - 30 . (canceled)

Assignees

• Applied Materials Inc

Inventors

• Choung Ji-Young
• Lee Jungmin
• Chen Chung-Chia
• Lin Yu Hsin
• Haas Dieter
• Kim Si Kyoung

Classifications

• H10K59/873

  Encapsulations · CPC title

• H10K59/80521

  characterised by their shape · CPC title

• H10K59/173

  comprising banks or shadow masks · CPC title

• H10K59/122 Primary

  Pixel-defining structures or layers, e.g. banks · CPC title