Display device

Abstract

A display device includes a substrate including a plurality of pixels having a plurality of sub-pixels, a first sub-pixel of the plurality of sub-pixels including a cover layer disposed on the substrate, an upper color filter located on the cover layer, a pixel electrode disposed on the upper color filter, and a reflective electrode located on the pixel electrode, the reflective electrode extending into a non-emissive area located between the plurality of sub-pixels, the reflective electrode in the non-emissive area being partially disposed closer to the substrate than the pixel electrode, and a refractive index of the upper color filter being different from a refractive index of the cover layer.

Description

Cross-reference to related applications

[0001] This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2024-0187768, filed on December 16, 2024, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Technical Field

[0002] This disclosure relates to a display device for displaying images. Background Technology

[0003] Unlike liquid crystal displays, organic light-emitting diode (OLED) displays have high response speed, low power consumption, and are self-emissive, eliminating the need for a separate light source. Therefore, OLED displays do not have viewing angle issues, making them a promising next-generation flat panel display device.

[0004] This display device displays images by emitting light from a light-emitting element layer, which includes a light-emitting layer between two electrodes.

[0005] There is a need to improve the light extraction efficiency of display devices. Summary of the Invention

[0006] One aspect of this disclosure relates to providing a display device in which the light extraction efficiency of light emitted from sub-pixels can be improved.

[0007] Furthermore, one aspect of this disclosure relates to providing a display device capable of maximizing light extraction efficiency.

[0008] Furthermore, one aspect of this disclosure relates to providing a display device in which total power consumption can be reduced by extracting light from light-emitting regions and / or non-light-emitting regions.

[0009] The problems to be solved by the examples in this disclosure are not limited to those described above, and other problems not mentioned will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the technical solutions of this disclosure pertain.

[0010] A display device includes: a substrate, the substrate including a plurality of pixels having a plurality of sub-pixels, a first sub-pixel including: a capping layer disposed on the substrate; an upper color filter disposed on the capping layer; a pixel electrode disposed on the upper color filter; and a reflective electrode disposed on the pixel electrode, the reflective electrode extending into a non-light-emitting region between the plurality of sub-pixels, the reflective electrode in the non-light-emitting region being partially disposed closer to the substrate than the pixel electrode, and the refractive index of the upper color filter being different from the refractive index of the capping layer. Attached Figure Description

[0011] The accompanying drawings, included to provide a further understanding of this disclosure and incorporated in and forming part of this application, illustrate embodiments of the disclosure and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the disclosure. In the drawings:

[0012] Figure 1 This is a plan view of a display device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0013] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A schematic planar view of a single pixel is shown.

[0014] Figure 3 yes Figure 2 A schematic cross-sectional view of line I-I' shown.

[0015] Figure 4 yes Figure 2 A schematic cross-sectional view of line II-II' shown.

[0016] Figure 5 This is a schematic cross-sectional view of a display device according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0017] Figure 6 It is along Figure 2 A schematic cross-sectional view taken by line III-III', which shows a display device according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0018] Figure 7 This is a schematic cross-sectional view of a display device according to a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0019] Figure 8 yes Figure 7 A magnified view of part A.

[0020] Figure 9 This is a schematic cross-sectional view of a display device according to a fifth embodiment of the present disclosure. Detailed Implementation

[0021] Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the present disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Where possible, the same reference numerals will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or similar parts. The advantages and features of the present disclosure, and methods of implementation thereof, will be elucidated by the following embodiments described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0022] However, this disclosure may be implemented in various forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete and will fully convey the scope of this disclosure to those skilled in the art.

[0023] The shapes, dimensions, ratios, angles, and quantities disclosed in the accompanying drawings for describing embodiments of this disclosure are merely examples, and therefore, this disclosure is not limited to the details shown. The same reference numerals consistently refer to the same elements. In the following description, detailed descriptions of related known functions or configurations will be omitted if determined to unnecessarily obscure the focus of this disclosure.

[0024] In the use of “comprising,” “having,” and “including” as described in this disclosure, an additional part may be added unless “only” is used. Unless otherwise stated, singular terms may include plural forms.

[0025] When interpreting elements, they are interpreted as including a range of error, even though there is no explicit description.

[0026] When describing positional relationships, such as when the positional relationship between two parts is described as "on," "above," "below," and "next to," one or more other parts can be placed between the two parts, unless "only" or "directly" is used.

[0027] When describing temporal relationships, such as when time sequence is described as "after", "following", "next", and "before", discontinuous cases can be included unless "only" or "directly" is used.

[0028] It should be understood that although the terms “first,” “second,” etc., may be used in this document to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms.

[0029] These terms are used only to distinguish one element from others. For example, without departing from the scope of this disclosure, a first element may be referred to as a second element, and similarly, a second element may be referred to as a first element.

[0030] The “X-axis direction,” “Y-axis direction,” and “Z-axis direction” should not be interpreted solely by their geometric relationship of being perpendicular to each other, but can have a wider range of directions within the scope of the elements of this disclosure being functionally effective.

[0031] The term "at least one" should be understood to include any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. For example, "at least one of the first, second, and third items" means a combination of all items drawn from two or more of the first, second, and third items, as well as the first, second, or third item.

[0032] As will be fully appreciated by those skilled in the art, the features of the various embodiments of this disclosure may be coupled or combined with each other in part or in whole, and may operate differently from each other and be technically driven. Embodiments of this disclosure may be performed independently of each other, or may be performed together in an interdependent relationship.

[0033] The preferred embodiments of this disclosure will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0034] Figure 1 This is a schematic plan view of a display device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A schematic plan view of one pixel is shown, and Figure 3 yes Figure 2 A schematic cross-sectional view of line I-I' shown.

[0035] Now for reference Figures 1 to 3 According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a display device 100 may include a substrate 110, which includes a plurality of pixels, the plurality of pixels including a plurality of sub-pixels SP. One of the plurality of sub-pixels SP (e.g., a first sub-pixel SP1) may include a capping layer 113, an upper color filter UCF, a pixel electrode 114, and a reflective electrode 117.

[0036] According to one example, a capping layer 113 can be disposed on a substrate 110. According to one example, an upper color filter UCF can be disposed on the capping layer 113. According to one example, a pixel electrode 114 can be disposed on the upper color filter UCF. According to one example, a reflective electrode 117 can be disposed on the pixel electrode 114.

[0037] like Figure 3 As shown, the reflective electrode 117 extends into the non-light-emitting region NEA between the plurality of sub-pixels SP, and the reflective electrode 117 in the non-light-emitting region NEA can be partially positioned closer to the substrate 110 than the pixel electrode 114. According to one example, the pixel electrode 114 can be arranged to be spaced apart from the upper surface of the substrate 110 by a first distance PD. For example, the first distance PD can be the sum of the thickness of the upper color filter UCF, the thickness of the capping layer 113, the thickness of the plurality of inorganic film layers 111, and the thickness of the buffer layer BL. Conversely, the reflective electrode 117 closest to the substrate 110 among the reflective electrodes 117 in the non-light-emitting region NEA can be located at a second distance CD shorter than the first distance PD from the upper surface of the substrate 110. For example, the second distance CD can be a distance obtained by subtracting the thickness of the upper color filter UCF from the first distance PD and adding the thickness of the organic light-emitting layer 116.

[0038] In the above description, the reflective electrode 117 closest to the substrate 110 among the reflective electrodes 117 in the non-light-emitting region NEA is used as an example, but it is not limited to this. The reflective electrode 117 in the non-light-emitting region NEA is positioned closer to the substrate 110 than the pixel electrode 114 in the light-emitting region EA, and may include a reflective electrode 117 that is tilted. In the following text, the reflective electrode 117 tilted in the non-light-emitting region NEA is defined as the reflective portion 120.

[0039] like Figure 3 As shown, according to one example, the reflective portion 120 is obliquely arranged in the non-light-emitting region NEA, such that light emitted from the organic light-emitting layer 116 and directed toward an adjacent sub-pixel SP can be reflected toward the emitting sub-pixel SP. Therefore, light emitted from a sub-pixel (e.g., the first sub-pixel SP1) and directed toward an adjacent sub-pixel is reflected by the reflective portion 120 and directed toward the emitting sub-pixel, i.e., the first sub-pixel SP1, and can be emitted to the outside of the substrate 110. Thus, in a display device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, the reflective electrode 117 (or reflective portion 120) positioned closer to the substrate 110 in the non-light-emitting region NEA than the pixel electrode 114 can reflect light emitted from a sub-pixel (e.g., the first sub-pixel SP1) toward an adjacent sub-pixel, thereby improving light extraction efficiency.

[0040] Furthermore, in a display device 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the refractive index of the upper color filter UCF can be set to be different from the refractive index of the cover layer 113. For example, the refractive index of the upper color filter UCF can be set to be greater than the refractive index of the cover layer 113. Therefore, some of the light emitted from a sub-pixel (e.g., the first sub-pixel SP1) can be totally internally reflected at the interface between the upper color filter UCF and the cover layer 113 to form an optical path to the reflective electrode 117 in the non-light-emitting region NEA.

[0041] For example, due to the refractive index difference between the upper color filter UCF and the capping layer 113, some of the light emitted from a sub-pixel (e.g., the first sub-pixel SP1) can be totally internally reflected. The light that is totally internally reflected at the interface between the upper color filter UCF and the capping layer 113 and incident on the reflective electrode 117 (or reflective portion 120) of the non-emitting region NEA is reflected by the reflective electrode 117 (or reflective portion 120) and directed towards the emitting sub-pixel, i.e., the first sub-pixel SP1, and can be emitted to the outside of the substrate 110.

[0042] Therefore, in a display device 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, since the reflective electrode 117 included in one of the plurality of sub-pixels SP (e.g., the first sub-pixel SP1) is partially positioned in the non-light-emitting region NEA closer to the substrate 110 than the pixel electrode 114, the light extraction efficiency can be further improved by changing the direction of light toward the sub-pixel (e.g., the first sub-pixel SP1) that emits light at the reflective electrode 117.

[0043] As a result, the display device 100 according to the present invention can improve light extraction efficiency because the reflective electrode 117, positioned in the non-emitting region NEA closer to the substrate 110 than the pixel electrode 114, can reflect light emitted from one sub-pixel (e.g., the first sub-pixel SP1) toward the adjacent sub-pixel back to the emitting sub-pixel (e.g., the first sub-pixel SP1). Furthermore, the display device 100 according to the present disclosure is configured such that the cover layer 113 and the color filter (or upper color filter UCF) included in one of the plurality of sub-pixels (e.g., the first sub-pixel SP1) have different refractive indices, thereby enabling the light extraction efficiency to be maximized through total internal reflection at the interface between the cover layer 113 and the color filter (or upper color filter UCF).

