US-12628504-B2 - Display device

Abstract

According to an embodiment, a display device includes a lower electrode, a rib including an aperture overlapping the lower electrode, a partition including a lower portion on the rib and an upper portion protruding from a side surface of the lower portion, an upper electrode which faces the lower electrode and is formed of a metal material, an organic layer between the lower and upper electrodes, and a transparent conductive layer covering the upper electrode. According to an aspect of the embodiment, the side surface of the lower portion includes a recess, and the conductive layer is in contact with, of the side surface of the lower portion, an area located above the recess.

Inventors

• Naoki SHIOMI

Assignees

• MAGNOLIA WHITE CORPORATION

Dates

Publication Date

20260512

Application Date

20230810

Priority Date

20220812

Claims (20)

1. 1 . A display device comprising: a lower electrode; a rib which covers a part of the lower electrode and comprises an aperture overlapping the lower electrode; a partition comprising a lower portion provided on the rib and an upper portion which protrudes from a side surface of the lower portion; an upper electrode which faces the lower electrode and is formed of a metal material; an organic layer which is located between the lower electrode and the upper electrode and emits light based on a potential difference between the lower electrode and the upper electrode; and a transparent conductive layer which covers the upper electrode, wherein the side surface of the lower portion includes a recess, and the conductive layer is in contact with, of the side surface of the lower portion, an area located above the recess.
2. 2 . The display device of claim 1 , wherein the recess is formed along an upper surface of the rib, and the conductive layer blocks a gap between the recess and the rib.
3. 3 . The display device of claim 1 , wherein the conductive layer is thicker than the upper electrode.
4. 4 . The display device of claim 1 , further comprising a cap layer which covers the conductive layer, wherein a refractive index of the conductive layer is different from a refractive index of the cap layer.
5. 5 . The display device of claim 4 , further comprising a sealing layer provided on the cap layer, wherein the sealing layer covers an end portion of the conductive layer.
6. 6 . The display device of claim 1 , further comprising a first subpixel, a second subpixel and a third subpixel each of which includes the lower electrode, the organic layer, the upper electrode and the conductive layer, wherein thicknesses of the conductive layers of the first subpixel, the second subpixel and the third subpixel are different from each other.
7. 7 . The display device of claim 6 , wherein the organic layer of the first subpixel emits blue light based on the potential difference between the lower and upper electrodes of the first subpixel, the organic layer of the second subpixel emits green light based on the potential difference between the lower and upper electrodes of the second subpixel, the organic layer of the third subpixel emits red light based on the potential difference between the lower and upper electrodes of the third subpixel, the conductive layer of the second subpixel is thicker than the conductive layer of the first subpixel, and the conductive layer of the third subpixel is thicker than the conductive layer of the second subpixel.
8. 8 . A display device comprising: a lower electrode; a rib which covers a part of the lower electrode and comprises an aperture overlapping the lower electrode; a partition comprising a lower portion provided on the rib and an upper portion which protrudes from a side surface of the lower portion; an upper electrode which faces the lower electrode and is formed of a metal material; an organic layer which is located between the lower electrode and the upper electrode and emits light based on a potential difference between the lower electrode and the upper electrode; and a transparent conductive layer which covers the upper electrode, wherein the lower portion includes a first metal layer, and a second metal layer provided on the first metal layer, and the conductive layer is in contact with a side surface of the second metal layer.
9. 9 . The display device of claim 8 , wherein a side surface of the first metal layer is retracted relative to the side surface of the second metal layer.
10. 10 . The display device of claim 8 , wherein the conductive layer is thicker than the upper electrode.
11. 11 . The display device of claim 8 , further comprising a cap layer which covers the conductive layer, wherein a refractive index of the conductive layer is different from a refractive index of the cap layer.
12. 12 . The display device of claim 11 , further comprising a sealing layer provided on the cap layer, wherein the sealing layer covers an end portion of the conductive layer.
13. 13 . The display device of claim 8 , further comprising a first subpixel, a second subpixel and a third subpixel each of which includes the lower electrode, the organic layer, the upper electrode and the conductive layer, wherein thicknesses of the conductive layers of the first subpixel, the second subpixel and the third subpixel are different from each other.
14. 14 . The display device of claim 13 , wherein the organic layer of the first subpixel emits blue light based on the potential difference between the lower and upper electrodes of the first subpixel, the organic layer of the second subpixel emits green light based on the potential difference between the lower and upper electrodes of the second subpixel, the organic layer of the third subpixel emits red light based on the potential difference between the lower and upper electrodes of the third subpixel, the conductive layer of the second subpixel is thicker than the conductive layer of the first subpixel, and the conductive layer of the third subpixel is thicker than the conductive layer of the second subpixel.
15. 15 . A display device comprising: a lower electrode; a rib which covers a part of the lower electrode and comprises an aperture overlapping the lower electrode; a partition comprising a lower portion provided on the rib and an upper portion which protrudes from a side surface of the lower portion; an upper electrode which faces the lower electrode and is formed of a metal material; an organic layer which is located between the lower electrode and the upper electrode and emits light based on a potential difference between the lower electrode and the upper electrode; and a transparent conductive layer which covers the upper electrode, wherein the conductive layer is formed of an organic conductive material and is in contact with the side surface of the lower portion.
