Organic electroluminescent display device

Abstract

The embodiment of the present invention provides an organic electroluminescent display device, which relates to the field of display technology. The cathode is connected to the circuit board through a via hole, and no additional leads are required around the OLED device, which simplifies the process flow. The organic electroluminescent display device includes a substrate, a flat layer arranged on the substrate, an organic electroluminescent device arranged on the flat layer and located in a display area, and a circuit board arranged on the side of the substrate away from the flat layer; the display device also includes a via hole penetrating the flat layer and the substrate, and the via hole is located in a non-display area around the display area; the circuit board and the cathode in the organic electroluminescent device are electrically connected through the via hole. Used for the preparation of an organic electroluminescent display device.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of display technology, and in particular to an organic electroluminescent display device. Background Art

[0002] Organic light-emitting display (OLED) has the advantages of self-luminescence, fast response, wide viewing angle, high brightness, bright colors, and thinness compared to liquid crystal display, and is considered to be the next generation of display technology. The self-luminous element, namely the OLED device, is mainly composed of an anode, a light-emitting functional layer, and a cathode, which are arranged away from the substrate.

[0003] The cathode of the OLED device needs to be connected to a printed circuit board (PCB) through wiring. The wiring structure is relatively complex and it is difficult to simplify the process flow. Summary of the invention

[0004] In view of this, in order to solve the problems of the prior art, an embodiment of the present invention provides an organic electroluminescent display device, in which the cathode is connected to the circuit board through a via hole, and no additional leads are required to be arranged around the OLED device, thereby simplifying the process flow.

[0005] To achieve the above object, the embodiments of the present invention adopt the following technical solutions:

[0006] An embodiment of the present invention provides an organic electroluminescent display device, comprising a substrate, a flat layer arranged on the substrate, an organic electroluminescent device arranged on the flat layer and located in a display area, and a circuit board arranged on a side of the substrate away from the flat layer; the display device also includes a via hole penetrating the flat layer and the substrate, the via hole being located in a non-display area around the display area; the circuit board and a cathode in the organic electroluminescent device are electrically connected through the via hole.

[0007] Optionally, the display device further includes a conductive portion in contact with the cathode; at least a portion of the conductive portion is disposed in the via hole.

[0008] Preferably, the conductive portion is disposed in the via hole; the cathode contacts the conductive portion through an extension portion extending to the non-display area; and the display device further comprises an isolation column isolating the extension portion of the cathode from the anode.

[0009] Preferably, the conductive portion includes a first portion disposed in the via hole and a contact electrode located above the via hole, which are in contact with each other; the cathode contacts the contact electrode through an extension portion extending to the non-display area; and the display device also includes an isolation column that isolates the extension portion of the cathode from the anode.

[0010] Further preferably, the isolation column is made of insulating polymer material.

[0011] Preferably, one end of the conductive portion is located in the via hole, and the other end is overlapped on the cathode.

[0012] Preferably, the conductive portion includes a first portion disposed in the via hole, a contact electrode located above the via hole, and a second portion overlapping the cathode, which are in contact with each other in sequence.

[0013] Optionally, the circuit board is a printed circuit board.

[0014] Optionally, the substrate is a single crystal silicon chip integrated with a driving circuit.

[0015] Optionally, the conductive part is made of at least one material selected from the group consisting of aluminum, copper, silver, gold, platinum, nickel, and molybdenum.

[0016] Optionally, the conductive part and the cathode are made of the same material.

[0017] Optionally, the thickness of the planar layer in the area where the via holes are provided is thinner than the thickness of the remaining areas of the planar layer; and / or the thickness of the substrate in the area where the via holes are provided is thinner than the thickness of the remaining areas of the substrate.

[0018] Optionally, the organic electroluminescent device comprises an anode, a light-emitting functional layer and the cathode which are sequentially away from the planar layer.

[0019] Optionally, the display device further includes an encapsulation layer covering the organic electroluminescent device.

[0020] Optionally, the display device further includes a transparent cover plate arranged on a side of the packaging layer away from the circuit board.

[0021] Based on this, in the organic electroluminescent display device provided by the embodiment of the present invention, the cathode is electrically connected to the circuit board through a via hole penetrating the flat layer and the substrate in the non-display area to receive the cathode signal on the circuit board. No additional leads need to be arranged around the OLED device, thus simplifying the process flow of the display device. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the description of the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying creative work.

