Display panel and manufacturing method of display panel

Abstract

A display panel and a method of manufacturing the display panel are provided, the display panel including a display element layer including a light emitting element that outputs source light, and an optical structure layer on the light emitting element and transmitting or converting the source light into light of different wavelengths. The optical structure layer includes a light control layer including a bank on the light emitting element and having first to third bank openings, and first to third light control patterns in the first to third bank openings. A first bank region defined by the first bank opening includes a first sub-region and a second sub-region protruding from the first sub-region in a first direction. A second bank region defined by the second bank opening includes a third sub-region and a fourth sub-region protruding from the third sub-region in a direction opposite the first direction.

Description

[0001] This application claims priority to and the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2024-0032991 filed on March 8, 2024, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO), the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0002] Disclosed herein are display panels and methods of manufacturing the display panels having improved manufacturing process efficiency and display quality while increasing resolution. Background Art

[0003] The display panel includes a transmissive display panel that selectively transmits source light generated by a light source and an emissive display panel that generates the source light within the display panel itself. The display panel can include different types of light control patterns depending on the pixel to produce a color image. The light control pattern can only transmit source light of a specific wavelength range or convert the color of the source light. Some light control patterns can change the characteristics of the light without changing the color of the source light. Summary of the Invention

[0004] A display panel capable of achieving high resolution and having improved display quality is disclosed.

[0005] The disclosure also provides a method of manufacturing a display panel with improved manufacturing process efficiency.

[0006] According to a disclosed embodiment, a display panel may include a display element layer and an optical structure layer. The display element layer includes a light-emitting element that outputs source light. The optical structure layer is disposed on the light-emitting element and transmits the source light or converts the source light into light of a different wavelength. The optical structure layer may include a light control layer disposed on the light-emitting element and including: a dam having a first dam opening, a second dam opening, and a third dam opening sequentially arranged in a first direction; a first light control pattern disposed in the first dam opening; a second light control pattern disposed in the second dam opening; and a third light control pattern disposed in the third dam opening. A first dam area defined by the first dam opening may include: a first sub-area extending in a second direction intersecting the first direction; and a second sub-area protruding from the first sub-area in the first direction. A second dam area defined by the second dam opening may include: a third sub-area extending in the second direction; and a fourth sub-area protruding from the third sub-area toward the first dam area in a direction opposite to the first direction. The third dam area may be defined by the third dam opening. Centerlines of the second and fourth sub-areas in the second direction may not overlap with each other in the first direction. Center lines of the first subregion, the third subregion, and the third bank region in the second direction may be aligned with each other.

[0007] In an embodiment, each of the second sub-region and the fourth sub-region may include an oblique side extending in an oblique direction forming an acute angle with the first direction.

[0008] In an embodiment, a length of the third bank region in the second direction may be smaller than a length of each of the first bank region and the second bank region in the second direction.

[0009] In an embodiment, the first sub-region may include a first side and a second side, both of which extend in the first direction and are spaced apart from each other in the second direction, and the third sub-region may include a third side and a fourth side, both of which extend in the first direction and are spaced apart from each other in the second direction. The first side and the third side may be aligned with each other in the first direction, and the second side and the fourth side may be aligned with each other in the first direction.

[0010] In an embodiment, the second sub-region may include a fifth side aligned with the second side in the first direction, and the fourth sub-region may include a sixth side aligned with the third side in the first direction.

[0011] In an embodiment, the optical structure layer may further include a color filter layer disposed on the light control layer. The color filter layer may include: a first color filter overlapping the first bank region in a plan view; a second color filter overlapping the second bank region in a plan view; and a third color filter overlapping the third bank region in a plan view.

[0012] In an embodiment, a first color filter may be provided in a first filtering region that emits light of a first wavelength, a second color filter may be provided in a second filtering region that emits light of a second wavelength, and a third color filter may be provided in a third filtering region that emits light of a third wavelength. The third wavelength may be shorter than the first wavelength and the second wavelength.

[0013] In an embodiment, the third filtering region may have a rectangular shape in a plan view.

[0014] In an embodiment, the first filtering region may include: a first sub-filtering region overlapping the first sub-filtering region in a plan view; and a second sub-filtering region protruding from the first sub-filtering region in a first direction and at least partially overlapping the second sub-filtering region in a plan view. The second filtering region may include: a third sub-filtering region overlapping the third sub-filtering region in a plan view; and a fourth sub-filtering region protruding from the third sub-filtering region in a direction opposite to the first direction and at least partially overlapping the fourth sub-filtering region in a plan view.

[0015] In an embodiment, a minimum distance from one end of the first sub-region to one end of the first sub-filtering region and a minimum distance from one end of the second sub-region to one end of the second sub-filtering region may be substantially equal.

[0016] In an embodiment, the second bank region may further include a fifth subregion protruding from the third subregion toward the third bank region in the first direction. The third bank region may include: a sixth subregion extending in the second direction; and a seventh subregion protruding from the sixth subregion toward the second bank region in a direction opposite to the first direction.

[0017] In an embodiment, a length of the second subregion in the second direction and a length of the fourth subregion in the second direction may be substantially the same.

[0018] In an embodiment, a length of the second subregion in the second direction and a length of the fourth subregion in the second direction may be different from each other.

[0019] In an embodiment, the third bank region may have a rectangular shape in a plan view.

[0020] In an embodiment, the third light-controlling pattern may include a photosensitive resin.

[0021] In an embodiment, a width of the first sub-region in the first direction and a width of the third sub-region in the first direction may be substantially the same.

[0022] In an embodiment, a separation distance from the second subregion to the third subregion and a separation distance from the third subregion to the third bank region in the first direction may be substantially the same.

[0023] In a disclosed embodiment, a display panel may include a display element layer and an optical structure layer, the display element layer including a light-emitting element that outputs source light, the optical structure layer being disposed on the light-emitting element and transmitting the source light or converting the source light into light of a different wavelength. The optical structure layer may include a light control layer disposed on the light-emitting element and including: a dam having a first dam opening, a second dam opening, and a third dam opening sequentially arranged in a first direction; a first light control pattern disposed in the first dam opening; a second light control pattern disposed in the second dam opening; and a third light control pattern disposed in the third dam opening. A first dam area defined by the first dam opening may include: a first sub-area; and a second sub-area protruding from the first sub-area in the first direction. A second dam area defined by the second dam opening may include: a third sub-area; and a fourth sub-area protruding from the third sub-area toward the first dam area in a direction opposite to the first direction. The third dam area may be defined by the third dam opening. Each of the second and fourth sub-areas may protrude from the upper or lower portion of a side of each of the first and third sub-areas in a staggered manner. Center lines of the first subregion, the third subregion, and the third bank region in a second direction crossing the first direction may be aligned with each other.

[0024] In an embodiment, each of the second sub-region and the fourth sub-region may include an oblique side extending in an oblique direction that is a direction between the first direction and the second direction.

[0025] In a disclosed embodiment, a method for manufacturing a display panel may include the following steps: preparing a display element layer including a light-emitting element that outputs source light; and forming an optical structure layer on the light-emitting element. The step of forming the optical structure layer may include: forming a dam on the light-emitting element, the dam including a first dam opening, a second dam opening, and a third dam opening sequentially formed in a first direction; patterning a photoresist material in the third dam opening to form a third light-control pattern; and forming the first light-control pattern in the first dam opening and the second light-control pattern in the second dam opening using an inkjet process. A first dam region defined by the first dam opening may include: a first subregion extending in a second direction intersecting the first direction; and a second subregion protruding from the first subregion in the first direction. A second dam region defined by the second dam opening may include: a third subregion extending in the second direction; and a fourth subregion protruding from the third subregion toward the first dam region in a direction opposite to the first direction. The third dam region may be defined by the third dam opening. Centerlines of the second and fourth subregions in the second direction may not overlap with each other in the first direction, and centerlines of the first, third, and third subregions in the second direction may be aligned with each other. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the disclosure and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The accompanying drawings illustrate embodiments of the disclosure and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the disclosure. In the drawings: Figure 1A is a perspective view of a display panel according to a disclosed embodiment; Figure 1B is a schematic cross-sectional view of a display panel according to a disclosed embodiment; Figure 1C is a plan view of a display panel according to a disclosed embodiment; Figure 2 is an enlarged plan view of a portion of a display panel according to a disclosed embodiment; Figure 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a portion of a display panel according to a disclosed embodiment; Figure 4A 、 Figure 4B 、 Figure 4C and Figure 4D are schematic cross-sectional views of a portion of a display panel according to a disclosed embodiment; Figure 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a light emitting element according to a disclosed embodiment; Figure 6A is an enlarged plan view of a portion of a display panel according to a disclosed embodiment; Figure 6B is an enlarged plan view of some of the components of a display panel according to a disclosed embodiment; Figure 7A 、 Figure 7B 、 Figure 7C 、 Figure 7D and Figure 7E Each is an enlarged plan view of a portion of a display panel according to a disclosed embodiment; Figure 8A is a flow chart of a method for manufacturing a display panel according to a disclosed embodiment; Figure 8B is a flow chart of some steps in a method of manufacturing a display panel according to a disclosed embodiment; and Figure 9A 、 Figure 9B 、 Figure 9C and Figure 9D are schematic cross-sectional views illustrating some steps in a method of manufacturing a display panel according to a disclosed embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] Hereinafter, disclosed embodiments will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0028] When an element or layer is referred to as being “on,” “connected to,” or “coupled to” another element or layer, it can be directly on, directly connected to, or directly coupled to the other element or layer, or there can be intervening elements or layers. However, when an element or layer is referred to as being “directly on,” “directly connected to,” or “directly coupled to” another element or layer, there can be no intervening elements or layers. For this purpose, the term “connected” can refer to a physical connection, an electrical connection, and / or a fluid connection, with or without intervening elements. Furthermore, when an element is referred to as being “in contact with” or “in contact with” another element, etc., the element can be “electrically in contact with” or “physically in contact with” the other element; or “indirectly in contact with” or “directly in contact with” the other element.

[0029] The same reference numerals refer to the same elements throughout. In addition, in the accompanying drawings, the thickness, ratios, and sizes of the elements are exaggerated for the purpose of effectively describing the technical content. As used herein, the term "and / or" includes any and all combinations that can be limited by the relevant configurations.

[0030] It will be understood that although the terms first, second, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another. For example, a first element may be referred to as a second element without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Similarly, a second element may also be referred to as a first element. Unless otherwise indicated, terms in the singular include plural forms.

[0031] For descriptive purposes, spatially relative terms such as "below," "beneath," "beneath," "down," "above," "upper," "above," "higher," "side" (e.g., as in "sidewall"), etc., may be used herein to describe the relationship of one element to another (additional) element as shown in the accompanying drawings. Spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use, operation, and / or manufacture in addition to the orientation depicted in the accompanying drawings. For example, if the device in the drawings is turned over, an element described as "below" or "beneath" other elements or features would then be oriented "above" the other elements or features. Thus, the exemplary term "below" can encompass both above and below orientations. Furthermore, the device may be otherwise oriented (e.g., rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations), and as such, the spatially relative descriptors used herein should be interpreted accordingly.

[0032] As used herein, "about" or "approximately" is inclusive of the stated value and means within an acceptable range of deviation for the particular value as determined by one of ordinary skill in the art, taking into account the measurement in question and errors associated with the measurement of the particular quantity (i.e., limitations of the measurement system). For example, "about" can mean within one or more standard deviations, or within ±30%, ±20%, ±10%, ±5% of the stated value.

[0033] In the specification and claims, for the purposes of its meaning and interpretation, the phrase "at least one of..." is intended to include the meaning of "at least one of the group of..." For example, "at least one of A and B" may be understood to mean "A, B, or A and B." In the specification and claims, for the purposes of its meaning and interpretation, the term "and / or" is intended to include any combination of the terms "and" and "or." For example, "A and / or B" may be understood to mean "A, B, or A and B." The terms "and" and "or" may be used in a conjunction or disjunction sense and may be understood to be equivalent to "and / or."

[0034] It will be understood that when the terms “including” and / or “having” are used in this specification, it indicates the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components and / or groups thereof, but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components and / or groups thereof.

[0035] In the application, “directly disposed” may mean that no layer, film, region, plate, etc. is added between a portion (component) such as a layer, film, region, or plate and another portion (component) such as a layer, film, region, or plate. For example, “directly disposed” may mean that no additional member (such as an adhesive member) is disposed between two layers or two members.

[0036] Unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein (including technical and scientific terms) have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs. It will also be understood that terms (such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries) should be interpreted as having a meaning consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly defined as such herein.

[0037] Hereinafter, a display panel and a method of manufacturing the display panel according to disclosed embodiments will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0038] Figure 1A is a perspective view of a display panel according to a disclosed embodiment. Figure 1B is a schematic cross-sectional view of a display panel according to a disclosed embodiment. Figure 1C is a plan view of a display panel according to a disclosed embodiment.

[0039] like Figure 1A As shown in , the display panel DP may display an image through the display surface DP-IS. The display surface DP-IS may be parallel to a plane defined by the first direction DR1 and the second direction DR2. The display surface DP-IS may include a display area DA and a non-display area NDA. The pixels PX may be arranged in the display area DA, and the pixels PX may not be arranged in the non-display area NDA. The non-display area NDA may be defined along a boundary of the display surface DP-IS. The non-display area NDA may surround the display area DA in a plan view. However, not limited thereto, in another disclosed embodiment, the non-display area NDA may be omitted or provided only on one side of the display area DA.

[0040] The normal direction of the display surface DP-IS (e.g., the thickness direction of the display panel DP) may be indicated by a third direction DR3. The front surface (or upper surface) and the rear surface (or lower surface) of each layer or unit described below may be divided by the third direction DR3. However, the first to third directions DR1, DR2, and DR3 are not limited thereto.

[0041] Despite Figure 1A 1 shows a display panel DP having a flat display surface DP-IS, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. The display panel DP may include a curved display surface or a three-dimensional display surface. The three-dimensional display surface may include multiple display areas facing different directions.

[0042] like Figure 1B As shown in , the display panel DP may include a base substrate BS, a circuit element layer DP-CL, a display element layer DP-LED, and an optical structure layer OSL. The base substrate BS may be a synthetic resin substrate or a glass substrate. The circuit element layer DP-CL may include at least one insulating layer and circuit elements. The circuit elements may include signal lines, pixel driving circuits, etc. The circuit element layer DP-CL may be formed by a process of forming an insulating layer, a semiconductor layer, and a conductive layer by coating, deposition, etc., and by a process of patterning the insulating layer, semiconductor layer, and conductive layer by photolithography. The display element layer DP-LED may include at least one display element. The optical structure layer OSL may convert the color of light provided by the display element. The optical structure layer OSL may include a light control pattern and a structure that increases light conversion efficiency.

[0043] Figure 1C Schematically illustrating a planar arrangement relationship of the signal lines GL1 to GLn and DL1 to DLm and the pixels PX11 to PXnm. The signal lines GL1 to GLn and DL1 to DLm may include a plurality of gate lines GL1 to GLn and a plurality of data lines DL1 to DLm.

[0044] Each of the pixels PX11 to PXnm can be connected to a corresponding gate line among the gate lines GL1 to GLn and a corresponding data line among the data lines DL1 to DLm. Each of the pixels PX11 to PXnm can include a pixel driving circuit and a display element. Depending on the configuration of the pixel driving circuit of the pixels PX11 to PXnm, more types of signal lines can be provided in the display panel DP.

[0045] The gate driving circuit GDC may be integrated into the display panel DP through an oxide silicon gate driving circuit (OSG) process or an amorphous silicon gate driving circuit (ASG) process.

[0046] Figure 2 is an enlarged plan view of a portion of a display panel according to a disclosed embodiment. Figure 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a portion of a display panel according to a disclosed embodiment. Figures 4A to 4D Each of is a schematic cross-sectional view of a portion of a display panel according to a disclosed embodiment. Figure 3 Schematically shows the Figure 2 The line II' shown in FIG. Figures 4A to 4D Schematically shows the Figure 2 The line II-II' shown in FIG.

[0047] Figure 2 Schematically shows a configuration on a display panel DP (see FIG. Figure 1A ) display area DA (see Figure 1A ) in the arrangement relationship of the plurality of pixel regions. In the disclosed embodiment, in the entire display area DA (see Figure 1A )middle, Figure 2 The shapes of the pixel areas PXA-R, PXA-G, and PXA-B shown in FIG. 1 may be repeatedly provided.

[0048] Reference Figure 2 The peripheral area NPXA may be disposed around the first to third pixel areas PXA-R, PXA-G, and PXA-B. The peripheral area NPXA may define a boundary between the first to third pixel areas PXA-R, PXA-G, and PXA-B. The peripheral area NPXA may surround the first to third pixel areas PXA-R, PXA-G, and PXA-B.

[0049] The first to third pixel regions PXA-R, PXA-G, and PXA-B may correspond to the first to third filter regions FA1, FA2, and FA3. Each of the first to third filter regions FA1, FA2, and FA3 may be a region defined by a color filter to be described below.

[0050] A structure (such as a pixel definition film PDL (see FIG. 1 )) that prevents color mixing between the first to third pixel regions PXA-R, PXA-G, and PXA-B. Figure 3 ) or dike BMP (see Figure 3 )) may be disposed in the peripheral area NPXA. Two or more of the color filters to be described below may overlap each other in a plan view in the peripheral area NPXA.

