Organic light-emitting display device with frit seal and reinforcing structure bonded to frame

Abstract

Disclosed is an organic light-emitting display device in which a substrate and an encapsulation substrate are joined by a frit and a reinforcing structure. The first substrate has a pixel region in which an organic light-emitting diode is formed, and a non-pixel region formed outside the pixel region. The second substrate is attached the first substrate by the frit. A bracket is joined with substrates by the reinforcing structure. A curable material is applied to inside the frame, moves between the first and second substrates, and then cured to form the reinforcing structure.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing an organic light-emitting display device;

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an organic light-emitting display device according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line A-A′ of FIG. 2;

FIGS. 4 a to 4d are cross-sectional views showing a process for preparing an organic light-emitting display device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5A is a schematic exploded view of a passive matrix type organic light emitting display device in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 5B is a schematic exploded view of an active matrix type organic light emitting display device in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 5C is a schematic top plan view of an organic light emitting display in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 5D is a cross-sectional view of the organic light emitting display of FIG. 5C, taken along the line d-d.

FIG. 5E is a schematic perspective view illustrating mass production of organic light emitting devices in accordance with one embodiment.

Claims

1. An organic light-emitting display device, comprising: an organic light-emitting display unit comprising: a front substrate comprising a front surface and a first side surface,a rear substrate comprising a rear surface and a first side surface, the rear substrate opposing the front substrate,an array of organic light-emitting pixels interposed between the front and rear substrates,a frit seal interposed between the front substrate and the rear substrate while surrounding the array, wherein the frit seal, the front substrate and the rear substrate together define an enclosed space in which the array is located, the frit seal comprising a first side surface, anda first side comprising the first side surfaces of the front substrate, the rear substrate and the frit seal;a bracket comprising a first surface generally opposing the first side of the unit and connected to the first side of the unit; anda first structure interconnecting the first surface of the bracket and the first side of the unit.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the first structure is formed in substantially the entire area between the first surface of the bracket and the first side of the unit.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the first structure is formed on substantially throughout the first surface of the bracket.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the first structure is bonded to the first surface of the bracket and bonded to either or both of the first side surfaces of the front and rear substrates.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the first structure is bonded to the first side surface of the frit seal.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the front substrate, the rear substrate and the first side surface of the frit seal define a gap space, and wherein the first structure comprises a portion extending into the gap space and interposed between the front and rear substrates.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the bracket further comprises a rear wall opposing the rear substrate.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the rear wall of the bracket is bonded to the rear surface of the rear substrate.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the bracket comprises a rear wall opposing the rear substrate, and the bracket further comprises a plurality of side walls extending from the rear wall at an angle, and wherein a first one of the plurality of the side walls provides the first surface opposing the first side of the unit.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the first side wall extends substantially parallel to at least one of the first side surfaces of the front and rear substrates.

11. The device of claim 9, wherein the first side wall covers substantially the entirety of the first side of the unit.

12. The device of claim 9, wherein the first side wall does not cover at least part of the first side surface of the front substrate while generally opposing the first side of the unit.

13. The device of claim 9, wherein the first side wall does not cover the first side surface of the front substrate while generally opposing the first side of the unit.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein the structure comprises a layer comprising a polymeric material.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein the unit further comprises a plurality additional sides, wherein the bracket comprises a first side wall and a plurality of additional side walls, the first side wall providing the first surface of the frame, wherein each of the plurality of additional side walls of the bracket comprises a surface generally opposing one of the plurality of additional sides of the unit, wherein the device further comprises a plurality of additional structures, each of which interconnects one of the plurality of additional side walls and one of the plurality of additional sides of the unit.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the first side wall and the plurality of additional side walls form a closed loop surrounding the first side and the plurality of additional sides of the unit.

17. The device of claim 1, wherein the front substrate further comprises a second side surface, wherein the rear substrate further comprises a second side surface, wherein the frit seal further comprises a second side surface, wherein the second side surfaces of the front substrate, the second substrate and the frit seal generally face the same direction, wherein the unit further comprises a second side comprising a second side surface of the front substrate, a second side surface of the rear substrate and a second side surface of the frit seal, wherein the bracket further comprises a second surface generally opposing the second side of the device, and wherein the unit further comprises a second structure interconnecting the second side of the unit and the second surface of the frame.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the first and second structures are integrated.

19. The device of claim 17, wherein the first and second structures are separated.

20. The device of claim 1, wherein the frit seal comprises one or more materials selected from the group consisting of magnesium oxide (MgO), calcium oxide (CaO), barium oxide (BaO), lithium oxide (Li2O), sodium oxide (Na2O), potassium oxide (K2O), boron oxide (B2O3), vanadium oxide (V2O5), zinc oxide (ZnO), tellurium oxide (TeO2), aluminum oxide (Al2O3), silicon dioxide (SiO2), lead oxide (PbO), tin oxide (SnO), phosphorous oxide (P2O5), ruthenium oxide (Ru2O), rubidium oxide (Rb2O), rhodium oxide (Rh2O), ferrite oxide (Fe2O3), copper oxide (CuO), titanium oxide (TiO2), tungsten oxide (WO3), bismuth oxide (Bi2O3), antimony oxide (Sb2O3), lead-borate glass, tin-phosphate glass, vanadate glass, and borosilicate.

21. A method of making an organic light-emitting display device, the method comprising: providing a device comprising: a front substrate comprising a front surface and a first side surface,a rear substrate comprising a rear surface and a first side surface, the rear substrate opposing the front substrate,an array of organic light-emitting pixels interposed between the front and rear substrates,a frit seal interposed between the front substrate and the rear substrate while surrounding the array, wherein the frit seal, the front substrate and the rear substrate together define an enclosed space in which the array is located, the frit seal comprising a first side surface, anda first side comprising the first sides of the front substrate, the rear substrate and the frit seal;placing a bracket comprising a first surface so as to generally oppose the first side of the device; andforming a structure between and interconnecting the first surface of the bracket and the first side of the device.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the method further comprises forming a curable material on the first surface of the frame, and wherein placing the bracket comprises arranging the bracket with respect to the device such that the curable material contacts the first side of the device.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the method further comprises curing the curable material, thereby forming the structure.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein a viscosity of the curable material is less than about 5000 cP.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein the bracket further comprises a rear wall, and wherein placing the bracket further comprises arranging the rear wall so as to oppose the rear substrate.