[0023] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure of an organic electroluminescent display device provided by an embodiment of the present invention Figure 1 ;

[0024] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the structure of an organic electroluminescent display device provided by an embodiment of the present invention Figure 2 ;

[0025] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the structure of an organic electroluminescent display device provided by an embodiment of the present invention Figure 3 ;

[0026] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of the structure of an organic electroluminescent display device provided by an embodiment of the present invention Figure 4 ;

[0027] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of the structure of an organic electroluminescent display device provided by an embodiment of the present invention Figure 5 .

[0028] Reference numerals:

[0029] 01-organic electroluminescent display device; 10-substrate; 11-via; 20-flat layer; 30-OLED device; 31-anode; 32-light-emitting functional layer; 33-cathode; 33a extension portion; 40-circuit board; 50-conductive portion; 51-first portion; 52-contact electrode; 53-second portion; 60-isolation column; 70-encapsulation layer; 80-transparent cover. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] The following will be combined with the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention to clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without creative work are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0031] It should be noted that, unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used in the embodiments of the present invention have the same meanings as commonly understood by those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention belongs. It should also be understood that terms such as those defined in common dictionaries should be interpreted as having meanings consistent with their meanings in the context of the relevant technology, and should not be interpreted in an idealized or extremely formal sense, unless explicitly defined herein.

[0032] For example, the words "include" or "comprising" and the like used in the patent application specification and claims of the present invention mean that the elements or objects appearing before the word include the elements or objects listed after the word and their equivalents, but do not exclude other elements or objects. The terms "above" and "below" indicating the orientation or position relationship are based on the orientation or position relationship shown in the drawings, and are only simplified descriptions for the convenience of explaining the technical solution of the present invention, rather than indicating or implying that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operate in a specific orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as a limitation on the present invention.

[0033] Furthermore, for the sake of clarity, unless otherwise specified, the structural dimensions in the drawings of the embodiments of the present invention are all enlarged and do not represent the actual dimensions and proportions.

[0034] like Figures 1 to 5 As shown, an embodiment of the present invention provides an organic electroluminescent display device 01 (hereinafter referred to as an OLED display device), including a substrate 10, a flat layer 20 arranged on the substrate 10, an organic electroluminescent device 30 (hereinafter referred to as an OLED device) arranged on the flat layer 20 and located in a display area (marked as AA in the figure), and a circuit board 40 arranged on a side of the substrate 10 away from the flat layer 20; the above-mentioned OLED display device 01 also includes a via hole 11 penetrating the flat layer 20 and the substrate 10, and the via hole 11 is located in a non-display area around the display area AA; the circuit board 40 and the cathode 33 in the OLED device 30 are electrically connected through the via hole 11.

[0035] It should be noted that, first, the substrate 10 may be, for example, an array substrate on which a plurality of TFTs (Thin Film Transistors) arranged in an array are formed.

[0036] The substrate 10 may also be a single crystal silicon chip integrated with a driving circuit. The single crystal silicon chip can use the existing mature integrated circuit CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor) process, which can not only realize the active addressing matrix of the pixel unit in the display device, but also integrate the driving control circuits with multiple functions such as T-CON (i.e., logic board or central control board) on the single crystal silicon chip. When the above-mentioned OLED display device 01 uses a single crystal silicon chip as a substrate, its pixel size can be 1 / 10 of that of a traditional OLED display device using a TFT array substrate as a substrate, and the display fineness is much higher than that of a traditional display device. Therefore, the above-mentioned OLED display device 01 provided in the embodiment of the present invention preferably uses a single crystal silicon chip as a substrate.

[0037] Second, the OLED device 30 specifically includes an anode 31, a light-emitting functional layer 32 and a cathode 33. In order to facilitate the electrical connection between the anode 31 and the TFT array substrate or the single crystal silicon chip, the anode 31 is preferably arranged below the light-emitting functional layer 32 and the cathode 33 is arranged above the light-emitting functional layer 32.

