IP Library Granted Patent US 12,207,491
Granted Patent B2
US 12,207,491 · App. 17/850,909 · Granted Jan 21, 2025

Display device including sub-metal layers and tip

Inventors: Jongbaek Seon (Yongin-si, KR); Jaehak Lee (Yongin-si, KR); Juncheol Shin (Yongin-si, KR); Jieun Choi (Yongin-si, KR)
Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
H10K50/844H10K59/12H10K77/10G02F1/133331G02F1/133512G02F1/133514G02F1/133528G02F1/136209G09G3/3266G09G3/3275H01L27/14678H10K50/84H10K50/868H10K59/00H10K59/1213H10K59/122H10K59/123H10K59/124H10K59/131H10K59/40H10K2102/00
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,207,491
App. No.
17/850,909
Granted
Jan 21, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A display device includes: a substrate having an opening; a plurality of display elements at a display area adjacent to the opening, the plurality of display elements each including a pixel electrode, an opposite electrode, and an intermediate layer between the pixel electrode and the opposite electrode; and a metal stacked structure between the opening and the display area, and including: a first sub-metal layer having a first hole; and a second sub-metal layer under the first sub-metal layer and having a second hole, the second hole overlapping with the first hole and having a width greater than a width of the first hole.

Claims (52)

1. A display panel comprising:

a substrate including a top surface and a bottom surface opposite to the top surface, the substrate having an opening that passes from the top surface to the bottom surface;

a buffer layer on the top surface of the substrate;

a display element on the buffer layer and comprising a pixel electrode, an opposite electrode, and an intermediate layer between the pixel electrode and the opposite electrode, the display element being arranged in a display area;

an encapsulation layer on the display element and comprising a first inorganic encapsulation layer, a second inorganic encapsulation layer on the first inorganic encapsulation layer, and an organic encapsulation layer between the first inorganic encapsulation layer and the second inorganice encapsulation layer;

a first partition wall in a first non-display area between the display area and the opening of the substrate; and

a plurality of tips arranged in the first non-display area, wherein a metal stacked structure includes a first sub-metal layer and a second sub-metal layer under the first sub-metal layer, and wherein each of the plurality of tips corresponds to a portion of the first sub-metal layer that extends beyond a lateral surface of the second sub-metal layer,

wherein the plurality of tips comprises two adjacent tips arranged between the first partition wall and the opening of the substrate,

wherein at least one organic material layer of the intermediate layer or the opposite electrode is separated into a plurality of portions by the two adjacent tips, and

wherein the plurality of portions comprises:

a first portion and a second located on the two adjacent tips, respectively; and

a third portion between the two adjacent tips and located on the buffer layer, and

wherein a portion of the second inorganic encapsulation layer and a portion of the first inorganic encapsulation layer are in direct contact with each other and overlap with the third portion.

2. The display panel of claim 1 , wherein a material of the first sub-metal layer is different from a material of the second sub-metal layer.

3. The display panel of claim 2 , wherein the first sub-metal layer comprises titanium (Ti) and the second sub-metal layer comprises aluminum (Al).

4. The display panel of claim 1 , wherein the at least one organic material layer of the intermediate layer comprises at least one of a hole transport layer, a hole injection layer, an electron transport layer, or an electron injection layer.

5. The display panel of claim 1 , further comprising a second partition wall in the first non-display area, wherein the second partition wall is closer to the opening of the substrate than the first partition wall is.

6. The display panel of claim 5 , wherein an edge of the organic encapsulation layer is closer to the display area than the second partition wall is.

7. The display panel of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of tips comprises other two adjacent tips arranged between the first partition wall and the display area,

wherein the plurality of portions further comprises a fourth portion that is located between the other two adjacent tips, and a portion of the organic encapsulation layer overlaps with the fourth portion.

8. The display panel of claim 1 , further comprising:

a plurality of data lines comprising a first data line and a second data line,

wherein a portion of the first data line and a portion of the second data line are located in a portion of the first non-display area between the first partition wall and the display area.

