US 12,284,901 B2
Display apparatus including intermediate layer with different thicknesses between pixel electrodes and method of manufacturing the same
Seokhoon Seo, Yongin-si (KR); and Soyeon Jeong, Yongin-si (KR)
Assigned to Samsung Display Co., Ltd., Yongin-si (KR)
Filed by Samsung Display Co., Ltd., Yongin-si (KR)
Filed on May 18, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/303,027.
Claims priority of application No. 10-2020-0113215 (KR), filed on Sep. 4, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0077434 A1, Mar. 10, 2022
Int. Cl. H01L 51/56 (2006.01); G06F 3/041 (2006.01); H01L 27/32 (2006.01); H01L 51/00 (2006.01); H01L 51/52 (2006.01); H10K 50/844 (2023.01); H10K 59/122 (2023.01); H10K 59/35 (2023.01); H10K 59/40 (2023.01); H10K 71/00 (2023.01); H10K 71/20 (2023.01); H10K 50/15 (2023.01); H10K 50/16 (2023.01); H10K 50/17 (2023.01); H10K 59/12 (2023.01); H10K 102/00 (2023.01)
CPC H10K 71/00 (2023.02) [G06F 3/0412 (2013.01); H10K 50/844 (2023.02); H10K 59/122 (2023.02); H10K 59/353 (2023.02); H10K 59/40 (2023.02); H10K 71/233 (2023.02); G06F 2203/04103 (2013.01); H10K 50/15 (2023.02); H10K 50/16 (2023.02); H10K 50/17 (2023.02); H10K 50/171 (2023.02); H10K 59/1201 (2023.02); H10K 2102/351 (2023.02)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A display apparatus comprising:
a first pixel electrode and a second pixel electrode spaced apart from each other on a substrate;
a pixel definition layer including an opening exposing a central portion of each of the first pixel electrode and the second pixel electrode;
an intermediate layer on the first pixel electrode, the second pixel electrode, and the pixel definition layer, the intermediate layer including an emission layer in the opening of the pixel definition layer, a first functional layer under the emission layer, and a second functional layer above the emission layer, wherein the first functional layer includes at least one of a hole transport layer or a hole injection layer, and the second functional layer includes at least one of an electron transport layer or an electron injection layer, and the intermediate layer has a through hole penetrating through an entire thickness of the intermediate layer between the first pixel electrode and the second pixel electrode to expose side surfaces of the first functional layer and the second functional layer that face the through hole;
a spacer entirely above the pixel definition layer, with the through hole of the intermediate layer being above the spacer and the through hole positioned to overlap with an upper surface of the pixel definition layer and an upper surface of the spacer;
an opposite electrode on the intermediate layer to face the first pixel electrode and the second pixel electrode; and
an inorganic encapsulation layer over the opposite electrode,
wherein, in a plan view, the intermediate layer is not located between the side surfaces of the intermediate layer that face the through hole, and
wherein the opposite electrode directly contacts the exposed side surfaces of the first functional layer and the second functional layer in the through hole.