[0051] like Figure 2As shown in FIG, some of the first through third pixel regions PXA-R, PXA-G, and PXA-B may have rectangular shapes in plan view. The remaining portions of the first through third pixel regions PXA-R, PXA-G, and PXA-B may have polygonal shapes having protruding portions extending from the rectangular shapes in plan view. At least some of the first through third pixel regions PXA-R, PXA-G, and PXA-B may have polygonal shapes having short sides extending in the first direction DR1 and long sides extending in the second direction DR2. In plan view, the areas of the first through third pixel regions PXA-R, PXA-G, and PXA-B may be set according to the color of the light emitted. Among the primary colors, the area of ​​the pixel region emitting red light may be the largest, and the area of ​​the pixel region emitting blue light may be the smallest. For example, the area of ​​the first pixel region PXA-R emitting red light may be the largest, and the area of ​​the third pixel region PXA-B emitting blue light may be the smallest.

[0052] Figure 2 The first to third pixel regions PXA-R, PXA-G, and PXA-B are schematically illustrated as having rectangular or polygonal shapes, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. In a plan view, some of the first to third pixel regions PXA-R, PXA-G, and PXA-B may have different polygonal shapes (including substantially polygonal shapes). In the disclosed embodiment, in a plan view, the first to third pixel regions PXA-R, PXA-G, and PXA-B may have a rectangular shape with rounded corners (substantially rectangular shape) or a polygonal shape with rounded corners (substantially polygonal shape).

[0053] One of the first to third pixel regions PXA-R, PXA-G, and PXA-B may provide red light, another of the first to third pixel regions PXA-R, PXA-G, and PXA-B may provide blue light, and the remaining one of the first to third pixel regions PXA-R, PXA-G, and PXA-B may provide green light. In an embodiment, the first pixel region PXA-R may provide red light, the second pixel region PXA-G may provide green light, and the third pixel region PXA-B may provide blue light. In an embodiment, the first pixel region PXA-R may emit light in a wavelength range of approximately 620 nm to approximately 700 nm, the second pixel region PXA-G may emit light in a wavelength range of approximately 520 nm to approximately 600 nm, and the third pixel region PXA-B may emit light in a wavelength range of approximately 410 nm to approximately 480 nm.

[0054] Although not shown, a bank well region may be defined in the display area DA. The bank well region may be a region where a bank well is formed to prevent the printing of a light control layer CCL (see FIG. Figure 4A ) in a plurality of light control patterns CCP-R, CCP-G and CCP-B (see Figure 4A ) in some of the processes. For example, the bank well region may be defined by removing the bank BMP (see Figure 4A ) is a region of a dam well formed as a part of the dam.

[0055] Reference Figure 3 The display panel DP according to the disclosed embodiment may include a base substrate BS, a circuit element layer DP-CL disposed on the base substrate BS, and a display element layer DP-LED disposed on the circuit element layer DP-CL. In this specification, the base substrate BS, the circuit element layer DP-CL, and the display element layer DP-LED may be collectively referred to as a lower panel.

[0056] The base substrate BS may be a member that provides a reference surface on which the components included in the circuit element layer DP-CL are disposed. In the disclosed embodiments, the base substrate BS may be a glass substrate, a metal substrate, a polymer substrate, or the like. However, the disclosure is not limited thereto, and in other embodiments, the base substrate BS may be an inorganic layer, a functional layer, or a composite material layer.

[0057] The base substrate BS may have a multilayer structure. For example, the base substrate BS may have a three-layer structure comprising a polymer resin layer, an adhesive layer, and a polymer resin layer. In an embodiment, the polymer resin layer may include a polyimide resin. In an embodiment, the polymer resin layer may include at least one of an acrylate resin, a methacrylate resin, a polyisoprene resin, a vinyl resin, an epoxy resin, a urethane resin, a cellulose resin, a siloxane resin, a polyamide resin, and a perylene resin. In this specification, an "α-type" resin may be a resin including an "α" functional group.

[0058] The circuit element layer DP-CL may be disposed on the base substrate BS. The circuit element layer DP-CL may include a transistor TD as a circuit element. Figure 1A ) of the drive circuit design, the structure of the circuit element layer DP-CL can be changed, and Figure 3 Schematically shows a transistor TD according to an embodiment. According to an embodiment, Figure 3 The arrangement of the active region AD, source SD, drain DD, and gate GD constituting the transistor TD is schematically shown in FIG. The active region AD, source SD, and drain DD may be divided according to the doping concentration or conductivity of the semiconductor pattern.

[0059] The circuit element layer DP-CL may include a lower buffer layer BRL, a first insulating layer 10, a second insulating layer 20, and a third insulating layer 30 disposed on the base substrate BS. For example, the lower buffer layer BRL, the first insulating layer 10, and the second insulating layer 20 may be inorganic layers, and the third insulating layer 30 may be an organic layer.

[0060] The display element layer DP-LED may include a light-emitting element LED as a display element. The light-emitting element LED may generate source light. In disclosed embodiments, the source light may be white light or blue light. In embodiments, the display element layer DP-LED may include an organic light-emitting diode as the light-emitting element LED. For example, the light-emitting layer EML included in the light-emitting element LED may include an organic light-emitting material as the light-emitting material.

[0061] The light-emitting element LED may include a first electrode EL1, a second electrode EL2, and a light-emitting layer EML disposed between the first electrode EL1 and the second electrode EL2. In an embodiment, the display element layer DP-LED may include an organic light-emitting diode as the light-emitting element LED. In a disclosed embodiment, the light-emitting element LED may include a quantum dot light-emitting diode. For example, the light-emitting layer EML included in the light-emitting element LED may include an organic light-emitting material as the light-emitting material, or the light-emitting layer EML may include quantum dots as the light-emitting material. In another embodiment, the display element layer DP-LED may include an ultra-small light-emitting element, which will be described below, as the light-emitting element LED. The ultra-small light-emitting element may include, for example, a micro-LED element and / or a nano-LED element. The ultra-small light-emitting element may have micrometer-scale or nanometer-scale dimensions and include an active layer disposed between multiple semiconductor layers.

[0062] The first electrode EL1 may be disposed on the third insulating layer 30. The first electrode EL1 may be directly or indirectly connected to the transistor TD, and the connection structure between the first electrode EL1 and the transistor TD is not shown. Figure 3 Shown in.

[0063] The display element layer DP-LED may include a pixel-defining layer (PDL). For example, the pixel-defining layer (PDL) may be an organic layer. A light-emitting opening OH may be defined in the pixel-defining layer (PDL). The light-emitting opening OH of the pixel-defining layer (PDL) may expose at least a portion of the first electrode EL1. In an embodiment, the first light-emitting area EA1 may be defined by the light-emitting opening OH.

[0064] The hole control layer HTR, the light emitting layer EML, and the electron control layer ETR may overlap at least the first pixel region PXA-R in a plan view. Each of the hole control layer HTR, the light emitting layer EML, the electron control layer ETR, and the second electrode EL2 may be commonly disposed in the first to third pixel regions PXA-R, PXA-G, and PXA-B (see FIG. Figure 4A ). With the first to third pixel regions PXA-R, PXA-G and PXA-B (see Figure 4A ) Each of the stacked hole control layer HTR, the light emitting layer EML, the electron control layer ETR, and the second electrode EL2 may have an integral shape. However, not limited thereto, at least one of the hole control layer HTR, the light emitting layer EML, and the electron control layer ETR may be separately formed in the first to third pixel regions PXA-R, PXA-G, and PXA-B (see Figure 4A ). In the disclosed embodiment, the light emitting layer EML may be patterned in the light emitting opening OH and individually formed in the first to third pixel regions PXA-R, PXA-G, and PXA-B (see Figure 4A ) in each of them.

[0065] The hole control layer HTR may include a hole transport layer, and may further include a hole injection layer.

[0066] The light-emitting layer (EML) may generate a third light as the source light. In an embodiment, the light-emitting layer (EML) may generate blue light. The blue light may have a wavelength in the range of about 410 nm to about 480 nm. The emission spectrum of the blue light may have a maximum peak in the wavelength range of about 440 nm to about 460 nm.

[0067] The electron control layer ETR may include an electron transport layer, and may further include an electron injection layer.

[0068] The display element layer DP-LED may include a thin film encapsulation layer TFE that protects the second electrode EL2. The thin film encapsulation layer TFE may include an organic material or an inorganic material. The thin film encapsulation layer TFE may have a multilayer structure in which an inorganic layer and an organic layer are repeated. In an embodiment, the thin film encapsulation layer TFE may include a first inorganic encapsulation layer IOL1, an organic encapsulation layer OL, and a second inorganic encapsulation layer IOL2. The first inorganic encapsulation layer IOL1 and the second inorganic encapsulation layer IOL2 may protect the light emitting element LED from external moisture, and the organic encapsulation layer OL may prevent defects of the light emitting element LED due to damage by foreign matter introduced during the manufacturing process. Although not shown, the display panel DP may further include a refractive index control layer on the thin film encapsulation layer TFE to improve light extraction efficiency.

[0069] like Figure 3As shown in , the optical structure layer OSL may be disposed on the thin film encapsulation layer TFE. The optical structure layer OSL may include a light control layer CCL, a filling layer FML, a color filter layer CFL, and a base layer BL. In this specification, the optical structure layer OSL may be referred to as an upper panel.

[0070] The light-controlling layer CCL may be disposed on the display element layer DP-LED including the light-emitting element LED. The light-controlling layer CCL may include a bank BMP and a first light-controlling pattern CCP-R.

[0071] The bank BMP may include a base resin and additives. The base resin may be composed of a resin composition generally referred to as a binder. The additives may include a coupling agent and / or a photoinitiator. The additives may also include a dispersant.

[0072] The bank BMP may include a black colorant to block light. The bank BMP may include a black dye and / or a black pigment mixed in a matrix resin. In disclosed embodiments, the black colorant may include carbon black, or may include a metal (such as chromium) or its oxide.

[0073] The bank BMP may include a first bank opening BOH1 corresponding to the light-emitting opening OH. In a plan view, the first bank opening BOH1 may overlap the light-emitting opening OH and may have a larger area than the light-emitting opening OH in a plan view. For example, the first bank opening BOH1 may have a larger area than the first light-emitting area EA1 defined by the light-emitting opening OH. In this specification, the expression "one element corresponds to another element" may mean that the two elements overlap each other in the thickness direction of the display panel DP (i.e., the third direction DR3) and are not limited to having the same area.

[0074] The first light-controlling pattern CCP-R may be disposed inside the first bank opening BOH1. The first light-controlling pattern CCP-R may change optical properties of the source light.

[0075] The first light-control pattern CCP-R may include quantum dots to change the optical properties of the source light. The first light-control pattern CCP-R may include first quantum dots that convert the source light into light of a different wavelength. In the first light-control pattern CCP-R overlapping the first pixel area PXA-R, the first quantum dots may convert the source light into red light.

[0076] In this specification, a "quantum dot" may be a crystal of a semiconductor compound. A quantum dot can emit light of various wavelengths depending on the size of the crystal. The quantum dot can emit light of various wavelengths by adjusting the element ratio of the quantum dot compound.

[0077] The diameter of the quantum dots may be, for example, in the range of about 1 nm to about 10 nm.

[0078] Quantum dots can be synthesized by wet chemical processes, metal organic chemical vapor deposition processes, molecular beam epitaxy processes, or processes similar thereto.

[0079] A wet chemical process is a method of mixing an organic solvent and a precursor material to grow quantum dot particle crystals. During the growth of the quantum dot particle crystals, the organic solvent naturally acts as a dispersant, coordinating with the surface of the quantum dot particle crystals and controlling their growth. Therefore, wet chemical processes are easier to perform than vapor deposition methods such as metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) or molecular beam epitaxy (MBE), and can control the growth of quantum dot particle crystals through a low-cost process.

[0080] The core of the quantum dot may include a II-VI compound, a III-V compound, a III-VI compound, a I-III-VI compound, a II-IV-V compound, a IV-VI compound, a Group IV element, a Group IV compound, or a combination thereof.

[0081] II-VI compounds may include binary compounds such as CdSe, CdTe, CdS, ZnS, ZnSe, ZnTe, ZnO, HgS, HgSe, HgTe, MgSe, MgS, and mixtures thereof; ternary compounds such as CdSeS, CdSeTe, CdSTe, ZnSeS, ZnSeTe, ZnSTe, HgSeS, HgSeTe, HgSTe, CdZnS, CdZnS e, CdZnTe, CdHgS, CdHgSe, CdHgTe, HgZnS, HgZnSe, HgZnTe, MgZnSe, MgZnS and mixtures thereof; and quaternary compounds such as HgZnTeS, CdZnSeS, CdZnSeTe, CdZnSTe, CdHgSeS, CdHgSeTe, CdHgSTe, HgZnSeS, HgZnSeTe and mixtures thereof. In an embodiment, the II-VI semiconductor compound may further include a Group I metal and / or a Group IV element. The I-II-VI compound may include CuSnS or CuZnS, and the II-IV-VI compound may include ZnSnS, etc. The I-II-IV-VI compound may include a quaternary compound such as Cu2ZnSnS2, Cu2ZnSnS4, Cu2ZnSnSe4, Ag2ZnSnS2 and mixtures thereof.

[0082] The III-VI compounds may include binary compounds such as In2S3 and In2Se3, ternary compounds such as InGaS3 and InGaSe3, or combinations thereof.

[0083] The Group I-III-VI compounds may include ternary compounds such as AgInS, AgInS2, CuInS, CuInS2, AgGaS2, CuGaS2, CuGaO2, AgGaO2, AgAlO2 and mixtures thereof, or quaternary compounds such as AgInGaS2 and CuInGaS2.

[0084] Group III-V compounds may include binary compounds such as GaN, GaP, GaAs, GaSb, AlN, AlP, AlAs, AlSb, InN, InP, InAs, InSb, and mixtures thereof; ternary compounds such as GaNPs, GaNAs, GaNSb, GaPAs, GaPSb, AlNPs, AlNAs, AlNSb, AlPAs, AlPSb, InGaP, InAlP, InNPs, InNAs, InNSb, InPAs, InPSb, and mixtures thereof; and quaternary compounds such as GaAlNPs, GaAlNAs, GaAlNSb, GaAlPAs, GaAlPSb, GaInNPs, GaInNAs, GaInNSb, GaInPAs, GaInPSb, InAlNPs, InAlNAs, InAlNSb, InAlPAs, InAlPSb, and mixtures thereof. In an embodiment, the group III-V compounds may also include group II metals. For example, the group III-II-V compounds may include InZnP, etc.

[0085] Group IV-VI compounds may include: binary compounds such as SnS, SnSe, SnTe, PbS, PbSe, PbTe and mixtures thereof; ternary compounds such as SnSeS, SnSeTe, SnSTe, PbSeS, PbSeTe, PbSTe, SnPbS, SnPbSe, SnPbTe and mixtures thereof; and quaternary compounds such as SnPbSSe, SnPbSeTe, SnPbSTe and mixtures thereof.

[0086] Examples of the II-IV-V group compound may be ternary compounds such as ZnSnP, ZnSnP 2 , ZnSnAs 2 , ZnGeP 2 , ZnGeAs 2 , CdSnP 2 , CdGeP 2 , and mixtures thereof.

[0087] Group IV elements may include Si, Ge, and mixtures thereof. Group IV compounds may include binary compounds such as SiC, SiGe, and mixtures thereof.

[0088] Each element included in a multi-element compound (such as a binary compound, a ternary compound, and a quaternary compound) may be present in a uniform or non-uniform concentration in the particle. For example, the above chemical formula may represent the type of elements included in the compound, and the element ratios in the compound may be different from each other. For example, AgIn x Ga 2-x S2 (x is a real number between 0 and 1) may include AgInGaS2.

[0089] In an embodiment, a binary compound, a ternary compound, or a quaternary compound may be present in a particle at a uniform concentration, or may be present in the same particle by being divided into states in which the concentration distributions are partially different from each other. In an embodiment, a quantum dot may have a core / shell structure in which a quantum dot surrounds another quantum dot. The core / shell structure may have a concentration gradient in which the concentration of the element present in the shell gradually decreases toward the core.

[0090] In some disclosed embodiments, quantum dots may have a core / shell structure comprising a core comprising the aforementioned nanocrystals and a shell surrounding the core. The quantum dot shell may serve as a protective layer to maintain semiconductor properties by preventing chemical modification of the core and / or as a charged layer to impart electrophoretic properties to the quantum dot. The shell may be single-layer or multi-layer. In embodiments, the quantum dot shell may comprise a metal oxide, a non-metal oxide, a semiconductor compound, or a combination thereof.

[0091] For example, the metal oxide or non-metal oxide may include: binary compounds such as SiO2, Al2O3, TiO2, ZnO, MnO, Mn2O3, Mn3O4, CuO, FeO, Fe2O3, Fe3O4, CoO, Co3O4 and NiO; or ternary compounds such as MgAl2O4, CoFe2O4, NiFe2O4 and CoMn2O4, but the disclosure is not limited thereto.

[0092] Examples of semiconductor compounds may include CdS, CdSe, CdTe, ZnS, ZnSe, ZnTe, ZnSeS, ZnTeS, GaAs, GaP, GaSb, HgS, HgSe, HgTe, InAs, InP, InGaP, InSb, AlAs, AlP, AlSb, etc., but the disclosure is not limited thereto.