[0044] Meanwhile, in this disclosure, light emitted from a sub-pixel (e.g., the first sub-pixel SP1) (or the organic light-emitting layer 116 on the pixel electrode 114), incident through various paths onto a reflective electrode 117 arranged in the non-light-emitting region NEA, and subsequently reflected by the reflective electrode 117 and emitted to the outside of the substrate 110 is defined as reflected light EL.

[0045] like Figure 3As shown, according to one example, reflected light EL can include direct reflected light EL1 and indirect reflected light EL2. Direct reflected light EL1 can refer to light emitted from the light-emitting region EA on the pixel electrode 114, which does not undergo total internal reflection at other interfaces, but is directly reflected by the reflective electrode 117 (or reflective portion 120) obliquely arranged in the non-light-emitting region NEA and emitted to the outside of the substrate 110. Indirect reflected light EL2 can refer to light emitted from the light-emitting region EA on the pixel electrode 114, which is first totally internally reflected at the interface between the upper color filter UCF and the cover layer 113, then secondarily reflected by the reflective electrode 117 (or reflective portion 120) obliquely arranged in the non-light-emitting region NEA, and then emitted to the outside of the substrate 110. According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the indirect reflected light EL2 emitted from the display device 100 is light that is totally internally reflected inside the substrate 110 and emitted to the outside of the substrate 110, and therefore can be represented as substrate mode emitted light.

[0046] As a result, the display device 100 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure is configured such that the reflective electrode 117 in the non-light-emitting region NEA is partially positioned closer to the substrate 110 than the pixel electrode 114, so that light directed toward the adjacent sub-pixel can be emitted to the outside of the substrate 110 in the form of direct reflected light EL1 and / or indirect reflected light EL2, thereby improving the light extraction efficiency.

[0047] refer to Figure 3 In a display device 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the width PW of the pixel electrode 114 can be set to be equal to or narrower than the width UCFW of the upper surface UCFa of the upper color filter UCF. If the width PW of the pixel electrode 114 is set to be greater than the width UCFW of the upper surface UCFa of the upper color filter UCF, the pixel electrode 114 can be arranged to extend to the side surface UCFb of the upper color filter UCF, so light emission can also occur at the side surface UCFb of the upper color filter UCF. When light is emitted from the side surface UCFb of the upper color filter UCF, color mixing may occur because light may be emitted to adjacent sub-pixels. Therefore, the display device 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure can prevent color mixing between sub-pixels by setting the width PW of the pixel electrode 114 to be equal to or narrower than the width UCFW of the upper surface UCFa of the upper color filter UCF.

[0048] For example, such as Figure 3As shown, when the width PW of the pixel electrode 114 is set to be narrower than the width UCFW of the upper surface UCFa of the upper color filter UCF, the process margin of the pixel electrode 114 relative to the upper surface UCFa of the upper color filter UCF is sufficient, thereby reducing the defect rate of the display device. As another example, compared to when the width PW of the pixel electrode 114 is set to be narrower than the width UCFW of the upper surface UCFa of the upper color filter UCF, when the width PW of the pixel electrode 114 is set to be equal to the width UCFW of the upper surface UCFa of the upper color filter UCF, the width of the light-emitting region EA can be wider, thereby further improving light efficiency.

[0049] In the following text, reference will be made to Figure 1 and Figure 2 A more detailed examination of a display device 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is provided.

[0050] refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a display device 100 may include a display panel having a gate driver GD, a source driver integrated circuit (hereinafter referred to as "IC") 140, a flexible film 150, a circuit board 160 and a timing controller 170.

[0051] The display panel may include a substrate 110 and an opposing substrate 200 (e.g., ...). Figure 3 (As shown).

[0052] The substrate 110 may include thin-film transistors and may be a transistor array substrate, a lower substrate, a base substrate, or a first substrate. The substrate 110 may be a transparent glass substrate or a transparent plastic substrate. The substrate 110 may include a display area DA and a non-display area NDA.

[0053] The display area DA is the area where an image is displayed, and can be a pixel array area, an effective area, a pixel array unit, a display unit, or a screen. For example, the display area DA can be located in the central part of a display panel. The display area DA may include multiple pixels P.

[0054] The opposing substrate 200 can encapsulate (or seal) the display area DA disposed on the substrate 110. For example, the opposing substrate 200 can be bonded to the substrate 110 via an adhesive member (or transparent adhesive). The opposing substrate 200 can be a top substrate, a second substrate, or an encapsulation substrate. The opposing substrate 200 may include a magnetic metal layer, such as Invar, SUS, etc. Alternatively, the opposing substrate 200 may consist of multiple layers, such as a metal layer (e.g., aluminum) for good heat dissipation, an organic adhesive layer for adhesion, and an organic protective layer thicker than the metal layer, to improve encapsulation performance.

[0055] The gate driver GD supplies the gate signal to the gate line according to the gate control signal input from the timing controller 180. For example... Figure 1 As shown, the gate driver GD can be formed on one side of the light-emitting region EA or in the non-light-emitting region NEA outside the two sides of the light-emitting region EA by the gate driver in panel (GIP) method.

[0056] The non-display area NDA is the area where no image is displayed, and it can be a peripheral area, a signal supply area, an invalid area, or a border area. The non-display area NDA can be configured to be located near the display area DA. That is, the non-display area NDA can be set around the display area DA.

[0057] The pad area PA can be set in the non-display area NDA. The pad area PA can provide power and / or signals for image output to the pixel P set in the display area DA. (Reference) Figure 1 The pad area PA can be set above the display area DA.

[0058] The source driver IC 140 receives digital video data and source control signals from the timing controller 170. Based on the source control signals, the source driver IC 140 converts the digital video data into analog data voltage and provides the analog data voltage to the data lines. When the source driver IC 140 is manufactured as a driver chip, it can be packaged in a flexible film 150 using either a chip-on-film (COF) or chip-on-plastic (COP) method.

[0059] Pads, such as data pads, can be formed in the non-display area NDA of the display panel. Lines connecting the pads to the source driver IC 140 and lines connecting the pads to the lines of the circuit board 160 can be formed in the flexible film 150. The flexible film 150 can be attached to the pads using an anisotropic conductive film, thereby allowing the pads to be connected to the lines of the flexible film 150.

[0060] Circuit board 160 can be attached to flexible film 150. Multiple circuits implemented as driver chips can be packaged in circuit board 160. For example, timing controller 170 can be packaged in circuit board 160. Circuit board 160 can be a printed circuit board or a flexible printed circuit board.

[0061] The timing controller 170 receives digital video data and timing signals from an external system board via cables from the circuit board 160. Based on the timing signals, the timing controller 170 generates gate control signals for controlling the operating timing of the gate driver GD and source control signals for controlling the source driver IC 140. The timing controller 170 provides gate control signals to the gate driver GD and source control signals to the source driver IC 140.

[0062] refer to Figure 2 and Figure 3 The substrate 110, according to the example, may include a light-emitting region EA and a non-light-emitting region NEA.

[0063] The light-emitting region EA can refer to the region that emits light. A light-emitting element layer E, including a pixel electrode 114, an organic light-emitting layer 116, and a reflective electrode 117, can be disposed within the light-emitting region EA. When an electric field is formed between the pixel electrode 114 and the reflective electrode 117, the organic light-emitting layer 116 in the light-emitting region EA can emit light. The light-emitting region EA can overlap with the region in which the pixel electrode 114, the organic light-emitting layer 116, and the reflective electrode 117 are in contact with each other. The non-light-emitting region NEA can refer to the region that does not emit light and surrounds the light-emitting region EA.

[0064] like Figure 3 As shown, some of the light emitted from the organic light-emitting layer 116 can form light paths toward adjacent sub-pixels (or non-emitting sub-pixels). A display device 100 according to an embodiment of this disclosure can reflect light directed toward adjacent sub-pixels to the non-emitting region NEA or the light-emitting region EA of the emitting sub-pixels by arranging reflective portions 120 between sub-pixels SP (or in the non-emitting region NEA). Therefore, the display device 100 according to an embodiment of this disclosure can improve the light efficiency of the emitting sub-pixels by extracting light directed toward adjacent sub-pixels using the light-reflective portions 120. Furthermore, due to the reflective portions 120 disposed between sub-pixels SP, the display device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention can prevent color mixing.

[0065] Return to reference Figure 2 The light-emitting region EA, as shown in the example, may include gate lines, data lines, pixel drive power lines, and multiple pixels P. Each of the multiple pixels P may include multiple sub-pixels SP, which may be defined by the gate lines and data lines.

[0066] A pixel P (or unit pixel) can be formed by at least four sub-pixels of a plurality of sub-pixels SP that are configured to emit different colors and are arranged adjacent to each other. A pixel P may include, but is not limited to, red sub-pixels, white sub-pixels, blue sub-pixels, and green sub-pixels. A pixel P may include three sub-pixels SP that are configured to emit different colors of light and are arranged adjacent to each other. For example, a pixel P may include red sub-pixels, green sub-pixels, and blue sub-pixels.

[0067] Each of the multiple sub-pixels SP includes a thin-film transistor and a light-emitting element layer E connected to the thin-film transistor. Each of the multiple sub-pixels may include a light-emitting layer (or an organic light-emitting layer) interposed between a pixel electrode and a reflective electrode.

[0068] The emissive layers in each of the multiple sub-pixels SP can collectively emit white light. Since the emissive layers of each of the multiple sub-pixels SP collectively emit white light, each of the red, green, and blue sub-pixels can include a color filter CF (or wavelength conversion element CF) to convert white light into the corresponding color. In this case, the white sub-pixel may not include a color filter.

[0069] In a display device 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, an area with a red color filter can be a red sub-pixel, a first sub-pixel, or a single sub-pixel; an area without a color filter can be a white sub-pixel, a second sub-pixel, or another sub-pixel; an area with a blue color filter can be a blue sub-pixel, a third sub-pixel, or another sub-pixel; and an area with a green color filter can be a green sub-pixel or a fourth sub-pixel. Since the area equipped with a green color filter has the same structure as the red sub-pixel, except that the color of the color filter differs from the area equipped with the red color filter, it can be represented as a single sub-pixel. Therefore, in this disclosure, a single sub-pixel can refer to a red sub-pixel (or the first sub-pixel SP1) or a green sub-pixel (or the fourth sub-pixel SP4). When a unit pixel P of the display device 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure comprises four sub-pixels, these four sub-pixels can refer to a red sub-pixel (or the first sub-pixel SP1), a white sub-pixel (or the second sub-pixel SP2), a blue sub-pixel (or the third sub-pixel SP3), and a green sub-pixel (or the fourth sub-pixel SP4).

