IP Library Granted Patent US 12666772
Granted Patent B2
US 12666772 · App. 18/359,758 · Granted Jun 23, 2026

Pixel and display device including the same

Inventors: Jong Chan Lee (Yongin-si, KR); Jun Seok Min (Yongin-si, KR); Jeong Su Park (Yongin-si, KR); Sung Jin Lee (Yongin-si, KR); Woong Hee Jeong (Yongin-si, KR)
Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
H10H20/857H10D86/441H10D86/60H10W90/00
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12666772
App. No.
18/359,758
Granted
Jun 23, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A pixel includes: a first conductive pattern, a second conductive pattern, and a third conductive pattern on a substrate and spaced apart from each other; a passivation layer on and exposing each of the first, second, and third conductive patterns; a via layer on the passivation layer and having first, second, and third via holes respectively exposing one area of the first conductive pattern, one area of the second conductive pattern, and one area of the third conductive pattern; first and second alignment electrodes on the via layer and electrically connected to the second conductive pattern and the first conductive pattern, respectively; and a light emitting element on the first and second alignment electrodes. The via layer has a first area and a second area that is thinner than the first area, and the second area is directly adjacent to at least one of the via holes.

Claims (65)

1 . A pixel comprising:

a substrate having an emission area and a non-emission area;

a first conductive pattern, a second conductive pattern, and a third conductive pattern on the substrate and spaced apart from each other;

a passivation layer on the first, second, and third conductive patterns and exposing each of the first, second, and third conductive patterns;

a via layer on the passivation layer such that the passivation layer is between the via layer and the first, second, and third conductive patterns, the via layer having a first via hole exposing one area of the first conductive pattern, a second via hole exposing one area of the second conductive pattern, and a third via hole exposing one area of the third conductive pattern, the via layer having a first area having a first thickness and a second area having a second thickness smaller than the first thickness, the second area being directly adjacent to at least one of the first, second, and third via holes such that the at least one of the first, second, and third via holes has a stepped structure;

a second alignment electrode on the via layer and electrically connected to the first conductive pattern;

a first alignment electrode on the via layer and electrically connected to the second conductive pattern; and

a light emitting element on the first and second alignment electrodes.

2 . The pixel of claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second via holes has a first width, and

wherein the second area of the via layer has a second width that is smaller than the first width.

3 . The pixel of claim 1 , wherein the second area of the via layer overlaps the first, second, and third conductive patterns.

4 . The pixel of claim 1 , wherein the second area of the via layer extends entirely around each of the first and second via holes.

5 . The pixel of claim 4 , wherein the second area of the via layer has a ring shape around each of the first and second via holes in a plan view.

6 . The pixel of claim 5 , wherein the first area of the via layer extends around the second area of the via layer in the plan view.

7 . The pixel of claim 1 , wherein the second area of the via layer extends around at least one side of each of the first and second via holes.

8 . The pixel of claim 7 , wherein the second area of the via layer is directly adjacent to the at least one side of each of the first and second via holes.

9 . The pixel of claim 8 , wherein the second area of the via layer faces the first area of the via layer with each of the first and second via holes therebetween, and

wherein the second area of the via layer and the first area of the via layer facing each other with the first and second via holes therebetween have different inclination angles.

10 . The pixel of claim 9 , wherein, from among the second area of the via layer and the first area of the via layer facing each other with the first and second via holes therebetween, an inclination angle of the first area of the via layer is greater than an inclination angle of the second area of the via layer.

11 . The pixel of claim 10 , wherein the second area of the via layer extends around at least one side of each of the first and second via holes in a plan view, and

wherein the first area of the via layer extends around the second area of the via layer and the remainder of each of the first and second via holes in the plan view.

12 . The pixel of claim 1 , further comprising:

a transistor between the substrate and the passivation layer and electrically connected to the light emitting element;

a capacitor between the substrate and the passivation layer and comprising a first storage electrode connected to a gate electrode of the transistor and a second storage electrode electrically connected to the light emitting element;

a first power wire configured to receive a voltage of a first driving power source; and

a second power wire spaced apart from the first power wire and configured to receive a voltage of a second driving power source different from the first driving power source.

13 . The pixel of claim 12 , wherein the first conductive pattern comprises the second power wire,

wherein the second conductive pattern comprises the second storage electrode, and

wherein the third conductive pattern comprises the first power wire.

14 . The pixel of claim 13 , further comprising:

a first insulating layer between the first and second alignment electrodes and the light emitting element;

a first bank in the non-emission area and having an opening corresponding to the emission area;

a second insulating layer on the light emitting element and exposing a first end portion and a second end portion of the light emitting element;

a first electrode electrically connected to the first end portion of the light emitting element; and

a second electrode spaced apart from the first electrode and electrically connected to the second end portion of the light emitting element.

15 . The pixel of claim 14 , further comprising an intermediate electrode spaced apart from the first and second electrodes,

wherein the light emitting element comprises:

a first light emitting element between one side of the first alignment electrode and the second alignment electrode and having a first end portion electrically connected to the first electrode and a second end portion electrically connected to the intermediate electrode; and

a second light emitting element between another side of the first alignment electrode and the second alignment electrode and having a first end portion electrically connected to the intermediate electrode and a second end portion electrically connected to the second electrode.

16 . The pixel of claim 15 , further comprising:

a second bank on the first bank in the non-emission area;

a color converting layer on the first and second light emitting elements in the emission area and configured to convert light of a first color emitted from the first and second light emitting elements into light of a second color; and

a color filter on the color converting layer and configured to selectively transmit the light of the second color.

17 . A display device comprising:

a substrate having a display area and a non-display area, the non-display area comprising a pad area;

a plurality of pixels in the display area, each of the plurality of pixel having an emission area and a non-emission area; and

a pad in the pad area and electrically connected to each of the pixels,

wherein each of the plurality of pixels comprises:

a first conductive pattern, a second conductive pattern, and a third conductive pattern spaced apart from each other on the substrate;

a passivation layer on the first, second, and third conductive patterns and exposing each of the first, second, and third conductive patterns;

a via layer on the passivation layer and having a first via hole exposing one area of the first conductive pattern, a second via hole exposing one area of the second conductive pattern, and a third via hole exposing one area of the third conductive pattern;

a first alignment electrode and a second alignment electrode on the via layer and spaced apart from each other;

an insulating layer on the first and second alignment electrodes;

a light emitting element on the insulating layer between the first alignment electrode and the second alignment electrode; and

a first electrode and a second electrode electrically connected to the light emitting element and spaced apart from each other,

wherein the via layer has a first area having a first thickness and a second area having a second thickness thinner than the first thickness,

wherein the second area of the via layer is directly adjacent to at least one of the first, second, and third via holes, and

wherein the via layer is not in the pad area.

18 . The display device of claim 17 , wherein the second area of the via layer extends around at least one side of each of the first and second via holes.

19 . The display device of claim 17 , wherein the second area of the via layer extends entirely around each of the first, second, and third via holes.

20 . The display device of claim 17 , wherein the pad comprises:

a first pad electrode on the substrate;

the passivation layer on the first pad electrode and having a first pad electrode contact hole exposing a portion of the first pad electrode;

the insulating layer on the passivation layer and having a second pad electrode contact hole corresponding to the first pad electrode contact hole; and

a second pad electrode on the insulating layer and electrically connected to the first pad electrode through the first and second pad electrode contact holes.