# US 10,121,842 B2 · Display device and method of manufacturing the same

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- Number: US 10,121,842 B2
- Document ID: US10121842B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/885,828
- Filed: 2015-10-16
- Published: 2016-06-30
- Granted: 2018-11-06
- Earliest claimed: 2014-12-26
- Assignees: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Kwanghoon Lee; Mugyeom Kim
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10121842B2

## CPC

- H10D 86/441: {Interconnections, e.g. scanning lines}
- G02F 1/1362: Active matrix addressed cells {(G02F1/134336, G02F1/134363 take precedence)}
- G02F 1/136277: {formed on a semiconductor substrate, e.g. of silicon}
- G02F 1/136286: {Wiring, e.g. gate line, drain line}
- H10D 86/481: {integrated with passive devices, e.g. auxiliary capacitors}
- H10D 86/60: wherein the TFTs are in active matrices
- H10K 59/121: characterised by the geometry or disposition of pixel elements
- H10K 59/131: Interconnections, e.g. wiring lines or terminals
- H10K 59/8731: {multilayered coatings having a repetitive structure, e.g. having multiple organic-inorganic bilayers}
- H10K 77/111: {Flexible substrates}
- H10K 59/1201: {Manufacture or treatment}
- H10K 59/122: Pixel-defining structures or layers, e.g. banks
- H10K 59/8722: {Peripheral sealing arrangements, e.g. adhesives, sealants}
- H10K 2102/311: {Flexible OLED}
- Y02E 10/549: Organic PV cells
- Y02P 70/50: Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product
- H10D: INORGANIC ELECTRIC SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES
- G02F: OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS
- H10K: ORGANIC ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS

## Abstract

A display device and a method of manufacturing the same are disclosed. In one aspect, the display device includes a substrate including a separation area and a plurality of pixel formed over the substrate. The separation area is formed between adjacent pixels, and a plurality of through holes are respectively defined by a plurality of surrounding inner surfaces of the separation area, and wherein each of the inner surfaces passes through the substrate. The display device also includes an encapsulation layer formed over the substrate and covering the inner surfaces of the separation area.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A display device comprising:
a substrate including a separation region;
a thin film transistor disposed on the substrate;
a first insulating layer covering the thin film transistor and having a first through hole defined by a first inner surface;
a second insulating layer disposed on the first insulating layer and having a second through hole corresponding to the first through hole, and the second through hole defined by a second inner surface;
a third insulating layer disposed on the second insulating layer and having a third through hole corresponding to the second through hole, and the third through hole defined by a third inner surface;
a plurality of pixels formed over the substrate, wherein the separation region is formed between adjacent pixels of the plurality of pixels, wherein a plurality of through holes are respectively defined by a plurality of surrounding inner surfaces of the separation region, wherein each of the plurality of surrounding inner surfaces passes through the substrate,
wherein the substrate has a fourth through hole defined by a fourth inner surface and corresponding to the first through hole, wherein each of the plurality of through holes comprises the first, second, third and fourth through holes,
wherein each of the plurality of surrounding inner surfaces comprises the first, second, third and fourth inner surfaces, and wherein the first, second and third through holes have different widths; and
an encapsulation layer formed over the substrate and covering the plurality of surrounding inner surfaces of the separation region, wherein the encapsulation layer directly contacts the first, second, third and fourth inner surfaces.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The display device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of surrounding inner surfaces has a slope.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The display device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of surrounding inner surfaces has a step shape.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The display device of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of pixels comprises:
a pixel electrode formed over the substrate;
an intermediate layer including an emission layer formed over the pixel electrode; and
an opposite electrode formed opposite to the pixel electrode and at least partially covering the intermediate layer.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The display device of claim 1, wherein the separation region comprises a first separation area and a second separation area,
wherein the first separation area comprises a portion formed between first pixels, adjacent to each other in the first direction, among the plurality of pixels,
wherein the second separation area comprises a portion formed between second pixels, adjacent to each other in the second direction, among the plurality of pixels,
wherein the first through hole and the second through hole are respectively formed in the first and second separation areas.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The display device of claim 5, wherein the first through hole extends in the second direction, and wherein the second through hole extends in the first direction.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The display device of claim 5, further comprising one or more wirings electrically connected to the plurality of pixels, wherein the one or more wirings do not overlap at least one of the plurality of through holes in a direction crossing the first or second direction.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The display device of claim 7, wherein the one or more wirings extend in one of the first and second directions, and wherein the one or more wirings protrude in the other direction of the first and second directions so as to curve around a periphery of at least one of the plurality of through holes.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The display device of claim 7, wherein the one or more wirings comprise a plurality of wirings, and wherein two of the plurality of wirings, adjacent to each other in one of the first and second directions, are substantially symmetrical with respect to at least one of the plurality of through holes.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The display device of claim 1, wherein the substrate is flexible.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The display device of claim 1, wherein each of the second and third through holes has a length greater than that of the first through hole.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The display device of claim 1, wherein the widths of the first, second and third through holes gradually become smaller from the third through hole to the first through hole.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The display device of claim 1, wherein the width of the first through hole is smaller than the width of the second through hole, and wherein the width of the second through hole is smaller than the width of the third through hole.

### Claim 14

A display device comprising:
a substrate including a separation region;
a thin film transistor disposed on the substrate;
a first insulating layer covering the thin film transistor and having a first through hole defined by a first inner surface;
a second insulating layer disposed on the first insulating layer and having a second through hole corresponding to the first through hole, and the second through hole defined by a second inner surface;
a third insulating layer disposed on the second insulating layer and having a third through hole corresponding to the second through hole, and the third through hole defined by a third inner surface;
a plurality of pixels formed over the substrate, wherein each pixel of the plurality of pixels includes a first sub-pixel and a second sub-pixel, wherein the separation region is formed between the first sub-pixel and the second sub-pixel, wherein a plurality of through holes are respectively defined by a plurality of surrounding inner surfaces of the separation region, wherein each of the plurality of surrounding inner surfaces passes through the substrate,
wherein the substrate has a fourth through hole defined by a fourth inner surface and corresponding to the first through hole, wherein the plurality of through holes comprise the first, second, third and fourth through holes,
wherein each of the plurality of surrounding inner surfaces comprises the first, second, third and fourth inner surfaces, and wherein the first, second and third through holes have different widths; and
an encapsulation layer formed over the substrate and covering the plurality of surrounding inner surfaces of the separation region, wherein the encapsulation layer directly contact with the first, second, third and fourth inner surfaces.