[0070] When a gate signal is input from the gate line using a thin-film transistor, each of the sub-pixels SP provides a predetermined current to the organic light-emitting element according to the data voltage of the data line. Therefore, the light-emitting layer of each sub-pixel can emit light with a predetermined brightness according to the predetermined current.

[0071] According to an example, multiple sub-pixels SP can be set to be adjacent to each other in the first direction (X-axis direction).

[0072] Multiple subpixels SP may include a first subpixel SP1 (or one subpixel), a second subpixel SP2 (or another subpixel), a third subpixel SP3 (or another subpixel), and a fourth subpixel SP4 arranged adjacent to each other in a first direction (X-axis direction). For example, the first subpixel SP1 may be a red subpixel, the second subpixel SP2 may be a white subpixel, the third subpixel SP3 may be a blue subpixel, and the fourth subpixel SP4 may be a green subpixel. However, this is not a limitation, and the arrangement order of the first subpixel SP1, the second subpixel SP2, the third subpixel SP3, and the fourth subpixel SP4 may be changed.

[0073] Each of the first sub-pixels SP1 to the fourth sub-pixels SP4 may include a light-emitting region EA and a circuit region CA. The light-emitting region EA may be located on one side (or the top side) of the sub-pixel region, and the circuit region CA may be located on the other side (or the bottom side) of the sub-pixel region. For example, the circuit region CA may be located on one side (or the bottom side) of the light-emitting region EA based on a second direction (Y-axis direction). The light-emitting regions EA of each of the first sub-pixels SP1 to the fourth sub-pixels SP4 may have the same size (or area) as each other or different sizes (or areas) than each other.

[0074] The first sub-pixels SP1 to SP4 can be arranged to be adjacent to each other along a first direction (X-axis direction). For example, two data lines DL extending along a second direction (Y-axis direction) can be arranged parallel to each other between the first sub-pixel SP1 and the second sub-pixel SP2, and between the third sub-pixel SP3 and the fourth sub-pixel SP4. Pixel power lines EVDD (or branch wiring of pixel power lines) extending along the first direction (X-axis direction) can be arranged between the light-emitting area EA and the circuit area CA of each of the first sub-pixels SP1 to SP4. Gate lines GL and sensing lines SL can be arranged below the circuit area CA. Pixel power lines EVDD (such as...) extending along the second direction (Y-axis direction)... Figure 2The reference line RL, extending along a second direction (Y-axis direction), can be positioned on one side of the first sub-pixel SP1 or the fourth sub-pixel SP4. The reference line RL can be used as a sensing line to externally sense changes in the characteristics of the driving thin-film transistor and / or the characteristics of the light-emitting element layer disposed in the circuit region during the sensing drive mode of pixel P. In one example, a data line DL is used to provide data signals to each of the plurality of sub-pixels SP to drive each of the plurality of sub-pixels SP. For example, the data line DL may include a first data line DL1 for driving the first sub-pixel SP1, a second data line DL2 for driving the second sub-pixel SP2, a third data line DL3 for driving the third sub-pixel SP3, and a fourth data line DL4 for driving the fourth sub-pixel SP4.

[0075] In a display device 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, data lines can be configured not to overlap with a light-emitting region EA. For example, a first data line DL1 can be arranged such that it does not overlap with the light-emitting region EA. Therefore, in the display device 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the first data line DL1 does not overlap with (or interfere with) the light emitted from the light-emitting region EA, thereby preventing a decrease in light extraction efficiency. The second data line DL2, the third data line DL3, and the fourth data line DL4, like the first data line DL1, can be disposed in the non-light-emitting region NEA of the corresponding sub-pixel 110 so as not to overlap with the light-emitting region EA of the corresponding sub-pixel 110 in the third direction (Z-axis direction). Therefore, in the display device 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, data lines DL1, DL2, DL3, and DL4 can have a structural feature of not overlapping with the light-emitting region EA but overlapping with the non-light-emitting region NEA.

[0076] On the other hand, each of the pixel power line EVDD and reference line RL can be set in the non-light-emitting area NEA so as not to block (or interfere with) the light emitted from the light-emitting area EA, just like the data lines mentioned above.

[0077] In a display device 100 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, each of a plurality of sub-pixels SP may include a light-emitting region EA disposed adjacent to a non-light-emitting region NEA. For example... Figure 3 As shown, the reflective portion 120 can be spaced apart from the light-emitting region EA. This is because if the reflective portion 120 is not spaced apart from the light-emitting region and is arranged to be adjacent to or overlap with the light-emitting region, the light emitted from the light-emitting region EA cannot be reflected by the reflective portion 120.

[0078] Therefore, in a display device 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the reflective portion 120 is spaced apart from the light-emitting region EA, such that light emitted from the light-emitting region EA that is directed towards an adjacent sub-pixel (e.g., the second sub-pixel SP2) can be reflected by the reflective portion 120, thereby improving light extraction efficiency. Figure 3 As shown, since the light-emitting region EA is defined by the pixel electrode 114 positioned on the upper color filter UCF, the reflective portion 120 positioned in the non-light-emitting region NEA can be positioned separately from the pixel electrode 114.

[0079] In the following text, see references Figure 4 The structure of each of the multiple sub-pixels SP will be described in detail.

[0080] Figure 4 yes Figure 2 A schematic cross-sectional view of line II-II' shown.

[0081] refer to Figure 4 According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the display device 100 may further include a buffer layer BL, a circuit element layer 111, a thin film transistor 112, a cover layer 113, an upper color filter UCF, a pixel electrode 114, a dam 115, an organic light-emitting layer 116, a reflective electrode 117, and an encapsulation layer 118.

[0082] More specifically, one of the plurality of sub-pixels SP (e.g., the first sub-pixel SP1) may include a circuit element layer 111 (including a gate insulating layer 111a, an interlayer insulating layer 111b, and a passivation layer 111c) disposed on the upper surface of the buffer layer BL, a cover layer 113 disposed on the circuit element layer 111, an upper color filter UCF disposed on the cover layer 113, a pixel electrode 114 disposed on the upper color filter UCF, a dam 115 covering the edge of the pixel electrode 114, an organic light-emitting layer 116 located on the pixel electrode 114 and the dam 115, a reflective electrode 117 located on the organic light-emitting layer 116, and an encapsulation layer 118 located on the reflective electrode 117.

[0083] Thin-film transistors 112 for driving sub-pixels SP can be disposed on circuit element layer 111. Circuit element layer 111 can be referred to as an inorganic film layer. Buffer layer BL can be included in circuit element layer 111 together with gate insulating layer 111a, interlayer insulating layer 111b, and passivation layer 111c. Pixel electrode 114, organic light-emitting layer 116, and reflective electrode 117 can be included in light-emitting element layer E.

[0084] A buffer layer BL can be formed between the substrate 110 and the gate insulating layer 111a to protect the thin-film transistor 112. The buffer layer BL can be disposed on the entire surface (or front side) of the substrate 110. A pixel power line EVDD for pixel driving can be disposed between the buffer layer BL and the substrate 110. The pixel power line EVDD can be disposed below the embankment 115 and spaced apart from the thin-film transistor 112. A reference line RL can also be disposed between the buffer layer BL and the substrate 110. The reference line RL can be disposed in a non-light-emitting region NEA that does not overlap with the light-emitting region EA. The buffer layer BL can be used to prevent material contained in the substrate 110 from diffusing into the transistor layer during the high-temperature process of the thin-film transistor manufacturing process. Optionally, in some cases, the buffer layer BL can be omitted.

[0085] The thin-film transistor 112 (or driving transistor) according to the example may include an active layer 112a, a gate electrode 112b, a source electrode 112c, and a drain electrode 112d.

[0086] The active layer 112a may include a channel region, a drain region, and a source region in the thin-film transistor region of the circuit region of the sub-pixel SP. The drain region and the source region may be spaced apart from each other, such that the channel region is interposed therebetween.

[0087] The active layer 112a can be formed from a semiconductor material based on any one of amorphous silicon, polycrystalline silicon, oxide and organic materials.

[0088] The gate insulating layer 111a can be formed on the channel region of the active layer 112a. As an example, the gate insulating layer 111a can be formed in an island shape only on the channel region of the active layer 112a, or it can be formed on the entire front side of the substrate 110 or the buffer layer BL that includes the active layer 112a.

[0089] The gate electrode 112b can be formed on the gate insulating layer 111a to overlap with the channel region of the active layer 112a.

[0090] An interlayer insulating layer 111b can be formed on the gate electrode 112b and the drain and source regions of the active layer 112a. For example... Figure 4As shown, the interlayer insulating layer 111b can be formed in the circuit region and the entire light-emitting region, in which light is emitted to the sub-pixel SP. However, embodiments of this disclosure are not limited thereto. The interlayer insulating layer 111b can be patterned between the drain electrode 112d and the gate electrode 112b and the drain region of the active layer 112a, and can be arranged in an island shape. Furthermore, the interlayer insulating layer 111b can be patterned between the source electrode 112c and the gate electrode 112b and the source region of the active layer 112a, and can be arranged in an island shape.

[0091] The source electrode 112c can be electrically connected to the source region of the active layer 112a through a source contact hole provided in the interlayer insulating layer 111b that overlaps with the source region of the active layer 112a. The drain electrode 112d can be electrically connected to the drain region of the active layer 112a through a drain contact hole provided in the interlayer insulating layer 111b that overlaps with the drain region of the active layer 112a.

[0092] The drain electrode 112d and the source electrode 112c can be made of the same metallic material. For example, each of the drain electrode 112d and the source electrode 112c can be made of a single metal layer, a single alloy layer, or a multilayer comprising two or more layers, which may be the same as or different from the configuration of the gate electrode.

[0093] Furthermore, the circuit region may also include a first switching thin-film transistor and a second switching thin-film transistor disposed together with the thin-film transistor 112, as well as a capacitor. Since each of the first and second switching thin-film transistors is disposed on the circuit region of the sub-pixel SP to have the same structure as the thin-film transistor 112, their description will be omitted. A capacitor (not shown) may be disposed in the overlapping region between the gate electrode 112b and the source electrode 112c of the thin-film transistor 112, with the gate electrode 112b and the source electrode 112c overlapping each other, such that an interlayer insulating layer 111b is interposed therebetween.