[0093] The quantum dots may have a full width at half maximum (FWHM) of the emission wavelength spectrum of less than or equal to approximately 45 nm. For example, the quantum dots may have a full width at half maximum (FWHM) of the emission wavelength spectrum of less than or equal to approximately 40 nm. For example, the quantum dots may have a full width at half maximum (FWHM) of the emission wavelength spectrum of less than or equal to approximately 30 nm. Within these ranges, color purity or color reproducibility may be improved. Since light emitted by the quantum dots is emitted in all directions, a wide viewing angle may be improved.

[0094] The shape of the quantum dot is not particularly limited to shapes generally used in the art, and nanoparticles, nanotubes, nanowires, nanofibers, and nanoplates in shapes such as spheres, pyramids, multi-arms, or cubes may be used.

[0095] Because the band gap can be controlled by adjusting the size of the quantum dots or the element ratios in the quantum dot compound, it is possible to obtain light of various wavelengths from the quantum dot light-emitting layer. Therefore, by using the aforementioned quantum dots (using quantum dots of varying sizes or varying element ratios in the quantum dot compound), it is possible to realize a light-emitting element configured to emit light of various wavelengths. For example, the size of the quantum dots or the element ratios in the quantum dot compound can be selectively controlled to emit red, green, and / or blue light. In another embodiment, quantum dots can be configured to emit white light by combining various colors of light.

[0096] In the disclosed embodiment, the quantum dots included in the first light control pattern CCP-R overlapping the first pixel region PXA-R in a plan view may have a red luminescent color. When the particle size of the quantum dots is small, light of a shorter wavelength range may be emitted. For example, among quantum dots having the same core, quantum dots emitting green light may have a smaller particle size than quantum dots emitting red light. Among quantum dots having the same core, quantum dots emitting blue light may have a smaller particle size than quantum dots emitting green light. However, the disclosure is not limited to this, and even among quantum dots having the same core, the particle size may be adjusted according to the shell forming material, shell thickness, etc.

[0097] In the case where quantum dots have various luminescent colors such as blue, red, or green, quantum dots having different luminescent colors may have different core materials, respectively.

[0098] The first light-controlling pattern CCP-R may further include a scatterer. The first light-controlling pattern CCP-R may include first quantum dots that convert blue light into red light and a scatterer that scatters light.

[0099] The scatterer may be an inorganic particle. For example, the scatterer may include at least one of TiO2, ZnO, Al2O3, SiO2, hollow silica, and a mixture thereof.

[0100] The first light-control pattern CCP-R may include a matrix resin that disperses the first quantum dots and the scatterers. The matrix resin may be a medium in which the first quantum dots and the scatterers are dispersed, and may be made of a resin composition generally referred to as a binder. For example, the matrix resin may be an acrylic resin, a urethane resin, a silicone resin, an epoxy resin, or the like. The matrix resin may be a transparent resin.

[0101] In an embodiment, the first light-controlling pattern CCP-R may be formed by an inkjet process. A liquid composition may be provided in the bank opening BOH1. The volume of the composition polymerized by a thermal curing process or a photocuring process may be reduced after curing.

[0102] The optical structure layer OSL may include a first barrier layer CAP1 disposed on the surface of the first light-control pattern CCP-R. The first barrier layer CAP1 can be used to prevent the penetration of moisture and / or oxygen (hereinafter referred to as "moisture / oxygen") and improve the optical properties of the optical structure layer OSL by adjusting the refractive index. The first barrier layer CAP1 can be disposed on the upper or lower surface of the first light-control pattern CCP-R to block exposure of the first light-control pattern CCP-R to moisture / oxygen. For example, it can block exposure of the quantum dots included in the first light-control pattern CCP-R to moisture / oxygen. The first barrier layer CAP1 can also protect the first light-control pattern CCP-R from external impact.

[0103] In the disclosed embodiment, the first barrier layer CAP1 may be spaced apart from the display element layer DP-LED, and the first light control pattern CCP-R may be placed between the first barrier layer CAP1 and the display element layer DP-LED. For example, the first barrier layer CAP1 may be disposed on the upper surface of the first light control pattern CCP-R. In the disclosed embodiment, the second barrier layer CAP2 may be disposed between the first light control pattern CCP-R and the display element layer DP-LED. The first barrier layer CAP1 may cover the upper surface of the first light control pattern CCP-R adjacent to the filling layer FML, and the second barrier layer CAP2 may cover the lower surface of the first light control pattern CCP-R adjacent to the display element layer DP-LED. In this specification, the "upper surface" may be the surface located at the top based on the third direction DR3, and the "lower surface" may be the surface located at the bottom based on the third direction DR3.

[0104] In embodiments, the first and second barrier layers CAP1 and CAP2 may each cover surfaces of the bank BMP and the first light-controlling pattern CCP-R.

[0105] The first barrier layer CAP1 may cover the bank BMP and the surface of the first light-control pattern CCP-R adjacent to the filling layer FML. The first barrier layer CAP1 may be disposed below the filling layer FML (e.g., directly below the filling layer FML). The second barrier layer CAP2 may be disposed on the thin-film encapsulation layer TFE (e.g., directly on the thin-film encapsulation layer TFE). The light-control layer CCL may be disposed on the thin-film encapsulation layer TFE in the display element layer DP-LED, with the second barrier layer CAP2 interposed between the light-control layer CCL and the thin-film encapsulation layer TFE. The light-control patterns CCP-R, CCP-G, and CCP-B of the light-control layer CCL may be formed in a continuous process on the second barrier layer CAP2 disposed on the thin-film encapsulation layer TFE.

[0106] The first barrier layer CAP1 and the second barrier layer CAP2 may include an inorganic material. In the display panel DP according to the disclosed embodiment, the first barrier layer CAP1 may include silicon oxynitride (SiON). Both the first barrier layer CAP1 and the second barrier layer CAP2 may include silicon oxynitride. However, not limited thereto, each of the first barrier layer CAP1 and the second barrier layer CAP2 may include silicon oxide (SiO x ) or silicon nitride (SiN x In the disclosed embodiment, the first barrier layer CAP1 disposed on the first light-controlling pattern CCP-R may include silicon oxynitride, and the second barrier layer CAP2 disposed under the first light-controlling pattern CCP-R may include silicon oxide.

[0107] A color filter layer (CFL) may be disposed on the light control layer (CCL). The color filter layer (CFL) may include at least one color filter. The color filter may transmit light within a specific wavelength range and block light outside of the wavelength range. The first color filter CF1 corresponding to the first pixel region (PXA-R) may transmit red light and block green and blue light.

[0108] The first color filter CF1 may include a base resin and a dye and / or pigment dispersed in the base resin. The base resin may be a medium in which the dye and / or pigment is dispersed, and may be made of a resin composition that may generally be referred to as a binder.

[0109] The first color filter CF1 may have a uniform thickness in the first pixel region PXA-R. Light converted from blue light as source light to red light by the first light-controlling pattern CCP-R may be provided to the outside with uniform brightness in the first pixel region PXA-R.

[0110] The optical structure layer OSL may further include a filling layer FML disposed between the light control layer CCL and the color filter layer CFL. In the disclosed embodiment, the filling layer FML may fill the space between the light control layer CCL and the color filter layer CFL. The filling layer FML may be disposed on the first barrier layer CAP1 (e.g., directly on the first barrier layer CAP1), and the color filter layer CFL may be disposed on the filling layer FML (e.g., directly on the filling layer FML). The lower surface of the filling layer FML may contact the upper surface of the first barrier layer CAP1, and the upper surface of the filling layer FML may contact the lower surfaces of the color filters CF1, CF2, and CF3 of the color filter layer CFL.

[0111] The filling layer FML can serve as a buffer between the light control layer CCL and the color filter layer CFL. In the disclosed embodiments, the filling layer FML can function as a shock absorber and increase the strength of the display panel DP. The filling layer FML can be formed of a filling resin including a polymer resin. For example, the filling layer FML can be formed of a filling resin including an acrylic resin, an epoxy resin, or the like.

[0112] By being disposed between the light control layer CCL and the color filter layer CFL, the filling layer FML may also serve as an optical functional layer to improve light extraction efficiency or prevent reflected light from entering the light control layer CCL. The filling layer FML may have a lower refractive index than adjacent layers.

[0113] In the disclosed embodiment, the display panel DP may further include a base layer BL disposed on the color filter layer CFL. The base layer BL may be a member that provides a reference surface on which the color filter layer CFL, the filler layer FML, and the light control layer CCL are disposed. The base layer BL may be a glass substrate, a metal substrate, or a plastic substrate. However, the disclosure is not limited thereto, and the base layer BL may be an inorganic layer, an organic layer, or a composite material layer. Unlike the illustrated embodiment, in another disclosed embodiment, the base layer BL may be omitted.

[0114] Although not shown, an anti-reflection layer may be provided on the base layer BL. The anti-reflection layer may reduce the reflectivity of external light incident from the outside. The anti-reflection layer may selectively transmit light emitted from the display panel DP. In the disclosed embodiment, the anti-reflection layer may be a single layer including a dye and / or pigment dispersed in a base resin. The anti-reflection layer may be provided so as to overlap the entire first to third pixel regions PXA-R, PXA-G, and PXA-B (see FIG. 1 ) in a plan view. Figure 4A ) is a continuous layer that is completely superimposed.

[0115] The anti-reflection layer may not include a polarizing layer. Therefore, the light guided toward the display element layer DP-LED through the anti-reflection layer may not be polarized. The display element layer DP-LED may receive unpolarized light from above the anti-reflection layer.

[0116] Reference Figure 4A The display panel DP may include a base substrate BS and a circuit element layer DP-CL disposed on the base substrate BS. The circuit element layer DP-CL may be disposed on the base substrate BS. The circuit element layer DP-CL may include an insulating layer, a semiconductor pattern, a conductive pattern, and signal lines. The insulating layer, the semiconductor layer, and the conductive layer may be formed on the base substrate BS by coating, deposition, or the like, and may be selectively patterned through multiple photolithography processes. Thus, the semiconductor pattern, the conductive pattern, and the signal lines included in the circuit element layer DP-CL may be formed. In the disclosed embodiments, the circuit element layer DP-CL may include transistors, a buffer layer, and multiple insulating layers.

[0117] The light-emitting element LED according to the disclosed embodiments may include a first electrode EL1, a second electrode EL2 configured to face the first electrode EL1, and a light-emitting layer EML disposed between the first electrode EL1 and the second electrode EL2. The light-emitting layer EML included in the light-emitting element LED may include an organic light-emitting material or quantum dots as the light-emitting material. The light-emitting element LED may also include a hole control layer HTR and an electron control layer ETR. Although not shown, the light-emitting element LED may also include a cover layer (not shown) disposed on the second electrode EL2.

[0118] A pixel-defining layer (PDL) may be disposed on the circuit element layer DP-CL and cover a portion of the first electrode EL1. A light-emitting opening OH may be defined in the pixel-defining layer (PDL). The light-emitting opening OH of the pixel-defining layer (PDL) may expose at least a portion of the first electrode EL1. In an embodiment, the light-emitting areas EA1, EA2, and EA3 may correspond to the portions of the first electrode EL1 exposed by the light-emitting opening OH.

[0119] The display element layer DP-LED may include a first light-emitting area EA1, a second light-emitting area EA2, and a third light-emitting area EA3. The first light-emitting area EA1, the second light-emitting area EA2, and the third light-emitting area EA3 may be divided by a pixel-defining layer PDL. The first light-emitting area EA1, the second light-emitting area EA2, and the third light-emitting area EA3 may correspond to the first pixel area PXA-R, the second pixel area PXA-G, and the third pixel area PXA-B, respectively.

[0120] The light emitting regions EA1, EA2, and EA3 may overlap the pixel regions PXA-R, PXA-G, and PXA-B in a plan view. In a plan view, the areas of the pixel regions PXA-R, PXA-G, and PXA-B divided by the color filters CF1, CF2, and CF3 may be substantially the same as the areas of the light emitting regions EA1, EA2, and EA3.

[0121] In the light emitting element LED, the first electrode EL1 may be disposed on the circuit element layer DP-CL. The first electrode EL1 may be an anode or a cathode. In another embodiment, the first electrode EL1 may be a pixel electrode. The first electrode EL1 may be a transmissive electrode, a semi-transmissive electrode, or a reflective electrode.

[0122] The hole control layer HTR may be disposed between the first electrode EL1 and the light-emitting layer EML. The hole control layer HTR may include at least one of a hole injection layer, a hole transport layer, and an electron blocking layer. The hole control layer HTR may be provided as a common layer to overlap with the light-emitting areas EA1, EA2, and EA3 and the entire pixel-defining layer PDL separating the light-emitting areas EA1, EA2, and EA3 in a plan view. However, the disclosure is not limited thereto, and the hole control layer HTR may be patterned and provided to be individually disposed corresponding to each of the light-emitting areas EA1, EA2, and EA3.

[0123] The light-emitting layer (EML) may be disposed on the hole control layer (HTR). In the disclosed embodiment, the light-emitting layer (EML) may be disposed as a common layer so as to overlap, in plan view, the light-emitting areas (EA1, EA2, and EA3) and the entire pixel-defining layer (PDL) separating the light-emitting areas (EA1, EA2, and EA3). In the disclosed embodiment, the light-emitting layer (EML) may emit blue light. The light-emitting layer (EML) may entirely overlap, in plan view, the hole control layer (HTR) and the electron control layer (ETR).

[0124] However, the disclosure is not limited thereto. In another disclosed embodiment, the light-emitting layer EML may be disposed in the light-emitting opening OH. For example, the light-emitting layer EML may be formed separately to correspond to the light-emitting areas EA1, EA2, and EA3 defined by the pixel-defining layer PDL. The light-emitting layers EML formed separately to correspond to the light-emitting areas EA1, EA2, and EA3 may all emit blue light or may emit light of different wavelength ranges.

[0125] The light-emitting layer (EML) may have a single-layer structure composed of a single material, a single-layer structure composed of different materials, or a multilayer structure having multiple layers composed of different materials. The light-emitting layer (EML) may include a fluorescent material or a phosphorescent material. In the light-emitting element LED according to the disclosed embodiments, the light-emitting layer (EML) may include a light-emitting material (such as an organic light-emitting material, a metal-organic complex, or quantum dots). Figure 3 and Figure 4A A light emitting element LED including one light emitting layer EML according to an embodiment is schematically shown, but the disclosure is not limited thereto, and in another embodiment of the disclosure, the light emitting element LED may include a plurality of light emitting stacks each including at least one light emitting layer EML.

[0126] Figure 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a light emitting element according to an embodiment of the disclosure. Figure 3 and Figure 4A The light emitting elements shown in Figure 5 A light emitting element LED including a plurality of light emitting stacks ST1 , ST2 , ST3 , and ST4 according to the embodiment is schematically illustrated.

[0127] Reference Figure 5 The light emitting element LED according to the disclosed embodiment may include a first electrode EL1, a second electrode EL2 configured to face the first electrode EL1, and first to fourth light emitting stacks ST1, ST2, ST3, and ST4 disposed between the first and second electrodes EL1 and EL2. Figure 5 It is schematically shown that the light emitting element LED according to the embodiment includes four light emitting stacks, but the disclosure is not limited thereto, and the number of light emitting stacks included in the light emitting element LED may be less than or greater than four.

[0128] The light emitting element LED may include first to third charge generation layers CGL1 , CGL2 , and CGL3 disposed between adjacent ones of the first to fourth light emitting stacks ST1 , ST2 , ST3 , and ST4 .

[0129] When a voltage is applied, each of the first to third charge generation layers CGL1, CGL2, and CGL3 can generate charges (electrons and holes) by forming a complex through an oxidation-reduction reaction. The first to third charge generation layers CGL1, CGL2, and CGL3 can provide the generated charges to the stacks ST1, ST2, ST3, and ST4 adjacent to the charge generation layers CGL1, CGL2, or CGL3, respectively. The first to third charge generation layers CGL1, CGL2, and CGL3 can double the efficiency of the current generated in the stacks ST1, ST2, ST3, and ST4 adjacent to the charge generation layers CGL1, CGL2, or CGL3, and play a role in controlling the charge balance between the stacks ST1, ST2, ST3, and ST4 adjacent to the charge generation layers CGL1, CGL2, or CGL3.

[0130] Each of the first to third charge generation layers CGL1, CGL2, and CGL3 may include an n-type layer and a p-type layer. The first to third charge generation layers CGL1, CGL2, and CGL3 may each have a structure in which the n-type layer and the p-type layer are bonded to each other. However, without limitation thereto, the first to third charge generation layers CGL1, CGL2, and CGL3 may include only one of the n-type layer and the p-type layer. The n-type layer may be a charge generation layer that provides electrons to an adjacent stack. The n-type layer may be a layer in which an n-dopant is doped in a matrix material. The p-type layer may be a charge generation layer that provides holes to an adjacent stack. The p-type layer may be a layer in which a p-dopant is doped in a matrix material.

[0131] In the disclosed embodiment, the thickness of each of the first to third charge generation layers CGL1, CGL2, and CGL3 may be in the range of about 1 angstrom (Å) to about 150 angstroms (Å). The concentration of the n-dopant doped in the first to third charge generation layers CGL1, CGL2, and CGL3 may be in the range of about 0.1% to about 3%. For example, the concentration of the n-dopant doped in the first to third charge generation layers CGL1, CGL2, and CGL3 may be in the range of about 0.1% to about 1%. In the case where the concentration is less than about 0.1%, the effect of the first to third charge generation layers CGL1, CGL2, and CGL3 in controlling charge balance may be difficult to occur. In the case where the concentration is greater than about 3%, the light efficiency of the light-emitting element LED may be reduced.