[0038] The light-emitting functional layer 32 may further include a hole injection layer, an electron blocking layer, a light-emitting layer, a hole blocking layer, an electron injection layer, and other structural layers. Each layer may be made of organic small molecule materials, organic polymer materials, inorganic materials, and composite doping materials. The specific structure may follow the existing technology, and the embodiments of the present invention will not be described in detail.

[0039] Third, the circuit board 40 transmits the cathode signal to the cathode 33 through the via 11, and the area of ​​the circuit board 40 exposed by the via 11 is the area of ​​the corresponding unit providing the cathode signal in the circuit board 40. Its specific position can be flexibly set according to factors such as the structure of the circuit board 40 (such as a PCB board) and the size of the display device and the circuit board 40, and the embodiment of the present invention does not limit this, as long as the cathode 33 receives the cathode signal provided by the circuit board 40 through the via 11.

[0040] The number of via holes 11 is not limited, and a plurality of via holes 11 may be provided to prevent a single via hole from having poor contact and affecting the cathode 33 from normally receiving the cathode signal provided by the circuit board 40 .

[0041] Here, since the via hole 11 is located in the non-display area around the display area AA, the portion of the TFT array substrate or the single crystal silicon chip corresponding to the non-display area is usually one or more insulating layers, so the via hole 11 in this area will not affect the normal operation of the TFT array substrate or the single crystal silicon chip. The specific process of forming the via hole 11 can follow the patterning process or laser penetration process of the prior art, and the specific process will not be repeated.

[0042] Based on this, in the organic electroluminescent display device 01 provided by the embodiment of the present invention, the cathode 33 is electrically connected to the circuit board 40 through the via hole 11 provided in the non-display area and penetrating the flat layer 20 and the substrate 10, so as to receive the cathode signal on the circuit board 40. It is not necessary to provide additional leads around the OLED device, thereby simplifying the process flow of the display device.

[0043] On the basis of the above, in order to reduce the step difference at the via hole to ensure the reliability of the electrical connection between the cathode 33 and the circuit board 40, the flat layer 20 is provided with a via 11 area with a thickness less than the thickness of the remaining area of ​​the flat layer 20; and / or, the substrate 10 is provided with a via 11 area with a thickness less than the thickness of the remaining area of ​​the substrate 10.

[0044] Specifically, the thickness of the planar layer 20 and / or the corresponding area of ​​the substrate 10 may be thinned by a thinning process (eg, by plasma bombardment) to form the via hole 11 .

[0045] For further reference, Figures 2 to 4 As shown, the OLED display device 01 further includes a packaging layer 70 covering the OLED device 30 , and a transparent cover plate 80 disposed on a side of the packaging layer 70 away from the circuit board 40 .

[0046] The method of electrically connecting the cathode 33 to the circuit board 40 can be referred to, for example, Figure 1 As shown, the cathode 33 covers the light-emitting functional layer 32 and then extends to the area of ​​the via hole 11 and fills the via hole 11 .

[0047] However, considering that the via hole 11 needs to penetrate the flat layer 20 and the substrate 10, the step difference at the via hole 11 is large, and the thickness of the cathode 33 is very small, directly filling the via hole 11 may not completely fill the via hole 11, that is, resulting in poor contact between the cathode 33 and the PCB. Therefore, in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, reference Figures 2 to 5 As shown, the display device 01 further includes a conductive portion 50 in contact with the cathode 33 ; at least a portion of the conductive portion 50 is disposed in the via hole 11 .

[0048] The conductive part 50 can be made of at least one material with good conductivity among aluminum, copper, silver, gold, platinum, nickel and molybdenum, or can be made of the same material as the cathode 33 (such as magnesium-silver alloy or lithium-aluminum alloy).

[0049] When the anode 31 in the OLED device 30 is disposed at the bottom, in order to simplify the preparation process of the conductive part 50 , the conductive part 50 filled in the via hole 11 can be formed by using the same patterning process when forming the anode 31 of the OLED device.

[0050] Four specific structures are provided below to describe the above-mentioned OLED display device 01 in detail.

[0051] Structure 1

[0052] refer to Figure 2 As shown, the conductive part 50 is arranged in the via hole 11; the cathode 33 contacts the conductive part 50 through the extension part 33a extending to the non-display area; in order to prevent the extension part 33a on the cathode 33 from contacting the anode 31 below, thereby causing the OLED device 30 to short-circuit, the above-mentioned OLED display device 01 also includes an isolation column 60 that isolates the extension part 33a of the cathode 33 from the anode 31.