[0094] Furthermore, to prevent the threshold voltage of the thin-film transistors disposed in the pixel area from shifting due to light, the display panel or substrate 110 may also include a light-shielding layer (not shown) disposed below the active layer 112a of at least one of the thin-film transistors 112, the first switching thin-film transistor, or the second switching thin-film transistor. The light-shielding layer may be disposed between the substrate 110 and the active layer 112a to block light incident on the active layer 112a through the substrate 110, thereby minimizing the change in the threshold voltage of the transistors caused by external light. Furthermore, since the light-shielding layer is disposed between the substrate 110 and the active layer 112a, the thin-film transistors can be prevented from being seen by the user.

[0095] A passivation layer 111c can be disposed on the substrate 110 to cover the pixel area. The passivation layer 111c covers the drain electrode 112d, source electrode 112c, and gate electrode 112b of the thin-film transistor 112, as well as the buffer layer BL.

[0096] Meanwhile, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the display device 100 can be provided such that the embankment 115 is arranged on one side of the light-emitting region EA where the circuit region CA is arranged, and is also arranged on the other side of the light-emitting region EA. For example, the side of the light-emitting region EA can refer to... Figure 4 The left-side region adjacent to the left side of the luminescent region EA. Furthermore, the other side of the luminescent region EA can refer to... Figure 4 The luminescent region EA is adjacent to the right side of the region to its right. Therefore, as... Figure 4 As shown, the pixel power line EVDD can overlap with the embankment 115 in the third direction (Z-axis direction), and the reference line RL can overlap with the embankment 115 in the third direction (Z-axis direction). A passivation layer 111c can be formed above the entire circuit area and the light-emitting area. This passivation layer 111c can be omitted. A cover layer 113 can be disposed on the passivation layer 111c.

[0097] A capping layer 113 can be disposed on the substrate 110 to cover the passivation layer 111c. When the passivation layer 111c is omitted, the capping layer 113 can be disposed on the substrate 110 to cover the circuit area. The capping layer 113 can be formed in the light-emitting area EA and the circuit area CA in which the thin-film transistor 112 is disposed. Furthermore, in addition to the pad area PA of the non-display area NDA and the entire display area DA, the capping layer 113 can be formed in another non-display area NDA. For example, the capping layer 113 may include an extension (or extension) extending or expanding from the display area DA to another non-display area NDA other than the pad area PA. Therefore, the capping layer 113 can have a relatively wider dimension than the display area DA.

[0098] According to one example, the overlay 113 can be formed to have a relatively thick thickness, thereby providing a flat surface on the display area DA and the non-display area NDA. For example, the overlay 113 can be made of organic materials such as photoacryloyl, benzocyclobutene, polyimide, and fluoropolymers.

[0099] Refer again Figure 4The upper color filter UCF can be placed on the capping layer 113. Since the upper surface 113a of the capping layer 113 is set to be flat, the upper color filter UCF on the capping layer 113 can also be set to be flat, and the pixel electrode 114 formed thereon can also be set to be flat. Furthermore, the organic light-emitting layer 116 and the reflective electrode 117 formed on the pixel electrode 114 can also be set to be flat. Since the pixel electrode 114, the organic light-emitting layer 116, and the reflective electrode 117, i.e., the light-emitting element layer E, are set to be flat in the light-emitting region EA, the thickness of the pixel electrode 114, the organic light-emitting layer 116, and the reflective electrode 117 in the light-emitting region EA can be uniformly formed. Therefore, the organic light-emitting layer 116 can emit uniformly in the light-emitting region EA without deviation.

[0100] An upper color filter UCF can be disposed between the capping layer 113 and the pixel electrode 114. The upper color filter UCF can be a red color filter (or a first color filter) that converts white light emitted by the organic light-emitting layer 116 into red light. The second sub-pixel SP2 (which is a white sub-pixel) may not include a color filter because the organic light-emitting layer 116 emits white light. An upper color filter UCF' (such as...) included in the fourth sub-pixel SP4... Figure 6 (As shown) can be a green filter (or a second filter) that converts white light emitted by the organic light-emitting layer 116 into green light.

[0101] Additionally, the display device 100 according to one embodiment of this disclosure may further include a blue filter (or a third filter) for converting white light into blue light. For example, the blue filter may be placed in a third sub-pixel SP3. According to one example, the blue filter may be placed in an overlay layer 113 (such as...). Figure 6 Below (as shown). Therefore, the blue filter can be called the lower filter (LCF).

[0102] Refer again Figure 3According to one example, the upper color filter UCF may include a flat surface UCFa and a sloping surface UCFb. The flat surface UCFa may be a surface that partially contacts the pixel electrode 114 (or the lower surface of the pixel electrode 114). The sloping surface UCFb is connected to the flat surface UCFa and may be a slope. For example, the sloping surface UCFb may be arranged to form an obtuse angle (θ) with the flat surface UCFa. According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the display device 100 may be arranged such that the sloping surface UCFb of the upper color filter UCF forms an obtuse angle with the flat surface UCFa, such that the reflective electrode 117 disposed on the sloping surface UCFb of the upper color filter UCF may also be arranged to be sloping, and the sloping reflective electrode 117 (or reflective portion 120) may be configured to reflect light directed toward an adjacent sub-pixel toward the emitting sub-pixel.

[0103] refer to Figure 4 A pixel electrode 114 for one of the multiple sub-pixels, SP (e.g., the first sub-pixel SP1), can be formed on the upper color filter UCF. The pixel electrode 114 can be connected to the drain or source electrode of the thin-film transistor 112 through contact holes penetrating the capping layer 113 and the passivation layer 111c. Each of one edge portion and another edge portion of the pixel electrode 114 can be covered by a dike 115. The pixel electrode 114 can be made of at least one of a transparent metallic material and a translucent metallic material.

[0104] Since the display device 100 according to the embodiments of the present disclosure is configured as a bottom-emitting type, the pixel electrode 114 can be formed of a transparent conductive material (or TCO) such as indium tin oxide (ITO) or indium zinc oxide (IZO) that is capable of transmitting light, or a semi-transparent conductive material such as magnesium (Mg), silver (Ag) or an alloy of Mg and Ag.

[0105] Meanwhile, the material constituting the pixel electrode 114 may include MoTi. The pixel electrode 114 may be a first electrode or an anode electrode.

[0106] The embankment 115 is a non-light-emitting area and can be positioned on one side and the other side of the light-emitting area EA of each of the multiple sub-pixels SP. For example, the embankment 115 can be placed in the non-light-emitting area NEA where the circuit area CA is located. Figure 4As shown, the dam 115 can be formed to cover a portion of one edge of the pixel electrode 114 of each sub-pixel SP that is connected to the thin-film transistor 112. Furthermore, the dam 115 can be formed to cover the other edge of the pixel electrode 114 of each sub-pixel SP. That is, the dam 115 can partially cover the pixel electrode 114. Therefore, the dam 115 can prevent the pixel electrode 114 and the reflective electrode 117 from contacting in the circuit region CA, and can also prevent the pixel electrode 114 and the reflective electrode 117 from contacting in the non-light-emitting region NEA on the opposite side of the light-emitting region EA. The exposed portion of the pixel electrode 114 not covered by the dam 115 can be included in the light-emitting portion (or the light-emitting region EA).

[0107] After forming the dam 115, the organic light-emitting layer 116 can be formed to cover the pixel electrode 114 and the dam 115. Thus, the dam 115 can be disposed between the pixel electrode 114 and the organic light-emitting layer 116. The dam 115 can be expressed in the terminology of a pixel-defined film. According to one example, the dam 115 may comprise organic and / or inorganic materials.

[0108] An organic light-emitting layer 116 can be formed between the pixel electrode 114 and the reflective electrode 117. According to one example, the organic light-emitting layer 116 can be disposed in the light-emitting region EA and the non-light-emitting region NEA. The organic light-emitting layer 116 can be disposed between the pixel electrode 114 and the reflective electrode 117. Therefore, when a voltage is applied to each of the pixel electrode 114 and the reflective electrode 117, an electric field is formed between the pixel electrode 114 and the reflective electrode 117. Therefore, the organic light-emitting layer 116 can emit light. The organic light-emitting layer 116 can be formed from a plurality of sub-pixels SP and a common layer disposed on the embankment 115.

[0109] An organic light-emitting layer 116 according to an embodiment may be provided to emit white light. The organic light-emitting layer 116 may include multiple stacks that emit light of different colors. For example, the organic light-emitting layer 116 may include a first stack, a second stack, and a charge-generating layer (CGL) disposed between the first stack and the second stack. The light-emitting layer may be configured to emit white light; therefore, each of the plurality of sub-pixels SP may include a color filter CF adapted to achieve the corresponding color.

[0110] The first stack can be disposed on the pixel electrode 114 and can be implemented as a structure in which the hole injection layer (HIL), hole transport layer (HTL), emitter layer (EML(B)) and electron transport layer (ETL) are stacked in sequence.

[0111] The charge generation layer can supply charge to both the first and second stacks. The charge generation layer may include an N-type charge generation layer for supplying electrons to the first stack and a P-type charge generation layer for supplying holes to the second stack. The N-type charge generation layer may include a metallic material as a dopant.

[0112] The second stack can be placed on the first stack and can be implemented as a structure in which the hole transport layer (HTL), the yellow-green (YG) emitter layer (EML(YG)), and the electron injection layer (EIL) are stacked in sequence.

[0113] In the display device 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, since the organic light-emitting layer 116 is configured as a common layer, the first stack, the charge-generating layer, and the second stack can all be arranged above the plurality of sub-pixels SP. According to another example, depending on the number of stacks, the organic light-emitting layer 116 can be configured as a triple-stacked structure or a quad-stacked structure.

[0114] A reflective electrode 117 can be formed on the organic light-emitting layer 116. The reflective electrode 117 can be disposed in the light-emitting region EA and the non-light-emitting region NEA. According to one example, the reflective electrode 117 may comprise a metallic material. The reflective electrode 117 can reflect light emitted from the organic light-emitting layer 116 in the plurality of sub-pixels SP toward the lower surface of the substrate 110. Therefore, the display device 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure can be implemented as a bottom-emitting type display device.

