US-12626643-B2 - Display device and repairing method thereof

Abstract

A display device includes a first display area including a plurality of pixels arranged repetitively. Each of the plurality of pixels in the first display area includes a light emitting diode, a first pixel circuit, and a second pixel circuit adjacent to the first pixel circuit, and in at least one first pixels included in the plurality of pixels, the light emitting diode is electrically connected to the first pixel circuit and insulated from the second pixel circuit.

Inventors

• Joon Woo BAE
• Guanghai Jin
• Dong Min Lee
• Samtae JEONG

Assignees

• SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO., LTD.

Dates

Publication Date

20260512

Application Date

20240628

Priority Date

20231219

Claims (18)

1. 1 . A display device, comprising a first display area including a plurality of pixels repeatedly arranged, wherein each of the plurality of pixels in the first display area comprises: a light emitting diode including a pixel electrode; a first pixel circuit; and a second pixel circuit adjacent to a side of the first pixel circuit, in at least one first pixel included in the plurality of pixels, the light emitting diode is electrically connected to the first pixel circuit and insulated from the second pixel circuit, and in the at least one first pixel, the first pixel circuit is electrically connected to a first connection part, the second pixel circuit is electrically connected to a second connection part, the pixel electrode is electrically connected to the first connection part and is electrically connected to a third connection part spaced apart from the first connection part, and the second connection part and the third connection part overlap each other in a plan view and are insulated from each other.
2. 2 . The display device of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of pixels includes a first transistor and a second transistor connected to the first transistor, and the second transistor of the first pixel circuit included in each of the plurality of pixels and the second transistor of the second pixel circuit are connected to a same data line and a same scan line.
3. 3 . The display device of claim 2 , wherein in at least one second pixel of the plurality of pixels, the light emitting diode is insulated from the first pixel circuit and electrically connected to the second pixel circuit.
4. 4 . The display device of claim 3 , wherein in the at least one second pixel, the first pixel circuit is electrically connected to a first portion of a fourth connection part, the second pixel circuit is electrically connected to a fifth connection part, the pixel electrode is electrically connected to a second portion of the fourth connection part that is separated from and facing the first portion of the first connection part, and is electrically connected to a sixth connection part that is spaced apart from the fourth connection part, and the fifth connection part and the sixth connection part overlap each other in a plan view and are electrically connected to each other.
5. 5 . The display device of claim 4 , wherein at least one of the fourth connection part, the fifth connection part, or the sixth connection part includes a metal.
6. 6 . The display device of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first connection part, the second connection part, or the third connection part includes a metal.
7. 7 . The display device of claim 1 , further comprising: a second display area including a plurality of pixels, wherein each of the plurality of pixels in the second display area includes a second light emitting diode and a third pixel circuit electrically connected to the second light emitting diode.
8. 8 . The display device of claim 7 , further comprising: a deformable region of which at least a part can be bent, and at least one non-deformable region connected to the deformable region, wherein the deformable region includes the first display area, and the at least one non-deformable region includes the second display area.
9. 9 . A display device, comprising: a first portion that is deformable and a second portion that is connected to the first portion and is less deformable than the first portion, wherein the first portion includes a plurality of first pixels, the second portion includes a plurality of second pixels, each of the plurality of second pixels includes a first light emitting diode and a pixel circuit electrically connected to the first light emitting diode, each of the plurality of first pixels includes a second light emitting diode and a plurality of pixel circuits, and in each of the plurality of first pixels, the second light emitting diode is electrically connected to only one of the plurality of pixel circuits.
10. 10 . The display device of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of pixel circuits included in each of the plurality of first pixels are connected to a same signal line.
11. 11 . The display device of claim 10 , wherein each of the plurality of first pixels and the plurality of second pixels includes a first transistor and a second transistor connected to the first transistor, and the second transistor of the plurality of pixel circuits included in each of the plurality of first pixels is connected to a same data line and a same scan line.
12. 12 . The display device of claim 9 , wherein each of the first and second light emitting diodes includes a pixel electrode, each of the plurality of pixel circuits included in each of the plurality of first pixels includes a first pixel circuit and a second pixel circuit adjacent to each other, and in at least one of the plurality of first pixels, the first pixel circuit is electrically connected to a first connection part, the second pixel circuit is electrically connected to a second connection part, the pixel electrode is electrically connected to the first connection part and a third connection part spaced apart from the first connection part, and the second connection part and the third connection part overlap each other in a plan view and are insulated from each other.
13. 13 . The display device of claim 12 , wherein at least one of the first connection part, the second connection part, or the third connection part includes a metal.
14. 14 . The display device of claim 9 , wherein each of the first and second light emitting diodes includes a pixel electrode, each of the plurality of pixel circuits included in each of the plurality of first pixels includes a first pixel circuit and a second pixel circuit adjacent to each other, and in at least one of the plurality of first pixels, the first pixel circuit is electrically connected to a first portion of a first connection part, the second pixel circuit is electrically connected to a second connection part, the pixel electrode is electrically connected to a second portion of the first connection part that is separated from and facing the first portion of the first connection part, and a third connection part that is spaced apart from the first connection part, and the second connection part and the third connection part overlap each other in a plan view and are electrically connected to each other.