16. 16 . The display device of claim 15 , wherein the conductive layer is thicker than the upper electrode.
17. 17 . The display device of claim 15 , further comprising a cap layer which covers the conductive layer, wherein a refractive index of the conductive layer is different from a refractive index of the cap layer.
18. 18 . The display device of claim 17 , further comprising a sealing layer provided on the cap layer, wherein the sealing layer covers an end portion of the conductive layer.
19. 19 . The display device of claim 15 , further comprising a first subpixel, a second subpixel and a third subpixel each of which includes the lower electrode, the organic layer, the upper electrode and the conductive layer, wherein thicknesses of the conductive layers of the first subpixel, the second subpixel and the third subpixel are different from each other.
20. 20 . The display device of claim 19 , wherein the organic layer of the first subpixel emits blue light based on the potential difference between the lower and upper electrodes of the first subpixel, the organic layer of the second subpixel emits green light based on the potential difference between the lower and upper electrodes of the second subpixel, the organic layer of the third subpixel emits red light based on the potential difference between the lower and upper electrodes of the third subpixel, the conductive layer of the second subpixel is thicker than the conductive layer of the first subpixel, and the conductive layer of the third subpixel is thicker than the conductive layer of the second subpixel.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2022-128857, filed Aug. 12, 2022, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. FIELD Embodiments described herein relate generally to a display device. BACKGROUND Recently, display devices to which an organic light emitting diode (OLED) is applied as a display element have been put into practical use. This display element comprises a lower electrode, an organic layer which covers the lower electrode, and an upper electrode which covers the organic layer. When such a display device is manufactured, a technique which improves reliability is required. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a display device according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the layout of subpixels. FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the display device along the III-III line of FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the display device along the IV-IV line of FIG. 2. FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the display device along the V-V line of FIG. 2. FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the display device along the VI-VI line of FIG. 2. FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing another example of a structure which could be applied to a subpixel. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of the manufacturing method of the display device. FIG. 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing part of the manufacturing process of the display device. FIG. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a manufacturing process following FIG. 9. FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing an evaporation method of a conductive layer, etc. FIG. 12 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a manufacturing process following FIG. 10. FIG. 13 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a manufacturing process following FIG. 12. FIG. 14 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a manufacturing process following FIG. 13. FIG. 15 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a manufacturing process following FIG. 14. FIG. 16 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a manufacturing process following FIG. 15. FIG. 17 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a manufacturing process following FIG. 16. DETAILED DESCRIPTION In general, according to one embodiment, a display device comprises a lower electrode, a rib which covers a part of the lower electrode and comprises an aperture overlapping the lower electrode, a partition comprising a lower portion provided on the rib and an upper portion which protrudes from a side surface of the lower portion, an upper electrode which faces the lower electrode and is formed of a metal material, an organic layer which is located between the lower electrode and the upper electrode and emits light based on a potential difference between the lower electrode and the upper electrode, and a transparent conductive layer which covers the upper electrode. According to an aspect of the embodiment, the side surface of the lower portion includes a recess, and the conductive layer is in contact with, of the side surface of the lower portion, an area located above the recess. According to another aspect of the embodiment, the lower portion includes a first metal layer, and a second metal layer provided on the first metal layer, and the conductive layer is in contact with a side surface of the second metal layer. According to yet another aspect of the embodiment, the conductive layer is formed of an organic conductive material and is in contact with the side surface of the lower portion. These configurations can provide a display device in which the yield can be improved in the manufacturing process. Embodiments will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The disclosure is merely an example, and proper changes in keeping with the spirit of the invention, which are easily conceivable by a person of ordinary skill in the art, come within the scope of the invention as a matter of course. In addition, in some cases, in order to make the description clearer, the widths, thicknesses, shapes, etc., of the respective parts are illustrated schematically in the drawings, rather than as an accurate representation of what is implemented. However, such schematic illustration is merely exemplary, and in no way restricts the interpretation of the invention. In addition, in the specification and drawings, structural elements which function in the same or a similar manner to those described in connection with preceding drawings are denoted by like reference numbers, detailed description thereof being omitted unless necessary. In the drawings, in order to facilitate understanding, an X-axis, a Y-axis and a Z-axis orthogonal to each other are shown depending on the need. A direction parallel to the X-axis is referred to as a first direction X. A