# US 12,603,043 B2 · Display panel having a plurality of light-emitting elements with separators > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,603,043 B2 - Document ID: US12603043B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/882,188 - Filed: 2024-09-11 - Published: 2025-05-29 - Granted: 2026-04-14 - Earliest claimed: 2023-11-23 - Assignees: Samsung Display Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Samsung Display Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Juchan Park; Sunho Kim; Chung Sock Choi; Pilsuk Lee; Sungjin Hong - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12603043B2 ## CPC - G09G 3/3225: using an active matrix - G09G 3/32: semiconductive, e.g. using light-emitting diodes [LED] - H10K 59/122: Pixel-defining structures or layers, e.g. banks - H10K 59/123: Connection of the pixel electrodes to the thin film transistors [TFT] - H10K 59/8051: {Anodes} - H10K 59/88: Dummy elements, i.e. elements having non-functional features - G09G 2320/0257: Reduction of after-image effects - G09G: ARRANGEMENTS OR CIRCUITS FOR CONTROL OF INDICATING DEVICES USING STATIC MEANS TO PRESENT VARIABLE INFORMATION (arrangements for transferring data between digital computers and displays G06F3/14; static indicating arrangements comprising an association of a number of separate sources or light control cells G09F9/00; static indicating arrangements comprising integral associations of a number of light sources H01J, H01K, H10H, H05B33/12; scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission, details thereof H04N1/00) - H10K: ORGANIC ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES ## Abstract Provided is a display panel including a driving element layer having a pixel driver, a light-emitting element disposed on the driving element layer and having a first electrode, an intermediate layer disposed on the first electrode and having at least a light-emitting layer, and a second electrode disposed on the intermediate layer, a pixel-defining layer disposed on the driving element layer and having an opening exposing at least a portion of the first electrode, a connection electrode disposed on the pixel-defining layer and electrically connected to the pixel driver and the second electrode, and a separator disposed on the pixel-defining layer. In a contact region adjacent to the separator, a lower surface of the second electrode is in contact with an upper surface of the connection electrode. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A display panel comprising: a driving element layer including a pixel driver; a light-emitting element disposed on the driving element layer, the light-emitting element including: a first electrode, an intermediate layer disposed on the first electrode and including at least a light-emitting layer, and a second electrode disposed on the intermediate layer; a pixel-defining layer disposed on the driving element layer and including an opening exposing at least a portion of the first electrode; a connection electrode disposed on the pixel-defining layer and electrically connected to the pixel driver and the second electrode; and a separator disposed on the pixel-defining layer, wherein in a contact region adjacent to the separator, a lower surface of the second electrode is in contact with an upper surface of the connection electrode. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The display panel of claim 1, wherein the intermediate layer further comprises a functional layer, the functional layer includes: a first intermediate functional layer disposed on the first electrode, and a second intermediate functional layer disposed on the light-emitting layer, and the light-emitting layer is disposed between the first intermediate functional layer and the second intermediate functional layer. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The display panel of claim 2, further comprising: a first dummy layer disposed on the separator; and a second dummy layer disposed on the first dummy layer, wherein the first dummy layer and the functional layer include a same material, and the second dummy layer and the second electrode include a same material. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The display panel of claim 3, wherein the connection electrode is not in contact with the second dummy layer. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The display panel of claim 1, wherein the connection electrode has a ring shape surrounding the opening of the pixel-defining layer. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The display panel of claim 1, wherein the contact region surrounds at least a portion of the opening of the pixel-defining layer. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The display panel of claim 1, wherein the connection electrode comprises a first edge portion and a second edge portion surrounding the first edge portion, and the second edge portion overlaps the separator. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The display panel of claim 1, wherein the separator comprises a first side surface and a second side surface having different taper angles with respect to an upper surface of the pixel-defining layer. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The display panel of claim 1, wherein a portion of the connection electrode is covered by the separator. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The display panel of claim 1, wherein the connection electrode comprises: a first connection part disposed in the contact region; and a second connection part disposed on a side surface of the separator. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The display panel of claim 10, wherein the second electrode comprises: a first electrode part disposed on the first connection part to be in contact with an upper surface of the first connection part; and a second electrode part disposed on a side surface of the second connection part to be in contact with the side surface of the second connection part. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The display panel of claim 10, wherein the connection electrode further comprises a third connection part disposed on an upper surface of the separator. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The display panel of claim 10, wherein at least a portion of the second connection part is not in contact with the second electrode. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The display panel of claim 1, wherein a through-hole passes through the pixel-defining layer, and the connection electrode is connected to the pixel driver through the through-hole. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The display panel of claim 14, wherein the intermediate layer overlaps the through-hole. