IP Library Granted Patent US 11,723,230
Granted Patent B2
US 11,723,230 · App. 17/491,887 · Granted Aug 8, 2023

Display panel

Inventors: Yoonsun Choi (Yongin-si, KR); Hyunchul Kim (Yongin-si, KR); Seongryong Lee (Yongin-si, KR); Eunae Jung (Yongin-si, KR); Wonsuk Choi (Yongin-si, KR)
Assignee: SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO., LTD.
H10K50/844G06F3/042G06F3/0412H10K59/122H10K59/40
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,723,230
App. No.
17/491,887
Granted
Aug 8, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A display panel includes a substrate including an opening area, a display area, and a first non-display area, the first non-display area being between the opening area and the display area, a plurality of display elements arranged in the display area, a thin film encapsulation layer that covers the display elements, the thin film encapsulation layer including an inorganic encapsulation layer and an organic encapsulation layer, a groove in the first non-display area, a planarization layer in the first non-display area, the planarization layer covering the groove, a first inorganic insulating layer under the planarization layer such that the first inorganic insulating layer is between the planarization layer and the substrate, and a second inorganic insulating layer over the planarization layer.

Claims (44)

1. A display panel, comprising:

a substrate having an opening in an opening area;

a plurality of pixel electrodes arranged in a display area, the display area surrounding the opening area;

an opposite electrode overlapping the plurality of pixel electrodes in the display area;

an intermediate layer between the plurality of pixel electrodes and the opposite electrode;

a groove in the first non-display area, the first non-display area being between the opening area and the display area, wherein at least one layer of the intermediate layer comprises portions separated by the groove; and

at least three inorganic insulating layers disposed on the portions of the at least one layer of the intermediate layer, wherein the at least three inorganic insulating layers comprise:

a first inorganic insulating layer overlapping the portions of the at least one layer of the intermediate layer,

a second inorganic insulating layer on the first inorganic insulating layer; and

a third inorganic insulating layer on the second inorganic insulating layer, and

wherein:

the third inorganic insulating layer is in direct contact with the second inorganic insulating layer at a region corresponding to a first portion, among the portions of the at least one layer, which is disposed on a bottom surface of the grove, and

the second inorganic insulating layer is in-direct contact with the first inorganic insulating layer at the region.

2. The display panel as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the portions of the at least one layer of the intermediate layer further comprise:

a second portion and a third portion that are spaced apart from each other with the groove therebetween, wherein the second portion and the third portion are located at opposite sides of the first portion and separated from the first portion.

3. The display panel as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:

a planarization layer including an organic insulating material and overlapping the portions of the at least one layer of the intermediate layer.

4. The display panel as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the at least one layer of the intermediate layer comprises at least one selected from a hole transport layer (HTL), a hole injection layer (HIL), an electron transport layer (ETL), and an electron injection layer (EIL).

5. The display panel as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the groove has a loop shape in a plan view.

6. A display apparatus, comprising:

a substrate having an opening in an opening area;

a plurality of pixel electrodes arranged in a display area, the display area surrounding the opening area;

an opposite electrode overlapping the plurality of pixel electrodes in the display area;

an intermediate layer between the plurality of pixel electrodes and the opposite electrode;

a groove in a first non-display area, the first non-display area being between the opening area and the display area, wherein at least one layer of the intermediate layer comprises portions separated by the groove;

at least three inorganic insulating layers disposed on the portions of the at least one layer of the intermediate layer, and

a component under the substrate corresponding to the opening area,

wherein the at least three inorganic insulating layers comprise:

a first inorganic insulating layer overlapping the portions of the at least one layer of the intermediate layer,

a second inorganic insulating layer on the first inorganic insulating layer; and

a third inorganic insulating layer on the first inorganic insulating layer, and

wherein:

a third inorganic insulating layer is in direct contact with the second inorganic insulating layer at a region corresponding to a first portion, among the portions of the at least one layer, which is disposed on a bottom surface of the groove, and

the second inorganic insulating layer is in direct contact with the first inorganic insulating layer at the region.

7. The display apparatus as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the component comprises a sensor, a speaker, or a camera.

8. The display apparatus as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the portions of the at least one layer of the intermediate layer comprise:

a second portion and a third portion that are spaced apart from each other with the groove therebetween, wherein the second portion and the third portion are located at opposite sides of the first portion and separated from the first portion.

9. The display apparatus as claimed in claim 6 , further comprising:

a planarization layer including an organic insulating material and overlapping the portions of the at least one layer of the intermediate layer.

10. The display apparatus as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the at least three inorganic insulating layers are interposed between the portions of the at least one layer of the intermediate layer and the planarization layer.

11. The display apparatus as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the at least one layer of the intermediate layer comprises at least one selected from a hole transport layer (HTL), a hole injection layer (HIL), an electron transport layer (ETL), and an electron injection layer (EIL).

12. The display apparatus as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the groove has a loop shape in a plan view.

13. The display panel as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the protruding portion forms an undercut cross-section relative to the recess.

14. The display panel as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the grove extends into a polymer resin layer of the substrate.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 1, 2021
From: CHOI, YOONSUN; KIM, HYUNCHUL; LEE, SEONGRYONG; JUNG, EUNAE; CHOI, WONSUK
To: SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 057670/0083 →
Priority Claims (1)
KR 10-2018-0144678 · Nov 21, 2018 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation 16441846 · Jun 14, 2019
Related Publication 20220020960A1 · Jan 20, 2022