Abstract:
An organic light emitting display less damaged by shock and a method of manufacturing the same. The organic light emitting display includes a first substrate in which a pixel unit is formed so that the pixel unit is divided into an emission unit and a non-emission unit formed around the emission unit, a second substrate positioned to face the first substrate, and a sealing material formed on the non-emission unit of the first substrate to seal up the first substrate and the second substrate. Grooves are formed in at least one substrate of the first substrate and the second substrate between the sealing material and the emission unit.

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY 
     This application makes reference to, incorporates the same herein, and claims all benefits accruing under 35 U.S.C. §119 from an application earlier filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Mar. 11, 2010 and there duly assigned Serial No. 10-2010-0021873. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The general inventive concept relates to an organic light emitting display and a method of manufacturing the same. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     In a flat panel display (FPD), a number of pixels are arranged on a substrate in a matrix to obtain a display region. Scan lines and data lines are coupled to the respective pixels so that data signals are selectively applied to the pixels displaying an image. 
     The FPD is divided into a passive matrix type light emitting display and an active matrix type light emitting display in accordance with a method of driving the pixels. The active matrix type light emitting display unit in which unit pixels are selected and illuminated in terms of resolution, contrast, and operation speed is mainly used. 
     The FPDs are used as the displays for portable information terminals such as a personal computer, a mobile telephone, and a personal digital assistant (PDA) or the monitors of various information apparatuses. A liquid crystal display (LCD) using a liquid crystal panel, an organic light emitting display in which organic light emitting diodes (OLED) are used, and a plasma display panel (PDP) in which a plasma panel is used are well known as the FPD. 
     Recently, various light emitting displays having smaller weight and volume than the weight and volume of a cathode ray tube (CRT) are developed. In particular, the organic light emitting display having high emission efficiency and brightness and a large view angle is spotlighted. 
     Among the FPDs, the organic light emitting display displays an image using the OLEDs including organic layers for generating light by re-combination of electrons and holes generated to correspond to the flow of current. 
     The organic light emitting display is widespread in the market as a personal digital assistant (PDA) and an MP3 player other than a mobile telephone in an application field due to various advantages such as excellent color reproducibility and small thickness. 
     The above information disclosed in this Related Art section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the invention and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known to a person of ordinary skill in the art. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Aspects of the present invention provide for an organic light emitting display less damaged by shock and a method of manufacturing the same. 
     In order to achieve the foregoing and/or other aspects of the present invention, according to a first aspect of the present invention, an organic light emitting display includes a first substrate in which a pixel unit is formed so that the pixel unit is divided into an emission unit and a non-emission unit formed around the emission unit, a second substrate positioned to face the first substrate, and a sealing material formed on the non-emission unit of the first substrate to seal up the first substrate and the second substrate. Grooves may be formed in at least one substrate of the first substrate and the second substrate between the sealing material and the emission unit. 
     Also, the grooves may be formed in both surfaces of the first substrate and the second substrate. 
     According to a second aspect of the present invention, a method of manufacturing an organic light emitting display includes forming grooves on outlines of a first substrate and a second substrate, forming a pixel unit in the first substrate, forming a sealing material outside the outlines of the first substrate and the second substrate, and positioning the first substrate and the second substrate to face each other and sealing up the first substrate and the second substrate using the sealing material. 
     The grooves may be formed on both surfaces of the first substrate and the second substrate. 
     In a flat panel display (FPD) according to the present invention and a method of manufacturing the same, although shock is applied to the organic light emitting display, it is possible to prevent a crack or cracks from being generated in the substrates. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A more complete appreciation of the invention, and many of the attendant advantages thereof, will be readily apparent as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference symbols indicate the same or similar components, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is block diagram illustrating the structure of an organic light emitting display according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a plan view illustrating the organic light emitting display according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 3A  is a sectional view illustrating a first embodiment of the organic light emitting display according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 3B  is a sectional view illustrating a second embodiment of the organic light emitting display according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 3C  is a sectional view illustrating a third embodiment of the organic light emitting display according to the present invention; and 
         FIG. 3D  is a sectional view illustrating further details of the grooves  110  illustrated in  FIG. 2  and  FIGS. 3A-3C . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Hereinafter, certain exemplary embodiments according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Here, when a first element is described as being coupled to a second element, the first element may be not only directly coupled to the second element but may also be indirectly coupled to the second element via a third element. Further, some of the elements that are not essential to the complete understanding of the invention are omitted for clarity. Also, like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. As those skilled in the art would realize, the described embodiments may be modified in various different ways, all without departing from the spirit or scope of the principles for the present invention. 
