IP Library Granted Patent US 12,648,306
Granted Patent B2
US 12,648,306 · App. 18/195,403 · Granted Jun 2, 2026

Display apparatus capable of reducing leakage current and effectively transmitting electrical signal to opposite electrodes

Inventor: Jonghyun Yun (Yongin-si, KR)
Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
H10K59/122H10K50/81H10K50/813H10K50/822H10K50/8428H10K59/353H10K59/80515H10K59/80521H10K59/8723
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,648,306
App. No.
18/195,403
Granted
Jun 2, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A display apparatus capable of reducing a leakage current and effectively transmitting an electrical signal to a plurality of opposite electrodes includes a pixel definition layer including a first opening, a spacer including a second opening, wherein at least a portion of a body portion of the spacer is disposed in the first opening to cover a side surface of the pixel defining layer.

Claims (35)

1 . A display apparatus comprising:

a substrate;

a pixel electrode disposed over the substrate;

a pixel definition layer including a first opening exposing at least a portion of the pixel electrode, the exposed portion of the pixel electrode including an emission area and a connection area;

a spacer disposed over the pixel definition layer and including a second opening exposing at least a portion of the pixel electrode;

an emission layer arranged in the emission area; and

an opposite electrode disposed over the emission layer and covering at least a portion of the spacer and the pixel definition layer,

wherein at least a portion of a body portion of the spacer is disposed in the first opening to cover a side surface of the pixel definition layer, and

wherein, in an area other than the connection area, the opposite electrode disposed over the emission layer is disconnected from the opposite electrode disposed on an upper surface of the spacer.

2 . The display apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the body portion of the spacer is not arranged in the emission area and is arranged in the connection area.

3 . The display apparatus of claim 2 , wherein, in the connection area, the opposite electrode covers a side surface of the second opening, and

wherein the opposite electrode disposed over the emission layer is connected through the connection area to the opposite electrode disposed on an upper surface of the spacer.

4 . The display apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a first angle formed between an inner surface of the pixel definition layer defining the first opening and an upper surface of the substrate is about 60° or more and about 130° or less, and a second angle formed between an inner surface of the spacer defining the second opening and the upper surface of the substrate is more than about 0° and about 80° or less.

5 . The display apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first opening includes a main opening having a polygonal shape corresponding to the emission area and a connection opening protruding from a corner of the polygonal shape in an area corresponding to the connection area.

6 . The display apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first opening has a circular or polygonal shape in a plan view.

7 . The display apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the second opening includes a main opening having a circular or polygonal shape, and

wherein the spacer includes a protrusion protruding toward a center of the first opening in an area corresponding to the connection area.

8 . The display apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the connection area is located at an edge of the first opening.

9 . The display apparatus of claim 1 , wherein one subpixel area includes at least one connection area.

10 . The display apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the spacer and the pixel definition layer include different materials.

11 . A display apparatus comprising:

a first pixel electrode and a second pixel electrode arranged apart from each other over a substrate;

a pixel definition layer including a (1-1) th opening exposing at least a portion of the first pixel electrode to define a first emission area and a first connection area, and a (1-2) th opening exposing at least a portion of the second pixel electrode to define a second emission area and a second connection area;

a spacer disposed over the pixel definition layer and including a (2-1) th opening exposing at least a portion of the first pixel electrode and a (2-2) th opening exposing at least a portion of the second pixel electrode;

a first emission layer arranged in the first emission area and a second emission layer arranged in the second emission area; and

an opposing electrode disposed over the first emission layer and the second emission layer and at least partially covering the pixel definition layer and the spacer,

wherein at least a portion of a body portion of the spacer is arranged in the (1-1)th opening and the (1-2)th opening, an inner surface of the pixel definition layer defining the (1-1)th opening and the (1-2)th opening forms an obtuse angle with an upper surface of the substrate, and an inner surface of the spacer defining the (2-1)th opening and the (2-2)th opening forms an acute angle with the upper surface of the substrate, and

wherein, in an area other than the first connection area and the second connection area, the opposite electrode disposed over the first pixel electrode and the opposite electrode disposed over the second pixel electrode are disconnected.

12 . The display apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the body portion of the spacer is arranged in the first connection area and the second connection area.

13 . The display apparatus of claim 12 , wherein, through the first connection area and the second connection area, the opposite electrode disposed over the first pixel electrode is connected to the opposite electrode disposed over the second pixel electrode.

14 . The display apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the first connection area is located at an edge of the (1-1) th opening, and the second connection area is located at an edge of the (1-2) th opening.

15 . The display apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the first connection area includes at least one first connection area disposed over the first pixel electrode, and the second connection area includes at least one second connection area disposed over the second pixel electrode.

16 . The display apparatus of claim 11 , wherein each of the (1-1) th opening and the (1-2) th opening includes a main opening having a polygonal shape corresponding to the first emission area and the second emission area, respectively, and a connection opening protruding from a corner of the polygonal shape corresponding to the first connection area and the second connection area toward a direction away from a center of each of the (1-1) th opening and the (1-2) th opening, respectively.

17 . The display apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the (1-1) th opening and the (1-2) th opening have a circular or polygonal shape.

18 . The display apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the spacer and the pixel definition layer include different materials.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 10, 2023
From: YUN, JONGHYUN
To: SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 063591/0857 →
Priority Claims (1)
KR 10-2022-0092644 · Jul 26, 2022 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240040843A1 · Feb 1, 2024
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