EP-4739053-A1 - DISPLAY PANEL AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE INCLUDING THE SAME

EP4739053A1EP 4739053 A1EP4739053 A1EP 4739053A1EP-4739053-A1

Abstract

An electronic device includes a pixel definition layer through which first openings at least partially overlapping light emitting areas and second openings overlapping a contact area are defined, a light emitting element including a first electrode of which at least a portion is exposed through the first opening, a second electrode, and a common layer, a border barrier wall overlapping the contact area and disposed on the pixel definition layer. At least a portion of the first electrode overlapping a non-display area is exposed through the second openings, and the second electrode at least partially covers the border barrier wall in the non-display area and is connected to the first electrode exposed through the second openings.

Inventors

KANG, KI NYENG
Park, Jonghee
PARK, Chanju
BAEK, JONGJUN
SONG, KEUNKYU
LEE, JAEHUN
LEE, SUNGEUN
PARK, JIMIN
KWON, DOHYUN
KIM, DAEYONG
KIM, SIKWANG
KIM, HYOENG-KI
NAM, YUNYONG
MOON, JUNHWAN

Assignees

Samsung Display Co., Ltd.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260506
Application Date: 20251031

Claims (17)

An electronic device comprising: a processor configured to provide image data; a display panel connected to the processor; and a driver configured to receive the image data and drive the display panel based on the image data, the display panel comprising: a base substrate comprising a display area comprising, a light emitting area and a non-light-emitting area, and a non-display area adjacent to the display area and comprising a contact area; a pixel definition layer through which a first opening at least partially overlapping the light emitting area and a second opening at least partially overlapping the contact area in a third direction perpendicular to a first direction and a second direction in parallel with a top surface of the base substrate are defined, the pixel definition layer being on the base substrate; a light emitting element comprising a first electrode of which at least a portion is exposed through the first opening, a second electrode on the first electrode, and a common layer between the first electrode and the second electrode; a border barrier wall on the pixel definition layer, the border barrier wall at least partially overlapping the contact area in the third direction, wherein at least a portion of the first electrode at least partially overlapping the non-display area is exposed through the second opening, and the second electrode at least partially covers the border barrier wall in the non-display area and is connected to the first electrode exposed through the second opening.
The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the border barrier wall comprises: a first pattern on the pixel definition layer; a second pattern on the first pattern; a first barrier wall pattern on the second pattern; and a second barrier wall pattern on the first barrier wall pattern.
The electronic device of claim 2, wherein the first barrier wall pattern comprises aluminum, and the second barrier wall pattern comprises titanium; optionally, wherein the first barrier wall pattern has a width smaller than a width of the second barrier wall pattern, and the first barrier wall pattern has a thickness greater than a thickness of the second barrier wall pattern.
The electronic device of claim 2 or 3, wherein the second pattern has a width greater than a width of the second barrier wall pattern; and/or wherein the second pattern has a width greater than a width of the first pattern.
The electronic device of any one of claims 2 to 4, further comprising a dummy pattern on the second barrier wall pattern, the dummy pattern at least partially covered by the second electrode, wherein the dummy pattern comprises a same material as the common layer; optionally further comprising a protective layer disposed between the dummy pattern and the second barrier wall pattern and comprising an inorganic material.
The electronic device of any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the second barrier wall pattern that protrudes from the first barrier wall pattern defines a tip portion protruding downward.
The electronic device of any one of claims 2 to 6, further comprising a normal barrier wall on the pixel definition layer, the normal barrier layer at least partially overlapping the non-light-emitting area in the third direction, wherein the normal barrier wall is at least partially covered by the second electrode; optionally wherein the normal barrier wall has a same shape as the border barrier wall; optionally wherein the normal barrier wall is provided integrally with the border barrier wall as a pattern.
The electronic device any one of claims 2 to 7, wherein the second electrode has a thickness greater than a thickness of the first pattern.
The electronic device of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the border barrier wall does not overlap the second opening in the third direction in the contact area; optionally wherein the border barrier wall comprises: first portions extending in the first direction and spaced apart from each other in the second direction; and second portions disposed between the first portions adjacent to each other. further optionally wherein each of the second portions has a stepped shape, and/or wherein each of the second portions extends in the second direction.
The electronic device of any one of claims 1 to 9, further comprising a thin film encapsulation layer comprising a first inorganic layer at least partially covering the light emitting element, a second inorganic layer on the first inorganic layer, and an organic layer between the first inorganic layer and the second inorganic layer; optionally wherein the display panel further comprises a dam portion in the non-display area, and wherein the dam portion surrounds at least a portion of the contact area, and comprises organic patterns sequentially stacked. optionally wherein a boundary of the organic layer is defined by the dam portion in the non-display area.
A display panel comprising: a base substrate comprising a display area that comprises a light emitting area and a non-light-emitting area, and a non-display area adjacent to the display area that comprises a contact area; a pixel definition layer through which a first opening at least partially overlapping the light emitting area and a second opening at least partially overlapping the contact area in a third direction perpendicular to a first direction and a second direction in parallel with a top surface of the base substrate are defined, the pixel definition layer being on the base substrate; a light emitting element comprising a first electrode of which at least a portion is exposed through the first opening, a second electrode on the first electrode, and a common layer between the first electrode and the second electrode; a border barrier wall on the pixel definition layer, the border barrier wall at least partially overlapping the contact area in the third direction, wherein at least a portion of the first electrode at least partially overlapping the non-display area is exposed through the second opening, and the second electrode at least partially covers the border barrier wall in the non-display area and is connected to the first electrode exposed through the second opening.