[0132] Each of the first to third charge generation layers CGL1, CGL2, and CGL3 may include a charge generation compound composed of an arylamine-based organic compound, a metal, a metal oxide, a metal carbide, a metal fluoride, or a mixture thereof. For example, the arylamine-based organic compound may include α-NPD, 2-TNATA, TDATA, MTDATA, spiro-TAD, or spiro-NPB. The metal may include cesium (Cs), molybdenum (Mo), vanadium (V), titanium (Ti), tungsten (W), barium (Ba), or lithium (Li). The metal oxide, metal carbide, and metal fluoride may include Re2O7, MoO3, V2O5, WO3, TiO2, Cs2CO3, BaF2, LiF, or CsF. However, the materials of the first to third charge generation layers CGL1, CGL2, and CGL3 are not limited to the above examples.

[0133] Each of the first to fourth light-emitting stacks ST1, ST2, ST3, and ST4 may include a light-emitting layer. The first light-emitting stack ST1 may include a first light-emitting layer BEML1, the second light-emitting stack ST2 may include a second light-emitting layer BEML2, the third light-emitting stack ST3 may include a third light-emitting layer BEML3, and the fourth light-emitting stack ST4 may include a fourth light-emitting layer GEML. Some of the light-emitting layers included in the first to fourth light-emitting stacks ST1, ST2, ST3, and ST4 may emit light of substantially the same color, and some of the light-emitting layers included in the first to fourth light-emitting stacks ST1, ST2, ST3, and ST4 may emit light of different colors.

[0134] In the disclosed embodiments, the first to third light-emitting layers (hereinafter, also referred to as "blue light-emitting layers") BEML1, BEML2, and BEML3 of the first to third light-emitting stacks ST1, ST2, and ST3 can emit substantially the same first color light. For example, the first color light can be blue light, which is the aforementioned source light. The wavelength of light emitted from the first to third light-emitting layers BEML1, BEML2, and BEML3 can range from approximately 420 nm to approximately 480 nm.

[0135] The fourth light-emitting layer (hereinafter, also referred to as a "green light-emitting layer") GEML of the fourth light-emitting stack ST4 may emit a second color light different from the first color light. For example, the second color light may be green light. The wavelength of light emitted from the fourth light-emitting layer GEML may be in the range of approximately 520 nm to approximately 600 nm.

[0136] The light-emitting element LED can emit light in a direction from the first electrode EL1 to the second electrode EL2. In the light-emitting element LED according to the disclosed embodiment, the stacks ST1, ST2, ST3, and ST4 can include hole transport regions HTR1, HTR2, HTR3, and HTR4, and electron transport regions ETR1, ETR2, ETR3, and ETR4, respectively. The hole transport regions HTR1, HTR2, HTR3, and HTR4 can transport holes provided from the first electrode EL1 or the charge generation layers CGL1, CGL2, and CGL3 to the light-emitting layer. The electron transport regions ETR1, ETR2, ETR3, and ETR4 can transport electrons provided from the second electrode EL2 or the charge generation layers CGL1, CGL2, and CGL3 to the light-emitting layer.

[0137] Schematically illustrating a light-emitting element LED according to an embodiment of the disclosure, based on the direction in which light is emitted, has a structure in which hole transport regions HTR1, HTR2, HTR3, and HTR4 are disposed below the light-emitting layers BEML1, BEML2, BEML3, and GEML included in the stacks ST1, ST2, ST3, and ST4, and electron transport regions ETR1, ETR2, ETR3, and ETR4 are disposed on the light-emitting layers BEML1, BEML2, BEML3, and GEML included in the stacks ST1, ST2, ST3, and ST4. For example, the light-emitting element LED according to an embodiment of the disclosure may have a forward element structure. However, not limited thereto, based on the direction along which light is emitted, the light emitting element LED according to the disclosed embodiment may have an inverted element structure in which electron transport regions ETR1, ETR2, ETR3, and ETR4 are disposed below the light emitting layers BEML1, BEML2, BEML3, and GEML included in the stacks ST1, ST2, ST3, and ST4, and hole transport regions HTR1, HTR2, HTR3, and HTR4 are disposed on the light emitting layers BEML1, BEML2, BEML3, and GEML included in the stacks ST1, ST2, ST3, and ST4.

[0138] The hole transport regions HTR1, HTR2, HTR3, and HTR4 may include hole injection layers HIL1, HIL2, HIL3, and HIL4, respectively, and hole transport layers HTL1, HTL2, HTL3, and HTL4 disposed on the hole injection layers HIL1, HIL2, HIL3, and HIL4. The hole transport layers HTL1, HTL2, HTL3, and HTL4 may be in contact with the lower surface of the light-emitting layer. However, without limitation thereto, the hole transport regions HTR1, HTR2, HTR3, and HTR4 may further include a hole-side additional layer disposed on the hole transport layers HTL1, HTL2, HTL3, and HTL4. The hole-side additional layer may include at least one of a hole buffer layer, a light-emitting auxiliary layer, and an electron blocking layer. The hole buffer layer may increase luminous efficiency by compensating for the resonance distance according to the wavelength of light emitted from the light-emitting layer. The electron blocking layer may be used to prevent electrons from being injected from the electron transport region into the hole transport region.

[0139] The electron transport regions ETR1, ETR2, ETR3, and ETR4 may include an electron transport layer. The electron transport regions ETR1, ETR2, ETR3, and ETR4 may further include an electron injection layer disposed on the electron transport layer. For example, the fourth electron transport region ETR4 included in the fourth light-emitting stack ST4 may further include a fourth electron injection layer EIL4 disposed on the fourth electron transport layer ETL4. The electron transport regions ETR1, ETR2, ETR3, and ETR4 may further include an electron-side additional layer disposed between the electron transport layer and the light-emitting layer. The electron-side additional layer may include at least one of an electron buffer layer and a hole blocking layer.

[0140] In the light-emitting element LED according to the disclosed embodiments, the first electrode EL1 can be a reflective electrode. For example, the first electrode EL1 can include highly reflective materials such as Ag, Mg, Cu, Al, Pt, Pd, Au, Ni, Nd, Ir, Cr, Li, Ca, LiF, Mo, Ti, W, In, Zn, Sn, compounds or mixtures thereof (e.g., mixtures of Ag and Mg), or a multilayer structure such as LiF / Ca or LiF / Al. In another embodiment, the first electrode EL1 can have a multilayer structure including a reflective film formed from the above materials and a transparent conductive film formed from at least one of indium tin oxide (ITO), indium zinc oxide (IZO), zinc oxide (ZnO), indium tin zinc oxide (ITZO), and the like. For example, the first electrode EL1 can have a two-layer structure of ITO / Ag or a three-layer structure of ITO / Ag / ITO, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. In another embodiment, the first electrode EL1 can include the above metal materials, a combination of two or more metal materials selected from the above metal materials, oxides of the above metal materials, and the like. The thickness of the first electrode EL1 may be in the range of about 70 nm to about 1000 nm. For example, the thickness of the first electrode EL1 may be in the range of about 100 nm to about 300 nm.

[0141] In the light emitting element LED according to the disclosed embodiment, each of the hole transport regions HTR1, HTR2, HTR3, and HTR4 may have a single layer structure made of a single material, a single layer structure made of different materials, or a multilayer structure having a plurality of layers made of different materials.

[0142] Each of the hole transport regions HTR1 , HTR2 , HTR3 , and HTR4 may be formed using methods such as vacuum deposition, spin coating, casting, Langmuir-Blodgett (LB), inkjet printing, laser printing, and laser induced thermal imaging (LITI).

[0143] Each of the hole transport regions HTR1, HTR2, HTR3, and HTR4 may include a phthalocyanine compound such as copper phthalocyanine, DNTPD (N1,N1′-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4,4′-diyl)bis(N1-phenyl-N4,N4-di-m-tolylbenzene-1,4-diamine)), m-MTDATA (4,4′,4′′-[tris(3-methylphenyl)phenylamino]triphenylamine), TDATA (4,4′,4′′-tris(N,N-diphenylamino)triphenylamine), 2-TNATA (4,4′,4′′-tris[N-(2-naphthyl)-N-phenylamino]triphenylamine), PEDOT / P SS (poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) / poly(4-styrenesulfonate)), PANI / DBSA (polyaniline / dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid), PANI / CSA (polyaniline / camphorsulfonic acid), PANI / PSS (polyaniline / poly(4-styrenesulfonate)), NPB (N,N'-di(naphthalene-1-yl)-N,N'-diphenyl-benzidine), triphenylamine-containing polyetherketone (TPAPEK), 4-isopropyl-4'-methyldiphenyliodonium [tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate], HAT-CN (dipyrazino[2,3-f:2',3'-h]quinoxaline-2,3,6,7,10,11-hexacarbonitrile), etc.

[0144] Each of the hole transport regions HTR1, HTR2, HTR3 and HTR4 may include a carbazole derivative (such as N-phenylcarbazole or polyvinylcarbazole), a fluorene derivative, TPD (N,N'-bis(3-methylphenyl)-N,N'-diphenyl-[1,1'-biphenyl]-4,4'-diamine), a triphenylamine derivative (such as TCTA (4,4',4''-tris(N-carbazolyl)triphenylamine)), NPB (N,N'-di(naphthalene-1-yl)-N,N'-diphenyl-benzidine), TAPC (4,4'-cyclohexylene-bis[N,N-bis(4-methylphenyl)aniline]), HMTPD (4,4'-bis[N,N'-(3-methylphenyl)amino]-3,3'-dimethylbiphenyl), mCP (1,3-bis(N-carbazolyl)benzene), and the like.

[0145] In another embodiment, each of the hole transport regions HTR1, HTR2, HTR3, and HTR4 may include CzSi (9-(4-tert-butylphenyl)-3,6-bis(triphenylsilyl)-9H-carbazole), CCP (9-phenyl-9H-3,9′-dicarbazole), mDCP (1,3-bis(1,8-dimethyl-9H-carbazol-9-yl)benzene), or the like.

[0146] In the hole transport regions HTR1, HTR2, HTR3 and HTR4, the compound of the hole transport region may be included in at least one of the hole injection layers HIL1, HIL2, HIL3 and HIL4, the hole transport layers HTL1, HTL2, HTL3 and HTL4 and the hole side additional layer.

[0147] The thickness of each of the hole transport regions HTR1, HTR2, HTR3, and HTR4 can be in the range of approximately 10 nm to approximately 1000 nm. For example, the thickness of each of the hole transport regions HTR1, HTR2, HTR3, and HTR4 can be in the range of approximately 10 nm to approximately 500 nm. The thickness of each of the hole injection layers HIL1, HIL2, HIL3, and HIL4 can be, for example, in the range of approximately 5 nm to approximately 100 nm. The thickness of each of the hole transport layers HTL1, HTL2, HTL3, and HTL4 can be in the range of approximately 5 nm to approximately 100 nm. If the hole transport regions HTR1, HTR2, HTR3, and HTR4 include a hole-side additional layer, the thickness of the hole-side additional layer can be in the range of approximately 1 nm to approximately 100 nm. If the thickness of the hole transport regions HTR1, HTR2, HTR3, and HTR4 and the thickness of each layer included therein meet the above ranges, satisfactory hole transport characteristics can be achieved without significantly increasing the driving voltage.

[0148] In addition to the materials mentioned above, each of the hole transport regions HTR1, HTR2, HTR3, and HTR4 may further include a charge generating material to improve conductivity. The charge generating material may be uniformly or non-uniformly dispersed in the hole transport regions HTR1, HTR2, HTR3, and HTR4. The charge generating material may be, for example, a p-dopant. The p-dopant may include at least one of a metal halide compound, a quinone derivative, a metal oxide, and a cyano group-containing compound, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, the p-dopant may include a metal halide compound (such as CuI and RbI), a quinone derivative (such as TCNQ (tetracyanoquinodimethane) and F4-TCNQ (2,3,5,6-tetrafluoro-7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethane)), a metal oxide (such as tungsten oxide and molybdenum oxide), etc., but the disclosure is not limited thereto.

[0149] Each of the blue light-emitting layers BEML1, BEML2, and BEML3 and the green light-emitting layer GEML may include a host material and a dopant material. Each of the blue light-emitting layers BEML1, BEML2, and BEML3 and the green light-emitting layer GEML may include a material containing a carbazole derivative or an amine derivative as a hole-transporting host material. Each of the blue light-emitting layers BEML1, BEML2, and BEML3 and the green light-emitting layer GEML may include a material containing a nitrogen-containing aromatic ring structure (such as a pyridine derivative, pyridazine derivative, pyrimidine derivative, pyrazine derivative, or triazine derivative) as an electron-transporting host material.

[0150] Each of the blue light-emitting layers BEML1, BEML2, and BEML3 and the green light-emitting layer GEML may include an anthracene derivative, a pyrene derivative, a fluoranthene derivative, a chrysene derivative, a dihydrobenzanthracene derivative, or a benzo[9,10]phenanthrene derivative as a host material. In an embodiment, each of the blue light-emitting layers BEML1, BEML2, and BEML3 and the green light-emitting layer GEML may also include a general host material. For example, each of the blue light-emitting layers BEML1, BEML2 and BEML3 and the green light-emitting layer GEML may include at least one of DPEPO (bis[2-(diphenylphosphino)phenyl]ether oxide), CBP (4,4'-bis(carbazol-9-yl)biphenyl), mCP (1,3-bis(carbazol-9-yl)benzene), PPF (2,8-bis(diphenylphosphino)dibenzo[b,d]furan), TCTA (4,4',4''-tris(carbazol-9-yl)triphenylamine) and TPBi (1,3,5-tris(1-phenyl-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl)benzene) as a host material. However, the disclosure is not limited thereto, and for example, Alq3 (tris(8-hydroxyquinoline)aluminum), PVK (poly(N-vinylcarbazole)), ADN (9,10-di(naphthalene-2-yl)anthracene), TBADN (2-tert-butyl-9,10-di(naphthalene-2-yl)anthracene), DSA (distyrylarylide), CDBP (4,4'-bis(9-carbazolyl)-2,2'-dimethyl-biphenyl), MADN (2-methyl-9,10-bis(naphthalene-2-yl)anthracene), CP1 (hexaphenylcyclotriphosphazene), UGH2 (1,4-bis(triphenylsilyl)benzene), DPSiO3 (hexaphenylcyclotrisiloxane), DPSiO4 (octaphenylcyclotetrasiloxane), etc. can be used as the host material.

[0151] In the disclosed embodiment, the blue light-emitting layers BEML1, BEML2, and BEML3 may include styryl derivatives (e.g., 1,4-bis[2-(3-N-ethylcarbazolyl)vinyl]benzene (BCzVB), 4-(di-p-tolylamino)-4'-[(di-p-tolylamino)styryl]stilbene (DPAVB), N-(4-((E)-2-(6-((E)-4-(diphenylamino)styryl)naphthalene-2 -yl)vinyl)phenyl)-N-phenylaniline (N-BDAVBi)), 4,4'-bis[2-(4-(N,N-diphenylamino)phenyl)vinyl]biphenyl (DPAVBi), perylene and its derivatives (for example, 2,5,8,11-tetra-tert-butylperylene (TBP)), pyrene and its derivatives (for example, 1,1'-dipyrene, 1,4-dipyrenylbenzene, 1,4-bis(N,N-diphenylamino)pyrene), etc. are used as fluorescent dopant materials.

[0152] The green light-emitting layer (GEML) can include a phosphorescent dopant material. For example, metal complexes containing iridium (Ir), platinum (Pt), osmium (Os), gold (Au), titanium (Ti), zirconium (Zr), hafnium (Hf), europium (Eu), terbium (Tb), or thulium (Tm) can be used as phosphorescent dopants. Specifically, FIrpic (bis(4,6-difluorophenylpyridinium-N,C2') picolinyliridium(III)), FIr6 (bis(2,4-difluorophenylpyridinium)-tetrakis(1-pyrazolyl)borateiridium(III)), or PtOEP (platinum octaethylporphyrin) can be used as phosphorescent dopants.

[0153] Each of the electron transport regions ETR1, ETR2, ETR3, and ETR4 may have a single-layer structure made of a single material, a single-layer structure made of different materials, or a multi-layer structure having a plurality of layers made of different materials. For example, at least some of the electron transport regions ETR1, ETR2, ETR3, and ETR4 may include a fourth electron transport layer ETL4 and a fourth electron injection layer EIL4.

[0154] Each of the electron transport regions ETR1 , ETR2 , ETR3 , and ETR4 may be formed using methods such as vacuum deposition, spin coating, casting, Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) method, inkjet printing, laser printing, and laser induced thermal imaging (LITI).