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The display panel of claim 1, wherein in an intermediate region disposed between the contact region and the light-emitting element, the intermediate layer is disposed between the connection electrode and the second electrode. ### Claim 17 A display panel comprising: a driving element layer including a pixel driver; a light-emitting element disposed on the driving element layer, the light-emitting element including: a first electrode, an intermediate layer disposed on the first electrode and including at least a light-emitting layer, and a second electrode disposed on the intermediate layer; a pixel-defining layer disposed on the driving element layer and including an opening exposing at least a portion of the first electrode; and a connection electrode disposed on the pixel-defining layer and electrically connected to the pixel driver and the second electrode, wherein in a contact region spaced apart from a light-emitting region where the light-emitting element is disposed, a lower surface of the second electrode is in contact with an upper surface of the connection electrode, and a connection region, where the connection electrode and the pixel driver are connected, is disposed between the contact region and the light-emitting region. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The display panel of claim 17, wherein the pixel-defining layer includes: an opening overlapping the light-emitting region and exposing the portion of the first electrode, and a through-hole spaced apart from the opening and overlapping the connection region, and the connection electrode is connected to the pixel driver through the through-hole. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The display panel of claim 17, further comprising: a separator disposed on the pixel-defining layer and adjacent to the contact region. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The display panel of claim 19, wherein the connection electrode comprises: a first connection part disposed in the contact region; and a second connection part disposed on a side surface of the separator. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The display panel of claim 20, wherein the second electrode comprises: a first electrode part disposed on the first connection part to be in contact with an upper surface of the first connection part; and a second electrode part disposed on a side surface of the second connection part to be in contact with the side surface of the second connection part. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The display panel of claim 20, wherein the connection electrode further comprises a third connection part disposed on an upper surface of the separator. ### Claim 23 (depends on 20) The display panel of claim 20, wherein at least a portion of the second connection part is not in contact with the second electrode. ### Claim 24 (depends on 19) The display panel of claim 19, wherein the intermediate layer further comprises a functional layer, and the display panel further comprises: a first dummy layer disposed on the separator; and a second dummy layer disposed on the first dummy layer, wherein the first dummy layer and the functional layer include a same material, and the second dummy layer and the second electrode include a same material. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The display panel of claim 24, wherein the connection electrode is not in contact with the second dummy layer. ### Claim 26 A display panel comprising: a driving element layer including a plurality of pixel drivers; a plurality of light-emitting elements disposed on the driving element layer and electrically connected respectively to the plurality of pixel drivers; a plurality of connection electrodes connected to the plurality of pixel drivers and the plurality of light-emitting elements; and a separator disposed between the plurality of light-emitting elements, wherein each of the plurality of light-emitting elements includes: a first electrode, an intermediate layer disposed on the first electrode, and a second electrode disposed on the intermediate layer, and in a contact region adjacent to the separator, a lower surface of the second electrode of each of the plurality of light-emitting elements is in contact with an upper surface of a corresponding connection electrode among the plurality of connection electrodes. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The display panel of claim 26, further comprising: a pixel-defining layer disposed on the driving element layer and including an opening exposing at least a portion of the first electrode of each of the plurality of light-emitting elements, wherein a portion of each of the plurality of connection electrodes is disposed on the pixel-defining layer, and the separator is disposed on the pixel-defining layer. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The display panel of claim 27, wherein the plurality of light-emitting elements comprise: a first light-emitting element, a second light-emitting element spaced apart from the first light-emitting element in a first direction, and a third light-emitting element spaced apart from the first and second light-emitting elements in a second direction intersecting the first direction, the pixel-defining layer includes: a first opening exposing at least a portion of the first electrode of the first light-emitting element, a second opening exposing at least a portion of the first electrode of the second light-emitting element, and a third opening exposing at least a portion of the first electrode of the third light-emitting element, and the plurality of connection electrodes comprise: a first connection electrode surrounding the first opening, a second connection electrode surrounding the second opening, and a third connection electrode surrounding the third opening. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The display panel of claim 28, wherein the plurality of pixel drivers comprise: a first pixel driver electrically connected to the first light-emitting element, a second pixel driver electrically connected to the second light-emitting element, and a third pixel driver electrically connected to the third light-emitting element, a first through-hole, a second through-hole, and a third through-hole pass through the pixel-defining layer, the first connection electrode is connected to the first pixel driver through the first through-hole, the second connection electrode is connected to the second pixel driver through the second through-hole, and the third connection electrode is connected to the third pixel driver through the third through-hole.