     Recognizing that sizes and thicknesses of constituent members shown in the accompanying drawings are arbitrarily given for better understanding and ease of description, the present invention is not limited to the illustrated sizes and thicknesses. 
     In the drawings, the thickness of layers, films, panels, regions, etc., are exaggerated for clarity. Like reference numerals designate like elements throughout the specification. It will be understood that when an element such as a layer, film, region, or substrate is referred to as being “on” another element, it can be directly on the other element or intervening elements may also be present. Alternatively, when an element is referred to as being “directly on” another element, there are no intervening elements present. 
     In order to clarify the present invention, elements extrinsic to the description are omitted from the details of this description, and like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout the specification. 
     Hereinafter, the embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     In a conventional organic light emitting display, transistors and OLEDs are formed on a first substrate and sealing is performed using a second substrate formed on the first substrate. When sealing is performed using the second substrate, a sealing material is used. Then, a shock test is performed. 
     When the first substrate is sealed by the second substrate using the sealing material, the sealing material is formed on the outlines of the first substrate and the second substrate. When the shock test on the sealed organic light emitting display is performed, the part in which the sealing material exists is fixed by the sealing material and the center in which the sealing material is not formed is not fixed. Therefore, when shock is applied, vibration is generated so that the first substrate and the second substrate are curved by the vibration. When the degree of curvature is large, a crack or cracks are generated. Therefore, when shock is applied by the shock test, the resulting cracks formed cause yield to deteriorate. 
       FIG. 1  is block diagram illustrating the structure of an organic light emitting display according to the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , the organic light emitting display includes a pixel unit  100 , a data driver  200 , and a scan driver  300 . 
     In the pixel unit  100 , a plurality of pixels  101  are arranged. The pixels  101  include organic light emitting diodes (not shown) that emit light to correspond to the flow of current. In the pixel unit  100 , n scan lines S 1 , S 2 , . . . Sn−1, and Sn formed in a row direction to transmit scan signals and m data lines D 1 , D 2 , . . . Dm−1, and Dm formed in a column direction to transmit data signals are arranged. 
     The pixel unit  100  receives a first voltage ELVDD and a second voltage ELVSS to be driven. Therefore, in the pixel unit  100 , current flows through the OLEDs by the scan signals, the data signals, the first voltage ELVDD, and the second voltage ELVSS so that light is emitted and that an image is displayed. 
     The pixel unit  100  is divided into an emission region and a non-emission region and grooves are formed between the non-emission region and the emission region. 
     The scan driver  300  for generating the scan signals transmits a scan signal to a specific row of the pixel unit  100  through a scan line. A data signal output from the data driver  200  is transmitted to a pixel  101  to which a scan signal is transmitted so that the voltage corresponding to the data signal is transmitted to the pixel  101 . 
     The data driver  200  generates the data signals using image signals R, G, and B data having red, blue, and green components. The data signal is transmitted to the pixel selected by the scan signal so that the light corresponding to the data signal is emitted by the pixel. 
       FIG. 2  is a plan view illustrating the organic light emitting display according to the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , the organic light emitting display includes an emission region  100   a  and a non-emission region  100   b . The organic light emitting display is divided into a first substrate (shown in later Figures) and a second substrate (shown in later Figures). The first substrate and the second substrate are sealed up by a sealing material (shown in later Figures). 
     The emission region  100   a  is positioned in the center of the first substrate and the non-emission region  100   b  is formed around and entirely surrounding the emission region  100   a . A pixel is formed in the emission region  100   a  and a dummy pixel and a scan driver are formed in the non-emission region  100   b . Grooves  110  are formed on the boundary between the non-emission region  100   b  and the emission region  100   a  and the sealing material is coated outside the groove  110 . The grooves  110  may take the shape, but not limited thereto, of a square or a rectangle depending on the shape of the emission region  100   a  and the non-emission region  100   b.    
