IP Library Granted Patent US 12684994
Granted Patent B2
US 12684994 · App. 17/911,613 · Granted Jul 14, 2026

Display device and method of manufacturing display device

Inventors: Takeshi Hirase (Sakai City, JP); Kaoru Abe (Sakai City, JP)
Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
H10K59/873H10K59/124H10K59/1201H10K59/879
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12684994
App. No.
17/911,613
Granted
Jul 14, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A display device includes a base member, a thin film transistor, an organic insulation film, a light-emitting layer, and a sealing layer. The display device has an active area and a non-active area. The non-active area includes a notched portion and a protrusion portion surrounding the notched portion and having, on a notched portion side, a side face including a reverse-tapered face. The light-emitting layer is disconnected as a result of a step at the protrusion portion. A filling material is embedded in at least a part of a space located between the reverse-tapered face and a top face of the organic insulation film. The top face overlaps the reverse-tapered face in a plan view.

Claims (45)

1 . A display device comprising:

a base member;

a thin film transistor layer formed on the base member, the thin film transistor layer having a thin film transistor and an organic insulation film formed on the thin film transistor;

a light-emitting layer formed on the thin film transistor layer, the light-emitting layer including a first electrode, a second electrode, an electroluminescence light-emitting layer positioned between the first electrode and the second electrode, and an organic film covering an edge of the first electrode; and

a sealing layer formed on the light-emitting layer,

the display device having:

an active area that contributes to display in a plan view;

a non-active area surrounded by the active area in the plan view; and

a notched portion formed in the non-active area in the plan view, the notched portion being a portion where the base member, the thin film transistor layer, the light-emitting layer, and the sealing layer are removed,

the non-active area including:

a protrusion portion formed between the active area and the notched portion, the protrusion portion surrounding the notched portion and having, on a notched portion side, a side face including a reverse-tapered face, the protrusion portion further being formed on the thin film transistor layer,

wherein:

the organic film is formed between the protrusion portion and the thin film transistor layer,

the organic film directly contacts the protrusion portion,

a filling material is embedded in at least a part of a space located between the reverse-tapered face and a top face of the organic film,

the top face overlaps the reverse-tapered face in the plan view,

the sealing layer includes a first inorganic sealing film, an organic sealing film, and a second inorganic sealing film, all of which are provided in this stated order from a side of the light-emitting layer,

the first inorganic sealing film covers the reverse-tapered face,

the second inorganic sealing film covers the filling material,

the filling material has a refractive index from 1.5 to 2.0, both inclusive, and

the filling material is formed of a material different from a material forming the organic sealing film and a material forming the organic film.

2 . The display device according to claim 1 , wherein, in a cross-section perpendicular to the reverse-tapered face and the top face of the organic film, a ratio of a cross-sectional area of the filling material to a cross-sectional area of the space is greater than or equal to 50%.

3 . The display device according to claim 1 , wherein the filling material and the protrusion portion differ in refractive index by less than 0.5.

4 . The display device according to claim 1 , wherein

the filling material and the organic film differ in refractive index by less than 0.5.

5 . The display device according to claim 1 , wherein

the filling material and the first inorganic sealing film differ in refractive index by less than 0.5.

6 . The display device according to claim 1 , wherein

the filling material and the second inorganic sealing film differ in refractive index by less than 0.5.

7 . The display device according to claim 1 , wherein the filling material has an optical concentration of 0.1 or greater.

8 . The display device according to claim 1 , wherein the filling material is a resin material.

9 . The display device according to claim 8 , wherein the resin material contains at least one of groups including polyurea, siloxane polymer, and acrylic.

10 . The display device according to claim 1 , wherein an external module is provided in the notched portion.

11 . The display device according to claim 1 , wherein

a slit is formed between the notched portion and the protrusion portion, the slit surrounding the notched portion, and

the slit is a portion where the thin film transistor layer, the light-emitting layer, and the sealing layer are removed.

12 . The display device according to claim 1 , wherein

the protrusion portion comprises a metal layer and a resist layer formed on the metal layer.

13 . The display device according to claim 1 , wherein

a metal layer is formed on the protrusion portion, and

the metal layer is made of the same material as the second electrode.

14 . The display device according to claim 1 , wherein

the protrusion portion has a second side face in proximity to the active area, the second side face including a reverse-tapered face.

15 . The display device according to claim 1 , wherein

a bank is formed in the non-active area, the bank surrounding the protrusion portion.