[0115] The display device 100 according to one embodiment of this disclosure is a bottom-emitting type and must reflect light emitted from the light-emitting layer 116 toward the substrate 110; therefore, the reflective electrode 117 can be made of a metallic material with high reflectivity. According to one example, the reflective electrode 117 can be formed of a metallic material with high reflectivity, such as a stacked structure of aluminum and titanium (Ti / Al / Ti), a stacked structure of aluminum and ITO (ITO / Al / ITO), an Ag alloy, and a stacked structure of Ag alloy and ITO (ITO / Ag alloy / ITO). The Ag alloy can be an alloy such as silver (Ag), palladium (Pd), and copper (Cu). The reflective electrode 117 can be referred to by terms such as a second electrode, a cathode electrode, and a counter electrode.

[0116] On the other hand, in a display device 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the reflective portion 120 may be part of the reflective electrode 117. Therefore, the reflective portion 120 may reflect light directed towards an adjacent sub-pixel SP toward the emitting sub-pixel SP's emitting region EA and / or non-emitting region NEA. The reflective portion 120 may refer to the reflective electrode 117 that is obliquely arranged in the non-emitting region NEA.

[0117] An encapsulation layer 118 is formed on the reflective electrode 117. The encapsulation layer 118 is used to prevent oxygen or moisture from penetrating into the organic light-emitting layer 116 and the reflective electrode 117. For this purpose, the encapsulation layer 118 may include at least one inorganic film and at least one organic film.

[0118] At the same time, such as Figure 3 As shown, the encapsulation layer 118 can be disposed not only in the light-emitting region EA, but also in the non-light-emitting region NEA. The encapsulation layer 118 can be disposed between the reflective electrode 117 and the opposing substrate 200.

[0119] refer to Figure 3 In a display device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, the organic light-emitting layer 116 may be configured to cover the upper color filter UCF. Since the organic light-emitting layer 116 is disposed as a common layer in a plurality of sub-pixels SP, the organic light-emitting layer 116 can cover the upper color filter UCF protruding from the cover layer 113 toward the opposing substrate 200. The display device 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may have a structural feature in which the organic light-emitting layer 116 partially contacts the upper color filter UCF by providing a ridgeless structure. For example, as... Figure 3 As shown, the organic light-emitting layer 116 in the first sub-pixel SP1 can contact a portion of the flat surface UCFa of the upper color filter UCF and the inclined surface UCFb of the upper color filter UCF. This portion of the flat surface UCFa that the organic light-emitting layer 116 contacts can refer to the portion of the flat surface UCFa of the upper color filter UCF that does not contact the pixel electrode 114.

[0120] As a result, the display device 100 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure is configured such that the reflective electrode 117 in the non-light-emitting region NEA is partially positioned closer to the substrate 110 than the pixel electrode 114, thereby enabling light directed toward adjacent sub-pixels to be emitted to the outside of the substrate 110 in the form of direct reflected light EL1 and / or indirect reflected light EL2 toward the emitting sub-pixel (e.g., the first sub-pixel SP1), thereby improving light extraction efficiency.

[0121] Furthermore, the display device 100 according to this disclosure is configured such that the cover layer 113 and the color filter (or upper color filter UCF) included in one of a plurality of sub-pixels (e.g., the first sub-pixel SP1) have different refractive indices, thereby maximizing light extraction efficiency through total internal reflection at the interface between the cover layer 113 and the color filter (or upper color filter UCF).

[0122] Furthermore, since the display device 100 according to this disclosure can extract light from the light-emitting region EA and / or the non-light-emitting region NEA through the refractive index difference between the cover layer 113 and the color filter (or the upper color filter UCF) and the reflective electrode 117 positioned closer to the substrate 110 than the pixel electrode 114, the display device can have the same luminous efficiency or improve more luminous efficiency at low power compared to a display device that does not have a refractive index difference between the cover layer and the color filter (or the upper color filter) or does not have a reflective electrode positioned closer to the substrate than the pixel electrode, thereby reducing overall power consumption.

[0123] Figure 5 This is a schematic cross-sectional view of a display device according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0124] refer to Figure 5 The display device 100 according to the second embodiment of this disclosure is the same as the one described above. Figure 1 The display device is the same, except that the structure of the embankment 115 has been changed. Therefore, the same reference numerals are assigned to the same configuration, and only the different configurations are described below.

[0125] According to Figure 1 In the case of a display device, the embankment 115 may not be placed between multiple sub-pixels SP that are placed adjacent to each other along the first direction (X-axis direction). Therefore, according to Figure 1 In the case of a display device, some of the light emitted from the organic light-emitting layer 116 can pass through the pixel electrode 114, the upper color filter UCF, and the organic light-emitting layer 116, and is then reflected by the reflective portion 120 and emitted as direct reflected light EL1, thereby improving light extraction efficiency. Furthermore, according to... Figure 1 In the case of a display device, some of the light emitted from the organic light-emitting layer 116 passes through the pixel electrode 114, is totally internally reflected at the interface between the upper color filter UCF and the cover layer 113, passes through the organic light-emitting layer 116, and is then reflected by the reflective portion 120 as indirect reflected light EL2, thereby further improving the light extraction efficiency.

[0126] In contrast, according to Figure 5 In the case of a display device, the embankment 115 can also be arranged between a plurality of sub-pixels SP arranged adjacent to each other along the first direction (X-axis direction). Therefore, according to Figure 5 In the case of a display device, a sub-pixel (or the first sub-pixel SP1) may further include a dam 115 covering the edge of the pixel electrode 114 and the inclined surface UCFb of the upper color filter UCF. Therefore, according to Figure 5In the case of a display device, some of the light emitted from the organic light-emitting layer 116 can pass through the pixel electrode 114, the upper color filter UCF, the embankment 115, and the organic light-emitting layer 116, and is then reflected by the reflective portion 120 and emitted as direct reflected light EL1, thereby improving light extraction efficiency. Furthermore, according to... Figure 5 In the case of a display device, some of the light emitted from the organic light-emitting layer 116 passes through the pixel electrode 114, is totally internally reflected at the interface between the upper color filter UCF and the capping layer 113, and passes through the embankment 115 and the organic light-emitting layer 116 and is reflected by the reflective portion 120 as indirect reflected light EL2, thereby further improving the light extraction efficiency. Therefore, according to Figure 5 In the case of a display device, due to the addition of the dam 115, the light path of light emitted from the organic light-emitting layer 116 through the dam 115 can be increased.

[0127] At the same time, according to Figure 5 The display device 100 is additionally provided with embankments 115 covering the two edges of the pixel electrode 114, such that the reflection length (or reflection area) of the reflective portion 120, which is arranged obliquely in the non-light-emitting region NEA, can be set to be greater than that according to... Figure 1 The reflective portion 120 provided in the display device has a long reflective length (or reflective area). Therefore, the display device 100 according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure can maximize the improvement of light extraction efficiency by increasing the reflective length (or reflective area) of the reflective portion 120 that is tilted and arranged in the non-light-emitting area NEA.

[0128] Figure 6 It is along Figure 2 A schematic cross-sectional view taken by line III-III', which shows a display device according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0129] refer to Figure 6 The display device 100 according to the third embodiment of this disclosure and the one described above according to... Figure 1 The display device is the same as that of the first sub-pixel SP1, except that a low-temperature inorganic film (low-temperature inorganic film layer, low-temperature inorganic thin film) 130 is added, and the multiple sub-pixels SP also include a second sub-pixel SP2 (or another sub-pixel SP2) having a different structure from the first sub-pixel SP1 (or one sub-pixel SP1), a third sub-pixel SP3 (or another sub-pixel SP3), and a fourth sub-pixel SP4 having a structure similar to the first sub-pixel SP1. Therefore, the same reference numerals are assigned to the same configuration, and only the different configurations are described below.

[0130] Meanwhile, in the display device 100 according to the third embodiment of this disclosure, the fourth sub-pixel SP4 may have the same structure as the first sub-pixel SP1, except that the fourth sub-pixel SP4 includes an upper color filter UCF' having a different color (e.g., green) than the upper color filter UCF of the first sub-pixel SP1. Therefore, the description of the fourth sub-pixel SP4 is replaced by the description of the first sub-pixel SP1.

[0131] According to Figure 1 In the case of a display device, since the pixel electrode 114 is formed directly on the upper surface UCFa of the upper color filter UCF, the pixel electrode 114 can have a structural feature that allows it to directly contact the upper color filter UCF. Furthermore, according to... Figure 1 In the case of a display device, a sub-pixel SP1 (e.g., the first sub-pixel SP1) comprising multiple sub-pixels can be provided with a structure in which a cover layer 113, an upper color filter UCF, a pixel electrode 114, an organic light-emitting layer 116, and a reflective electrode 117 are sequentially stacked in the direction from the substrate 110 toward the opposing substrate 200. Therefore, according to Figure 1 In the case of a display device, the reflective portion 120 can be disposed on the inclined surface UCFb of the upper color filter UCF that protrudes upward from the upper surface of the cover layer 113 (or in the direction in which the opposing substrate 200 is disposed), and thus, light directed toward the adjacent sub-pixel SP can be reflected by the reflective portion 120 and emitted toward the emitting sub-pixel, thereby improving the light extraction efficiency.

[0132] In contrast, according to Figure 6 In the case of a display device, a sub-pixel SP1 (e.g., a first sub-pixel SP1) may further include a low-temperature inorganic film 130 disposed between the pixel electrode 114 and the upper color filter UCF. According to one example, the low-temperature inorganic film 130 is designed to improve the roughness of the upper surface UCFa of the upper color filter UCF. Furthermore, the low-temperature inorganic film 130 is designed to increase the adhesion between the upper color filter UCF and the pixel electrode 114.

[0133] The upper color filter UCF can be formed of an organic material, and therefore the upper surface UCFa of the upper color filter UCF formed of an organic material can have a roughness. Because the upper surface UCFa of the upper color filter UCF has a roughness, the adhesion between the pixel electrode 114 and the upper color filter UCF may be weak. Therefore, according to... Figure 6 The display device 100 can improve roughness and flatten the upper surface UCFa of the upper color filter UCF by placing a low-temperature inorganic film 130 between the pixel electrode 114 and the upper color filter UCF, thereby allowing the low-temperature inorganic film 130 to cover the upper surface UCFa of the upper color filter UCF. Therefore, according to Figure 6 In the display device 100, since the pixel electrode 114 is arranged on the upper surface of the flat low-temperature inorganic film 130, the adhesion between the pixel electrode 114 and the low-temperature inorganic film 130 can be improved, and as a result, the adhesion between the upper color filter UCF and the pixel electrode 114 can be increased. Therefore, according to Figure 6 The display device 100 can improve yield by reducing the defect rate due to the increased adhesion between the upper color filter UCF and the pixel electrode 114.