       FIG. 3A  is a sectional view illustrating a first embodiment of the organic light emitting display according to the present invention,  FIG. 3B  is a sectional view illustrating a second embodiment of the organic light emitting display according to the present invention, and  FIG. 3C  is a sectional view illustrating a third embodiment of the organic light emitting display according to the present invention.  FIG. 3D  is a sectional view illustrating further details of the grooves  110  illustrated in  FIG. 2  and  FIGS. 3A-3C . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3A to 3D , in the organic light emitting display, a first substrate  130  and a second substrate  120  face each other and the first substrate  130  and the second substrate  120  are sealed up by a sealing material  140 . The grooves  110  are formed inside a part where the sealing material  140  is formed. 
     The grooves  110  may be formed only in the second substrate  120  as illustrated in  FIG. 3A  and may be formed only in the first substrate  130  as illustrated in  FIG. 3B . As illustrated in  FIG. 3C , the grooves  110  may be formed in the first substrate  130  and the second substrate  120 .  FIG. 3D  illustrates the grooves  110 , shown in  FIG. 3A  having groove portions that include a first groove portion  110   a  and a second groove portion  110   b ,  FIG. 3D  further illustrates the grooves  110 , shown in  FIG. 3B  having groove portions that include a third groove portion  110   c  and a fourth groove portion  110   d , Still further,  FIG. 3D  illustrates the grooves  110 , shown in  FIG. 3C  having groove portions that include a first groove portion  110   a , a second groove portion  110   b , a third groove portion  110   c  and a fourth groove portion  110   d , These grooves  110  may take various shapes including, but not limited to, semicircular, conical, concave, square, rectangular or U shaped. 
     When the first substrate  130  and the second substrate  120  are sealed by the sealing material  140 , the part that contacts the sealing material  140 , that is, the non-emission region  100   b  is firmly fixed to the sealing material although so that when shock is applied to the first substrate  130  and the second substrate  120  so that vibration is not generated. When shock is applied to the part that does not contact the sealing material, that is, the emission region  100   a , a space is generated between the first substrate  130  and the second substrate  120  so that vibration is generated in the emission region  100   a . Since the area where the grooves  110  are formed is thin of the first substrate  130  and the second substrate  120 , the part is stronger and able to withstand shock. Therefore, it is possible to prevent cracks from being generated in the first substrate  130  and/or the second substrate  120  by the grooves  110  around and/or immediately adjacent to the sealing material  140 . 
       FIG. 3D  illustrates and further details the grooves  110 , illustrated in  FIG. 2  and  FIGS. 3A-3C . As previously discussed,  FIG. 3D  illustrates the grooves  110 , shown in  FIG. 3A  having groove portions that include a first groove portion  110   a  and a second groove portion  110   b ,  FIG. 3D  further illustrates the grooves  110 , shown in  FIG. 3B  having groove portions that include a third groove portion  110   c  and a fourth groove portion  110   d , Still further,  FIG. 3D  illustrates the grooves  110 , shown in  FIG. 3C  having groove portions that include a first groove portion  110   a , a second groove portion  110   b , a third groove portion  110   c  and a fourth groove portion  110   d,    
     It should be noted, as illustrated in  FIG. 3D , second groove portion  110   b  is on a side of second substrate  120  facing first substrate  130  and first groove portion  110   a  is on the opposite side of second substrate  120  to that of second groove portion  110   b . Further, first groove portion  110   a  may be in-line with and directly opposite to second groove portion  110   b . This also applies to third grove portion  110   c  and fourth  110   d  in which, as illustrated in  FIG. 3D , third groove portion  110   c  is on a side of first substrate  130  facing second substrate  130  and fourth groove portion  110   d  is on the opposite side of first substrate  130  to that of third groove portion  110   c . Further, third groove portion  110   c  may be in-line with and directly opposite to fourth groove portion  110   d . In addition, as illustrated in  FIG. 3D , first groove portion  110   a , second groove portion  110   b , third groove portion  110   c  and fourth groove portion  110   d  may all be positioned in a straight line and geometric planes and with one another. As previously discussed, grooves  110  and specifically these groove portions  110   a - 110   d  may take various shapes including, but not limited to, semicircular, conical, concave, square, rectangular or U shaped. 
     Therefore, although shock is applied to the organic light emitting display due to the shock test, the ability to withstand the shock is substantially increased. 
     While the present invention has been described in connection with certain exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims, and equivalents thereof.