[0053] The isolation column 60 may be made of insulating polymer materials, such as photoresist materials, that is, the isolation column 60 may be formed in the corresponding area through the process of exposure and development without the need for additional etching process, thereby further simplifying the process.

[0054] In addition, the spacer 60 can also be formed when forming a pixel defining layer (PDL) for defining each pixel unit in the OLED display device 01 .

[0055] Structure 2

[0056] refer to Figure 3 As shown, the conductive portion 50 includes a first portion 51 disposed in the via hole 11 and a contact electrode 52 located above the via hole 11, which are in contact with each other; the cathode 33 contacts the contact electrode 52 through an extension portion 33a extending to the non-display area; similarly, in order to prevent the extension portion 33a on the cathode 33 from contacting the anode 31 below and causing a short circuit in the OLED device 30, the above-mentioned OLED display device 01 also includes an isolation column 60 that isolates the extension portion 33a of the cathode 33 from the anode 31.

[0057] That is, the added contact electrode 52 can further ensure the reliability of the connection between the cathode 33 and the circuit board 40 .

[0058] The isolation column 60 may be made of insulating polymer materials, such as photoresist materials, that is, the isolation column 60 may be formed in the corresponding area through the process of exposure and development without the need for additional etching process, thereby further simplifying the process.

[0059] In addition, the spacer 60 may also be formed when a pixel defining layer (PDL) PDL for defining each pixel unit in the OLED display device 01 is formed.

[0060] Structure Three

[0061] refer to Figure 4 As shown, one end of the conductive part 50 is located in the via hole 11 , and the other end is overlapped on the cathode 33 , that is, the cathode 33 is electrically connected to the circuit board 40 through the conductive part 50 .

[0062] Structure 4

[0063] refer to Figure 5 As shown, the conductive portion 50 includes a first portion 51 disposed in the via hole 11 , a contact electrode 52 located above the via hole 11 , and a second portion 53 overlapped on the cathode 33 , which are in contact with each other in sequence.

[0064] The added contact electrode 52 can further ensure the reliability of the connection between the cathode 33 and the circuit board 40 .

[0065] The above is only a specific embodiment of the present invention, but the protection scope of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any person skilled in the art can easily think of changes or substitutions within the technical scope disclosed by the present invention, which should be included in the protection scope of the present invention. Therefore, the protection scope of the present invention should be based on the protection scope of the claims.

Claims

1. An organic electroluminescent display device, comprising a substrate, a flat layer arranged on the substrate, an organic electroluminescent device arranged on the flat layer and located in a display area, and a circuit board arranged on a side of the substrate away from the flat layer; characterized in that: The display device further comprises a via hole penetrating the flat layer and the substrate, wherein the via hole is located in a non-display area around the display area; the circuit board and the cathode in the organic electroluminescent device are electrically connected through the via hole; The display device further includes a conductive portion in contact with the cathode; The conductive portion is disposed in the via hole; the cathode contacts the conductive portion through an extension portion extending to the non-display area; The display device further includes an isolation column isolating the extension portion of the cathode and the anode; The organic electroluminescent device comprises an anode, a light-emitting functional layer and the cathode which are sequentially away from the planar layer.

2. The display device according to claim 1, characterized in that The isolation column is made of insulating polymer material.

3. The display device according to claim 1, characterized in that The circuit board is a printed circuit board.

4. The display device according to claim 1, characterized in that The substrate is a single crystal silicon chip integrated with a driving circuit.

5. The display device according to claim 1, characterized in that The conductive part is made of at least one material selected from aluminum, copper, silver, gold, platinum, nickel, and molybdenum.

6. The display device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The conductive part and the cathode are made of the same material.

7. The display device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The thickness of the planar layer in the area where the via hole is provided is smaller than the thickness of the remaining area of ​​the planar layer; and / or, The thickness of the substrate in the area where the via hole is provided is smaller than the thickness of the remaining area of ​​the substrate.

8. The display device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The display device further includes an encapsulation layer covering the organic electroluminescent device.

9. The display device according to claim 8, characterized in that: The display device further includes a transparent cover plate arranged on a side of the packaging layer away from the circuit board.

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