[0134] According to Figure 6 In the display device 100, the low-temperature inorganic film 130 can be formed of SiO2, but is not limited to this, and if other inorganic films (such as SiNx) can increase the adhesion between the upper color filter UCF and the pixel electrode 114, the low-temperature inorganic film 130 can be formed of other inorganic films (such as SiNx).

[0135] According to one example, the low-temperature inorganic film 130 can be provided with a thickness of 2000 Å to 6000 Å. When the thickness of the low-temperature inorganic film is less than 2000 Å, the planarization of the upper color filter UCF can be minimized, thus minimizing the improvement in adhesion between the upper color filter UCF and the pixel electrode 114. Furthermore, when the thickness of the low-temperature inorganic film 130 exceeds 6000 Å, the tact time for forming the low-temperature inorganic film increases, which may lead to low yield. Therefore, the display device 100 according to the third embodiment of this disclosure can reduce the tact time while improving the adhesion between the upper color filter UCF and the pixel electrode 114 by having the low-temperature inorganic film 130 have a thickness of 2000 Å to 6000 Å.

[0136] Simultaneously, after forming the upper color filter UCF of the first sub-pixel SP1 (or the upper color filter UCF' of the fourth sub-pixel SP4), a low-temperature inorganic film 130 can be formed to cover the upper color filter UCF (or upper color filter UCF'). If the inorganic film is formed on the upper color filter at a high temperature (e.g., a temperature exceeding 230 degrees Celsius (°C), the upper color filter may be damaged by the high temperature. Therefore, the display device 100 according to the third embodiment of this disclosure can be formed such that the inorganic film covers the upper color filter UCF (or upper color filter UCF') at a low temperature of 230 degrees Celsius or lower. Therefore, the inorganic film disposed between the pixel electrode 114 and the upper color filter UCF (or upper color filter UCF') can be represented by the term "low-temperature inorganic film". That is, the term "low-temperature inorganic film" used in this disclosure can refer to an inorganic film formed at a low temperature of 230 degrees Celsius or lower.

[0137] Refer again Figure 6In the display device 100 according to the third embodiment of this disclosure, the low-temperature inorganic film 130 can be configured as a common layer among the first to fourth sub-pixels SP1, SP2, SP3, and SP4. Therefore, as... Figure 6 As shown, in the first sub-pixel SP1, the low-temperature inorganic film 130 can be configured to cover the flat surface UCFa and the inclined surface UCFb of the upper color filter UCF. Furthermore, in the fourth sub-pixel SP4, which has a structure similar to that of the first sub-pixel SP1, the low-temperature inorganic film 130 can be configured to cover the flat surface and the inclined surface of the upper color filter UCF'. However, since the second sub-pixel SP2 (or another sub-pixel SP2) located adjacent to the first sub-pixel SP1 has a different stacking structure than the first sub-pixel SP1, the arrangement structure of the low-temperature inorganic film 130 can differ from the arrangement structure of the first sub-pixel.

[0138] For example, such as Figure 6 As shown, the second sub-pixel SP2 (or another sub-pixel SP2) can be configured with a structure including a capping layer 113 disposed on the substrate 110 and a pixel electrode 114 disposed on the capping layer 113. Here, a low-temperature inorganic film 130 arranged to extend from the first sub-pixel SP1 to the second sub-pixel SP2 can be disposed between the capping layer 113 and the pixel electrode 114 in the second sub-pixel SP2. That is, since the second sub-pixel SP2 is a white sub-pixel and therefore does not include a color filter, the low-temperature inorganic film 130 can be disposed between the capping layer 113 and the pixel electrode 114.

[0139] The third sub-pixel SP3 (or another sub-pixel SP3) is arranged adjacent to the second sub-pixel SP2 and may be provided with a structure including a lower color filter LCF arranged on the substrate 110, a capping layer 113 arranged on the lower color filter LCF, and a pixel electrode 114 arranged on the capping layer 113. Therefore, a low-temperature inorganic film 130 extending from the second sub-pixel SP2 to the third sub-pixel SP3 can be arranged between the capping layer 113 and the pixel electrode 114 in the third sub-pixel SP3. Here, the lower color filter LCF may be a blue color filter. Since the blue color filter has a relatively lower refractive index than the red or green color filter, the refractive index difference between the capping layer 113 and the blue color filter may not be large. Therefore, the blue filter can be placed below the capping layer 113, and some of the light emitted from the organic light-emitting layer 116 of the third sub-pixel SP3 can pass through the lower filter LCF without total internal reflection at the interface between the capping layer 113 and the lower filter LCF, and can be emitted to the outside of the substrate 110.

[0140] The fourth sub-pixel SP4 is located by the neighboring third sub-pixel SP3 (or another sub-pixel SP3) and may include an upper color filter UCF', which is a green color filter. Except for the color of the color filter, the fourth sub-pixel SP4 is the same as the first sub-pixel SP1, so a detailed description of it is omitted.

[0141] Therefore, in the display device 100 according to the third embodiment of the present disclosure, since the low-temperature inorganic film 130 is disposed between the upper color filter and the pixel electrode 114 of each of the first sub-pixels SP1 and the fourth sub-pixels SP4, the adhesion strength between the upper color filter and the pixel electrode 114 can be improved by the low-temperature inorganic film 130, thereby reducing the defect rate. Furthermore, since the display device 100 according to the third embodiment of the present disclosure has a continuously formed, uninterrupted low-temperature inorganic film 130 in the first to fourth sub-pixels SP1, SP2, SP3, and SP4, it can, together with the encapsulation layer 118, doubly block moisture and oxygen from penetrating from the opposing substrate 200 toward the thin-film transistor 112, thereby improving the reliability of the thin-film transistor 112.

[0142] At the same time, such as Figure 6 As shown, in the display device 100 according to the third embodiment of the present disclosure, reflective electrodes 117 can be sequentially arranged in a plurality of sub-pixels SP. Therefore, compared to reflective electrodes 117 disposed in the second sub-pixel SP2 (or the light-emitting area EA of another sub-pixel SP2), reflective electrodes 117 disposed in the first sub-pixel SP1 (or the light-emitting area EA of a sub-pixel SP1) including an upper color filter UCF protruding from the cover layer 113 toward the opposing substrate 200 can be disposed further away from the substrate 110. For example, reflective electrodes 117 disposed in the light-emitting area EA of the first sub-pixel SP1 can be disposed at a first distance D1 from the upper surface of the substrate 110, and reflective electrodes 117 disposed in the light-emitting area EA of the second sub-pixel SP2 can be disposed at a second distance D2 from the upper surface of the substrate 110 that is shorter than the first distance D1.

[0143] Since the third sub-pixel SP3 (or another sub-pixel SP3) has a planarization cover layer 113 disposed on the lower color filter LCF, the reflective electrode 117 disposed on the second sub-pixel SP2 (or the light-emitting area EA of another sub-pixel SP2) and the reflective electrode 117 disposed on the third sub-pixel SP3 (or the light-emitting area EA of another sub-pixel SP3) can be disposed at substantially the same distance from the substrate 110. Here, the term "substantially the same" means that two values ​​are identical or similar to each other, and the difference between them is within a predetermined tolerance or measurement error range. For example, the tolerance or measurement error range may be ±20%, ±10%, ±5%, or ±1%. For example, the reflective electrode 117 arranged in the light-emitting region EA of the second sub-pixel SP2 can be arranged to be spaced apart from the upper surface of the substrate 110 by a second distance D2, and the reflective electrode 117 arranged in the light-emitting region EA of the third sub-pixel SP3 can be arranged to be spaced apart from the upper surface of the substrate 110 by a third distance D3, the third distance D3 being the same as or similar to the second distance D2. Therefore, the display device 100 according to the third embodiment of the present disclosure can have a structural feature in which the light-emitting element layer of each of the second sub-pixel SP2 and the third sub-pixel SP3 is arranged closer to the substrate 110 than the light-emitting element layers of each of the first sub-pixel SP1 and the fourth sub-pixel SP4.

[0144] Figure 7 This is a schematic cross-sectional view of a display device according to a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure, and Figure 8 for Figure 7 An enlarged view of part A.

[0145] Please refer to Figure 7 The display device 100 according to the fourth embodiment of this disclosure and the above-described Figure 6 The display device is the same, except that the structure of the low-temperature inorganic film 130 is changed. Therefore, the same reference numerals are assigned to the same configuration, and only the different configurations will be described below.

[0146] According to Figure 6 In the case of the display device, since the low-temperature inorganic film 130 is formed as a common layer on the first sub-pixels SP1, SP2, SP3, and SP4, the prevention of moisture and oxygen penetration is improved, and the reliability of the thin-film transistor 112 can be improved. Furthermore, according to... Figure 6 In the case of a display device, since a low-temperature inorganic film 130 is disposed between the pixel electrode 114 and the upper color filter UCF (or UCF') in each of the first sub-pixel SP1 and the fourth sub-pixel SP4, the adhesion between the upper color filter UCF and the pixel electrode 114 can be increased by the low-temperature inorganic film 130, and thus the yield can be improved due to the reduction of the defect rate.

[0147] In contrast, according to Figure 7 In the case of a display device, the low-temperature inorganic film 130 can be divided (separated) and placed in each of the first sub-pixels SP1, SP2, SP3, SP4. For example, according to... Figure 7 In the case of a display device, the low-temperature inorganic film 130 may include a first low-temperature inorganic film 131 disposed in a first sub-pixel SP1, a second low-temperature inorganic film 132 disposed in a second sub-pixel SP2, a third low-temperature inorganic film 133 disposed in a third sub-pixel SP3, and a fourth low-temperature inorganic film 134 disposed in a fourth sub-pixel SP4.

