Display device including external light-absorbing layer
A display device having improved image quality characteristics including a substrate including a transmission area and an emission area defined by a pixel-defining layer; a display element including a pixel electrode at least partially exposed by the pixel-defining layer, an intermediate layer arranged on the pixel electrode, and an opposite electrode arranged on the intermediate layer; a thin film encapsulation layer arranged on the display element, the thin film encapsulation layer including at least one inorganic encapsulation layer and at least one organic encapsulation layer; and an external light-absorbing layer at least partially overlapping the emission area and arranged on the thin film encapsulation layer.
1. A display device comprising:
a substrate including a transmission area and an emission area defined by a pixel-defining layer;
a display element including a pixel electrode at least partially exposed by the pixel-defining layer, an intermediate layer arranged on the pixel electrode, and an opposite electrode arranged on the intermediate layer;
a thin film encapsulation layer arranged on the display element, the thin film encapsulation layer including at least one inorganic encapsulation layer and at least one organic encapsulation layer;
an external light-absorbing layer at least partially overlapping the emission area and arranged on the thin film encapsulation layer;
a polarizing plate arranged on the external light-absorbing layer; and
a plurality of light control films arranged on the polarizing plate and spaced apart from each other by a first distance.
2. The display device of claim 1 , wherein the pixel-defining layer includes a first opening exposing at least a portion of the pixel electrode and the external light-absorbing layer includes a second opening exposing at least a portion of the thin film encapsulation layer.
3. The display device of claim 2 , wherein the first opening in the pixel-defining layer has a first width, and the second opening in the external light-absorbing layer has a second width less than the first width.
4. The display device of claim 1 , wherein the external light-absorbing layer has a thickness of about 0.5 μm to about 3 μm and is arranged on the thin film encapsulation layer.
5. The display device of claim 1 , wherein the thin film encapsulation layer includes:
a first inorganic encapsulation layer arranged on the display element;
an organic encapsulation layer arranged on the first inorganic encapsulation layer; and
a second inorganic encapsulation layer arranged on the organic encapsulation layer.
6. The display device of claim 5 , wherein the external light-absorbing layer is arranged directly on the second inorganic encapsulation layer.
7. The display device of claim 1 , further comprising a spacer arranged on the pixel-defining layer, wherein the spacer and the pixel-defining layer include a same material.
8. The display device of claim 1 , wherein each of the light control films is arranged on the polarizing plate and forms a first inclination angle with a first axis of a plane including the first axis extending in a first direction and a second axis extending in a second direction crossing the first direction.
9. The display device of claim 8 , wherein the first inclination angle is 30 degrees or less.
10. The display device of claim 1 , wherein the first distance is about 35 μm to about 55 μm.
11. The display device of claim 1 , wherein each of the light control films has a thickness of about 80 μm to about 120 μm and is arranged on the polarizing plate.
12. The display device of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the opposite electrode extends toward the transmission area.
13. A display device comprising:
a substrate including a transmission area and an emission area defined by a pixel-defining layer;
a display element including a pixel electrode at least partially exposed by the pixel-defining layer, an intermediate layer arranged on the pixel electrode, and an opposite electrode arranged on the intermediate layer;
a thin film encapsulation layer arranged on the display element, the thin film encapsulation layer including at least one inorganic encapsulation layer and at least one organic encapsulation layer;
an external light-absorbing layer arranged on the thin film encapsulation layer;
a plurality of light control films arranged on the external light-absorbing layer and spaced apart from each other by a first distance; and
a polarizing plate arranged between the external light-absorbing layer and the plurality of light control films.
14. The display device of claim 13 , wherein the pixel-defining layer includes a first opening exposing at least a portion of the pixel electrode and the external light-absorbing layer includes a second opening exposing at least a portion of the thin film encapsulation layer.
15. The display device of claim 14 , wherein the first opening in the pixel-defining layer has a first width, and the second opening in the external light-absorbing layer has a second width less than the first width.
16. The display device of claim 14 , wherein the external light-absorbing layer at least partially overlaps the emission area and is arranged on the thin film encapsulation layer.
17. The display device of claim 13 , wherein each of the light control films is arranged on the polarizing plate and forms a first inclination angle with a first axis on a plane including the first axis extending in a first direction and a second axis extending in a second direction crossing the first direction.
18. The display device of claim 17 , wherein the first inclination angle is 30 degrees or less.