15. 15 . The display device of claim 14 , wherein at least one of the first connection part, the second connection part, or the third connection part includes a metal.
16. 16 . A repair method of a display device, comprising: disconnecting, in the display device comprising a first display area including a plurality of pixels, wherein each of the plurality of pixels in the first display area includes a light emitting diode, a first pixel circuit, and a second pixel circuit adjacent to the first pixel circuit in the first display area, an electrical connection between the light emitting diode and the first pixel circuit, the light emitting diode including a pixel electrode, and in at least one first pixel included in the plurality of pixels the first pixel circuit is electrically connected to a first portion of a first connection part, the second pixel circuit is electrically connected to a second connection part, the pixel electrode is electrically connected to a second portion of the first connection part that is separated from and facing the first portion of the first connection part, and a third connection part that is spaced apart from the first connection part, and the second connection part and the third connection part overlap each other in a plan view and are electrically connected to each other; and electrically connecting the light emitting diode with the second pixel circuit, in at least one first pixel included in the plurality of pixels.
17. 17 . The repair method of a display device of claim 16 , wherein each of the first pixel circuit and the second pixel circuit of the plurality of pixels includes a first transistor and a second transistor connected to the first transistor, and the second transistor of the first pixel circuit included in each of the plurality of pixels and the second transistor of the second pixel circuit are connected to a same data line and a same scan line.
18. 18 . The repair method of a display device of claim 17 , further comprising: using a laser, in the disconnecting of the electrical connection between the light emitting diode and the first pixel circuit and the electrically connecting of the light emitting diode with the second pixel circuit.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) This application claims priority to and the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2023-0185929 under 35 U.S.C. § 119, filed on Dec. 19, 2023, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. BACKGROUND 1. Technical Field This disclosure relates to a display device and a repair method for the display device. 2. Description of the Related Art Display devices such as liquid crystal displays (LCD) and organic light emitting diode displays (OLED displays) include a display panel including a plurality of pixels capable of displaying images. Each pixel includes a pixel electrode that receives a data signal, and the pixel electrode is connected to a pixel circuit including at least one transistor to receive a data signal. Each pixel may include a light emitting area, which is an area capable of emitting light. Recently, deformable display devices that can change their shape, such as by bending or folding the panel, have been developed. For example, the display device may include at least a portion of a deformable region that can be bent. SUMMARY In areas where the display device is deformed, the pixel circuit receives more stress, making it prone to defects, and if a defect in the pixel circuit occurs, a defect may occur in the light emitting element connected to the corresponding pixel circuit, which may cause defects such as dark spots or bright spots in the image. Embodiments are intended to provide a structure and method for repairing a defect in a pixel of a deformable display device. According to an embodiment, a display device may include a first display area including a plurality of pixels repetitively arranged. Each of the plurality of pixels in the first display area may include a light emitting diode, a first pixel circuit, and a second pixel circuit adjacent to a side of the first pixel circuit. In at least one first pixel included in the plurality of pixels, the light emitting diode may be electrically connected to the first pixel circuit and insulated from the second pixel circuit. Each of the plurality of pixels may include a first transistor and a second transistor connected to the first transistor, and the second transistors of the first pixel circuit included in each of the plurality of pixels and the second transistor of the second pixel circuit may be connected to a same data line and a same scan line. In at least one second pixel of the plurality of pixels, the light emitting diode may be insulated from the first pixel circuit and electrically connected to the second pixel circuit. The light emitting diode may include a pixel electrode. In the at least one second pixel, the first pixel circuit may be electrically connected to a first portion of a first connection part, the second pixel circuit may be electrically connected to a second connection part, the pixel electrode may be electrically connected to a second portion of the first connection part that is separated from and facing the first portion of the first connection part, and the second connection part and the third connection part may overlap each other in a plan view and may be electrically connected to each other. At least one of the first connection part, the second connection part, and the third connection part may include a metal. The light emitting diode may include a pixel electrode. In the at least one first pixel, the first pixel circuit may be electrically connected to a first connection part, the second pixel circuit may be electrically connected to a second connection part, the pixel electrode may be electrically connected to the first connection part and a third connection part spaced apart from the first connection part, and the second connection part and the third connection part may overlap each other in a plan view and insulated from each other. At least one of the first connection part, the second connection part, and the third connection part may include a metal. The display device may further include a second display area including a plurality of second pixels. Each of the plurality of second pixels in the second display area may include a second light emitting diode and a third pixel circuit electrically connected to the second light emitting diode. The display device may further include a deformable region of which at least a part can be deformed, and at least one non-deformable region connected to the deformable region. The deformable region may include the first display area, and the at least one non-deformable region may include the second display area. A display device according to an embodiment may include a first portion that is deformable and a second portion that is connected to the first portion and is less deformable than the first portion. The first part may include a plurality of first pixels, the second part may include a plurality of second pixels, each of the plurality of second pixels may in