[0148] according to Figure 7 The low-temperature inorganic film 130 of the display device can be formed on each of the plurality of sub-pixels SP1, SP2, SP3, SP4 by the following process. First, the low-temperature inorganic film 130 can be deposited as a common layer on the first to fourth sub-pixels SP1, SP2, SP3, SP4. Second, after the pixel electrode 114 is deposited as a common layer on the first to fourth sub-pixels SP1, SP2, SP3, and SP4, the pixel electrode 114 can be patterned on each of the plurality of sub-pixels by a photoresist process and an etching process. Therefore, the pixel electrode 114 can be placed only on each of the first to fourth sub-pixels SP2, SP2, SP3, and SP4. Third, a first wet etching process can be performed to partially etch the low-temperature inorganic film 130, such that the low-temperature inorganic film 130 is disposed on each of the first to fourth sub-pixels SP1, SP2, SP3, and SP4. In this case, since the pixel electrode 114 is in contact with the upper surface of the low-temperature inorganic film 130, only the sides of the low-temperature inorganic film 130 can be etched using a wet etching process. Fourth, to prevent the pixel electrode 114 from protruding further than the low-temperature inorganic film 130 and forming an undercut below the pixel electrode 114, a second wet etching process for etching the pixel electrode 114 can be performed. This is because if an undercut is formed below the pixel electrode 114, the organic light-emitting layer 116 formed in subsequent processes may break, resulting in a defect.

[0149] Through the above process, according to Figure 7The display device 100 may include a first low-temperature inorganic film 131 disposed in a first sub-pixel SP1, a second low-temperature inorganic film 132 disposed in a second sub-pixel SP2, a third low-temperature inorganic film 133 disposed in a third sub-pixel SP3, and a fourth low-temperature inorganic film 134 disposed in a fourth sub-pixel SP4, and each of the first low-temperature inorganic film 131, the second low-temperature inorganic film 132, the third low-temperature inorganic film 133 and the fourth low-temperature inorganic film 134 may be disposed discontinuously and disconnected from each other.

[0150] like Figure 7 As shown, the pixel electrode 114 of the low-temperature inorganic film 130 (or the second low-temperature inorganic film 132) and the second sub-pixel SP2 (or another sub-pixel SP2) can be disconnected from the pixel electrode 114 of the low-temperature inorganic film 130 (or the first low-temperature inorganic film 131) and the first sub-pixel SP1 (or another sub-pixel SP1). The pixel electrode 114 of the low-temperature inorganic film 130 (or the third low-temperature inorganic film 133) and the third sub-pixel SP3 (or another sub-pixel SP3) can be disconnected from the pixel electrode 114 of the low-temperature inorganic film 130 (or the second low-temperature inorganic film 132) and the second sub-pixel SP2 (or another sub-pixel SP2). Furthermore, the pixel electrode 114 of the low-temperature inorganic film 130 (or the fourth low-temperature inorganic film 134) and the fourth sub-pixel SP4 can be disconnected from the pixel electrode 114 of the low-temperature inorganic film 130 (or the third low-temperature inorganic film 133) and the third sub-pixel SP3 (or another sub-pixel SP3).

[0151] Meanwhile, as described above, since a second wet etching process is performed to prevent the formation of an undercut below the pixel electrode 114, therefore according to Figure 7 The display device 100 may have a structural feature in which the width W1 of the low-temperature inorganic film (or the first low-temperature inorganic film 131) in the first sub-pixel SP1 (or one sub-pixel SP1) is narrower than the width UCFW of the upper surface UCFa of the upper color filter UCF, and wider than the width PW of the pixel electrode 114. Furthermore, the width W2 of the low-temperature inorganic film (or the second low-temperature inorganic film 132) in the second sub-pixel SP2 (or another sub-pixel SP2) may be set to be wider than the width PW of the pixel electrode 114, and the width W3 of the low-temperature inorganic film (or the third low-temperature inorganic film 133) in the third sub-pixel SP3 (or another sub-pixel SP3) may be set to be wider than the width PW of the pixel electrode 114. Furthermore, the width W4 of the low-temperature inorganic film (or the fourth low-temperature inorganic film 134) in the fourth sub-pixel SP4 may be narrower than the width UCF'W of the upper surface of the upper color filter UCF', and wider than the width PW of the pixel electrode 114.

[0152] Refer again Figure 7The low-temperature inorganic film 130 may include an upper surface and a side surface. The upper surface of the low-temperature inorganic film 130 may partially contact the lower surface of the pixel electrode 114. The side surface of the low-temperature inorganic film 130 may be connected to the upper surface and may be positioned at an angle. As described above, since the side surface of the low-temperature inorganic film 130 can be formed by a first wet etching process, the side surface of the low-temperature inorganic film 130 may include an unevenness UE. The unevenness UE may refer to a structure with an irregular shape. For example, the unevenness UE may be a structure including a porous shape or a rough shape.

[0153] Therefore, as Figure 7 As shown, the first low-temperature inorganic film 131 in the first sub-pixel SP1 (or another sub-pixel SP1) may include an upper surface 131a and a side surface 131b, and the side surface 131b of the first low-temperature inorganic film 131 may include an irregularly shaped uneven portion UE. The second low-temperature inorganic film 132 in the second sub-pixel SP2 (or another sub-pixel SP2) may include an upper surface 132a and a side surface 132b, and the side surface 132b of the second low-temperature inorganic film 132 may include an irregularly shaped uneven portion UE. The third low-temperature inorganic film 133 in the third sub-pixel SP3 (or another sub-pixel SP3) may include an upper surface 133a and a side surface 133b, and the side surface 133b of the third low-temperature inorganic film 133 may include an irregularly shaped uneven portion UE. The fourth low-temperature inorganic film 134 in the fourth sub-pixel SP4 may include an upper surface 134a and a side surface 134b, and the side surface 134b of the fourth low-temperature inorganic film 134 may include an irregularly shaped uneven portion UE.

[0154] like Figure 7As shown, the display device 100 according to the fourth embodiment of this disclosure is provided with a low-temperature inorganic film 130 that is disconnected for use only with each sub-pixel SP1, SP2, SP3, SP4, such that the organic light-emitting layer 116 and the reflective electrode 117 can be arranged to extend to the side surface of the disconnected low-temperature inorganic film 130 and the side surface of the upper color filter UCF. Since the side surface of the disconnected low-temperature inorganic film 130 includes an uneven portion UE, each of the organic light-emitting layer 116 and the reflective electrode 117 positioned on the side surface of the low-temperature inorganic film 130 may include a dummy uneven portion DUE corresponding to the uneven portion UE included in the side surface of the low-temperature inorganic film 130. For example, the organic light-emitting layer 116 may include a first dummy uneven portion DUE1 having a shape corresponding to the uneven portion UE on the side surface of the low-temperature inorganic film 130. The reflective electrode 117 (or reflective portion 120) may include a second imitation uneven portion DUE2 having a shape corresponding to the first imitation uneven portion DUE1. Since the first imitation uneven portion DUE1 is formed at the interface between the organic light-emitting layer 116 and the reflective electrode 117 (or reflective portion 120), light incident on the first imitation uneven portion DUE1 can be reflected by the reflective electrode 117 (or reflective portion 120) and emitted onto the substrate 110.

[0155] For example, such as Figure 8 As shown, light emitted from the organic light-emitting layer 116 and the waveguide (or total internal reflection) between the pixel electrode 116 and the reflective electrode 117 can be irregularly reflected between the uneven portion UE of the low-temperature inorganic film 130 and the first simulated uneven portion DUE1 of the organic light-emitting layer 116, and then finally reflected by the reflective electrode 117 (or the reflective portion 120) and emitted towards the emitting sub-pixel in the form of indirect reflected light EL3. Therefore, the display device 100 according to the fourth embodiment of the present disclosure can emit light emitted from the organic light-emitting layer 116 and waveguided to the substrate 110 through the uneven portion UE of the low-temperature inorganic film 130, thereby improving the light extraction efficiency. The indirect reflected light EL3 emitted from the display device 100 according to the fourth embodiment of the present disclosure is light that is waveguided inside the substrate 110 and emitted to the outside of the substrate 110, and can therefore be described in terms of waveguide-emitted light.

[0156] As a result, since waveguide emitted light EL3 is added to direct reflected light EL1 and substrate mode emitted light EL2, the display device 100 according to the fourth embodiment of this disclosure can further improve light extraction efficiency.

[0157] Meanwhile, in the display device 100 according to the fourth embodiment of this disclosure, since a first wet etching process is performed when the pixel electrode 114 is covered with a low-temperature inorganic film 130, the uneven portion UE can be provided only on the side surface of the low-temperature inorganic film 130 provided on each of the first sub-pixels SP1, SP2, SP3, SP4. Therefore, as Figure 8 As shown, the uneven portion UE may not be formed on the upper surface (or upper surface 131a) of the low-temperature inorganic film 130 (or the first low-temperature inorganic film 131) that is not covered by the pixel electrode 114. If an uneven portion is formed on the upper surface of the low-temperature inorganic film that is not covered by the pixel electrode, the haze and / or blur level may increase due to the diffuse reflection of the uneven portion, resulting in a blurry image. Therefore, the display device 100 according to the fourth embodiment of this disclosure has an uneven portion UE only on the side surface of the low-temperature inorganic film 130 provided in each of the first sub-pixels SP1, SP2, SP3, SP4, thereby preventing an increase in the haze and / or blur level, and thus preventing image quality degradation.

[0158] Meanwhile, in the display device 100 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention, the second sub-pixel SP2 does not include a color filter, and the third sub-pixel SP3 has a lower color filter LCF disposed below the cover layer 113, so that the pixel electrode 114 does not directly contact the color filter. Therefore, the second low-temperature inorganic film 132 disposed in the second sub-pixel SP2 and the third low-temperature inorganic film 133 disposed in the third sub-pixel SP3 can be omitted.

[0159] Figure 9 This is a schematic cross-sectional view of a display device according to a fifth embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0160] refer to Figure 9 In addition to adding the pattern portion PP, the display device 100 according to the fifth embodiment of this disclosure is similar to the one described above. Figure 7 The display devices are the same. Therefore, the same reference numerals are assigned to the same configuration, and only the different configurations will be described below.

[0161] According to Figure 7 In the case of a display device, the low-temperature inorganic film 130 can be divided and placed in each of the first sub-pixels SP1, SP2, SP3, SP4, and the side surface of the low-temperature inorganic film 130 in each sub-pixel SP can be configured to include an uneven portion UE. Therefore, according to Figure 7In the case of a display device, light emitted from the organic light-emitting layer 116 and waveguided can be irregularly reflected between the uneven portion UE of the low-temperature inorganic film 130 and the first simulated uneven portion DUE1 of the organic light-emitting layer 116, and then finally reflected by the reflective electrode 117 (or reflective portion 120) and emitted toward the emitting sub-pixel, thereby improving the light extraction efficiency.

