# US 12,604,614 B2 · Display apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,604,614 B2 - Document ID: US12604614B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/874,148 - Filed: 2022-07-26 - Published: 2023-02-02 - Granted: 2026-04-14 - Earliest claimed: 2021-07-30 - Assignees: LG Display Co., Ltd. - Applicants: LG Display Co., Ltd. - Inventors: YoungHo Jeon; Yuseok Jung; Yoonseob Jeong - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12604614B2 ## CPC - H10K 59/122: Pixel-defining structures or layers, e.g. banks - H10K 59/873: {Encapsulations} - H10K 59/8731: {multilayered coatings having a repetitive structure, e.g. having multiple organic-inorganic bilayers} - H10K 59/88: Dummy elements, i.e. elements having non-functional features - H10K: ORGANIC ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES ## Abstract A display apparatus is provided, which reduces a size of a non-display area while preventing encapsulation characteristics from being deteriorated. The display apparatus comprises a substrate including a display area having a plurality of pixels and a non-display area adjacent to the display area and having a dam spaced apart from the plurality of pixels, a flat portion provided below a pixel electrode of each of the plurality of pixels, and a bank covering an edge of the pixel electrode, wherein the bank includes a first bank disposed between the flat portion adjacent to the dam and the dam, and a thickness of the first bank is thinner than or equal to a thickness of the flat portion adjacent to the dam. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A display apparatus comprising: a substrate including: a display area having a plurality of pixels; and a non-display area adjacent to the display area and having a dam spaced apart from the plurality of pixels; a flat portion provided below a pixel electrode of each of the plurality of pixels, the flat portion adjacent to the dam; and a bank covering an edge of the pixel electrode, wherein the bank includes a first bank disposed between the flat portion and the dam, and a thickness of the first bank is less than a thickness of the flat portion adjacent to the dam, wherein the flat portion includes a horizontal surface parallel to an upper surface of the substrate, an upper surface of the first bank is lower than the horizontal surface of the flat portion and has a stepwise structure, wherein the pixel electrode disposed on the flat portion adjacent to the dam includes: a first extension portion disposed on the horizontal surface of the flat portion adjacent to the dam; and a second extension portion disposed on an inclined surface of the flat portion adjacent to the dam. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the thickness of the flat portion adjacent to the dam is less than a thickness of the dam. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second extension portion partially covers the inclined surface of the flat portion adjacent to the dam. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first bank is in contact with the inclined surface of the flat portion adjacent to the dam and the second extension portion. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second extension portion fully covers the inclined surface of the flat portion adjacent to the dam. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The display apparatus of claim 5, further comprising a protective layer disposed below a lower surface of the flat portion, wherein the pixel electrode further includes a third extension portion connected to the second extension portion and disposed on an upper surface of the protective layer. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The display apparatus of claim 6, wherein the first bank is in contact with the third extension portion and the protective layer. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of pixels includes: an organic light emitting layer provided on the pixel electrode and the bank; and a counter electrode disposed on the organic light emitting layer, wherein the organic light emitting layer is extended to the non-display area and is in contact with sides of the dam, and the counter electrode is extended to the non-display area and is in contact with the sides of the dam and an upper surface of the dam. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The display apparatus of claim 8, further comprising an encapsulation layer provided to cover the plurality of pixels provided in the display area, wherein the encapsulation layer includes: a first inorganic layer disposed on the counter electrode; an organic layer disposed on the first inorganic layer; a second inorganic layer disposed on the organic layer, and the organic layer is extended from the display area to the dam. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The display apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first inorganic layer is extended from the display area to the non-display area to cover the dam, and the second inorganic layer is extended from the display area to the non-display area to cover the organic layer and is in contact with the first inorganic layer on the dam. ### Claim 11 A display apparatus comprising: a substrate including: a display area having a plurality of pixels; and a non-display area adjacent to the display area and having a dam spaced apart from the plurality of pixels; a flat portion provided below a pixel electrode of each of the plurality of pixels, the flat portion adjacent to the dam; and a bank covering an edge of the pixel electrode, wherein the bank includes a first bank disposed between the flat portion and the dam, and a thickness of the flat portion is less than a thickness of the dam and is greater than a thickness of the first bank, wherein the flat portion includes a horizontal surface parallel to an upper surface of the substrate, an upper surface of the first bank is lower than the horizontal surface of the flat portion and has a stepwise structure, wherein the pixel electrode disposed on the flat portion adjacent to the dam includes: a first extension portion disposed on the horizontal surface of the flat portion adjacent to the dam; and a second extension portion disposed on an inclined surface of the flat portion adjacent to the dam. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The display apparatus of claim 11, wherein the bank further includes a second bank positioned inside the display area, and the second bank is positioned to be higher than the first bank. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The display apparatus of claim 12, wherein a thickness of the second bank is the same as that of the first bank. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The display apparatus of claim 12, wherein an upper surface of the second bank is positioned to be higher than or equal to that of the dam. ### Claim 15 A display apparatus comprising: a substrate; and a display area having a plurality of pixels disposed on the substrate, wherein the display area includes: a light emission area in which the plurality of pixels are disposed; a non-light emission area other than the light emission area; a dam disposed in the non-light emission area and laterally surrounding an outermost pixel of the plurality of pixels; a flat portion disposed below the outermost pixel and adjacent to the dam; and a bank surrounding the outermost pixel and separated from the dam, wherein the bank includes a first bank disposed between the flat portion and the dam, wherein the flat portion includes a horizontal surface parallel to an upper surface of the substrate, an upper surface of the first bank is lower than the horizontal surface of the flat portion and has a stepwise structure, wherein a pixel electrode disposed on the flat portion adjacent to the dam includes: a first extension portion disposed on the horizontal surface of the flat portion adjacent to the dam; and a second extension portion disposed on an inclined surface of the flat portion adjacent to the dam. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The display apparatus of claim 15, wherein a size of the display area is the same as that of the substrate. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The display apparatus of claim 15, wherein each of the plurality of pixels is arranged on the substrate at a first interval, the first interval is a distance between centers of two adjacent pixels, and a second interval between the center of outermost pixels of the plurality of pixels and an outer surface of the substrate is less than half the first interval. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The display apparatus of claim 17, wherein the dam is spaced apart from the bank at a distance within a half of the first interval. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The display apparatus of claim 15, wherein a thickness of the flat portion is less than a thickness of the dam and is greater than a thickness of the bank.