9. The display panel of claim 8 , wherein the portion of the first data line in the first non-display area is above an insulation layer and the portion of the second data line in the first non-display area is below the insulation layer.

10. An electronic apparatus comprising:

a display panel including an opening area; and

a component under the display panel and corresponding to the opening area of the display panel,

wherein the display panel comprises:

a substrate including a top surface and a bottom surface opposite to the top surface, the substrate having an opening that passes from the top surface to the bottom surface;

a buffer layer on the top surface of the substrate;

a display element on the buffer layer and comprising a pixel electrode, an opposite electrode, and an intermediate layer between the pixel electrode and the opposite electrode, the display element being arranged in a display area;

an encapsulation layer on the display element and comprising a first inorganic encapsulation layer, a second inorganic encapsulation layer on the first inorganic encapsulation layer, and an organic encapsulation layer between the first inorganic encapsulation layer and the second inorganic encapsulation layer;

a first partition wall in a first non-display area between the display area and the opening of the substrate; and

a plurality of tips arranged in the first non-display area, wherein a metal stacked structure includes a first sub-metal layer and a second sub-metal layer under the first sub-metal layer, and wherein each of the plurality of tips corresponds to a portion of the first sub-metal layer that extends beyond a lateral surface of the second sub-metal layer,

wherein the plurality of tips comprises two adjacent tips arranged between the first partition wall and the opening of the substrate,

wherein at least one organic material layer of the intermediate layer or the opposite electrode is separated into a plurality of portions by two adjacent tips, and

wherein one of the plurality of portions comprises:

a first portion and a second portion located on the two adjacent tips, respectively; and

a third portion between the two adjacent tips on the buffer layer, and

wherein a portion of the second inorganic encapsulation layer and a portion of the first inorganic encapsulation layer are in direct contact with each other and overlap with the third portion.

11. The electronic apparatus of claim 10 , wherein a material of the first sub-metal layer is different from a material of the second sub-metal layer.

12. The electronic apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the first sub-metal layer comprises titanium (Ti) and the second sub-metal layer comprises aluminum (Al).

13. The electronic apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the at least one organic material layer of the intermediate layer comprises at least one of a hole transport layer, a hole injection layer, an electron transport layer, or an electron injection layer.

14. The electronic apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the display panel further comprises a second partition wall in the first non-display area, wherein the second partition wall is closer to the opening of the substrate than the first partition wall is.

15. The electronic apparatus of claim 14 , wherein an edge of the organic encapsulation layer is closer to the display area than the second partition wall is.

16. The electronic apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of tips comprises other two adjacent tips arranged between the first partition wall and the display area,

wherein the plurality of portions further comprises a fourth portion that is located between the other two adjacent tips, and a portion of the organic encapsulation layer overlaps with the fourth portion.

17. The electronic apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the display panel further comprises:

a plurality of data lines comprising a first data line and a second data line,

wherein a portion of the first data line and a portion of the second data line are located in a portion of the first non-display area between the first partition wall and the display area.

18. The electronic apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the portion of the first data line in the first non-display area is above an insulation layer and the portion of the second data line in the first non-display area is below the insulation layer.

19. The electronic apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the component comprises a sensor or a camera.

Assignments (2)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE TO ADD THE 4TH INVENTOR JIEUN CHOI PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 67650 FRAME 339. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Jun 12, 2024
From: SEON, JONGBAEK; LEE, JAEHAK; SHIN, JUNCHEOL; CHOI, JIEUN
To: SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 067712/0827 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 6, 2024
From: SEON, JONGBAEK; LEE, JAEHAK; SHIN, JUNCHEOL
To: SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 067650/0339 →
Priority Claims (1)
KR 10-2019-0074119 · Jun 21, 2019 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation 16791162 · Feb 14, 2020
Related Publication 20220328790A1 · Oct 13, 2022
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