[0162] In contrast, according to Figure 9 The display device may also include a patterned portion PP positioned on the substrate 110 and recessed in a non-light-emitting region NEA between a plurality of sub-pixels. The patterned portion PP is intended to increase the reflection length (or reflection area) of the reflective portion 130. According to one example, the patterned portion PP can be formed by patterning at least a portion of a cover layer 113 disposed in the non-light-emitting region NEA. Since the cover layer 113 is intended to flatten the light-emitting region EA and the non-light-emitting region NEA, the cover layer 113 can be arranged to extend from the light-emitting region EA to the non-light-emitting region NEA. The patterned portion PP can be recessed in the non-light-emitting region NEA between a plurality of sub-pixels SP by etching at least a portion of the cover layer 113 disposed in the non-light-emitting region NEA from the cover layer 113 which is flatly disposed in the light-emitting region EA and the non-light-emitting region NEA.

[0163] According to Figure 9 In the display device 100, the reflective electrode 117 extends to the patterned portion PP and can be recessed along the shape of the patterned portion PP. Therefore, according to... Figure 7 Compared to the reflective electrode 117 (or reflective portion 120) of the display device 100, according to Figure 9 The display device 100 can have a longer reflection length (or reflection area) for reflecting light because the reflective electrode 117 (or reflective portion 120) is positioned closer to the substrate 110 than the upper surface of the cover layer 113. Therefore, according to Figure 9 The display device 100 can maximize light extraction enhancement by increasing the amount of light reflected from the organic light-emitting layer 116 toward the adjacent sub-pixel SP. The patterned portion PP, according to the example, can be provided as having a "V" shape or a "U" shape.

[0164] refer to Figure 9The patterned portion PP may include a bottom surface PP1 and an inclined surface PP2. The bottom surface PP1 of the patterned portion PP may refer to the portion of the patterned portion PP closest to the substrate 110. The inclined surface PP2 of the patterned portion PP may refer to the portion connected to the bottom surface PP1 and the top surface of the cover layer 113. According to one example, the inclined surface PP2 may be configured to form an obtuse angle with the top surface of the cover layer 113. Therefore, the display device 100 according to the fifth embodiment of the present disclosure may have a structural feature in which the reflective electrode 117 (or reflective portion 120) disposed on the bottom surface PP1 is disposed closer to the substrate 110 than the pixel electrode 114 in the first sub-pixel SP1 (or a sub-pixel SP3). Furthermore, the display device 100 according to the fifth embodiment of the present disclosure may have a structural feature in which the reflective electrode 117 (or reflective portion 120) disposed on the bottom surface PP1 is disposed closer to the substrate 110 than the pixel electrode 114 in the second sub-pixel SP2 (or the third sub-pixel SP3). Due to the above features, the display device 100 according to the fifth embodiment of the present disclosure may be provided with a reflective electrode 117 (or reflective portion 120) having a long reflection length (or a large reflection area) in the non-light-emitting region NEA, thereby enabling the light extraction enhancement to be maximized.

[0165] Embodiments of the present disclosure have been described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings; however, the present disclosure is not necessarily limited to these embodiments and can be practiced with various modifications without departing from the technical spirit of the present disclosure. Therefore, the embodiments disclosed herein are intended to illustrate, and not limit, the technical concept of the present disclosure, and the scope of the technical concept of the present disclosure is not limited by these embodiments. Thus, the above embodiments are exemplary in all respects and should be understood as non-limiting. All technical concepts within the scope of protection of this disclosure should be understood to be included within the scope of the claims of this disclosure.

[0166] The display device according to this disclosure can improve light extraction efficiency by allowing a reflective electrode included in one of a plurality of sub-pixels to be partially positioned closer to the substrate than the pixel electrode, thereby enabling the reflective electrode to reflect light directed to adjacent sub-pixels to the outside of the substrate.

[0167] The display device according to this disclosure is configured such that the overlay and the color filter (or upper color filter) included in one of a plurality of sub-pixels have different refractive indices, thereby maximizing light extraction efficiency through total internal reflection between the overlay and the color filter (or upper color filter).

[0168] Since the display device according to this disclosure can extract light from the light-emitting area and / or non-light-emitting area through the refractive index difference between the cover layer and the color filter (or upper color filter) and the reflective electrode disposed closer to the substrate than the pixel electrode, the display device can have the same luminous efficiency or can improve the luminous efficiency more than a display device that has no refractive index difference between the cover layer and the color filter (or upper color filter) or no reflective electrode disposed closer to the substrate than the pixel electrode, even at low power, thereby reducing the overall power consumption.

[0169] The effects obtained from this disclosure are not limited to those mentioned above, and other effects not mentioned will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the description.

Claims

1. A display device, comprising: A substrate, the substrate comprising a plurality of pixels having a plurality of sub-pixels, The first sub-pixel among the plurality of sub-pixels includes: A cover layer disposed on the substrate; The upper color filter is located on the cover layer; Pixel electrodes disposed on the upper color filter; and The reflective electrode located on the pixel electrode, The reflective electrode extends into the non-light-emitting region located between the plurality of sub-pixels. In this configuration, the reflective electrode in the non-light-emitting region is partially positioned closer to the substrate than the pixel electrode. The refractive index of the upper color filter is different from that of the cover layer.

2. The display device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first sub-pixel further includes an organic light-emitting layer located between the pixel electrode and the reflective electrode, and the organic light-emitting layer is in partial contact with the upper color filter.

3. The display device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The upper color filter includes: A flat surface in contact with the pixel electrode; and An inclined surface, which is connected to the flat surface and is provided with an inclination; The inclined surface forms an obtuse angle with the flat surface.

4. The display device according to claim 3, characterized in that, The first sub-pixel also includes a dam covering the edge of the pixel electrode and the inclined surface, and the reflective electrode in the non-light-emitting area is disposed on the dam.

5. The display device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first sub-pixel also includes a low-temperature inorganic film disposed between the pixel electrode and the upper color filter.

6. The display device according to claim 5, characterized in that, The upper color filter includes: A flat surface configured to be parallel to the upper surface of the substrate; and An inclined surface, which is connected to the flat surface and is provided with an inclination; The low-temperature inorganic film covers both the flat surface and the inclined surface.

7. The display device according to claim 5, characterized in that, The plurality of sub-pixels also includes a second sub-pixel arranged adjacent to the first sub-pixel. The second sub-pixel includes: A cover layer disposed on the substrate; and Pixel electrodes arranged on the cover layer; Wherein, the low-temperature inorganic film in the first sub-pixel is arranged to extend into the second sub-pixel; and The low-temperature inorganic film disposed in the second sub-pixel is arranged between the capping layer and the pixel electrode.

8. The display device according to claim 7, characterized in that, The plurality of sub-pixels also includes a third sub-pixel arranged adjacent to the second sub-pixel. The third sub-pixel includes: A lower color filter arranged on the substrate; The cover layer arranged on the lower color filter; and Pixel electrodes arranged on the cover layer, The low-temperature inorganic film in the second sub-pixel is arranged to extend into the third sub-pixel. The low-temperature inorganic film disposed in the third sub-pixel is arranged between the capping layer and the pixel electrode.

9. The display device according to claim 8, characterized in that, The reflective electrodes are sequentially arranged in the plurality of sub-pixels, and the reflective electrode arranged in the first sub-pixel is spaced further away from the substrate than the reflective electrode arranged in the second sub-pixel.

10. The display device according to claim 9, characterized in that, The reflective electrode arranged in the second sub-pixel and the reflective electrode arranged in the third sub-pixel are spaced apart from the substrate by substantially the same distance.

11. The display device according to claim 5, characterized in that, The width of the low-temperature inorganic film is narrower than the width of the upper surface of the upper color filter, but wider than the width of the pixel electrode.

12. The display device according to claim 11, characterized in that, The low-temperature inorganic membrane comprises: The upper surface that is in partial contact with the lower surface of the pixel electrode; and A side surface, which is connected to the upper surface and is provided with a slope; The side surface includes an uneven portion.

13. The display device according to claim 12, characterized in that, The first sub-pixel also includes an organic light-emitting layer located between the pixel electrode and the reflective electrode. The organic light-emitting layer and the reflective electrode are arranged to extend to the side surface of the low-temperature inorganic film and the inclined surface of the upper color filter, and Each of the organic light-emitting layer and the reflective electrode disposed on the side surface of the low-temperature inorganic film includes a simulated uneven portion, the simulated uneven portion being configured to have a shape corresponding to the uneven portion included in the side surface of the low-temperature inorganic film.

14. The display device according to claim 12, characterized in that, The plurality of sub-pixels also includes a second sub-pixel arranged adjacent to the first sub-pixel. The second sub-pixel includes: A cover layer disposed on the substrate; The low-temperature inorganic film disposed on the covering layer; and The pixel electrodes arranged on the low-temperature inorganic film, In this embodiment, the low-temperature inorganic film and the pixel electrode of the second sub-pixel are respectively disconnected from the low-temperature inorganic film and the pixel electrode of the first sub-pixel.

15. The display device according to claim 14, characterized in that, The width of the low-temperature inorganic film of the second sub-pixel is greater than the width of the pixel electrode of the second sub-pixel, and The side surface of the low-temperature inorganic film of the second sub-pixel has an uneven portion.

16. The display device according to claim 14, characterized in that, The plurality of sub-pixels also includes a third sub-pixel arranged adjacent to the second sub-pixel. The third sub-pixel includes: A lower color filter arranged on the substrate; A covering layer arranged on the lower color filter; The low-temperature inorganic film disposed on the covering layer; and The pixel electrodes arranged on the low-temperature inorganic film, and In this embodiment, the low-temperature inorganic film and the pixel electrode of the third sub-pixel are respectively disconnected from the low-temperature inorganic film and the pixel electrode of the second sub-pixel.

17. The display device according to claim 16, characterized in that, The width of the low-temperature inorganic film of the third sub-pixel is greater than the width of the pixel electrode of the third sub-pixel, and The side surface of the low-temperature inorganic film of the third sub-pixel has an uneven portion.

18. The display device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The display device further includes: The pattern portion is disposed on the substrate and is recessed in the non-light-emitting area. The reflective electrode extends into the patterned portion and is recessed along the shape of the patterned portion.

19. The display device according to claim 18, characterized in that, The covering layer is arranged to extend into the non-luminescent area, and The patterned portion is formed by patterning at least a portion of the cover layer to be arranged in the non-light-emitting area.

20. The display device according to claim 18, characterized in that, The patterned portion includes the bottom surface arranged closest to the substrate, and The reflective electrode disposed on the bottom surface is closer to the substrate than the pixel electrode in the first sub-pixel.

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