[0155] The electron transport regions ETR1, ETR2, ETR3, and ETR4 may include an anthracene compound. However, without limitation thereto, each of the electron transport regions ETR1, ETR2, ETR3, and ETR4 may include, for example, Alq3 (tris(8-hydroxyquinoline)aluminum), 1,3,5-tris[(3-pyridyl)-phenyl-3-yl]benzene, T2T (2,4,6-tris(3'-(pyridin-3-yl)biphenyl-3-yl)-1,3,5-triazine), 2-(4-(N-phenylbenzimidazol-1-yl)phenyl)-9,10-dinaphthylanthracene, TP Bi (1,3,5-tris(1-phenyl-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl)benzene), BCP (2,9-dimethyl-4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline), Bphen (4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline), TAZ (3-(4-biphenyl)-4-phenyl-5-tert-butylphenyl-1,2,4-triazole), NTAZ (4-(naphthalen-1-yl)-3,5-diphenyl-4H-1,2,4-triazole), t Bu-PBD (2-(4-biphenyl)-5-(4-tert-butylphenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole), BAlq (bis(2-methyl-8-hydroxyquinolinolato-N1,O8)-(1,1'-biphenyl-4-hydroxy)aluminum), Bebq2 (bis(benzoquinolinolato-10-hydroxy)beryllium), ADN (9,10-di(naphthalene-2-yl)anthracene), BmPyPhB (1,3-bis[3,5-di(pyridin-3-yl)phenyl]benzene), or a mixture thereof.

[0156] In an embodiment, each of the electron transport regions ETR1, ETR2, ETR3, and ETR4 may include a metal halide (such as LiF, NaCl, CsF, RbCl, RbI, CuI, and KI), a lanthanide metal (such as Yb), or a co-deposited material of a metal halide and a lanthanide metal. For example, the electron transport regions ETR1, ETR2, ETR3, and ETR4 may include KI:Yb, RbI:Yb, or the like as a co-deposited material. The electron transport regions ETR1, ETR2, ETR3, and ETR4 may include at least one of Mg, Ag, Yb, and Al. For example, the electron transport regions ETR1, ETR2, ETR3, and ETR4 may include Mg and Yb.

[0157] In an embodiment, electron transport regions ETR1, ETR2, ETR3, and ETR4 may include metal oxides (such as Li2O and BaO), Liq (lithium 8-hydroxyquinoline), etc., but the disclosure is not limited thereto. Each of electron transport regions ETR1, ETR2, ETR3, and ETR4 may further include an electron transport material and an insulating organic metal salt. The organic metal salt may be a material having an energy band gap greater than or equal to about 4 eV. For example, the organic metal salt may include a metal acetate, a metal benzoate, a metal acetoacetate, a metal acetylacetonate, or a metal stearate.

[0158] Each of the electron transport regions ETR1, ETR2, ETR3, and ETR4 may further include at least one of BCP (2,9-dimethyl-4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline) and Bphen (4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline) in addition to the above materials, but the disclosure is not limited thereto.

[0159] Electron transport regions ETR1, ETR2, ETR3, and ETR4 may include the aforementioned electron transport region compounds in the electron injection layer or electron transport layer. If electron transport regions ETR1, ETR2, ETR3, and ETR4 include an electron-side additional layer, the electron-side additional layer may include at least one of the aforementioned materials. In the disclosed embodiment, the fourth electron injection layer EIL4 may include at least one of Mg, Ag, Yb, and Al. For example, the fourth electron injection layer EIL4 may include a mixture of Mg and Yb.

[0160] The thickness of each of the electron transport regions ETR1, ETR2, ETR3, and ETR4 may be, for example, in the range of about 10 nm to about 150 nm. The thickness of the electron transport layer may be in the range of about 0.1 nm to about 100 nm. For example, the thickness of the electron transport layer may be in the range of about 0.3 nm to about 50 nm. When the thickness of the electron transport layer satisfies the above range, satisfactory electron transport characteristics may be obtained without significantly increasing the driving voltage.

[0161] The second electrode EL2 may be disposed on the light emitting stack members ST1, ST2, ST3, and ST4. The second electrode EL2 may be a common electrode. The second electrode EL2 may be a cathode or an anode, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, if the first electrode EL1 is an anode, the second electrode EL2 may be a cathode, and if the first electrode EL1 is a cathode, the second electrode EL2 may be an anode.

[0162] The second electrode EL2 may be a semi-transmissive electrode or a transmissive electrode. In the case where the second electrode EL2 is a transmissive electrode, the second electrode EL2 may include a transparent metal oxide such as indium tin oxide (ITO), indium zinc oxide (IZO), zinc oxide (ZnO), and indium tin zinc oxide (ITZO).

[0163] When the second electrode EL2 is a semi-transmissive electrode or a reflective electrode, the second electrode EL2 may include Ag, Mg, Cu, Al, Pt, Pd, Au, Ni, Nd, Ir, Cr, Li, Ca, LiF, Mo, Ti, Yb, W, In, Zn, Sn, compounds or mixtures thereof (e.g., AgMg, AgYb, or MgAg), or a material having a multilayer structure such as LiF / Ca or LiF / Al. In another embodiment, the second electrode EL2 may have a multilayer structure including a reflective or semi-transmissive film formed of the above materials and a transparent conductive film formed of indium tin oxide (ITO), indium zinc oxide (IZO), zinc oxide (ZnO), indium tin zinc oxide (ITZO), or the like. For example, the second electrode EL2 may include the aforementioned metal materials, a combination of two or more metal materials selected from the aforementioned metal materials, oxides of the aforementioned metal materials, or the like.

[0164] Although not shown, the second electrode EL2 may be connected to the auxiliary electrode. In the case where the second electrode EL2 is connected to the auxiliary electrode, the resistance of the second electrode EL2 may be reduced.

[0165] In an embodiment, a cover layer CPL may be provided on the second electrode EL2 of the light emitting element LED according to the disclosed embodiment. The cover layer CPL may include a plurality of layers or a single layer.

[0166] In the disclosed embodiments, the cover layer CPL may be an organic layer or an inorganic layer. For example, in the case where the cover layer CPL includes an inorganic material, the inorganic material may include an alkali metal compound (such as LiF), an alkaline earth metal compound (such as MgF2), SiON, SiN X 、SiO y wait.

[0167] For example, in the case where the cover layer CPL includes an organic material, the organic material may include α-NPD, NPB, TPD, m-MTDATA, Alq3, CuPc, TPD15 (N4,N4,N4',N4'-tetrakis(biphenyl-4-yl)biphenyl-4,4'-diamine), TCTA (4,4',4"-tris(carbazol-9-yl)triphenylamine), etc., or include an epoxy resin or an acrylate (such as methacrylate).

[0168] In an embodiment, the refractive index of the cover layer CPL may be greater than or equal to about 1.6. For example, with respect to light in a wavelength range of about 550 nm to about 660 nm, the refractive index of the cover layer CPL may be greater than or equal to about 1.6.

[0169] Refer again Figure 4A In the light emitting element LED according to the disclosed embodiment, the electron control layer ETR may be provided between the light emitting layer EML and the second electrode EL2. The electron control layer ETR may include at least one of an electron injection layer, an electron transport layer, and a hole blocking layer. Figure 4A , the electron control layer ETR may be provided as a common layer to entirely overlap with the light-emitting areas EA1, EA2, and EA3 and the pixel definition layer PDL separating the light-emitting areas EA1, EA2, and EA3 in a plan view. However, the disclosure is not limited thereto, and in another embodiment, the electron control layer ETR may be patterned and provided to individually correspond to each of the light-emitting areas EA1, EA2, and EA3.

[0170] The second electrode EL2 may be disposed on the electron control layer ETR. The second electrode EL2 may be a common electrode. The second electrode EL2 may be a cathode or an anode, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, if the first electrode EL1 is an anode, the second electrode EL2 may be a cathode, and if the first electrode EL1 is a cathode, the second electrode EL2 may be an anode. The second electrode EL2 may be a transmissive electrode, a semi-transmissive electrode, or a reflective electrode.

[0171] A thin-film encapsulation layer (TFE) may be disposed on the light-emitting element (LED). For example, in the disclosed embodiment, the thin-film encapsulation layer (TFE) may be disposed on the second electrode EL2. If the light-emitting element (LED) includes a cover layer (not shown), the thin-film encapsulation layer (TFE) may be disposed on the cover layer (not shown). As described above, the thin-film encapsulation layer (TFE) may include at least one organic layer and at least one inorganic layer, and the inorganic and organic layers may be disposed alternately.

[0172] The display panel DP according to the disclosed embodiment may include an optical structure layer OSL disposed on the display element layer DP-LED. The optical structure layer OSL may include a light control layer CCL, a color filter layer CFL, and a base layer BL.

[0173] The light control layer CCL may include a light converter. The light converter may be a quantum dot, a phosphor, or the like. The light converter may convert the wavelength of received light and emit the converted light. For example, the light control layer CCL may be a layer at least partially including quantum dots or a phosphor.

[0174] The light control layer CCL may include a plurality of light control patterns CCP-R, CCP-G, and CCP-B. The light control patterns CCP-R, CCP-G, and CCP-B may be spaced apart from each other. The light control patterns CCP-R, CCP-G, and CCP-B may be spaced apart from each other by a dam BMP. The light control patterns CCP-R, CCP-G, and CCP-B may be disposed in dam openings BOH1, BOH2, and BOH3 defined in the dam BMP. However, the disclosure is not limited thereto. Figure 4A In the embodiment, the bank BMP is shown as having a rectangular shape in a cross-sectional view and not overlapping the light-control patterns CCP-R, CCP-G, and CCP-B. However, the disclosure is not limited thereto. In another embodiment, the edges of some of the light-control patterns CCP-R, CCP-G, and CCP-B may at least partially overlap the bank BMP. For example, the edge of the third light-control pattern CCP-B may overlap the bank BMP in a plan view. The bank BMP may have a trapezoidal shape in a cross-sectional view. The bank BMP may have a shape in which the cross-sectional width of the bank BMP increases as the bank BMP approaches the display element layer DP-LED.

[0175] The light-controlling patterns CCP-R, CCP-G, and CCP-B may convert the wavelength of light provided from the display element layer DP-LED or transmit the provided light.

[0176] The light-control layer CCL may include a first light-control pattern CCP-R that provides red light as a first light, a second light-control pattern CCP-G that provides green light as a second light, and a third light-control pattern CCP-B that provides blue light as a third light. The light-control layer CCL may include the first light-control pattern CCP-R that converts source light provided by the light-emitting element LED into the first light, the second light-control pattern CCP-G that converts the source light into the second light, and the third light-control pattern CCP-B that transmits the source light. At least some of the light-control patterns CCP-R, CCP-G, and CCP-B may include quantum dots that convert the source light into light of a specific wavelength.

[0177] Some of the light control patterns CCP-R, CCP-G and CCP-B can be formed by an inkjet process. In the disclosed embodiment, the first light control pattern CCP-R and the second light control pattern CCP-G can be formed by an inkjet process. A liquid ink composition can be provided inside each of the first bank opening BOH1 and the second bank opening BOH2, and the provided ink composition can be polymerized by a thermal curing process or a photocuring process to form the first light control pattern CCP-R and the second light control pattern CCP-G. The remaining parts of the light control patterns CCP-R, CCP-G and CCP-B can be formed by a photolithography process. In the disclosed embodiment, the third light control pattern CCP-B can be formed by a photolithography process. After providing a photoresist composition in at least the third bank opening BOH3, the third light control pattern CCP-B can be formed by curing the provided photoresist composition.

[0178] The light control layer CCL may further include a scatterer. The first light control pattern CCP-R may include first quantum dots and a scatterer, the second light control pattern CCP-G may include second quantum dots and a scatterer, and the third light control pattern CCP-B may not include quantum dots but may include a scatterer. Each of the first light control pattern CCP-R, the second light control pattern CCP-G, and the third light control pattern CCP-B may further include a matrix resin that disperses the quantum dots and the scatterer. Since the third light control pattern CCP-B is formed using a photolithography process to be described below, the third light control pattern CCP-B may include a photosensitive resin.

[0179] The optical structure layer OSL may include a first barrier layer CAP1 disposed on one side of the first light-control pattern CCP-R. The optical structure layer OSL may include the first barrier layer CAP1 spaced apart from the display element layer DP-LED and a second barrier layer CAP2 adjacent to the display element layer DP-LED, wherein the first light-control pattern CCP-R is interposed between the first barrier layer CAP1 and the display element layer DP-LED.

[0180] In the display panel DP, the optical structure layer OSL may include a color filter layer CFL disposed on the light control layer CCL. The color filter layer CFL may include color filters CF1, CF2, and CF3. The color filter layer CFL may include a first color filter CF1 configured to transmit first light, a second color filter CF2 configured to transmit second light, and a third color filter CF3 configured to transmit source light. In the disclosed embodiment, the first color filter CF1 may be a red filter, the second color filter CF2 may be a green filter, and the third color filter CF3 may be a blue filter.

[0181] Each of the color filters CF1, CF2, and CF3 may include a polymer photosensitive resin and a colorant. The first color filter CF1 may include a red colorant, the second color filter CF2 may include a green colorant, and the third color filter CF3 may include a blue colorant. The first color filter CF1 may include a red pigment or a red dye, the second color filter CF2 may include a green pigment or a green dye, and the third color filter CF3 may include a blue pigment or a blue dye.

[0182] The first to third color filters CF1, CF2, and CF3 may be disposed to correspond to the first pixel region PXA-R, the second pixel region PXA-G, and the third pixel region PXA-B, respectively. In an embodiment, the first to third color filters CF1, CF2, and CF3 may be disposed to correspond to the first to third light-control patterns CCP-R, CCP-G, and CCP-B, respectively.

[0183] In an embodiment, color filters CF1, CF2, and CF3, which correspond to the peripheral region NPXA between pixel regions PXA-R, PXA-G, and PXA-B and transmit different light, may overlap one another. The color filters CF1, CF2, and CF3 may overlap one another in a third direction DR3, which is a thickness direction, to demarcate the boundary between adjacent pixel regions PXA-R, PXA-G, and PXA-B. Unlike the illustrated embodiment, in another embodiment, the color filter layer CFL may include a light-blocking portion (not shown) to demarcate the boundary between adjacent color filters CF1, CF2, and CF3. The light-blocking portion (not shown) may be formed of a blue filter, or may be formed of an inorganic or organic light-blocking material containing a black pigment or dye.

[0184] The optical structure layer OSL may include a filling layer FML arranged between the light control layer CCL and the color filter layer CFL. The filling layer FML may be arranged between the light control patterns CCP-R, CCP-G and CCP-B and the color filters CF1, CF2 and CF3. The filling layer FML may be arranged on the light control layer CCL to block the light control patterns CCP-R, CCP-G and CCP-B from being exposed to moisture / oxygen. By being arranged between the light control patterns CCP-R, CCP-G and CCP-B and the color filters CF1, CF2 and CF3, the filling layer FML may serve as an optical functional layer to increase light extraction efficiency or prevent reflected light from being incident on the light control layer CCL. The filling layer FML may have a lower refractive index than other adjacent layers.

[0185] In the disclosed embodiment, the optical structure layer OSL may further include a base layer BL disposed on the color filter layer CFL. The base layer BL may be a component that provides a substrate surface on which the color filter layer CFL and the light control layer CCL are disposed. The base layer BL may be a glass substrate, a metal substrate, or a plastic substrate. However, the disclosure is not limited thereto, and the base layer BL may be an inorganic layer, an organic layer, or a composite material layer. Unlike the illustrated embodiment, in another disclosed embodiment, the base layer BL may be omitted.

[0186] Figures 4B to 4D The display panels DP-1, DP-2 and DP-3 according to the disclosed embodiments are shown respectively. Figure 4A The display panel DP shown in FIG. 5 is different.

[0187] Reference Figure 4B According to the disclosed embodiment, the display panel DP-1 may include: a lower panel including a base substrate BS, a circuit element layer DP-CL disposed on the base substrate BS, and a display element layer DP-LED disposed on the circuit element layer DP-CL; and an optical structure layer OSL-1 disposed on the lower panel. The optical structure layer OSL-1 may include a light control layer CCL-1, a color filter layer CFL, and a base layer BL.

[0188] According to the disclosed embodiment, the display panel DP-1 may include a lower panel including a display element layer DP-LED and an upper panel (optical structure layer, OSL-1) including a light control layer CCL-1 and a color filter layer CFL. In the disclosed embodiment, a filling layer FML may be arranged between the lower panel and the upper panel OSL-1.

[0189] In the disclosed embodiment, a filling layer FML may fill the space between the display element layer DP-LED and the light control layer CCL-1. The filling layer FML may be disposed on (e.g., directly on) the thin film encapsulation layer TFE, and the second barrier layer CAP2 may be disposed on (e.g., directly on) the filling layer FML. The lower surface of the filling layer FML may contact the upper surface of the thin film encapsulation layer TFE, and the upper surface of the filling layer FML may contact the lower surface of the second barrier layer CAP2.

[0190] The filler layer (FML) can serve as a buffer between the display element layer DP-LED and the light control layer CCL-1. In the disclosed embodiments, the filler layer (FML) can provide shock absorption and increase the strength of the display panel DP-1. The filler layer (FML) can be formed from a filler resin including a polymer resin. For example, the filler layer (FML) can be formed from a filler resin including an acrylic resin, an epoxy resin, or the like.

[0191] and Figure 4A Compared with the display panel DP shown in Figure 4B The display panel DP-1 according to the disclosed embodiment shown in FIG is an embodiment in which a filling layer FML can be provided between the display element layer DP-LED and the light control layer CCL-1. Figure 4B In the display panel DP-1, the circuit element layer DP-CL and the display element layer DP-LED included in the lower panel can be arranged on the upper surface of the base substrate BS serving as the base surface, and the color filter layer CFL and the light control layer CCL-1 included in the upper panel (optical structure layer, OSL-1) can be arranged on the upper surface of the base layer BL serving as the base surface, and the display panel DP-1 can be formed by bonding the lower panel and the upper panel to each other with the filling layer FML placed between the lower panel and the upper panel.

