Organic light emitting diode display device having a dam for controlling flow of encapsulant

1. An organic light emitting diode (OLED) display device, comprising:

a substrate comprising:

a display area comprising an organic light emitting element; and

a pad area comprising a plurality of pads, the pad area being disposed at one end of the display area;

an encapsulation layer on the substrate, the encapsulation layer covering the organic light emitting element; and

a dam between the display area and the pad area, the dam configured to control flow of an organic film material in the encapsulation layer,

wherein the dam:

completely surrounds the entirety of the display area at a periphery thereof, and

comprises a plurality of integral dam portions spaced from one another by a predetermined distance, all of the plurality of dam portions being only at the one end of the display area, the plurality of dam portions defining a plurality of closed regions, each of the closed regions being at least as long as a side of the display area at the one end of the display area, all of the dam portions being a single unbroken line.

2. The OLED display device according to claim 1 , wherein each of the dam portions has a shape selected from a straight line and a zigzag.

3. The OLED display device according to claim 1 , wherein:

a closest one of the dam portions to the display area comprises a plurality of sub-dams spaced from one another by a predetermined distance in a first direction crossing the display area and the pad area; and

each sub-dam is disposed in a second direction crossing the first direction.

4. The OLED display device according to claim 1 , wherein:

the dam comprises a same material as at least one selected from: a material included in a bank and a spacer in the display area, and a metal material included in a thin film transistor; and

the dam comprises at least one layer comprising a laminate of the selected materials.

5. A method for manufacturing an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display device, the method comprising:

providing an organic light emitting element in a display area on a substrate;

providing a plurality of dams between the display area and a pad area, the pad area being provided with a plurality of pads;

providing an encapsulation layer on the substrate, such that the encapsulation layer covers the organic light emitting element; and

providing a dam directly on the substrate for controlling flow of an organic film material in the encapsulation layer,

wherein the dam:

completely surrounds the entirety of the display area at a periphery thereof, and

comprises a plurality of integral dam portions spaced from one another by a predetermined distance, all of the plurality of dam portions being only at one end of the display area, the plurality of dam portions defining a plurality of closed regions, each of the closed regions being at least as long as a side of the display area at the one end of the display area, all of the dam portions being a single unbroken line.

6. The method according to claim 5 , wherein each of the dam portions has a shape selected from a straight line and a zigzag.

7. The method according to claim 5 , wherein:

a closest one of the dam portions to the display area comprises a plurality of sub-dams spaced from one another by a predetermined distance in a first direction crossing the display area and the pad area; and

each sub-dam has a longitudinal direction in a second direction crossing the first direction.

8. The method according to claim 5 , wherein:

the dam comprises a same material as at least one selected from: metal materials included in a bank, a spacer, an inorganic insulation film, an organic insulation film, and a thin film transistor in the display area; and

the dam comprises at least one layer comprising a laminate of the selected materials.