The display panel of claim 11, wherein the border barrier wall comprises: a first pattern on the pixel definition layer; a second pattern on the first pattern; a first barrier wall pattern on the second pattern; and a second barrier wall pattern on the first barrier wall pattern.
The display panel of claim 22, wherein the first barrier wall pattern comprises aluminum, and the second barrier wall pattern comprises titanium; optionally wherein the first barrier wall pattern has a width smaller than a width of the second barrier wall pattern, and the first barrier wall pattern has a thickness greater than a thickness of the second barrier wall pattern.
The display panel of claim 12 or 13, wherein the second pattern has a width greater than a width of the second barrier wall pattern; and/or wherein the second pattern has a width greater than a width of the first pattern.
The display panel of any one of claims 12 to 14, further comprising a dummy pattern on the second barrier wall pattern, the dummy pattern at least partially covered by the second electrode, wherein the dummy pattern comprises a same material as the common layer; optionally further comprising a protective layer disposed between the dummy pattern and the second barrier wall pattern and comprising an inorganic material.
The display panel of any one of claims 12 to 15, wherein the second barrier wall pattern that protrudes from the first barrier wall pattern defines a tip portion protruding downward.
The display panel of any one of claims 12 to 16, further comprising a normal barrier wall on the pixel definition layer, the normal barrier layer at least partially overlapping the non-light-emitting area in the third direction, wherein the normal barrier wall is at least partially covered by the second electrode.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) This application is based on and claims priority to Korean Patent Application Nos. 10-2024-0153651, filed on November 1, 2024, and 10-2025-0021380, filed on February 19, 2025, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office. BACKGROUND The present disclosure relates to a display panel and an electronic device including the same. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to an electronic device including a display panel having an improved display quality and a simplified method of manufacturing the same. Multimedia electronic apparatuses, such as smartphones, digital cameras, laptop computers, navigation units, and smart televisions, which generate images, include an electronic device to display the images through a display screen. This electronic device includes multiple pixels to generate images and multiple lines connected to the pixels. The pixels receive driving signals through the lines to be driven by the driving signals. In medium-sized to large-sized electronic devices with large display areas, such as tablet computers or smart televisions, differences occur in driving voltages applied to each pixel, and thus, a design that compensates for these differences is required. Information disclosed in this Background section has already been known to or derived by the inventors before or during the process of achieving the embodiments of the present application, or is technical information acquired in the process of achieving the embodiments. Therefore, it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known to the public. SUMMARY The present disclosure provides an electronic device including a display panel capable of applying a constant driving voltage to pixels. Embodiments of the disclosure provide an electronic device which may include: a processor configured to provide image data; a display panel connected to the processor; and a driver configured to receive the image data and drive the display panel based on the image data. The display panel may include: a base substrate comprising a display area comprising a light emitting area and a non-light-emitting area and a non-display area adjacent to the display area and comprising a contact area; a pixel definition layer through which a first opening overlapping the light emitting area and a second opening at least partially overlapping the contact area in a third direction perpendicular to a first direction and a second direction in parallel with a top surface of the base substrate are defined, the pixel definition layer being on the base substrate; a light emitting element comprising a first electrode of which at least a portion is exposed through the first opening, a second electrode on the first electrode, and a common layer between the first electrode and the second electrode; a border barrier wall on the pixel definition layer, the border barrier wall overlapping the contact area in the third direction, wherein at least a portion of the first electrode overlapping the non-display area is exposed through the second opening, and the second electrode covers the border barrier wall in the non-display area and is connected to the first electrode exposed through the second opening. The border barrier wall may include: a first pattern on the pixel definition layer, a second pattern on the first pattern, a first barrier wall pattern on the second pattern, and a second barrier wall pattern on the first barrier wall pattern. The first barrier wall pattern may include aluminum, and the second barrier wall pattern may include titanium. The first barrier wall pattern may have a width smaller than a width of the second barrier wall pattern, and the first barrier wall pattern may have a thickness greater than a thickness of the second barrier wall pattern. The second pattern may have a width greater than a width of the second barrier wall pattern. The second pattern may have a width greater than a width of the first pattern. The electronic device may include a dummy pattern on the second barrier wall pattern and at least partially covered by the second electrode, and the dummy pattern may include the same material as a common layer. The electronic device may include a protective layer disposed between the dummy pattern and the second barrier wall pattern and including an inorganic material. The second barrier wall pattern that protrudes from the first barrier wall pattern may define a tip portion protruded downward. The electronic device further may include a normal barrier wall overlapping the non-light-emitting area and disposed on the pixel definition layer, and the normal barrier wall may be covered by the second electrode. The normal barrier wall may have the same shape as the border barrier wall. The normal barrier wall may be provided integrally with the border barrier wall as a pattern. The second electrode may have a thickness greater than a thickness of the first pattern. The second op