[0192] In the display panel DP-1 according to the disclosed embodiment, a step may be formed between the lower surface of the bank BMP and the lower surfaces of the light-controlling patterns CCP-R, CCP-G, and CCP-B. For example, the lower surface of the bank BMP may be defined to be lower than the lower surfaces of the light-controlling patterns CCP-R, CCP-G, and CCP-B. The height difference between the lower surface of the bank BMP and the lower surfaces of the light-controlling patterns CCP-R, CCP-G, and CCP-B may be, for example, in the range of about 2 μm to about 3 μm.

[0193] The second barrier layer CAP2 may be disposed to follow the steps between the bank BMP and the light-controlling patterns CCP-R, CCP-G, and CCP-B. The second barrier layer CAP2 may be disposed on (eg, directly on) the filling layer FML.

[0194] The display panel DP-1 according to the disclosed embodiment may include a low-refractive index layer LR. The low-refractive index layer LR may be disposed between the light control layer CCL-1 and the color filter layer CFL. The low-refractive index layer LR may be disposed above the light control layer CCL-1 to block the light control patterns CCP-R, CCP-G, and CCP-B from being exposed to moisture / oxygen. By being disposed between the light control patterns CCP-R, CCP-G, and CCP-B and the color filters CF1, CF2, and CF3, the low-refractive index layer LR may also serve as an optical functional layer to increase light extraction efficiency or prevent reflected light from being incident on the light control layer CCL-1. The low-refractive index layer LR may have a lower refractive index than that of adjacent layers.

[0195] The low-refractive layer LR may include at least one inorganic layer. For example, the low-refractive layer LR may include silicon nitride, aluminum nitride, zirconium nitride, titanium nitride, hafnium nitride, tantalum nitride, silicon oxide, aluminum oxide, titanium oxide, tin oxide, cerium oxide, silicon oxynitride, or a metal film having a guaranteed light transmittance. However, the disclosure is not limited thereto, and the low-refractive layer LR may include an organic film. For example, the low-refractive layer LR may have a structure in which a plurality of hollow particles are dispersed in an organic polymer resin. The low-refractive layer LR may be composed of a single layer or multiple layers.

[0196] Reference Figure 4C According to the disclosed embodiment, the display panel DP-2 may include: a lower panel including a base substrate BS, a circuit element layer DP-CL disposed on the base substrate BS, and a display element layer DP-LED disposed on the circuit element layer DP-CL; and an optical structure layer OSL-2 disposed on the lower panel. In the display panel DP-2 according to the disclosed embodiment, the optical structure layer OSL-2 may include a light control layer CCL, a low-refractive layer LR-1, a color filter layer CFL-1, and a base layer BL-1 sequentially stacked on a thin film encapsulation layer TFE. The optical structure layer OSL-2 may include a first barrier layer CAP1 and a second barrier layer CAP2 disposed on the upper and lower surfaces of the light control layer CCL.

[0197] The light control layer CCL may be disposed on the thin film encapsulation layer TFE in the display element layer DP-LED, with the second barrier layer CAP2 interposed between the thin film encapsulation layer TFE and the light control layer CCL. The light control layer CCL may include a plurality of banks BMP and light control patterns CCP-R, CCP-G, and CCP-B disposed between the banks BMP. A low-refractive layer LR-1 may be disposed on the light control layer CCL.

[0198] The color filter layer CFL-1 may include a plurality of color filters CF1, CF2, and CF3 and a light blocking portion BM.

[0199] and Figure 4B Compared with the display panel DP-1 shown in Figure 4C The display panel DP-2 according to the disclosed embodiment shown in is an embodiment in which the light control layer CCL, the low refractive layer LR-1 and the color filter layer CFL-1 can be provided on the upper surface of the thin film encapsulation layer TFE serving as the base surface. For example, the light control patterns CCP-R, CCP-G and CCP-B of the light control layer CCL can be formed on the thin film encapsulation layer TFE in a continuous process, and the color filters CF1, CF2 and CF3 of the color filter layer CFL-1 can be sequentially formed on the light control layer CCL by a continuous process. The light control layer CCL can be formed on the upper surface of the second barrier layer CAP2, which is provided on the thin film encapsulation layer TFE and serves as the base surface, and with Figure 4B Compared to the shape of the light control layer CCL shown in FIG, the light control layer CCL may have a vertically inverted shape. Figure 4B Each of the bank BMP and the light-controlling patterns CCP-R, CCP-G, and CCP-B may have a vertically inverted shape compared to the shape shown in FIG. The color filter layer CFL-1 may be formed on the upper surface of the light-controlling layer CCL serving as the base surface and may have the same shape as FIG. Figure 4A and Figure 4B The shapes shown in the figure are different shapes.

[0200] In the color filter layer CFL-1 according to the disclosed embodiment, the light-blocking portion BM may be a black matrix. The light-blocking portion BM may be formed of an inorganic light-blocking material or an organic light-blocking material including a black pigment or a black dye. The light-blocking portion BM may prevent light leakage and define the boundaries between adjacent color filters CF1, CF2, and CF3.

[0201] Reference Figure 4D , according to the disclosed embodiment, the display element layer DP-LED1 included in the display panel DP-3 may include a light emitting element LED-1, and the light emitting element LED-1 may be a micro LED element or a nano LED element. The light emitting element LED-1 may be disposed between the pixel defining films PDL and may be electrically connected to the contact portion SC, and the length and width of the light emitting element LED-1 may be approximately hundreds of nanometers to approximately hundreds of micrometers. The light emitting element LED-1 may be an LED element including an active layer and at least one semiconductor material layer. The light emitting element LED-1 may further include an insulating layer covering the surface of the active layer and the semiconductor material layer. The light emitting element LED-1 may be patterned and overlapped with each of the pixel areas PXA-R, PXA-B, and PXA-G in a plan view. The display panel DP-3 may include a buffer layer BFL disposed on the light emitting element LED-1. The buffer layer BFL may be disposed on the light emitting element LED-1 and cover the light emitting element LED-1. In another embodiment, in Figure 4D In the display panel DP-3 shown in FIG, the buffer layer BFL may be omitted.

[0202] Figure 6A is an enlarged plan view of a portion of a display panel according to a disclosed embodiment. Figure 6B is an enlarged plan view of some of the components of a display panel according to a disclosed embodiment. Figure 2 In the display area DA shown in FIG, Figure 6AThe arrangement and shape of the filter areas FA1, FA2 and FA3 and the bank openings BOH1, BOH2 and BOH3 corresponding to one first filter area FA1, one second filter area FA2 and one third filter area FA3 in a plan view are schematically shown. Figure 6A In the corresponding view, Figure 6B The planar shapes of the filter areas FA1, FA2, and FA3 corresponding to one first filter area FA1, one second filter area FA2, and one third filter area FA3 in a plan view are schematically shown.

[0203] Refer to it together Figure 2 、 Figure 3 、 Figure 4A and Figure 6A The first to third filter areas FA1, FA2, and FA3 may correspond to the first to third pixel areas PXA-R, PXA-G, and PXA-B, respectively, and may be defined by color filters CF1, CF2, and CF3. The first filter area FA1 may be defined by the first color filter CF1, the second filter area FA2 may be defined by the second color filter CF2, and the third filter area FA3 may be defined by the third color filter CF3. In a plan view, the first filter area FA1 may overlap with the first color filter CF1 and may not overlap with the second and third color filters CF2 and CF3. In a plan view, the second filter area FA2 may overlap with the second color filter CF2 and may not overlap with the first and third color filters CF1 and CF3. In a plan view, the third filter area FA3 may overlap with the third color filter CF3 and may not overlap with the first and second color filters CF1 and CF2.

[0204] The bank opening defined in the bank BMP may include a first bank opening BOH1, a second bank opening BOH2, and a third bank opening BOH3. The first light-controlling pattern CCP-R may be disposed in the first bank opening BOH1, the second light-controlling pattern CCP-G may be disposed in the second bank opening BOH2, and the third light-controlling pattern CCP-B may be disposed in the third bank opening BOH3. In this specification, the area defined by the first bank opening BOH1 may be described as a first bank area BA1, the area defined by the second bank opening BOH2 may be described as a second bank area BA2, and the area defined by the third bank opening BOH3 may be described as a third bank area BA3.

[0205] In the disclosed embodiment, the first bank area BA1 may include a first sub-area BSA1 and a second sub-area BSA2. The first sub-area BSA1 and the second sub-area BSA2 may have a unitary shape and may be connected to each other. The first light-controlling pattern CCP-R may be disposed in the first bank opening BOH1 defining the first sub-area BSA1 and the second sub-area BSA2. For example, the first light-controlling pattern CCP-R may overlap both the first sub-area BSA1 and the second sub-area BSA2 in a plan view.

[0206] The first sub-region BSA1 may have a rectangular shape having long sides extending in the second direction DR2 in a plan view. The second sub-region BSA2 may have a shape protruding from the first sub-region BSA1 in the first direction DR1. In the disclosed embodiment, the second sub-region BSA2 may have a shape protruding from a portion of the long sides of the rectangular first sub-region BSA1 in the first direction DR1.

[0207] The second subregion BSA2 may be shorter than the first subregion BSA1 in the second direction DR2. The first subregion BSA1 may have a first length L1 in the second direction DR2, and the second subregion BSA2 may have a second length L2 in the second direction DR2, and the second length L2 may be smaller than the first length L1.

[0208] In the disclosed embodiment, the second bank area BA2 may include a third sub-region BSA3 and a fourth sub-region BSA4. The third sub-region BSA3 and the fourth sub-region BSA4 may have a unitary shape and may be connected to each other. The second light-controlling pattern CCP-G may be disposed in the second bank opening BOH2 defining the third sub-region BSA3 and the fourth sub-region BSA4. For example, the second light-controlling pattern CCP-G may overlap both the third sub-region BSA3 and the fourth sub-region BSA4 in a plan view.

[0209] The third sub-region BSA3 may have a rectangular shape having long sides extending in the second direction DR2 in a plan view. The fourth sub-region BSA4 may have a shape protruding from the third sub-region BSA3 in a direction opposite to the first direction DR1. In the disclosed embodiment, the fourth sub-region BSA4 may have a shape protruding from a portion of the long sides of the rectangular third sub-region BSA3 in a direction opposite to the first direction DR1.

[0210] The length of the fourth subregion BSA4 in the second direction DR2 may be smaller than that of the third subregion BSA3. The third subregion BSA3 may have a third length L3 in the second direction DR2, and the fourth subregion BSA4 may have a fourth length L4 in the second direction DR2, and the fourth length L4 may be smaller than the third length L3.

[0211] The second sub-region BSA2 and the fourth sub-region BSA4 may include oblique sides SS1 and SS2, respectively, extending in an oblique direction DR-S that forms an acute angle with the first direction DR1. The second sub-region BSA2 may include a first oblique side SS1 extending in the oblique direction DR-S, and the fourth sub-region BSA4 may include a second oblique side SS2 extending in the oblique direction DR-S. The first oblique side SS1 and the second oblique side SS2 may be parallel to each other and may face each other in a plan view.

[0212] Each of the second sub-region BSA2 and the fourth sub-region BSA4 may protrude from an upper portion or a lower portion of each of the long sides of the first sub-region BSA1 and the third sub-region BSA3 in a staggered manner. Figure 6A As shown in , in the case where the second sub-region BSA2 has a shape protruding from the lower portion of the long side of the first sub-region BSA1 in the first direction DR1, the fourth sub-region BSA4 may have a shape protruding from the upper portion of the long side of the third sub-region BSA3 in a direction opposite to the first direction DR1. In another embodiment, unlike the illustrated embodiment, in the case where the second sub-region BSA2 has a shape protruding from the upper portion of the long side of the first sub-region BSA1 in the first direction DR1, the fourth sub-region BSA4 may have a shape protruding from the lower portion of the long side of the third sub-region BSA3 in a direction opposite to the first direction DR1.

[0213] The first subregion BSA1 may include two short sides spaced apart from each other in the second direction DR2. The first subregion BSA1 may include a first side S1 and a second side S2 extending in the first direction DR1 and spaced apart from each other in the second direction DR2.

[0214] The third sub-region BSA3 may include two short sides spaced apart from each other in the second direction DR2. The third sub-region BSA3 may include a third side S3 and a fourth side S4 extending in the first direction DR1 and spaced apart from each other in the second direction DR2. The first side S1 of the first sub-region BSA1 and the third side S3 of the third sub-region BSA3 may be collinear with each other in the first direction DR1. The second side S2 of the first sub-region BSA1 and the fourth side S4 of the third sub-region BSA3 may be collinear with each other in the first direction DR1.

[0215] The second sub-region BSA2 may have a shape protruding from the lower portion of the long side of the first sub-region BSA1 in the first direction DR1, and the lower side of the second sub-region BSA2 and the lower side of the first sub-region BSA1 may be aligned with each other. The second sub-region BSA2 may include a fifth side S5 extending in the first direction DR1, and the fifth side S5 may be aligned with the second side S2. The fifth side S5 may be aligned with the second side S2 to define a side extending in the first direction DR1. In another embodiment, Figure 6A Unlike the embodiment shown in , in the case where the second subregion BSA2 has a shape protruding from upper portions of long sides of the first subregion BSA1 in the first direction DR1 , the fifth side S5 may be aligned with the first side S1 .

[0216] The fourth sub-region BSA4 may have a shape protruding from the upper portion of the long side of the third sub-region BSA3 in a direction opposite to the first direction DR1, and the upper side of the fourth sub-region BSA4 and the upper side of the third sub-region BSA3 may be aligned with each other. The fourth sub-region BSA4 may include a sixth side S6 extending in the first direction DR1, and the sixth side S6 may be aligned with the third side S3. The sixth side S6 may be aligned with the third side S3 to define a side extending in the first direction DR1. In another embodiment, Figure 6A Unlike the embodiment shown in , in the case where the fourth subregion BSA4 has a shape protruding from lower portions of long sides of the third subregion BSA3 in a direction opposite to the first direction DR1 , the sixth side S6 may be aligned with the fourth side S4 .

[0217] The first bank area BA1 and the second bank area BA2 may have similar shapes to each other in a plan view. Figure 6A As shown in FIG, the second bank area BA2 may have a shape obtained by rotating the first bank area BA1 180 degrees. The first length L1 of the first sub-area BSA1 and the third length L3 of the third sub-area BSA3 may be substantially the same as each other. The second length L2 of the second sub-area BSA2 and the fourth length L4 of the fourth sub-area BSA4 may be substantially the same as each other. In this specification, "substantially the same" may include not only the case where the length, width, area, etc. are physically the same, but also the case where there are differences such as process errors that occur despite the same design.

[0218] The first sub-region BSA1 may have a first width W1 in the first direction DR1, and the second sub-region BSA2 may have a second width W2 in the first direction DR1. The third sub-region BSA3 may have a third width W3 in the first direction DR1, and the fourth sub-region BSA4 may have a fourth width W4 in the first direction DR1. In the disclosed embodiment, the first width W1 and the third width W3 may be substantially the same. The second width W2 and the fourth width W4 may be substantially the same. The second width W2 may be smaller than the first width W1, and the fourth width W4 may be smaller than the third width W3. Each of the first width W1 and the third width W3 may be in a range of approximately 30 micrometers to approximately 40 micrometers. Each of the second width W2 and the fourth width W4 may be in a range of approximately 10 micrometers to approximately 20 micrometers. The combined width of the first width W1 and the second width W2 (e.g., the width of the first bank area BA1 in the first direction DR1) may be in a range of approximately 40 micrometers to approximately 60 micrometers. A combined width of the third width W3 and the fourth width W4 (eg, a width of the second bank area BA2 in the first direction DR1 ) may be in the range of about 40 micrometers to about 60 micrometers.

[0219] In the disclosed embodiment, the third bank area BA3 may have a fifth width W5 in the first direction DR1 and a fifth length L5 in the second direction DR2. The third bank area BA3 may have a rectangular shape in a plan view.

[0220] The fifth width W5 may be substantially the same as the first width W1 of the first subregion BSA1. The fifth width W5 may be substantially the same as the third width W3 of the third subregion BSA3. For example, the widths of the first subregion BSA1, the third subregion BSA3, and the third bank region BA3 in the first direction DR1 may be constant.

[0221] The fifth length L5 may be smaller than the first length L1 of the first sub-area BSA1 and the third length L3 of the third sub-area BSA3. For example, the third bank area BA3 may have a length smaller than each of the first sub-area BSA1 and the third sub-area BSA3 in the second direction DR2. The third bank area BA3 may have a length smaller than each of the first bank area BA1 and the second bank area BA2 in the second direction DR2.

[0222] Each of the first to third filter areas FA1, FA2, and FA3 may have a polygonal shape in a plan view. Each of the first to third filter areas FA1, FA2, and FA3 may have a polygonal shape similar to a corresponding area among the first to third bank areas BA1, BA2, and BA3. The areas of the first to third filter areas FA1, FA2, and FA3 may be set according to the color of the emitted light. The area of ​​the first filter area FA1, which emits red light, and the area of ​​the second filter area FA2, which emits green light, may be substantially the same, and the area of ​​the third filter area FA3, which emits blue light, may be smaller than the areas of the first filter area FA1 and the second filter area FA2.

[0223] The first filter area FA1 may include a first sub-filter area FA-P1 and a second sub-filter area FA-P2. The first sub-filter area FA-P1 may overlap with the first sub-region BSA1 of the first bank area BA1 in a plan view. The first sub-filter area FA-P1 may have a rectangular shape with long sides extending in the second direction DR2 in a plan view. The second sub-filter area FA-P2 may have a shape that protrudes from a portion of the long side of the first sub-filter area FA-P1 in the first direction DR1. At least a portion of the second sub-filter area FA-P2 may overlap with the second sub-region BSA2 of the first bank area BA1 in a plan view.

[0224] The second filter area FA2 may include a third sub-filter area FA-P3 and a fourth sub-filter area FA-P4. The third sub-filter area FA-P3 may overlap with the third sub-region BSA3 of the second bank area BA2 in a plan view. The third sub-filter area FA-P3 may have a rectangular shape with long sides extending in the second direction DR2 in a plan view. The fourth sub-filter area FA-P4 may have a shape that protrudes from a portion of the long side of the third sub-filter area FA-P3 in a direction opposite to the first direction DR1. At least a portion of the fourth sub-filter area FA-P4 may overlap with the fourth sub-region BSA4 of the second bank area BA2 in a plan view.

[0225] The second sub-filtering area FA-P2 and the fourth sub-filtering area FA-P4 may include oblique sides SS-F1 and SS-F2, respectively, extending in an oblique direction DR-S that forms an acute angle with the first direction DR1. The second sub-filtering area FA-P2 may include a first oblique filtering side SS-F1 extending in the oblique direction DR-S, and the fourth sub-filtering area FA-P4 may include a second oblique filtering side SS-F2 extending in the oblique direction DR-S. The first oblique filtering side SS-F1 and the second oblique filtering side SS-F2 may be parallel to each other and may face each other in a plan view.

[0226] Each of the second sub-filtering area FA-P2 and the fourth sub-filtering area FA-P4 may protrude from an upper portion or a lower portion of each of the long sides of the first sub-filtering area FA-P1 and the third sub-filtering area FA-P3 in a staggered manner. Figure 6B As shown in FIG, in a case where the second sub-filter area FA-P2 has a shape protruding from a lower portion of a long side of the first sub-filter area FA-P1 in the first direction DR1, the fourth sub-filter area FA-P4 may have a shape protruding from an upper portion of a long side of the third sub-filter area FA-P3 in a direction opposite to the first direction DR1. In another embodiment, unlike the illustrated embodiment, in a case where the second sub-filter area FA-P2 has a shape protruding from an upper portion of a long side of the first sub-filter area FA-P1 in the first direction DR1, the fourth sub-filter area FA-P4 may have a shape protruding from a lower portion of a long side of the third sub-filter area FA-P3 in a direction opposite to the first direction DR1.

[0227] The first filter area FA1 and the second filter area FA2 may have similar shapes to each other in a plan view. Figure 6B As shown in FIG, the second filter area FA2 may have a shape obtained by rotating the first filter area FA1 by 180 degrees. A first filtering length L-F1 of the first sub-filter area FA-P1 in the second direction DR2 and a third filtering length L-F3 of the third sub-filter area FA-P3 in the second direction DR2 may be substantially the same as each other. A second filtering length L-F2 of the second sub-filter area FA-P2 in the second direction DR2 and a fourth filtering length L-F4 of the fourth sub-filter area FA-P4 in the second direction DR2 may be substantially the same as each other.

[0228] The first sub-filtering area FA-P1 may have a first filtering width W-F1 in the first direction DR1, and the second sub-filtering area FA-P2 may have a second filtering width W-F2 in the first direction DR1. The third sub-filtering area FA-P3 may have a third filtering width W-F3 in the first direction DR1, and the fourth sub-filtering area FA-P4 may have a fourth filtering width W-F4 in the first direction DR1. In the disclosed embodiment, the first filtering width W-F1 and the third filtering width W-F3 may be substantially the same. The second filtering width W-F2 and the fourth filtering width W-F4 may be substantially the same.

[0229] In the disclosed embodiment, the third filtering area FA3 may have a fifth filtering width W-F5 in the first direction DR1 and a fifth filtering length L-F5 in the second direction DR2. The third filtering area FA3 may have a rectangular shape in a plan view.

[0230] The fifth filter width W-F5 may be substantially the same as the first filter width W-F1 of the first sub-filtering area FA-P1. The fifth filter width W-F5 may be substantially the same as the third filter width W-F3 of the third sub-filtering area FA-P3. For example, the widths of the first sub-filtering area FA-P1, the third sub-filtering area FA-P3, and the third filter area FA3 in the first direction DR1 may be constant.

[0231] The fifth filtering length L-F5 may be smaller than the first filtering length L-F1 of the first sub-filtering area FA-P1 and the third filtering length L-F3 of the third sub-filtering area FA-P3. For example, the third filtering area FA3 may have a length smaller than each of the first sub-filtering area FA-P1 and the third sub-filtering area FA-P3 in the second direction DR2. The third filtering area FA3 may have a length smaller than each of the first filter area FA1 and the second filter area FA2 in the second direction DR2.

[0232] In the disclosed embodiment, the separation distances between the first to third bank areas BA1, BA2, and BA3 and the first to third filter areas FA1, FA2, and FA3 corresponding thereto may be constant in a plan view. The separation distances between the first to third bank areas BA1, BA2, and BA3 and the first to third filter areas FA1, FA2, and FA3 may also be constant. The separation distance between the first bank area BA1 and the first filter area FA1, the separation distance between the second bank area BA2 and the second filter area FA2, and the separation distance between the third bank area BA3 and the third filter area FA3 may also be constant. The expression "separation distance between region A and region B" may refer to the minimum distance in a plan view from a point in region A to a point in region B that is closest to the point in region A. The first separation distance d1 between the first sub-area BSA1 and the first filter area FA1 and the second separation distance d2 between the second sub-area BSA2 and the first filter area FA1 may be substantially the same. The third separation distance d3 between the third sub-area BSA3 and the second filter area FA2 and the fourth separation distance d4 between the fourth sub-area BSA4 and the second filter area FA2 may be substantially the same. The fifth separation distance d5 between the third bank area BA3 and the third filter area FA3 and each of the first to fourth separation distances d1, d2, d3, and d4 described above may be substantially the same. In the disclosed embodiment, the first to fifth separation distances d1, d2, d3, d4, and d5 may be constant.

[0233] In the disclosed embodiment, the first bank area BA1, the second bank area BA2, and the third bank area BA3 may be arranged sequentially in the first direction DR1. In the embodiment, the separation distances between the first bank area BA1, the second bank area BA2, and the third bank area BA3 in the first direction DR1 may be constant. In the disclosed embodiment, the first separation distance dd1 between the second sub-area BSA2 and the third sub-area BSA3, which are adjacent to each other, and the second separation distance dd2 between the third sub-area BSA3 and the third bank area BA3, which are adjacent to each other, may be substantially the same. The first separation distance dd1 between the second sub-area BSA2 and the third sub-area BSA3, and the third separation distance dd3 between the first sub-area BSA1 and the fourth sub-area BSA4 may be substantially the same. Each of the first separation distance dd1, the second separation distance dd2, and the third separation distance dd3 may be in a range of approximately 8 micrometers to approximately 13 micrometers.

[0234] In the disclosed embodiment, the center lines CTL of the first sub-area BSA1, the third sub-area BSA3, and the third bank area BA3 in the second direction DR2 may be aligned with one another. In this specification, a center line in the second direction DR2 may correspond to an imaginary line extending in the first direction DR1 and passing through the midpoint between one end and the other end of each area in the second direction DR2. The center lines CTL of the first bank area BA1, the second bank area BA2, and the third bank area BA3 in the second direction DR2 may be aligned with one another. The center lines CTL of the first filter area FA1, the second filter area FA2, and the third filter area FA3 in the second direction DR2 may be aligned with one another. The center lines CTL of the first sub-filter area FA-P1, the third sub-filter area FA-P3, and the third filter area FA3 in the second direction DR2 may be aligned with one another.

[0235] Because the second sub-areas BSA2 and the fourth sub-areas BSA4, which protrude from the first sub-areas BSA1 and the third sub-areas BSA3, respectively, are arranged in a staggered manner, their center lines in the second direction DR2 may not align with each other and may not overlap with each other. A center line CTL1 of the second sub-area BSA2 in the second direction DR2 and a center line CTL2 of the fourth sub-area BSA4 in the second direction DR2 may not align with each other in the first direction DR1 and may not overlap with each other. Similarly, a center line CTL1′ of the second sub-filter area FA-P2 in the second direction DR2 and a center line CTL2′ of the fourth sub-filter area FA-P4 in the second direction DR2 may not align with each other in the first direction DR1 and may not overlap with each other.

[0236] In the display panel DP according to the disclosed embodiment, the first bank area BA1 defined by the first bank opening BOH1 having the first light-control pattern CCP-R disposed therein may include a first sub-region BSA1 and a second sub-region BSA2 protruding from the first sub-region BSA1 in a first direction DR1. In an embodiment, the second bank area BA2 defined by the second bank opening BOH2 having the second light-control pattern CCP-G disposed therein may include a third sub-region BSA3 and a fourth sub-region BSA4 protruding from the third sub-region BSA3 in a direction opposite to the first direction DR1. In the display panel DP according to the disclosed embodiment, a high resolution can be achieved due to the reduced size of the pixel area. Since each of the second sub-region BSA2 and the fourth sub-region BSA4 having the protruding structure can provide a wide width in the first direction DR1, a wide inkjet process impact area can be ensured, thereby improving the efficiency of the process of forming the first light-control pattern CCP-R and the second light-control pattern CCP-G.

[0237] In the display panel DP according to the disclosed embodiment, a third bank area BA3 is defined by a third bank opening BOH3 having a third light-control pattern CCP-B disposed therein, and the center lines CTL of the first sub-area BSA1, the third sub-area BSA3, and the third bank area BA3 in the second direction DR2 can be aligned with each other. In the display panel DP according to the disclosed embodiment, each of the second sub-area BSA2 and the fourth sub-area BSA4 can protrude from the upper or lower portion of each of the long sides of the first sub-area BSA1 and the third sub-area BSA3 in a staggered manner. Therefore, the area in which the third bank area BA3 is disposed can be ensured, and the center lines CTL of the first sub-area BSA1, the third sub-area BSA3, and the third bank area BA3 can be aligned with each other. Therefore, when pixel areas are arranged in a misaligned state, color fringing, where the edge portions of some pixels are outlined by the colors of other pixels, can be prevented, thereby improving the display quality of the display panel DP.

[0238] 7A to 7E Each of is an enlarged plan view of a portion of a display panel according to a disclosed embodiment. 7A to 7E Schematically shows the arrangement relationship of multiple filter areas and bank areas in display areas DA-1, DA-2, DA-3, DA-4 and DA-5 according to another embodiment of the disclosure, which is similar to Figure 6A The display area DA shown in FIG. 1 is different.

[0239] Reference Figure 7A , in the display area DA-1 according to the disclosed embodiment, with Figure 6AUnlike the display area DA shown in FIG and in which the sub-areas are included in the first bank area BA1 and the second bank area BA2, the sub-areas protruding in a staggered manner may be included in the second bank area BA2-1 and the third bank area BA3-1. Figure 6A In the display area DA, the first bank area BA1 may include a first sub-area BSA1 and a second sub-area BSA2, and the second bank area BA2 may include a third sub-area BSA3 and a fourth sub-area BSA4, but in Figure 7A In the display area DA-1 according to the disclosed embodiment shown in FIG, the second bank area BA2-1 may include a first sub-area BSA1-1 and a second sub-area BSA2-1, and the third bank area BA3-1 may include a third sub-area BSA3-1 and a fourth sub-area BSA4-1.

[0240] The first sub-region BSA1-1 may have a rectangular shape with long sides extending in the second direction DR2 in a plan view. The second sub-region BSA2-1 may have a shape that protrudes from the first sub-region BSA1-1 in the first direction DR1. In the disclosed embodiment, the second sub-region BSA2-1 may have a shape that protrudes from a portion of the long sides of the rectangular first sub-region BSA1-1 in the first direction DR1. The third sub-region BSA3-1 may have a rectangular shape with long sides extending in the second direction DR2 in a plan view. The fourth sub-region BSA4-1 may have a shape that protrudes from the third sub-region BSA3-1 in a direction opposite to the first direction DR1. In the disclosed embodiment, the fourth sub-region BSA4-1 may have a shape that protrudes from a portion of the long sides of the rectangular third sub-region BSA3-1 in a direction opposite to the first direction DR1.

[0241] exist Figure 7AIn the display area DA-1 according to the disclosed embodiment shown in FIG, the second filter area FA2-1 may include a first sub-filter area FA-P11 and a second sub-filter area FA-P21. The first sub-filter area FA-P11 may overlap with the first sub-region BSA1-1 of the second bank area BA2-1 in plan view. The first sub-filter area FA-P11 may have a rectangular shape with long sides extending in the second direction DR2 in plan view. The second sub-filter area FA-P21 may have a shape that protrudes from a portion of the long side of the first sub-filter area FA-P11 in the first direction DR1. At least a portion of the second sub-filter area FA-P21 may overlap with the second sub-region BSA2-1 of the second bank area BA2 in plan view. The third filter area FA3-1 may include a third sub-filter area FA-P31 and a fourth sub-filter area FA-P41. The third sub-filter area FA-P31 may overlap with the third sub-region BSA3-1 of the third bank area BA3-1 in plan view. The third sub-filter area FA-P31 may have a rectangular shape having long sides extending in the second direction DR2 in a plan view. The fourth sub-filter area FA-P41 may have a shape protruding from a portion of the long side of the third sub-filter area FA-P31 in a direction opposite to the first direction DR1. At least a portion of the fourth sub-filter area FA-P41 may overlap with the fourth sub-area BSA4-1 of the third bank area BA3-1 in a plan view.

[0242] In the display area DA-1 according to the disclosed embodiment, the first bank area BA1-1 may have a rectangular shape in a plan view. The first filter area FA1-1 may have a rectangular shape in a plan view.

[0243] Reference Figure 7B In the display area DA-2 according to the disclosed embodiment, the second bank area BA2-2 may further include a fifth sub-area BSA5 in addition to the third sub-area BSA3 and the fourth sub-area BSA4. The third bank area BA3-2 may include a sixth sub-area BSA6 and a seventh sub-area BSA7.

[0244] The fifth sub-region BSA5 may be connected to the fourth sub-region BSA4 to have an integral shape. The second light-controlling pattern CCP-G (see Figure 4A ) may overlap all of the third sub-region BSA3, the fourth sub-region BSA4, and the fifth sub-region BSA5. The fifth sub-region BSA5 may have a shape that protrudes from the third sub-region BSA3 in the first direction DR1. In the disclosed embodiment, the fifth sub-region BSA5 may have a shape that protrudes from a portion of a long side of the third sub-region BSA3 having a rectangular shape in the first direction DR1.

[0245] The sixth sub-region BSA6 and the seventh sub-region BSA7 may be connected to each other to have an integral shape. The third light-controlling pattern CCP-B (see Figure 4A ) may overlap both the sixth sub-region BSA6 and the seventh sub-region BSA7 in a plan view. The seventh sub-region BSA7 may have a shape protruding from the sixth sub-region BSA6 in a direction opposite to the first direction DR1. In the disclosed embodiment, the seventh sub-region BSA7 may have a shape protruding from a portion of a long side of the sixth sub-region BSA6 having a rectangular shape in a direction opposite to the first direction DR1.

[0246] In addition to the third and fourth sub-filter areas FA-P3 and FA-P4, the second filter area FA2-2 may further include a fifth sub-filter area FA-P5. The fifth sub-filter area FA-P5 may have a shape that protrudes from a portion of a long side of the third sub-filter area FA-P3 in the first direction DR1. At least a portion of the fifth sub-filter area FA-P5 may overlap with the fifth sub-area BSA5 of the second bank area BA2-2 in a plan view.

[0247] The third filter area FA3-2 may include a sixth sub-filter area FA-P6 and a seventh sub-filter area FA-P7. The sixth sub-filter area FA-P6 may overlap with the sixth sub-region BSA6 of the third bank area BA3-2 in a plan view. The sixth sub-filter area FA-P6 may have a rectangular shape with long sides extending in the second direction DR2 in a plan view. The seventh sub-filter area FA-P7 may have a shape that protrudes from a portion of the long side of the sixth sub-filter area FA-P6 in a direction opposite to the first direction DR1. At least a portion of the seventh sub-filter area FA-P7 may overlap with the seventh sub-region BSA7 of the third bank area BA3-2 in a plan view.

[0248] Reference Figure 7C , in the display area DA-3 according to the disclosed embodiment, with Figure 6A Compared with the display area DA, the first bank area BA1-3 and the second bank area BA2-3 may not have similar shapes, and at least some of the widths and lengths of some sub-areas of the first bank area BA1-3 and the second bank area BA2-3 may be different from at least some of the widths and lengths of other sub-areas of the first bank area BA1-3 and the second bank area BA2-3. Figure 7CAs shown in the figure, the second length L2-3 of the second sub-region BSA2-3 in the second direction DR2 and the fourth length L4-3 of the fourth sub-region BSA4-3 in the second direction DR2 may be different from each other. The second length L2-3 of the second sub-region BSA2-3 may be greater than the fourth length L4-3 of the fourth sub-region BSA4-3. In an embodiment, the first length L1 of the first sub-region BSA1-3 in the second direction DR2 and the third length L3 of the third sub-region BSA3-3 in the second direction DR2 may be substantially the same. Unlike the illustrated embodiment, in another embodiment, the second length L2-3 of the second sub-region BSA2-3 may be less than the fourth length L4-3 of the fourth sub-region BSA4-3. In another embodiment, the second width W2 of the second sub-region BSA2-3 (see Figure 6A ) and the fourth width W4 of the fourth sub-area BSA4-3 (see Figure 6A ) can be different from each other.

[0249] In the display area DA-3 according to the disclosed embodiment, Figure 6A Compared to the display area DA, the first filter area FA1-3 and the second filter area FA2-3 may not have similar shapes in a plan view, and at least some of the widths and lengths of some sub-filter areas in the first filter area FA1-3 and the second filter area FA2-3 may be different from at least some of the widths and lengths of other sub-filter areas. Figure 7C As shown in FIG, the length of the second sub-filtering area FA-P23 in the second direction DR2 and the length of the fourth sub-filtering area FA-P43 in the second direction DR2 may be different from each other. The length of the second sub-filtering area FA-P23 may be greater than the length of the fourth sub-filtering area FA-P43. In an embodiment, the length of the first sub-filtering area FA-P13 in the second direction DR2 and the length of the third sub-filtering area FA-P33 in the second direction DR2 may be substantially the same. Unlike the illustrated embodiment, in another embodiment, the length of the second sub-filtering area FA-P23 may be shorter than the length of the fourth sub-filtering area FA-P43. In another embodiment, the width of the second sub-filtering area FA-P23 and the width of the fourth sub-filtering area FA-P43 may be different from each other.

[0250] Reference Figure 7D , in the display area DA-4 according to the disclosed embodiment, with Figure 6A Unlike the display area DA, each of the first bank area BA1-4 and the second bank area BA2-4 may not include a slant side extending in the slant direction DR-S that forms an acute angle with the first direction DR1. Figure 7DAs shown in , in a plan view, each of the second sub-region BSA2-4 and the fourth sub-region BSA4-4 may not include a hypotenuse and may have a rectangular shape including sides extending in each of the first direction DR1 and the second direction DR2. Figure 7D The shape of the first sub-area BSA1-4 in Figure 6A The shapes of the first sub-areas BSA1 in the embodiment may be substantially the same, and Figure 7D The shape of the third sub-area BSA3-4 in Figure 6A The shapes of the third sub-areas BSA3 in the embodiment may be substantially the same.

[0251] In the display area DA-4 according to the disclosed embodiment, Figure 6A Unlike the display area DA, each of the first filter area FA1-4 and the second filter area FA2-4 may not include an oblique side extending in the oblique direction DR-S that forms an acute angle with the first direction DR1. Figure 7D As shown in , in a plan view, each of the second sub-filtering area FA-P24 and the fourth sub-filtering area FA-P44 may not include a hypotenuse and may have a rectangular shape including sides extending in each of the first direction DR1 and the second direction DR2. In a plan view, Figure 7D The shape of the first sub-filtering area FA-P14 and Figure 6B The shapes of the first sub-filtering areas FA-P1 in the embodiment may be substantially the same, and Figure 7D The shape of the third sub-filtering area FA-P34 and Figure 6B The shapes of the third sub-filtering areas FA-P3 in FIG.

[0252] Reference Figure 7E , in the display area DA-5 according to the disclosed embodiment, with Figure 7D Unlike the display area DA-4, lower sides or upper sides of the sub-areas included in each of the first bank area BA1-5 and the second bank area BA2-5 may not be aligned with each other. Figure 7E As shown in , the second sub-region BSA2-5 may not protrude from the lower end of the long side of the first sub-region BSA1-5, but may protrude from the middle portion of the long side of the first sub-region BSA1-5 in the first direction DR1. The fourth sub-region BSA4-5 may not protrude from the upper end of the long side of the third sub-region BSA3-5, but may protrude from the middle portion of the long side of the third sub-region BSA3-5 in a direction opposite to the first direction DR1.

[0253] In the display area DA-5 according to the disclosed embodiment, Figure 7DUnlike the display area DA-4, the lower sides or upper sides of the sub-areas included in each of the first filter area FA1-5 and the second filter area FA2-5 may not be aligned with each other. Figure 7E As shown in FIG, the second sub-filtering area FA-P25 may not protrude from the lower end of the long side of the first sub-filtering area FA-P15, but may protrude from the middle portion of the long side of the first sub-filtering area FA-P15 in the first direction DR1. The fourth sub-filtering area FA-P45 may not protrude from the upper end of the long side of the third sub-filtering area FA-P35, but may protrude from the middle portion of the long side of the third sub-filtering area FA-P35 in a direction opposite to the first direction DR1.

[0254] Hereinafter, a method of manufacturing a display panel according to a disclosed embodiment will be described.

[0255] Figure 8A is a flow chart of a method of manufacturing a display panel according to a disclosed embodiment. Figure 8B is a flow chart of some steps in a method of manufacturing a display panel according to a disclosed embodiment. Figure 8B is a flow chart of forming an optical structure layer ( S200 ) in a method of manufacturing a display panel according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0256] Reference Figure 8A and Figure 8B , the method for manufacturing a display panel according to the disclosed embodiment may include the following steps: preparing a display element layer including a light-emitting element that outputs source light (S100); and forming an optical structure layer on the light-emitting element (S200). Forming the optical structure layer (S200) may include the following steps: forming a dam on the light-emitting element in which a first dam opening to a third dam opening are formed (S210); patterning a photoresist material in the third dam opening to form a third light control pattern (S220); and forming a first light control pattern and a second light control pattern in the first dam opening and the second dam opening, respectively, by an inkjet process (S230). With reference to the above Figures 1A to 7E The descriptions of the first dam opening, the second dam opening, the third dam opening, and the dam area defined by the first dam opening, the second dam opening, and the third dam opening given here and below can be equally applied to the descriptions of the first dam opening, the second dam opening, the third dam opening, and the dam area defined by the first dam opening, the second dam opening, and the third dam opening given here and below.

[0257] 9A to 9D are schematic cross-sectional views illustrating some steps in a method of manufacturing a display panel according to a disclosed embodiment. 9A to 9D Some steps of forming an optical structure layer in a method for manufacturing a display panel according to a disclosed embodiment are schematically shown.

[0258] Reference Figure 9A The method of manufacturing a display panel according to the disclosed embodiment may include forming a bank BMP including a first bank opening BOH1, a second bank opening BOH2, and a third bank opening BOH3. The bank BMP may be formed on a base member BLL. The base member BLL may provide a substrate on which the bank BMP and the light-controlling patterns CCP-R, CCP-G, and CCP-B are formed (see FIG. 1 ). Figure 9D ) of the substrate surface. For example, in the manufacture Figure 4A In the case of the display panel DP shown in FIG, the base member BLL may be the second barrier layer CAP2, and in the manufacturing Figure 4B In the case of the display panel DP-1 shown in FIG, the base member BLL may be the first barrier layer CAP1.

[0259] Reference Figure 9B and Figure 9C The method of manufacturing a display panel according to the disclosed embodiment may include applying a photoresist material PRL inside at least the third bank opening BOH3 and patterning it to form a third light-controlling pattern CCP-B. Figure 9B As shown in FIG, the photoresist material PRL may be provided not only inside the third bank opening BOH3 but also inside the first and second bank openings BOH1 and BOH2, and may be provided to the upper portion of the bank BMP. For example, the photoresist material PRL may be provided entirely over the upper portion of the base member BLL, and after an exposure process of providing light L, an uncured portion may be removed to form the third light-control pattern CCP-B. In the step of patterning the photoresist material PRL, a separate photomask may be provided to perform the exposure process on only a portion of the photoresist material PRL. Figure 9B The negative photoresist cured by irradiating light L on the photoresist material PRL corresponding to the third dam opening BOH3 according to an embodiment is schematically shown, but the disclosure is not limited to this. In another embodiment, the photoresist material PRL may be a positive photoresist, and light may be irradiated onto a portion of the photoresist material PRL other than the third dam opening BOH3.

[0260] Reference Figure 9C and Figure 9DThe method of manufacturing a display panel according to the disclosed embodiment may include forming a first light-control pattern CCP-R and a second light-control pattern CCP-G in a first bank opening BOH1 and a second bank opening BOH2, respectively, through an inkjet process. The first light-control pattern CCP-R may be formed by supplying a first ink INK1 within the first bank opening BOH1 via a first nozzle NZ1. The second light-control pattern CCP-G may be formed by supplying a second ink INK2 within the second bank opening BOH2 via a second nozzle NZ2. The first ink INK1 and the second ink INK2 that form the first light-control pattern CCP-R and the second light-control pattern CCP-G, respectively, may include quantum dots.

[0261] In an embodiment, the inkjet impact point on which the first ink INK1 impacts through the first nozzle NZ1 may be above Figure 6A The inkjet impact point on which the second ink INK2 impacts through the second nozzle NZ2 may be the portion of the second sub-area BSA2 and the first sub-area BSA1 parallel to the second sub-area BSA2 in the first direction DR1 described in the above. Figure 6A The fourth sub-area BSA4 and the portion of the third sub-area BSA3 parallel to the fourth sub-area BSA4 in the first direction DR1 described in the embodiments of the present invention are shown in FIG. In the method of manufacturing a display panel according to the disclosed embodiment, since the inkjet process of the first ink INK1 and the second ink INK2 is performed through the portions having the wide widths in the first bank area BA1 and the second bank area BA2, respectively, the process efficiency of forming the first light-controlling pattern CCP-R and the second light-controlling pattern CCP-G can be improved.

[0262] According to the disclosed embodiments, since some of the bank opening regions provided in the light control layer include multiple sub-regions having small widths, high resolution can be achieved. Furthermore, since some of the bank opening regions are formed to have a large width suitable for the inkjet process, the inkjet process impact region can be ensured, thereby improving process efficiency in the process of manufacturing a display panel. Furthermore, since color fringing, in which the color of other pixels is provided as an outline at the edge portions of some pixels, can be prevented, the display quality of the display panel can be improved.

[0263] The above description is an example of the disclosed technical features, and those skilled in the art will be able to make various modifications and changes. Therefore, the disclosed embodiments described above can be implemented individually or in combination with each other.

[0264] Therefore, the embodiments disclosed in the disclosure are not intended to limit the disclosed technical spirit, but to describe the disclosed technical spirit, and the scope of the disclosed technical spirit is not limited by these embodiments. The scope of protection disclosed should be interpreted by the claims, and it should be interpreted that all technical spirits within the equivalent scope are included in the scope of the disclosure.

Claims

1. A display panel, comprising: A display element layer including a light emitting element for outputting source light; as well as an optical structure layer, disposed on the light-emitting element and transmitting the source light or converting the source light into light of a different wavelength, wherein: The optical structure layer includes a light control layer, which is disposed on the light emitting element and includes: a dam having a first dam opening, a second dam opening, and a third dam opening sequentially disposed in a first direction; a first light control pattern disposed in the first dam opening; a second light control pattern disposed in the second dam opening; and a third light control pattern disposed in the third dam opening. The first bank region defined by the first bank opening includes: a first subregion extending in a second direction intersecting the first direction; and a second subregion protruding from the first subregion in the first direction. The second bank region defined by the second bank opening includes: a third subregion extending in the second direction; and a fourth subregion protruding from the third subregion toward the first bank region in a direction opposite to the first direction, The third bank region is defined by the third bank opening, Center lines of the second sub-region and the fourth sub-region in the second direction do not overlap with each other in the first direction, and Center lines of the first sub-region, the third sub-region, and the third bank region in the second direction are aligned with each other.

2. The display panel according to claim 1, wherein: Each of the second sub-region and the fourth sub-region includes an oblique side extending in an oblique direction at an acute angle to the first direction.

3. The display panel according to claim 1, wherein: The length of the third bank region in the second direction is smaller than the length of each of the first bank region and the second bank region in the second direction.

4. The display panel according to claim 1, wherein: The first sub-region includes a first side and a second side, the first side and the second side both extend in the first direction and are spaced apart from each other in the second direction, The third sub-region includes a third side and a fourth side, both of the third side and the fourth side extend in the first direction and are spaced apart from each other in the second direction, The first side and the third side are aligned with each other in the first direction, and The second side and the fourth side are aligned with each other in the first direction.

5. The display panel according to claim 4, wherein: The second sub-region includes a fifth side aligned with the second side in the first direction, and The fourth sub-region includes a sixth side aligned with the third side in the first direction. The display panel according to claim 1 , wherein: The optical structure layer further comprises a color filter layer, wherein the color filter layer is disposed on the light control layer, and The color filter layer includes: a first color filter overlapping the first bank region in a plan view; a second color filter overlapping the second bank region in a plan view; and The third color filter overlaps the third bank region in a plan view.

7. The display panel according to claim 6, wherein: The first color filter is disposed in a first filter region that emits light of a first wavelength, The second color filter is disposed in a second filter region that emits light of a second wavelength, The third color filter is disposed in a third filtering region that emits light of a third wavelength, and The third wavelength is shorter than the first wavelength and the second wavelength.

8. The display panel according to claim 7, wherein: The third filtering region has a rectangular shape in a plan view.

9. The display panel according to claim 7, wherein: The first filtering region includes: a first sub-filtering region overlapping the first sub-region in a plan view; and a second sub-filtering region protruding from the first sub-filtering region in the first direction and at least partially overlapping the second sub-region in a plan view, and The second filtering region includes: a third sub-filtering region overlapping the third sub-filtering region in a plan view; and a fourth sub-filtering region protruding from the third sub-filtering region in a direction opposite to the first direction and at least partially overlapping the fourth sub-filtering region in a plan view.

10. The display panel according to claim 9, wherein: A minimum distance from one end of the first sub-region to one end of the first sub-filtering region is equal to a minimum distance from one end of the second sub-region to one end of the second sub-filtering region.

11. The display panel according to claim 1, wherein: The second bank region further includes a fifth sub-region protruding from the third sub-region toward the third bank region in the first direction, and The third bank region includes: a sixth sub-region extending in the second direction; and The seventh sub-region protrudes from the sixth sub-region toward the second bank region in a direction opposite to the first direction.

12. The display panel according to claim 1, wherein: A length of the second sub-region in the second direction is the same as a length of the fourth sub-region in the second direction.

13. The display panel according to claim 1, wherein: A length of the second sub-region in the second direction and a length of the fourth sub-region in the second direction are different from each other.

14. The display panel according to claim 1, wherein: The third bank region has a rectangular shape in a plan view.

15. The display panel according to claim 1, wherein The third light-controlling pattern includes a photosensitive resin.

16. The display panel according to claim 1, wherein The width of the first sub-region in the first direction is the same as the width of the third sub-region in the first direction.

17. The display panel according to claim 1, wherein: A separation distance from the second sub-region to the third sub-region and a separation distance from the third sub-region to the third bank region in the first direction are the same.

18. A display panel, comprising: A display element layer including a light emitting element for outputting source light; as well as an optical structure layer, disposed on the light-emitting element and transmitting the source light or converting the source light into light of a different wavelength, wherein: The optical structure layer includes a light control layer, which is disposed on the light emitting element and includes: a dam having a first dam opening, a second dam opening, and a third dam opening sequentially disposed in a first direction; a first light control pattern disposed in the first dam opening; a second light control pattern disposed in the second dam opening; and a third light control pattern disposed in the third dam opening. The first bank region defined by the first bank opening includes: a first sub-region; and a second sub-region protruding from the first sub-region in the first direction, a second bank region defined by the second bank opening including: a third sub-region; and a fourth sub-region protruding from the third sub-region toward the first bank region in a direction opposite to the first direction, The third bank region is defined by the third bank opening, Each of the second sub-region and the fourth sub-region protrudes from an upper portion or a lower portion of a side of each of the first sub-region and the third sub-region in a staggered manner, and Center lines of the first sub-region, the third sub-region, and the third bank region in a second direction crossing the first direction are aligned with each other.

19. The display panel according to claim 18, wherein: Each of the second sub-region and the fourth sub-region includes an oblique side extending in an oblique direction that is a direction between the first direction and the second direction.

20. A method for manufacturing a display panel, the method comprising the following steps: preparing a display element layer including a light-emitting element that outputs source light; as well as An optical structure layer is formed on the light emitting element, wherein: The step of forming the optical structure layer includes: forming a dam on the light emitting element, the dam including a first dam opening, a second dam opening, and a third dam opening sequentially formed in a first direction; patterning a photoresist material in the third dam opening to form a third light control pattern; and forming a first light control pattern in the first dam opening and a second light control pattern in the second dam opening by an inkjet process. The first bank region defined by the first bank opening includes: a first subregion extending in a second direction intersecting the first direction; and a second subregion protruding from the first subregion in the first direction. The second bank region defined by the second bank opening includes: a third subregion extending in the second direction; and a fourth subregion protruding from the third subregion toward the first bank region in a direction opposite to the first direction, The third bank region is defined by the third bank opening, Center lines of the second sub-region and the fourth sub-region in the second direction do not overlap with each other in the first direction, and Center lines of the first sub-region, the third sub-region, and the third bank region in the second direction are aligned with each other.

Images